Apple’s Thunderbolt 4 Pro Cable teardown shows why the accessory is expensive
When Apple announced Mac Studio and Studio Display earlier this year, the company also quietly introduced a new Thunderbolt 4 Pro Cable capable of up to 40Gb/s data transfer and charging up to 100W. While it comes with the high price of $129, a new teardown of the cable shows why the accessory is super expensive.
The teardown was conducted by ChargerLAB, which posted a YouTube video showing all the details and specifications of Apple’s Thunderbolt 4 Pro Cable. The cable taken apart was the 1. 8-meter version, as the 3-meter version (priced at $159) is not yet available in stores.
Apple’s new Thunderbolt cable features a braided design that coils without tangling and makes it more durable. But while it may look like just a regular cable on the outside despite its 5 millimeter diameter, the inside of the cable reveals some interesting details.
As shown by ChargerLAB, the accessory is a coaxial cable with 19 wires inside. The cable is protected by a waterproof and dustproof woven layer. A second layer of protection is provided by thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), which has a thin foil shielding layer.
Among the 19 wires, there are 5 tinned copper wires used for power supply. The video notes that most of the wires are plated with silver and pure copper. It also highlights 2 white plastic-covered wires used for USB 2.0 transmission (the cable is backward compatible with Thunderbolt 3 and regular USB).
There are multiple components inside the connectors. They have a hard-black plastic cover and brass sleeves. An Intel chip is one of the main components. It manages Thunderbolt connections and reduces signal jitter. Each connector has 24 pins, which are all gold plated.
ChargerLAB explains that Apple’s Thunderbolt 4 Pro Cable is very well built with premium materials that make it more durable and less susceptible to interference, not to mention the licensed Intel chip that stabilizes signal transmission. The cable is a great choice for professionals who need to transfer large quantities of data.
A couple of days ago the full specs of vivo’s upcoming X80 Pro leaked, and today the vanilla X80 has received the same treatment. Not just that, but we have some renders of the phone to go with the specs too.
The X80 is said to come with a 6. 78-inch 1080p 120 Hz AMOLED touchscreen with an optical in-display fingerprint sensor, the MediaTek Dimensity 9000 SoC at the helm, 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM, 256 or 512GB of UFS 3. 1 storage, and a 32 MP front-facing camera.
On the rear there’s a triple camera system, with a 50 MP 1/1. 56″ main sensor with f/1. 75 aperture, a 12 MP ultrawide, and a 12 MP “portrait telephoto” (so most likely 2x zoom). The phone measures 165 x 75. 2 x 8. 3 mm, and weighs 205g. It will run OriginOS Ocean with Android 12 underneath. The battery is a 4,500 mAh unit with support for 80W wired charging.
Compared to the Pro, the vanilla X80 has the same size screen but it’s lower-res, while the battery is 200 mAh smaller. It also seems likely, based on the most recent rumors, that the Pro employs the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset.
The X80 foregoes wireless charging support unlike its Pro sibling, and the rear camera system is different too – with the only shared camera between the two seemingly being the 12 MP portrait shooter. The X80 Pro has a 50 MP main sensor too, but with an f/1. 57 aperture, and there’s also a 48 MP ultrawide as well as an 8 MP periscope zoom lens.
The X80 series will debut vivo’s newly improved V1+ dedicated imaging chip, which is the first such piece of silicon to work with high-end SoCs from both Qualcomm and MediaTek. The phones will be made official at an event on April 25.
Recipe app for iOS ‘Pestle’ gets major update with new editor, photo scanner, more
We recently covered an update to the recipe app for iOS “Pestle” that added new sharing options for users. Will Bishop is an indie developer who also created Chirp for Apple Watch. He’s releasing Pestle with new features such as a photo scanner and Quick Notes support.
For those that haven’t used Pestle before, this app allows you to import recipes from any site. The app turns them into a step-by-step process automatically. The app has been available in previous versions. You can use SharePlay to cook with other users, voice command to skip the next step, or print a recipe.
