4 ms·

Yes because USB C is so user friendly: Grab a random USB C cable, now answer a few questions - how much power can it deliver? - how much data can it deliver?

Yes because USB C is so user friendly: Grab a random USB C cable, now answer a few questions - how much power can it deliver? - how much data can it deliver? - can it deliver video over USB?

zeroonetwothree 4y ago
Somehow I don’t think any of these are an issue for AirPods
- scarface74 4y ago
  What’s the use of a “universal cable” that doesn’t work everywhere even though it should?
  - BuyMyBitcoins 4y ago
    The way I had it explained to me is that “Type C” is the form factor, and that’s what is meant by universal. Which actual USB standard is implemented by the client/host varies widely. This leads to an immense amount of confusion because people are used to different form factors indicating compatibility.
    - cesarb 4y ago
      > The way I had it explained to me is that “Type C” is the form factor, and that’s what is meant by universal. Which actual USB standard is implemented by the client/host varies widely. There's also a couple of universal USB standards: every client/host is supposed to implement USB 2.0, unless they're charging-only; and every client/host is supposed to implement simple power delivery (negotiated through resistor values) at 5V and at least 500mA (for a USB-A 2.0 to USB-C cable, other combinations are supposed to deliver more current).
    - dotancohen 4y ago
      And the corollary is: What is the advantage of a universal form factor if the wire protocols are different? If the wire protocols are different, then an identical form factor is a hindrance, not an advantage.
      - Miraste 4y ago
        I'd much rather have it this way than how it was before. Sure, there are headaches, but not more than in the thirty-adapter-bag before times, and now if you get a nice cable that supports thunderbolt/usb3.14159/etc. it really can do everything.
        Tarragon 4y ago
        I find the USB-C headaches worse. With a bag of cables if the cable fits[1] it works to the full capability of the device. If I'm traveling and forgot something I can expect that the cheapest gas station cable or a borrowed cable will work. With USB-C I have to spend good money for every every cable in order to ensure that any cable I grab from my bag works. And these cables are going to be so thick that they are annoying to use with a mouse or keyboard. I can rearrange my office and use a cheap 5 meter usb-A to B cable to get to where the printer is now (true story). If I want a 5 meter usb-C to C cable for data I need to spend over $300. [1] excluding all the possibilities of chargers with incompatible DC barrel plugs, which is generally true of the time frames we're talking about
        Miraste 4y ago
        If you use a lot of wired devices I guess I can see that being a headache. I use wireless peripherals and make sure they're all usb-c, so when I travel I only need to remember one cable, maybe another as backup. These problems also improve as USB-C becomes more mass-manufactured. Case in point: now there's a 5 meter USB-IF certified usb-c power/ data cable at the top of the Amazon results for $19.
        saiya-jin 4y ago
        Of course. Simple solution to all people yelling and complaining their 2$ amazon usb cable is not top notch compared to 50$ apple one is - don't buy cheap crap. There are good usb cables that handle it all, still cost fraction of apple ones due to simple effect of competition, and are more durable. But quality comes at a cost, just you don't need to pay apple profit margins.
    - kortilla 4y ago
      It’s worse than that though because what’s implemented by the host and client can be the same but the cable can be incompatible too. usb-c is basically a standardized oval.
rhinoceraptor 4y ago
My favorite is USB-C devices that only charge with A to C cables, not C to C cables.
- scarface74 4y ago
  I forgot to mention those. Some devices don’t support USB PD and you have to use USB A to USB cables.
  - deleted 4y ago
    [deleted]
  - Miraste 4y ago
    That's why my stupid flashlight won't charge on some chargers! Thank you, you've solved a mystery for me.
    - vineyardmike 4y ago
      > won't charge on some chargers To add more detail, USB-PD (power delivery) is a complex negotiated protocol. The charger is supposed to output some meager 5v power supply like a traditional USB A supply, and the device asks for some specific voltage, and the charger tells the device if it can do that, and then does it (up to 24v, iirc). PD Chargers are supposed to support any of the supported voltages, but many (eg. Apple MacBook Chargers) only support a subset of the voltages.
      - ProZsolt 4y ago
        By spec USB-C chargers don't even provide 5V without a pulldown resistor on the CC lines. It's safe to connect two compliant USB-C charges together.
  - steve_adams_86 4y ago
    How does USB A deliver power differently such that it works with devices which don’t support USB PD? With USB C, is the power delivery on a pin these devices don’t have? Then the pin USB A would use to send power isn’t present with USB C (either physically or on purpose)?
__MatrixMan__ 4y ago
- when was the last time I had to scrape pocket lint out of the gaps? - am I due for another?
notatoad 4y ago
For any usb-c cable in my house, the answer to all those questions is, in order: - enough to charge my airpods - enough to charge my airpods - enough to charge my airpods
- scarface74 4y ago
  So you have AirPods and no other Apple devices? And people hoping that Apple’s move to USB C will mean USB3 speeds need to look no further than the latest low end iPad that has USB C. But transfers data at USB 2 speeds. The same happened on many low end to midrange Android phones.
  - notatoad 4y ago
    No, I've also got a MacBook. And in my life, this supposed flaw in USB-C just doesn't exist. I have yet to experience a USB-C cable that doesn't do what I expect it to. But perhaps that is because I don't have unreasonable expectations, like the shape of the hole I plug a wire into making data transfer speeds faster
    - scarface74 4y ago
      Video over USB C is a standard and supported by Macs and high end iPads.
  - esskay 4y ago
    On a low end iPad very few people have a need for any devices to connect to it via usb, even fewer than would benefit from usb3 speeds.
    - scarface74 4y ago
      You mean an A14 iPad? That’s not exactly slow by any means and the newest A15s that come in the phones are not appreciably faster.
      - 4y ago
kuschku 4y ago
I've got two types of USB-C cables at home: 2m long 100W PD 5Gbit/s cables 40cm long TB3 cables Super easy to find, super easy to remember. And all of them already have the new wattage/data rate labels.

