When the digital assistant starts reading the alert, you can decline the narration by moving your head sideways. And if you want to hear the contents, you just nod your head up and down, like an obedient child ready to lap up all the instructions the world has to offer.
Except, these gestures look terrible. Irrespective of whether you are sitting alone, in which case, you risk being seen and made fun of by total strangers. And if there’s a person sitting in front of (or people around) you, things can quickly go haywire.
What Apple is less clear about is what will happen to your existing data. The official documentation implies, but doesn't specifically say, that your files will be kept in a read-only state, with no backups completing until you delete files or increase your storage plan. The iCloud terms and conditions state that if you've not backed up a device for 180 days, Apple “reserves the right” to delete any existing backups (including photos and videos)—so it may delete your files, and it may not.
I, too, feel uneasy to nod or shake my head when a notification announcement comes in while I am wearing my AirPods. I can't find any settings to turn this off, and have Siri read my messages however long they are.
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Thanks for reading.