New Macs

[CS70]

That "non compliant" thing always puzzled me on the iphone.

Must be a very dodgy specification if it's even possible to create something that doesn't comply with a freaking port spec. How hard can it be? Or maybe they don't publish the specs at all..

[Sam Spoons]

The mooted theory is that the cables/chargers have a unique identifier chip and the device rejects a cable or device that doesn't have an appropriate identifier. The purpose being to force the user to buy only high priced Apple products.

[Guest]

The purpose being to force the user to buy only high priced Apple products.

Or alternatively to stop them blowing their devices up by using shoddy power supplies and cables.

I managed to blow up a DSI P12 and P2 by mistakingly powering the cheapo usb hub they were attached to with a 10V psu, the hub seemed quite happy to run at 10V and thought everything attached to it via usb would be as well!

[muzines]

The purpose being to force the user to buy only high priced Apple products.

Or alternatively to stop them blowing their devices up by using shoddy power supplies and cables.

Likely a little of column A, and a little of column B, with varying weightings depending on which part of Apple you talk to...

[Sam Spoons]

^ This sums it up nicely. Apple definitely want you to buy Apple products, that's the whole point of being Apple but shoddy power supplies can be damaging so I accept that they may want to discourage people from using them.

Now, I said above that I would not be buying or using a none standard charger for my new MBP*. I'm less worried about using a third party adapter to connect USB A/HDMI or SD cards to my MBP, anybody think that is a bad idea?

* USBC can carry up to 20VDC at 5A so it's easy to see how a dodgy charger can do damage, but what about a 3rd party cable from a reasonably reputable manufacturer (Anker or similar)?

[s_e_a_n]

Perhaps Apple could be taken to task for not putting the circuitry in place that checks for over or under voltage issues and power surges. It used to pride itself on making devices that could withstand anything, nowadays they make snowflake devices. There are far too many Apple apologists around. They are a huge and wealthy corporation. They can make better stuff but won't as long as people point the finger somewhere else.

[muzines]

Perhaps Apple could be taken to task for not putting the circuitry in place that checks for over or under voltage issues and power surges.

How do you know they haven't?

[Sam Spoons]

Perhaps Apple could be taken to task for not putting the circuitry in place that checks for over or under voltage issues and power surges. It used to pride itself on making devices that could withstand anything, nowadays they make snowflake devices. There are far too many Apple apologists around. They are a huge and wealthy corporation. They can make better stuff but won't as long as people point the finger somewhere else.

TBF all that applies to any big corporation where the sole reason for existing is profit (i.e. all of them). Apple do many things very well and others less well (and occasionally some things very badly). For me, despite the whinging, the things they do well outweigh the things they do badly so I buy Apple kit. My studio machine is a 2008 Mac Pro which still gets the job done, I consider that pretty good value for money.

[muzines]

TBF all that applies to any big corporation where the sole reason for existing is profit (i.e. all of them). Apple do many things very well and others less well (and occasionally some things very badly). For me, despite the whinging, the things they do well outweigh the things they do badly so I buy Apple kit.

+1

[Guest]

Perhaps Apple could be taken to task for not putting the circuitry in place that checks for over or under voltage issues and power surges. It used to pride itself on making devices that could withstand anything, nowadays they make snowflake devices. There are far too many Apple apologists around. They are a huge and wealthy corporation. They can make better stuff but won't as long as people point the finger somewhere else.

Every Apple device I have ever purchased is still going, all the way from an Apple II.

Some were limping a bit: replaced broken screens, replaced hard disks, replaced PSUs and batteries.

But all still going, what about your other manufacturers devices over that period you have, how many are still running?

[CS70]

Perhaps Apple could be taken to task for not putting the circuitry in place that checks for over or under voltage issues and power surges.

...

TBF all that applies to any big corporation where the sole reason for existing is profit (i.e. all of them).

Well to a point. I have probably around 50 power supplies at home, from shoddy to super-spec and so far they have fried absolutely nothing. Billions of computers and trillions of all sorts of electronic devices are powered by stuff made in Ghuangzu and costing 2p a dozen and - so long the voltage is correct - nothing blows up. What the heck makes these Apple phones and laptops and whatever so sensitive, I still cannot understand.

[Guest]

The weird thing is that a software update can stop it getting fried.

Makes me think that the issue is really in the laptops, I guess the software update maybe just be disabling certain devices.

I just had a look on the internet and real info on this seems hard to come by!

