USB

Today the European Union released a public statement on their intent to require USB-C for all smartphones, tablets, cameras, and more. "The European Commission tried to bring companies on board via voluntary agreements, which partially worked." said Anna Cavazzini, Chair of the EU Parliament's consumer protection committee. "However, not all companies have agreed, and that is why the Commission has finally proposed legislation for one common standard for chargers."

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So you're disappointed with the fact that Apple continues to use their own Lightning port on the iPhone here in 2021. You're looking for a way to continue using your iPhone, but also have the... luxury(?) of using USB-C cords whenever you like. A man by the name of Ken Pillonel wanted to use USB-C with his iPhone too - so he went wild with the hacking and the modding.

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This week the folks at Yubico released the YubiKey Bio to the general public for the first time. This is the USB-docked fingerprint scanning security key system that was first previewed to the world back at Microsoft Ignite 2019. Now this key system is available in two iterations, one with USB-A, the other with USB-C, both with fingerprint readers.

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For a connector that was meant to rescue us from cable hell, USB-C has turned out to be unexpectedly frustrating in many ways. While in theory the interchangeable port should enable combinations of high-speed data, power, and external displays, uncertainties about just which cables will satisfy which purpose have undermined that flexibility. Now, the USB-IF is aiming to address at least USB Type-C power cables.

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Logitech today announced the Logi Dock, a new device that serves as both a docking station and a speakerphone. The Logi Dock is aimed directly at those who find themselves working at home either temporarily or permanently because of the COVID-19 pandemic. More specifically, it seems the Logi Dock is targeted at remote employees who could benefit from a little cable management in their new home offices.

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Most of the hacking incidents and security vulnerabilities we often see published happen remotely, often through malware that has been installed without the user's knowledge. Local Privilege Escalations or LPEs are often rarer because they need physical access to a target computer or device. There is, however, a very specific class of security attacks that involve a little bit of both, like in the case of an innocent-looking USB cable that will actually let a hacker see everything you type on a keyboard connected to it.

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Kingston makes a lot of storage devices, but today, it announced one of the most intriguing yet. Today Kingston Digital announced the DataTraveler Max, a new USB flash drive capable of some impressive read and write speeds. The DataTraveler Max users USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 to meet those high speeds, and what results is a USB flash drive that's faster than most people probably even need.

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A new law could be put in place soon that'd effectively force Apple to change the way the iPhone connects to computers physically. This might be a non-issue if Apple ever decides to move away from the physical connector cord in favor of an all-wireless system, but for now - all eyes are on Lightning. The European Commission is expected next month to present their newest attempt at legislation that'd make one common cord the law for smartphones across the board.

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Playdate was given a pre-order time and date and some more information on how and why you'd want to get a device. If you've made it this far, you probably already know what Playdate is, but just in case: It's a very strange piece of gaming equipment. You play games on it with hardware buttons and a crank - a hardware crank. It's just about the most unique attempt to make a bit of gaming hardware in the past decade, and it's about to become available to the masses.

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USB-C has truly become the universal port to rule them all but it isn't a clear-cut victory yet. In addition to Thunderbolt 3 and 4, which is like USB-C but isn't, implementations of USB-C features can vary from device to device. Things might get a bit more confusing once a new USB-C specification comes out that more than doubles USB-C Power Delivery's supported output from 100W to 240W.

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The US Consumer Product Safety Commission has highlighted a recent recall involving side stands (accent tables) that feature built-in charging receptacles, including USB ports. The reason, according to the recall notice, is a wiring problem that may cause users to be shocked when they plug a device into the stand. Owners are warned to stop using the tables and to wait for a replacement.

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The LONGER LK5 Pro is the sort of 3D printer you buy when you know how to troubleshoot. This device is a middle-ground between the pre-constructed, high-end, brand-name 3D printers that cost a lot, and the DIY 3D printers that are dirt cheap because you have to know exactly what you're doing right from the get-go.

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