2018 MacBook Pros Have New ‘Titan Ridge’ Thunderbolt 3 Controller, But DisplayPort 1.4 Isn’t Truly Supported

Earlier this week, the repair experts at iFixit opened up the 2018 MacBook Pro, uncovering Intel’s new JHL7540 Thunderbolt 3 controller, introduced earlier this year as part of its “Titan Ridge” family.

While the specifications for the JHL7540 lists compatibility with DisplayPort 1.4 on Intel’s product database, it’s not as clear-cut as it sounds, as support also relies on graphics, which vary by MacBook Pro model.

MacRumors reached out to Apple for clarification. Here’s what we learned:

• The new 15-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar models support DisplayPort at High-Bit Rate 3 (HBR3), a signal standard of both DisplayPort 1.3 and DisplayPort 1.4. Apple says the dedicated Radeon Pro graphics can drive up to two 5K displays at 60Hz, each over a single stream.
• The new 13-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar models support DisplayPort at High-Bit Rate 2 (HBR2), a signal standard of DisplayPort 1.2. This is a limitation of the Iris Plus Graphics 655 in these models, as Intel’s integrated GPUs do not support DisplayPort 1.4.

What that means:

• The new 15-inch MacBook Pro theoretically supports DisplayPort 1.4, which Apple confirmed, but at least for now, it still can’t drive an 8K display. It could be possible with VESA’s lossless Display Stream Compression standard, perhaps, but it’s unclear if this can be enabled down the road.
• For now, then, the new 13-inch and 15-inch models have the same compatibility with external displays as the previous-generation MacBook Pro: up to two 5K displays or up to four 4K displays on the 15-inch model, and up to one 5K display or up to two 4K displays on the 13-inch model.

For comparison, 2016 and 2017 MacBook Pro models are equipped with Intel’s JHL6540 Thunderbolt 3 controller, which supports DisplayPort 1.2.

In related news, Apple has also confirmed that all four Thunderbolt 3 ports on the new 13-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar are now full speed, compared to only the two left-facing ports on the equivalent 2016 and 2017 models.

Related Roundup: MacBook ProTags: DisplayPort, 4K displays, 5k displays, Thunderbolt 3, DisplayPort 1.4Buyer’s Guide: MacBook Pro (Buy Now)
Discuss this article in our forums

Pay-n-pray cybersecurity isn’t working. What if we just paid when it works?

(in)Secure is a weekly column that dives into the rapidly escalating topic of cybersecurity.

Like home security, people would often rather not think about cybersecurity once they’ve paid for it. They’d rather pay and pray.

But how do you know when a security company’s software is working? With all the billions of dollars poured into protecting ourselves and our businesses online, why do hacks seem to be increasing in regularity and damages?

We spoke with Oren J. Falkowitz, a former senior-level employee at the NSA and United States Cyber Command, who has a radical idea for how cybersecurity companies should be making their money.

The problem

Our modern cybersecurity fiasco has many causes. Maybe it’s a lack of government funding and regulation. Maybe it’s large tech corporations not caring enough about privacy. Maybe it’s just a matter of educating the public and explaining in simple terms what’s at stake.

“Companies spend about $93 billion on cybersecurity, with no end in sight …”

Falkowitz has a different take. He believes the real problem is that cybersecurity profits aren’t tied to performance. “For us, it means performance-based cybersecurity and paying for results, not a failure,” he told Digital Trends. “Companies should pay for cybersecurity only when and if it performs as designed.”

That’s not how it works today. Cybersecurity experts, companies, and antivirus software are presented and purchased like an insurance plan. You pay monthly and hope that nothing bad happens. If it does, they’ll help you pick up the pieces — and maybe try to upsell you on more security.

Area 1 Security, Falkowitz’ own cybersecurity company, takes the opposite approach. Area 1 calls out the fact that people “commit to security contracts running three to five years, spending six or seven figures. But they still don’t get what they pay for.” Falkowitz believes clients should pay only for attempted crimes that are stopped. It’s an idea similar to bug bounty programs, which encourage hackers to find – and then disclose – vulnerabilities.

