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The best USB-C adapters, cables, and hubs
By Nick Guy This post was done in partnership with Wirecutter, reviews for the real world. When readers choose to buy Wirecutter's independently chosen editorial picks, they may earn affiliate commissions that support their work. Read the full article here. After 10 hours of preliminary research, we tested more than 25 USB-C accessories to put together this guide to the best ways to connect peripherals and devices to a USB-C–equipped computer. It's by no means exhaustive. USB-C can, in theory, replace every other port, and there are a seemingly infinite number of port combinations you might encounter. We focused on the most important tasks you'll likely face, such as connecting older peripherals like hard drives and hooking up an external display.
Raindrops on roses, Lightning adapters, and whiskers on kittens
I own roughly a billion-and-one old-style iPhone and iPod cables, most of them not strictly "Made for iPhone" (MFi). They have seen hard use over the years, but they've been cheap and easy to replace. In February, I finally made the jump to Lightning when I purchased a refurbished pair of an iPad Air and a latest generation iPod touch. I love my new babies, with their lightness and bright screens (and, in the case of the touch, modern Wi-Fi and a 4" screen that is terrific for iOS development). However, their new cable system has been driving me nuts. That's because the ease and cheapness of my existing stock of connectors no longer works with the new Lightning-based models. Purchasing extra MFi cables starts at about $14 for an Amazon Basics 3-foot cord. I tend to use my portable battery packs with tiny 6-inch cables, which make less of a clutter in my backpack. Fortunately, a couple of weeks ago, I stumbled across adapters on Amazon that convert Lightning to good old Euro-standard Micro-USB, which I normally use with my Kindle Fire. These adapters cost only about $2 each or less and slide onto the end of the Micro-USB cables, turning them into Lightning cables. I was pretty wary about these adapters since iOS has become very picky with regards to non-MFI products, and some reviews state they have pretty high fail rates. Regardless, I plopped down my $6 and ordered a set of three, hoping that at least one adapter would pan out. Instead, I was delighted to find that all three worked fine. I have tested these adapters with a variety of battery packs (from Antec, HyperJuice, and one that my husband picked up at the grocery store of all places...) and found that if the output amperage is sufficient to charge the device, the Lightning adapters work fine. I do caution you to carry a small pillbox or envelope for those times when you need to use the battery pack without the adapter, as they are quite small and easy to lose. I'm pleased that my portable Lightning needs have been met for the time being with a minimum of cash outlay and a satisfying reliability. Given how widespread complaints have been about Lightning connector failures due to wear and use, I'll be keeping an eye on these adapters over time to see how they last.
DisplayLink shows off adapters and docks from HP, Lenovo, EVGA and Targus at IDF 2012
With the proliferation of Ultrabooks, laptops are shipping with fewer ports and smaller screens. One of the benficiaries of the streamlined designs is DisplayLink, whose technology can turn a single USB port into a bevy of connections. At IDF 2012, the company showed off new gear from several vendors, including EVGA, HP, Lenovo and Targus. First, there's a handsome little puck from EVGA, called the UV Plus+39, that plugs into your laptop's USB 2 or 3.0 socket to grant you HDMI and DVI output at up to 2048 x 1152 resolution for $85. Next up, Lenovo's self-explanatory USB 3.0 to DVI adapter that supports the same max resolution as the Plus+39 for $80. Lastly, a pair of docks from Targus and HP. HP's 3005pr USB 3.0 Port Replicator turns your laptop's USB 3.0 port into four USB 2.0, two USB 3.0, one HDMI, DisplayPort, and RJ-45 jacks, plus audio in and out connections for a mere $150. Targus' $250 USB 3.0 SuperSpeed Dual Video Docking Station has similar connectivity to HP's solution, but swaps DisplayPort for DVI and adds the ability to charge 90W laptops using its included array of power adapters. Having trouble deciding which one's for you? Perhaps our photos in the gallery below will help you decide.%Gallery-165490% Myriam Joire contributed to this report.
