PSA: USB-C on Apple’s new MacBook is a circus
Shopping for USB-C accessories for your new MacBook? Beware that the USB-C landscape as far as accessories and compatibility with your Mac is an absolute mess.
Review: LG’s USB-C-enabled 4K Monitor lends single cable simplicity to 12″ MacBook owners, but not without some compromises
If you’re looking for a 4K display that can be paired with your 12″ MacBook via a single USB-C cable, then your options are fairly limited. It seems that LG is one of the few display makers that has such a monitor available for sale.
LG’s 27UD88-W is a 27″ USB-C-enabled display. Its USB-C port allows MacBook owners to connect a single cable to drive the display, charge the machine, and facilitate data transfer.
As I alluded to in my recent 2016 MacBook post, the 27UD88-W isn’t perfect, but it’s one of the only games in town if you desire a 4K monitor with USB-C connectivity in tow.
If you’re a MacBook owner, should you consider purchasing one? Have a look inside for the details.
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Review: IXCC’s USB 3.0 to Type-C Adapter is a cheaper way to connect legacy USB devices to your MacBook
If you own a MacBook and you wish to interface with legacy USB-A connections, you have several options. Apple itself produces a USB-C to USB Adapter, and it’s available for around $19. There’s also no shortage of third-party options available on Amazon and other resellers.
One such option, IXCC’s USB 3.0 to Type-C Convertor Cable, is a cheap and easy way to garner legacy USB device support on USB-C only MacBooks. Have a look at our brief hands-on video to witness the adapter in action.
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10 tips for new and prospective MacBook owners [Video]
As someone coming from a 15″ MacBook Pro with Retina display, adjusting to the smaller form-factor of the 12″ MacBook takes some getting used to. But as brought out in our post highlighting 10 favorite MacBook features, the effort is worth it.
I’ve been using the 2016 MacBook as my primary computer since last week, and I’ve learned a lot about this little machine during my hands-on time. If you’re thinking about purchasing a new MacBook, or if you already own one, consider these tips to get more out of this tiny wonder.
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Intel wants to eliminate 3.5 mm headphone jack like rumored iPhone 7, suggests USB-C as replacement
Apple is widely rumored to be dropping the 3.5 mm headphone jack from the iPhone 7, instead favouring wireless Bluetooth or the Lightning port for connecting headphones. Intel is also keen to eliminate the 100 year old 3.5 mm jack, citing ‘industry singling a strong desire to move from analog to digital’ (via AnandTech).
However, Intel is pushing USB-C as the future of headphone audio cables. Intel believes USB-C will win out over 3.5mm as it has many modern-day benefits including the potential to add additional smart features to headphones in the future, that can pass data down the same USB-C cable.
Review: USB-C to Lightning Cable + 29W Power Adapter is what should have shipped with the 12.9″ iPad Pro
The 12.9″ iPad Pro is a great productivity device, but unfortunately it ships with an inadequate 12W power adapter. This is the same charger commonly used with the smaller 9.7″ iPad line, and it’s much inadequate for a device as large and as power hungry as the 12.9″ iPad Pro.
I find that when using the iPad Pro at full brightness, it’s difficult to maintain your current charge, let alone gain battery life, when using the 12W charger. I’ve actually seen my iPad Pro lose battery life even when it was plugged in.
Needless to say, it’s pretty obvious that Apple should have included a beefier charger with the 12.9″ iPad Pro. Thankfully, as was revealed at this week’s iPhone SE event, an adequate solution is now here. If you’re an iPad Pro owner, should you invest in Apple’s new 29W capable USB-C to Lightning Cable?
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Apple launches Lightning to USB-C Cable for faster 12.9″ iPad Pro charging
Apple today launched a new Lightning to USB-C cable that allows 12.9″ iPad Pro users to take advantage of faster charging afforded by its 29W USB-C Power Adapter. The cable, which comes in 1 meter and 2 meter varieties, is priced at $25 and $35 respectively.
