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Apple has a fast USB-C charger for your iPad Pro (updated)
One of the harsh lessons from the iPad Pro is that big batteries take a long time to charge -- forget to plug it in at night and you could be in for a hassle in the morning. Apple is finally tackling that problem today, though. Alongside the 9.7-inch Pro, it's introducing a 29W USB-C power adapter for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro that should charge your tablet much more quickly than the 12W adapter that comes in the box. You'll need a computer with a USB-C port for this to work, of course, but it could be worth the $49 to save yourself some time during every recharge. Update: As it turns out, the adapter itself is actually the same one that comes with the latest MacBook. But the Lightning to USB-C cable is certainly a new offer from Apple.
Apple is replacing USB-C cables that shipped with early MacBooks
If you were an early adopter of Apple's slimmed-down MacBook, then this may apply to you. According to the company, a "limited number" of laptops sold between its launch in April of 2015 and June 2015 have USB-C cables that could fail due to an unspecified "design issue." You can identify the faulty cables that need replacing by reading the label, which says "Designed by Apple in California. Assembled in China." without a serial number after that. The MacBook was one of the first devices to support the new standard when it arrived last year, and since then we've come to learn that finding quality cables is both harder and more important than ever.
Google engineer fries Pixel testing USB Type-C cable
You might not remember Benson Leung, the Google engineer that tasked himself with examining USB Type-C cables. He's been diligently doing so for months, but he's calling his tests to a halt after one went horribly wrong. Leung bought a USB 3.1 Type-C SuperSpeed cable (it's since been removed) from Surjtech on Amazon, and proceeded to check it using his Chromebook Pixel 2 and a pair of USB power delivery analyzers.
LaCie's latest hard drives offer extra space via USB-C
As USB-C arrives on more machines, accessory makers will need to update their products accordingly. That's just what LaCIe has done for CES with its latest Porsche Design Desktop and Mobile hard drives. The aluminum-wrapped storage units now offer USB Type-C connections to your laptop or desktop. What's more, you can still charge your laptop while you're transferring files, so long as the drive is plugged in. If you haven't yet splurged for a new machine with the latest ports, there's a USB 3.0 adapter included with each of the hard drives. In March, the Porsche Design Mobile Drive will be available in 1TB, 2TB and 4TB models starting at $110 and the Desktop Drive will be offered in 4TB, 5TB and 8TB options from $210.
Google engineer takes on subpar USB Type-C cables
Trying to save a few bucks by purchasing offbrand cables? We've all done it -- but there's something you should know about new USB Type-C connectors popping up on cellphones (Nexus, OnePlus), laptops (Macbook, Pixel), tablets (Pixel C) and even Apple TV. The reason why they can charge so many devices, is their ability to transmit currents up to 3A, which could be 50 to 100 percent more electricity than older standards. That's why Google engineer Benson Leung has been putting various USB-C cables sold on Amazon to the test. He worked on both of Google's recent Pixel devices that use the new cable to charge, and found that many of the cables advertised as Type-C aren't actually suited for use with the laptop. They might not be wired properly to charge a laptop, or they don't accurately identify the power source -- something that could damage your laptop, USB hub or charger.
The one-cable future of gadgets: simpler, but still confusing
For such a quiet tech show, this week's Computex in Taiwan may have been a watershed moment that will affect nearly every PC, phone and tablet you'll see in the next few years, if not decade. The new USB Type-C port may have debuted on flagship devices like Apple's single-port new Macbook and Google's Chromebook Pixel, but the new, smaller, reversible kind of USB is shaping up to be the connector of the future. This week ASUS joined the USB-C party, and in a reassuring vote of confidence, Intel announced that its newest iteration of Thunderbolt will take the same shape. Thunderbolt 3.0 will, at a minimum, double the data speed found on USB-C cables. It might not work wirelessly just yet, but the single-cable future is coming. However, change isn't always easy.
Daily Roundup: Fitbit Surge review, VAIO's first smartphone and more!
Get caught up on all of today's news in the Daily Roundup. Find out what we think of the new Fitbit Surge, learn about VAIO's first smartphone and get the details on when USB-C will come to new Android phones. Head past the break for all this and more.
Thanks to USB Type-C, external MacBook batteries may finally arrive (update)
If you've been yearning for an external MacBook battery, you might soon be in luck. 9to5Mac reports Apple will finally allow companies to make battery packs and chargers for its devices, thanks to the newfangled USB Type-C connectors. The folks in Cupertino have typically frowned upon bricks that lend extra juice, and even sued HyperMac over using its MagSafe (and iPod) connector without permission. A redesigned USB port means that Apple wouldn't have to pass along the details of its charging tech to accessory makers. Of course, the new MacBook only wields one of these ports, and it's the only machine from Apple that sports it. There's no doubt that will change soon enough, and USB Type-C add-ons will tackle storage, a second display and more. Update: Some MagSafe-compatible options do indeed exist, like the BatteryBox. This accessory comes with clips that work with Apple's patented power connector, but the company says that it doesn't infringe on any intellectual property. With the switch to USB Type-C, though, we'll see even more options, perhaps from companies that are already making external iPhone batteries.
Android phones will soon use a smaller, simpler USB connector
That tiny USB Type-C port you've seen on the latest MacBook and Chromebook Pixel? Don't be surprised if you see it on your smartphone soon. In a video accompanying the new Chromebook, Google's Adam Rodriguez says that his company is "very committed" to the new USB spec and that you'll see it on both Android phones and more Chromebooks in the "near future." It's a vague promise, to be sure, but it'll matter a lot in the long run. Type-C delivers brisk USB 3-level speeds (and eventually, 3.1) without requiring a gigantic connector, and the reversible design means you won't have to inspect your phone to make sure you plug the cable in the right way.
