connectivity

Read Cult of Mac’s latest posts on connectivity:

Save up to $80 on CalDigit’s great Thunderbolt docks

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CalDigit Thunderbolt 4 dock
CalDigit's 18-port Thunderbolt 4 dock can really expand a computer setup's connectivity.
Photo: CalDigit

Thunderbolt docks bristling with ports are great tools for connecting your Mac to displays and other peripherals in your computer setup. And right now you can get excellent deals at Amazon on well-reviewed 15-port CalDigit Thunderbolt 3 dock or — for blazing-fast connectivity — an 18-port Thunderbolt 4 dock.

What’s the difference between USB-C and Thunderbolt? [Updated]

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This 2021 iMac shows two of its four rear ports have Thunderbolt capability.
This 2021 iMac shows two of its four rear ports have Thunderbolt capability. Note the lightning-bolt symbol.
Photo: Apple

Apple might mix up connector types among its four iPhone 15 models, and that might confuse people even more over the differences between USB-C and Thunderbolt. They look alike, work similarly and accept the same cables. Yet they’re not the same.

Let’s look at the key differences, how Thunderbolt 4 improves on Thunderbolt 3, and which kind of port and cable best suits your tasks like charging and data transfer.

And Intel announced speedy Thunderbolt 5 Tuesday, but that’s not out yet.

With 190 products certified, Matter smart-home standard looks ahead

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About 190 products are certified for the Matter standard (or soon will be after testing).
About 190 products are certified for the Matter standard (or soon will be after testing).
Photo: CSA

The Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) showcased companies and products using the newly available Matter home-automation standard at a launch event in Amsterdam Thursday.

The group, which includes Apple, Google and many other companies, emphasized the standard’s building momentum and drew a rough road map of what’s to come.

Jamf makes it easy to manage employees’ Apple devices, both remote and onsite

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Jamf excels at Apple enterprise management.
Jamf excels at Apple Enterprise Management.
Photo: Jamf

This Apple Enterprise Management post is presented by Jamf.

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic changed how employers and employees operate, remote work had become increasingly prevalent. By 2016, 43% of the U.S. workforce worked from home at least to some extent, according to Gallup. The pandemic added millions more and might tilt the balance toward remote work permanently.

So, now more than ever, organizations large and small must figure out how to manage, connect and secure all devices their staff members use, in workplaces and remotely. For enterprises that prefer to have iPhones, Macs and iPads in the mix, effective Apple Enterprise Management is crucial.

iOS 13 could make upgrading from an old iPhone much faster

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iOS-13-wired-data-transfer
Yes, that’s two iPhones connected via a cable.
Photo: Apple

You may soon be able to transfer photos, videos, contacts, and more from an old iPhone to a new one using a cable.

The latest iOS 13 beta hints at the ability to connect two iOS devices for wired data transfer. The move could significantly speed up the upgrade process, which currently relies on wireless connectivity.

But it’s not exactly clear how you’ll be able to marry two iPhones with a cable.

2018 Mac mini review roundup: Pricey but impressively powerful

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Apple Mac mini 2018
Apple packed a lot of power inside the new Mac mini's space gray case.
Photo: Apple

The Mac mini is back! It’s no longer the ultra-affordable entry to macOS it once was. But it’s still the cheapest Apple computer you can buy — and there’s a good reason for the price hike.

This year’s upgrade (the first since 2014) makes it the fastest and most impressive Mac mini yet. Intel’s latest chips, coupled with faster RAM, ample storage options and all the ports you need are squeezed inside its tiny shell.

Here’s what the reviewers are saying so far.

Sketchy report claims 2018 iPhones won’t use Lightning port

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iPhone Lightning connector
New regulations could force Apple to ditch Lightning cables in Europe.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

This year’s iPhone lineup will come without a Lightning connector, according to a sketchy new report out of Asia.

Apple is expected to use an alternate method of charging and syncing that will please a lot of iPhone users. However, it could mean that all your existing iPhone accessories will no longer be compatible.

How to fix iPhone 7 Bluetooth problems

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iPhone 7
It can be easy to solve Bluetooth issues on your iPhone.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

There are few things to complain about with iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, but Bluetooth connectivity could be one of them.

Lots of customers have reported Bluetooth problems since upgrading to one of Apple’s latest handsets. Recent iOS 10 updates were supposed to bring a fix, but they don’t appear to have eliminated the issues for everyone. Here are three ways you can try to fix Bluetooth yourself.

iPhone 7 won’t play nicely with Android Wear watches

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how-to-connect-a-moto-360-to-your-iphone-image-cultofandroidcomwp-contentuploads201505iPhone-Moto-360-Android-Wear-jpg
Android Wear fans should avoid iPhone 7 for now.
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

If you decided to pick up an Android Wear device instead of Apple Watch, you may have trouble using it with iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus.

Those who have upgraded to one of Apple’s latest smartphones have found they just don’t play nicely with Google’s wearable platform, despite the fact that their predecessors have no trouble connecting after being upgraded to the same iOS 10 software.

Vodafone Tells iPhone 4S Users That It’s Okay To Update To iOS 6.1.1

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iPhone 4s marked a leap in iPhone photography with an 8MP sensor.
iPhone 4s marked a leap in iPhone photography with an 8MP sensor.
Photo: UWHS

Vodafone U.K. has told iPhone 4S users that it’s okay to update their handsets to Apple’s latest iOS 6.1.1 release. The carrier had previously warned that updating to iOS 6.1 could cause connectivity problems, but it has now confirmed that those issues are fixed in the latest release.

Apple Gets Sued in Australia Because New iPad Doesn’t Support 4G Down Under

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The new iPad promises to deliver 4G connectivity in Australia... but it's not compatible with Australia's 4G networks.
The new iPad promises to deliver 4G connectivity in Australia... but it's not compatible with Australia's 4G networks.

Well, it seemed like only a matter of time before Apple’s promises of 4G data on its new iPad got the company into trouble. Australia’s competition watchdog is now threatening to sue the Cupertino company over its ‘misleading’ advertising for the new device, which can actually only connect to 4G LTE networks in the U.S.