Times Wonderful News is the latest news and gossip from all the wonderful places in the world. Get your daily dose of what made you happy today.
Author:miranda cosgrove
My Miranda cosgrove is an accomplished article writer with a flair for crafting engaging and informative content. With a deep curiosity for various subjects and a dedication to thorough research, Miranda cosgrove brings a unique blend of creativity and accuracy to every piece
Spotify has not been able to get Apple to approve an EU app update that added information on subscription pricing and links to the Spotify website, and it turns out that’s because Spotify has not agreed to the terms of Apple’s Music Streaming Services Entitlement.
A recent antitrust ruling from the European Commission fined Apple nearly $2 billion and mandated that Apple “remove anti-steering provisions” for music apps in the European Economic Area (EEA). As a result, Apple updated its App Store rules with a Music Streaming Services Entitlement that allows music apps in the EEA to inform users of other ways to purchase digital music content or services and to add website links for purchasing digital music subscriptions.
That might sound like a win for apps like Spotify, but Apple requires developers who use the entitlement to pay a 27 percent fee (reduced for subscriptions older than one year and for small businesses) on all website purchases referred by Apple. So if Spotify puts a link in its app and a user clicks it and subscribes, Spotify would owe Apple a 27 percent commission (three percent less than the App Store purchase fee).
Spotify does not currently pay Apple any money, and it does not want to. Directly after the European Commission’s ruling, Spotify on March 5 submitted an EU app update that had information on subscription pricing and links to its websites for customers to make purchases. This was prior to when Apple had announced its entitlement plan.
Apple ignored Spotify’s app update, and Spotify complained on March 14 that Apple had not “acknowledged or responded” to its App Store submission. Spotify at the time called on the European Commission to force Apple to approve its app update.
Apple kept ignoring Spotify’s submission, until today, when Spotify submitted a new version of its app. Spotify said on X (formerly Twitter) that the update has no links and includes just the “bare minimum” on pricing and a mention that subscriptions can be purchased from Spotify, which it claims is acceptable under the European Commission’s ruling.
Spotify left out a small detail, though. It turns out that Spotify did not request a Music Streaming Services Entitlement and did not agree to Apple’s new terms for the entitlement. The App Store Review Team sent Spotify a letter (via AppleInsider) that says the entitlement is required even though there is no link because Spotify’s submission has a call to action to purchase a Spotify subscription on its website.
We are reaching out to let you know about new information regarding your app, Spotify – Music and Podcasts, version 8.9.33.
As you may be aware, Apple created a new Music Streaming Services Entitlement (EEA) for iOS and iPadOS music streaming apps offered in EEA storefronts. The entitlement allows music streaming apps to use buttons, external links, or other calls to action to direct customers to a purchase mechanism on a website owned or controlled by the developer. You must accept its terms before adding any of these capabilities to your app. Please find more information about the entitlement here.
We note that your current submission includes a call to action to purchase a Spotify subscription on your website. As such, you must accept the terms of the Music Streaming Services Entitlement (EEA) and include the entitlement profile in your app for submission. To be clear, this entitlement is required even if your app does not include an external link (nor does it require that you offer an external link). We will, however, approve version 8.9.33 after you accept the terms of the Music Streaming Services Entitlement (EEA) and resubmit it for review.
If you have any questions about this information, please reply to this message to let us know.
Apple says that if Spotify agrees to the terms of the Music Streaming Services Entitlement, it will approve the latest Spotify app update. Without a link to the Spotify website, Spotify would presumably not have to pay Apple a commission because there would be no way for Apple to track clicks from its app to Spotify, but there may be some other part of the entitlement that Spotify is reluctant to agree to.
Apple does not plan to let Spotify include a link to the Spotify website without paying the required 27 percent fee, but adding subscription pricing information without a link does seem to be permitted per the language of Apple’s letter to Spotify.
Spotify has confirmed that it does not plan to opt in to Apple’s EU App Store business terms, which are separate from the Music Streaming Services Entitlement and are part of the changes that Apple implemented as required by the Digital Markets Act.
Because Spotify does not want to agree to the EU App Store business terms, it is limited on the features that it can add to its app in the EU. To offer the Spotify app directly from its website in the EU, Spotify would need to agree to the terms and would have to pay a 0.50 euro Core Technology Fee for users that download the app.
Spotify does not let customers sign up for a Spotify subscription in the app as of right now, so it does not have to pay anything. Web-based distribution and linking out to the Spotify website both have associated fees, and Spotify is aiming for a solution where it does not have to pay anything. Spotify’s full statement on its update, from Chief Public Affairs Officer Dustee Jenkins:
Despite Apple’s attempts to punish developers with new fees, we remain committed to giving consumers real choice in our app at no increased cost. That’s why we have submitted a new update to Apple. It features basic pricing and website information – the bare minimum outlined under the European Commission’s ruling in its music streaming case.
By charging developers for communicating with consumers through links in-app, Apple continues to break European law. It’s past time for the Commission to enforce its decision so that consumers can see real, positive benefits.
Though Spotify has a clear path to get its app update approved, the company claims that Apple is breaking European law by charging the 27 percent fee for links and it calls on the European Commission to “enforce its decision.”
Getting past AI detectors isn’t easy. They’ve been trained and designed to spot the signs of AI content, making it harder than ever for users to avoid AI-related penalties. Fortunately, an undetectable AI writer can help.