iPhone 5 doesn't come with a free 30-pin adapter, video out adapters on the way
TNW wrote up a story about Apple including a free 30-pin adapter with the iPhone 5, as text upon checkout appeared to indicate the newest iPhone comes with such a beast -- a $29 beast at that. Unfortunately, they later asked a sales rep online who informed them that was a mistake. Indeed, looking at the page which tells you "what's in the box" confirms Apple isn't giving you a free adapter. Sorry folks, but Apple has margins to worry about. Some good news: video out adapters are said to be on the way.
iPhone 5 not yet announced, SIM adapters already available
The iPhone isn't expected to hit retail shelves until late this month (the announcement event will occur on September 12th) but its new nano-SIM cards may already be shipping, according to the International Business Times. TUAW wrote about similar shipments in a post earlier today. Nano-SIMs offer a smaller SIM format using a new standard that was just finalized this Spring. According to part leaks, the next iPhone will use nano-SIMs. Micro-SIM Shop, which we've covered in the past, is now offering adapters for the new nano size. Adapters allow you to stick a working SIM into a plastic cradle for use in older units. This is great for when you're going on trips and would rather not take along your most modern unit. As with the earlier items I tested, these were quite sturdy -- stiffer than you'd think and sized perfectly to fit into iPhone 4S / 4 (smaller) and 3GS SIM (larger) slots. The adapter places the SIM connectors at the right place so the older iPhones and iPads can read them. Micro-SIM Shop is selling the nano adapters for €3 for one or €11 for five. Shipping worldwide costs €3.
Kipon preps Canon EF lens adapters for Micro Four Thirds, NEX cameras with electronic control
Adapters to fit Canon's EF lenses on Micro Four Thirds and NEX camera bodies most definitely aren't new. Without any electronic link, though, that Lumix GX1 or NEX-F3 owner has had to focus by hand, sometimes without any aperture control -- what year is it, 1930? Kipon wants to make sure you'll never have to stoop to that level again through a pair of new adapters that keep the electronic controls working. As always with these parts, there's likely to be catches: we don't know the prices and ship dates, for one, and lens conversion can still hurt the autofocus speed. Even so, anyone who's been hoarding (or simply envious of) Canon glass now doesn't have to eye an EOS-M just to get a mirrorless camera with the lens adapter they crave.
Fujifilm M-Mount Adapter brings Leica lenses to the X-Pro1
It's not the cheapest, and it's not the first, but if you've been holding out on picking up an M-Mount adapter for your X-Pro1 with the hope that Fujifilm with launch a Leica-friendly accessory of its own, your patience does appear to have paid off. The camera maker just announced its very own M-Mount Adapter, featuring a 27.8mm distance between the lens mount and the sensor, an aluminum and stainless steel construction, and three levels of distortion correction. After you upgrade your camera firmware to version 1.10 (or later), you'll have access to an advanced M-Mount Adapter Settings menu, which utilizes pre-registered lens profiles and corrections. The software includes presets for 21mm, 24mm, 28mm and 35mm Leica lenses, leaving two additional slots for adding your own settings. You'll need to hang in there for a few more weeks -- the M-Mount Adapter is expected to ship for $200 in June. There's full specs in the PR after the break.
Kanex ships dual-link DVI-to-Mini Displayport Adapter
Already living the high life with a swank Mini Displayport monitor as your daily? That's all fine and dandy, but what happens when your desolate friends come over with machines that only tote DVI? That's where an adapter like Kanex's C247DL comes in. But unlike other adapters we've spied before, the company's latest is dual-link, allowing you get your groove on with displays that boast resolutions greater than 1920 x 1200. It also sports a USB port, giving you full control of say, we dunno, the speakers and iSight camera of Apple's 27-inch Cinema Display? At $149 it isn't cheap, but can you really put a price on friendship?
Zotac adapter turns your DisplayPort into two HDMI jacks
You can never have enough HDMI ports, that's what we say at least. Heck, what does that gaming rig you just put together have? Two? And that MacBook Pro of yours doesn't have any at all. But, if there's a DisplayPort hanging around, you can add a pair HDMI jacks with an adapter from Zotac. This little dongle turns any DisplayPort or Mini Displayport into a dual HDMI hookup, with support for two 1920 x 1080 monitors -- provided your graphics card can handle it and the HDMI group doesn't kill the product first. Pricing and availability are still up in the air at the moment, but you'll find a few more details in the PR after the break. Update: Zotac just reached out to let us know both adapters will be retailing for $50.