“Companies spend about $93 billion on cybersecurity, with no end in sight, and what’s worse, no end to the severity or frequency of cyber attacks,” Falkowitz said. “Performance-based and accountable cybersecurity will ensure that results are what drive the future innovations and successful outcomes in business models.”

You might wonder how a company could stay in business if it constantly had to prove to customers that attacks are being stopped. Area 1 Security makes it work by focusing its efforts on a particular aspect of cybersecurity — phishing.

It all leads back to phishing

“Phishing is the attack that starts the attack, it’s the root cause for an astounding 95 percent of all damages,” said Falkowitz. “The key to performance-based cybersecurity is stopping phishing.”

“Phishing is a socially-engineered attack that relies on authenticity to evade detection.”

Phishing has become the bane of the internet’s existence. From malware to stolen data, phishing is often the entry point for the worst cyberattacks we’ve seen. It usually takes the form of a fraudulent email, sent to an unsuspecting victim under the guise of an official company or organization.

The email will then prompt the reader to click a link — and once they do, the attacker’s trap is triggered. Though simple, hackers have used phishing for everything from the Clinton campaign email debacle to the devastating 2017 WannaCry ransomware attack.

“Phishing is a socially-engineered attack that relies on authenticity to evade detection,” Falkowitz explained. “It’s designed not to be caught by anyone! That’s why it works so well. Besides being effective, it’s also incredibly cheap. That’s part of why it’s so good economically to be a bad guy on the internet. If you’re an attacker and you have something that works, that most companies can’t defend against, why not keep using it?”

Area 1

Area 1 Security’s system claims to stop 99.99 percent of all phishing attacks, allowing them to keep a log of the attacks they’re preventing. Its philosophy isn’t to hunt down the criminals across the internet, but instead to stop the ones who are already knocking at our doors.

“Until we take phishing as a weapon out of the hands of attackers, we’ll continue on this increasingly dangerous and expensive trajectory.”

Maybe it’s time we started asking more from the companies that claim to protect us. After all, disarming the bad guys sounds like a much better plan than waiting for them to attack.

Editors’ Recommendations

• How does Uber work?
• What is Sweatcoin and how does it work?
• How does Hulu work? Here’s everything you need to know
• Google done weaponizing A.I., will still work with military and governments
• Windows update not working? Here’s how to fix it

How to view your location history in Google Maps

See where you’ve traveled with Google Maps.

Google Maps has a nifty Timeline feature that lets you browse the places you’ve visited along with the routes traveled. The feature was overhauled in 2015, and Google has added the ability to collate images you’ve taken at a particular location, allowing you to get a better overview of your travels.

It certainly comes in handy if you’re looking to see all the images you took at a particular location, or if you’re trying to get a highlight of your weekly or monthly activity.

• How to view your location history in Google Maps
• How to disable location tracking

How to view your location history in Google Maps

Launch Google Maps.
Tap the more button (three horizontal lines) on the top left corner.
Tap your timeline.

Tap the calendar icon to view a particular day.

Swipe left or right to switch months.

Tap a date to view your location history. You’ll see the route traveled, along with the duration and length of the overall journey.

How to disable location tracking

Timeline is certainly a useful feature if you’re interested in looking at your previous travel data, but it also comes off as creepy (Google tracks everything). Fortunately, you can easily turn off location tracking in Maps.

Tap the more button (three horizontal lines) on the top left corner.
Tap Settings.

Tap Personal content.

Tap the field that says Location History is on under Location Settings.

Tap the switch next to each device for which you’d like to disable location tracking.

There’s also the option to pause tracking for your account as a whole. To do so, toggle Location History to off, and select OK in the dialog box that follows.

That’s all there is to it! I like the timeline feature as it gives me a detailed look at where I’ve been over the course of the month (and how much time I wasted being stuck in traffic).

What are your thoughts on the location history feature? Like it? Feel like it’s an intrusion of your privacy? Sound off in the comments below.

Updated July 2018: This article was updated with the latest steps on how to view your location history within Google Maps.

Spigen Neo Hybrid Case for Samsung Galaxy S9+ review: Dual-layer perfection

Spigen’s hybrid case runs away with the competition — and my heart.

