15 de noviembre de 1990: Cupertino gana una patente para el diseño del Apple Extended Keyboard II, posiblemente el mejor teclado de computadora jamás creado.
Al ofrecer la combinación perfecta de durabilidad, sensación y un agradable sonido de clic, el Extended Keyboard II se convertiría en un pilar de las configuraciones profesionales de Apple a principios de la década de 1990, y quizás en el teclado más icónico de la historia de Apple. Gracias al convertidor ADB a USB, algunas personas siguen utilizando estos dispositivos de entrada en la actualidad.
Apple Extended Keyboard II: ¿El mejor teclado Mac de todos los tiempos?
El teclado extendido original llegó en 1987, después Steve Jobs deja Apple Después de su pelea con el CEO John Scully. De la misma manera que las Mac de esa época se centraban en la extensibilidad de una manera que Jobs nunca aprobó, los modelos de teclado extendido de Apple (de los cuales el Extended Keyboard II es el mejor) incluían funciones y teclas de flecha que a Jobs no le gustaban.
El cofundador de Apple probablemente apreció la calidad del teclado. Combinó componentes de vanguardia con el tipo de toques inteligentes especiales que hacen que los productos Apple sean geniales. Por ejemplo, utilicé interruptores mecánicos fabricados en Japón. Compañía eléctrica alpinaque más tarde produjo teclados para iMac.
Las teclas respondieron de una manera que rara vez se encuentra. El sonido no dejó dudas sobre si había presionado la tecla. Las teclas se devuelven sorprendentemente rápido después de presionarlas, gracias a los resortes físicos ubicados debajo de cada tecla.
Las características definen el mejor teclado Apple de todos los tiempos
El Apple Extended Keyboard II incluye dos más Toques elegantestambién. Su tecla Bloq Mayús permanecía presionada cuando la presionaba (a diferencia de hoy, que se indica cuando está encendida mediante un LED). Esto le dio al teclado una sensación de estilo máquina de escribir que muchos usuarios apreciaron. El teclado también incluye el interruptor de encendido, que recibió muchos elogios a principios de los años 1990.
Finalmente, en una marcada mejora con respecto a su predecesor, el Apple Extended Keyboard II presenta un pie extensible en su base. Esto permitió una altura variable. Combinado con el diseño ergonómico y curvo, esto brindó a los usuarios muchas opciones para inclinar el teclado para satisfacer sus necesidades individuales.
¿Alguna vez has pirateado un documento en uno de estos periféricos populares? ¿O tal vez todavía estás usando uno hoy? Cuéntanos por qué este fue el mejor teclado de Apple (o no) en los comentarios a continuación.
When Beats introduced the Solo 3 in 2016, the headline feature was the inclusion of Apple’s W1 audio chip. This delivered seamless pairing with Apple devices, which made life much easier for iPhone, Mac and iPad owners. Besides the noise-canceling Solo Pro in 2019, Beats hadn’t updated the Solo line in nearly eight years, and it’s now bringing its popular on-ear headphones up to today’s standards. Beats announced the Solo 4 today, a $200 set of familiar-looking cans with significant updates to audio quality and battery life. But as it has done on other devices, the company has chosen its own audio platform over Apple’s AirPod chip.
Beats
Beats made significant updates to audio quality and battery life on the Solo 4, but the design is in need of a refresh.
Beats says it re-engineered the audio on the Solo 4 for “incredible, high-fidelity acoustics.” This includes new, custom-built 40mm transducers that it says offer “extraordinary clarity and range” due to minimal latency and distortion. The company explained that the change also led to improved high-frequency response compared to the Solo 3. Beats says the Solo 4 is its only passively-tuned headphone, so you’ll get the same audio quality when listening wirelessly as you do when your battery dies and you have to employ the 3.5mm jack.