HDMI group reportedly putting a stop to Mini DisplayPort-to-HDMI adapters
If you've been thinking about buying a one piece Mini DisplayPort-to-HDMI cable to bring vids from your Macbook to an HDTV, you may want to get it now. According to a report from TechRadar, the group behind HDMI has decided they don't meet the requirements and cannot be tested or licensed for compatibility. Their sin? Not having a male HDMI plug on each end as required by the spec, which only allows for dongles featuring an all-female pairing of Mini DisplayPort and HDMI to get the job done. We've contacted the group to find out exactly what's going on, but until we hear back it may be prudent to keep an eye on suddenly black-market cable pricing like gasoline before a big holiday.
TomTom offers free car kit adapter for iPhone 4
Attention, folks who purchased the TomTom car kit for their iPhone 3G or 3GS, only to upgrade to a won't-fit-quite-right iPhone 4: you're in luck. TomTom is now providing a free adapter for the aforementioned car kit that allows an iPhone 4 to fit properly. Apparently the adapter is simply a piece of plastic that one sticks into place over a spot at the bottom of the dock. It's included in the kit packaging from September 1, though if you bought a car kit before then, you can claim your adapter from TomTom for free. The TomTom car kit retails for about $120. Obviously, to make full use of the TomTom car kit at all, you'll want to have the $40 iPhone app to go along with it. [via Electronista]
MacBook refresh includes Mini DisplayPort that pumps out HDMI audio
When it comes to port standardization, Apple marches to the beat of its own drum... but in a rare show of leniency, the company's newly refreshed MacBook will throw home theatre aficionados a bone. Though Cupertino hasn't moved to actually include an HDMI-out (sacre bleu!), a new support document shows its Mini DisplayPort now provides an audio signal alongside the video feed. Should you move to purchase a VESA-compliant Mini DisplayPort to HDMI adapter like the one Apple's apparently not selling, you'll finally be able to enjoy digital sound without dropping $70 for the privilege. Fancy that! Now we just need USB 3.0 ports -- placed on opposite sides of the machine -- a SATA 6G socket and a FireWire 400 port. What can we say? We're the sentimental sort.
Ask Engadget: Best accessories management solution for cluttered desks?
We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget question is coming to us from Steven, who needs to hit a Spring Cleaning streak in the worst possible way. If you're looking to send in an inquiry of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com. "I am overwhelmed by power cords and travel chargers and am looking for a good way to organize them until I need them. The top drawer of my desk is no longer cutting it. I've got too many power cables and AC adapters to count. I can't be the only one with this problem. Is there a solution? Thanks in advance!" Anyone got a great mechanism for keeping these adapters and cables in some sort of order? We're certain the neat-freaks in attendance would love to hear your input in comments below.
Worldwide Mac: the dos and don'ts of international electricity
Whether you're moving to another country or just visiting, chances are pretty good you're going to be bringing a lot of electronics with you. Chances are also pretty good that whatever country you're going to is going to have an electrical system with a different voltage or frequency than your home country, and probably differently-shaped outlets, too.When traveling abroad, this vast array of voltages, frequencies, and plug types can be confusing, and whether you're packing a $200 iPod nano or a $2000 MacBook Pro, it can lead to a great deal of trepidation as well. The traveling geek's worst nightmare goes like this: you plug your very expensive, potentially irreplaceable electronics into some weird Romanian outlet, and suddenly sparks start flying. You try to unplug your precious device as quickly as you can, but the damage is done -- with a whiff of ozone, hundreds or thousands of dollars worth of equipment has just become a glorified brick.Happily, most modern electronics shouldn't experience this issue, and that includes all recent Macs and iPod/iPhone power adapters. Here are a few dos and don'ts when it comes to international electricity.