With version 1. 1, the app is getting even more features. The Recipe Editor has been completely revamped with more options, so you can now edit nutrition information, add sources, and even video URLs. And thanks to the Live Text API on iOS 15, Pestle is now able to scan physical recipes from photos to turn them into digital recipes.
Quick Notes is another feature that was added to the latest version. This time it’s for iPad users. In iPadOS 15, you can quickly drag from the right corner of the screen to create a quick note about the recipe you looking at with a direct link to the app. According to the developer, the update also fixes overall bugs.
If you want to give the app a try, Pestle is available on the App Store for iPhone and iPad as a free download with in-app purchases. You can read more about Pestle here on 9to5Mac.
Razer Leviathan V2 is one powerful subwoofer and PC soundbar
Razer appears to be expanding into consumer electronics. The company sells keyboards, mice, smartphones, and other peripherals for computers. It has also released headsets and speakers, with the most notable, the Leviathan Soundbar, getting a follow-up. The new Razer Leviathan V2 is ready to illuminate your sound. This new soundbar, with its multi-drivers, is perfect for gaming.
The Razer Leviathan V2 features Razer Chroma RGB and THX Spatial Audio. It also comes with low-latency Bluetooth 5. 2 for seamless and uninterrupted mobile and PC use. Expect deep bass and clear trebles as made possible by the down-firing subwoofer and two full-range drivers. This all-in-one system delivers a high quality audio experience, with full-range and high-fidelity sound.
The Razer Leviathan V2 Soundbar delivers advanced 7. 1 surround sound with pinpoint accuracy. You will enjoy a more detailed soundstage when you watch movies or listen to music. Razer Synapse, compatible Razer mobile applications, allows you to customize your soundbar, RGB lighting and audio settings for a personalized experience. The software offers better and more control for your audio-listening experience. This allows you to enjoy the Razer speaker’s full potential by simply enabling the 360deg positional audio.
Design-wise, the new Razer soundbar boasts a very compact desktop form factor. Although it is small, the soundbar can still fill any room with great sound and has a very compact footprint. It doesn’t take up much space so it fits right under your monitor. It even has detachable rubber feet so you can adjust the angle or height.
Razer’s new Leviathan V2 Soundbar connects with most PCs via the USB Audio Input. In addition, it works with a Nintendo Switch and smartphones over Bluetooth connectivity. It features 18 lighting zones, dynamic in-game lighting effects, and numerous patterns for full RGB customization.
Razer is definitely a tech brand to monitor because it’s been offering the public exciting products and services. The company shows its passion for technology and design, as evident in the Razer Singapore headquarters. There is the Razer Sneki Snek x Caruma Sneakers plus the Razer all-in-one modular gaming desk.
We remember the Razer Kiyo Pro HD webcam as ideal for content creation, work-from-home, and streaming. The Razer Zephyr Face Mask delighted us with RGB lighting, while the Razer Stainless Steel reusable straw made sustainability sexy. Finally, the Razer Gaming Glasses were introduced with blue light blocking properties and built-in earphones.
Apple announces service program for Apple Watch Series 6 ‘blank screen issue’
Apple on Friday announced a new service program for some Apple Watch Series 6 units that were affected by a “white screen issue.” Affected customers will be able to request a free repair through Apple or authorized service providers (AASP).
According to the company, only a small percentage of 40mm Apple Watch Series 6 models have been affected by this issue, which can cause the display to turn blank permanently. Apple says the affected units were manufactured between April and September 2021.
Affected customers can check if their Apple Watch Series 6 is eligible for repair by entering the serial number on Apple’s website. It’s worth noting that no other Apple Watch models except the 40mm Series 6 are part of this service program.
Apple has determined that the screen on a very small percentage of 40mm Apple Watch Series 6 devices may go blank permanently. Affected devices were manufactured between April 2021 to September 2021.
If your Apple Watch Series 6 has exhibited this issue, please use the serial number checker below to see if your device is eligible for this program. If so, Apple or an Apple Authorized Service Provider will provide service, free of charge.
