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Macs can now inform Apple if any liquids have been detected in the USB-C ports

9to5mac.com

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Re: Macs can now inform Apple if any liquids have been detected in the USB-C ports

#211

Post by sneak »

londons_explore wrote: post #204
krackers wrote: post #134

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The binary is at "/System/Library/CoreServices/liquiddetectiond". I took a quick look at disassembly, it has some functions for getting voltage, an amusingly named selector called "setIsWet". There's an "AnalyticsSendEvent" in there (and some corresponding obj-c methods). Maybe marcan will do a deeper disassembly one day. There's some reference to TI stuff in the selector names so you're probably right about that.

Kinda surprising they need an entire process for this... Smells of bad engineering - do they also have a batteryislowd? or a someonepressedtheMkeyonthekeyboardd?

They do indeed have a lot (dozens) of small, single purpose daemon processes in modern macOS. Many of them access the network, too.

Re: Macs can now inform Apple if any liquids have been detected in the USB-C ports

#212

Post by miked85 »

ClassyJacket wrote: post #206
wkat4242 wrote: post #173

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The iPhone is full of water detector stickers inside and they do reject warranty claims if water got in. They say you must have done something you shouldn't have if that happens, like diving deep or something. They will even refuse to install a new battery if you pay them.

Apple recently quoted me 2,300$ to fix just one broken keyboard key (it was M, if you were wondering), because according to them the water sensors were tripped and it's policy to replace the mtherboard if that happens. Which apparently costs more than buying another two working identical MacBook Pros. The laptop has never gotten wet, and everything apart from the M key was working perfectly.

Your O key might be broken as well

Re: Macs can now inform Apple if any liquids have been detected in the USB-C ports

#213

Post by Crosseye_Jack »

flir wrote: post #184
geon wrote: post #139

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'll keep that in mind.

Somewhere, a YouTube content creator scribbles Macbook Pro in concentrated sulphuric acid . (And I'd probably watch it).

As long as we get a Steve Mould cross-section made from 3D printed parts, I’m on board!

Re: Macs can now inform Apple if any liquids have been detected in the USB-C ports

#214

Post by spuz »

ClassyJacket wrote: post #206
wkat4242 wrote: post #173

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The iPhone is full of water detector stickers inside and they do reject warranty claims if water got in. They say you must have done something you shouldn't have if that happens, like diving deep or something. They will even refuse to install a new battery if you pay them.

Apple recently quoted me 2,300$ to fix just one broken keyboard key (it was M, if you were wondering), because according to them the water sensors were tripped and it's policy to replace the mtherboard if that happens. Which apparently costs more than buying another two working identical MacBook Pros. The laptop has never gotten wet, and everything apart from the M key was working perfectly.

What did you do in the end? Take it to a 3rd party repair shop?

Re: Macs can now inform Apple if any liquids have been detected in the USB-C ports

#215

Post by schwartzworld »

throwaway2037 wrote: post #163
Dalewyn wrote: post #150

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And Sony Xperias still come with headphone jacks today[1] after they tried Apple'ing for a couple models and got laughed at. [1]: https://www.sony.com/electronics/support/mobile-phones-table...

Real question / No trolling: I feel like I am the last living human who still uses the headphone jack. When I walk around my city, I see almost zero other people using it. They using wireless earbuds. I avoid wireless earbuds to avoid yet-another-battery-to-be-charged. Is this true for other HNers also?

I also don't like having to charge headphones, so I have a Moto G5 stylus phone with a headphone jack. I also don't like most earbuds for comfort.

Besides the charging issue wired headphones are:

- better value, $35 will get you a decent sound - compatible with music production equipment - low-latency - save your phone if you drop it - impossible to lose one side.

Re: Macs can now inform Apple if any liquids have been detected in the USB-C ports

#216

Post by arethuza »

buro9 wrote: post #102
donatj wrote: post #80

Wait wait wait, they advertise the iPhone as waterproof but still void the warranty and won’t fix it if their waterproofing fails? We lost the headphone jack for this?

