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This absolutely does need to be way more clear. There should be distinct and visibly obvious branding from the standards group. I should be able to tell by lo

This absolutely does need to be way more clear. There should be distinct and visibly obvious branding from the standards group. I should be able to tell by looking at a connector: * If it's claiming to be a certified cable/device or not. * The USB standard it conforms to (version) * The speed of data transfer it supports * The maximum wattage it supports * The maximum voltage it supports * (the connector type, but this is obvious based on shape)

sneak 8y ago
Why is that? You can't do that from looking at a file with an unknown extension. Physical connector technology and signaling protocol are entirely different things. I'd be fine with literally everything using the same physical connector, but knowing that I can't and shouldn't plug my 5VDC battery-charger into a 110VAC outlet. I still have speakers that are connected by stripping a lampcord pair with my teeth, pushing a little button, jamming bare copper strands into a hole, and releasing a little button. I think you're asking for too much. Everything using one reversible connector that almost always guarantees 5VDC in a fallback mode is better than what we have today.
- mjevans 8y ago
  Pick any random USB-C cable. Can you tell by looking at it what speeds it supports? Is it USB-3 or USB-2? How about the power delivery aspect, how much power is it cable of transferring? You might be able to tell some of those things from modern cables, if they're bragging about a speed factor, but otherwise it isn't clear.
  - baroffoos 8y ago
    I got a new laptop this year and I couldn't even work out what protocols it supported. No where on the laptop spec sheet did it say that supports hdmi and displayport over usb c but when I use the plug for it it works. When I use the same adapter/plug on my phone it doesn't work.
  - deleted 8y ago
    [deleted]
  - sneak 8y ago
    Pick any random cable, regardless of what’s on the ends. Yes, I can determine what it is used for, because I bought it for a purpose. What you are describing is the same issue with barrel-style AC or DC wall warts, and those powered the world for a few decades just fine.
    - gambiting 8y ago
      Except that as I said in another comment - the USB-C charger that comes with OnePlus phones will not charge the Nintendo Switch. Both devices have full USB-C certification and display USB Association logo on the box. But it's either OnePlus or Nintendo doing something dodgy with the standard and the Switch just doesn't charge. So yes, I bought a USB-C certified charger, to charge things. What does it do? It charges some things when it wants to, without providing any kind of indication why it doesn't work when it doesn't.
      - sneak 8y ago
        That is the same outcome for when dodgy things break the pre-C USB spec as well. I’m not sure why OnePlus or Nintendo breaking spec is an indictment of the connector they chose.

sneak 8y ago

Why is that? You can't do that from looking at a file with an unknown extension. Physical connector technology and signaling protocol are entirely different things. I'd be fine with literally everything using the same physical connector, but knowing that I can't and shouldn't plug my 5VDC battery-charger into a 110VAC outlet. I still have speakers that are connected by stripping a lampcord pair with my teeth, pushing a little button, jamming bare copper strands into a hole, and releasing a little button. I think you're asking for too much. Everything using one reversible connector that almost always guarantees 5VDC in a fallback mode is better than what we have today.

mjevans 8y ago
Pick any random USB-C cable. Can you tell by looking at it what speeds it supports? Is it USB-3 or USB-2? How about the power delivery aspect, how much power is it cable of transferring? You might be able to tell some of those things from modern cables, if they're bragging about a speed factor, but otherwise it isn't clear.
- baroffoos 8y ago
  I got a new laptop this year and I couldn't even work out what protocols it supported. No where on the laptop spec sheet did it say that supports hdmi and displayport over usb c but when I use the plug for it it works. When I use the same adapter/plug on my phone it doesn't work.
- deleted 8y ago
  [deleted]
- sneak 8y ago
  Pick any random cable, regardless of what’s on the ends. Yes, I can determine what it is used for, because I bought it for a purpose. What you are describing is the same issue with barrel-style AC or DC wall warts, and those powered the world for a few decades just fine.
  - gambiting 8y ago
    Except that as I said in another comment - the USB-C charger that comes with OnePlus phones will not charge the Nintendo Switch. Both devices have full USB-C certification and display USB Association logo on the box. But it's either OnePlus or Nintendo doing something dodgy with the standard and the Switch just doesn't charge. So yes, I bought a USB-C certified charger, to charge things. What does it do? It charges some things when it wants to, without providing any kind of indication why it doesn't work when it doesn't.
    - sneak 8y ago
      That is the same outcome for when dodgy things break the pre-C USB spec as well. I’m not sure why OnePlus or Nintendo breaking spec is an indictment of the connector they chose.