If Apple’s website indicates that your Apple Watch Series 6 is eligible for repair, you should take it to an Apple Store or AASP. Except for damage to other components of the Apple Watch, the repair will be free.
The program covers eligible Series 6 Apple Watches for two years after the first retail sale of the unit, and it’s valid worldwide.
NLRB decision leads to historic Raven Software union vote
Raven Software’s quality assurance employees will vote, as a 21-person unit, on whether to unionize, the National Labor Relations Board ruled on Friday. The decision comes after Raven’s owner, Activision Blizzard, challenged organization efforts and sought to make the entire 230-person studio vote on the union.
All eligible Raven Software QA workers will be mailed ballots on April 29, and the ballots will be counted on May 23, the NLRB said. Should a supermajority of eligible workers vote yes, their union, called Game Workers Alliance, will move into contract negotiations with Activision Blizzard.
Activision Blizzard and Raven Software QA workers have been awaiting a decision from the NLRB since a hearing in February. In testimony during that hearing, Raven Software management and workers were questioned on the studios’ restructuring, in January, as it applied to union-eligible workers.
A spokesperson for Activision Blizzard told Polygon that the company would review all options in relation to a possible appeal. The full statement is as follows:
While we respect the NLRB process, we are disappointed that a decision that could significantly impact the future of our entire studio will be made by fewer than 10% of our employees. We believe a direct relationship with team members is the best path to achieving individual and company goals. We are reviewing legal options regarding a potential appeal.
On social media, Raven Software QA workers expressed excitement over the OK to vote. In a tweet, the group thanked its supporters: “We’re so proud that the NLRB ruled our unit eligible to vote,” it wrote. “Thank you to everyone supporting our campaign since our initial strike up until this very moment! Time for democracy!”
We are so proud to announce that the NLRB ruled that our unit is eligible for election! We are grateful to all who supported our campaign from the very beginning, right up to this moment. Time for democracy! #WeAreRaven#WeAreGWA
— Game Workers Alliance #WeAreGWA (@WeAreGWA) April 22, 2022
Raven Software’s union push, in partnership with the Communication Workers of America (CWA), kicked off in January following an employee walkout after a group of Raven Software contract workers were told they would not be among the 500 employees converted to new full-time positions last year. The NLRB hearing regarding the union’s scope began shortly after Activision Blizzard refused to voluntarily recognize the group.
Since then, Activision Blizzard announced its intention to convert another 1,000 QA workers to full-time positions, increase their pay to $20 per hour, and allow QA workers access to bonuses and benefits. Raven Software QA workers were not offered the same pay raises at that time; Activision Blizzard claimed that was because of “legal obligations under the National Labor Relations Act.”
QA contract workers are frequently referred to as an unskilled group in the videogame industry. Activision Blizzard QA employees told Polygon in August that QA contract cycle systems made it difficult for them to progress or feel secure in their career. This was on top of their low salaries and constant crunch. The Raven workers’ victory on Friday is therefore a landmark decision, with the potential to influence the video game industry as a whole.
Microsoft is preparing to acquire Activision Blizzard in a $68. 7 billion deal that will be reviewed by government regulators. Activision chief executive Bobby Kotick, who has faced calls for resignation from Activision Blizzard workers and the press (including this outlet), will continue to lead the company, at least until the Microsoft deal is finalized.
Review: iPad Pro and Air get premium leather protection with Nomad’s Modern Case and Folio
Nomad has launched its premium Modern Leather Case as well as Modern Leather Folio to fit the iPad Pro or Air. They are both minimalistic and lightweight, but still provide protection. Take a look at Nomad’s Modern iPad Leather Collection – two fantastic alternatives to plastic or silicone cases.
With Apple’s iPad Smart Folio only featuring silicone, and other companies using similar or more plastic, it is nice to have high-quality leather options by Nomad for iPad Pro and iPad Air.