Spatial Audio was available on the Solo 3, but Beats took things a step further on the Solo 4 by adding Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking. This is the process Apple developed for its AirPods that uses your iPhone’s camera to create a custom audio profile tailored to the shape of your ears. The effectiveness of head tracking in enhancing Spatial Audio might depend on your personal preferences and the content, but the addition brings the Solo 4 up to date with other Beats (and Apple) audio products.
Billy Steele for Engadget
Another big upgrade is battery life. The Solo 3 already offered 40 hours of play time on a charge, but Beats managed to squeeze another 10 hours out of the Solo 4. Of course, that’s with a volume level of about 50 percent with Spatial Audio off (45 hours with it on). The quick-charge feature, Fast Fuel, now gives you up to five hours of use in 10 minutes. That’s two hours more than the Solo 3.
Like Apple has done with most of its products, Beats made the switch to USB-C for charging on the Solo 4. That wired connection also delivers lossless audio, so long as you’re listening to compatible content with a supported device. Similar to other recent Beats products, the Solo 4 swaps Apple’s chips for the company’s own platform. In this case, the W1 on the Solo 3 has been replaced, but there’s still deep integration with iOS, macOS and iPadOS. And the company’s recent efforts to better cater to Android users continues on the Solo 4.
Beats upgraded the microphones on the Solo 4, though they’re used solely for calls since there’s no active noise cancellation (ANC) here. Specifically, the company says it swapped out analog mics for digital, beam-forming MEMS ones, leading to increased quality when it comes to voice capture across various environments. Beats also added a noise-learning algorithm that can target your voice while combating background roar and wind.
What’s good
Billy Steele for Engadget
The steps Beats took to improve the sound quality on the Solo 4 truly delivered. The company has employed a more even-handed tuning for several years now, ditching the overly bass-heavy EQ that dominated the sound on its early headphones. I can also hear the added clarity in tracks like Justice’s “Neverender,” where details like synth sounds had brought an atmospheric texture that enhanced the song. This is most prominent when you have Spatial Audio activated, and in my experience, the Solo 4 were at their best with Dolby Atmos content in Apple Music.
The 50-hour battery life claim holds out, too. After 37 hours of testing at around 50-percent volume, macOS was still showing the Solo 4 had 35 percent left in the tank. That’s pacing ahead of Beats’ stated figure. During my test, I was streaming spatial Dolby Atmos content from Apple Music, mostly from a MacBook Pro.
Beats says the Solo 4 has the same memory foam ear pads as the over-ear Studio Pro headphones, but with a new cover material for that component to further boost comfort. I do feel like there’s less of a vice-like pressure when I’m wearing the Solo 4, but after a couple of hours, each passing minute felt more laborious.
What’s bad
Billy Steele for Engadget
While we’re on the topic of comfort, I’ve never been a fan of the on-ear style of headphones. Most of them, the Beats Solo included, feel like they’re clamping down on my head. GrantedI have a large dome; I take my New Era caps in 7 ⅝. But I can appreciate that this design is very popular, so this is less of a con and more of an observation for my fellow large-domed homies. The slight changes to the ear pads definitely help make it more comfortable, but it’s still too snug a fit for me.Clearly, though, the Solo line is a hit: Beats says it has sold over 40 million pairs of these on-ear cans.
I also wish the company did a bit more with the Solo 4’s design. I understand “if it ain’t broke” and all that, but this feels like a missed opportunity. Beats opted to keep almost entirely the same look from the Solo 3, except that the “Solo” branding on the headband is now just a “4.” The company changed things up a bit on the Solo Pro, but that model isn’t around anymore, so a design update on the non-ANC Solo headphones would’ve been a welcome change.
While there are some obvious updates to the audio profile, the Solo 4 sounds a bit thin at times. When listening on an iPhone, audio performance is consistent across genress, but there’s a noticeable difference when listening to the same songs on Apple Music on a Mac. That Justice album, Hyperdrama, doesn’t have the same oomph streaming from my MacBook Pro as it does from my iPhone.