9to5Toys Last Call: 256GB 13″ MacBook Air $950, 4-port USB-C hub from $9, Leather Apple Watch Band Giveaway, more
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TODAY’S CAN’T MISS DEALS:
Last Call Updates:
[tweet https://twitter.com/9to5toys/status/705126900532908032 align=’center’]
- Macphun’s Intensify CK (Pro) image manipulation app for Mac: $40 (Reg. $60)
- Boost your productivity on the road w/ these Bluetooth keyboards from $14
- This attractive Kickstarter timepiece blocks out your schedule on its watch face
- Bluetooth speakers: Philips Multimedia $40, Omaker splashproof $19, more
- Sony’s PlayStation Vue TV service adds two major networks, pricing slashed by $10
- Amazon coupon: Get $25 back when you spend $50 on shaving supplies, more
- GreenWorks 13 Amp 21-inch Lawn Mower for $140 shipped (Orig. $240), more
- Sports/Fitness: Wilson NFL MVP Football $7 (Reg. up to $20), more
- Home: FoodSaver 3-pc Canister Set $16 (Orig. $25), more
Apple 13-inch MacBook Air 1.6GHz/4GB/256GB (newest version): $950 (Reg. $1,199)
Apple 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro (newest version) 2.7GHz/8GB/256GB $1,200 shipped (Reg. $1,499)
Apple’s 12-inch MacBook now $300 off: 256GB $1,000, 512GB $1,300 + extra $50 savings w/ .edu email
Apple Mac Pro 12-core Xeon/64GB/1TB: $8,799 shipped (Reg. $9,599), more
Aukey USB-C 4-port USB chargers w/Prime: Power Strip $14, USB-C Hub $9, Gig Ethernet $14, more
Giveaway: Outfit your Apple Watch with one of Throne’s handmade leather bands ($330 value)
How-to: Save up to $10/month on your cable bill by buying this $40 DOCSIS 3.0 Modem
Apple 12.9-inch iPad Pro 128GB Wi-Fi in all colors: $800 shipped (Reg. $949)
Apple 12.9-inch iPad Pro 32GB Wi-Fi in all colors: $695 shipped (Reg. $799)
This emergency flashlight can charge your phone, start your car, or help you break out of it: $80 shipped
App Store Free App of the Week: HoPiKo speed-run platformer goes free for the first time ($2 value)
The Walking Dead: Michonne is now available for iOS, Android and consoles
All Access is the new one stop app for DC Comics/Film/TV news and more
MORE NEW GEAR FROM TODAY:
Snag one of these discounted HDTV antennas and finally cut the cord, deals from $13 Prime shipped
- TCL 50-inch 1080p Roku Smart HDTV w/ 3 HDMI inputs $375 shipped (Reg. $420+), more
- Daily Deals: 128GB Flash Drive $20, Acer Chromebook $150, more
- Save 25% on Anker’s 20000mAh PowerCore battery: $30 Prime shipped (Reg. $40)
- Snow Joe’s best selling snow throwers (multiple options) from $102 shipped (Reg. up to $380+)
- Games/Apps: Bayonetta 2 (Prime only) $24, Nintendo NFC reader $15, freebies, more
MORE DEALS STILL ALIVE:
Beats by Dr. Dre Beats Studio Over-the-Ear Wired Headphones $150 shipped (Orig. $300)
Trianium 3100mAh iPhone 6/s MFi Battery Case: $18 Prime shipped (Reg. $36)
MFi Apple-Certified Lightning + microUSB Braided Cables: 6-foot $13.50, 3-ft. $12.50, more
- Grab the best-selling GoPro HERO4 Silver Action Camera for $299 (Reg. $330+), more
- ULAK iPhone 6/6s and iPad mini cases from $2 shipped (Reg. up to $11 each)
- D-Link 802.11ac Routers: AC1750 Gigabit $60, AC750 $30, more
- SanDisk Mobile Storage: 200GB microSD card $80 (Reg. $100), more
- LG Smartwatches: Urbane w/ HRM in gold or silver $180 shipped (Reg. $230+), more
