Want to connect your old Apple Cinema Display or another mini DisplayPort monitor to your new 2016 MacBook Pro? It’s possible, but not via the method you might think. Before you rush to pick up an adapter, be sure to check out these compatibility restrictions.
Jim Tanous
Articles by Jim Tanous
Apple Schedules 2017 Shareholders Meeting, Reveals Executive Pay Cut
Apple has scheduled its annual shareholders meeting for February 28, 2017 and in so doing revealed that the company’s top executives saw a pay cut in 2016 thanks to Apple’s first year-over-year sales decline in 15 years.
T-Mobile Moves Exclusively to Unlimited Data Plans
T-Mobile used CES to shake things up once again by announcing that it’s only going to offer a single $70-per-month unlimited data plan with no hidden fees or charges. It’s a great deal, but only if you can get decent cellular coverage.
This Dual-Battery Wireless Backlit Keyboard for Mac Has It All
We like backlit keyboards. We also like wireless keyboards. Unfortunately, there aren’t too many options that feature both, especially when it comes to Mac-specific models. But accessory firm Matias is looking to change that with the CES announcement of the Wireless Aluminum Keyboard with Backlight. It’s a sleek Apple-style Bluetooth keyboard with support for up to four devices and, here’s the kicker, separate batteries for the keyboard and the backlight. That means when your energy-hogging backlight goes out, you can keep on typing without skipping a beat. The keyboard ships in June in Silver and Space Gray color options, but you can pre-order now for $139.
iPod-based iPhone Prototype Revealed in Leaked Video
An early iPhone prototype based on the iPod interface has been revealed in a leaked video, providing a glimpse at what could have been.
iOS 10 Adoption Hits 76% After 4 Months, Slightly Outpacing iOS 9
iOS 10 is now installed on 76 percent of active iOS devices, according to new data released this week by Apple. This puts it slightly ahead of iOS 9’s install share during the same period last year.
New Year's Day Was the Busiest Day Ever for Apple's App Store
January 1st was a record-setting day for Apple’s App Store, with the company announcing over $240 million in purchases that day alone. It also capped a record-setting year, with app developers earning more than $20 billion in revenue.
CalDigit Thunderbolt Station 3 Preserves eSATA Ports for Legacy Drives
CalDigit has joined the Thunderbolt 3 crowd with the announcement of its new Thunderbolt Station 3 docking station. In addition to all the usual ports you’d expect in a docking station, CalDigit is one of the only options for those who need eSATA support for their legacy storage drives.
Original Six Mega Man Games Launch for iOS and Android
Couldn’t snag an NES Classic this holiday season? You can still relive some classic gaming memories with the launch of the original six Mega Man games for iOS & Android, each updated to support touchscreen play.
NVIDIA's 'GeForce Now' Lets Mac Owners Rent a High-End Gaming PC in the Cloud
NVIDIA’s ‘GeForce Now’ service will let Mac and PC owners rent access to a high-end GTX-powered gaming PC in the cloud, with full access to Steam, Origin, and other gaming platforms.
AAPL Q1 2017 Earnings Report Scheduled for January 31
Apple will release its earnings report for its first fiscal quarter on Tuesday, January 31, 2017. Investors expect record-setting revenue thanks to the iPhone 7 and the continued growth of the company’s services business.
The Incipio OX Case Brings the Headphone Jack Back to the iPhone 7
Still need to use analog headphones with your iPhone 7? Ditch that puny little adapter and kill two birds with one polycarbonate stone with the Incipio OX case, an iPhone case that brings the 3.5mm headphone jack back to your favorite smartphone. The OX looks like a normal slim hardshell case, except for a bit of extra length at the bottom. There, you’ll find both a Lightning and 3.5mm audio jack, powered by an internal DAC. The Incipio OX will be available for both the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus in the first quarter of 2017 in Black, Forest, and Purple color options starting at $59.99.
Make Your Apple Watch More Versatile With the Twelve South ActionSleeve
Do you like the fitness features of Apple Watch but hate to wear it on your wrist during your intense workouts? Check out ActionSleeve from Twelve South, an armband case for Apple Watch that may even improve the accuracy of its heart rate sensor.