As the name implies, an undetectable AI writing tool is designed to make AI content undetectable by AI detection tools. That means you can use these writers to transform AI-made text and bypass AI detection consistently.
But which undetectable AI tool to use? This guide is here to help you with that. Below, you’ll find a detailed list of 10 leading AI-to-human text converters that’ll help you get a perfect human score on AI detectors like Originality and GPTZero.
Best AI writing tools for avoiding AI-detection tools
Using an AI writing tool can speed up your workflow immensely and allow you to accomplish incredible things. However, getting caught using an AI writing tool can prove embarrassing — or worse. The services listed below each come with their own pros and cons, but they all strive to create AI-generated content that won’t backfire for you.
Phrasly – Best undetectable AI writer for adjustable humanization
CogniBypass – Best undetectable AI writer for configurability
BypassGPT – Best undetectable AI writer overall
Kicking off our list, we have BypassGPT. Capable of taking AI-generated text from ChatGPT, GPT3, GPT4, Gemini and many other tools and transforming it, this is the ultimate undetectable AI writer. In testing, it consistently delivers results, obtaining perfect human scores and bypassing every AI detector, from Originality to GPTZero. The screenshot below shows just how effective BypassGPT can be:
Not only does BypassGPT get the basics right, but it also boasts a range of other advantages. This undetectable AI writer features multiple bypass modes, including Fast, Creative and Enhanced. Each mode adjusts the AI text in different ways to give you different results, perfect for beating any detector and creating the kind of content you need.
In addition, BypassGPT also offers multilingual support. It works in dozens of different languages from across the globe, making it perfect for international use. It’s also very effective at retaining the meaning of your text and even adding valuable keywords to help with SEO rankings.
Is BypassGPT truly capable of bypassing AI detectors?
Experiments were conducted on BypassGPT to ascertain whether it successfully bypasses AI detectors. The following are the findings from BypassGPT:
Content at Scale anticipates with high certainty that BypassGPT’s text is entirely human-produced.
BypassGPT has received a high rating from Originality.ai, with 98% of content likely to be created by humans and a mere 2% probability of being generated by AI.
GPTZero evaluates a 92% probability that a real person authored the content from BypassGPT, with a minor portion of the text recognized as a blend of AI and human input.
Pros
Bypass all AI detectors every time
Easy three-step humanization process
Produces flawless, plagiarism-free content
Cons
Doesn’t work with file uploads yet
Pricing
BypassGPT offers a free plan for new users, as well as three premium plans. Monthly prices start as low as $8, and you can choose to pay annually to get the best rates.
HIX Bypass – Best undetectable AI writer for features and usability
Another amazing undetectable AI writer is HIX Bypass. Produced by the same team behind the industry-leading writing copilot HIX.AI, this tool can help you bypass AI detection with ease. It’s jam-packed with features that allow you to humanize AI-made text however you like, with fast processing times and error-free results.
HIX Bypass doesn’t do any kind of plagiarism, so you can have faith in the quality and originality of the content it produces. As if that wasn’t enough, this tool also offers built-in AI scanning to save you tons of time, as well as support for lots of different languages.
Pros
Produces high-quality content with good levels of readability
Very easy to work with
Created by a trusted developer with a proven track record of success
Cons
More expensive than others
Pricing
You can test HIX Bypass for free, but if you want to use it seriously, you’ll need to switch to one of the paid plans. It offers three premium plans, ranging in price from as low as $9.99 a month for Basic up to $49.99 a month for Unlimited.
Undetectable AI – Best undetectable AI writer for remaining undetected
Next up, we have Undetectable AI. As the name of this tool suggests, its main aim is to help users make their AI writing undetectable and avoid any kind of detection. So, you can count on Undetectable AI to help you bypass AI detectors like Originality, GPTZero, Copyleaks and so on. It’s even capable of getting perfect human ratings on many of those tools.
Undetectable AI can work with almost any kind of text, too. That goes for short-form pieces of text like emails and social media posts, as well as much longer and more complicated passages, such as Ph.D. papers, essays and so on. It consistently produces high-quality, error-free text and even functions in 50-plus languages.
Pros
A proven solution for bypassing AI detection
Works in lots of different languages
Lightning-fast processing times to help you hit deadlines
Cons
You must pay to work with large pieces of text
Pricing
Undetectable AI offers three different premium plans: Basic, Pro and Unlimited. Subscribers can pay for either monthly or annual memberships, with prices as low as $6.99 for a monthly Basic subscription.
AIHumanizer – Best undetectable AI writer for SEO rankings
AIHumanizer is another leading undetectable AI writer, and this one’s notable for its SEO benefits. This undetectable AI platform can scan the text you paste into it, spot valuable SEO keywords and themes, and then preserve the value of the text, even while humanizing it. The result is a piece of high-quality, SEO-optimized content, without any plagiarism or AI watermarks.
AIHumanizer is also very efficient at bypassing spam filters and AI detectors. It’s therefore precious for users who intend to post AI content as part of their business strategy, such as marketing agencies, bloggers, and so on. With fair prices and proven results against detectors like Originality and GPTZero, it’s a top tool to use.
Pros
Preserves the meaning and SEO keywords of your text
Produces high-quality, error-free results
Multiple bypass modes to suit your situation and targets
Cons
Best for professional users
Pricing
AIHumanizer is free to test, with a trio of premium plans to consider. Prices start as low as $9.90 for the simplest Basic plan, making this one of the most affordable undetectable AI writers.