My android pixel 7 reported water ingress in the usb port during a hike to kinder scout in the peak district (UK). It was raining lightly, but mostly there was a very thick fog / mist / drizzle that didn't really fall from the sky or land on you, rather it enveloped and coated you such that you were soaked. I'd only removed my phone from my waterproof jacket pocket on two occasions to verify GPS location as I was sti…

I've used various generations of iPhones over the years for many long damp days in the Scottish hills and I've never had any problems - mind you I do use cases and carry a small plastic bag to put my phone in when it gets really wet - which does occasionally happen in Scotland...

Re: Macs can now inform Apple if any liquids have been detected in the USB-C ports

#217

Post by dathinab »

Teever wrote: post #4

I wonder if Apple will ever make a waterproof laptop or tablet. It seems like they could easily make the macbook air waterproof at this point, if they were so inclined. What do people who want use their macs out in the field do?

Making a keyboard fully water proof is tricky and often leads to subpar experiences.

If you don't have a fan making everything else but the keyboard(and mousepad) water resistant is not hard, and with a bit more trickery about how the keyboard are connected you can get to everything but keyboard waterproof too.

Issue is then you also need a easy replaceable keyboard and hand replacement keyboard out so that people can have them ready them "just in case".

Which both doesn't seem in the interest of Apple if you look at their actions in recent years.

I think currently the best chance for a new consumer laptop which is water proof and convenient to use would be a tablet which has no fan but still provides okay performance and then some "dock on" keyboard like e.g. in the style of the Microsoft Surface or similar. Then you could have a version where the keyboard is also water proof or a version where if it drops in water you replace the nicer to use keyboard with a new one etc.

Re: Macs can now inform Apple if any liquids have been detected in the USB-C ports

#218

Post by spease »

londons_explore wrote: post #204
krackers wrote: post #134

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The binary is at "/System/Library/CoreServices/liquiddetectiond". I took a quick look at disassembly, it has some functions for getting voltage, an amusingly named selector called "setIsWet". There's an "AnalyticsSendEvent" in there (and some corresponding obj-c methods). Maybe marcan will do a deeper disassembly one day. There's some reference to TI stuff in the selector names so you're probably right about that.

Kinda surprising they need an entire process for this... Smells of bad engineering - do they also have a batteryislowd? or a someonepressedtheMkeyonthekeyboardd?

Depends on what you're optimizing for. Good for security and stability, bad for performance.

> someonepressedtheMkeyonthekeyboardd

"Pages would like to access the 'M' key"

"Open System Preferences" "Deny"

Re: Macs can now inform Apple if any liquids have been detected in the USB-C ports

#219

Post by rickdeckard »

gardaani wrote: post #89
userbinator wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How it works (on page 52): "The TPS25751 supports liquid detection by measuring the voltage level across the SBU pins of the Type-C connector. When a short occurs across the SBU pins to another Type-C pin(s), the TPS25751 takes action to protect the the Type-C port by disabling the power paths and notifies the embedded controller when applicable. Once liquid has been detected, the TPS25751 continuously monitors the S…

Does the USB-C specification allow that? Can such devices get USB-C certification? OTOH, I haven't seen any USB certifications on Apple USB cables or devices, so most likely Apple doesn't care.

This is a standard feature of all Smartphones with IPxx certification. It prevents corrosion on the connector contacts.

Re: Macs can now inform Apple if any liquids have been detected in the USB-C ports

#220

Post by explodingwaffle »

gardaani wrote: post #89
userbinator wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How it works (on page 52): "The TPS25751 supports liquid detection by measuring the voltage level across the SBU pins of the Type-C connector. When a short occurs across the SBU pins to another Type-C pin(s), the TPS25751 takes action to protect the the Type-C port by disabling the power paths and notifies the embedded controller when applicable. Once liquid has been detected, the TPS25751 continuously monitors the S…

Does the USB-C specification allow that? Can such devices get USB-C certification? OTOH, I haven't seen any USB certifications on Apple USB cables or devices, so most likely Apple doesn't care.

Yes: because Apple actually got this added to the spec: https://www.usb.org/document-library/usb-type-cr-cable-and-c... which is the real story IMO (I am impressed no one bothered looking at the Type-C spec update after the Type-C iPhone finally came out)

This actually replaced the analog audio mode (good riddance- whoever thought adding analog audio into a port that also does digital audio was a good idea?)

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