USB-C Accessories

[MyopicPaideia]

I'm talking about the charging circuitry in the Mac (controlled by the SMC). Since the battery pack needs a certain voltage to charge, it would require a more complex voltage regulator/converter. I'd be surprised if it could charge at both 5V and the higher input voltage.

BTW, this also highlights an issue with USB-C: Not all USB-C chargers need to support all possible voltages (the only one that is mandatory is 5V). So it might very well happen that a USB-C charger from one vendor cannot charge another vendor's device.

Macbook 12 has a smaller battery than iPad 3 or 4 (39 vs 43 watt/hours).
So iPad charger will do well on new Macbook.

Unfortunately, Rigby makes some good points here. He's saying USB 3.1 is limited to 3A current, meaning that the MB charger has to be running 9.5-9.8V in order to be 29W. The iPad and iPhone chargers both run at 5V, so in order for them to work, the battery pack interfacing circuitry in the MB would have to activate starting at 5V, and there is nothing to suggest Apple would configure the circuitry to active at voltage lower than what the original charger is putting out.

 

[hova]

How about external batteries? Should definitely be possible now.

It is and that's one of the reasons i'm very happy with the USB-C charging port.
The external battery needs to support the right voltage though.

 

[ctyrider]

Yeah, I noticed this too and became skeptical right away as well. They should be saying it is mDP, I don't think you can do true TB support through USB 3.1. Strange thing is that if it is mDP, it should be able to do the same resolution as the HDMI port, as natove DP 1.2 is supported from the USB-C port on the machine. Odd. Anyone able to clue me in as to why they say it is a TB port? Or why it only would support 2560x1440?

Looks like they fixed their product page. It now says:

• HDMI (w/HDCP, to 1,920x1,080 @ 60Hz)
• Mini Displayport (to 2,560x1,440 @ 60Hz)

This is what I'd expect from these ports.

 

[MyopicPaideia]

Looks like they fixed their product page. It now says:

• HDMI (w/HDCP, to 1,920x1,080 @ 60Hz)
• Mini Displayport (to 2,560x1,440 @ 60Hz)

This is what I'd expect from these ports.

Exactly. Good they got it right, but now they need to shrink it down to Snickerbar size so I can put it in my travel computer briefcase

 

[dyt1983]

Unfortunately, Rigby makes some good points here. He's saying USB 3.1 is limited to 3A current, meaning that the MB charger has to be running 9.5-9.8V in order to be 29W. The iPad and iPhone chargers both run at 5V, so in order for them to work, the battery pack interfacing circuitry in the MB would have to activate starting at 5V, and there is nothing to suggest Apple would configure the circuitry to active at voltage lower than what the original charger is putting out.

There's also a 5A power delivery profile for Type-C (and others like A/B standard power ports, but Type-C is most relevant here).

 

[ctyrider]

Exactly. Good they got it right, but now they need to shrink it down to Snickerbar size so I can put it in my travel computer briefcase

They are also advertising a "Jr" model without the Video ports - not sure if it's any smaller.

I am also wondering how many client-facing USB-C ports this hub will support.. The product description says 2x USB-C ports, not clear if it's counting the USB-C cable attaching to MacBook. The picture shows 2x female USB-C ports, which is good.

If these are proper USB-C ports - you should be able to attach USB-C to DisplayPort cable to one of these ports and connect to a monitor even without HDMI/mDP ports.

But who knows, this whole thing sounds very vaporware-ish to me.

 

[bibyfok]

I just purchased this USB adapter. Way cheaper than the Apple one...

 

[MyopicPaideia]

They are also advertising a "Jr" model without the Video ports - not sure if it's any smaller.

I am also wondering how many client-facing USB-C ports this hub will support.. The product description says 2x USB-C ports, not clear if it's counting the USB-C cable attaching to MacBook. The picture shows 2x female USB-C ports, which is good.

If these are proper USB-C ports - you should be able to attach USB-C to DisplayPort cable to one of these ports and connect to a monitor even without HDMI/mDP ports.

But who knows, this whole thing sounds very vaporware-ish to me.

Don't think it is much smaller, as they write is can also be used as a rise dock for the MB just like the full size one. I also agree with you that is is shady. Most of these dock and adapter items on Kickstarter seem to be vaporware-like, and shady. You shouldn't have to use Kickstarter for dock/hub products like these. All they are doing is using a Chinese manufacturer and probably having them do all the work. Basically hoping to make money with zero capital outlay of their own, yet not offering any percentage of the company to investors.

Kickstarter has its place - things like software development where the money is used to pay programmers and coders, etc. but all these simple connectors using already developed standards that are basically plug and play mishmashing is just a riskless money grab, imho.

 

[ctyrider]

Kickstarter has its place - things like software development where the money is used to pay programmers and coders, etc. but all these simple connectors using already developed standards that are basically plug and play mishmashing is just a riskless money grab, imho.

This same company is attempting to Kickstarter-fund USB-C cables (really??).. Whopping $77 dollars pledged as of now out of $25K they want:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/kickshark/hydradapt-new-macbook-usb-c-iphone-cable-and-car-c

And another person's Kickstarter for USB-C to USB-A adapter/charger.. $818 out of $33K pledged thus far:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1164065369/beekeeper-keep-usbees-connected-to-your-new-macboo

 

[crucius]

May as well buy them off eBay if you want cheap Chinese junk that takes 21-30 days for delivery from China.

You know what else takes 21-30 days to be delivered? The MacBook. (outside the US)

 

[MyopicPaideia]

You know what else takes 21-30 days to be delivered? The MacBook. (outside the US)

Touché!! That was a good one actually #

 

[dexterbell]

Im buying from Apple. The last time I was in a store and went hey, this is like half the price Apple charges and bought an iPhone charger, I kicked myself. Damn thing broke the next day. You buy cheap, you get cheap quality and sub-par performance.