Apple supporting universal European handset chargers
Last week I ordered my iPhone 3GS from the AT&T Store (no Apple Stores out here in the boonies). Five days later it was ready to be picked up and I drove out to the mall to get it.While the AT&T employee activated it and performed the soul-stealing voodoo that accompanies a new sale, a woman at the next counter was exchanging her own AT&T phone (not an iPhone). I only heard a part of her conversation, but it went something like this:"Can I use my old adapter with this one?""No, m'am. You'll have to buy a new one.""What about my car charger?""No, that will need to be replaced, too.""Ugh. OK. I'll just throw them away."What a nuisance. She's got to spend extra money and those plastic and electronic doodads will occupy the bottom of a landfill until The End Of Days. The problem is even worse in the Europen Union. Fortunately, a group of manufacturers, including Apple, is working to change that. Apple, Nokia and Research in Motion have agreed to support a European Union-backed initiative to standardize these devices across the EU. It's a good idea that would benefit consumers and the environment. The agreement is limited to smartphones for now, but if all goes well, will be expanded in 2012. Good luck to everyone involved.
Impact Acoustics' rotating HDMI / DVI adapters make installs easier
It's a simple concept, but there's little doubt that the item shown above would prove mighty helpful in tight spaces. Impact Acoustics has rolled out a line of rotating AV adapters, most notably the HDMI and HDMI-to-DVI versions. As the title leads you to believe, these wee devices allow users to run their HDMI / DVI cables at any angle, enabling gear to be wired up in tighter corners without fear of damaging any of those precious cables. The adapters are available now in a number of flavors, all costing $12.99 apiece.[Via Audioholics]
Philips' Power4Life wall adapters spotted at IFA
While Philips didn't have a working model of its new Power4Life modular energy system (including Power2Go and Power2Charge), we did come across this base unit, wall units, and adapters splayed lovingly on a pedestal somewhere deep within the plush company booth. It's not much to see, but supposedly (i.e., according to Philips' press releases) these things are going to change our lives. Take a look at the brief gallery for a taste of things to come.%Gallery-6721%
Some more on the Wiicessories line -- cables and adapters, oh my!
You guys all know by now how obsessed with the minutiae we are -- peep the first pics we've yet seen of the Wii accessories line. Clockwise from upper left, we have pictured the Wii power adapter (RVL-A-AD - ¥3,000), Wii Ethernet adapter (RVL-A-UE - ¥2,800), Wii 512MB SD card (RVL-A-SD1 - ¥3,800), yet-unidentified video-out cables (RVL-A-KD - ¥2,500), component video cables (RVL-A-KC - ¥2,500), S-Video cables (RVL-A-KS - ¥2,500), and classic composite video cables (RVL-A-KT - ¥1,000). Ok, carry on everybody.[Thanks, MED]
Belkin's TuneTalk Stereo does 16-bit iPod recording
We've already seen XtremeMac step up and court the mobile podcasting community with its 16-bit MicroMemo microphone adapter for the iPod with video, and now Belkin has announced a similar product with CD-quality audio recording, the TuneTalk Stereo. Like the MicroMemo, Belkin's omnidirectional model also clips into your device's dock connector, and includes a 3.5-millimeter jack for hooking up an external mic, if that's your thing. You also get a little stand for looking more professional in those sit-down interviews for your podcast, and the design ensures that you can leave your 'Pod's fancy case on while recording. Seventy bucks will get us lucky North Americans one of these units -- in either black or white -- sometime this month, but the rest of you suckers will have to wait just a little bit longer.
ACCELL's $100 UltraAV HDMI 2-1 Audio/Video Switch
With more and more devices being released sporting HDMI outputs (although certainly not all of them), and so many TVs holding steady at just one HDMI input, you're gonna have to shell out some loot for a switcher sooner or later. Most models on the market are dedicated little boxes that cost several hundred dollars, but cable manufacturer ACCELL has just announced a new solution for switching on the cheap, called the UltraAV HDMI 2-1 Audio/Video Switch, that tucks in unobtrusively among your nest of cables. This small wafer of a device simply features two inputs and an output, along with a handy IR repeater on a five-foot cord for toggling between sources from the included wireless remote. TMCnet is reporting that these will begin shipping next month, and for under a hundred bucks (well, only a penny under, but still).[Via TMCnet]