In a sea of smartphone cases, standing out without being tacky, glittery, or in many circumstances, both, can be next to impossible. But some rise to the top for their suave sensibility, their fashionable functionality, and their detailed durability. Spigen is one of the top names in smartphone cases because their cases have risen to the top time and time again for their useful ubiquity, and the Spigen Neo Hybrid case for the Samsung Galaxy S9 is the latest in a long line of Spigen cases to slip the surly bonds of mediocrity and touch the face of perfection.

And if it ever slips the bonds of my pockets, I’m confident the Neo Hybrid will keep my phone safely secure in its sophisticated embrace.

Spigen Neo Hybrid Case for Samsung Galaxy S9+

Price: $15.99

Bottom line: This case is well-styled, well-made, and well protects my Galaxy S9+, and it does it so well that I don’t want to take it off ever again.

The Good

• Stunning colors and rich Herringbone texture
• Wide port cutouts and grippy buttons
• Moderate protection without feeling bulky

The Bad

• Color options should be mix-and-match

See at Amazon

Spigen Neo Hybrid Case for Samsung Galaxy S9+ What I like

I’ve been reviewing quite a few cases in recent weeks, and while there have been a lot of cases I’ve liked, the Spigen Neo Hybrid is the first one that I can say without hesitation that I absolutely adore.

The case’s Herringbone-textured back is smooth but grippy in the hand, and the sculpted curves of the polycarbonate hardshell look stylish and sturdy in equal measure. The port cutouts are wide and well-rounded, playing nice with boxy USB-C cables and OTG adapters, and the slope leading to the fingerprint sensor isn’t as wide as the Ringke Onyx, but it perfectly guides the index finger to the intended sensor.

Hybrid cases are traditionally more protective that single-layer TPU cases, but they also have a reputation for being a bit of a pain to get on and off. Not the Neo Hybrid, which slips off easily when you push at one of the bottom corners. The layers of this hybrid case merge together especially well, sitting beautifully flat where the polycarbonate frame runs across the back of the case near the bottom ports. The Neo Hybrid feels none of the bulk other hybrid cases suffer from, feeling slim and solid in the hand.

Spigen Neo Hybrid Case for Samsung Galaxy S9+ What I’m still wishing for

This case is just about perfect. It’s protective without being too bulky. It’s textured but works well with phone grips. Every USB-C case and headphone cable I tried with the Neo Hybrid fits without any fuss. Even the color options for the Neo Hybrid are great. In fact, the only problem is that you can’t mix and match the colors without buying two cases. I’d love to try the Burgundy with the Satin Silver frame, or the Black with the Satin Silver frame.

Spigen Neo Hybrid Case for Samsung Galaxy S9+

Spigen has hit a home run with the New Hybrid Case for the Samsung Galaxy S9+, and with the classic silver/navy color pairing in the Arctic Silver model, I believe I have a new daily driver case. It’s sophisticated and suave, and from my navy Phonster holster to my daily jeans and graphic tees, this case seems to go with everything, and it complements my Coral Blue Galaxy S9+’s cerulean class in a way even most other blue cases have not.

5
out of 5

At $15.99, the Neo Hybrid isn’t the cheapest hybrid case on the block, but it’s a flawless case with style, sturdiness, and svelte sexiness, and it’s well worth its price tag. As a matter of fact, I think I might spring for that Burgundy model for a little extra pop during special events.

See at Amazon

Grab an original Google Pixel in refurb condition for $200 or new for $300

Don’t miss out.

Woot is currently offering the 32GB Google Pixel in refurbished condition for $199.99, or you can opt for a new in box unit for $299.99. With the refurb, only the 32GB option is available, and only in black. For the new units, you can pick between the 32GB and 128GB storage capacities, but also only in black. The refurb phones are backed by a 90-day Woot warranty, and the new ones are backed by a 90-day Google warranty.

This is the original Google Pixel, which is still a very good phone by today’s standards, especially at this price.

If you’re looking for a backup phone to load up Android P on or want to replace an aging phone with something better, these deals are worth checking out. At this price, we imagine that they will sell out before the end of the day, so be sure to grab one now. Remember, Woot does add a flat $5 shipping fee to all orders unless you are an Amazon Prime member.

