AppleInsider is supported by its audience and may earn commission as an Amazon Associate and affiliate partner on qualifying purchases. These affiliate partnerships do not influence our editorial content. Apple this week posted repairability scores for flagship iPhone and Mac products in France, a measure mandated by the country's government in January. The listings, known as repair indexes, are now displayed on official Apple Store app purchase pages and on Apple's website, reports MacGeneration . Current-generation flagship devices including the iPhone 12 , iPhone 11 and iPhone SE series, as well as MacBook Pro and MacBook Air models, carry the informational mark designed to offer insight into a product's life cycle. Separately, Apple has posted a dedicated webpage on its French website with links to detailed repair index reports covering documentation; disassembly, access and tools; parts availability; parts pricing; and software and services support. … [Read more...] about Apple now displays iPhone and Mac repairability scores in France
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Apple reportedly cuts iPhone 12 mini production amid tepid demand
AppleInsider is supported by its audience and may earn commission as an Amazon Associate and affiliate partner on qualifying purchases. These affiliate partnerships do not influence our editorial content. Apple has informed partner suppliers that it has reduced iPhone 12 mini production plans for the first half of 2021, with manufacturing of some specialty parts suspended altogether, according to a report on Wednesday. Citing industry sources familiar with the matter, Nikkei reports major suppliers were recently informed of the production shift that marks a change in Apple's procurement strategy. Prior to the reported downward revision, the tech giant was aggressively buying semiconductors, printed circuit boards and displays amid a worldwide parts shortage. Apple is targeting output at around 75 million iPhone units for the first half of 2021, down 20% from December 2020, the report says. Much of that downgrade is blamed on iPhone 12 mini. Nikkei sources note … [Read more...] about Apple reportedly cuts iPhone 12 mini production amid tepid demand
USB 3, USB 4, Thunderbolt, & USB-C — everything you need to know
Feature AppleInsider is supported by its audience and may earn commission as an Amazon Associate and affiliate partner on qualifying purchases. These affiliate partnerships do not influence our editorial content. With the varieties of USB and Thunderbolt terminology floating about, as well as new versions being adopted by Apple and other device producers, sorting out the mess can be a problem. Here's what you need to know about USB 3, USB 4, Thunderbolt 3, and Thunderbolt 4. For most users, there are two general families of multi-purpose connections: USB and Thunderbolt. Both have their benefits and their foibles, as well as sharing many characteristics, but the two technology trees are, largely, quite different. If you don't read any further, here's your main takeaway: The term "USB-C" by itself doesn't specify anything for data, charging, or video beyond the physicality of the connector. But, as you might expect, there are a lot of details behind USB … [Read more...] about USB 3, USB 4, Thunderbolt, & USB-C — everything you need to know
PSA: Thunderbolt 3 cables longer than 0.5m generally don’t support USB 3.1 speeds
AppleInsider is supported by its audience and may earn commission as an Amazon Associate and affiliate partner on qualifying purchases. These affiliate partnerships do not influence our editorial content. USB-C is the future of computer connectivity, but there is a great deal of confusion over USB-C, Thunderbolt 3, USB 3.1, and what any given cable with USB-C connectors is capable of. AppleInsider breaks it all down. Apple introduced USB-C to its user base with the retina 12-inch MacBook. At the time, it was a fancy USB port limited to USB 3.0 speeds of 5Gbit per second, and was officially called USB 3.1 Type-C Generation 1. The same physical port was used in the 2016 MacBook Pro refresh, offering a faster, more capable Thunderbolt 3 port with the same USB-C physical connector. The Thunderbolt 3 protocol allows for 40Gbit per second — assuming the cabling for it is right. But, right now, confusion reigns — and a simple choice that Apple made in the 2016 … [Read more...] about PSA: Thunderbolt 3 cables longer than 0.5m generally don’t support USB 3.1 speeds
Apple silicon Macs to support Thunderbolt despite shift to ARM
AppleInsider is supported by its audience and may earn commission as an Amazon Associate and affiliate partner on qualifying purchases. These affiliate partnerships do not influence our editorial content. Apple on Wednesday clarified its stance on future integration of Intel's Thunderbolt protocol, saying Macs powered by custom-designed Apple silicon ARM chips will continue to support the connectivity technology. The tech giant in a statement to AppleInsider said Apple silicon Macs will support Thunderbolt's latest specifications. Thunderbolt's future on Mac was in question as Apple is in the beginning stages of transitioning away from Intel's x86 architecture in favor of its own ARM designs. "Over a decade ago, Apple partnered with Intel to design and develop Thunderbolt, and today our customers enjoy the speed and flexibility it brings to every Mac," the company said. "We remain committed to the future of Thunderbolt and will support it in Macs with Apple … [Read more...] about Apple silicon Macs to support Thunderbolt despite shift to ARM