- Paracord Survival Bracelet/Knife/Fire Starter: $4 Prime shipped (Reg. $6)
- Media – HD downloads: Black Mass $10, Jurassic World $10
- $100 Toys R Us Gift Card for just $85 w/ email delivery from PayPal
- Kindle First eBook freebies for March: The Big Fear, more
- Alcatel OneTouch Idol 3 5.5-inch (Unlocked) for $179 shipped (Reg. $249)
- LG 20W Bluetooth Speakers: P7 $55 (Reg. $115), more
- Free PS Plus Games for March: Broforce, Galak-Z, Super Stardust HD, more
- Free Xbox Live Gold Games for March: Borderlands, Lords of the Fallen, more
- LD West’s gun holster-style iPhone case & wallet combo: $20 off, deals from $109 shipped
- Microsoft Band 2 Activity Tracker: $175 (Reg. $215+)
- Replace your wallet with the Adonit Wallet Case for iPhone 6/6s: $17 (Orig. $25)
- Netflix March Preview: “House of Cards” Season 4, “Daredevil” Season 2, more
- Brit Awards 2016 performances are now available to download/stream for free
- Athletic Apparel: Nike extra 20% off clearance, Reebok Outlet 50% off
- Hisense 55-inch 1080p 120Hz LED Smart HDTV w/ 3 HDMI inputs: $370 (Orig. $548)
- 12 classic Pixar films in HD for $15 ea, Mad Max: Fury Road & The Martian $10 ea
- Rolo Travel Bag keeps you looking good on the road: $45 (Orig. $61)
- Have someone from Amazon take care of that honey-do list and get a free $30 gift card
- Carriers & retailers roll out major pre-order bonuses for Samsung’s Galaxy S7
Show off and charge your Apple Watch + iPhone w/ this aluminum dock for just $23 Prime shipped (Reg. $39), more
NEW PRODUCTS & MORE:
DJI’s Phantom 4 drone is coming later this month with a new obstacle avoidance system
Grovemade’s new wooden MacBook Dock offers a Made in America home for your device
Brooklyn’s own Grado Labs introduces its first Made for iPhone earbuds w/ Siri control
- Brita’s new Wi-Fi Infinity water pitcher automatically orders new filters from Amazon
- Raspberry Pi 3 hits with built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth after four long years
- Zepp partners with Old Hickory for a new smartphone-connected baseball bat
- Victronix teases its new Cyber Tool fitness tracker for the popular INOX watch
- Explore Renaissance Italy in the new Assassin’s Creed Identity action RPG for iOS
- Pokémon Sun and Moon on Nintendo 3DS confirmed, pre-orders now live
- Marshall’s first Bluetooth headphones tout impressive battery life alongside a retro design
Review: Audioengine turns it up to 11 with its newest Bluetooth HD6 powered speakers
Apple begins shipping replacement USB-C cables to Retina MacBook owners
Last week, Apple launched a USB-C cable replacement program, saying that some cables shipped with the 12-inch Retina MacBook were faulty. Thea faulty adapters would result in the MacBook not charging or charging unreliably. Now, the first MacBook customers have started receiving their replacement cables, according to a post on Reddit and Twitter. The user did not request the cable from Apple.
Apple says some USB-C cables shipped with Retina MacBook were faulty, launches replacement program
Apple has launched a replacement program for the USB-C cable that came bundled with 2015 Retina MacBook units, finding that some cables were faulty. Bad cables would result in the MacBook not charging, or charging unreliably when connected to a power adapter.