[The Korff]

The weird thing is that a software update can stop it getting fried

Doesn't surprise me too much... Apple chargers have had wee microcontrollers in them for years to regulate current depending on the state of the battery (its charge, age, etc). It's possible they'd programmed the OS to allow the battery to draw too much current in order to be able to publish a 'charges from 0 to 100 in 5 minutes!' spec on launch or something.

[Guest]

Yeah, my ageing iPhone is now helping out it's ageing battery by "intelligently" guessing wrong each day what time I will get out of bed to make sure the battery is never charged!

[Sam Spoons]

What the heck makes these Apple phones and laptops and whatever so sensitive, I still cannot understand.

I don't think they are sensitive, I don't hear of a higher failure rate amongst Apple kit than others, and personal experience is very much the opposite. I've only had one example of an 'exploding wall wart', it was a cheap Apple clone and the MBS escaped accompanied by a bang and a flash. No damage was done to the iPad it was connected to at the time.

[Kennyscrown]

Hi - sorry to swing the focus of this thread around a little, but...

IS there a thread anywhere that lists what is compatible with the M1 Mac/Big Sur yet?

As I said earlier in the thread, I am just about ready to upgrade my 2013 iMac to a new M1 machine, probably a Mac Mini but just possibly a MacBook Air. My interface is ready to go as well - it's a Focusrite Forte, which I have loved, but I've had it for 7 years; Focusrite are no longer supporting it and now the headphone socket is dodgy.

I am thinking of the Audient EVO 8, as 2 headphone sockets is pretty much what I need, and my budget is limited. The 4 inputs are very tempting as well. However, I was about to purchase when I decided to check their website, and they categorically state that the EVO range is NOT compatible with Big Sur and the M1 Macs, but that they are hoping to make an announcement in the future.

I thought that if a device was class compliant, it would work on the M1 Mac, but the support software wouldn't. Any thoughts appreciated.

[Guest]

Any class compliant audio device should work, maybe they plugged it in and it didn't though.

You could always just buy one, try it out and if it doesn't work return it.

Edit: just had a look on the web, looks like the interface will work fine but the software to control the mixer will not work. If you don't need that then I guess its ok to get it.

[CS70]

What the heck makes these Apple phones and laptops and whatever so sensitive, I still cannot understand.

I don't think they are sensitive, I don't hear of a higher failure rate amongst Apple kit than others

"Sensitive" not as in "easily damaged" but "Sensitive" as in "the required voltage must come only from a device branded Apple".

Given that a device can be physically connected (so that if it can fry things, it will well before the software can check anything), the software could simply verify that what voltage or data line required are present, without being so fussy about which manufacturer is sending it.

It's like if my BMW didnt accept a new oil filter which was functionally identical to the BMW one only because it didn't have BMW written over it.

[Sam Spoons]

I certainly have no problem charging iDevices from 3rd party chargers and cables, a while ago they did seem to dislike some non-Apple cables but over the last few years the only one's I've had issues with have been "Poundland specials'. Reputable manufacturer USB chargers don't seem to give any problems.

Laptop chargers are a different matter though and I'm pretty sure, given the required spec for USB C cables the charger for my MBP is capable of supplying somewhat more than the old style 5VDC leaving a much bigger opportunity for damage.

[Drew Stephenson]

What the heck makes these Apple phones and laptops and whatever so sensitive, I still cannot understand.

I don't think they are sensitive, I don't hear of a higher failure rate amongst Apple kit than others

"Sensitive" not as in "easily damaged" but "Sensitive" as in "the required voltage must come only from a device branded Apple".

Given that a device can be physically connected (so that if it can fry things, it will well before the software can check anything), the software could simply verify that what voltage or data line required are present, without being so fussy about which manufacturer is sending it.

It's like if my BMW didnt accept a new oil filter which was functionally identical to the BMW one only because it didn't have BMW written over it.

See also printer cartridges with RFID chips...

[Luke W]

See also printer cartridges with RFID chips...

Just what I came here to say

[Sam Spoons]

Yup that is a constant bugbear...

[Guest]

I bought a flashish car around 15 years ago and maintained the manufacturers warranty, after being charged 140 quid to replace the wiper blades the next time they went wonky I put some 30 quid Bosch ones on.

The next time I went in for the warranty check I got told off and they were only letting me have the warranty as long as I didn't do it again. I was incredulous and the woman said we even know if the valve caps on the wheels are not from us!

[Sam Spoons]

IIRC that sort of thing is no longer allowed in the EU, pattern parts and/or service by non-approved (as long as they are competent) garages can't be an excuse to void a warrantee.