 

[ProwlingTiger]

Just to point out that Apple cables are not produced to a high standard - I have about half a dozen iPhone cables (including Lightning) that are frayed because Apple cheaps out on them. I wouldn't buy any USB-A/C crossover from Apple if they produce one. Monoprice is so much higher quality at a far better price.

Give it a few months and more accessories at better prices will pop up.

 

[SiskoKid]

I got the apple usb c hub with the vga connector and also bought this so I can use it at work: http://www.amazon.com/Satechi-Portable-Ethernet-Network-Adapter/dp/B00E7W1UFQ

My only concern is the adapter Apple sells just doesn't look like it can fit a vga connector plus the usb c and regular usb cable all at the same time. I'm sure I'm being weird but it looks cramped.

I'm also confused why apple doesn't have a mini display port hub and instead has vga. I hope vga to mini display cables will work.

 

[PDFierro]

InfiniteUSB supports USB-C now.

 

[bibyfok]

Just to know, because I never saw it in France: Monoprice is a mmanufacturer or a store? Because it seems that they do not sell anything in Europe.

 

[mpainesyd]

Piggybacking usb-c adapters

I need hdmi and vga adpters for business presentations. I am hoping the apple adapters for these can be piggybacked. That would give me 2 usb ports - one to charge the iphone (hotspot) and the other for an external HD (actually an SSD) plus the usb-c charge cable, hdmi & vga.
A pity all those TB adapters in my drawer are of no use.

 

[PDFierro]

I need hdmi and vga adpters for business presentations. I am hoping the apple adapters for these can be piggybacked. That would give me 2 usb ports - one to charge the iphone (hotspot) and the other for an external HD (actually an SSD) plus the usb-c charge cable, hdmi & vga.
A pity all those TB adapters in my drawer are of no use.

I hate to say it, but if you need all those adapters then you should probably stay away from the rMB.

 

[dyt1983]

I am hoping the apple adapters for these can be piggybacked. That would give me 2 usb ports - one to charge the iphone (hotspot) and the other for an external HD (actually an SSD) plus the usb-c charge cable, hdmi & vga.

My guess is that they are not, as Apple has labeled the connector on the adapter with a power symbol, and the USB Type-C specs specifically cover "power only" ports.

 

[tillsbury]

The hydra dock looks like a good start, but they haven't made the jump to the MB yet. The dock could be hidden away, with a single cable to the MB, but they have a short tied cable.

Much better would have been to have a socket there, and supply a short usb-c cable. That way the user would have the option to use it as shown or to use the short cable to the charger, keep the dock there, and run the long cable to the MB. Another advantage would be that it wouldn't matter that it looks like junk.

 

[mpainesyd]

I hate to say it, but if you need all those adapters then you should probably stay away from the rMB.

Actually i already carry around a TB-vga adapter for my rMBP so I will be carrying 2 (fairly small) adapters instead of 1. The whole package - rMB & 2 adapters & power supply - is much smaller and lighter than my current travel setup. I might even be tempted to leave the ipad at home - i need osx mainly for database and spreadsheet work (i use an iMac in the office)

I have been carrying around video adapters for Mac laptops for many years. I was pleased to see the HDMI port on the rMBP but can live without it.

It would be convenient to piggyback adapters on the rMB but it is not a deal-breaker if this is not possible.

 

[ProwlingTiger]

Just to know, because I never saw it in France: Monoprice is a mmanufacturer or a store? Because it seems that they do not sell anything in Europe.

Online store: monoprice.com. They produce many of their own products under a generic private label.

 

[Greho]

No, I agree with you, I'm thinking the MB charger in the box is 9.5-10V. The assumption is you get 10-12W out of the iPad charger and you are still going to get a net charge, albeit much slower, out of it, as its delivering 2x the wattage in as the CPU is outputting at full load (i.e. its 5-6W TDP). The charger that comes with it outputs at 5x the wattage as the machine's TDP. Obviously you're not just powering the CPU, but then again, the CPU isn't going to be at 6W all the time either.

In the same way, I am pretty sure you should be able to charge your iPhone/iPad with the MB charger as well once a USB-C/Lightning cable is released by Apple, which is must be at some point, right?

The MacBook manual, now available on Apple Support, says that the charger output is 14.5VDC at 2.0 Amps. There's your 29 Watts.

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I think you're right... the part about being weird, not the part about it being cramped.

My guess is that they are not, as Apple has labeled the connector on the adapter with a power symbol, and the USB Type-C specs specifically cover "power only" ports.

I'd much prefer a dongle with a USB-C power in, a video out, and a USB-C data connection. If I'm getting new USB-C cables for my stuff, anyway, I'm going all in.

 

[bjet767]

"output is 14.5VDC at 2.0 Amps"

If this is the case never use this charger with your iPhone or iPad. Their charger has an output of 5.7 Volts.

Damned! There goes the idea of just one charger for all you needs.

http://cdn.macrumors.com/vb/images/smilies/mad.png

 

[jkg4]

The MacBook manual, now available on Apple Support, says that the charger output is 14.5VDC at 2.0 Amps. There's your 29 Watts.

Actually, it states:

29W USB-C Power Adapter specifications:
• Frequency: 50 to 60 Hz, single phase
• Line Voltage: 100 to 240 V
• Output Voltage: 14.5 V DC, 2.0 A [COLOR="Red"]or 5.2 V DC, 2.4 A[/COLOR]

So it can be used to charge other USB devices (like iPhones/iPads) if you have the right cable.

Read more from the actual user manual (page 32):
https://manuals.info.apple.com/MANU...cbook_retina_12_inch_early2015_essentials.pdf