From Apple’s help site, affected customers can order a free replacement USB-C cable. Retina MacBook owners who provided a mailing address at product registration will be shipped a new cable automatically by the end of February … If you did not provide this information when buying the MacBook, visit Apple’s site to order a replacement cable instead …
USB Type-C at CES 2016: hubs, displays, adapters & more for the 12-inch MacBook
With the new 12-inch MacBook sporting just a single USB Type-C port, an adapter to get back some USB ports and SD card slots will be necessary for a lot of users. With more and more devices adopting the standard, we’re seeing a lot of USB C accessories announced at CES 2016 this year, many of which are designed specifically with 12-inch MacBook users in mind. So, as we’ve already done for HomeKit and Apple Watch products, below we’re rounding up all of the USB Type-C products for MacBook announced at the show this week.
In addition to hubs, companies are also showing off new portable battery packs, cables, adapters, displays and more, all made possible thanks to USB-C and compatible with the new 12-inch MacBook.
Hyper shows off USB-C hub w/ passthrough charging for 12-inch MacBook, Apple Watch accessories, & more
At CES 2016, Hyper is showing off both new and updated product lines, all of which are specifically designed with iPhone, iPad, and Mac users in mind. The highlights are a new USB-C hub for 12″ MacBook users, a USB 3.0 Lightning thumb drive, and a pair of slick Apple Watch accessories.
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Incipio adds USB-C MacBook docks, dockable offGRID iPhone batteries to lineup
Expanding upon earlier product lineups, Incipio today announced a number of 12″ MacBook-ready USB Type-C accessories and dockable offGRID series batteries for iPhone users. The USB-C accessories offer affordable ways to expand either the ports or charging capabilities of Apple’s Retina MacBook, while the offGRID options include compact, device-agnostic dockable batteries and a new iPhone 6/6s battery case…
New LaCie + Seagate drives bring USB-C, style, and high SSD/HDD capacities
Following its annual tradition, Seagate has announced a new collection of stylish, premium-priced drives in time for the 2016 CES, most now featuring USB-C and USB 3.1 connectors. Three of the drives carry Seagate’s LaCie branding; one is a handsome but Seagate-branded model.
The apparent flagship in the series is the LaCie Chromé ($1,100, shown above left), a 1TB SSD featuring a 10GB USB 3.1 interface with “up to 940MB/second speeds for intensive applications.” Described as “a trophy for tech connoisseurs,” Chromé is a Neil Poulton design that holds a boxy chrome SSD enclosure on an angle atop a circular pedestal. Additional models are discussed below…
Griffin’s BreakSafe is the MagSafe USB-C adapter that Apple’s MacBook needs
One of the biggest complaints regarding the 12-inch MacBook has been the ports, or lack thereof, that the device offers. The MacBook features just as single USB-C port that you use for everything, including charging. This means that the MagSafe technology that Apple introduced 10 years ago and that we’ve all come to love is nowhere to be found. A new accessory introduced by Griffin today, however, aims to fix that problem.
Lenovo and Acer announce first USB-C monitors, making them ideal for 12-inch MacBook [Updated]
If you have a 12-inch MacBook and are looking for an external monitor for it, Lenovo and Acer have each announced the neatest solutions yet, with a choice of 24-, 25- and 27-inch USB-C monitors.
Lenovo’s ThinkVision X24 Pro is the most basic, with a 1920×1080 resolution starting at $399, with availability in May. Acer’s H7 series monitors offer 2560×1440 resolution in 25- and 27-inch variants, and you’ll be able to get your hands on one of those next month, starting at $499.99.
Finally, Lenovo’s ThinkVision X1 is a 27-inch model offering 3840×2160 resolution, again from May, priced at $799 …
Opinion: Will future iPhones lose the 3.5mm headphone socket? What will Apple do instead?
Apple has consistently worked at making the iPhone ever slimmer, and has been willing to make compromises to achieve that, most notably in battery-life. But with the iPhone 6 and 6s, it is close to the limit on how slim an iPhone can be – and the reason for that is the oldest piece of tech in the phone. The iPhone 6/6s is not very much thicker than the diameter of the 3.5mm headphone jack.
