Modder Open Sources iPhone USB-C Mod

As humans, we all have basic needs, including food, water, shelter, and a USB-C iPhone. Okay, that last one isn’t strictly a need, but a lot of people want a USB-C iPhone so much they’re willing to embark on an expensive and complex mod project. Recently, engineering student Ken Pillonel showed off his amazing USB-C mod for the iPhone X. Now, he’s decided to open up the mod to all interested parties. There’s a GitHub repository with technical details, plus a video explainer. If you were hoping it was as simple as drilling a hole and soldering a few wires, you’re in for disappointment. There’s a reason it took an aspiring robotics engineer to devise the mod. You could also buy the original prototype, which is being auctioned on eBay.

Apple was early to adopt USB-C for its laptops, and the new port standard then expanded to the company’s high-end iPad Pro line. However, the iPhone and the base model iPad still using a Lightning port. So, Apple enthusiasts are forced to keep multiple cables around. The desire for a USB-C iPhone is so intense that Pillonel’s mod got mainstream attention. The original YouTube video, which is a mere 39 seconds in length, has already blown past one million views.

As promised, the longer demo video is now available. The 14-minute video details the entire project from setting goals to designing a custom internal PCB. Just figuring out how to connect the iPhone internals to a new port took a lot of trial and error, calling for the sacrifice of many Apple-certified Lightning cables. Eventually, Pillonel decided he needed to reverse engineer the Apple C94 Lightning controller, which is inside each of those cables. That component needed to move into the iPhone, and there’s no room for it. Luckily, there are Chinese knockoff C94 Lightning plugs that were easier to study.

Eventually, Pillonel designed a custom flexible circuit board to go inside the phone, linking the USB-C plug with the Lightning-locked internals—so both charging and data transfer are functional. Unlike the stock components, this circuit is mounted vertically between the battery and Taptic Engine. This chip design is based on the fake C94 components from China, so Pillonel is confident he can release the technical details without fear of legal threats from Apple. You can find this and everything else you need in the GitHub project. Well, you won’t find the technical skill you need to make it happen.

If you’re desperate for a USB-C iPhone and reworking circuit boards isn’t in your skillset, you can buy the original USB-C iPhone from Pillonel. It’s on eBay now with a week left in the auction, as of this posting. However, the price has already reached nearly $5,000. It seems plenty of people seem to value a USB-C iPhone at least as much as food or shelter.

Continue reading

Astronomers Might Finally Know the Source of Fast Radio Bursts

A trio of new studies report on an FRB within our own galaxy. Because this one was so much closer than past signals, scientists were able to track it to a particular type of neutron star known as a magnetar.

Report: Intel Will Outsource Core i3 Production to TSMC’s 5nm Node

This would be the first time the chip giant has built one of its Core CPUs on a different company's process node. It's not an exaggeration to call this a pivotal moment in Intel's history.

Source Code Stolen from Cyberpunk 2077 Developer Reportedly Sold

Polish game developer CD Projekt Red (CDPR) announced earlier this week that it had been the victim of a ransomware hack. As part of the operation, the attackers stole internal documents and source code, which they threatened to sell if CDPR declined to pay the ransom. Cybersecurity experts now say that the hacking group has followed through and sold the stolen data for an undisclosed sum.

Nvidia Announces Open Source Image Scaling, New DLSS and a Free ICAT Tool

It's a big news day for Nvidia, as the company has unleashed a barrage of updated software, including some free tools.