Apple Watch Extremely overview: an enormous, thrilling success

Apple Watch Extremely

MSRP $799.00

“The Apple Watch Extremely’s expertly made particular options give it surprisingly large enchantment, with the lengthy battery life and characterful, luxurious design making it a incredible selection even for these not planning any daring adventures.”

Execs

• Extremely sturdy construct
• Luxurious supplies
• Three-day battery life
• Expertly judged particular options
• Characterful design
• Does every thing the Collection 8 does
• LTE as normal

Cons

• Twice the worth of the Collection 8

Apple makes wonderful merchandise virtually anybody can decide up, use, and luxuriate in. While you first hear concerning the Apple Watch Extremely, nevertheless, it doesn’t sound prefer it’s for everybody. It’s for these few with $800 to spend on a smartwatch that’s seemingly solely supposed for use within the sea, up a mountain, or lined in mud in a lavatory. Or is it?

I’ve not been anyplace like that in my time with the Apple Watch Extremely, and I believe it’s one of the crucial thrilling, technically spectacular, and characterful merchandise Apple has ever made. You’re skeptical, aren’t you? Permit me to clarify.

About our Apple Watch Extremely overview

This overview was initially revealed in September 2022 by Andy Boxall after utilizing the Apple Watch Extremely since its launch. Nearly all of the overview relies on that preliminary interval with the smartwatch. Since then, we’ve continued to put on it and up to date the overview in March 2023 with new observations and feedback on new options. Christine Romero-Chan wrote the second opinion part in August 2023, providing one other perspective on the Apple Watch Extremely.

Apple Watch Extremely: design

The Apple Watch Extremely is kind of huge. The 49mm by 44mm by 14mm case is bigger than the Apple Watch Collection 8 and Watch SE 2, nevertheless it’s not all that completely different from the 45mm x 45mm x 10mm Galaxy Watch 5 Professional, or critically sporty smartwatches just like the 46mm x 46mm x 14mm Garmin Forerunner 955. When you’ve received slim wrists, it’s going to look gigantic, however not as a result of it’s badly proportioned — no, it’s as a result of the watch is so massive. I’ve in contrast the scale with different massive watches to provide you an concept of whether or not it’s going to fit your wrist or not.

Nonetheless, the Apple Watch Extremely is recognizably an Apple Watch, simply chunkier. It’s as if the Collection 8 has been reimagined by Tonka. Retaining the now-classic Apple Watch form is the fitting choice, as — regardless of the scale and 61-gram (95-gram with the band) weight — it’s very snug to put on. The sharpness of the bezel isn’t repeated anyplace the watch touches your pores and skin, the place that acquainted curved case ensures it by no means prods or pokes uncomfortably.

The button and Digital Crown guard don’t dig into your wrist both, which is even tough for some massive conventional watches to keep away from. My watch has the Ocean Band, and I’ve discovered it completely wearable. I selected it as a result of I put on dive watches lots, and I significantly like Seiko’s provided rubber straps. This has the identical diploma of flexibility, doesn’t get sizzling, and permits for plenty of changes to make it appropriate for all wrists and to put on over a wetsuit.

On the other aspect of the case from the Digital Crown is the brand new, shiny orange Motion Button. By default, it prompts the Exercise mode, nevertheless it’s surprisingly customizable, with the stopwatch, torch, and dive modes as different choices, along with including a waypoint when utilizing GPS. When you hold the default setting, you can even set the button to start out a selected exercise, bypassing the standard countdown.

Additionally activated with the orange Motion Button is the emergency siren, which Apple says might be heard as much as 180 meters away. It’s a shrill, escalating, disagreeable sound slightly than a replica of Apple’s Radar or Alarm ringtones. A good friend who heard it mentioned it’s such a hateful noise that it will make him head in the wrong way simply to get away from it, so it’ll positively get some consideration when you set it off in Starbucks. Set it off within the wilderness, and nobody will assume it’s being activated for enjoyable, and that’s precisely what you need.

The finely grained titanium case, sapphire crystal, and ceramic case again give the Apple Watch Extremely luxurious credentials in addition to toughness, which is enhanced additional by the IP6X mud resistance and 100-meter water resistance. It has additionally been examined to MIL-STD 810H requirements. It feels prefer it’s constructed to final, and appears prefer it’ll take a substantial beating.

