MP 1,1-5,1 Mac Pro 5,1 - MSI RX580 - Apple 5k Studio Display

[joevt]

I found this, but it isn’t bi-directional, nor USB-C…

CABLEDECONN Fiber 8K 4K DisplayPort1.4 Cable DP 8K HBR3 8K@60Hz 4K@144Hz High Speed 32.4Gbps Optical Fiber Slim and Flexible DP to DP Cable 10m 33ft

www.amazon.ca

Optical Thunderbolt 3 cable would probably be best but you need a working Thunderbolt 3 add-in card since the optical Thunderbolt 3 cable won't support DisplayPort alt mode.

 

[exoticSpice]

like the touchbar, it is an embedded version of iOS, with the full resources of an A13 in terms of memory, the ability to run applications (and no real ability as far as I've seen to audit what it's doing), and the ability to crash independently of the computer, which if you research it, happens a LOT.

Firstly the touchbar never ran iOS firmware but bridgeOS a modified version of watchOS. The Studio Display can't run applications though. The Studio display is not a Smart Monitor where it can run apps nor does it have an internet connection like WiFi.
If you are worried about what the A13 is doing in the background then it's a pointless sense of worry, Hector Martin who reverse enginners Apple's SoCs has said Apple's SoCs have no back doors like Intel's IME or AMD PSP.

Yes there was crashing at the start of the Studio Display release, mostly to due with updating the firmware and that was an issue on Apple's server. It has calmed down a lot now(not saying it's completely non-existant). In the Mac Studio forum, many are using the Studio Display without issues.

 

[mattspace]

Firstly the touchbar never ran iOS firmware but bridgeOS a modified version of watchOS.

Which is an iOS derivative, like TVOS.

The Studio Display can't run applications though.

*user installed* applications. There's plenty of resources on the A13 to do more than manage the display's peripherals.

nor does it have an internet connection like WiFi.

It has access to your Mac's thunderbolt bus, and therefore access to whatever internet connection your mac is using.

If you are worried about what the A13 is doing in the background then it's a pointless sense of worry, Hector Martin who reverse enginners Apple's SoCs has said Apple's SoCs have no back doors like Intel's IME or AMD PSP.

We know for a fact that Apple tried to put Apple private networking out of reach for network analysis and firewall tools like Little Snitch etc. We know for a fact that Apple is being influenced, both externally and internally to put pervasive surveillance, under the guise of CSAM detection, into their devices.

The Studio Display is effectively a remotely administrable target display mode iMac, over which the owner has no audit-able control. Some people would consider that to be an inherent vulnerability, and an unnecessary one, given it's a consumer, not professional graphics display, and LG makes a TB display that's just a display with a similar consumer-grade panel.

Yes there was crashing at the start of the Studio Display release, mostly to due with updating the firmware and that was an issue on Apple's server. It has calmed down a lot now(not saying it's completely non-existant).

And again, some would suggest that a monitor should not have automatic firmware updates, rather the product should be finished before it's released to manufacturing, so that the product you own remains the product you bought.

 

[exoticSpice]

We know for a fact that Apple tried to put Apple private networking out of reach for network analysis and firewall tools like Little Snitch etc. We know for a fact that Apple is being influenced, both externally and internally to put pervasive surveillance, under the guise of CSAM detection, into their devices.

Apple reverted the private networking when the community spoke up. I am happy we did. As for CSAM I will not go into that can of worms. Best thing for now is that Apple halted it, next best thing would be to scrap it. But with government forces being into destroying privacy idk.

The Studio Display is effectively a remotely administrable target display mode iMac, over which the owner has no audit-able control. Some people would consider that to be an inherent vulnerability, and an unnecessary one, given it's a consumer, not professional graphics display, and LG makes a TB display that's just a display with a similar consumer-grade panel.

Yes but the chances for someone remotely hacking a Studio Display is stupidly low. We have many displays that are like the studio display, TVs and some monitors nowadays have their own SoC with networking and storage capabilites and also with updatable firmware.

And again, some would suggest that a monitor should not have automatic firmware updates, rather the product should be finished before it's released to manufacturing, so that the product you own remains the product you bought.

looks like that is becomming a fantasy with more and more products getting "smarter".

 

[mattspace]

Apple reverted the private networking when the community spoke up. I am happy we did. As for CSAM I will not go into that can of worms. Best thing for now is that Apple halted it, next best thing would be to scrap it. But with government forces being into destroying privacy idk.

Apple didn't halt the CSAM system, it was deployed a couple of updates ago, afaik - they're just only activating part of it (iMessage for minors) for now.

Yes but the chances for someone remotely hacking a Studio Display is stupidly low. We have many displays that are like the studio display, TVs and some monitors nowadays have their own SoC with networking and storage capabilites and also with updatable firmware.

My concern isn't some nefarious actor hacking the display, my assumption is that Apple is / has the capability to be a nefarious actor.

looks like that is becomming a fantasy with more and more products getting "smarter".

It's interesting, I was looking at Ikea's smart lighting products the other day - none of it requires apps. It's all non-internet-enabled control / power hubs, with dedicated wireless hardware-based controllers. We have solar and ducted zoned aircon, no way in hell we're letting them connect to the router or access the internet. The solar system, we can connect to its wifi, and access it with an app to see what it's doing, which is an acceptable solution, but its metering and billing runs separately on its own infrastructure.

Wait till you start seeing a premium on older vehicles etc that have no integrated entertainment systems (DIN for ever!), that can't have features changed remotely or made into subscription services. Pre-smart vehicles, that are not even "collectable classics" are going to be worth more than new cars.

 

[exoticSpice]

my assumption is that Apple is / has the capability to be a nefarious actor.

pretty sure Apple has better things to do than hack a display... lol

It's interesting, I was looking at Ikea's smart lighting products the other day - none of it requires apps. It's all non-internet-enabled control / power hubs, with dedicated wireless hardware-based controllers. We have solar and ducted zoned aircon, no way in hell we're letting them connect to the router or access the internet. The solar system, we can connect to its wifi, and access it with an app to see what it's doing, which is an acceptable solution, but its metering and billing runs separately on its own infrastructure.

ohh gotta check them out. They sound cool.