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ExtraBITS for 13 April 2015

In our latest list of ExtraBITS links, Smile promises a fix for a problem with lost snippets in TextExpander touch, we find out how accessible the Apple Watch is, an Apple Watch developer asks for patience, we learn how to make an Apple II watch, and Apple explains how to clean your devices and accessories.

Recovering Lost Snippets in TextExpander touch 3.2.3 — Smile has acknowledged a bug in TextExpander touch 3.2.3 (released on 7 April 2015) that “appears to erase all your snippets.” Fortunately, the snippets aren’t really gone, just inaccessible. A forthcoming update to TextExpander touch will restore them, or, if you use Dropbox for snippet syncing, you can recover them from Dropbox. The bug and methods for dealing with it are fully documented in the Smile blog post. The most important takeaway is this: Do NOT delete and reinstall the app, which could cause you to lose
your snippets irrevocably!

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The Accessibility of the Apple Watch — If you’re wondering how well the Apple Watch might work for people with accessibility issues, over at iMore, Steven Aquino takes a detailed look at the accessibility features Apple has woven into its new wearable. Aquino’s report is encouraging, and amusingly notes that the digital crown has “a definite lubriciousness.”

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An Open Letter to Apple Watch Early Adopters — Developer Greg Pierce of Agile Tortoise has penned an open letter to Apple Watch early adopters, asking for patience. Pierce explains that most developers have yet even to see an Apple Watch, and those who have written apps already may have to retool them once they can be tested in the real world. Other developers may need some time to figure out the best way of extending their iOS apps to the Apple Watch, and some may decide that doing so doesn’t make sense at all. If you have specific requests, Pierce recommends
contacting developers and politely letting them know what you’d like to see.

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Make Your Own Apple II Watch — No, this isn’t an April Fools Day joke. Instructables user Aleator777 has released plans for a custom Apple II watch. All you need to build it is a 3D printer and a few electronic components. It even features miniature floppy disks and blinking LEDs. But while the Apple II watch does display the date and time, the rest of the software is mostly a novelty.

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The Official Guide to Cleaning Your Apple Products — Apple has released a support article with instructions for cleaning all of your Apple products: iPhones, iPads, iPods, Macs, cases, displays, and even peripherals. Most of the advice is just common sense, but it’s a good idea to check before you clean so you don’t accidentally damage your devices. In particular, Apple emphatically warns against using window and other household cleaners on screens.

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