Bypass AI – Best undetectable AI writer for accuracy and reliability
Next, meet Bypass AI. This is another undetectable AI writer with a great track record of being able to bypass AI detectors like Content at Scale, Originality, Copyleaks and GPTZero. Thanks to its advanced undetectable AI technology, it’s effective at producing highly accurate, up-to-date content.
Thanks to that, you shouldn’t have to worry much about making lots of manual edits when you use Bypass AI. You can just feed your text into the simple user interface, let this tool make it undetectable, and then post, share or submit it. It’s a huge time-saver, and it even has built-in AI detection, plus support for lots of languages.
Pros
Produces the most accurate, error-free text
Never copies content or does any kind of plagiarism
Three bypass modes to beat any AI detector
Cons
You have to pay to access higher word limits
Pricing
You can use Bypass AI for free to start with, but for big texts, you’ll have to pay for a premium plan. Like many other undetectable AI writers, this tool offers three paid plans. Prices are quite affordable, with monthly rates ranging from just $6.99 to $29.99.
Humbot’s Undetectable AI – Best undetectable AI writer for a 100% human score
Humbot’s Undetectable AI tool is one of the few undetectable AI writers that can consistently achieve a perfect 100% human score. Even on advanced AI detectors like Orignality.AI, Copyleaks, Winston, Turnitin and GPTZero, this tool gets results. It’s ideal for those who don’t want to merely bypass AI detection, but also leave no trace at all of AI writing.
Humbot carefully and cleverly scans each piece of text fed into it. It knows exactly how AI detectors work and what to look for. So it spots the signs of ChatGPT or other AI use and then removes them. It can even remove Open AI’s “ChatGPT watermarks.” Plus, it works against spam filters and has fairly priced premium plans for all budgets.
Pros
Helps you bypass AI detection every time
Works quickly and efficiently to deliver top-quality text
Capable of optimizing text for SEO and preserving meaning
Cons
Free plan isn’t very generous
Pricing
There are free premium plans to pick from with Humbot, plus a limited free trial. Prices begin at just $7.99 monthly. Each plan comes with its own word count limit, so you can upgrade accordingly, depending on how much undetectable AI text you need to make.
StealthWriter – Best undetectable AI writer for free use
With most undetectable AI writers, you have to pay quite quickly if you want to start humanizing large pieces of text. However, StealthWriter has the benefit of quite a generous free mode. You can use this as much as you like to create undetectable versions of AI-generated text, though it’s not quite as powerful as the paid “Ghost” mode.
You can bypass a lot of different AI detectors with StealthWriter, and it aims to produce 100% plagiarism-free, original content every time. It also has some SEO features, working to keep keywords in your content to help your content rank higher in search results.
Pros
A generous free mode for budget-conscious users
Capable of creating undetectable AI content from a prompt
Easy to work with
Cons
Doesn’t always beat AI detection
Sometimes makes very basic mistakes
Pricing
StealthWriter is free to start with. If you want to access all of its features and technology, you’ll have to pay for a premium plan. Prices start at $20 per month (or $200 a year) for the Basic plan.
AI Undetectable – Best undetectable AI writer for essays
Next, we have AI Undetectable. This tool stands out for being primarily aimed at the student crowd. It even uses words like “Your Essay” instead of “Your Text” on the undetectable AI-generation page. So, students may like to consider this undetectable AI writer to help them avoid detection with their schoolwork.
It can take text you’ve generated with the aid of AI tools like Gemini and Claude, then transform it to be less easily spotted by AI detectors. It also offers additional features to adjust the writing quality to various levels, like high school or Ph.D. level, and options to add more words or decrease the total word count.
Pros
Many functions and features
Reasonable pricing
An intuitive and easy-to-understand process
Cons
Interface could use some updating
Not always the most reliable
Pricing
You don’t sign up for a premium plan with AI Undetectable. Instead, you buy words on demand, according to your needs. There are different word bundles, starting as low as $5.99 for 10,000 “Regular Words.”
Phrasly – Best undetectable AI writer for adjustable humanization
Phrasly is another undetectable AI writer that aims to appeal to a broad audience. Everyone from blog writers to e-commerce business owners can consider using this tool, and it has some interesting features. Arguably the best feature of Phrasly is its adjustable humanization technology.
It has three levels of humanization – Easy, Medium and Aggressive. You can pick different levels; the tool will adapt accordingly. This allows you to make more or fewer changes to your text, depending on how much you think it needs transforming. It’s very helpful for preserving your text’s meaning or making wholesale changes to beat a stubborn AI detector.
Pros
Can work for a wide range of users
Adjustable humanization modes to beat various detectors
Generally easy to work with
Cons
Free trial only supports 550 words
Even the paid plan comes with a strict 2,500-word limit
Pricing
There are just two plans with Phrasly. The free plan is 100% free but quite limited. Then, there’s the premium Unlimited plan, which costs $10.99 a month (if you pay annually) and lets you get as much undetectable AI content as you need, in batches of 2,500 words at a time.
CogniBypass – Best undetectable AI writer for configurability
Last up, we have CogniBypass. Based on a powerful AI algorithm, this undetectable AI writer is essentially able to take AI text and rewrite it to sound more like it was made by a regular person. The result is generally of good quality, with low rates of error, and it tends to bypass most AI detectors, if not all.