The Solo 4 is also missing multipoint Bluetooth support on iOS. It isn’t the first Beats audio device that lacks this, but that doesn’t make it any less frustrating. The ability to automatically switch between your computer and your phone when you get a call is a handy feature most headphones offer these days. And if you’re used to having it, it’s something you’ll miss on the Solo 4.
Wrap-up
There’s no denying the updates Beats made on the Solo 4 in terms of sound quality and battery life. The company also made tweaks to modernize it, including the switch to USB-C. Small changes to the ear pads make the Solo 4 more comfortable for those of us with big heads, but the fit is still far from ideal. And overall, the familiar design could use a refresh, especially now that we’re nearly eight years on from the Solo 3. Still, the Solo 4 is a clear upgrade from the Solo 3, but it’s likely not significant enough to entice more than the Beats faithful.
The Beats Solo 4 is available today for $200 from Apple. The headphones come in black, blue (pictured) and pink color options.
1 / 10
Beats Solo 4 review
Beats Solo 4 headphones from the side, showing the “b” logo.
As spring has sprung, and with the CdkeySales Spring Sale extended, software deals continue to blossom through late April and into May. So go ahead and pick your favorite Microsoft deals. Many stunningly low prices await on Microsoft productivity software like Windows and Office. That includes a lovely Windows 10 Pro deal for just $17.05. And a free upgrade comes with it!
You can find surprisingly low prices at software activation keys provider CdkeySales.com now and throughout the year. To get the most savings, enter promo code CULT. That cuts an additional 30% off the site’s low prices on software keys. And when you buy Windows 10, you get a free upgrade to Windows 11!
CdkeySales Spring Sale extended: Windows 10 Pro for $17, Pro 11 for $23
If you’re still running an older version of Microsoft’s operating system, you owe it to yourself (and your PC) to take advantage of CdkeySales’ amazing prices on Windows 10 Pro and Windows 11 in the software seller’s big Spring Sale.
Updating to at least Windows 10 proves important for several reasons. It’s not just to get the software’s new, powerful features. It’s because Microsoft eventually stops supporting Windows versions. For example, Microsoft ceased offering technical support and software updates for Windows 8.1 on January 10, 2023.
With the CdkeySales Spring Sale extended, check out these deals on the latest versions of Microsoft Windows:
Lush deals on Microsoft Office Pro Plus and 365
If you ever worked on a computer, you should be familiar with Microsoft Office and the various programs that come in the world’s most popular software suite. And if you need the software, why pay more? These Microsoft Office deals are hard to beat.
Windows and MS Office bundles in bloom
If you happen to need both Windows and Microsoft Office, you can save even more with combo deals from CdkeySales:
Find big savings on genuine Microsoft software in the CdkeySales Spring Sale. Just head to CdkeySales.com using these links. And don’t forget to enter promo code CULT to get extra savings. Photo: CdkeySales.com
It’s easy to purchase and activate Microsoft software keys
If you’ve never bought software activation keys before, don’t worry. We’ll walk you through the process. We promise that it’s simple and straightforward.
First, go to CdkeySales.com. On the software activation key purchase page for the product you want, just click the Buy Now button. (What could be simpler, right?)
Then just sign up quickly for your free CdkeySales account (or log in if you’re a repeat customer). After you complete your purchase, you will receive your software activation link via email.
This page confirms what you ordered and lets you enter the code CULT for maximum savings. Photo: CdkeySales.com
Next, click on the link in the email you received to get your OEM product key. Then go to Windows 10 Settings. Just click Start > Settings > System > About the program > Change product key, and enter your new product key.
After you activate the OEM key, you should see the following message on the activation page: “Windows is activated with a digital license linked to your Microsoft account.”