Yes because USB C is so user friendly: Grab a random USB C cable, now answer a few questions - how much power can it deliver? - how much data can it deliver? - can it deliver video over USB?

zeroonetwothree 4y ago

Somehow I don’t think any of these are an issue for AirPods

scarface74 4y ago
What’s the use of a “universal cable” that doesn’t work everywhere even though it should?
- BuyMyBitcoins 4y ago
  The way I had it explained to me is that “Type C” is the form factor, and that’s what is meant by universal. Which actual USB standard is implemented by the client/host varies widely. This leads to an immense amount of confusion because people are used to different form factors indicating compatibility.
  - cesarb 4y ago
    > The way I had it explained to me is that “Type C” is the form factor, and that’s what is meant by universal. Which actual USB standard is implemented by the client/host varies widely. There's also a couple of universal USB standards: every client/host is supposed to implement USB 2.0, unless they're charging-only; and every client/host is supposed to implement simple power delivery (negotiated through resistor values) at 5V and at least 500mA (for a USB-A 2.0 to USB-C cable, other combinations are supposed to deliver more current).
  - dotancohen 4y ago
    And the corollary is: What is the advantage of a universal form factor if the wire protocols are different? If the wire protocols are different, then an identical form factor is a hindrance, not an advantage.
    - Miraste 4y ago
      I'd much rather have it this way than how it was before. Sure, there are headaches, but not more than in the thirty-adapter-bag before times, and now if you get a nice cable that supports thunderbolt/usb3.14159/etc. it really can do everything.
      - Tarragon 4y ago
        I find the USB-C headaches worse. With a bag of cables if the cable fits[1] it works to the full capability of the device. If I'm traveling and forgot something I can expect that the cheapest gas station cable or a borrowed cable will work. With USB-C I have to spend good money for every every cable in order to ensure that any cable I grab from my bag works. And these cables are going to be so thick that they are annoying to use with a mouse or keyboard. I can rearrange my office and use a cheap 5 meter usb-A to B cable to get to where the printer is now (true story). If I want a 5 meter usb-C to C cable for data I need to spend over $300. [1] excluding all the possibilities of chargers with incompatible DC barrel plugs, which is generally true of the time frames we're talking about
        Miraste 4y ago
        If you use a lot of wired devices I guess I can see that being a headache. I use wireless peripherals and make sure they're all usb-c, so when I travel I only need to remember one cable, maybe another as backup. These problems also improve as USB-C becomes more mass-manufactured. Case in point: now there's a 5 meter USB-IF certified usb-c power/ data cable at the top of the Amazon results for $19.
      - saiya-jin 4y ago
        Of course. Simple solution to all people yelling and complaining their 2$ amazon usb cable is not top notch compared to 50$ apple one is - don't buy cheap crap. There are good usb cables that handle it all, still cost fraction of apple ones due to simple effect of competition, and are more durable. But quality comes at a cost, just you don't need to pay apple profit margins.
  - kortilla 4y ago
    It’s worse than that though because what’s implemented by the host and client can be the same but the cable can be incompatible too. usb-c is basically a standardized oval.