See at Woot

Best HTC Phones in 2018

HTC may be an underdog in the smartphone world, but it’s still making some of the best handsets on the market.

There are a lot of smartphones out there, and Taiwanese manufacturer HTC makes some of the best — even if it doesn’t sell anywhere near as many as the market leaders. Such is life.

New phones are always coming and going, and we get that it can be a little difficult to keep up with things. So this is our continuously updated list of the HTC phones that you need to be aware of. These are the phone’s we’re most likely to be writing about, and the ones you’re most likely to want to consider

HTC U12+

The HTC U12+ takes after last year’s U11+, with a 6-inch, 18:9 LCD panel, a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor, a whopping 3500mAh battery, and Android 8.0 Oreo with the promise of an update to Android P. It features dual cameras, consisting of a wide angle and a telephoto, that take some of the best photos of any phone on the market.

There’s no regular U12, so the U12+ serves as HTC’s sole flagship of 2018. Along with a huge battery, a large display, and three striking color options, the U12+ expands on HTC’s Edge Sense functionality with new squeeze-enabled features, and it can even detect how you’re holding the phone to automatically lock and unlock your orientation. On top of all of this, you get great specs with a Snapdragon 845 and 6GB of RAM.

The new Digital Buttons have had a number of problems, though HTC is actively improving them with software updates.

More: Read our HTC U12+ review

See at Amazon

HTC U11

The U11 reinvented HTC’s design language after years of the the same look with a bold new glass-backed chassis in a range of shimmering colors. And it’s the first smartphone to include Edge Sense, a new shortcut function that lets you squeeze the sides of the phone to jump quickly into the camera, take a photo, or launch your favorite personal assistant.

The U11 is a solid flagship phone with last year’s top-tier specs — a Snapdragon 835, 4 or 6GB of RAM, 64 or 128GB of storage, and an excellent camera. HTC’s Ultrapixel shooter features always-on “HDR Boost” post-processing, similar to the Google Pixel’s HDR+ trickery.

Add to that HTC’s clean, near-stock Sense UI, and last year’s flagship is still a great phone today — and at a price that’s not quite as painful as many other flagships.

More: Read our HTC U11 review

See at Amazon

HTC U11+

The HTC U11+ expanded upon the U11’s design with an 18:9 display, a 3,930mAh battery, and a flatter, more grown-up aesthetic, with software based on Android 8.0 Oreo. What’s more, in the UK you’ll get 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage as standard, alongside dual SIM functionality.

While the U11+ never made it to the United States, it can be ordered unlocked on Amazon, with price tags that compare favorably to other high-end Android “phablets” like the Google Pixel 2 XL. Of course, the U11+ still has HTC’s signature Edge Sense technology, along with real hardware buttons — the latter of which the newer U12+ lacks.

More: HTC U11+ coverage

See at Amazon

HTC 11 Life

Available with HTC Sense in the United States through T-Mobile, or with Android One internationally, HTC’s mid-level phone mirrors the design language of its flagship counterparts, while downsizing the screen and specs — and most importantly, the price. There’s a Snapdragon 630 processor running the show, packed into an “acrylic glass” exterior with biometric security and a surprisingly decent 16-megapixel rear camera.

On the software side, the Android One U11 Life ships with near-stock Android Oreo, while the T-Mo version originally shipped with Nougat and HTC Sense, though it’s since been updated to Android 8.0.

More: Read our HTC U11 Life review

See at T-Mobile
See at HTC

Updated July 2018: We’ve added the U12+ to the top of the list as HTC’s new best phone.

Original Apple Watch Named, Current Models Omitted in Latest Proposed U.S. Tariffs on Chinese Goods

The latest proposed U.S. tariffs on $200 billion of Chinese goods name Apple Watch and other activity trackers assembled in China, according to government rulings. Reuters reports the latest rulings list names the original Apple Watch, Fitbit Charge, Charge HR and Surge models, and Sonos Play:3, Play:5 and SUB speakers.

If the list goes into effect this fall following its public comment period, affected companies could face a 10 percent tariff and could consider passing the cost onto the consumer. However, Apple discontinued the original first-generation Apple Watch in September 2016 when it released the Apple Watch Series 1 and Apple Watch Series 2, so the proposed tariff makes little practicable difference to Apple.

