Cable

Italian and Japanese researchers have developed a novel method to free copper wire from its PVC coating, by treating electric cables with microwaves. The technique could go a long way towards helping tackle the growing problem of e-waste.

USB devices are set to become much faster in the near future. The USB Promoter Group has now announced the USB4 Version 2.0 specification, which will double data transmission rates to a blistering 80 Gbps.

​​A new charging cable might be able to withstand a few months of being bent into shape, but give it enough time and those wires will start to give way. The USB93 is a rather clever solution to this dilemma, using a rotating ball to avoid undue stress on the cable and keep things in working order. ​

The HDMI Forum’s Technical Working Group has released the specs for HDMI 2.1, as well as a new Ultra High Speed HDMI cable. Some of the 2.1 spec’s features will be backward compatible with your existing HDMI 2.0 cable, others will require you to upgrade.

Looking for a way to offer smart TV functionality without having to buy into a closed system, InnSpire has developed an Android-powered set-top box that's crammed into an Ethernet cable, which means that hotels can turn standard room TVs into smart TVs just by plugging them into the wall socket.

R&M Tone Technology has developed a new line of patented active guitar cables to help players inject some life into their guitar sound. Each PowerWire cable comes with a built-in preamp that boosts the signal direct from the pickups instead of at a pedalboard or amp.

Using a technique known as Probabilistic Constellation Shaping, Alcatel-Lucent and Nokia Bell Labs researchers claim to have achieved subsea optical fiber transmission speeds equivalent to streaming more than 10 million HDTV channels simultaneously across a single cable.

Microsoft and Facebook have announced plans to build "MAREA", a huge subsea cable connecting North America and Europe. Utilizing eight fiber pairs, the cable's initial capacity is estimated to be 160 Tbps, which will make it the highest capacity cable crossing the Atlantic.

Have you wanted to get rid of your cable or satellite company and cut the cord for good, but aren't sure where to begin? Here's a look at some of the devices and streaming services that let you watch your favorite movies and programs when you want, and where you want.

Samsung’s latest smartphone accessory allows users to conveniently transfer a charge from select smartphones and tablets to any Micro USB device. It’s an interesting, if somewhat flawed idea, that highlights a change in our perception of the smartphone.

Phone chargers have come to rival umbrellas as one of the most forgotten items when traveling. The ChargerLeash is a simple device that promises to help travelers remember to pack their phone charger before heading out the door.

Rejoice! The boffins in charge of USB standards appear to have settled on a design for the much-anticipated USB 3.1 Type C connector. Thankfully, there's no wrong way up!