USB

Apple's MacBook Pro is long overdue a refresh, but the hotly-anticipated update could bring pain to those unready to embrace new connectors. It's been well over a year since Apple last revamped its high-end notebook, with the MacBook Pro released in May 2015 still holding out today with its Thunderbolt 2 and USB 3.0 ports. Now, though a considerably changed new line-up is expected within a matter of weeks, not everybody is likely to be happy.

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Though still widely used, micro USB connectors aren’t exactly widely loved because of the hassles involved in connecting to them. While USB-C aims to fix that, not everyone is in the game yet, like Apple’s iPhones and iPads. Wouldn’t be nice to just have one connector for all of them? Not to mention a single USB cable as well? And wouldn’t it be great if that cable didn’t get so easily and dangerously snagged everywhere? Fortunately, the folks over at ASAP are making that wish a reality, with the extra strong magnetic ASAP x-connect cable that doesn’t really care what what your phone or tablet is or who made it.

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The rumored impending death of the 3.5mm audio jack, at least in the smartphone industry, has people worked up into a frenzy. There are some arguments about why ditching it for USB-C would be best; there are ample arguments about why the transition would be a mistake. Some vow to never buy a phone that doesn’t have a 3.5mm jack; others say Bluetooth is the way of the future anyway, so who cares? Intel, it seems, is voting for that rumored USB-C headphones future, and it says there are some why it makes sense.

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The USB Type C standard is a very young one, but thanks to the push from certain companies, everyone is jumping in quickly. So it's not really surprising that not everyone gets it right. And not everyone even tries for that matter. Soon, however, worries about picking up a correct USB-C charger or even bringing multiple chargers for different USB-C devices will be a thing of the past. The USB Implementers Forum, a.k.a. the USB-IF, has just announced a certification program that will ensure that chargers comply with set standards and are, therefore, safe to use.

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Synaptics is a name known to many in the industry as a company specializing in interface controllers, like laptop touchpads and mobile touchscreens. Lately, it has also been raising its profile in the biometrics markets, making such technology more accessible to device manufacturers and, therefore, users. Last February it announced a fingerprint sensor small enough to fit under a smartphone volume button. At Computex last week, it unveiled a fingerprint USB module that can give any desktop or laptop better security features.

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SanDisk has launched a new flash drive specifically for computers with the USB Type-C port integrated. This new USB port makes it easy to plug your drive in because it can be connected to the PC with either side up thanks to the reversible design. The flash drive has a retractable connector design to keep the connector safe when carried in a pocket.

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Today we're having a look at Qualcomm's own Quick Charge 3.0 as used in two new AUKEY products: the Amp Type-C 5-Port Charging Station and the QC 3.0 Dual-Port Car Charger. If you're in search of a set of USB-C compatible charging devices for your next-generation Android devices - HTC 10 and LG G5 included - these pieces of equipment are ready to roll. We've got our hands on both this week to give them the once-over for our many Quick Charge 3.0 devices, all part of the new wave.

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Google's Benson Leung called out the LG G5 and the HTC 10 this past due to their USB-C cords, both of which break official USB-C spec rules. Why? Qualcomm's Quick Charge technology. The cords do not fit the standard specifications for USB Type-C (or USB-C, however you want to say it) as set by the USB Implementers Forum. Today we've got a detailed set of answers from Qualcomm on why they're not worried about fitting this spec as defended by Leung - and why you shouldn't either.

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Late last year, Google engineer Benson Leung, part of the team that worked on the Pixel C, went on a crusade to scour Amazon for USB Type-C cables and test them for safety. The results were discouraging, even leading to the irreparable damage of one of Leung's computers. Taking note of the dire situation, the USB 3.0 Promoter Group, who developed the standard, are now proposing a new USB Type-C Authentication protocol that will protect such devices from the dangerous effects of poorly and incorrectly designed, as well as insecure, Type-C accessories such as cables and chargers.

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Lexar has introduced its new Professional XQD 2.0 USB 3.0 Reader, and it’ll start shipping it later this month. The reader is aimed at videographers and photographers with professional-level requirements, enabling them to transfer 4K-resolution and RAW images at high speeds using SuperSpeed USB 3.0 technology. The reader, as its name suggests, works with XQD 2.0 cards.

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Apple's first USB-C MacBook release included a cord which had a bit of a hardware flaw - one that the company is now in the process of fixing. For those of you that've purchased a MacBook in the past several years, there's one simple way of figuring out whether or not you MAY be affected. If your power cord is a MagSafe connector (magnetic, as the name implies), you do not need to worry. From there, if you're a USB-C sort of user, there's one more check.

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As of this week, Apple has issued a warning for owners and users of a certain set of Apple-brand AC wall plug adapters around the world. While there's likely no immediate danger to you and yours, Apple isn't taking any chances with this program, suggesting that "in very rare cases, the two prong Apple AC wall plug adapters designed for use in Continental Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Korea, Argentina and Brazil may break and create a risk of electrical shock if touched."

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