Thunderbolt

Once the domain of IT departments and corporate purchase orders, laptop docks have become an indispensable tool of the home office. Thanks to interfaces like USB-C, a capable dock can turn your humble ultralight laptop into a full-fledged desktop system, complete with an external display and plenty of peripherals. And it takes just one cable to switch from portable laptop mode to desktop destroyer. CalDigit’s latest dock, the $379.99 Thunderbolt 4-powered TS4, provides nearly any port you could desire, plus it can keep…

Thunderbolt 4 and USB4 hubs and docks are the latest technologies in computer connectivity and expansion. They take over from Thunderbolt 3 and USB-C hubs and docks, with significant future-proof benefits while staying backwards compatible with the older connectivity standards. Hubs and docks allow you to add more types of connections to your main computer if it lacks them itself—particularly with laptops that might have just a few ports on the side. Desktop PCs and Macs usually have a decent set of ports at front…

Hyper, the company behind those stackable GaN chargers and powerful battery banks, is running a Kickstarter for a Thunderbolt 4 hub that's truly compact thanks to the fact that it doesn't need a massive power brick like the ones that weigh down other hubs. Instead, it plugs straight into the wall with a relatively standard figure-eight power cable, letting you add fast ports to your computer without eating up a bunch of backpack or desk space. Despite the simplicity, Hyper says it'll still be able to provide up to 96…

Realme Book Slim launch in India is around the corner and the company has shared details about its physical connectivity options. While the ports were already revealed through past images, the latest teaser suggests there could be a cheaper Intel Core i3-powered Realme Book Slim, besides the port details. Additionally, Realme Book —expected to be the name for the Chinese version of Realme Book Slim, has been confirmed to be powered by an 11th Gen Intel Core i5 CPU.Realme India and Europe CEO Madhav Sheth tweeted an image…

Apple has enabled a new macOS Ventura security feature in the latest developer beta that will ensure USB-C and Thunderbolt accessories must ask for permission before they can access your data. In the release notes of beta 2 Apple has confirmed that the new macOS Ventura feature is now live. From Apple: On portable Mac computers with Apple silicon, new USB and Thunderbolt accessories require user approval before the accessory can communicate with macOS for connections wired directly to the USB-C port. This doesn't apply…

Apple has started selling a three-meter Thunderbolt 4 Pro cable, complete with an eye-watering $159 price tag. That might seem like a lot of money for a USB cable, but there's a bit more to unpack here.Three meters is approximately 9.8 feet. Right now, this is the longest Thunderbolt 4 cable on the market. Others, like OWC, Belkin, and Plugable tend to sell up to two meters (about 6.6 feet). That's the length Intel and its partners publish for the standard.Those, however, are a mix of active and passive cables. Teardowns…

The day has arrived: you can now spend $159 on a USB cable and actually feel somewhat justified! That’s because Apple’s three-meter Thunderbolt 4 Pro Cable isn’t just any ol’ cord — it’s still the only Thunderbolt 4 / USB-C / USB 4 cable on the market at anywhere near its length. Want a cable that can transmit 40 gigabits per second of Thunderbolt 4 and USB 4 data, up to 8K video, and 100W of USB-C PD power to a big MacBook Pro nearly 10 feet away? It’s your only game in town. Every other company that sells a…