The Accell Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station is ready for professional workloads. Photo: Accell
The Accell Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station allows multiple peripheral connections to Mac through a single Thunderbolt 4 cable. It turns a single Thunderbolt port into two, while also offering DisplayPort, USB-A, Ethernet and more.
The professional-grade hub is available for purchase starting Monday.
Plugable’s just-launched Thunderbolt 4 hub makes your Mac more useful by adding accessories that require very fast connections. Photo: Plugable
The new Plugable TBT4-HUB3C hub turns a single Thunderbolt 4 port into three of them, expanding the number of high-speed accessories that can be connected to a Mac or iPad Pro. That includes big displays and large-capacity drives.
And Plugable also launched new 1-meter and 2-meter Thunderbolt cables Thursday.
No matter how hard you are on your gear, you aren‘t going to destroy the OWC Envoy Pro FX. The 2 terabyte SSD is waterproof and offers military-level drop toughness. Plus the USB-C accessory supports Thunderbolt 3 so data transfers are super fast.
I put the solid state drive through testing. Here’s how it stood up.
Put the OWC Thunderbolt 3 Dock on your desk and you’re ready for high-speed connections to a wide range of accessories. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
You need a powerful dock to make your Mac the center of a highly capable office. The OWC Thunderbolt 3 Dock has fourteen ports for connecting a wide range of peripherals. That includes multiple USB-C ports, something you won’t find on USB-C hubs. Plus there’s USB-A, Ethernet, a headset jack and more.
I added this dock to my office. Here’s how it performs in real-world use.
Thunderbolt 5 could double the speed of data transfers in future Mac and iPad Pro models, according to an accidental leak from one Intel executive.
The technology will use the same USB-C connector we’re now accustomed to, but with double the effective bandwidth — from 40 Gbps in Thunderbolt 4 to a staggering 80 Gbps.
The fast and rugged OWC Envoy Pro SX is ready to go on the road. Photo: OWC
OWC built Thunderbolt into the new Envoy Pro SX to make the portable drive fast and reliable. And don’t worry if you spill coffee on the SSD — it can take the punishment.
It’s available with up to 2TB of storage, isn’t bulky, and requires no fan.
Expand the life and capability of your Mac setup with OWC Thunderbolt products. Photo: Other World Computing
This post is presented by Other World Computing, owner of MacSales.com.
For 30 years, Other World Computing and its website, MacSales.com, have offered Mac users great ways to upgrade and extend the life of their equipment rather than buying a new computer.
That goes for practically any product an Apple customer could want or need. But when it comes to Thunderbolt connectivity equipment — external drives, docks, hubs, cables — OWC really goes the distance.
Even beyond the better screen and processor, there’s a lot to like about the 2021 iPad Pro. But not every change is good. Photo: Apple
There are some changes in the 2021 iPad Pro that shouldn’t be overlooked, even as most of the attention has gone to the speedy M1 processor and gorgeous mini-LED display. Some of the differences are good, but not all.
Here are five things you shouldn’t miss about Apple’s new top-tier tablet.
2021 iPad Pro makes huge strides forward in its processor, screen, port, storage and RAM. Photo: Apple
The 2021 iPad Pro is built around an Apple M1 processor that brings a tremendous speed boost. And the USB-C has been upgraded with Thunderbolt, leading to faster connections to external drives. Plus, there’s a version with 5G.
But the latest top-tier iPadOS tablet more than fast — it looks great too. The 12.9-inch version includes a mini-LED display that both improves the look and uses less power.
A blazing fast processor and Thunderbolt could be hallmarks of the 2021 iPad Pro. Photo: Cult of Mac
The 2021 iPad Pro will get a considerable performance boost, according to a trusted source. To the point where the tablet is as fast as the M1 Macs released last autumn.
In addition, the USB-C port in the next iPadOS device might support Thunderbolt.
There are features you’ll give up with an M1 Mac like the new MacBook Pro. Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac
The first Macs running the M1 processor are crazy fast, making lots of MacBook and Mac mini users consider dumping their Intel-based Macs. Before you do, here’s everything you give up when buying a computer powered by Apple Silicon.
Is the Apple Thunderbolt 3 cable the best on the market? Or just the most expensive? Photo: Apple
The Apple Thunderbolt 3 Pro Cable comes at a price that should make even the most devoted Mac fan blink. At $129, it costs at least $50 more than comparable cables.
Not everything Apple sells is extraordinarily expensive. But it’s undeniable that the company occasionally adds on the “Apple Tax.”
Apple and Intel developed Thunderbolt, and a new version debuts later in 2020. Photo: Intel
Intel unveiled the specs for Thunderbolt 4 on Wednesday without bringing dramatic changes to this connectivity standard built into most Macs. Still, any computer running the new version has to offer an upgraded set of specifications, including the ability to handle a pair of 4K monitors.
