The Apple Watch Extremely ($800) is our favourite smartwatch in our Greatest GPS Working Watches information.
On this video, iRunFar explores its options and limitations, and the professionals and cons of choosing the Apple Watch Extremely over an alternate high-end GPS working look ahead to lengthy distance working.
You’ll have heard that the Apple Watch Extremely 2 launched in September, 2023. The dangerous information? This isn’t a assessment of the Extremely 2 — but, we’ll assessment it in due time. The excellent news? The options and performance of what’s coated on this assessment are related to the Extremely 2. Primarily as a result of many of the updates for the Extremely 2 are quality-of-life modifications versus modifications to working features.
The Extremely 2 introduces a brand new processor, some new gestures, a barely brighter display screen at most capability, and a dimmer display screen for nighttime interplay. WatchOS was moved as much as model 10, however we’ll obtain that replace for this mannequin and supply extra commentary on any important modifications that include the brand new software program.
Now, onto the assessment of the Apple Watch Extremely.
Store the Apple Watch Extremely
Apple Watch Extremely Overview Transcript
Hey and welcome to Path Trials, the video assessment part of iRunFar. My identify is Travis Liles. On this video, we take a look at the Apple Watch Extremely. We ask the query, is it “extremely?” This query applies to iRunFar readers particularly, is that this one thing you’ll put on for an ultramarathon and lengthy distance run coaching? Let’s test it out.
Earlier than we dig in, let’s discuss what this assessment is and isn’t. This machine has been out for some time. Updates are coming to it. I’m recording this in roughly the center of July, 2023. There have been some updates since I bought it. I’ll be as correct as I can about the place we’re right this moment. I additionally plan on recording a supplemental video as time goes on, when options are added on which are relevant to both my critiques, or to our sport of ultrarunning usually.
That’s the distinction between this and one thing like a shoe. A shoe is a shoe, till a brand new model comes out. This watch will get software program updates, firmware updates, issues can change, and be added over time.
Due to that, we have now to consider this as a point-in-time assessment. Additionally, this isn’t an exhaustive know-how assessment. There are a bunch of these on the market already that discuss Apple watches, their well being options, their smartwatch options.
I’m making an attempt to condense this down into — if I’m an ultrarunner, what do I take into consideration this watch? How does it match into my world? If I’m going to spend on a high-end machine to trace my runs, is that this one which is sensible, given what I do? I hope to reply that by the top of this assessment.
The Apple Watch Extremely. All images: iRunFar/Travis Liles
Apple Watch Extremely Specs and Operation
Let’s begin by wanting on the general structure of the Apple Watch Extremely. First, that is an all-titanium case. It’s 49 millimeters in diameter, and for a reference level, that’s a fairly large sports activities watch.
I’m a small individual. I’m 5 foot, 5 inches. I’m 135 kilos. I’ve bought pretty small wrists. These watches have presence, however they’re not loopy massive. For those who take a look at the 2 of those in contrast [shows two watches], that is the Garmin fēnix 7 — Sapphire Photo voltaic Version — you’ll be able to try our Garmin fēnix 7 — Sapphire Photo voltaic Version assessment, too. A lot of phrases there. And right here is the Apple Watch Extremely.
The distinction is, one’s sq. and one’s round. For a reference level, these fall on the bigger measurement of the sports-watch class. There’s rather a lot occurring right here by way of sensors, and GPS, and a much bigger battery. Particularly in the event you’ve solely used a daily Apple Watch. However the case is made out of all titanium and it’s a giant, chunky case. Titanium is a reasonably light-weight steel. It’s gentle for the scale that it’s. It has a really giant and shiny OLED display screen, which simply means blacks are actually black. For those who’ve bought an iPhone Professional, this is similar kind of display screen, clearly a lot smaller. It’s actually shiny and vivid.
By way of working the watch, you’ve gotten a few issues to work with. One is the digital crown, and it does a pair issues. One, as you’ll be able to see, it provides you a purple face, which is cool. For those who don’t need one thing tremendous shiny, you’ll be able to flip to that. For those who’re tenting or no matter, that’s a enjoyable operate to have. However the crown additionally works for scrolling by way of the apps. Once more, it is a smartwatch, so that you work together with it by way of functions. After all, it has touchscreen, in addition to the crown button.
