Thunderbolt

Intel has just introduced Thunderbolt 3, the latest generation of the connector, and did so with a curveball. In order to stay relevant amidst the ongoing popularity of USB and its new, reversible connectors, Thunderbolt 3 will feature both identical connectors and ports as USB Type-C. This means that computers, going forward, can rely on a single port for connecting both USB and Thunderbolt devices/accessories. So if Apple, for example, continues to make its notebooks thinner, they can continue with the trend of a single port that was introduced on the new Retina MacBooks.

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It looks the next iteration of Thunderbolt will soon be coming down the pipeline, as Intel has teased that it will be making an announcement about the connector type at a press event during the Computex event in Taipei. While Thunderbolt is most associated with Apple, appearing on the side of all MacBooks, the computer-maker decided to use the smaller USB-C port on its new Retina MacBook. But Intel is likely eager to show the next update to Thunderbolt, and reinforce that is has plenty of uses beyond Apple.

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Aside form having a pretty amazing name, Other World Computing’s Viper Pro Thunderbolt external SSD is also pretty vicious when it comes to performance. The drive is no lightweight, though — you can get it in either 4TB or 8TB, and it only uses a Thunderbolt 2 link to your computer. We’ve tested SSD before, and it was lightning quick with a USB 3.0 link. Thunderbolt is up to twice as fast as USB 3.0, and with 4TB of disk space, you’re not likely to run out of room quickly (unless this is for enterprise use).

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LG already showed us its 4K Ultra HD TV range for CES 2015, and now it's the turn of some eye-catching monitors to get a shot at the limelight. The trio of unusual, 21:9 UltraWide displays are targeting gamers, graphics designers, and even financial traders, with a variety of curved form-factors and stacked stands; they're also joined by a fourth screen, promising greater-than-Ultra-HD resolution that, while a little short on an iMac with Retina Display, still edges ahead of most 4K panels out there.

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Elgato has pushed out a new Thunderbolt 2 dock, using the high-speed connection to hook up a 4K display, gigabit ethernet, multiple USB devices, and more, from a single cable to a MacBook or ultrabook. The dock is actually Elgato's second attempt at desktop organization, but this time takes advantage of Thunderbolt 2's greater bandwidth to have more connected at any one time, including USB 3.0 at its full speed.

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Today's data storage needs are getting bigger and bigger, but that doesn't mean that our hard drives, especially external ones, need to grow as big. The ThunderBay 4 Mini, the latest storage solution from Other World Computing, can cram as much as 8 TB in a single box, but at a size that snuggly fits 2.5-inch drives. But do not underestimate this little box, as the lethal combination of Thunderbolt 2's super fast data transfers plus RAID-ready capabilities makes this ThunderBay 4 Mini an enticing option for multimedia workers short on space and budget.

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First reaction among those setting eyes on Apple's new iMac with Retina 5K Display after it was announced yesterday was typically along the lines of "Wow": even Tim Cook couldn't resist the charms of the 14.7m pixel all-in-one, and he knew it was coming. The second, though, from a few laterally-thinkers in the crowd, was to ask whether the iMac would support Target Display mode, and thus turn into a standalone 5K monitor for a plugged-in MacBook Pro. Unfortunately, that's just not the case, and in fact some big changes need to take place before we can even get a standalone 5K update for the aging Thunderbolt Display.

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This week details have sprung up on the next generation Mac mini, a device which brings the Apple OS X desktop world to monitors of all sizes. This device works with 4th-gen Intel Core processors, 802.11 ac Wi-Fi, and two Thunderbolt 2 ports. It looks rather similar to the Mac mini we know from the most recent generation - slim, small, simple, and gray. This device will sit alongside the newest iMac model with Retina display as the two desktop titans in Apple's range.

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Belkin has just outed a new connectivity dock that utilizes the ultra fast Thunderbolt 2 interface to make file and data transfers a breeze. And with a plethora of other connection ports, this Thunderbolt 2 Express Dock HD will surely satisfy your every wired connectivity needs.

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LaCie's newest storage solution supports an optional SSD upgrade, an option to boost speeds for those with more demanding needs. Dubbed the LaCie d2 Thunderbolt 2, this storage device features an aluminum unibody with a fan-less design and construction tasked with keeping vibrations as low as possible.

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Let's face it, you probably don't know why you need 48TB of incredibly fast Thunderbolt 2 storage, but you really, really want it. LaCie's superlative-generating 8big Rack Thunderbolt 2 has finally started shipping, announced back in April as the perfect foil for your 4k video workflow.

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Drobo has pushed out a new preconfigured external drive, the Drobo Mini with SSDs, slotting up to 4TB into a portable form-factor aimed at mobile media pros. The drive can muster read rates of up to 300 MB/sec, Drobo says, and write writes in excess of 225 MB/sec.

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