Tag: dongle

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USB-C to USB Adapter (2015)

Apple’s USB-C to USB Adapter is a “dongle-style” adapter that allows older USB-A devices to be converted to USB-C or Thunderbolt 3. Apple described the adapter:

“The USB-C to USB Adapter lets you connect iOS devices and many of your standard USB accessories to a USB-C or Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) enabled Mac, iPad, or iPhone. Plug the USB-C end of the adapter into a USB-C or Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) port on your Mac, iPad, or iPhone, and then connect your flash drive, camera, or other standard USB device. You can also connect a Lightning to USB cable to sync and charge your iPhone, iPad, or iPod.”

According to Apple, it “supports data-transfer speeds up to 5Gbps (USB 3.1 Gen 1).” Further, you may “Use the USB-A port of this adapter with flash drives, cameras, USB hubs, and other devices that connect to USB-A for data transfer or charging.”

Source: Apple (product, support)

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Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter (2017)

This arguably confusing adapter used a “male” USB-C connector and a “female” Thunderbolt port (mini-HDMI) to allow some (but not all) data and display configurations (even if the ports were present on devices).

The Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter connected Thunderbolt and Thunderbolt 2 devices (e.g., external hard drives/Thunderbolt docks  to Thunderbolt 3 [USB-C]/USB 4 ports) on a Mac. It could also be used as a bidirectional adapter to connect “Thunderbolt 3 devices to a Mac with a Thunderbolt or Thunderbolt 2 port and macOS Sierra or later.” It could also “be used to connect Thunderbolt-enabled displays — such as the Apple Thunderbolt Display and LG Thunderbolt 2 displays — to any of the Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) / USB 4 ports on your Mac. However, using this adapter with an Apple Thunderbolt Display requires a power source, because the display does not provide power through the adapter.”

The adapter did not support “DisplayPort displays like the Apple LED Cinema Display or third-party DisplayPort and Mini DisplayPort displays.”

On August 16, 2021, Macworld, warned in their article, “How to connect an external display” that “This one can eat up a chunk of your budget, because there are so many different types of display connectors. Be prepared to buy several adapters.”

Sources: Apple, Macworld