Over right here on the fitting, there’s one other button, and that pops you into your not too long ago opened functions. Once more, you need to use that crown to scroll. Contact continues to be a reasonably respectable interplay level with this watch, and that’s undoubtedly one thing to bear in mind. For instance, if we go into the Climate app, you’ll be able to scroll by way of some data. But when I wish to return to the checklist of places, I’ve to the touch on the display screen, and hit that time to get again. So, contact is a requirement as you’re employed with this, and we’ll discuss extra about that later.
Over right here on the facet, the factor that’s completely different from the remainder of the Apple line is that this Motion button. The Motion button is, for all intents and functions, a shortcut — a deep shortcut button into the Exercise utility, in my case. Once I hit that button, it goes into the Exercise app, and now it waits for a GPS sign. That could be a operate which you could activate or flip off. It will possibly simply begin robotically whenever you hit that, or you’ll be able to wait on your sign to be totally intact. When you’ve bought that able to go, you’re good. You hit that button once more, and that can begin your exercise. Or you’ll be able to edit this button to do various things, but it surely’s successfully going to right here, and I’ve it mapped to the Exercise app. Then Outside Run is the precise type of exercise that I’ve it go to after I begin the machine.
The Apple Watch Extremely’s working mode.
Apple Watch Extremely Options
We now have a pair different issues to name out on the Apple Watch Extremely. You’ll discover these massive holes right here — it is a speaker. There are microphones on this as nicely. These act in a few features, however primarily for speaking to your voice assistant on the Apple world.
It additionally acts as a siren. You may take a cellphone name on this machine as nicely, and discuss to your wrist, which is oddly satisfying.
The display screen is made with sapphire glass, and that’s, for essentially the most half, not scratchable, or extraordinarily onerous to scratch. I’m positive there are situations, however I’ve had many sports activities watches and mechanical watches by way of the years with sapphire glass, and I don’t know of any of them that’s scratched.
Listed here are just a few notes on the straps. These straps are all detachable. That is the Path Loop right here. In all probability the one which’s most viable, I’d say, for most individuals, particularly with working. It’s stretchy. It conforms to the wrist. It’s bought stretch to it, but it surely will get a pleasant, cosy match, which implies that it locks down and get your coronary heart charge readings pretty nicely. You need it to be as darkish as may be beneath the watch to ensure that it’s doing what it must, to take these coronary heart charge readings, these pulse readings, all that kind of stuff.
They’re simply modified out. You push these little buttons right here on the backside. This one is named an Alpine Loop. I just like the aesthetic of this, that’s simply private choice right here. However they’re quite simple to vary out and in. There are many third-party choices. Apple makes a complete bunch which you could go check out, to vary the feel and appear of the machine as you see match.
Utilizing the Apple Watch Extremely to Work Out
Let’s take a look at what it’s wish to work out with the Apple Watch Extremely. For those who’re going out on your run, you hit your button. It opens the Exercise app. You may map it to about no matter you need right here, even third-party functions, which we’ll discuss in a bit. That arrow signifies that I’ve bought my GPS sign.
What I’ll say about that is, I turned on mobile as an choice, as a result of I wished to place this factor by way of the paces. So, this can use the GPS, mobile, and pedometer features. It lays down actually good GPS tracks.
Once I evaluate it to different gadgets, I’ve by no means seen any massive swings in some way by way of the standard of the observe, or dropping sign. In actual fact, it’ll even do some actually good issues. For those who’re in crowded downtown areas — as a result of Apple Maps has integration right here, like the identical one which’s in your cellphone — it will possibly fill in gaps and determine issues out.
Now, you need to use your digital crown and work your means by way of your completely different screens right here. Coronary heart charge coaching, various kinds of splits, your tempo, no matter it’s, there are a whole lot of choices right here which you could customise to make it look the best way that you really want. That is one which’s particular to elevation, and it’ll present like a chart. You then’ve bought your music choices additionally, as a result of it is a smartwatch, and you’ll simply plug your headphones in and take off from there.
What you’ll in all probability discover by way of all of that is it’s simply base-function-type monitoring. Once more, coronary heart charge, all that data, shall be precisely such as you anticipate it to be. It tracks. It provides you your tempo. It does an important job of preserving all that data in. If you’re accomplished, it uploads into Apple Well being. You may have a pair interplay factors right here whereas it’s taking that information. On the one facet, let’s proceed speaking about after I’ve accomplished a exercise. That goes into Health.
