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This is all too confusing to me. Why isn't there a mandatory (or reference) specification string that combines all the necessary, useful information in one neat
by 0x_rs 5y ago
This is all too confusing to me. Why isn't there a mandatory (or reference) specification string that combines all the necessary, useful information in one neat package instead of countless repetitive and easily misunderstood logos? Something like (just a basic, messy example)
USB-C/<generation>/<bandwith if any>/<supported power delivery if any>/<can drive audio/video>/<supports PD>/etc.
I had to buy some cables recently and really couldn't pick one nor distinguish particular features at glance, and the item description and graphics can be deceiving, even more so on stores like Amazon
- zokier 5y agoNot sure, but I suspect that large part of the problem are non-standard compliant cables that USB-IF naturally do not want to endorse.
- ducktective 5y agoIf it were so clear, who's gonna confuse the customers? I hope EU force a law to remove marketing bullshit phrases for USB and Bluetooth.
- suvelx 5y agoWhat's supported is indeed a mess... I recently moved my desk between rooms. After setting everything up only one monitor seemed to work. Tried multiple DP cables plugged things in and out with things in various state of power. Eventually gave up and chalked it up to karma and either having a dead monitor or dead dock. Unplugged my laptop to go work in the lounge for a bit, came back later and plugged it in again amazingly both displays worked. What changed? I plugged the dock into a different USB-C port. The one that actually supports DisplayPort Alt-mode.
- y4mi 5y agoI've never seen a laptop that didn't label the thunderbolt capable ports, are you sure that wasn't just you not paying attention? Or do you honestly expect all ports to be thunderbolt capable? If so, you'd have to expect a massive increase in price for that
- jeroenhd 5y agoI used to assume they the little thunderbolt next to USB-C plugs indicated that those are the charging ports. Now I'm not so sure anymore.
- tgaj 5y agoI think he was talking about DisplayPort over USB-C. Thunderbolt is something different.
- netizen-936824 5y agoThat's probably indicated when the posted stated that they "...plugged it into a different USB C port..." Considering USB c != thunderbolt
- andybak 5y agoWell they look the damn same.
- y4mi 5y agoUSB 3.2 is thunderbolt, so they've been the same for over 6yrs now. tgaj probably just hasn't paid any attention to hardware in years but still feels like he should talk about it with confidence.
- wtallis 5y agoUSB 3.2 is not Thunderbolt. USB 3.2 achieves 20Gbit/s with signalling that is entirely incompatible with Thunderbolt signalling. It is completely possible to have a 20Gbit/s USB 3.2 port that has no Thunderbolt capabilities. The first USB standard to incorporate Thunderbolt functionality is USB 4.
- y4mi 5y agoi stand corrected. it is indeed usb4. the point i made is just as true though, as the announcement that thunderbolt switched to the usb-c form-factor is 6yrs old now. (and was even linked to from someone else in this thread!) the downvotes just show once again how hilariously dumb the average hn-reader is.
- drstewart 5y agoWhat's confusing about "USB C to Lightning Cable MFI Certified iPhone Cable Fast iPhone Charger Cable 20W PD 3/6/10FT Type C Charging & Syncing Data Compatible iPhone 12 Pro Max Mini 11 X XR XS 8 P iPad iPod （White)"?
- dmurray 5y agoI can't tell if this is sarcasm or not. In some ways, this sounds great.
- frosted-flakes 5y agoThat is what a typical Amazon listing looks like. Worse than a browser user agent string, and mostly SEO spam.
- fleddr 5y ago..which only took hours to find on Amazon, and you're sure you finally have the correct one. Then the first review goes "this cable is shit, it doesn't charge".
- BeFlatXIII 5y agoThat first review is identical to the first review on every single other USB-C cable, regardless of brand. It's like the top review of ever single power strip being "I overloaded it and my house burned down". No wonder people take the risk by buying the cheapest option and hoping they win the QC lottery.
- ziml77 5y agoThat isn't a USB problem, that's an Amazon problem.
- Workaccount2 5y agoAnd why I canceled prime and don't use Amazon anymore. It's basically become a flea market done up with the fake shine of questionable reviews. No thanks.
- Ajedi32 5y agoAssuming there's not some gotcha I'm unaware of, these new logos seem sufficiently descriptive. USB-C/Bandwidth/Power/They all support AV/They all support PD. That solves the issue for cables/chargers anyway. Devices can still support whatever alt modes they want, and there's not really a way for the USB IF to fix that since the details of specific alt modes aren't really part of the USB spec AFAIK. That'd be up to the ones defining those particular alt modes to fix.
- JohnFen 5y agoI don't agree that the new logos are sufficient. Perhaps "sufficiently descriptive", but they look so similar to each other that it requires people to read text (which is a UI fail right there for cables) which will be particularly hard to read when printed on tiny connectors.