A good feature of CogniBypass is its configurability. Users can adjust a range of settings and filters to get the exact type of content they want. You can even select from various modes to refine and modify how much the text is changed or altered, helping you preserve your original meaning and message while bypassing AI detection.
Pros
A flexible and versatile tool
Lots of features
Rarely makes mistakes
Cons
Often fails to beat some AI detectors
A little too complex for beginners
Pricing
There are four pricing tiers with CogniBypass. The Amethyst plan is totally free. Then there are Saphire, Emerald and Ruby plans with prices ranging from $9.99 to $29.99 a month and beyond.
Get undetectable AI content today
Overall, there are some excellent undetectable AI writing tools to choose from. They’re all generally effective at beating AI detection, and each one offers clear pros, cons and helpful features. Weigh those pros and cons and try a few of these tools today to see which one can help you bypass AI detectors regularly.
If you’ve been wondering when you’ll be able to order the flame-throwing robot that Ohio-based Throwflame first announced last summer, that day has finally arrived. The Thermonator, what Throwflame bills as “the first-ever flamethrower-wielding robot dog” is now available for purchase. The price? $9,420.
Thermonator is a quadruped robot with an ARC flamethrower mounted to its back, fueled by gasoline or napalm. It features a one-hour battery, a 30-foot flame-throwing range, and Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity for remote control through a smartphone.
It also includes a Lidar sensor for mapping and obstacle avoidance, laser sighting, and first-person-view navigation through an onboard camera. The product appears to integrate a version of the Unitree Go2 robot quadruped that retails alone for $1,600 in its base configuration.
Photograph: Xmatter
The company lists possible applications of the new robot as “wildfire control and prevention,” “agricultural management,” “ecological conservation,” “snow and ice removal,” and “entertainment and SFX.” But most of all, it sets things on fire in a variety of real-world scenarios.
Back in 2018, Elon Musk made the news for offering an official Boring Company flamethrower that reportedly sold 10,000 units in 48 hours. It sparked some controversy, because flamethrowers can also double as weapons or potentially start wildfires.
Flamethrowers are not specifically regulated in 48 US states, although general product liability and criminal laws may still apply to their use and sale. They are not considered firearms by federal agencies. Specific restrictions exist in Maryland, where flamethrowers require a Federal Firearms License to own, and California, where the range of flamethrowers cannot exceed 10 feet.
Photograph: Xmatter
Even so, to state the obvious, flamethrowers can easily burn both things and people, starting fires and wreaking havoc if not used safely. Accordingly, the Thermonator might be one Christmas present you should skip for little Johnny this year.
Apple today began selling certified refurbished Apple Watch Series 9 models in the U.S. for the first time since the device was released in September.
The refurbished Series 9 models are discounted by approximately 15% compared to the equivalent brand new models, with pricing starting at $339, down from $399. A varietyofconfigurations are available as of writing.
Apple says it puts all of its refurbished products through a thorough cleaning process and inspection, and performs full functionality testing. In general, refurbished products sold directly by Apple have a very good reputation.
Like new Series 9 models sold directly by Apple in the U.S. currently, we expect that the Blood Oxygen app is deactivated on the refurbished models, due to a legal battle with medical technology company Masimo. Last year, the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) banned Apple from importing and selling Apple Watch models with blood oxygen sensing after it ruled that the feature infringed on Masimo’s patents. Apple is appealing the decision, and could re-enable the Blood Oxygen app with a watchOS update if it is overturned.
Apple has announced it will be holding a special event on Tuesday, May 7 at 7 a.m. Pacific Time (10 a.m. Eastern Time), with a live stream to be available on Apple.com and on YouTube as usual. The event invitation has a tagline of “Let Loose” and shows an artistic render of an Apple Pencil, suggesting that iPads will be a focus of the event. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more …
Apple has dropped the number of Vision Pro units that it plans to ship in 2024, going from an expected 700 to 800k units to just 400k to 450k units, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Orders have been scaled back before the Vision Pro has launched in markets outside of the United States, which Kuo says is a sign that demand in the U.S. has “fallen sharply beyond expectations.” As a…
Apple has stopped production of FineWoven accessories, according to the Apple leaker and prototype collector known as “Kosutami.” In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Kosutami explained that Apple has stopped production of FineWoven accessories due to its poor durability. The company may move to another non-leather material for its premium accessories in the future. Kosutami has revealed…
The upcoming iOS 17.5 update for the iPhone includes only a few new user-facing features, but hidden code changes reveal some additional possibilities. Below, we have recapped everything new in the iOS 17.5 and iPadOS 17.5 beta so far. Web Distribution Starting with the second beta of iOS 17.5, eligible developers are able to distribute their iOS apps to iPhone users located in the EU…
Apple is finally planning a Calculator app for the iPad, over 14 years after launching the device, according to a source familiar with the matter. iPadOS 18 will include a built-in Calculator app for all iPad models that are compatible with the software update, which is expected to be unveiled during the opening keynote of Apple’s annual developers conference WWDC on June 10. AppleInsider…
Several months ago, Hyper introduced a series of accessories under the “HyperDrive Next” family, bringing a variety of options for USB-C hubs and other products. I’ve recently spent some time testing out some of these accessories, and I’ve found them to offer an assortment of capabilities across price points to suit a variety of users.
