Ipod touch

Feature With the varieties of USB and Thunderbolt terminology floating about, as well as new versions on the horizon, 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 3, USB 4, Thunderbolt 3, Thunderbolt 4, and how they pertain to the USB-C connector. USB, USB 2.0, USB 3.0, USB 3.1, USB 3.2 Originally released in 1996, the USB (Universal Serial Bus) standard is the older of the two connection types, … [Read more...] about USB 3, USB 4, Thunderbolt, & USB-C — everything you need to know

Intel on Wednesday announced new details about its upcoming Thunderbolt 4 standard, though compatibility with Apple silicon Macs remains to be seen. The Thunderbolt 4 standard will be backward compatible with previous Intel ports and cables, and will also be cross-compatible with USB4 . Compared to Thunderbolt 3 , it'll offer a number of tangible benefits to consumers while retaining the USB-C connector type. For example, it'll allow for universal cables up to two meters long without needing to resort to active cables that leave out older USB standards. Thunderbolt 4 will also support accessories, such as docks, with up to four Thunderbolt 4 ports . The standard will double the minimum video and data requirements of Thunderbolt 3. Other features include the ability to wake up a computer from sleep by touching a peripheral connected to a Thunderbolt dock, and protection against physical DMA attacks . Thunderbolt 4 will debut on Intel's Tiger Lake … [Read more...] about Intel details Thunderbolt 4 spec, but ‘Apple silicon’ support is unclear [u]

Feature 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 always been of the opinion that the connector was simply a proprietary effort by Apple to monopolize the resale market for charging adapters. The one-piece design of MagSafe adapters also meant that MacBook … [Read more...] about Everything you need to know about USB-C & Thunderbolt 3 on Apple’s new MacBook Pro

Feature Apple doesn't release ratings data, but third party data says the limited series "Defending Jacob" is the closest thing the service has to a breakout hit. Defending Jacob , the Apple TV+ limited series starring Chris Evans as a lawyer whose teenaged son is accused of murdering a classmate, wraps up its run with its finale episode May 29. The series, which combines elements of family drama, psychological thriller and courtroom procedural, was based on a novel of the same name by William Landay. Since Apple TV+ launched in November 2019, it hasn't had seen any of its shows emerge as a massive, culture-grabbing smash. But in recent months, there have been various indications that Defending Jacob has been something close to a breakout for Apple. What are the "Defending Jacob" ratings? There are, it's important to point out, no "official" numbers for the viewership of Apple TV+ shows. Apple has never released such numbers, while Nielsen, usually … [Read more...] about Just as it ends, ‘Defending Jacob’ looks like the most popular Apple TV+ show

Apple saw revenue from its iPad line grow 41% in the 2021 holiday quarter, with the tablet bringing in $8.4 billion. Apple spent 2020 refining its iPad lineup with hardware revisions across each model and improvements to iPadOS . After bringing desktop Safari and a mouse cursor to the OS users were able to perform more work from the tablet. Those improvements and the move to work and school from home drove the iPad to new heights. Apple CEO Tim Cook commented on the state of the iPad during the quarterly earnings call, calling demand "very strong." He later commented that some customers are using the device as a laptop replacement, others as a desktop companion. Apple CFO Luca Maestri offered some additional color to iPad sales. He said the iPad set an all-time record in Japan during the quarter. Further, 451 Research found a 94% customer satisfaction rate for the product. Finally, he noted that more than half of customers buying Mac and iPad are new to the … [Read more...] about iPad revenue grew 41% in Q1 amid pandemic