Specs
Full-grain leather with high-grade polycarbonate core
Slim design
Protective thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) bumper
Folio features smart wake/sleep with magnetic closure and tri-fold stand
The iPad Modern Leather Case (and Folio) have been meticulously constructed and you will immediately notice the high-quality full-grain leather. It has a soft microfiber interior and blends effortlessly into the leather.
Nomad Modern Leather Folio on left, Modern Leather Case on right
The Modern Leather Folio and Case are available in rustic brown or black finishes and come with a two-year warranty.
In Use
The precision of the Modern Leather Folio and Case really stood out to me. Everything from the speaker, mic, camera, and Apple Pencil cutouts to the super-smooth transition between the leather and TPE bumper, to the overall fit, is spot on.
I also think Nomad has struck a great balance between a slim design and keeping the iPad Modern Leather Case and Folio protective. Along with the polycarbonate core the leather is bonded to, the absorbent TPE bumper sits 1. 2mm above the screen so it’s protected even face down on surfaces.
The only piece of constructive criticism I can think of is it would have been neat to see Nomad use metal for the top and volume buttons as the TPE gives a squishy feel. But I understand that would likely be tricky to do with the TPE bumper.
Conclusion
This case and folio will naturally rule out a portion of customers with the $99/$149+ price points. But for those willing to invest the money for premium leather protection that will last for years, this iPad case and folio are easy to recommend.
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Video game and tech culture has long been obsessed with “generations.” We mark milestones with new consoles or the numbers on an iPhone. It’s a helpful way to measure progress that moves at an unpredictable pace.
Once a year, Polygon expands this fixation on generations to explore the next generation of everything.
This is our favourite annual project, as it rewards from procrastination. So we wait to publish until the month before, so we can share stories about emerging streams of pop culture. These could be raging rivers that redirect the flow of global entertainment. This isn’t speculative fiction about a time 50 years from now; it’s a hint at where the world will be trending next month or next year.
These are only a handful of stories that we believe you will love. We recommend you check out the entire package.
This week on YouTube | The Super Mario Bros. movie is famously bad — so bad it killed the hopes of any good video game movie adaptations for YEARS. So they claim. But what if Super Mario Bros. wasn’t actually that bad? Jenna Stoeber explores the history and criticisms of the Super Mario Bros . film. You might even want to see it.
Six stories to read
Image: Marvel Studios
The MCU’s future lies with those it previously neglected: teen girls | “The future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe lies in Disney’s ability to gain the loyalty of the most progressive and skeptical generation yet, and there is only one ‘safe,’ new axis of diversity for Marvel Studios to lean into: women.”
TikTok and Instagram tags are changing how people cook | Four chefs and cookbook authors on how tagging influences recipe development.
The MCU broke up with Natalie Portman, but Taika Waititi won her back| Disney released the first trailer for Thor: Love and Thunder, and we got our first look at Natalie Portman as a superhero. This is how Jane Foster, got her godly powers .
The director of Bad Guys explains how animators are resisting “boring” CGI.
Moon Knight is finally fun| It took a beat, but Moon Knight is finding its groove. In its most successful episode, the MCU series is full Tomb Raider. Is the MCU willing to go even wilder?
A huge week for D&D | It’s been a big week for the Dungeons & Dragons brand, which hosted its first Nintendo-style streaming event called D&D Direct on Thursday. Spelljammer, Dragonlance and two other beloved settings are back. What’s the cherry on top? Wizards of the Coast tapped the designers of Pandemic Legacy and HeroQuest to team up for a D&D-themed board game.
Six things to watch
Photo: Aidan Monaghan/Focus Features
The Northman in theaters | Guys bein’ dudes! Gore galore! Here’s how they pulled off the awesome “spear shot” that’s all over the trailers.
The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent in theaters | 2021 was an even wilder year than usual for Nicolas Cage. He won’t let that stop him from going even harder in 2022.
Petite Maman in theaters | The sweetest, subtlest science fiction film in years.
The Bad Guys in theaters | A lively mashup of Zootopia, Wreck-It Ralph, and decades of crime movies.