USB4 NVMe SSD Enclosure
Priced at $119.99, Hyper’s USB4 NVMe SSD Enclosure offers support for a speedy external drive inside a robust aluminum enclosure protected by a silicone bumper to cushion against impacts and provide IP55 dust and water resistance. The enclosure supports M.2 NVMe PCIe Gen 4/3 SSDs up to 16 TB with a snap-in installation process that requires no screws. SSDs in 2230/2240/2260/2280 sizes are supported.
For testing, I paired Hyper’s enclosure with a 2TB WD_BLACK SSD that supports up to 7,300 MB/s transfer speeds, allowing me to push the enclosure to its limits without being capped by the SSD. The installation process was as simple as advertised, and all I had to do was pop open the enclosure by hand, slide the SSD into the drive slot, secure it with a rubber secure grip, peel off the protective film on a preinstalled thermal pad, and close everything back up. An extra thermal pad and secure grips are provided in the box in case you need them.
A 0.5-meter USB4 cable is included with the enclosure, and upon plugging the enclosure in to my MacBook Pro, I was able to quickly format it for APFS with Disk Utility to work with macOS. An illuminated Hyper logo on the enclosure shines through an opening in the silicone bumper, giving you some information about drive status. The logo shines a steady white when the enclosure is powered on and the drive is idle, and it blinks while data is being read from or written to the SSD. The logo will blink red if detects an SSD is not connected.
Hyper says the enclosure supports up to 3,800 MB/s transfer speeds, and in my testing with a 16-inch M1 Pro MacBook Pro I saw both read and write speeds registering around 3,100 MB/s with the WD SSD. That’s plenty fast for most users, allowing for fast file transfers and even the ability to work with large projects directly from the external drive. I was able to copy a ~28 GB folder with roughly 17,500 items in it to the drive in around 15 seconds.
The enclosure gets slightly warm even when not in active use, with the finned aluminum design of the enclosure and small Hyper logo-shaped holes in the silicone bumper helping move heat away from the drive. The heat was not a concern in any of my testing, as it remained comfortable to touch.
Overall, I was pleased with the performance of the enclosure, and it’s a convenient solution for backing up data or just adding extra storage. At $119.99 before adding in the cost of the SSD itself, it’s pricier than some other solutions, but when you consider the higher-end specs it offers, it’s within the same price range as many other options from trusted brands.
Hyper is currently sold out of the SSD enclosure on its own site, but does have it available through Amazon.
10 Port USB-C Hub
At the low end of Hyper’s USB hub range is the 10 Port USB-C Hub priced at $99.99. It includes support for a single external display at 4K60Hz over HDMI while offering a pair of 10 Gbps USB-C ports, two USB-A ports (one at 10 Gbps and one at 5 Gbps), SD and microSD 4.0 card slots supporting up to a theoretical maximum of 312 MB/s, Gigabit Ethernet, and a 3.5 mm combo audio jack.
There’s also a USB-C port with PD support at up to 140 watts, allowing for passthrough power to your computer if you hook up an external power adapter. Otherwise, the hub will run in bus-powered mode off of your computer. The hub connects to the attached computer over an integrated USB-C cable, which ensures you always have the proper cable with you but introduces a potential failure point for the whole accessory. The cable does feel fairly thick and sturdy with some strain relief reinforcement around where it enters the hub, so hopefully it will remain durable over the long term.
This is a compact, lightweight (97 grams) hub in a very dark gray or almost midnight aluminum finish, and in my testing it’s proven to be a solid option for on-the-go use cases. It slips easily into a computer bag or sleeve and offers a really nice selection of ports to help you make use of a wide variety of accessories you might run across.
With support for a single external display, this may not be for true power users, but the vast majority of people are likely to only need to connect to a single display, especially in travel environments where this hub excels. A more powerful dock with additional display support and even more ports would likely suit these users better at more fixed home and office locations.
Hyper is currently sold out of the 10 Port USB-C Hub on its own site, but it is available through Amazon and Best Buy.
Dual 4K HDMI 7 Port USB-C Hub
Hyper’s mid-range Dual 4K HDMI 7 Port USB-C Hub priced at $149.99 offers fewer ports than the lower-end model but with enhanced display support. It includes two HDMI ports (one HDMI 2.0 at 4K60Hz and one HDMI 1.4 at 4K30Hz), a pair of 10 Gbps USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 ports, a single 10 Gbps USB-A port, a 3.5mm combo audio jack, and a USB-C port allowing you to optionally connect a PD 3.0 power adapter of up to 100 watts for passthrough charging of up to 85 watts to a connected computer. If you don’t want to connect a power adapter, the hub will run in bus-powered mode from the attached computer, so no external power brick is needed.
The design is an unobtrusive space gray plastic with subtle Hyper branding on the top. An integrated USB-C cable on one side connects to the host computer, while the available USB-C passthrough power port is on the opposite side. All other ports are on the rear of the hub, allowing for a relatively clean look on a desk. There are several rows of tiny Hyper logos on the ends of the hub, with the top row on each end being ventilation holes. The integrated cable is convenient for ensuring your cable is always at hand, but if it frays or otherwise breaks, the hub is rendered useless. It does appear quite durable based on my time with it though.