Ford, Toyota Lead Auto Industry Consortium to Slow CarPlay Adoption
Traditional automakers may not have to compete with an Apple-manufactured car any time soon, but that’s not stopping them from ensuring that tech firms such as Apple and Google fail to reach dominance in the in-car entertainment market.
Elgato Thunderbolt 3 Docking Station Powers Dual 4K Displays
Elgato is joining the Thunderbolt 3 parade with the announcement of its new Thunderbolt 3 Dock. Available at the end of January for $299.95, the dock will support both 5K and dual 4K display outputs along with a range of ports for your 13- or 15-inch MacBook Pro.
How to View the Apple TV's Aerial Screen Saver On Your Mac
One of the great features of the fourth-generation Apple TV is the built-in “Aerial” screen savers: gorgeous flyover videos of major cities, landmarks, and natural wonders. While these videos do indeed look great on your TV, wouldn’t it be nice if you could enjoy them on your Mac as well?
This Adorable Home Robot Totally Won't Murder Your Entire Family
Our homes have voice-controlled assistants like the Amazon Echo, self-navigating devices like the Roomba, and networked monitoring devices like the Nest Cam. Why not combine all of this tech into an adorable home robot companion? Mayfield Robotics has announced Kuri, the home robot that will navigate around your house, respond with voice and body language, answer your questions, manage your home via IFTTT support, and monitor your children or pets with a built-in 1080p camera. Kuri isn’t the first home robot design, but at just $699, it’s the first to be priced within the reach of many consumers. What could possibly go wrong?
The OWC DEC Promises to Make Your MacBook "Pro" Again
Do you find the 2016 MacBook Pro’s lack of ports a bit limiting? OWC may have the solution for you with the DEC, an upcoming accessory that attaches flush to the bottom of your MacBook Pro and adds external storage and a full array of ports including USB Type A, SD Card, and Ethernet.
Netflix DVD Subscribers Can Now Manage Their Queues With a New iOS App
Streaming video may be all the rage, but Netflix is still shipping DVDs and Blu-rays to more than 4 million customers. Now those physical disc hold-outs can manage their queues and keep up-to-date with new releases on the go with an iOS app.
Apple Sued for Failing to Prevent the Use of FaceTime While Driving in Fatal Accident
A Texas family is suing Apple for failing to implement iPhone safety features that would prevent the use of apps like FaceTime by drivers behind the wheel, and potentially have prevented a traffic accident that claimed the life of the family’s five-year-old daughter.
Defy Apple and Add a Touchscreen to Your MacBook with AirBar
Apple recently doubled-down on its refusal to add a touchscreen to its MacBook line, but if you’re starting 2017 with a bit of Microsoft Surface envy, you’ll soon be able to turn your MacBook Air’s display into a touchscreen, regardless of what Jony Ive thinks. AirBar is a USB-powered sensor that attaches to the bottom of your screen and enables touch interactions right on the display thanks to the company’s “zForce AIR” light field technology. The company is launching support for the MacBook Air first with support for other models to follow. Interested users can sign up at the company’s website to be notified once pre-orders go live in March. There’s no word on pricing but AirBar already sells a version for Windows laptops for $69.
![Report: 3% of Super Mario Run Users Paid to Unlock the Game [Updated]](https://www.macobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/super-mario-run-purchase.jpg)
Report: 3% of Super Mario Run Users Paid to Unlock the Game [Updated]
Many hoped that Nintendo’s single in-app purchase approach for Super Mario Run would save us from the microtransaction free-to-play hell that is the iOS App Store. And while heavy marketing from Apple and the Nintendo brand gave it a boost, in the end only about 3% of users are estimated to have paid.
Apple Watch 3 Rumored to Launch Q3 With Same Design But Better Battery Life
Supply chain data suggests that the next iteration of Apple Watch will hit the market in the third quarter this year. While it won’t feature any design or major feature changes, the “Series 3” Apple Watch is expected to bring improved battery life and performance to users’ wrists.
Rotting Apples: macOS Sierra PDF Bugs Get Worse in 10.12.2
PDF-related bugs have plagued macOS Sierra since its release last year, causing headaches for both users and developers. But while major bugs are nothing new for Apple’s operating system, developers are sounding a troubling alarm: things are getting even worse with the latest 10.12.2 update.