The latest iPod touch shows that Apple has a little more room for manoeuvre (above photo Anandtech, below iFixit).
But really not much. If Apple wants to continue the iPhone’s diet, at some point very soon it’s going to have to ditch the 3.5mm headphone socket in favor of an alternative. There are four possible options open to it …
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“One port to do it all” – the new integrated USB-C/Thunderbolt 3 port makes it into the first laptop
Apple’s decision to equip the 12-inch MacBook with just a single port was a controversial one, but the USB-C port Apple chose just got a whole lot more powerful. Intel announced back in June that it was integrating USB-C and Thunderbolt 3 to create “one compact port that does it all” – and that port just hit the market in the form of the revamped Dell XPS range.
That means that a single port combines superspeed USB, Thunderbolt, DisplayPort, PCI Express and power. The DisplayPort channel can simultaneously handle two 4K monitors.
Dell has opted to include two of the new ports, and this is an approach I think we can expect Apple to take with the new MacBook Air models (whatever they are actually called) and, in time, the MacBook Pro …
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Review: Satechi’s Type-C Hub is almost the perfect MacBook hub with USB 3 + SD Card ports
Satechi’s new Type-C USB Hub announced in October at first glance looks like the perfect solution for using single-port Retina MacBooks with wired accessories and SD cards. It adds three traditional USB 3.0 ports like MacBook Airs and MacBook Pros so you can plug in flash drives, Lightning cables, and most other USB accessories. It also reads SD cards and Micro SD Cards, just not at the same time. And the sleek hub is offered in Mac-matching colors that look almost official…
9to5Toys Last Call: UE MEGABOOM Speaker $227, Walmart Black Friday ad, USB-C cable $4.50, more
Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+ and Safari push notifications.
TODAY’S CAN’T MISS DEALS:
Last Call Updates:
App Store Free App of the Week: PDF Expert 5 goes free for the first time ($10 value)
- Toys R Us Black Friday ad leak: Xbox One/PS4 bundles $300, more
- Best of Black Friday – HDTVs: 40-inch from $149, more
- Best of Black Friday – Games: Xbox One/PS4 console bundles, deep discounts on games, more
- New Trent iPhone 6s Cases for $7.25 Prime shipped (Reg. $18), more
- USB Deals w/ Prime shipping: Lumsing 10,400mAh Power Bank $13, more
- Pulse brings Bluetooth LE + iOS connectivity to a slew of Canon and Nikon DSLRs
- HHGregg Black Friday: Beats Powerbeats2 Wireless Headphones $100, more
- Grab a $40 Google Express voucher for $10 with email delivery (75% savings)
- 44 comic issues for free: Batman, Star Wars, Spawn, The Walking Dead, and more
- Sports/Fitness: up to 50% off adidas training apparel starting at $20, more
- Home: up to 65% off Delta Faucet Showerheads from $72, more
UE MEGABOOM in black: $227 shipped (Reg. $300)
Walmart’s Black Friday ad leak hits with Xbox One/PS4 $299, 4K UHDTV deals, iPad Air 2 $100 off, more
TechMatte 3-ft USB-C cables starting at $4.50 Prime shipped (Reg. $9), more
Apple MagSafe 2 Power Adapters for MacBook Air or MacBook Pro from $34 shipped (Reg. $79)
Implosion – Never Lose Hope for iOS goes free for the first time as IGN’s Game of the Month ($10 value)
MORE NEW GEAR FROM TODAY:
Games/Apps: Captain Toad Treasure Tracker (pre-owned) $25, PDF Expert 5 goes free, BioShock titles $5, freebies, more
- iPad Air 2 smart cases w/ auto wake-sleep: $9 Prime shipped (Reg. $12)
- Nest Cam 3-pack bundle launching this week for $497 ($100 savings)
- Roku 3 Streaming Media Player (refurb): $70 shipped (Orig. $100)
- Daily Deals: Ollie app controlled racing robot $53, more
- Samsung SSDs + Assassin’s Creed Syndicate (PC): 500GB $143, more
[tweet https://twitter.com/9to5toys/status/664818301328080899 align=’center’]
BLACK FRIDAY AD LEAKS & NEWS:
Best Buy’s Black Friday ad brings deals on Apple Watch, Macs, HDTVs, games & more!