Given that this is a hub rather than a wall-powered desktop dock, it’s ideal to take on the go to connect to displays and other devices as needed. While dual external displays are supported over the HDMI ports, it’s important to note that USB bandwidth limitations means that only one of the displays can run at 60Hz, with the other running at 30Hz. This is likely fine for less demanding productivity tasks, but definitely something to be aware of if you’re hoping to drive displays with heavier demands.
The inclusion of two USB-C ports with 10 Gbps transfer speeds is nice for connecting external drives and other modern devices, while the USB-A port offers legacy connectivity. I prefer a couple of USB-A ports on my full-time desktop dock due to a number of accessories I use that have integrated USB-A cables or proprietary charging connectors that use USB-A at the other end, but for a portable solution, this hub does the trick just fine.
I connected the USB4 NVMe SSD Enclosure via this hub, and it unsurprisingly impacted performance of the SSD as it was now sharing bandwidth other accessories, potentially including displays. I was still able to get write speeds of around 975 MB/s and read speeds of 850 MB/s, which should be sufficient for most users’ needs.
The Dual 4K HDMI 7 Port USB-C Hub offers a number of connectivity options primarily aimed at users on the go, but you’ll need to ensure it suits your needs. It’s on the pricier side of USB hubs at $149.99, so make sure you need all of its capabilities and can’t get away with a cheaper and simpler option. But on the flip side, the display limitations mean demanding users may want to look at other solutions such as separately connecting multiple displays to their computers for maximum performance.
Hyper is currently listing the Dual 4K HDMI 7 Port USB-C Hub as on sale for $104.99 on its own site, though it is currently out of stock. Amazon has it available for the regular price of $149.99, but hopefully Hyper gets this model back in stock soon at the sale price.
10 Port Business Class USB-C Dock
For those looking for more capabilities, Hyper offers the $199.99 10 Port Business Class USB-C Dock. While this dock has the same dual display capabilities of one HDMI 2.0 port at 4K60Hz and one HDMI 1.4 port at 4K30Hz, it offers a different combination of other ports. As a business-focused dock, there’s a heavier emphasis on legacy connectivity such as two USB-A ports, both of which run at up to 10 Gbps. The extra USB-A port is offset by the inclusion of only a single downstream USB-C port, which also runs at 10 Gbps.
In addition to the same 3.5mm combo audio jack as on the 7-port hub, the 10-port model includes a Gigabit Ethernet port and an SD 4.0 card slot supporting transfer speeds up to 312 MB/s, In another nod to the business market, Kensington and Kensington Nano lock slots are included to help physically secure the dock.
The dock connects to the host computer via a short detachable USB-C to USB-C cable, which conveniently snaps into the edge of the dock for travel, so this is a great balance of convenience and repairability. While the dock can be bus powered over this connection, you can also provide external power to the dock that can pass through to your laptop. The dock allows for power input via either USB-C or a DC barrel connector, but an external power adapter is not provided with the dock.
I experienced no issues in my testing, with the dock reliably driving two displays, keeping in mind that the 30Hz refresh rate on the second display may be insufficient for some uses. Productivity users are, however, unlikely to notice any issues due to that limitation. Ethernet and USB connectivity worked as advertised.
SD card reader speeds also appeared as advertised, with my test card nearing its maximum specs at write speeds of 125 MB/s and read speeds of around 220 MB/s.
While the 10 Port Business Class USB-C Dock is priced at $199.99 at Hyper, Best Buy is currently offering it for a discounted price of $159.99.
Wrap-up
Overall, Hyper offers a nice selection of USB-C hubs and docks to suit a variety of needs. While they don’t have quite the capabilities of a Thunderbolt dock, they can provide good options for port expandability both on the go and in a desktop situation.
The USB4 SSD Enclosure supports the latest USB standard for high read and write speeds that should satisfy almost all users, and it comes in a compact package ideal for extra portable storage. Just make sure the SSD you’re using can take advantage of the speeds the enclosure has to offer.
Note: Hyper provided MacRumors with the hubs, dock, and SSD enclosure for the purposes of this review. No other compensation was received. MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Hyper, Amazon, and Best Buy. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Apple Arcade games Crossy Road Castle and Solitaire Stories are set to launch on the Vision Pro headset tomorrow, adding two additional popular games to Apple’s first head worn device.
In Crossy Road Castle, players can progress through tower levels with pinch and flick gestures. Up to four players can play at one time, though there’s also a solo version of the game.
Crossy Road Castle for Vision Pro has the same features as the other versions of the game, including characters and hats to unlock, game controller support, and challenge events to complete. Levels are procedurally generated, so each new game is different.
Solitaire Stories provides players with a virtual card table to play classic solitaire games. There are multiple versions of solitaire included, such as Klondike Quick Play, Spider, and Draw 3, as well as support for online multiplayer gameplay.
The game includes a progressive story with increasingly difficult levels, along with different deck designs to unlock. There are also daily challenges and contests.
Several Apple Arcade games available on iOS and macOS are receiving updates today, including Puyo Puyo Puzzle Pop, Cooking Mama: Cuisine, Fruit Ninja Classic, and Zookeeper World.