USB 4 is here, and is essentially Thunderbolt 3
AppleInsider is supported by its audience and may earn commission as an Amazon Associate and affiliate partner on qualifying purchases. These affiliate partnerships do not influence our editorial content. After a tease in March, the USB Implementation Forum has declared that it has completed the USB 4 standard, implementing the USB-C connector, plus 40Gbps speed and other features of Thunderbolt 3. The USB Implementers Forum has announced that revealed USB 4 is finalized for wide deployment. While the implementation of USB 4 by vendors may be a long time away from happening, the draft specification itself is expected to be published later in 2019. The specification spans Thunderbolt 3, as chip producer Intel has contributed Thunderbolt 3 to the group. The inclusion will effectively make it easier for vendors to produce devices using the technology at a cheaper rate than at present, and possibly without any of the current confusion of USB and Thunderbolt 3 … [Read more...] about USB 4 is here, and is essentially Thunderbolt 3
USB-C cable shopping for an iPad or Thunderbolt 3 Mac is still a nightmare for consumers
Feature AppleInsider is supported by its audience and may earn commission as an Amazon Associate and affiliate partner on qualifying purchases. These affiliate partnerships do not influence our editorial content. USB-C is the future of computer connectivity, but in the two years we've been using it there remains a great deal of confusion over USB-C, Thunderbolt 3, USB 3.1, and what any given cable with USB-C connectors is capable of. AppleInsider breaks it all down again, makes some specific cable recommendations, and talks about why we think it isn't the last time we're going to have this conversation. Apple introduced USB-C to its user base with the Retina 12-inch MacBook. At the time, it was in essence a basic USB port that could power the Mac from an external source, yet limited to USB 3.0 speeds of 5Gbit per second. It was officially called USB 3.1 type C Generation 1. The same physical port was used in the 2016 MacBook Pro refresh, offering a … [Read more...] about USB-C cable shopping for an iPad or Thunderbolt 3 Mac is still a nightmare for consumers
Everything you need to know about USB-C & Thunderbolt 3 on Apple’s new MacBook Pro
Feature AppleInsider is supported by its audience and may earn commission as an Amazon Associate and affiliate partner on qualifying purchases. These affiliate partnerships do not influence our editorial content. Apple has decisively transitioned its new MacBook Pros to use the slim, unidirectional new USB-C port first introduced on the Retina MacBook a year and a half ago. Its latest MacBook Pro machines not only supply more connectors, but also support the enhanced new USB 3.1 Gen 2 and Thunderbolt 3 protocols for blazing fast wired connectivity and high resolution displays. Flex your power Like the Retina MacBook, the new MacBook Pro models no longer use MagSafe, Apple's quick release magnetic plug for delivering power. Power is now delivered via USB-C, which fits snuggly enough to pull your laptop off the edge of a table if something inadvertently tugs the cable hard enough. While many are weeping over the death of their beloved MagSafe, I've … [Read more...] about Everything you need to know about USB-C & Thunderbolt 3 on Apple’s new MacBook Pro
Deals: BenQ knocks $100 off popular USB-C monitors for your Mac
Enhance your Mac setup with an external display from BenQ during the company's sale event that knocks $100 off 27-inch and 32-inch USB-C monitors at leading retailers. BenQ USB-C display deals With two options to choose from at $100 off — the 27-inch EW2780U and the 32-inch EW3280U — the 4K displays can complement your M1 Mac setup without breaking the bank. Each monitor has a USB-C port that offers data transfer and 60W power delivery to use alongside Mac notebooks. Multiple retailers are offering the triple-digit BenQ discount, including Adorama, B&H Photo and Amazon, with units in stock and ready to ship. There are plenty of Mac deals going on now too, so if you need a new system to go with one of the displays, this $599 M1 Mac mini deal and $1,179 MacBook Pro promotion deliver the lowest Apple prices on newly released models. BenQ EW2780U 27" 4K IPS Monitor: $449.99 ($100 off) [Available at Adorama , B&H Photo Video , Amazon ] … [Read more...] about Deals: BenQ knocks $100 off popular USB-C monitors for your Mac
Sharp to build factory in Vietnam
Sharp to build factory in Vietnam The Saigon Times Daily A logo of Sharp Corp is pictured at the 2016 Combined Exhibition of Advanced Technologies in Japan. Sharp plans to build a new factory in Vietnam – PHOTO: REUTERS HCMC – Japanese electronics giant Sharp has announced that it will build a new factory in Vietnam after scrapping a plan to produce automotive liquid crystal displays for the U.S. market in China. Specifically, the factory is planned to be built in the outlying area of HCMC and is expected to be put into operation next year. Sharp did not disclose the cost of building the factory. However, Japan’s Nikkei newspaper had earlier reported that Sharp would establish a subsidiary in Vietnam with initial capital of 2.7 billion yen, equivalent to US$25 million, in February next year. Sharp Vice President Katsuaki Nomura stated that the factory in Vietnam is aimed at avoiding new tariffs that could be imposed on its products exported stateside amid … [Read more...] about Sharp to build factory in Vietnam