While you flip off the Water Lock after the watch has been within the water, it fizzes and whirs because it spits out any undesirable droplets, giving it a surprisingly mechanical really feel — prefer it’s virtually alive. It’s nonetheless a smartwatch, however this, together with the purposeful seems to be and go-anywhere perspective, provides the Apple Watch Extremely a shocking quantity of character. That character (and the scale) made me put on it with my sleeve tucked behind it, exhibiting it off, one thing I didn’t actually do with the Apple Watch Collection 7.

All this led to the conclusion you could possibly truly bond with the Apple Watch Extremely, particularly if you find yourself sharing adventures with it over time. I actually by no means anticipated to assume that a few smartwatch, and it speaks volumes about what Apple has created right here.

Making the Apple Watch Extremely extra snug

I’ve worn the Apple Watch Extremely with the Ocean Band it got here with since launch, however just lately needed to make it somewhat extra snug to put on all day, daily. There’s nothing flawed with the Ocean Band, nevertheless it’s chunky sufficient that it might probably get in the way in which once you’re not adventuring, and it takes up a variety of room underneath my cuff.

The answer was to pair the Apple Watch Extremely with the rubber Solo Loop. In doing so, I discovered it suited the smartwatch way over I anticipated. The traces work, and it makes it way more snug to put on for prolonged intervals. It didn’t solely disappear on my wrist, nevertheless it positively turned much less noticeable, as the general weight dropped to 75 grams.

Apple doesn’t checklist the Solo Loop as being a band “made” for the Apple Watch Extremely, however don’t dismiss it due to this. I’ve worn the mix for greater than per week now, and it’s the way in which I’ll proceed to put on the Apple Watch Extremely. At $50, the Solo Loop isn’t one of many costly official Apple bands both. Strive it, and I believe you’ll be pleasantly shocked.

Apple Watch Extremely: health monitoring

Open the Exercise app both with the standard icon or by utilizing the Motion button to see a cool flash of orange on the display screen to indicate it’s transporting you straight there. You’ll discover the identical exercise modes and system WatchOS 9 provides on different Apple Watch fashions.

When you monitor a run, it shows coronary heart charge zones (primarily based by itself algorithm, or you’ll be able to manually set them your self), whereas the overall overview might be modified to indicate stride size, vertical oscillation, and floor contact time. Whereas this data just isn’t unique to the Watch Extremely, the bigger smartwatch helps you to see six completely different knowledge units on the display screen at one time, making it extra informative at a look.

Operation of the watch’s exercise options can also be the identical because the Collection 8 and Watch SE 2. The exercise modes are diversified and simple to entry, and all of the related knowledge is proven on the massive, shiny display screen. I can see the time, test my coronary heart charge, and rapidly leap between it, the compass, and different apps with none slowdown. While you open the Dock utilizing the aspect button, the compass app even begins working within the helicopter view. It’s all so slick and easy.

The Apple Watch Extremely makes use of each L1 and L5 GPS antennas to raised lock onto satellites and supply extra correct location knowledge. I in contrast the efficiency of the Watch Extremely (linked to an iPhone 14 Professional) in opposition to that of the Apple Watch Collection 8 (linked to an iPhone SE (2022) to see if there have been any apparent variations. The Apple Watch Extremely recorded a extra linear and logical route, whereas the Collection 8 confirmed me wandering extra, which I didn’t actually do. It’s not a lot of a distinction, however I believe it’s there, so in my anecdotal exams, the Watch Extremely’s GPS does seem like extra correct.

The maps produced in Apple’s Health app are detailed, with useful colours alongside the route to indicate your tempo, and you may zoom proper in to see virtually precisely the place you walked, ran, or cycled. Evaluate it to the mapping within the Samsung Well being app, and there’s positively extra element within the Health app, however whether or not it’s really useful could rely in your wants.

I nonetheless discover the cut up between Apple’s Well being app and Health app complicated, and would actually favor a single app to deal with every thing, plus the knowledge introduced isn’t as detailed as apps from Garmin and even Samsung. Whereas the Apple Watch Extremely could also be extra hardcore, the apps and knowledge introduced in them aren’t any completely different from the Collection 8 or Watch SE 2, so when you’re simply going to trace easy exercises. there’s no software program benefit to proudly owning the Watch Extremely. It doesn’t imply you shouldn’t, simply don’t anticipate it to supply way more for the informal exerciser.

