stompy

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stompy
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  • M1X Mac mini with more ports could launch within months

    stompystompy
    MplsP said:
    stompy said:
    darkpaw said:
    I don't get why we'd ever need MagSafe on a desktop computer? For a laptop, great; someone comes along and treads on the cable, it pulls it out without breaking the port on the laptop or pulling the laptop to the floor, and the laptop continues running on battery power.
    Apple describes the M1 iMac magnetic power connector as "A power connector that easily attaches via magnets", where (retired) MacBook MagSafe was an easily disconnected magnetic power connection. I get that it's easy to conflate the two, most people did when Apple introduced the 2021 iMac; adding to that, Apple has never said "Hey, this isn't MagSafe".

    The day the iMac went on sale, reviewer Jason Snell compared the new iMac power cord to the old: "In practical terms, the force required to yank the magnetic power cable off the iMac is the same force required to yank the current iMac’s plastic power plug out of its socket."

    Unless we're going to start referring to non-magnetic designs as "FrictionSafe", we should agree to only call products MagSafe that Apple calls MagSafe.
    So what’s the point of using magnets, then, especially for a desktop. How often do you plug/unplug a desktop’s power cord? Was the cord for the imac really that difficult or an issue in any way? Nope. Magnets are just a more expensive (and resource intensive) way of doing the same thing. 
    When Apple engineers decided to make a thin iMac, they created a litany of problems for themselves that they decided to solve with new ideas.
    One "point" of the iMac's magnetic power connector is it's depth: it is significantly shallower than a standard 3 prong port/plug, solving one of these self-created problems.
    (Why don't you show us how a standard power port/plug would look on a 2021 iMac? ;)  )

    FWIW, I never defended Apple's engineering exercises, I only pointed out that the iMac doesn't have "MagSafe" -- this connector is designed to stay connected until you want it disconnected.
    fastasleepcgWerkswilliamlondon

  • M1X Mac mini with more ports could launch within months

    stompystompy
    darkpaw said:
    I don't get why we'd ever need MagSafe on a desktop computer? For a laptop, great; someone comes along and treads on the cable, it pulls it out without breaking the port on the laptop or pulling the laptop to the floor, and the laptop continues running on battery power.
    Apple describes the M1 iMac magnetic power connector as "A power connector that easily attaches via magnets", where (retired) MacBook MagSafe was an easily disconnected magnetic power connection. I get that it's easy to conflate the two, most people did when Apple introduced the 2021 iMac; adding to that, Apple has never said "Hey, this isn't MagSafe".

    The day the iMac went on sale, reviewer Jason Snell compared the new iMac power cord to the old: "In practical terms, the force required to yank the magnetic power cable off the iMac is the same force required to yank the current iMac’s plastic power plug out of its socket."

    Unless we're going to start referring to non-magnetic designs as "FrictionSafe", we should agree to only call products MagSafe that Apple calls MagSafe.
    patchythepiratekurai_kagewilliamlondonfastasleepcgWerksTRAGFileMakerFellerwatto_cobra

  • Apple walks back macOS Monterey tab changes, refines search in iOS

    stompystompy
    "Users who are a fan of the Monterey-style search bar can still enable the user interface design in the View menu."

    Is there any such person, not counting Apple employees?
    williamlondondavgreg

  • AirTag used by Boston police to recover stolen bike

    stompystompy
    p-dog said:
    I have one installed on my bicycle using a hidden mount. I also performed surgery on that AirTag to remove its speaker. I don’t want any sound to tip off a thief that there is a tracker on my bicycle.
    Both good/necessary for improving your odds. I've seen one disguised as a reflector that might escape notice.
    watto_cobra

  • EU says smarthome 'gatekeepers' like Apple may harm competition

    stompystompy
    chaicka said:
    Gosh...I have been on Z-Wave and ZigBee products for years and honestly, the lack of deep investment on R&D to improve the shortfalls and expand functionalities to be more holistic matching lifestyles and use-cases of its audience have driven me away from them progressively....

    And these IoT players blame the big tech firms for their failures to invest in R&D, expand its talent pools, etc to compete when they have head-start for years (if not for a decade)? Yet, when they have investors fundings during the beginning years, they spent huge on (somewhat false or never materialise) marketing, nice trips and benefits, paying the top execs handsomely, etc.

    And that's anti-competitive behaviour? Wow...this era's leaders and regulators sure amaze me every now and then.
    Agree 100%. At some point, all the competing smart home technologies became a barrier to entry. Imagine a non-nerd trying to set up their home with multiple, competing smart home products.

    The EU, apparently, would like to kneecap any company(ies) that want to help consumers out of the current "smarthome" mess.
    watto_cobra