The exercise menu on the Apple Watch Extremely.
The way in which Health works is rather like Garmin Join. It’s similar to the Coros app, or the Suunto app, no matter you’re utilizing. This syncs that information right here, after which from right here, it decides on what to do with it.
Right here’s an instance of an Outside Run exercise. I can see my exercise time, distance, common tempo, coronary heart charge, and it’s damaged up into splits. All that information that you’d anticipate to see. Even actually attention-grabbing issues like vertical oscillations, are you off the bottom an excessive amount of or not, what’s your common cadence, floor contact, stride size. There’s a whole lot of stuff in right here to actually dig into and get details about what it’s that you just’re doing.
The opposite facet although, is what about sharing this information? On the social facet of issues, you’ll be able to sync all this data to Strava. It actually goes by way of this setting right here, which is your machine settings. You simply join Apple Well being. When you try this, all the exercises add into Strava within the background. You may inform it to do its factor. As a result of the watch has Wi-Fi and mobile, it’s a really fast course of.
There’s slightly little bit of the app interface. Mainly, you’ve bought all that wealthy information, similar to you’ve gotten on all of your different apps which are on the market, once more, like Garmin Join or the Coros app. For getting that information after which for sharing that externally, it will possibly go to these different functions. I’m utilizing Strava like I feel nearly all of individuals are, however there are different platforms, and also you simply have to see if Apple Well being is a sync goal.
Apple Watch Extremely Security and Navigation
Let’s discuss security. The Apple Watch Extremely is a smartwatch, so it has mobile connectivity. Due to that, it has attention-grabbing ideas not in different sport watches in the marketplace.
You already know, the Apple commercials you’ve seen the place a man runs into the again of a automobile and his watch says, “I detect a crash.” Similar factor applies right here. It has crash and fall detection. Additionally, with this massive speaker on right here, it really has a siren inbuilt and I’ll hit that in 3, 2, 1. [Beeping siren sound] What that does is, in the event you fall or get damage, you’ve bought this siren, versus continuously screaming, you’ll be able to set that, flip it on, and it beeps constantly. The siren, and the frequency, and the loudness, and the way it cascades and goes up and goes down — that’s speculated to be consideration grabbing. It’s not as loud as a whistle, but it surely does continuously go, it takes the “you” out of getting to continuously blow into one thing. You may really flip that siren on and it does that for you. It’s bought mobile, and due to that, if by probability I crashed right into a tree — I really had a coworker do that on his bike. His Apple Watch known as for an emergency, and he bought pulled out due to that.
The opposite factor I’ll name out right here is the Compass app. For those who take a look at any Apple advertising, you’ll see the place you need to use the Compass app’s Backtrack function. I can hit that and mainly begin laying down a footpath. Or I can go into the all app display screen, and discover my approach to Compass. You may see why that motion button is de facto useful in there.
Leaping to the display screen, and this has a few features which are which are constructed into it. One is that Backtrack operate. As a observe, this watch doesn’t lay down a observe for you robotically. If you begin a run, you’re working within the Exercise app. It’s monitoring your tempo, it’s monitoring your distance, it’s laying down a map within the background, however it isn’t laying down a map which you could, if by probability you are taking a unsuitable flip, return and observe. There are triggers within the Compass app that can search for connection. When’s the final time it was capable of discuss to mobile, and different issues, or discuss to your cellphone over mobile, after which will supposedly lay down a pin. However essentially the most surefire approach to be sure to have a Backtrack is actually to return into this app that’s Compass. Begin that, and lay down this Backtrack.
You are able to do attention-grabbing issues within this app. It permits for scrolling proper out and in. I don’t get a whole lot of data right here essentially. Consider it extra as a, because the crow flies, as the best way the info is introduced on right here. And actually, I can lay down, you already know, numerous factors of curiosity and such to return to a spot. If I parked my automobile, it often leaves a parked automobile spot by default. However in case you begin at a trailhead that’s farther away, you possibly can lay that down and return to it.