Apple Watch Extremely: Wayfinder face and compass app

It might appear unusual to dedicate a whole part to a watch face and compass, however these two options reveal how fantastically built-in every thing is in WatchOS 9, and the place the Apple Watch Extremely stands out in opposition to the opposite Apple Watch fashions.

The Wayfinder watch face is unique to the Watch Extremely and is vastly customizable. The bezel can present elevation and incline or latitude and longitude, plus there are eight problems to set, that means you might have tons of data prepared at a look. Whereas the finished face is busy, it’s not complicated due to the very intelligent, readable, watch-like design and possibility to vary numerous colours. It additionally actually fits the Watch Extremely. Plus, the Night time mode — activated utilizing the Digital Crown — seems to be wonderful when it turns the complete face purple. I’ve left it on that mode lots only for its cool sci-fi seems to be.

The fantastically designed compass is a separate app and a part of the Wayfinder face, plus it may be added as a complication for fast entry. It updates always as you alter course, there are buttons to mark a waypoint and activate the Backtrack characteristic, and a tab that gives a better degree of element. Twist the Digital Crown, and you cannot solely change what’s proven on the display screen, but additionally see a bigger map view within the middle of the compass.

I needed to single these out as a result of I’ve not modified the Wayfinder watch face but. I haven’t felt the necessity to, and it’s the primary time I’ve ever needed to make use of a compass app. After which once I did, I used to be truly impressed by it. I believe they each sum up Apple’s minute consideration to element right here. The deep integration is what makes WatchOS 9 such a pleasure.

Apple Watch Extremely: Backtrack

What concerning the Backtrack characteristic? It’s activated from the Compass app, the place all it takes is a single faucet on the little icon formed like two ft. When you use the Wayfinder watch face, there’s prompt entry to the compass utilizing one of many problems. To function, it does require an extra location setting, known as Vital Location, to be switched on (it’s hidden away underneath Settings > Location > System Providers). With this executed, Backtrack works away within the background.

You don’t discover it till you want it. Faucet the footsteps icon once more, and Backtrack will lead you again to the place you began within the occasion you get misplaced. Besides don’t anticipate it to straight lead you again. Backtrack makes use of the compass app, the place a small arrow factors you in the fitting course, slightly than retracing your steps precisely. It’s because the crow flies, which does imply you continue to must make choices alongside the way in which.

For instance, at a junction, Backtrack confirmed I ought to go in a distinct course than the way in which I got here, which I knew would nonetheless completely return me to my start line, however not in the way in which I arrived on the level initially. You’ll must bear this in thoughts and belief each your instincts and the Watch Extremely’s compass. Relying on the terrain, this might imply encountering conditions the place you could have to backtrack on Backtrack.

The characteristic could be very easy to make use of. I didn’t discover any extra battery drain when utilizing it in comparison with once I’m not. And since it really works by means of the Compass app, it’s accessible whatever the fitness-tracking app used, so it’s very versatile. This can be a completely different method to Samsung’s related characteristic, the place it’s a must to use a GPX map so as to use the Route Again characteristic on the Galaxy Watch 5 Professional.

If Backtrack appears like one thing you’d use or wish to have in reserve, keep in mind it’s a WatchOS 9 characteristic and likewise accessible on the Collection 8 and the Watch SE 2. Testing it back-to-back with the Collection 8 revealed that the Watch Extremely’s stronger GPS gave extra exact instructions. Whereas the Collection 8 would nonetheless have gotten you again, the Watch Extremely was clearly the extra correct of the 2. In some conditions, these few levels could make a variety of distinction. You may see the variations within the gallery above, simply search for the white marker on the interior bezel.

Apple Watch Extremely: display screen, software program, and efficiency

Just like the iPhone 14 Professional, the Apple Watch Extremely’s Retina LTPO OLED display screen can immediately enhance the brightness to 2,000 nits in daylight — and it’s extremely efficient. It’s so noticeable that it’s such as you flicked on a lightweight swap. The flat sapphire crystal doesn’t have an effect on viewing angles as I feared, however it’s vulnerable to reflection.