Update: Apple promised to build Thunderbolt 4 into future Macs. “We remain committed to the future of Thunderbolt and will support it in Macs with Apple silicon,” an Apple spokesperson told The Verge.
'Thunderspy' can reportedly compromise data with no current fix available. Photo: Caldigit
Seven security flaws have been found impacting Macs with Thunderbolt ports sold since 2011 with no indications that current security schemes can prevent the attacks from happening.
Dutch security researcher Björn Ruytenberg released a report Sunday detailing nine attack scenarios, including the ability to quickly steal data from encrypted drives and memory.
Even the new-ish 16-inch MacBook Pro runs hot. Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac
Does your brand new MacBook Pro go into meltdown when it’s plugged into power? Do the fans spin up into a blast of white noise, while the heat makes your hands sweat as you type? Is your kernel\_task pegged using 100% of the CPU when you check things out in the Activity Monitor app?
If so, don’t worry — it’s not your Mac’s fault. It’s you. You’re charging it wrong.
Yes, if you plug your USB-C power cable into the left-hand side of your MacBook Pro, you might make it overheat.
ThunderMag replaces MagSafe for USB-C and Thunderbolt 3 connections. Photo: innerexile
MagSafe break-away cables were a great way to keep MacBooks from getting damaged but Apple stopped using them as part of the transition to USB-C.ThunderMag is a new accessory that replicates this feature.
Its inventor claims there’s no data or charging slowdowns, as have plagued earlier attempts to replace MacSafe.
The new iPad Pro can’t use Thunderbolt accessories, but it can recognize them. Photo: Cult of Mac
Thunderbolt cables and plugs look exactly like USB-C cables and plugs, but they are incompatible. Or rather, you can plug both kinds into a Thunderbolt port and any connected peripheral will work, but you can’t plug Thunderbolt into USB-C. Or rather you can plug it in, but it won’t work. You see? We’re confused already.
But what happens when you plug a Thunderbolt accessory into the new 2018 iPad Pro?
If you need a new laptop, you won't want to miss this deal. Photo: Apple
Apple finally dusted off the MacBook Air. The 2018 model sports a brand new design, a gorgeous Retina display, and powerful upgraded internals. All of sudden, Apple’s most affordable notebook is up there with its best.
In fact, the new ultraportable is so good, you would be crazy to buy a 12-inch MacBook right now. So, how does the new MacBook Air stack up against the rest of Apple’s laptop lineup? Which model best suits your needs, and which delivers the best bang for the buck?
Find out right here in our comprehensive MacBook comparison.
There’s no way I’m sticking that In my iPad’s hole. Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac
At this point, it seems that everyone is agreed that the next iPad will replace the excellent Lightning connector with an inferior USB-C connector. But I’m not so sure. Not only is the “evidence” for this huge change sketchy and speculative at best, but USB-C would bring almost no benefit to anyone — not users, and not Apple.
The iMac finally gets a touchscreen. Photo: Antonio De Rosa
Apple’s iMac lineup hasn’t seen any major design changes in years, but a clever new concept imagines some simple ways that Apple could bring some big innovations to its all-in-one PC. And we’re totally in love.
The Mac Touch concept created by Antonio De Rosa would transform the iMac into a powerful creation PC by adding a revolving and adjustable touchscreen. Video and photo editing, drawing, or even just surfing the internet would feel more magical on this iMac. It even brings back the hockey puck mouse with a new twist.
Expect Thunderbolt to become more widespread soon. Photo: Intel
Intel has confirmed plans to drop Thunderbolt royalties in an effort to boost adoption. The chip-maker also plans to integrate Thunderbolt 3 into its own processors starting next year, eliminating the need for a dedicated controller.
Apple partnered with LG to create a new 5K Thunderbolt 3 display last year to go with the new MacBook Pro, but according to a new report, the iPhone-maker is working on a new 8K display just for the next generation of Mac Pros.
Let's get ready to dongle. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Apple discounted a whole bunch of its USB-C accessories last November after fans complained about the new MacBook Pro’s reliance on dongles. If you haven’t already taken advantage of the savings, today is your last chance.
How's your UltraFine monitor holding up? Photo: LG
Thunderbolt cable problems could be to blame for the issues many users are having with LG’s new UltraFine 5K Display.
It was initially believed that nearby Wi-Fi routers were the root cause of sporadic connectivity, but many are now refuting that in threads on the Apple Support Communities forum.
The next time you leave your Mac unattended, make sure to turn it off.
A well-known hacker has created a cheap tool that can steal data off of locked computers in minutes. The clever new device called PoisonTap is created using a $5 Raspberry Pi Zero and some open source code. Attackers can plug PoisonTap into a machine and as long as the victim has a web browser open, it can steal data and leave remote backdoors.