InfiniteHench

joined 1 month ago
[–] [email protected] 5 points 3 hours ago (3 children)

I get the logic here but I just don’t think most people think like this. Products are called the “Honda Accord” and the “Apple iPhone” and the “Cordless handheld vacuum” for a reason.

Maybe these code names make sense for the actual engineers working on them. But only the nerdiest of the nerdiest of nerdy consumers will remember a couple of these names. In my line of work I’ve spent a couple decades with a ton of regular folks, non-techy people. You might be surprised how many of them can barely remember what number of iPhone they’re on, and don’t even think about asking them which version of iOS is installed.

TBC: This is not a knock against people who aren’t neck-deep in every industry of every product they own. I couldn’t tell you which engine is in my Hyundai Tuscon or which generation of motor is in my cordless vacuum.

I just think these names are gibberish, probably greenlit by people who don’t think about this stuff. But they aren’t effective names for regular consumers.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

I wonder if the danger here is that the iPad already powers the keyboard through the Smart Connector. BUT, since the keyboard has no battery, it can charge the iPad back through that Smart Connector. It’s a strange device relationship.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 days ago

Seems like a complicated situation. They're technically two separate devices, one port (iPad) can send power in and out, the other can only send it in (Magic Keyboard). This warning is specifically about connecting a single USB-C cable between the two, which I imagine can create an undesirable loop of power or miscommunication or whatever.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 days ago

Huh, can you elaborate? I settled on Vivaldi for now but I don’t love that it’s Chromium

[–] [email protected] 3 points 4 days ago

You can charge it via either port—plug a cable into the iPad’s direct port on the bottom, or plug a cable into the C port on the keyboard, and the iPad will charge via the Smart Connector that attaches the keyboard to the iPad.

This warning simply tells us not to create a loop between those two ports with a single cable. My post is just a silly joke about using this method to create infinite power.

 

Someone in my Destiny community asked whether the USB-C port on the Magic Keyboard for iPad can pass data, or if it’s just for charging. I decided to look it up.

Apple’s support document makes it clear that, unfortunately, the port only does power (check the ‘Charge your iPad’ section, pictured here). But then check the section I highlighted, emphasis mine:

Never connect one end of a USB-C cable to the USB-C port on your iPad and the other end to the USB-C port on your Magic Keyboard

Never!

I need to know what happens! Is Apple hiding the secret to infinite power in broad daylight??