This page shows the status of your purchased order. Photo: CdkeySales.com
CdkeySales Spring Sale: Install and activate new software
Installing and activating new software via Microsoft is also a straightforward process. For example, let’s say you want to activate a Microsoft Office package. Just follow these steps:
Enter your Microsoft credentials (or create a profile if you do not already have a Microsoft account).
Enter the purchased product key in the appropriate field (from the CdkeySales email you received after your purchase).
After selecting your language and region, click Next to complete the activation.
Now you can install Microsoft Office on your PC.
The process for activating your new software is straightforward as well. Photo: CdkeySales.com
More about CdkeySales.com
CdkeySales.com also offers a range of software activation keys for games on an array of platforms, including Steam, Origin and Ubisoft Connect. Plus, the company sells hardware, network cards, gift cards, PC games and expansion packs.
If you encounter any problems before or after purchase, just contact CdkeySales.com’s customer service department via email at [email protected] for a quick response.
Apple has this week announced that it is extending its Emergency SOS via satellite service for an additional year for free to eat existing iPhone 14 uses. The company’s innovative Emergency SOS via satellite service, which has been available for a year on all iPhone 14 models in the U.S. and Canada, has now been extended to the iPhone 15 lineup in 16 countries and regions. This commendable feature allows users to text with emergency services when outside of cellular and Wi-Fi coverage, providing a lifeline in situations where traditional communication methods may not be available.
Emergency SOS via satellite can help you connect with the emergency services under exceptional circumstances when no other means of reaching the emergency services are available. If you call or text emergency services and can’t connect because you’re somewhere with no mobile and Wi-Fi coverage, your iPhone tries to connect you via satellite.
The Emergency SOS via satellite service has already proven its worth, contributing to the saving of numerous lives. One notable instance involved a man being rescued after his car fell over a cliff in Los Angeles. Another saw lost hikers found in Italy, thanks to the ability to communicate with emergency services via satellite. These real-life stories underscore the importance and effectiveness of Apple’s initiative, demonstrating how technology can play a pivotal role in emergency situations.
Apple Emergency SOS via satellite service
In a move that will be welcomed by many, Apple has announced that it is extending free access to the Emergency SOS via satellite service for an additional year for existing iPhone 14 users. This extension not only provides a valuable service to users but also highlights Apple’s commitment to prioritizing safety and well-being.
Other articles we have written that you may find of interest on the subject of iPhone 15 :
But Apple isn’t stopping there. The company has introduced another safety feature, Roadside Assistance via satellite. This service connects users to AAA if they encounter car trouble while outside of cellular and Wi-Fi coverage. This addition to the Apple safety suite provides an extra layer of security for motorists, giving them a means to seek help in potentially dangerous situations.
Apple’s commitment to safety extends to additional features designed to protect and assist users. One such feature is the ability to share location via satellite using the Find My app. This function allows users to let friends and family know their whereabouts, adding an extra layer of security when traveling or venturing into unfamiliar territory. Another feature, Crash Detection, can automatically dial emergency services after a severe car crash. This automated response could be a literal lifesaver, providing immediate contact with emergency services following a collision.
The Check-In feature allows users to notify friends and family when they have reached their destination, providing peace of mind for both the user and their loved ones. For those with medical conditions, the ability to set up a Medical ID in the Health app could prove invaluable. This feature allows first responders to access critical medical information from the Lock Screen without needing a passcode, potentially saving precious time in an emergency.
Apple’s expansion of its Emergency SOS via satellite service, along with the introduction of additional safety features, demonstrates a commitment to user safety that goes beyond the provision of cutting-edge technology. The extension of the service to iPhone 14 users for an additional free year, the introduction of Roadside Assistance via satellite, and the various other safety features are all part of a comprehensive approach to safety that sets Apple apart in the technology sphere.
Filed Under: Apple, Top News
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15 de noviembre de 1990: Cupertino gana una patente para el diseño del Apple Extended Keyboard II, posiblemente el mejor teclado de computadora jamás creado.
