Art and I treated ourselves to the new Apple Pro14 iPhones this past Christmas. And then I was thinking about getting a new iPad because my very old iPad was losing its battery charge faster and faster. (That was my excuse anyway.) My son-in-law found a very good deal so I had to get it, of course.
However, when the new iPad arrived, I discovered that my Lightning charging cord would not work with it. Instead, you needed a charging cord called Thunderbolt.
1st they didn't use the same kind of charging cord that would work on my Kindle or any other non-Apple device. The charging tip was smaller. It was called the FireWire which connected to the USB adapter.
Arrrghhh...
And when I was getting used to that, they switched to the Lightning charger tip which connected to the USB adapter.
OK. Fine. I got used to the Lightning cable.
A few years later, my daughter said AirPods were convenient to use so I got myself one, only to be shocked that it had another different kind of charging wire with a Lightning charging tip but the other end had a Thunderbolt connector. I didn't have a Thunderbolt adapter at the time. Apple didn't provide that.)
Thunderbolt?
Seriously? 😖 Luckily there was another option on the Airpods which allowed me to charge it with my lightning charging tip that I already had which connected to a USB.
But then........
Along comes my new iPad and it's a Thunderbolt charging tip connected to a Thunderbolt adapter. Two thunderbolts? Seriously?!?
Sigh....
And then a very bad thing happened. While trying to sync my new iPad to my Apple ID, I goofed somewhere and it locked me out. It said I needed to attach my desktop computer to the new iPad with the Thunderbolt charging wire.
Guess what? My computer only has USB ports.
Arrrrghhhh!
There was only 1 poor technician trying to help several people. However, he was very good in explaining things and returned my iPad to it's Factory condition so that another person there could help get me synced to the new iPad with the old iPad. He said it's easier than syncing it to my iPhone.
He explained why, but I don't understand any of it and I don't know what I did differently at home to cause the iPad to lock me out.
Anyway, after over an hour at the store everything is working.
I'm kind of seeing why my techie son-in-law prefers to stay with his Android computers.
I'm so confused.
But at least everything is working... for now. 😜
My son tells me he has mostly Thunderbolt (also known as USB-C) cables. He lives on the other side of the world and says that Apple is just being compliant about syncing with the rest of the world.
I just hope the rest of the world doesn't decide to change things either.
POSTSCRIPT: I just bought a new Amazon Kindle since my very old one ran out of space. Guess what that charging input is? Yup. USB-C 🙄 Looks like things are changing with everything...
You really have your hands full with all your electronics! I am Margie from Margie's Musings..not Anonymous! I wish I knew how to sign myself in on other's blogs.
ReplyDeleteI was thinking we needed to replace our iPad Air with something more current. From reading this post it gives me pause - do I want that hassle since iPad is still working?
ReplyDeleteThe good part is that you are keeping up with technology, good for you Kay! It is not easy.
ReplyDeleteWe have cords aplenty here. 😀
ReplyDeleteI would have preferred that they hadn’t changed to ear bud connector so that we need an adaptor. It not terribly inconvenient, but still …
Apple is notorious for making things difficult and expensive.
ReplyDeleteI downloaded a Kindle App for JB this week. It's easier to use. We just bought our first iPhone (11) and are trying to figure it all out. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteThe complexities of charging baffle me most of the time. My laptop is not holding the charge well and I'm wondering if it needs some TLC. It's not Apple though. My phone is which means nothing synchs anyway. :)
ReplyDeleteMy son talked me into an I-phone and I really miss my android. Phone won't sync with my non-apple laptop, argh.
ReplyDeleteIt can because my iPhone syncs with my non-apple computer. But you have to use iTunes to do it and it is anything but intuitive and gives me hours of cursing every few months when I sync them.
DeleteI have a firewire phone and a USB-c iPad too. Last fall, we went on vacation and I forgot to pack all my chargers. It took me no less than three trips to a store near the motel to attempt to get what I needed and I still fell short on one of them and ended up just sharing time on one of my daughters chargers. I'm optimistic that once USB-c has become standard, life will return to being much easier.
ReplyDeleteI am far behind on this stuff.
ReplyDeleteLin Floyd says computer programs are what goofs me up trying to fix photos in Photoshop then you need to upgrade, etc. etc.
ReplyDeleteKay of Musings: Yup. I totally agree with you, Lin.
DeleteYou're way over my head! Linda in Kansas
ReplyDeleteKay of Musings: It’s actually way over my head too, Linda.
ReplyDeleteMy husband told me this was coming, but so far I'm okay. I will be getting a new laptop soon, and I'll be looking carefully at the peripherals. Yikes!
ReplyDeleteHad no idea as to the difference between adapters and charger tips. My new iPad has the Lightning tip and Thunderbolt adapter... whereas my iPhone (SE) has the Lightning tip to USB adapter... and it took me a while to figure that out. How confusing.
ReplyDeleteYep, confusing. and aggravating. Too many cables now for which works with what.
ReplyDeleteWhat a headache.
ReplyDeleteI know it doesn't have the cashier of Apple, but I've been very happy with my Google Android products over the years. It's second nature to me now. Unfortunately, I'm completely ignorant of the apple ecosystem and cannot help my mom who has an iPhone! I hope you sorted out friend
ReplyDeleteCachet
DeleteIt is not just Apple. My son and I both have Galaxy Samsung phones and our chargers malfunction often.
ReplyDeleteI'm not good with technology, if I have any problems I tend to ask one of our sons, or even the grandchildren.
ReplyDeleteI'm a techno dinosaur LOL :)
All the best Jan
I use USB-C and USB-A and in the mail (should be here today), is an adapter to allow the old tablet to connect to a new thumb drive. That's what's nice is even if you have a USB on your old computer, there is likely an adapter to go along with. I agree, Apple does make things harder they have their own little bubble - that's okay though, you got it fixed and now have new toys. Woohoo!
ReplyDelete