rhinoceraptor 4y ago

My favorite is USB-C devices that only charge with A to C cables, not C to C cables.

scarface74 4y ago
I forgot to mention those. Some devices don’t support USB PD and you have to use USB A to USB cables.
- deleted 4y ago
  [deleted]
- Miraste 4y ago
  That's why my stupid flashlight won't charge on some chargers! Thank you, you've solved a mystery for me.
  - vineyardmike 4y ago
    > won't charge on some chargers To add more detail, USB-PD (power delivery) is a complex negotiated protocol. The charger is supposed to output some meager 5v power supply like a traditional USB A supply, and the device asks for some specific voltage, and the charger tells the device if it can do that, and then does it (up to 24v, iirc). PD Chargers are supposed to support any of the supported voltages, but many (eg. Apple MacBook Chargers) only support a subset of the voltages.
    - ProZsolt 4y ago
      By spec USB-C chargers don't even provide 5V without a pulldown resistor on the CC lines. It's safe to connect two compliant USB-C charges together.
- steve_adams_86 4y ago
  How does USB A deliver power differently such that it works with devices which don’t support USB PD? With USB C, is the power delivery on a pin these devices don’t have? Then the pin USB A would use to send power isn’t present with USB C (either physically or on purpose)?

__MatrixMan__ 4y ago

- when was the last time I had to scrape pocket lint out of the gaps? - am I due for another?

notatoad 4y ago

For any usb-c cable in my house, the answer to all those questions is, in order: - enough to charge my airpods - enough to charge my airpods - enough to charge my airpods

scarface74 4y ago
So you have AirPods and no other Apple devices? And people hoping that Apple’s move to USB C will mean USB3 speeds need to look no further than the latest low end iPad that has USB C. But transfers data at USB 2 speeds. The same happened on many low end to midrange Android phones.
- notatoad 4y ago
  No, I've also got a MacBook. And in my life, this supposed flaw in USB-C just doesn't exist. I have yet to experience a USB-C cable that doesn't do what I expect it to. But perhaps that is because I don't have unreasonable expectations, like the shape of the hole I plug a wire into making data transfer speeds faster
  - scarface74 4y ago
    Video over USB C is a standard and supported by Macs and high end iPads.
- esskay 4y ago
  On a low end iPad very few people have a need for any devices to connect to it via usb, even fewer than would benefit from usb3 speeds.
  - scarface74 4y ago
    You mean an A14 iPad? That’s not exactly slow by any means and the newest A15s that come in the phones are not appreciably faster.
    - 4y ago

kuschku 4y ago

I've got two types of USB-C cables at home: 2m long 100W PD 5Gbit/s cables 40cm long TB3 cables Super easy to find, super easy to remember. And all of them already have the new wattage/data rate labels.