Apple has announced it will be holding a special event on Tuesday, May 7 at 7 a.m. Pacific Time (10 a.m. Eastern Time), with a live stream to be available on Apple.com and on YouTube as usual. The event invitation has a tagline of “Let Loose” and shows an artistic render of an Apple Pencil, suggesting that iPads will be a focus of the event. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more …
Apple has dropped the number of Vision Pro units that it plans to ship in 2024, going from an expected 700 to 800k units to just 400k to 450k units, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Orders have been scaled back before the Vision Pro has launched in markets outside of the United States, which Kuo says is a sign that demand in the U.S. has “fallen sharply beyond expectations.” As a…
Apple has stopped production of FineWoven accessories, according to the Apple leaker and prototype collector known as “Kosutami.” In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Kosutami explained that Apple has stopped production of FineWoven accessories due to its poor durability. The company may move to another non-leather material for its premium accessories in the future. Kosutami has revealed…
The upcoming iOS 17.5 update for the iPhone includes only a few new user-facing features, but hidden code changes reveal some additional possibilities. Below, we have recapped everything new in the iOS 17.5 and iPadOS 17.5 beta so far. Web Distribution Starting with the second beta of iOS 17.5, eligible developers are able to distribute their iOS apps to iPhone users located in the EU…
Apple is finally planning a Calculator app for the iPad, over 14 years after launching the device, according to a source familiar with the matter. iPadOS 18 will include a built-in Calculator app for all iPad models that are compatible with the software update, which is expected to be unveiled during the opening keynote of Apple’s annual developers conference WWDC on June 10. AppleInsider…
The 5,000mAh power bank can be used in the stand or separately. Photo: SwitchEasy
How many times have you rushed out the door with a battery pack for your iPhone, only to discover the battery is dead as a doornail? SwitchEasy’s 2-in-1 Portal solves that. This stylish charging stand includes a portable power pack that is always charged and ready to go.
And we have a massive discount only for Cult of Mac readers. The Portal regularly costs $119.99, but for one week only, we are dropping the price to $44.99. That’s nearly 60% off, and an offer not found anywhere else. Heck, it’s a good deal for just the 5,000mAh rechargeable MagSafe battery.
With its Bang & Olufsen-inspired styling, Portal is great for your desktop or nightstand. And it ensures you always have portable power ready to go.
SwitchEasy Portal 2-in-1 5,000mAh MagSafe Power Bank with Charging Stand
Portal’s handy two-in-one design — featuring a MagSafe-compatible charging pad and a circular stand with a brushed-metal look — offers ultimate convenience for charging anywhere.
The sleek stand won’t look out of place anywhere, either. Even with the power bank in place, the stand won’t take up too much space in your computer setup or on a nightstand.
The power bank pops right out of the stand for mobile use with your iPhone, or you can stick it back on the stand to charge your handset without a cable.
Portal: A MagSafe power bank with a stylish charging stand
You can take the power bank with you to keep your iPhone charged, or power up the bank and the handset on the stand. Photo: SwitchEasy
These high-end features make this combination MagSafe power bank/charging stand a winner:
Sleek, modern design fits effortlessly into any room or workspace. Reminiscent of classic Bang & Olufsen audio gear.
Charge your iPhone and the power bank simultaneously without additional cables.
Two-in-one design with MagSafe-compatible charging pad and removable 5,000mAh power bank, perfect for charging at work, at home or on the run.
Stand lets you keep an eye on your notifications or watch videos while charging. Works in portrait or landscape mode. Perfect for iPhone’s StandBy mode on your nightstand.
The device’s multiple protection features keep you and your devices safe.
Save on a Bang & Olufsen-inspired iPhone charging solution
As you can see, the Portal’s distinctive design definitely stands out from the crowd. Grab one now during this exclusive sale in the Cult of Mac Store. Sale ends at 11:59 p.m. Pacific on May 1, 2024.
Apple today seeded the third betas of upcoming iOS 17.5 and iPadOS 17.5 updates to public beta testers, allowing non-developers to test the software ahead of its release. The second public iOS 17.5 and iPadOS 17.5 betas come a week after Apple released the second betas for public beta testers, and a day after the software was made available to developers.
Public beta testers can get the beta by opening up the Settings app, going to the Software Update section, tapping on the “Beta Updates” option, and toggling on the iOS 17 or iPadOS 17 Public Beta. Signing up on Apple’s beta testing website is required.
iOS 17.5 is limited on new outward-facing features, focusing primarily on changes in the European Union. App developers in the EU are now able to add their iPhone apps to their website, so that users can download them directly without having to use the App Store.
To offer an app for download from a website in the European Union, developers need to meet specific criteria. Developers need to be a member of the Apple Developer Program for two continuous years or more and must have an app with more than one million first installs on iOS in the European Union in the prior year. Other requirements include submitting to Apple’s notarization process and publishing transparent data collection policies.
This feature is limited to the European Union due to the Digital Markets Act and is not available to all users.
iOS 17.5 and iPadOS 17.5 also have updates to mobile device management and there are code changes suggesting Battery Health functionality could come to the new iPads and that Apple will soon add alerts for third-party item trackers.