However it lacks within the particulars of data. You don’t get a lot in means of contour. It’s primarily only a line. It doesn’t provide you with intersecting information that you just’ve gone by way of, trails that you just’ve handed, or something like that. It’s very a lot simply laying down a observe as you go.
That is a kind of issues that I feel from a security standpoint, is simply too sophisticated. I’d have preferred to have seen this Compass app and the Backtrack operate like an choice to activate robotically within a exercise. As a result of in the event you don’t flip it on upfront, it doesn’t do it.
Or you must depend on a bunch of different components. It’s important to hope that it begins the Backtrack function for you. That’s one half. The second half is as a result of it’s an app, the best way that you just interface between this, if you’re misplaced on a path run, and also you wish to get again to the place you began, you’re bouncing out and in of those two. Okay, I’m again right here. I see how lengthy I’ve ran. I feel it was a couple of mile again, proper, for example. I’m going again into the Compass app. As a reference level, in case your palms are moist, or sweaty, otherwise you’re sporting gloves, all this turns into tougher to navigate by way of. However it does serve a base performance for the Backtrack. Once more, you simply wish to just be sure you bear in mind to show it on.
A facet view of the Apple Watch Extremely.
Talking of maps and Backtrack, let’s discuss what I’d say might be the biggest evident gap on this machine, because it stands. That’s the truth that you do not need maps inbuilt. You don’t lay down a observe as I discussed within the Compass half. There’s nowhere in these screens the place you’re getting the route that you just simply did, or are working. That doesn’t seem anyplace the place that line is laying down a breadcrumb behind you. Once more, until you employ that Compass operate that I simply talked about.
If you end up working a route, let’s use an instance right here of, let’s say I wish to do that out of doors run. Possibly I wish to run a route that I’ve accomplished earlier than. There is no such thing as a operate of importing a GPX file to this. For those who get a race route or one thing alongside these strains, or buddies going out on a run collectively, and also you guys are all working the identical route and put that in your watch. Otherwise you’re going someplace you don’t know. That’s not a base operate of the watch.
What it does have is that this means to hint a route that you just’ve already run. You may see right here, scrolling by way of, there are a few routes that from my home shall be part of this that I’ve accomplished up to now. The set off is de facto easy. You’ve needed to have accomplished the route a number of occasions, I consider twice, after which you must be near that begin spot. When you do, it presents itself.
This menu solely consists of those couple of routes right here, after I’m near the start line. Then when you’re in it, it solely tells you in the event you’re off track. It doesn’t let you know how you can get again on to it. That’s one of many main misses, I feel, because it pertains to path working, is there isn’t any performance out of field for this machine to provide you that mapping that you really want.
Then there’s a giant a part of my day-to-day coaching that it information nicely. You’ve bought the Compass app. It’s simply all type of clunky, bouncing out and in of a few completely different locations.
Apple Watch Extremely Smartwatch Options
What I didn’t anticipate with the Apple Watch Extremely was that the smartwatch options would play fairly as massive a task as they did. I didn’t anticipate the extent of “wow” that I, for lack of a greater time period, skilled from utilizing this watch day by day. I feel that’s the true energy of that is, you already know, what it lacks in these different areas for, it makes up for within the smartwatch facet of issues. You already know, I’ve every thing I want with me. If I wish to verify into my flight, it’s on my watch. If I wish to, discover out the place my automobile is parked, this factor remembers the place it was. It’s a smartwatch, proper, and that’s what you’re getting. You’re getting all of this actually nice — let’s name it shopper, or high quality of life — stuff that’s inbuilt, like messaging, and mindfulness. There’s simply a lot right here — Spotify, the information, I can use my e-mail from work. There’s simply all these actually nice issues which are right here for me to make the most of, that I can look by way of actually simply, and see all my stuff. I can obtain these on the fly. I can take and make cellphone calls by way of it. I pays for meals.
Once more, what this watch lacks within the different half, I used to be mesmerized, if you’ll, with the opposite features that got here in with it that I wasn’t anticipating. If you evaluate that to one thing just like the Garmin equal, you notice simply how binary these kinds of gadgets are because it pertains to the smartwatch operate. These two will not be even in the identical ballpark, proper? This could settle for a name or deny a name. This may give me a notification that somebody despatched me a textual content. I may even learn that textual content, however I can’t actually reply in a full constancy means. I’m caught with a sure or a no, or pre-canned-type of data.