It’s sharp and colourful too, however with a 1,164 square-millimeter viewing space, it’s not all that a lot greater than the 45mm Collection 8’s 1,143 square-millimeter show. The dimensions of the case is extra about housing the battery and rising sturdiness than it’s about making the display screen bigger. Nonetheless, intelligent use of the software program implies that in some conditions, you do see extra on the display screen at one time in comparison with the Collection 8.

Apple’s WatchOS 9 is put in identical to it’s on the Apple Watch Collection 8 and the Watch SE 2. The software program is fluid, logical, and dependable. I favor to not overload it with apps (which helps reduce distractions) and depend on the usual apps and few selection additions more often than not. Apps of all kinds load and function rapidly, and the App Retailer is a pleasure to browse due to sensibly sized icons and clearly organized sections.

The highly effective S8 processor can also be the identical one contained in the Collection 8 and Watch SE 2, the haptics are great — particularly once you twist the Digital Crown or when an alarm sounds — and the audio system are critically loud too. Apple Pay works seamlessly and is very easy to arrange. I don’t have any plans to attempt the crash detection or fall detection, however I’m happy they’re there. I really feel equally about warnings about my well being from the electrocardiogram, coronary heart charge sensor, and blood oxygen monitoring options.

I haven’t been in a position to attempt all of the options on the Watch Extremely. I don’t dive, so essentially the most I’ve executed is submerge the watch within the sink, the place it routinely activated the easy-to-read dive gauge with water temperature readout. A particular model of the Oceanic+ app is obtainable for the Watch Extremely, and it means that you can plan dives, use the compass, and get extra in-depth security and expertise options. Apple says the Watch Extremely is geared toward Skilled Affiliation of Diving Instructors (PADI)-qualified divers to a depth of 40 meters. I in contrast the app to the G-Shock Frogman’s dive laptop right here.

The Apple Watch Extremely does every thing the Collection 8 can do and a lot extra, including a wealth of area of interest options and sturdiness. Then, to ensure you can take pleasure in each little bit of the smartwatch for longer, it pushes one key facet additional forward — which we’ll come to subsequent.

Apple Watch Extremely: battery

The Apple Watch Extremely’s battery has a 76% bigger capability than these within the Collection 8 and Watch SE 2, and Apple claims the battery will final for 36 hours on a single cost with out a mobile connection — twice what it is best to anticipate from the opposite fashions. The excellent news is it’s not bluster; the Apple Watch Extremely’s battery life is superb.

Right here’s an instance. I recharged the battery on its second cycle at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, then used it usually every day. I left it switched on in a single day and tracked two indoor exercises, plus a one-hour stroll and a 30-minute stroll with GPS and Backtrack engaged, over the course of the subsequent few days. At 6 p.m. Thursday, there was nonetheless 10% remaining — so I turned on the Low Energy mode, and it nonetheless had 5% left at 11:30 p.m. On my first days of use, the battery lasted for three full days with out as a lot GPS use.

The Apple Watch Collection 7 frequently returned two days of use on a single cost, however that was solely with turning it off in a single day. To stand up to a few full days of use from the Watch Extremely with its brighter display screen, plus all its further means, is nice — and a real purpose to purchase.

How does this evaluate with the competitors? Samsung’s rival smartwatch, the $450 Galaxy Watch 5 Professional, additionally lasted for 3 days with out a recharge, nevertheless it did so provided that you didn’t monitor sleep. Nonetheless, just like the Watch Extremely, it’s an enormous, heavy watch and not likely appropriate for sporting in a single day anyway.

Nonetheless, whereas the Watch Extremely’s battery is nice, it might probably’t beat the marathon battery life supplied by devoted working or exercise smartwatches. The $600 Garmin Forerunner 955 Photo voltaic’s battery is nice for 2 weeks, and even the smaller, extra design-led $180 Vivomove Sport’s battery will final for 5 days. The Apple Watch Extremely’s battery is highly effective for an Apple smartwatch, however within the wider world of high-performance exercise smartwatches, it nonetheless falls behind.

Ought to this be a priority? How a lot this can influence your on a regular basis life relies on what you do in your on a regular basis life. When you frequently run tons of of miles, hike every weekend, and don’t at all times have entry to energy (or intend to make use of the GPS and Mobile connection daily), then the Apple Watch Extremely will nonetheless want charging each couple of days. However when you do these actions now and again, you then’ll spend lots much less time visiting the charger than you’ll with a Collection 8, and three days of use between fees is solely achievable. The longer battery life actually units the Apple Watch Extremely other than its sibling smartwatches, and it’s a powerful purpose to purchase this mannequin over every other.

