| Cult of Mac

Why you might be interested in Apple’s new USB-C EarPods

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Apple USB-C EarPods
You don't have to buy AirPods to get decent earbuds from Apple for your Mac or iPad.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s transition away from the old Lightning connector includes a USB-C version of EarPods, and these can now be purchased online for under $20.

The wired earbuds that come with iPhone are surprisingly good — audio quality is closer to AirPods than you might realize. And there are other advantages for Mac and iPad users, too.

Super-slim new hub adds the ports a MacBook needs [Review] ★★★★★

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Super-slim new hub adds the ports a MacBook needs★★★★★
Expand the port selection on your MacBook with a USB-C hub that clicks to the side of the notebook.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The Satechi Pro Hub Slim plugs directly into the side of a MacBook to greatly expand the range of ports available. It’s sleek enough for Apple’s latest notebooks, and adds minimal bulk. But there’s still room for HDMI, a pair of full-size USB-A ports, memory card readers and more.

I tested each of the features of the 7-in-2 hub to be sure it lives up Satechi’s promises.

Add 6 ports to your iPad with this tiny, clip-on hub [Review] ★★★★☆

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Add 6 ports to your iPad with this tiny, clip-on hub [Review]★★★★☆
Transform your iPad into a mobile office with this very portable clip-on hub from Satechi.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The Satechi USB-C Mobile Pro Hub SD is designed to look and act like it’s part of an iPad. It attaches directly to the side of the tablet and adds an HDMI video port, a USB-A port plus a headphone plug, SD card reader and more.

I tested the six-port hub with my iPad Pro, and am quite pleased with it.

Sleek new 7-in-1 USB-C dock offers dual 4K HDMI ports

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Sleek new 7-in-1 USB-C dock offers dual 4K HDMI ports
Add a pair of 4K monitors on the go with this portable USB-C dock.
Photo: Plugable

Plugable’s new USB-C dock is small enough to be mistaken a hub but has room for seven ports. And that includes dual 4K HDMI ports that can be used even with Macs that ordinarily support only one external monitor.

The USB-C HDMI Docking Station also has USB and Ethernet ports, as well as an SD card reader.

Diagnose your charging woes with Plugable’s tiny power meter [Review]

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Plugable USBC-VAmeter3 review
The Plugable USBC-VAmeter3 tests the quality of the connections between your computers and chargers and other peripherals.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Your MacBook isn’t charging right and you can’t figure it where the problem is? Plugable’s USBC-VAmeter3 can help. Connect it to the power cable running to your Mac, iPad or iPhone to see the voltage, wattage and amperage.

I’m no electrical engineer, but I tested this miniature power meter. I found it both useful and kind of fun.

Cut cable clutter with mountable Belkin 6-in-1 hub

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Cut cable clutter with mountable Belkin 6-in-1 hub
Your iMac can have six more ports without adding a bunch of wires to your desk.
Photo: Belkin

Place the new Belkin Connect USB-C 6-in-1 Multiport Hub in the back of an iMac or monitor to discreetly add multiple ports to a computer. It offers a couple of USB-A ports, memory card readers and more.

The hub is available now.

Plugable’s USBC-VAMeter3 gets even better at finding charging woes

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Plugable’s USBC-Vameter3 gets even better at finding charging woes
Plugable's tiny voltage and amperage meter can help you find out why a MacBook or iPad isn't getting power.
Photo: Plugable

Anyone who’s ever said to themselves “Is this $%&@ thing even charging?” might be interested in the new version of Plugable’s voltage and amperage meter.

Plug the USBC-VAMeter3 into your device then plug the charging cable into the meter and you’ll see how much power is flowing and in which direction.

A new version USBC-VAMeter3 launched Tuesday for under $30. It can handle more power, which makes it more useful and less likely to be accidentally damaged.

Unlock Kingston’s newest SSD with its built-in touchscreen

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Unlock Kingston's SSD with its built-in touchscreen
Tap in a password directly onto the touchscreen of Kingston's IronKey external SSD.
Photo: Kingston

The Kingston IronKey Vault Privacy 80 External SSD includes a touchscreen and hardware encryption to protect user data. Unlock the XTS-AES 256-bit encryption by tapping in a password or numeric passcode onto the touchscreen.

It’s available in capacities up to 1920 GB.

Tiny 1TB SSD connects to all your computers

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Tiny 1TB SSD includes connectors for all your computers
OWC Envoy Pro mini includes both USB-C and USB-A connectors for wide capability.
Photo: OWC

The OWC Envoy Pro mini is a thumbdrive designed to work with almost any computer. It has both USB-C and USB-A connectors, and comes with up to 1TB of storage.

The tiny drive supports USB 3.2 Gen 2 and benchmark tests show it can transfer data at over 900 MBps.