This, to me, was actually an sudden profit, I feel, of what got here out of utilizing a smartwatch. That’s that I didn’t must have my cellphone with me on a regular basis. There was a degree of freedom there that was simply sudden. If you pair this with headphones for example, it’s proper there in your wrist. Going out for my run, I can rapidly swipe over, seize my music, and join it to no matter headphones that I might need. Once more, something with Bluetooth connects proper up. I can begin listening to that, and if somebody calls, I get the decision.
Just like the workflow, or lack thereof, is fairly engaging. I’d say at the same time as somebody that’s in know-how, that didn’t historically use this, I used to be very a lot impressed with the mixing. You’ve bought to be within the Apple ecosystem to actually make the most of it. However lots of people in america and past are. That’s one thing to bear in mind.
A again view of the Apple Watch Extremely.
Apple Watch Extremely Use with Exterior Apps
The very last thing that I wish to discuss is filling the hole with the Apple Watch Extremely. What do I imply by that? Nicely, I discussed the shortage of maps subject, and what a giant miss for me. However I discovered apps on-line that fill that hole. There are a few apps that work rather well, and the one I’ll discuss right here is WorkOutDoors.
WorkOutDoors is mainly a full-blown sport watch utility. And also you get to decide on what it’s that you just’re doing. However the place this fills the hole is on this map. This map space allows you to go in your cellphone, choose a location, add that map. It sends over the tiles, after which you’ll be able to add a route from beneath. We are able to go to settings. I can hit one in every of my routes. I’ve one in every of them on right here. The Nasty Junior is the identify of my route. I can drop that route on there. Now it’s chosen. If I head again right here to my map. Alright, we are able to see this route is on the watch. Now I can actually go right here. I can park. It’ll give me turn-by-turn instructions, the maps there, all of the stuff that was lacking earlier than, is right here.
There are a few completely different apps that use this, and there’s completely different ways in which you are able to do this. I’ve talked a complete lot about core performance. That is the distinction right here, between [the Garmin fēnix 7 — Sapphire Solar Edition] and [the Apple Watch Ultra.] If [the Garmin] doesn’t have what you need, you’re caught, proper? On the Apple watch, you’ll be able to change screens. You are able to do this, you are able to do that. This factor actually has 1000’s of apps that you need to use to make the machine work in a means that matches for you. The WorkOutDoors app is a first-rate instance of how that occurs.
What I’ll level out although, is that it’s a third-party utility. What meaning is that you just’re reliant on updates from this app. You’re reliant on, you already know, it sustaining the identical battery requirements because the Apple Exercise app does, and people varieties of issues. I discovered that to be the case, but it surely’s one thing to consider, as a result of it’s not the native operate of the machine to do the varieties of issues. At the least the mapping in the best way that that is, however in the event you really need plenty of screens and completely different choices in your watch, I’d suggest this to take a look at. I’ve no monetary curiosity or something like that.
There’s a few different apps that permit for drawing of routes, and people varieties of issues. However this one let me get the screens I wished. It let me do the mapping that I wished, and allowed me to get nearer, if you’ll, to the Garmin, which I’ve bought very snug with, due to having that map information all the time out there. If you’re off the grid, or at the very least out of mobile vary, this, to me, was a sport changer by way of utilizing the machine.
The clock face on the Apple Watch Extremely.
Apple Watch Extremely Total Impressions
In closing, what’s my ultimate impression of the Apple Watch Extremely? If the query is, do you have to purchase this watch versus a high-end Garmin, Coros, Polar, or Suunto — it’s not a straightforward reply. That’s not typically the reply that individuals wish to hear.
However it actually depends upon what it’s that you just want. This machine has been actually nice for Monday by way of Friday. Once I know what I’m doing, after I know what I’m moving into, after I want to have the ability to probably take a cellphone name as a result of my oldest daughter must come up with me whereas she’s watching my youngest daughter, or the college has to name me, or one thing occurs. I’m out and about as a result of I’ve bought a free afternoon to go for a run. I can nonetheless be related to work. I can obtain a podcast. I can take heed to music. I’ve entry to do what I have to do, and nonetheless be related with out having to hold a cellphone in my again pocket, or placed on a waistbelt, to have that storage.