- Target previews its top Black Friday deals, launches surprise one-day sale
- Staples Black Friday Ad Revealed: iPad Air 2 from $374, mini 4 $300, more
- Amazon plans dramatic Black Friday discounts for its Kindle, Fire TV Stick & Fire tablet
- Amazon’s Black Friday Deals store is now open for business
- eBay’s Black Friday and Cyber Monday will deliver deals on MacBooks, iPhone, iPad Air 2
- GameStop Black Friday ad leak: PS4/Xbox One bundles $300, new Nintendo 3DS XL $180
- Sam’s Club Black Friday ad leak: iPad Air 2 Cellular $175 off, Google Play $100 GC $80
- Kohl’s Black Friday ad leak: more PS4/Xbox One $300 bundles, home goods, clothing
- Sam’s Club One-Day Sale: iPhone 6s/Plus $100 off, iPad Air 2 64GB/128GB $150 off
- Sports Authority Black Friday Ad: Free gift cards w/ footwear, FitBit Charge HR $120
- eBay calls on Black Friday shoppers to decide which products will get discounted this year
- BJ’s Warehouse Black Friday ad hits with Samsung 4K UHDTV deals, fitness trackers
- Sears Black Friday Ad: deals on Samsung 4K UHDTV’s, more
- The Office Depot & OfficeMax Black Friday ad doesn’t bring much to the table
MORE DEALS STILL ALIVE:
T-Mobile is discounting iPhone 6s/Plus by $100 when bought on an installment plan or outright
Huge savings on pre-owned Apple Watches, deals from as low as $261 shipped
Apple iPod Touch 5th gen 16-64GB sizes, multiple colors: $149-$199 shipped
Apple Magic Mouse 2 (open-box): $68 shipped (Reg. $80)
Apple iPad Mini 2, space gray or silver: $199 shipped ($70 off)
- 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display 2.2GHz/16GB/256GB: $1,600 (Reg. $1,999)
- 1080p HDTVs: Toshiba 55-inch $350 (Orig. $550), more
- ULAK Cases for iPhone 6/s, iPad mini, iPod Touch from $3 shipped (Reg. $10+)
- Beats by Dre. Powerbeats2 Wireless active collection drops to $130
- Smart HDTVs: LG 50-inch $450 (Reg. $600+), Samsung 55-inch $580 (Reg. $700)
- Incase’s ‘Mystery Box’ gets you a $150 grab bag of Apple accessories worth $320
- Lara Croft Go for iOS hits its lowest price ever: $2 (Reg. $5)
- A-T ATH-M40X Headphones + Blue Snowball USB Mic: $109 shipped (~$157+ value)
- Speakers: AmazonBasics Portable Bluetooth $40, Logitech 2.1 w/ sub $25 Prime shipped
- Dual-Port USB Power Banks: Poweradd 20,000mAh $18 (Reg. $36), more
- Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 USB audio interface for $100 shipped (Reg. $150), more
- Samsung D3 Station 5TB USB 3.0 Desktop External Hard Drive $110 shipped (Orig. $150)
- ASUS Chromebook Flip 10.1-Inch 2 in 1 Touchscreen (2GB :$219, 4GB: $239 shipped)
- Crucial 2.5-inch 480GB SATA III Internal SSD $140, Samsung 250GB 850 EVO $75
- This solar powered flashlight is useful and at $20 a good deal
- Microsoft Office 365 one-year subscription for $50 shipped (50% off) – Word, Excel, more!
