cmka~+

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cmka~+
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  • Hands on: $249 CalDigit Thunderbolt Station 3 Plus is a great port expander for new MacBoo...

    cmka~+cmka~+
    So I just got in a reply from the wonderful folks at Caldigit regarding my in query about how the USB ports do or don't share busses: "The short answer is that there are a total of 3 USB buses for a total of 7 USB ports. The USB-C 3.1 Gen 2 + 1 USB-A is on one bus. 3 Rear USB-As are on the 2nd bus. Front USB-A and USB-C are on the 3rd bus. "
    lorin schultzfastasleep

  • Apple in 2019 and the case of the expensive iPhone

    cmka~+cmka~+
    Interesting analysis. 

    From a consumer point of view I think when apple has been at its best, it has brought a class of product with a level of functionality, reliability, fit, and finish, that couldn't be gotten elsewhere at any price. The original iPods and early iPhones were clear examples of this. When they came out they were an order of magnitude more expensive than alternative products, and orders of magnitude better (think $50 CD player or fully subsidized flip phone). 

    Even in the computer space where differences in spec value proposition have often been very narrow margins between competing models, people are often willing to pay a little more for a product that has a reliable track record, and–to invoke Marie Kondo–sparks joy.

    But the fit-and-finish (or joy-spark) premium has its limits.

    While I still prefer apple designs, competitors are closing the fit and finish gap, and while the processors in the current iPhones are quite arguably the best in class, the value added proposition of feature set in the high end models doesn't set apple apart in the way that it used to. Meanwhile on the computer side of things, while apple goes through apparent cycles of paying any attention at all to this side of the business, they haven't had a truly compellingly competitive new model in some time. 

    The premium on apple products is best justified by the consumer when they really stand out as premium products in and of themselves, and the current lineup just doesn't meet that bar IMHO.
    elijahgalbegarcmuthuk_vanalingam78Banditpairof9kitatitaaronsullivankestral

  • Dropbox won't be able to sync to external drives on macOS

    cmka~+cmka~+
    anoylla said:
    "I strongly dislike the facelift of System Preferences in Ventura. Older is better." I totally agree! If the purpose of updates is to make users' lives easier, then one thing is certain, System Preferences (System Settings in Ventura) has made users' lives a nightmare.
    I wouldn't say older is intrinsically better, but it does feel like the apple faithful are being asked to accept a number of downgrades of late, in the name of... progress? the new system preferences is a prime (if relatively innocuous) example of this. 

    Snazzy labs has a great segment on this tucked away in another video: 
    williamlondonmuthuk_vanalingamjdw

  • Dropbox won't be able to sync to external drives on macOS

    cmka~+cmka~+
    Anyone know if Sync.com will be affected? doesn't seem like their end to end encryption would be compatible with this new API
    williamlondonwatto_cobra

  • Rode Wireless Pro review: Impressive features, superb audio quality

    cmka~+cmka~+
    Have you used any of the similar DJI systems?  If so, how do they compare?  I've seen tons of YouTubers using DJI and am curious.
    I’ve used the DJI lav mic system extensively for recording live streamed talks that later go out on YouTube and recently got the DJI mic 2 and rode pro both for a commercial shoot (location sound wasn’t a priority on that project so a boom operator and mixer weren’t hired)

    TLDR: DJI for run and gun; rode for more controlled situations.

    The sound quality in the rode is indeed better, but the biggest trade-off comes in the fact that with the DJI you can access all settings on the receiver’s touch screen. With rode many things have to be pre-configured using the phone or computer app. (The letter of which kept crashing on the latest Mac OS beta)

    as I’m most likely to use these on solo operator gigs that makes it a tough call for me. For my own work I’d probably go with the rode but on set when I had to make things work fast while being pulled in other directions I went with the DJI.

    rode also has timecode, which is a great feature in more pro use cases but it can only be a source which makes its efficacy limited.

    some YouTubers like that when using the built in mics in the rode you can close the case even with the windscreens on, while you can’t wth the mics in the DJI charging case. moot if using wired lav mics) 

    the charging case for DJI is a bit sleeker but doesn’t support data transfer in case like the rode does.

    some of the auto noise filtering features in DJI are good for quick and dirty turn around but it’s nothing you couldn’t do as well or better in Davinci resolve after the fact.

    lastly price- DJI ends up being more expensive when you ad mics. Be warned some wired lav mics introduce rf interference in the audio recording with DJI. There are whole YouTube videos on this, the Shure lav mic is a great option but maybe wasted on the DJI’s merely ok sound quality. 
    beowulfschmidt

  • iPhone 16 Camera Control is the fastest way to take a picture, says Austin Mann

    cmka~+cmka~+
    For a sec I thought this headline was like a hipster version of “Florida Man” 😝
    nubusapple4thewinwatto_cobra

  • iPhone 15 Pro Max review six months later: Still an exciting upgrade

    cmka~+cmka~+
    AppleInsider said:



    I also missed the larger screen more than we expected, and the battery life was incredible. [. . .] I go through phases where we just... forget it exists.

    I really appreciate this review but I have to say the first person plural for such a personal device and review felt forced, and was particularly distracting when toggling between singular and plural, sometimes in the same clause.
    watto_cobra