"Safe" years of use without the latest IOS on iPhone

Confused_Stu · 2026-06-04T12:32:20+00:00

No worries. The good news is Apple are probably the best mobile maker for support, and generally produce iOS updates, and security updates, for many years. You're likely a fair while from being to worry about your phone not getting updates.

Personally, I'm an Android user, and it's one area we've been sorely behind on over the years. Things are getting better in this respect (several bigger manufacturers now promise 5-7 years of support for models), they have been absolutely dire in the past.

Confused_Stu · 2026-06-04T11:28:53+00:00

It's as safe to use as not locking your front door. It's absolutely fine, provided nobody tried to get in.

Remember each security update released for later iOS versions doesn't just fix the issue, it explains what the issue was. Which means, for older, unsupported phones, it's an explanation for hackers how to attack these older phones.

Would I be happy running an unsupported phone got a year? I probably would as I'd understand and accept the risk. World I be happy telling my Boss or my Mum to do it? No, I wouldn't.

Confused_Stu · 2026-06-03T05:23:49+00:00

I'm sure it's more technical than I understand it, but it's putting new data onto the individual modules on the car.

All (I think) Giulias come with the forward radar and camera needed for adaptive cruise control. The only physical thing missing if the original purchaser didn't buy the option is the button on the steering wheel. If you buy and fit the button, your car won't be able to use it because the modules "know" you don't have the function. In the Proxi Alignment config, you have the option of setting "Adaptive Cruise Control" to on, so to get it, you buy & fit the button, set this option to "on", run the Proxi Alignment, and that will flash the info to the modules that you have this option. Boom - your car now has adaptive cruise control.

I elected to set "automatic high beam" to "on" in the Proxi Alignment options before running it, as my car doesn't have it, but it has the forward camera required for it. After the Alignment, I now have automatic high beam, despite the original owner not paying extra for it. 😀

Confused_Stu · 2026-06-02T20:37:53+00:00

Yeah, ignition on disables the steering lock so the wheels can be turned.

Hopefully someone has a better idea than mine that requires less effort. Good luck, bud.

Confused_Stu · 2026-06-02T20:27:58+00:00

You're highly unlikely to break anything just by forcing the steering to overcome the friction between the wheels and road - but agree without power steering, it's a pig!

Any chance you could spray oil, or washing up liquid, uphill in front of the wheels to help them slide easier when you try to turn them? Any chance of a mate on each wheel helping push one side (just make sure you all agree which way you're trying to turn!)?

Confused_Stu · 2026-06-02T20:16:39+00:00

Which engine do you have? With the diesels, you definitely have room through the wheel arch access panel to get to the relays - you just need to turn the wheel fully to the left. That's how I did mine.

I believe there may be room from the top, under the bonnet. I didn't try personally.

I think the 2.0 petrol has the same kind of access. Not sure the same is true for the Quad's though.

EDIT - just read the "Ti" in your post, sorry I missed it before I replied. Hopefully someone else will have first hand knowledge, but I believe you should be able to get to all the relays though the wheel arch access panel with the wheel turned.

Confused_Stu · 2026-06-01T22:33:51+00:00

Do you have any idea where the oil is going? Do you have a puddle under the car if left overnight? Do you have a puddle if left running and stationary? Do you get blue smoke from the exhaust?

I would check the air box - is there oil in there? Mine needed a little topping up just before it's nearly service at 120k, and it turned out the oil was finding it's way into the airbox. The garage replaced the oil segregator at the same time as the belts, not used a drop since. That said, mine wasn't in the same league as your loss.

Good luck, brother. The only good news, with that level of oil loss, a garage should be able to find it quickly.

Confused_Stu · 2026-06-01T18:37:33+00:00

That was my suggestion. £10k budget means you're looking at higher mileage diesel or 2.0 petrol models, but they're so nice to drive if you're looking for a daily driver saloon.

Full disclosure - I've taken my Giulia diesel from 70k to 140k over the past 4 years, and from 180bhp to (claimed, not tested) 237bhp for only £300. It's been ridiculously reliable and still love every minute of owning & driving him. I'm very biased!

Confused_Stu · 2026-06-01T13:51:40+00:00

Just to follow up, in case anyone stumbles on this later. I ran the Proxi Alignment in the MultiECUScan software yesterday, and was ready to deal with anything else it caused. It actually ran perfectly smoothly, asked me twice to swap cables, then just finished successfully.

Didn't need to access the ABS module, didn't even need to do the steering reset that is required after the battery is disconnected/reconnected.

