Accessory maker Mophie today announced a new line of battery cases for iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max and iPhone XR which will be available to purchase in the first quarter of this year.
Battery life is one of those essential things that iPhone owners are always trying to improve. The Low Power Mode setting that comes baked into iOS can help with this, but it could still do with some improvements.
Given some of the shortcomings that Low Power Mode exhibits on the iPhone, iOS developer Soh released a new free jailbreak tweak called ifConnected that brings a handful of new toggling features to the platform.
Apple is currently the only seller of certified Lightning to USB-C cables, but more affordable options from third-party accessory makers are reportedly coming early in 2019.
The fairly reliable Japanese publication Mac Otakara claims to have heard from sources in Apple's supply chain that the upcoming iPad Pro models for 2018 would sport a USB-C port.
Apple is no longer selling the Lightning to 30-Pin Adapter on its website. The accessory, which launched in 2012, was removed in the past few days, according to MacRumors.
Out all the different indicators that appear in your iPhone’s Status Bar, the battery indicator is one of the most pertinent. But while it’s great at its job of displaying how much battery life you have left, it doesn’t have much to speak for in terms of user customization.
A new free jailbreak tweak dubbed SmoothBattery by iOS developer CydiaGeek changes that by providing iOS device users with a host of new battery indicator-centric configuration options.
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo today issued a research note to clients in which he outlined some interesting predictions about Apple's upcoming product refreshes. According to the analyst, 2018's iPhones won't ditch Lightning I/O for USB-C like iPad Pros nor will they include a stronger, Power Delivery-compatible power adapter to support the fast charge function.
Introduced in September 2012 to replace the aging 30-pin dock connector, Apple's proprietary Lightning port featured on iOS devices might be replaced on this year's iPad Pro models in favor of USB-C, the latest industry standard in connectivity.
Apple may have finally changed its stance on having third-parties design, manufacture and sell USB-C to Lightning cables. According to sources, the Cupertino technology giant is said to soon permit other vendors to produce Made for iOS (MFi) certified USB-C to Lightning cables.
I can't stand the sight of twisted charging cables sitting in my drawer. Having to carry them around as part of my mobile device toolkit every time I leave home is annoying, to say the least. As if the dongles weren't enough, now we're expected to carry more cables than ever before just because vendors cannot settle on a universally accepted charging standard.
Belkin is about to release the first Apple-approved battery pack that features a Lightning port input for charging. The BoostCharge Power Bank Lightning 1oK is arriving soon.
As first spotted by MacRumors, the power bank offers 10,000 mAh of charging power. It's recharged over a Lightning connector using either a USB-to-Lightning cable or a compatible Lightning dock sold separately. The device is certified under Apple's MFi licensing program, which assures that the product meets Apple's standards for quality and compatibility.
Belkin explains:
Designed especially for iPhone and iPad, this portable power bank is the first MFi-power bank to recharge via Lightning connector, allowing you to use the same Lightning cable to charge the power bank, as you use to charge your iPhone. This one-cable solution makes this small, thin, lightweight power bank (aka portable charger) ideal for on-the-go charging and is fully MFi-certified to guarantee compatibility with iPhone and iPad.
Should you buy it?
While it's great seeing a product like this finally launch, there are a few things to keep in mind.
First is the price. At $59.99, this is about twice what you would pay for a regular battery pack with similar capacity. Additionally, in 2018, a wiser choice might be to get a USB-C battery pack that would work with more devices, including those not made by Apple.
The BoostCharge Power Bank Lightning 10K will be available in white and black.
Find out how to block or allow USB data access on your locked iPhone and iPad when it's connected to a Mac, Windows PC, or other accessories. You can restrict access to protect your device from forced unlocking or allow access if you face difficulties connecting it to other accessories.