Rewind 2025: Articles
Part I of my fifth annual Rewind Series is a look back at the year and my three favourite articles from 2025.
To put a bow on 2025, my final two entries of the year reflect on my three favourite articles of the year, along with my three favourite wallpapers. This first part looks at my three favourite articles of 2025.
2025 By the Numbers
Let’s look at some of the numbers that defined 2025:
3 million people visited the site, representing a slight uptick from this time last year. I have never taken that number for granted. With so many things competing for our attention, having people find the site and continue to come back is something I consider a real privilege.
48 percent of site traffic came from iOS devices, 34 percent from the Mac, with approximately 10 percent from PCs and 7 percent from Android devices.
I published 50 articles to the main blog, 30 of which were written pieces. These included my usual Bingo Boards for WWDC and Apple’s September event, alongside new entries chronicling the history of iOS and macOS icons, highlighting some of my favourite apps (April, July), reviewing products, and reflecting on milestones like the Apple Watch turning 10, as well as my frustrations with the AirPods Pro 3.
Another 20 articles focused on wallpapers, including new series such as Skyline I & II and Gradients of April and September.
An additional 26 new posted were added to the Haberdashery, with a particular focus on building out a back catalogue of wallpapers Apple releases around new store openings. A new Apple Retail Wallpaper Archive section was also added to the blog, and both new and older wallpapers will continue to be added and live there for posterity.
The blog now reaches approximately 100,000 RSS subscribers, a significant increase from the roughly 50,000 subscribers throughout most of 2024.
The top three wallpapers by number of views were:
The top three articles by number of views were:
But it’s time to share my top three articles of 2025. These are not necessarily my most popular pieces, but the three that stood out from the rest and felt worthy of a three-star shoutout to end the year.
The AirPods Pro 3 Flight Problem
Article | Posted: October 27, 2025
My most popular article of 2025 put a spotlight on a fairly significant issue that I, along with many others, have experienced with the AirPods Pro 3. While they remain a best-in-class pair of wireless earbuds, the loud, piercing feedback I encountered on two separate flights rendered them effectively unusable for air travel.
Apple has not publicly acknowledged this as a known issue, but the comments on the post quickly confirmed that I was far from alone. Many readers reported experiencing similarly painful feedback while flying.
I continue to use these headphones as my daily driver on the ground and will be curious to see whether any firmware updates have addressed the issue when I travel again in late January.
Apple Watch Turns 10
Article | Posted: April 24, 2025
https://basicappleguy.com/basicappleblog/apple-watch-turns-10
A long, meandering look back at a decade of the Apple Watch, from its origins as a fashion-forward accessory to its evolution into a health- and fitness-focused device that has gone on to become the best-selling watch in the world.
In this winding entry, I explore the history of the Apple Watch, touch on its design changes over the years, and reflect on my own relationship with the device across a full decade of wearing it.
Ode to the EarPods
Article | Posted: August 04, 2025
A lighter, more playful piece celebrating the humble Apple EarPods. With AirPods now nearing a decade on the market, this article explores the enduring value of wired headphones, from the joys of untangling them to their reliable microphone, unlimited battery life, built-in remote, and accessible price.
I still keep a pair with me while travelling, and scattered around the house, because you never quite know when a device or situation will call for them.
Thank You
Finally, thank you. Thank you for reading, supporting my work, connecting with me, and for every tip and purchase. I am beyond grateful. Wishing everyone a safe, successful, peaceful, and fulfilling 2026.