It is possible that the products from Apple, Fitbit and Sonos no longer fall under tariff codes in the $200 billion list, trade experts said. The codes applied to specific products are only public knowledge because their makers asked regulators to rule on their proper classification. And some of the products have been replaced by newer models that could be classified differently.

Nevertheless, while smartphones and computers have so far avoided the threat of import duties, the rulings show that technology companies aren’t completely immune to the tariffs, which could end up hitting a range of smaller product lines.

U.S. Customs and Border Patrol officials have decided the devices listed above fall under the subheading “data transmission machines”, one of more than 6,000 codes in the most recent round of proposed tariffs released in early July.

All three companies declined to comment on the proposed tariff list, but in its recent IPO filing, Sonos claimed that the imposition of tariffs and retaliatory trade measures could require it to raise prices.

As for Apple, The New York Times recently reported that during a meeting in May, President Trump told CEO Tim Cook the U.S. government would not levy tariffs on iPhones assembled in China. No mention was made of other product categories, however.

If companies have products whose tariff codes are on the list, they have three options, experts said: Advocate to get the code dropped from the list during the public comment period, apply for an exclusion once tariffs go into effect, or try to have their products classified under a different code not on the list.

Apple includes the Apple Watch in its “Other Products” category in an effort to keep its competitors from getting a detailed look at its shipments, so research firms look for clues in Apple’s earnings reports to estimate shipments.

Bernstein analyst Toni Sacconaghi estimates that the Apple Watch will bring Apple $9.9 billion in sales this year, although that estimate includes sales outside the U.S. that wouldn’t be affected by tariffs.

Apple Watch saw its best quarter ever in Q1 2018, with the new Series 3 models selling at twice the volume of the Series 2 models last year. In his last earnings call, Tim Cook said Apple’s wearables business – which includes AirPods, Beats, and Apple Watch – is the size of a “Fortune 300” company, with revenue up almost 50 percent.

Note: Due to the political nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Politics, Religion, Social Issues forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

Related Roundups: Apple Watch, watchOS 4, watchOS 5Buyer’s Guide: Apple Watch (Caution)
Discuss this article in our forums

How to Use App Limits and Downtime in iOS 12

In iOS 12, Apple’s digital health push includes a couple of special new features for iPhone and iPad users who want to cut down on their app usage: App Limits and Downtime. In this article, we’ll show you how to use them.

App Limits allows you to set specific time limits on a particular app category (games, for example). When you’ve spent the designated time using the app category, iOS sends you an alert notifying you of the fact. Of course, you’re free to ignore these alerts, but the idea behind them is that they’ll help you manage your time better.

The second feature, Downtime, enables you to set a daily schedule for when you’d rather not use your iOS device at all. Once activated, the feature restricts device usage to phone calls and any apps you’ve specifically exempted from Downtime. Like App Limits, you can override these restrictions – they’re more like good guidance than anything else, and can still help if you honestly want to self-regulate your mobile usage.

How to Set Individual App Limits in iOS 12

Launch the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
Tap Screen Time.
Tap the Screen Time graph for this device. Alternatively, tap All Devices.

Scroll down to the Most Used list and tap an app you want to set a limit for.
Tap Add Limit at the bottom of the menu.

Select a time limit using the hour and minute wheels. If you want to set different limits for particular days of the week, tap Customize Days.
Tap Add to apply the app limit.

How to Set App Category Limits in iOS 12

Launch the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
Tap Screen Time.
Tap App Limits.
Tap the categories in the list that you’d like to include in the limit, or select All Apps & Categories.

Tap Add in the upper right of the screen.
Select a time limit using the hour and minute wheels. If you want to set different limits for particular days of the week, select Customize Days.
Tap Back when you’re done.
Add another limit if desired, or tap Screen Time to return to the main Screen Time menu.When you’re approaching a designated limit, iOS will alert you in advance with a standard notification. When you finally reach the limit, the alert will take over the screen.

If you want to override the custom limit, simply tap Ignore Limit. You can then select either to Reminded Me in 15 Minutes or Ignore Limit for Today.

