USB-C

The BenQ EW3280U doesn't have a punchy name, and it doesn't roll any sort of flashy borders or big logos. Instead, the BenQ EW3280U is made to provide a solid monitor that's worth what it'll cost. The main product is the 32-inch IPS LCD panel with LED backlighting and 3840 x 2160 pixel resolution. This monitor works with a built-in sound system, 60Hz image refresh rate, and a 178-degrees of viewing, and it looks and sounds highly decent.

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Google's official controller for its Stadia game streaming service has always been an odd duck. It turns out that when paired with a Chromecast, the Stadia Controller connects to your Wi-Fi network to communicate with Stadia servers directly. Its special behavior has seemingly made it harder for Google to push out features some would consider trivial, like supporting even Android devices and web browsers. Now another promised feature has finally landed, allowing users to connect wired or even wireless headsets via the Controller's USB-C port for an additional audio input and output channel.

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As the iPhone 12 is near to launch, leaks indicate the appearance of a USB-C cord in the box. But it's not what you might've expected - every cord has two ends. On this cord, this leaked photo of a cord, it would appear that even though we're getting USB-C on one end of the braided length, we've still got Lightning on the other. It's not the USB-C bit that matters most, here.

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Today we're taking a peek at the OnePlus Buds wireless earbuds with touch controls in two colors. One is the White, one of two versions that'll be available for purchase in the United States. The other is the Nord Blue, a version that'll only be available in India and parts of the EU.

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It definitely took a while but wireless charging has become more or less common even if it still isn't a standard. While already a standard right from the start, USB-C, on the other hand, is only recently becoming more ubiquitous as well. But while computers and smartphones are quicker to adopt them, some places where you will find these new technologies aren't. Inside cars, for example, the full-sized USB port still holds dominance but not anymore in Tesla Model 3 cars headed for the US.

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Razer makes solid gaming hardware. They've made a lot of gaming-centric devices over the past two decades, and I've not always been a member of Razer's target audience. With the Razer Kishi, I find myself excited by a smartphone accessory for the first time in what feels like forever. Razer Kishi is a gaming controller that connects to Android devices via USB-C and folds up to a compact size when not in use. This is about more than gaming - it's about the future.

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Apple's cheaper iPads could be getting on of the iPad Pro's most useful features, rumors from the supply chain suggest, with the company set to further retire the Lightning port. When the iPad Pro 11 1st Generation and iPad Pro 12.9 3rd Generation launched in 2018, Apple opted to do away with its own Lightning port in favor of USB-C. Now, that decision could be spreading.

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It would seem only a matter of time before the iPhone is released without a Lightning port. Rumors over the past several years suggest that Apple's inclusion of Qi-standard wireless charging abilities in the iPhone point toward a completely port-free collection of handheld communication devices. An insider tip this week says Apple's not quite there yet with the iPhone 12 for 2020, but might be ready to roll in 2021.

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USB4 is shaping up to be the one connector to rule them all, with word that the new USB-C port will support up to 16K resolution video among other things. The DisplayPort Alt Mode v2.0 will be able to drive a single 16K display - were you able to find such a thing - the VESA has confirmed, courtesy of the new high-speed interconnect.

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Programmer Forrest Heller recently published a chart comparing the Apollo Guidance Computer used during NASA's Apollo 11 mission with three modern USB-C devices, including an ordinary Google Pixel phone charger and two other, more powerful, USB-C chargers. The chart and its related details offer a fascinating breakdown of the modern and historic technology, revealing that an ordinary Anker charger has more power than the technology that helped take humans to the Moon.

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Today the folks at Satechi revealed and released their latest USB-C hub, a device with seven individual ports for connectivity expansion. In the mix are 2x USB-A 3.0 Ports, one USB-C PD (charging), and a full-sized 4K HDMI port. The ethernet port on this hub is capable of delivering gigabit-level internet, and the hub includes both microSD and full-sized SD card readers.

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The European Union has long been trying to standardize the chargers and connectors use in smartphones, particularly to fight the increasing amount of chargers and accessories wasted because of incompatible technologies. Now it seems to be on the verge of formally drafting rules that would force Apple to ditch its proprietary Lightning connector in favor of USB-C. Unsurprisingly, the company is pushing back, claiming that the effects of such a regulation would actually result in the very situation that the EU is trying to avoid.

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