Video Apple's MagSafe Duo charging solution is now available. After spending some time with it, we are on the fence about the company's latest iPhone 12 accessory. With Apple's latest iPhones, there are more ways than ever to charge. The most unique, is MagSafe . At the moment, the only official options are Apple's MagSafe charging puck or the new MagSafe Duo. Soon, third-party options will flood the market, including options from Belkin and Scosche, but for the time being, we have Apple's to consider. Subscribe to AppleInsider on YouTube MagSafe Duo - Design MagSafe Duo is a simple enough product. On one side is a MagSafe wireless charger and on the right is an integrated Apple Watch charging puck. The charging puck operates similar to Apple's own Apple Watch charging stand in that the puck is metal-encased and can flip up or lay flat. MagSafe Duo is powered by Lightning On the opposing side is the MagSafe charger. Unlike … [Read more...] about Review: MagSafe Duo is almost everything you need, but has too many compromises

Review The new AirPods Max are turning heads with a high price tag and excellent audio quality. But is what you get worth the $549? AirPods Max design AirPods Max come in five different colors, sky blue, green, pink, silver, and space gray. Each color is two-toned, featuring a lighter color on the anodized earcups and a darker one for the headband. AirPods Max have one of the most bespoke designs ever created for a set of headphones. The top portion of the headphones is made of stainless steel before being coated with a premium soft-touch material akin to silicone. The canopy is made from a proprietary mesh that is designed to wrest just atop your head. AirPods Max Each arm of the AirPods Max extend to accommodate user's heads of different sizes. Anodized aluminum makes up the cups themselves, which is lighter than the steel and allows for the svelte anodization Apple is known for. Each of the cushions on the earcups are a similar mesh … [Read more...] about Review: AirPods Max don’t make it easy to justify the price

Apple on Friday announced the discontinuation of the full-size HomePod , saying it plans to focus on production and development of the HomePod mini. Apple informed TechCrunch of the product's end of life in a statement today. HomePod mini has been a hit since its debut last fall, offering customers amazing sound, an intelligent assistant, and smart home control all for just $99. We are focusing our efforts on HomePod mini. We are discontinuing the original HomePod, it will continue to be available while supplies last through the Apple Online Store, Apple Retail Stores, and Apple Authorized Resellers. Apple will provide HomePod customers with software updates and service and support through Apple Care. The company plans to sell remaining HomePod units until stock is depleted, though Apple's online storefront is already sold out of Space Gray models. Support will also continue until the product is declared obsolete. Announced at WWDC 2017, HomePod was Apple's … [Read more...] about Apple discontinues full-size HomePod, to focus on HomePod mini

Apple has released a new HomePod and HomePod mini software update with a version number of 14.4 and a new Handoff experience for HomePod mini. The HomePod and HomePod mini run a specialized version of tvOS and receive updates sporadically when compared to Apple's other operating systems. Updates generally include bug fixes and improvements for features attached to the larger ecosystem. The last HomePod software update was for version 14.3 which was another bug fix update. HomePod Software Version 14.4 includes: Software version 14.4 includes bug fixes and the following new features with an Ultra Wideband (U1) equipped iPhone. Hand off music with visual, audible, and haptic effects from iPhone to HomePod mini Get personalized listening suggestions on iPhone when it is next to HomePod mini Media controls automatically appear without having to unlock iPhone when it is close to HomePod mini The last major update was for HomePod OS 14.1 which … [Read more...] about HomePod mini updated with new Handoff experience in OS version 14.4

Feature The HomePod stands to be an audiophile's ideal speaker when it ships on Feb. 9, in no small part due to the considerable effort Apple has put into audio processing for the device. Audio expert Matt Hines of iZotope explains some of the technical hurdles Apple and other smart speaker producers have to overcome to provide a high-quality audio experience in a wide variety of environments. The first problem Apple and similar firms face when creating an intelligent speaker, like the HomePod , is to ensure there is an optimal audio experience for the user, regardless of where they are in the room. Hines, product manager of Spire by iZotope and guest on this week's AppleInsider Podcast , says the exact position of the user can dramatically affect the sound from a normal speaker, with the problem compounded by local acoustics. Moving a speaker around a room alters the sound reflections in a dramatic way, Hines suggests, such as a loss of bass … [Read more...] about A deep dive into HomePod’s adaptive audio, beamforming and why it needs an A8 processor