To delete app category limits and individual app Limits at any time, go to Settings -> Screen Time -> App Limits, tap on the limit you want to remove, then tap Delete Limit.

How to Use Downtime in iOS 12

Launch the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
Tap Screen Time.
Tap Downtime.

Slide the Downtime toggle to enable it.
Select a Start and End time using the dropdown hour and minute wheels.

How to Exempt Certain Apps From Downtime

If there are particular apps which you’d like to remain accessible during Downtime, you can add these to your Allowed Apps list, located in Settings -> Screen Time -> Always Allowed.

Simply tap the green plus buttons beside apps that you want to add to the list, or the red minus buttons to remove them.

Related Roundup: iOS 12
Discuss this article in our forums

WhatsApp Limits Message Forwarding to Cut Down on Hoaxes and Misinformation

WhatsApp says it is limiting the ability to forward messages to multiple chats at once in an attempt to reduce the spread of spam and misinformation.

The news follows WhatsApp’s recent decision to add labels that indicate to users that a message has been forwarded.

The change was announced by the company in a blog post that specifically mentions India, where the spreading of fake messages over the chat platform has reportedly incited lynchings.

Today, we’re launching a test to limit forwarding that will apply to everyone using WhatsApp. In India – where people forward more messages, photos, and videos than any other country in the world – we’ll also test a lower limit of 5 chats at once and we’ll remove the quick forward button next to media messages.

We believe that these changes — which we’ll continue to evaluate — will help keep WhatsApp the way it was designed to be: a private messaging app.

WhatsApp’s wording suggests the limit is a test, however a spokesperson told Recode that the company was “horrified” by the violence in India, and that it had announced several changes to help address the issues.

On Thursday, the BBC reported on one incident in India that left one man dead and two others severely injured after false rumors went viral on WhatsApp that they had tried to abduct children. It’s the latest in a series of viral message-related crimes in the country that has resulted in 12 dead over the last month.

(Via TechCrunch.)

Tags: WhatsApp, India
Discuss this article in our forums

Blue Origin reaches a big milestone, lands rocket booster and crew capsule

Blue Origin is inching ever closer to sending folks into space. With tickets slated to cost somewhere between $200,000 and $300,000, it’s safe to say that folks are getting antsy for their opportunity to blast off. Earlier this week, Jeff Bezos’ space endeavor completed its most important test yet in the form of a live separation of its crew capsule from its rocket booster. Everything went according to plan and because the crew set off its escape motor at just the right time, the capsule was sent further into space than ever before. With this most recent trial green light, the rocket company is closer than ever to its goal of becoming fully operational by the end of 2018.

The launch marked the ninth such occasion for Blue Origin and the third for the New Shepard rocket. Like SpaceX’s spacecraft and boosters, both of Blue Origin’s major components are meant to be reused. In total, the launch lasted around 150 seconds, after which the engine was shut off. The capsule then coasted the rest of its way into space, while the booster plummeted back to Earth, engaging its landing gear and rocket-powered brakes in order to safely land on the ground. The capsule makes use of its parachutes to safely land. The capsule ultimately floated for about nine minutes (the whole thing lasted 11 minutes), and reached a top speed of 2,236 mph and a top height of 389,846 feet above Earth’s surface.

The launch has clearly captured the public’s imagination, as more than 20,000 folks watched Blue Origin’s YouTube livestream to see the test. Perhaps some of the interest was spurred by the likelihood that these watchers may one day become passengers. During the test, Blue Origin engineers placed a mannequin inside the capsule to represent a human passenger.

“[The mannequin] probably peaked at 10 Gs,” Blue Origin’s Ariane Cornell said during the livestream. “But you know what? That is well within what humans can take, especially within such a short spurt of time and in those reclined seats. It’s just important that we bring the astronauts home safely.”

Editors’ Recommendations

• Blue Origin sends New Shepard space capsule to its highest altitude yet
• Watch Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic test its tourist spaceplane
• SpaceX wins confidence-boosting Falcon Heavy contract with U.S. Air Force
• Virgin Galactic wants to launch space tourism flights from an Italian spaceport
• SpaceX makes rocket launches look easy, nails 25th Falcon 9 landing