freeassociate2

Just another faceless crustacean dog-toy. 

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  • Apple's new 'pro' Thunderbolt 4 and six-foot USB-C cables are bad, and you shouldn't buy t...

    freeassociate2freeassociate2
    Mike Wuerthele said:
    mretondo said:
    OMG the Belkin and Plugable cables are not Thunderbolt cables they're USB4 cables. The USB4 logo are printed on the cables.
    OMG they still work as Thunderbolt cables, and will charge devices better than long active Thunderbolt 3 cables.
    The Thunderbolt “4” symbol is also there in the Amazon pics for the Plugable cable. Haven’t dug into the specs, but all my TB4 cables from them have the number on them, while the strictly USB-C cables have the throughput (10, 40, 100, etc) on them.

    IMPORTANT: If you get longer cables for your docks and hubs keep your old ones where you can get to them. Service techs will often ask you to use the original (or same brand) cables during diagnostics. Both OWC and Plugable have requested this from me, in the past.

    Of note, both companies have good customer service, in my experience. But I prefer Plugable in general. Especially since OWC’s pricing for SoftRaid XT updates has become ridiculous — more than Office, Parallels, and many other software packages.
    Alex1Nwatto_cobra

  • Apple's new 'pro' Thunderbolt 4 and six-foot USB-C cables are bad, and you shouldn't buy t...

    freeassociate2freeassociate2
    Mike Wuerthele said:
    dewme said:
    When I see “bad” in the title I equate that with a functional deficiency. Maybe “overpriced” or “ridiculously overpriced” or “a bad deal” would be more appropriate since the cables do work as intended, but at a price that only true believers would find acceptable.
    This is addressed in the lede.
    No, it’s buried in the lede, which is an old and ethically questionable journalistic trick.

    The article doesn’t actually get to a legitimate spec to price critique until the fourth paragraph. 
    Alex1Nwilliamlondontenthousandthingsunbeliever2watto_cobra

  • Inexplicably, there are two indistinguishable models of second generation AirPods Pro

    freeassociate2freeassociate2
    Or you could just look at the model number under the buds (if no battery is left) or the serial in Bluetooth if there is power (touch the serial # in iOS 17 to see the case, left earpice, then right, in order).
    FileMakerFellerwatto_cobra

  • Apple TV+ MLS Season Pass subscription discounted to $29

    freeassociate2freeassociate2
    Japhey said:
    Sportsball:

    “A word used by many, which is often caused by prolonged lack of sun exposure and/or lack of outdoor activity. Users often feel a sense of wit or grandeur when using this word, due to the fact that they are too “intelligent” to play or be interested in sports, so they feel the need to ridicule anyone that does.”

    -Urban Dictionary

    Or maybe it’s just the folks that love sports, but refuse to spend money on the massively corrupt and abusive pro sports industry or engage with its toxic cult-like fan base. There’s a thought.

    Xedchasm

  • Apple will frame iPhone 15 USB-C switch as a consumer win

    freeassociate2freeassociate2
    designr said:
    harrykatsaros said:
    darkvader said:
    It IS a consumer win.

    And it's a win we wouldn't have gotten if the EU hadn't forced Apple to do it.
    90% of consumers who are upgrading from an earlier iPhone will not feel this way. That’s suddenly a whole sh*t ton of cables and accessories and money invested into the ecosystem over the years, that are all suddenly rendered useless. Having to start over and re-buy these things will not be looked at positively.
    I suspect you're overstating the magnitude of this issue.

    I know, personally, I don't have that many Lightning cables. Certainly not enough that an upgrade to a phone without it will cause me to kvetch much (if at all).
    And then you have households like mine, that have 30+ lightening cables that will become e-waste during the next product cycle. We have them in cars, by bedsides, by workstations (some of us test mobile), in the living room, and kitchen, then a few for travel.

    Then there are the card readers, splitters, and AV dongles. Not quite as bad as the shift from 30-pin, but still significant.

    So, while maybe not maybe not effecting 90% of owners, I’m willing to bet it will be a high percentage. We’ll know how much when people buy aftermarket replacements.

    We’re lucky in that I own a couple of each type of USB-C compatible cables (right down to USB-2.0) for testing. But that was no small chunk of change. I’m hoping that the USB-C devices I have primarily for Mac/Linux/Win will largely be compatible. So far that’s been the case for our USB-C iPads.

    Still, the point remains; while in the past we’ve updated and adaptered in response to market and technological changes that have a clear benefit — this is the first time we’re doing so due to the dictates of a governmental agency that has muddied value. (Any one know if they forced all device makers to be USB-C compliant, i.e. car makers, cameras, TVs, AV equipment, game consoles, GPS units, and those millions of day-to-day devices still being produced with charge-only micro-USB? I did notice they didn’t force-sunset USB-A cable ends, even though there’s probably an electrical efficiency case to be made there.)

    Personally, I think the EU would have been better off looking at improving its larger waste streams and levels of real recycling. You know, innovating and leading by example and all that stuff. 
    williamhS8ER95Zjibwatto_cobra