That’s a really liberating feeling that you just simply don’t get with common GPS watches. Sure, different watches in the marketplace permit for notifications and light-weight interactions. However I can actually take a cellphone name on this watch by placing my wrist as much as my mouth. I can have earbuds on, and I can ship out a textual content message. That could be a feeling of freedom and engagement that, on one hand, is perhaps too related. However alternatively is like, Wow, I see how that is nice.
The place it misses is all of the maps. I don’t belief what it has on it for maps, the shortage of the flexibility to place a GPX file on there and observe a route natively, I simply don’t have the consolation in that third-party ecosystem. I need that to be a core operate of the watch. As of proper now, it isn’t.
Once more, you are able to do it. I’m positive people will say, “You are able to do that like this.” I’ve used this app, and I did it. I simply have apprehension about it, as a result of it feels prefer it must be there, and it feels prefer it must be a much bigger a part of the package deal.
So, the place to go together with that? For those who’re an Apple person, clearly that’s a step in. For those who’ve been utilizing an Apple Look ahead to coaching and also you suppose, I might actually simply use higher battery life, or perhaps you need one thing extra rugged, additionally an choice. Or in the event you’re coming from that entry degree watch area, and now you’re making an attempt to suppose, Do I need this Apple Watch that’s a smartwatch, that does all these things, that may observe my runs? Or do I need this Garmin or Coros that may observe all my runs?
It comes right down to this. Would you like a sports activities watch that has some smartwatch performance, or would you like a smartwatch that has some sport watch performance?
This can be a smartwatch first. You may inform that by the best way that you just work together with it, by the touch-first design, by bouncing out and in of apps, by the best way that the Compass app is disconnected from the run program within the Exercise app, and you must bounce forwards and backwards if you wish to use these two independently. If it’s moist otherwise you’re sweaty, use points might include that. How typically does that occur? These are questions to bear in mind as you’re fascinated with shopping for this.
Whereas these different watches are constructed sport first. My location is already there, the map is getting laid down as I run, and I don’t have to fret about sweating. They’ve contact, however my predominant interplay is thru buttons that I can simply navigate up and down. However then I can’t simply stroll away from the home and never take my cellphone. I’ve to be related. I can’t obtain music as I’m going.
In order that’s your determination level. As a result of you will get by way of a very long-distance race utilizing this Apple Watch Extremely. You may even use the outdated battery trick, the place you plug it in whilst you’re going, and it retains recording. That each one is there to do and have. However how a lot fuss would you like?
For me, at this level, I’m extra of a set it and neglect it. I wish to begin my watch. I wish to know that it’s working. I need to have the ability to look down. I need to have the ability to see that my map is obtainable to me. I don’t wish to have to consider, like, Did I begin this? Did I begin that? Will my battery final for twenty-four, 30 hours, no matter that quantity may be. That’s the choice level for me.
However in the event you’re solely doing that a few times a 12 months, then it is a fairly superior setup. That is the query: the place would you like your performance to go?
I’ll shut with this. That is model one in every of this watch. Apple is a big firm. They’ve a market cap of shut to a few trillion {dollars}. They’ve bought plenty of analysis and growth, and many issues that they’ll do. In a standard Apple sense, they work their means into issues slowly, after which change into the usual. Will that occur right here? That’s onerous to say. However foundationally you’ll be able to see the place that is going, and know that that may be a firm that has deep sufficient pockets that if they’re so excited by actually going all in, they’ve that means to take action.
[Editor’s Note: Again, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 releases in September, 2023, and we’ll be testing it just as soon as we can get our hands on it. It appears that the most significant changes to the Apple Watch Ultra 2 are a new chip, new sensors, and a brighter screen. According to Apple, we’ll see the same battery life and lack of native mapping abilities in the second version.]
You too can verify our information to the Greatest GPS Working Watches to see how we in contrast the Apple Watch Extremely with different market leaders.
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Name for Feedback
So, with that stated, questions? Feedback? Are you utilizing a smartwatch on your coaching? Do you’ve gotten these splits that you concentrate on? What’s your machine of alternative proper now and why? Depart these within the feedback under. Thanks for watching. We’ll catch you subsequent time.
[Editor’s Note: If you’re affiliated (i.e., an employee, ambassador, etc.) with a brand, please share your relation in each of your comments on this article. Thanks!]
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