Apple Watch Extremely: Low Energy Mode

As a part of watchOS 9.1, Apple launched Low Energy Mode on the Apple Watch. The Watch Extremely already has nice battery life, however with Low Energy Mode, it’s anticipated to extend to 60 hours in some conditions. I put this to the check and was impressed with the outcomes as they surpassed expectations.

Utilizing the Apple Watch Extremely pretty usually, with notifications, some gentle exercise monitoring, and controlling music, the battery lasted for 5 days earlier than it wanted recharging. This was with out GPS or mobile, and the Low Energy Mode switches off the guts charge monitoring. The watch positively isn’t working laborious, however that is nonetheless lots longer than even Apple signifies.

What it does is make the Apple Watch Extremely much more versatile. I took the smartwatch away for an extended weekend, and even with out Low Energy Mode, it was nonetheless operational (with out sleep monitoring) on the third day. I may have switched on Low Energy Mode at that time and prolonged the battery life for a pair extra days, with solely a small drop in usefulness. The Apple Watch Extremely continues to be a battery monster, even six months into its life.

Apple Watch Extremely: a second opinion, from a girl’s perspective

I just lately upgraded to an Apple Watch Extremely after a little bit of skepticism. Initially, regardless of liking the {hardware} for the Motion Button and the much-improved battery life over the primary Apple Watch Collection wearables, I used to be somewhat hesitant due to the massive 49mm dimension of the Apple Watch Extremely. However because it seems, the massive dimension just isn’t a difficulty, regardless of my smaller wrists.

At first, I saved making feedback that the Apple Watch Extremely with the Alpine Loop merely appeared too massive on my wrist, because the band triggered the watch to hold off a bit on the perimeters. As soon as I switched out the band to the traditional Sport Band, the Apple Watch Extremely not appeared comically massive on my smaller wrists, and it’s been much more snug to put on. The titanium casing makes the Apple Watch really feel light-weight, so it by no means actually feels heavy whereas being worn. The flat edges take a little bit of time to get used to coming from earlier Apple Watches, however I’ve ended up preferring the flat edges and show.

As somebody who was utilizing the Apple Watch Collection 5 for the previous few years, battery life was turning into a difficulty. Since getting the Apple Watch Extremely, nevertheless, I not must test how a lot battery life stays for the day. Even with out utilizing Low Energy Mode, the Apple Watch Extremely can finish the day with round 60% to 70% battery. As somebody who doesn’t like Apple’s sleep monitoring (the Oura Ring does it higher), nevertheless, the Apple Watch Extremely finally ends up on the charger each evening to be topped off for the subsequent day. With the Optimized Charging Restrict characteristic, it helps protect the battery lifespan, which is useful. But when I used to be with out the charger, the Apple Watch Extremely would simply final at the least two or three days with my typical utilization — and extra with Low Energy Mode.

Although the Motion Button is a bit restricted, it’s top-of-the-line issues concerning the Apple Watch Extremely. With only a push of the button, I can instantly launch a exercise in a number of faucets, and with my most frequent exercise, Outside Stroll, it’s straightforward to mark segments when wanted. Once I say restricted, I imply it’s somewhat disappointing that there are solely a handful of preset actions you’ll be able to assign with out diving into the difficult world of making your personal Siri Shortcut. Nonetheless, the Motion Button has confirmed to be an exquisite little shortcut for some commonly-used Apple Watch features, and it’s turn out to be laborious to think about an Apple Watch with out it. Hopefully, the rumored Motion button on the iPhone 15 may have much more performance and customizability.

There are additionally a few issues that make the Apple Watch Extremely nice for ladies specifically. First, the physique temperature sensor within the Extremely (together with the Collection 8) is extra helpful for ladies as it may be used to assist monitor ovulation, which helps with household planning. Secondly, the siren that may be activated from the Motion Button is beneficial for females who may discover themselves in harmful conditions. As soon as it’s activated, a shrill pitch sound will emit from the Apple Watch Extremely, which will definitely draw consideration to you. Although its unique function is to sign for assist in distant areas, it’s simply as helpful if you must get assist when there’s a harmful individual lurking about.