Apple has announced it will be holding a special event on Tuesday, May 7 at 7 a.m. Pacific Time (10 a.m. Eastern Time), with a live stream to be available on Apple.com and on YouTube as usual. The event invitation has a tagline of “Let Loose” and shows an artistic render of an Apple Pencil, suggesting that iPads will be a focus of the event. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more …
Apple has dropped the number of Vision Pro units that it plans to ship in 2024, going from an expected 700 to 800k units to just 400k to 450k units, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Orders have been scaled back before the Vision Pro has launched in markets outside of the United States, which Kuo says is a sign that demand in the U.S. has “fallen sharply beyond expectations.” As a…
Apple has stopped production of FineWoven accessories, according to the Apple leaker and prototype collector known as “Kosutami.” In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Kosutami explained that Apple has stopped production of FineWoven accessories due to its poor durability. The company may move to another non-leather material for its premium accessories in the future. Kosutami has revealed…
The upcoming iOS 17.5 update for the iPhone includes only a few new user-facing features, but hidden code changes reveal some additional possibilities. Below, we have recapped everything new in the iOS 17.5 and iPadOS 17.5 beta so far. Web Distribution Starting with the second beta of iOS 17.5, eligible developers are able to distribute their iOS apps to iPhone users located in the EU…
Apple is finally planning a Calculator app for the iPad, over 14 years after launching the device, according to a source familiar with the matter. iPadOS 18 will include a built-in Calculator app for all iPad models that are compatible with the software update, which is expected to be unveiled during the opening keynote of Apple’s annual developers conference WWDC on June 10. AppleInsider…
The lead developer of the multi-emulator app Provenance has told iMore that his team is working towards releasing the app on the App Store, but he did not provide a timeframe. Provenance is a frontend for many existing emulators, and it would allow iPhone and Apple TV users to emulate games released for a wide variety of classic game consoles, including the original PlayStation, SEGA Genesis,…
A couple of 2021 iMacs are in the mix of sale items. Photo: Apple
Two concurrent Apple sales at Amazon bargain site Woot! run for the next week or so — one on iMacs and Accessories and one for a selection of Apple Accessories. It’s a good chance to stock up on big and small stuff alike.
“An Apple a Day… is really expensive!” the site quips. Both sales run through May 1 at 10 p.m. PT.
Woot! sales on iMacs and Apple accessories
iMacs and Accessories
The Woot! sales on iMacs and Apple Accessories includes 18 items.
In the iMacs sale, that includes six iMacs (including 2021 models), a standalone Magic Keyboard mini, various keyboards for iPads, and Apple Pencil tips.
Some items are new, others are refurbished. Have a look at this selection and more at the link below:
24-inch 2021 iMac with M1 Chip, 4480 x 2520 Non-Touch Retina Display, Apple M1 8-Core CPU, DRAM, NVMe SSD, Apple 7-Core GPU, Wi-Fi 6, FaceTime HD 1080p Camera, macOS (Your Choice: Capacity, Color, Keyboard)
24-inch 2021 iMac with M1 Chip, 4480 x 2520 Non-Touch Retina Display, Apple M1 8-Core CPU, DRAM, NVMe SSD, Apple 8-Core GPU, Wi-Fi 6, FaceTime HD 1080p Camera, macOS (Your Choice: Capacity, Color, Keyboard)
Apple today seeded the third beta of an upcoming macOS Sonoma 14.5 update to public beta testers, allowing non-developers to test the software ahead of its launch. The public beta comes a week after Apple released the second public beta and a day after Apple seeded the beta to developers.
Beta testers can opt-in through the Software Update section of the System Settings app. Under Beta updates, simply toggle on the Sonoma Public Beta. Note that you must sign up to participate on Apple’s beta testing website.
There have been no new features found in the macOS Sonoma 14.5 developer betas so far, and Apple listed no additions in its release notes. It is likely that the update focuses on bug fixes and other small under-the-hood improvements.
Apple has announced it will be holding a special event on Tuesday, May 7 at 7 a.m. Pacific Time (10 a.m. Eastern Time), with a live stream to be available on Apple.com and on YouTube as usual. The event invitation has a tagline of “Let Loose” and shows an artistic render of an Apple Pencil, suggesting that iPads will be a focus of the event. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more …
Apple has dropped the number of Vision Pro units that it plans to ship in 2024, going from an expected 700 to 800k units to just 400k to 450k units, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Orders have been scaled back before the Vision Pro has launched in markets outside of the United States, which Kuo says is a sign that demand in the U.S. has “fallen sharply beyond expectations.” As a…
Apple has stopped production of FineWoven accessories, according to the Apple leaker and prototype collector known as “Kosutami.” In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Kosutami explained that Apple has stopped production of FineWoven accessories due to its poor durability. The company may move to another non-leather material for its premium accessories in the future. Kosutami has revealed…
The upcoming iOS 17.5 update for the iPhone includes only a few new user-facing features, but hidden code changes reveal some additional possibilities. Below, we have recapped everything new in the iOS 17.5 and iPadOS 17.5 beta so far. Web Distribution Starting with the second beta of iOS 17.5, eligible developers are able to distribute their iOS apps to iPhone users located in the EU…
Apple is finally planning a Calculator app for the iPad, over 14 years after launching the device, according to a source familiar with the matter. iPadOS 18 will include a built-in Calculator app for all iPad models that are compatible with the software update, which is expected to be unveiled during the opening keynote of Apple’s annual developers conference WWDC on June 10. AppleInsider…
The lead developer of the multi-emulator app Provenance has told iMore that his team is working towards releasing the app on the App Store, but he did not provide a timeframe. Provenance is a frontend for many existing emulators, and it would allow iPhone and Apple TV users to emulate games released for a wide variety of classic game consoles, including the original PlayStation, SEGA Genesis,…
