Barclays analyst Blayne Curtis and his associates speculate that iPhones Apple will release this year may not come bundled with the Lightning to 3.5 mm headphone jack adapter.
2018 iPhones may not bundle Lightning to headphone jack adapter
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MFi makers can now build accessories that integrate USB-C ports & Lightning to 3.5mm out
Apple a few days ago updated its “Made for iOS” (MFi) branding and now we're learning that the company also added refreshed new specifications for implementing USB-C ports and a Lightning to 3.5mm output cable on MFi accessories.
Analyst says 2017 iPhones will still ship with Lightning to 3.5mm adapter
New iPhones will continue to ship with a Lightning to 3.5mm headphone jack adapter in the box, according to Barclays analyst Blayne Curtis and his associates in a research note distributed today, obtained by MacRumors. The research note contradicts an earlier report claiming Apple would no longer bundle the adapter with a trio of new iPhones in 2017.
Now that Apple has stopped discounting USB-C accessories, check out these cheaper alternatives
It was fun while it lasted: the age of Apple's discounted USB-C adapters and dongles is over as of today. But don't you worry as we just updated our roundups of cheaper USB-C adapters and USB-C cables from third-party vendors that you may need for your new MacBook Pro.
Following complaints from customers regarding the need for various dongles, Apple temporarily discounted many USB-C peripherals sold in its stores as a way to assuage their concerns. The limited-time deals were supposed to end on December 31, 2016 but the company extended the price cuts until March 31, 2017.
The NomadPlus turns your iPhone power adapter into a portable battery
For everyday charging of your iPhone, the supplied power adapter that comes in your Apple retail packaging will suffice, but if you go places a lot, then having an AC adapter that can not only charge your iPhone, but also store power for charging when away from the plug is a must.
Nomad comes the rescue in this department with an ingenious idea; a special type of AC adapter known as the NomadPlus that includes a built-in 1,800 mAh battery inside.
Apple’s iPhone 7 Lightning headphone adapter packs in a surprising amount of circuitry
Repair wizards over at iFixit along with their pals at Creative Electron gave Apple’s new $9 iPhone 7 Lightning headphone adapter a thorough X-ray treatment. The analysis has revealed a surprising amount of circuitry inside of the dongle.
Most notably, it packs in a pretty unique integrated circuit that's most likely a built-in digital-to-analog (DAC) converter. There’s actually a lot going on in the diminutive adapter aside from the DAC, writes iFixit, including things like an integrated amplifier and an analog-to-digital-converter (ADC).
“We’re surprised how much electronics Apple was able to include inside this little cable,” said Creative Electron, which builds X-ray inspection systems for electronics.
Apple’s Lightning to 3.5mm headphone jack adapter is only $9
One of the things that sets the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus apart from the rest of the iPhone lineup is the exclusion of the 3.5mm headphone jack. Apple is now requiring headphones to either go wireless or utilize the Lightning port.
iPhone 7 might ship with Lightning EarPods and 3.5mm headphone jack adapter
An image of another claimed spec sheet has surfaced on the Chinese microblogging site Weibo, indicating that the iPhone 7 could come with both a Lightning edition of Apple's wired EarPods and a Lightning to 3.5mm headphone jack adapter in the box. As a result, the iPhone 7 should provide its owners with an appropriate solution for connecting their existing wired headphones to the handset right out of the box, without requiring them to purchase a standalone adapter.
Blockhead makes your MacBook charging brick less annoying
I love my Mac, but honestly, I hate the AC adapter. The 'wall wart,' as I like to call it, sticks out so far from the wall that it can be incredibly inconvenient for plugging in behind couches and in other tight spaces.
Blockhead, which was only just recently announced, eliminates the annoying protrusion of Apple's AC adapter and is now available from Ten One Design.
Now that the Blockhead is available for purchase, we've been lucky enough to get our hands on one. In this review, we'll walk you through its design and how it looks.
Spotting the signs of a fake Apple Lightning cable
Whenever you buy a new iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad, it'll come with a Lightning to USB cable that you will use to charge and sync your device. On the other hand, you have to be careful when you buy these cables separately, especially online, because you could end up with a counterfeit cable.
A counterfeit is a cable that tries to look just like Apple's OEM Lightning to USB cable, even though it isn't. Using these cables could have an adverse effect on your device, so we'll show you how to spot the differences between a counterfeit and genuine Lightning to USB cable in this piece.
This clever adapter makes your MacBook or iPad charger sit flush against the wall
An company called One Design has announced an interesting space-saving solution that lets your MacBook or iPad charger sit flush against the wall. Dubbed the Blockhead, the inexpensive device is basically a side-facing plug for Apple's USB chargers.
It reduces between your charger and the wall socket from 3.8 inches to just 1.2 inches. By turning your MacBook's adapter sideways, Blockhead also brings its center of mass closer to the wall, resulting in a smaller footprint and less tension on the plug.
“At just over an inch thick, blockhead is the thinnest possible way to charge your MacBook,” says One Design. “Even the standard cord needs twice as much room.”
Apple issues a recall of AC wall plug adapters in some countries, announces exchange program
Apple on Thursday announced a voluntary recall of AC wall plug adapters designed for use in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Continental Europe, New Zealand and South Korea that shipped with Mac and certain iOS devices between 2003 and 2015 and were also included in the Apple World Travel Adapter Kit.
“In very rare cases, affected Apple two-prong wall plug adapters may break and create a risk of electrical shock if touched,” notes the company.