What’s bloating up your hard drive? Why is your Bluetooth mouse still draining? Which 13″ MacBook should you get? All these questions are answered, and more. John and Dave are here to ensure you get the answers you need, in the way you need them. And that’s not all, they talk through a few ways of managing multiple Apple IDs, 10G Ethernet, macOS 10.15.5, plus Quick Tips, Cool Stuff Found, and more. Press play to listen and learn at least five new things along with your two favorite geeks!
It's Good to Do The Math – Mac Geek Gab 812
USB Power Delivery isn’t as clear a concept as it could be, and your two favorite geeks help sort this out. That’s not all, of course, because John and Dave are here to answer ALL of your questions. This week that includes issues with Spotlight, Backups, displays for your Mac mini, managing your external DAC, and more. Press play … and enjoy!
This Charger Has Lightning, MicroUSB, USB-C Connectors: $75
We have a deal on the FamilyCharger, a 5-in-1 charger that features 2 USB-C connectors and 3 Lightning connectors, all powered by a 52 watt power supply. It measures 9-feet, too, meaning you can route it just about wherever you need. It’s $75 through our deal.
2020 iPhone Rumor Roundup: It Can Do Everything Except Perform Surgery (Update)
A new 2020 iPhone rumor today says that it could have a 120Hz ProMotion display. We’ve taken all of the rumors so far and rounded them up.
Sanho Corporation Announces HyperDrive GEN2 USB-C Hub
Sanho Corporation is back with another USB-C hub. This one is called HyperDrive GEN2 and it promises twice the power and twice the speed than GEN1.
Apple: Enforced iPhone Port Means Higher Prices and Waste
Apple recently spoke out against the EU’s proposal to force smartphone manufacturers to pick one port for everyone.
Hidden Long-Press Actions, USB-C Travel – TMO Daily Observations 2020-01-16
Andrew Orr and Dave Hamilton join host Kelly Guimont to discuss (hidden) long-press options in Safari, and travel with a USB-C machine.
EU Wants to Standardize Smartphone Charging Ports
Lawmakers in the European Union will discuss whether smartphone charging ports should be standardized by tech companies.
CES Wrap-up, Quick Tips, Cool Stuff Found – Mac Geek Gab 797
John and Dave are back from CES with new stuff they’ve learned, Cool Stuff Found, Quick Tips, and more. Of course, your questions are featured, as well, including analyzing USB power draw, fast external drives, folder permissions, and more. Press play to learn five new things with your two favorite geeks!
CES – SanDisk Ultra Dual Drive Luxe With Both USB-C and USB-A ports
LAS VEGAS – As USB speeds and capabilities increase, so expands the concept of the thumb drive. At CES Monday, SanDisk was showing off their new Dual Drive Luxe USB-C, a thumb drive supporting USB 3 speeds over both USB-C and USB-A. Capable of delivering up to 150MB/s, the 1TB model will be $249.99 and 500GB will be $89.99, both due to be released in Q1 this year.
CASA i4 USB-C 4-in-1 iPad Pro Hub: $49.99
We have a deal on the CASA i4 USB-C 4-in-1 iPad Pro Hub. This slim and portable hub features four ports: a USB-C PD port for charging, a USB Type-A for reading flash drives, an HDMI port for video output, and a 3.5mm audio connector for headphones. This device is $49.99 through our deal.
The 2020 iPhone Should Include a USB-C Port
Dieter Bohn writes that the 2020 iPhone should have a USB-C port, instead of a port coming to the 2019 iPhone.
I think it’s easier to get people to accept port changes when they go along with some other kind of dramatic change to a product line. And not to put too fine a point on it: if the rumors are correct, this year’s iPhone 11 doesn’t look like a very dramatic change.
The main reason I want a USB-C iPhone is flash drives. I’d love a USB-C flash drive that I could plug into both my iPad Pro and my iPhone. I have a wireless one that works with both, but it requires a separate app to use. One that “just works” natively with the Files app is ideal to me.
We Love Dongle World – Mac Geek Gab Podcast 772
Live from MacStock Conference and Expo 2019, John and Dave play Stump the Geek and take listener questions live, with a little help from impromptu co-host Kelly Guimont! Learn about APFS and Fusion Drives, iPhones making sounds when they’re not supposed to, and why we love Dongle World as much as we do. Press play and learn at least five new things!
Intel Selling Modem Biz, USB Hubs – TMO Daily Observations 2019-07-23
John Martellaro and Andrew Orr join host Kelly Guimont to theorize about Intel selling their modem business to Apple, and USB/USB-C hubs.
Twelve South's StayGo is a New USB-C Hub
Twelve South has a lot of great tech gear, and today it’s releasing the StayGo USB-C hub. A lot of USB-C hubs are designed to be used with MacBooks. StayGo is desktop-friendly, which means the cords are long enough to tuck away behind your desk. But if you do use it with a MacBook is has a smaller travel cable that can be stored directly inside the device. It has Gigabit Ethernet to connect to super-fast wired networks and servers. The hub also has both SD and Micro SD card readers that can connect & download simultaneously, giving you an easy way to transfer high-resolution photos or 4K video for editing. Connections include 4K HDMI, Gigabit Ethernet, USB-A 3.0 (x3), independent SD + Micro-SD card slots and 85W USB-C pass-thru power. You can buy it for US$99.99.
Apple Sells Exclusive Satechi USB-C Adapter
Apple is selling a Satechi USB-C adapter exclusively in its store. It has a USB-C power port, USB-A, SD, and microSD readers, and an HDMI port.
The Multiport Pro Adapter comes in space gray and is priced at $70, the same as what Apple’s first-party USB-C adapter normally sells for (but doesn’t have SD readers like Satechi’s new adapter). Notably, Satechi’s Multiport Pro Adapter is the only third-party USB-C hub that Apple is selling.
Save Your Data...Safely – Mac Geek Gab 769
macOS Catalina will bring with it a lot of changes, one of which is that a lotof older apps and related hardware won’t work. Dave and John answer your questions and share your tips about how to navigate these waters ahead of time… to avoid surprises. In addition, your archives are only as good as the method and medium you use. It’s time to talk about data safety and reliability. Plus, your other questions need answers, and that’s what happens here on Mac Geek Gab: everyone learns at least five new things!
ProBASE C Aluminum Monitor Stand with Built-in USB Hub: $119.99
We have a deal on the ProBASE C Aluminum Monitor Stand. Made from aluminum and designed to match the styling of your iMac 5K, this device has a built-in USB hub with three USB Type-A ports (USB 3.0) and one USB Type-C port. It also features a concealed drawer to store flash drives, external HDDs, memory cards, stationery, pens, etc. This stand is $119.99 through our deal.
SCOUT Wireless 5,000mAh Portable Charger: $34 with Coupon Code
We have a deal on the SCOUT Wireless 5,000mAh Portable Charger, a Qi charger that also has three different built-in charging cables, all in a compact form factor. Those cables include USB-C, USB-A (regular USB), and a Lightning cable. That means you can use it on your new iPad Pro and your iPhone X/S/R/Max, too. It’s $39.99 through our deal, but coupon code WEEKEND15 brings it down to $34 at checkout. Here’s a promo video with a closer look:
BESTEK Mountable Power Strip: $23.99
Check out today’s deal on the BESTEK Mountable Power Strip. It’s a power strip with regular three AC outlets, three USB charging ports, and one USB-C charging port, but it’s designed to let you mount it to the wall or paste it under your desk. It also includes over-voltage, short circuit, overload, and over-current protection, as well as FCC authentication. It’s $23.99 through our deal.
