Apple confirmed that its foldable iPhone Duo won't support the Apple Pencil at launch with iOS 27.1, with compatibility instead arriving via a software update expected around November. Only the Apple Pencil USB-C model will work with the device, meaning owners of the Apple Pencil 2 or Pencil Pro will need to buy a new $79 stylus. Unlike iPads, the iPhone Duo lacks magnets for wireless charging, so the Pencil must be paired and charged via a USB-C cable.
engadget.com
· 2026-09-15
USB-C video capability depends on DisplayPort Alternate Mode, a feature that lets a single cable carry both data and display signals, but it requires the device, cable, and monitor to all support it. Older USB 3.1/3.2 devices may or may not include this support depending on the manufacturer, while USB4 and all Thunderbolt 3-5 connections guarantee it.
engadget.com
· 2026-09-14
Most major phone makers, including Apple, Google and Samsung, have phased out the 3.5mm headphone jack in favor of USB-C for wired audio, charging and data transfer. Apple made the switch starting with the iPhone 7 in 2016, followed by Google in 2017 and Samsung in 2019, with Apple finally adopting USB-C for the iPhone 15 due to EU regulation. Sony remains an exception, still including a 3.5mm jack on its upcoming Xperia 1 VIII.
engadget.com
· 2026-09-14
Tiffany & Co. partnered with agency L&C on the '1837 Tiffany Blue Conservation' campaign, which took the jeweler's tightly controlled signature hue and let it appear more freely to raise awareness about ocean health. The effort has been recognized as a winner in Fast Company's 2026 Innovation by Design Awards.
fastcompany.com
· 2026-09-14
MagSafe cables detach safely if yanked, protecting a MacBook from being dragged off a table, while USB-C stays firmly plugged in and can pull the laptop down in an accident. On charging speed, MagSafe reaches up to 140W with Apple's $99 adapter, enabling a 50% charge in 30 minutes, whereas standard USB-C tops out at 60W unless users buy specialized 100W or 240W cables.
engadget.com
· 2026-09-14
A Digital Work Trends Report from Slingshot finds that while 86% of C-suite executives say AI use is mandatory at their companies, only 49% of middle managers are actually reinforcing that expectation with their teams. An Infragistics executive argues the disconnect stems from leadership style, not technology, since employees need coaching and modeling rather than top-down mandates to adopt new tools.
entrepreneur.com
· 2026-09-13
Apple unveiled the iPhone 18 Pro at its recent event, starting at $1,199 and adding a variable aperture camera and a faster A20 Pro chip. The comparison to the iPhone 14 Pro, released four years earlier, shows major shifts including the switch from Lightning to USB-C, a brighter display capable of 3,000 nits versus 1,000 nits, and an upgraded Dynamic Island that can display three activities simultaneously.
cnet.com
· 2026-09-13
Apple still sells wired EarPods alongside its AirPods lineup, offering a no-frills alternative for users who want simple audio without Bluetooth or battery concerns. The wired buds come in 3.5mm, Lightning, and USB-C variants, making them compatible with a broad range of devices at a low price point.
engadget.com
· 2026-09-13
USB-C hubs can substitute for docking stations by adding extra ports to a laptop, but they draw power and bandwidth directly from the host computer rather than a dedicated outlet or bus. This makes them less reliable for power-hungry or high-bandwidth devices like external SSDs, HD webcams, external GPUs, and multiple monitors.
engadget.com
· 2026-09-13
Dell has launched the Pro 5 (WB526), a compact 2K QHD webcam aimed at office workers, featuring a Sony sensor, 78-degree field of view, autofocus, and a physical lens shutter. The device supports Windows Hello, includes an anti-theft cable lock, and offers AI-driven features like auto-framing and face tracking, alongside a built-in microphone. It's priced at $119.99, currently discounted to $114.99.
tomshardware.com
· 2026-09-13
The Interim Computer Museum (ICM) has opened a web presence detailing its mission to preserve computing history through interactive, hands-on exhibits that combine vintage hardware with modern upgrades. The nonprofit operates as a 501(c)(3) charity working alongside SDF Public Access UNIX System, Inc., a 501(c)(7) membership organization, relying on memberships to fund events, remote access and artifact preservation.
icm.museum
· 2026-09-13
At Black Hat USA, security researcher Chris Domas told David Bombal that compilers can legally strip out security-critical operations like memory-clearing code, even when source code follows best practices. He demonstrated how subtle factors such as data size, register pressure and structure layout can determine whether an optimized binary is safe or exploitable, with some byte sizes producing secure code and nearby sizes producing vulnerable output.
davidbombal.com
· 2026-09-12