code: private byte[] getPayloadAsBytesUnchecked() throws Exception {
  		byte[] bytes = null;
  		try {
  			bytes = toString().getBytes(characterEncoding);
  		} catch (Exception ex) {
  			bytes = toString().getBytes();
  		}
  		return bytes;
  	}
docs: Get this payload as a byte array using the preconfigured character encoding.
  This method does NOT check if the payload exceeds the maximum payload length.
  
  @return byte[] bytes ready to be streamed directly to Apple servers (but that might exceed the maximum size limit)