Once more, as somebody with smaller wrists, I wasn’t positive whether or not I would really like having the most important show, as I’ve been getting the smallest Apple Watch dimension prior to now. However the Apple Watch Extremely has proven me that there are numerous advantages to having a big show, and actually, you get used to it after sporting it for some time. The 49mm dimension of the Extremely means you get to have a variety of glanceable data on sure watch faces, so that you get extra knowledge with a single look. And it’s additionally been lots simpler to learn incoming notifications since extra display screen property permits extra to be proven. Typing can also be potential on the display screen, and the on-screen keyboard truly works higher than I assumed, although typically dictation remains to be simpler.

And as somebody who skipped the previous few Apple Watch releases, the height brightness of two,000 nits outdoor has positively made a distinction. Since I dwell in sunny Southern California, the Apple Watch Extremely’s excessive brightness ranges outdoor in direct daylight make it potential to obviously see the show, irrespective of the state of affairs. The Apple Watch Collection 5 I used to be nonetheless utilizing positively appeared dim compared with the Extremely. In case you are the kind of one who does a variety of exercises outdoor, then the Apple Watch Extremely’s shiny show is an enormous promoting level.

I initially was skeptical of the Apple Watch Extremely, nevertheless it’s turn out to be one among my favourite Apple merchandise in recent times. There’s simply a lot good things concerning the Apple Watch Extremely, from the unbelievable battery life to the handy Motion Button to the show. Even when you don’t do excessive actions (I definitely don’t), the Apple Watch Extremely is a good smartwatch for everybody.

Apple Watch Extremely: value and availability

The Apple Watch Extremely prices $799, or 849 British kilos. There is just one model of the Watch Extremely, and it comes with LTE connectivity as normal. The one choice to make is about which strap to decide on. It’s the Ocean Band you see in our pictures, which is generally designed to enchantment to divers. Alternatively, there’s the Alpine Loop for hikers and out of doors fans, and the Path Loop for runners and endurance athletes. You should purchase the Apple Watch Extremely now by means of Apple’s on-line and retail shops.

That is an costly watch, however there’s unquestionable worth right here. Titanium, ceramic, and sapphire crystal all add to the worth, plus there’s a large quantity of analysis and improvement concerned in getting the extra options in place and dealing appropriately. It’s dearer than a Collection 8, which has a variety of the identical core performance, however not vastly extra so than many competing high-performance exercise smartwatches from Garmin, Suunto, Polar, or Coros. It’s not even that completely different from the price of a midlevel conventional diver or subject watch from manufacturers like Seiko, Citizen, Casio, or Hamilton.

Apple Watch Extremely: verdict

Whereas I’ve been utilizing and writing concerning the Apple Watch Extremely, I’ve known as it merely the Apple Watch on various events. Once I started to provide this some thought, it appeared applicable. The Apple Watch Extremely is clearly the start of one thing new for the corporate, slightly than a one-off or the product of a lazy advertising and marketing marketing campaign. What Apple has executed with the Watch Extremely is to make it genuinely completely different from the Collection 8 in virtually each respect. Not higher or worse, however one thing that stands by itself.

That is the way in which you need to be eager about it before you purchase it. It’s not likely a substitute for the Collection 8 or Watch SE 2 regardless of being intently associated. It serves completely different functions, has its personal strengths and weaknesses, and has a collection of distinctive options that wouldn’t match on a Collection 8. You’ll purchase this as an alternative of the Collection 8.

The shocking factor is, the Apple Watch Extremely is kind of straightforward to justify. The lengthy battery life is a large promoting level that everybody will recognize, as is absolutely the bulletproof nature of the construct and supplies. Plus, when you do something remotely adventurous, it’ll simply sustain all day lengthy. However the factor I didn’t anticipate was to attach with it personally. It has a personality all of its personal, and that’s one thing only a few smartwatches accomplish. What’s extra, the brand new options and the simplicity of use is slightly inspirational and encourages you to exit and provides them a attempt.

In opposition to the percentages, Apple has made a rugged smartwatch that non-rugged individuals will need to personal — and so they’ll be more than happy with it after they do. It’s a incredible begin of one thing actually thrilling and actually completely different for Apple’s very good smartwatch vary.

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