We’re All Going to the World’s Fair in theaters | Creepypasta fans finally get the exact movie they need.
Marvelous and the Black Hole in theaters | We spoke with director Kate Tsang about how her time on Steven Universe: Future and Adventure Time: Distant Lands informed her live-action debut.
Plus, everything new to streaming: 16 witchy movies! 16 great thrillers!
Three games to play
Image: GameTomo
Sumire | Over at Uppercut Crit, Monti Velez reviewed Sumire, a beautifully illustrated game about choices and grief. Available on Windows PC, iOS, and Switch.
Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands| More of us have reached the endgame of the Borderlands spinoff. Deep into the shooter, we discovered what makes it so fun: It can easily become a John Wick power fantasy. Available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Windows PC.
Playdate| We previewed the Playdate last summer and were mostly charmed by the novelhandheld with a crank, though we wondered how games would work on the final model. Fortunately, the incomparable Christian Donlan at Eurogamer penned an excellent review to celebrate the Playdate’s official release along with a bundle of exclusive indie titles. At Polygon, be sure to read Ben Bertoli’s behind-the-scenes reporting on Playdate’s eight-year road to reality. Available at Play.date.
Free game of the week
Image: Frictional Games
Amnesia: Rebirth | The sequel to the tremendously popular Amnesia: The Dark Descent got a little lost upon release in October 2020. Blame the hype for the launch of new video game consoles or the series’ reputation for being extremely scary. Whatever the case, the thriller will hopefully find new fans with its free week on EGS. Available for free on Epic Games Store until April 28, 2022.
Lego is making an Atari 2600 to celebrate the console’s anniversary
The Atari 2600 — in its familiar, wood-paneled, super-groovy late-1970s incarnation — will get a celebratory Lego-styled build this August in recognition of the console’s 40th/45th anniversaries (see below), according to German Lego fan site Promobricks.
According to Promobricks (translation via Google), the playset will feature a buildable Atari VCS deck, with a scene from Activision’s seminal hit Pitfall!. Pitfall!, by David Crane, was video gaming’s first third-party, made-for-consoles blockbuster.
Pitfall! launched in 1982, the same year that Atari rebranded the VCS (so, there’s your 40th anniversary) as the 2600. The console originally launched in 1977 (there’s the 45th). That came five years after Allan Alcorn and Nolan Bushnell installed the first PONG coin-operated cabinet at a bar in Sunnyvale, California (a 50th anniversary, for good measure).
Promobricks suggested that the fold-out scene of Pitfall! should be movable, using the playset’s joystick replica. In 2020, Lego launched a commemorative Nintendo Entertainment System brickset, which included a nearly life-size representation of the console, a Super Mario Bros.Game Pak, and an adorable, wooden-legged TV (with analog dials and rabbit-ear antenna) as a monitor. Builders could scroll Mario through a representation of World 1-1 by turning a crank on the side of the assembled TV.
The Lego Atari 2600 has set number 10306 (Atari 50th Anniversary Gaming Console) and will sell for $199.99 (€169.99), says Promobricks. Interestingly, that price (US) is about $10 more, in whole dollars, than the Atari VCS’ original MSRP when it launched in 1977. Of course, $189.95 in Jimmy Carter money is about $900 today.
Samsung wants to get in on the Apple M2 chip production
Apple’s current M1 silicon is used in its MacBook, Mac and iPad lineup so the company needs quite a bit of those chips. By extension, this means that whoever gets in on Apple’s M1 chip supply chain is up for some serious financial gains.
Samsung is one of those suppliers for Apple and is producing FC-BGA substrates that are crucial for modern high-density chips with circuit connections. Naturally, the Korean tech giant wants in on the M2 chip production as well.
The so-called Samsung Electro-Mechanics arm is pretty close to striking a deal with Apple to produce the same FC-BGA substrates for the upcoming M2 chip. This report coincides with recent intel of Samsung investing more than $1 billion in building an FC-BGA production facility in Vietnam and has invested over $241 million more into an already existing fab in South Korea.
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