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Does the USB-C specification allow that? Can such devices get USB-C certification? OTOH, I haven't seen any USB certifications on Apple USB cables or devices,

Does the USB-C specification allow that? Can such devices get USB-C certification? OTOH, I haven't seen any USB certifications on Apple USB cables or devices, so most likely Apple doesn't care.

tiagod 3y ago
Although Apple is a board member of USB-IF, at least their cables are indeed not USB-IF certified.
yjftsjthsd-h 3y ago
Why would that not be allowed? In isolation, not running power through a short seems like a great safety feature for the hardware.
rickdeckard 3y ago
This is a standard feature of all Smartphones with IPxx certification. It prevents corrosion on the connector contacts.
explodingwaffle 3y ago
Yes: because Apple actually got this added to the spec: https://www.usb.org/document-library/usb-type-cr-cable-and-connector-specification-release-23 https://www.usb.org/document-library/usb-type-cr-cable-and-c... which is the real story IMO (I am impressed no one bothered looking at the Type-C spec update after the Type-C iPhone finally came out) This actually replaced the analog audio mode (good riddance- whoever thought adding analog audio into a port that also does digital audio was a good idea?)
- tgv 3y ago
  Me with an analog headphone?
  - crote 3y ago
    The problem is that it's a rather confusing Alt Mode. Basically, it's only supposed to be used for USB-C-to-3.5mm adapters, and it was only implemented by some smartphones. It's not a reliable way to get audio out of a USB-C port, and because it's using the internal DAC the audio quality isn't going to be good anyways. The proper solution is to use a USB DAC. This provides the same user experience but it actually works with all USB-C devices. Considering the official Apple USB DAC is available for $9, the Audio Alt Mode really doesn't have a reason to exist.
    - tgv 3y ago
      Thanks. I didn’t know that that connector actually contained a DAC.
    - smaudet 3y ago
      For an iPhone... Unless I'm misunderstanding the mode, there could be uses to get audio out of a USB port that don't involve phones...
    - Nextgrid 3y ago
      Why is it confusing or bad? Sure, it sacrifices a data line pair, but the same can be said of DisplayPort Alt Mode - if you want 4K@60Hz on DP 1.2 you need to sacrifice USB3.0. The ability to make this tradeoff should be up to the user.

Does the USB-C specification allow that? Can such devices get USB-C certification? OTOH, I haven't seen any USB certifications on Apple USB cables or devices, so most likely Apple doesn't care.

tiagod 3y ago

Although Apple is a board member of USB-IF, at least their cables are indeed not USB-IF certified.

yjftsjthsd-h 3y ago

Why would that not be allowed? In isolation, not running power through a short seems like a great safety feature for the hardware.

rickdeckard 3y ago

This is a standard feature of all Smartphones with IPxx certification. It prevents corrosion on the connector contacts.

explodingwaffle 3y ago

Yes: because Apple actually got this added to the spec: https://www.usb.org/document-library/usb-type-cr-cable-and-connector-specification-release-23 https://www.usb.org/document-library/usb-type-cr-cable-and-c... which is the real story IMO (I am impressed no one bothered looking at the Type-C spec update after the Type-C iPhone finally came out) This actually replaced the analog audio mode (good riddance- whoever thought adding analog audio into a port that also does digital audio was a good idea?)

tgv 3y ago
Me with an analog headphone?
- crote 3y ago
  The problem is that it's a rather confusing Alt Mode. Basically, it's only supposed to be used for USB-C-to-3.5mm adapters, and it was only implemented by some smartphones. It's not a reliable way to get audio out of a USB-C port, and because it's using the internal DAC the audio quality isn't going to be good anyways. The proper solution is to use a USB DAC. This provides the same user experience but it actually works with all USB-C devices. Considering the official Apple USB DAC is available for $9, the Audio Alt Mode really doesn't have a reason to exist.
  - tgv 3y ago
    Thanks. I didn’t know that that connector actually contained a DAC.
  - smaudet 3y ago
    For an iPhone... Unless I'm misunderstanding the mode, there could be uses to get audio out of a USB port that don't involve phones...
  - Nextgrid 3y ago
    Why is it confusing or bad? Sure, it sacrifices a data line pair, but the same can be said of DisplayPort Alt Mode - if you want 4K@60Hz on DP 1.2 you need to sacrifice USB3.0. The ability to make this tradeoff should be up to the user.