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Apple Releases New Firmware for USB-C Apple Pencil

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Apr 12, 2001
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Apple today released the first firmware update for the USB-C Apple Pencil that came out last week. The new firmware has a version number of 10M5164.

Apple-Pencil-USB-C-sliding-cap-feature.jpg

There is no word on what features, fixes, or updates might be included in the updated firmware, and Apple does not provide release notes for Apple Pencil software releases.


The USB-C Apple Pencil is almost identical in design to the Apple Pencil 2, but it is shorter and has a hidden USB-C port for charging and pairing. It is not able to wirelessly charge, and it lacks some of the features available with the more expensive Apple Pencil models such as pressure sensitivity.


Apple does not have an established procedure for updating Apple Pencil hardware, but in the case of the USB-C Apple Pencil, connecting it to an iPad with a USB-C cable and powering on the iPad should be enough to spur the new software to download.

Article Link: Apple Releases New Firmware for USB-C Apple Pencil
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2023/11/14/usb-c-apple-pencil-new-firmware/
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klasma

klasma

macrumors 603
Jun 8, 2017
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MrGimper said:
Why is it being labelled Apple Pencil Gen 3 “interesting”?

It is, after all, the 3rd Gen of Apple Pencil
Click to expand...
It’s neither an upgrade from the 1 nor the 2 (both of which have pressure sensitivity, and the 2 has wireless charging), that’s why Apple didn’t call it the 3. It’s interesting that internally they nevertheless named it that.
 
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nutmac

nutmac

macrumors 603
Mar 30, 2004
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vegetassj4 said:
The release notes mistakenly briefly referenced the upcoming Pencil Pro before they got taken down
Click to expand...
You jest, but I do think that the Apple Pencil 2 replacement will be named Apple Pencil Pro, and probably come in darker color. Hopefully not as bulky as your joke picture though.
 
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Tagbert

Tagbert

macrumors 603
Jun 22, 2011
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truthsteve said:
apple releases new firmware for useless product

ftfy
Click to expand...
You obviously don’t have a 10th gen iPad. It can’t work with the pencil 2. It also doesn’t have a lightning connector to connect and power the old pencil 1. That means that neither of the other pencils would work well for you. This new USB-C pencil was created specifically to work with that iPad. Does that make this pencil useless?
 
mectojic

mectojic

macrumors 65816
Dec 27, 2020
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Tagbert said:
You obviously don’t have a 10th gen iPad. It can’t work with the pencil 2. It also doesn’t have a lightning connector to connect and power the old pencil 1. That means that neither of the other pencils would work well for you. This new USB-C pencil was created specifically to work with that iPad. Does that make this pencil useless?
Click to expand...
But the Pencil 1 works with the 10th Gen iPad, with the dongle...
 
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T

truthsteve

macrumors 6502a
Nov 3, 2023
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Tagbert said:
You obviously don’t have a 10th gen iPad. It can’t work with the pencil 2. It also doesn’t have a lightning connector to connect and power the old pencil 1. That means that neither of the other pencils would work well for you. This new USB-C pencil was created specifically to work with that iPad. Does that make this pencil useless?
Click to expand...
they made the 10th gen iPad that way with the knowledge of this new useless product coming out. if this product never existed, they would have built 10th gen iPad with the pencil 2 compatibility at a slightly more expensive price tag and moving the camera back to the proper spot.
 
ApplesAreSweet&Sour

ApplesAreSweet&Sour

macrumors 68000
Sep 18, 2018
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Tagbert said:
You obviously don’t have a 10th gen iPad. It can’t work with the pencil 2. It also doesn’t have a lightning connector to connect and power the old pencil 1. That means that neither of the other pencils would work well for you. This new USB-C pencil was created specifically to work with that iPad. Does that make this pencil useless?
Click to expand...
Lol. You're phrasing this as if Apple came up with some high tech solution for a legitimate problem facing iPad users and not that all of this is created to rake in exorbitant profit margins from old, outdated parts, disguised as an iPad Air and 2nd Gen. Pencil.

The faux iPad Air (iPad 10th Gen) could easily be compatible with the 2nd Gen. Pencil.

All this is just more of the terrible product segmentation that gives us overpriced, regressive tech that consumers only buy in ignorance, thinking the iPad Air and real 2nd Gen Pencil got discounted, or because they don't have the money to get an Air or better.

Even the USB-C in iPad 10 is the outdated USB 2.0 kind.

Considering the value/$ of a 256GB iPad 9th Gen. with the 1st Gen. Pencil or all the high-end features you do get with a real iPad Air or Pro, the iPad 10th Gen. and the new $79 Pencil are indeed useless!
 
MrGimper

MrGimper

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Sep 22, 2012
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klasma said:
It’s neither an upgrade from the 1 nor the 2 (both of which have pressure sensitivity, and the 2 has wireless charging), that’s why Apple didn’t call it the 3. It’s interesting that internally they nevertheless named it that.
Click to expand...
It's not called the Pencil 3, it's referred to the as Gen 3 Pencil. Doesn't need to be an upgrade to be a Gen 3 product ... it's literally the 3rd generation/version of the Pencil.

So referring to it as such isn't a big deal or shock really.
 
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