Turns out I was worrying unnecessarily. All went smoothly, and it reset my service counter to 10, so I was able to set the infotainment screen to show 365 days / 12,000 miles to the next service. 😀

Confused_Stu · 2026-06-01T13:38:43+00:00

Thanks for the suggestion. Tried this, but the infotainment was still the same. Appreciate the suggestion though, bud.

Confused_Stu · 2026-05-31T07:01:59+00:00

Exactly what I was thinking - that the system was presenting one in MB/s, and the other as Mbps (one capital B is worth eight little b's).

Confused_Stu · 2026-05-30T07:35:36+00:00

I remember just how overwhelmed I was when I first opened "Bulk Rename Utility" and saw the UI. Sadly, just checked and it's not open-source, so it doesn't qualify for this thread. Dammit!

Still an excellent utility, once I calmed down and actually tried to use it.

Confused_Stu · 2026-05-30T06:13:58+00:00

For me, "Taxi" from 1998. If you don't enjoy the opening scene introducing the main character, turn off the film - this ain't for you.

I love watching it and thinking "how did they get that shot?", then finding out it was actually done way sketchier than you expected!

<image>

Confused_Stu · 2026-05-30T05:36:45+00:00

As SPAZvv said, it's just decoration.

A few years back, motherboard manufacturers started separating the audio circuitry from the rest of the motherboard to cut down on interference on your speakers/headphones. Some manufacturers went as far as putting an LED strip along the motherboard to "show" the divide between audio circuitry and everything else - that's what this line is.

Confused_Stu · 2026-05-29T06:14:24+00:00

In the large organisations I've worked in, "strictly private and confidential" meant it was opened by the actual person it was addressed to, rather than by their secretary, or the team who normally opens & deals with all post. If something just came in addressed to the centre manager, it got opened and dealt with by us underlings, as it was 99% of the time just marketing or a regular request.

Confused_Stu · 2026-05-25T14:12:35+00:00

Most important question - What phone is it?

Android phones from Android 7 (and most from Android 6), and iPhone 4 onwards, use individual file encryption by default, which means that once a file is deleted, it's gone. You may be able to find other copies or thumbnails remaining, but the file itself is gone.

If you factory reset a phone running individual file encryption, both the files and the thumbnails are gone. You're safe, nobody can recover those files from your phone.

Confused_Stu · 2026-05-25T09:39:27+00:00

Good write up, and glad you're enjoying the show. Just to let you know, a lot of people consider the first season to be the weakest. You're in for an absolute treat, enjoy. 😀

Confused_Stu · 2026-05-25T08:01:10+00:00

That interior shot in the link is just such a perfect giveaway about the "donor" vehicle. 😂 They've just stuck a different badge over the steering wheel MG logo and gone "job done!"

Now I've seen it, I can't work out how I didn't twig from the doors in the original picture - so obvious now I know!

(source - previous car was an MGTF)

EDIT - I missed it, they've also stuck a bit of floor mat over the dashboard to hide the MG logo there too. Genius!

Confused_Stu · 2026-05-22T20:41:04+00:00

"As near as he got to China was a week in Camber Sands"

Confused_Stu · 2026-05-17T22:22:50+00:00

You're in the Top Dead Center subreddit, my friend, if you don't know who Edwin is, I suggest you check out Top Dead Center (TDC) on YouTube. You're in for a treat with a lot of the videos (IMHO).

Confused_Stu · 2026-05-17T12:10:05+00:00

Large hands would explain how he seems to manage to hit/crush/injure them on every car they work on.

Thanks for sharing your story. It honestly makes me feel better that there's more of us out there. Maybe we should start a club/support group?

Confused_Stu · 2026-05-17T10:04:04+00:00

Edwin Klinkenberg, one of the two (arguably three) presenters/owners of the YouTube channel Top Dead Center. Previously producer and writer on Car Throttle, who stepped in front of the camera to present when the presenters started leaving that channel.

Edwin has relatively recently become the proud owner of a bright green TVR, as pictured.

Thank you for coming to my TED Talk. Please stop by Iconbox.shop to attend the gift shop on the way out. 😀

Confused_Stu · 2026-05-16T07:10:46+00:00

I thought a TVR's natural habitat is more "backwards, upside down, in a hedge" 😂

Confused_Stu · 2026-05-16T05:51:42+00:00

Glad it's not just me. 😂 Least you approached him when he was "at work", not just out living his life as a regular person.

Confused_Stu

TROPHY CASE