- 4K Smart HDTVs: Samsung 40-inch Ultra HDTV $520 shipped, more
- Media: Blu-rays from $4 shipped – The Hurt Locker, Man on Fire, more
- MacMall already has iPad Pros on sale with modest $12 savings, more!
- Bluetooth Earbuds: Powerbeats2 (open-box) $80 (Reg. $150+), QY8 Sweatproof $19, more
NEW PRODUCTS & MORE:
Roku surprises with a new “special edition” streaming media player at an all-time low price
Mophie introduces new power banks with a sleek aluminum design
- Yuneec introduces its own stabilized 4K action camera
- TP-Link introduces two new Wi-Fi extenders for home theaters, gaming consoles
- Review: How Amazon Echo changed my life + $130 special price
- Sony will release the Darth Vader Edition DualShock 4 controller on its own
- The best GoPro HERO4 action camera accessories, mounts, storage, more
- Is Luma’s surround Wi-Fi system the router we’ve been waiting for?
- Don’t Panic’s latest iPad Air 2 case is an astute all-in-one solution for every angle
- New Fallout 4 launch trailer hits with a fresh look at gameplay and more
Satechi’s new compact USB-C hub adds 3 USB ports + SD card slots to single-port MacBooks
Update: Reviewed here.
We’ve already seen several crowdfunding campaigns for USB-C hubs to expand the capability of Apple’s 12-inch Retina MacBook, which features a single USB-C port for connecting accessories, and Satechi is joining the scene with its own USB-C hub available now.
Available in three color-matching aluminum finishes that fit Apple’s gold, silver, and space gray MacBooks, Satechi’s Type-C hub adds three USB 3.0 ports plus two SD card slots, both standard and Micro, to the USB-C-only Retina MacBook. This allows you to use standard USB cables and accessories like flash drives simultaneously with a single adapter. Satechi highlights its hub’s portable size, which appears to minimally extend the edge of the laptop with similar dimensions to an extra column of keys.
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Latest MacBook hub on Kickstarter is the neatest yet, with form-fitting design
Ever since Apple launched the single-port 12-inch MacBook, we’ve seen a flurry of companies offering to add the missing ports back in through various adapters, hubs, docks and more. Latest to the party is Branch, a Kickstarter project whose USP is its ‘form-fitted’ shape, which is naturally available in each of the three MacBook colors.
The emphasis here is on packing the essentials into an extremely portable unit, providing USB-C pass-through, two USB 3.0 ports and one Mini Display port capable of driving a 4K monitor. The company had originally pitched with HDMI (shown above), but said that it has switched to Mini DisplayPort following feedback from Kickstarter users …
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OWC’s upcoming MacBook USB-C desktop dock provides 10 ports in one color-matched unit
The 12-inch MacBook is the ultimate portable Mac, but that single USB-C port feels a lot less convenient when you want to connect to a bunch of devices at home or in the office. We covered a $79 portable hub yesterday, and now OWC has announced its $129 desktop model, available for pre-order today for delivery in October.
Available in silver, space gray and gold, to match your MacBook, the OWC USB-C Dock provides a total of 10 ports in a unit designed to remain on your desk, allowing you to instantly connect and disconnect via a single USB-C cable …
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Hub+ Kickstarter project providing neat hub solution for 12-inch MacBook owners hits $670k
A neat hub designed to provide 12-inch MacBook owners with a useful way to connect existing devices has just hit $670k on Kickstarter – somewhat in excess of its modest $35,000 goal.
The Hub+ plugs into the single USB-C port of the MacBook and turns that into two USB-C ports, 3 conventional USB-A sockets, a mini DisplayPort and an SDXC card slot. The sleek device offers a choice of silver, space gray and gold to match your MacBook …
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