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> Some, like Apple, say they do this for ecological reasons. But more cost-conscious manufacturers do so to save money, I had wondered if the author might be

> Some, like Apple, say they do this for ecological reasons. But more cost-conscious manufacturers do so to save money, I had wondered if the author might be drinking a little too much apple juice, this was the line that confirmed it. No, they all do it for cost reasons, only one happens to spin marketing around it which you take at face value (if it were even remotely true, you wouldn't see the markup or immense waste that comes with the separate cables). The problem may be that you've invested too much into an ecosystem that actively works against standards and needs to be dragged, metaphorically kicking and screaming, into it. Outside said ecosystem, the promise of a universal cable is almost a reality, at least much closer than the one you're illustrating.

Valgrim 2y ago
Not sure what functionality is not covered by current cables. Both my laptop and phone, which are several years old, use the usb-C connector for power, data, video, audio, and combined with a hub can connect to any usb peripheral out there. Sure, the weird triple-split usb-c connector that came with my son's cheap walkie-talkies from Amazon doesn't do all that. But I don't expect it to, and it will at least charge my phone if I plug it, and that's the primary usage I want for this cable.
- creshal 2y ago
  Try buying an USB-C cable in a random brick and mortar store, or on Amazon. Between "fully thunderbolt 4 certified" cables that do everything, reliable, and "you get two wires for basic 5W charging" cables that reliably disappoint, there's a wild world of maybe sorta compatible cables (don't ask what they're compatible with), and that's before you get into counterfeiting problems (thanks, Amazon). Edit: Yes, like with all problems in life, "just be better informed than 99% of the population" is a possible, if smug, solution. Just not a good solution for the other 99%.
  - eek2121 2y ago
    I haven’t had much of an issue if you ignore thunderbolt (I own no thunderbolt devices) Only one USB-C cable I have ever owned was not capable of fast charging, and it was sold by a third party on Amazon.
  - phil21 2y ago
    Honestly I haven’t had much of an issue at all. Just buy trusted brands like Anker, Monoprice, Cables Direct, etc. for slightly more than the cheapest on Amazon. Have yet to receive a counterfeit, checking who is selling and fulfilling the item like you would anything else you buy from any other marketplace style site. I’m starting to believe the whole counterfeits/commingled inventory zeitgeist on Amazon is another one of those things that was somewhat true at one point, but is more overblown social media bluster like so many other topics are today. Do they happen? Of course. I just doubt it’s as common as trotted out on here. I buy an exceptionally large amount of stuff like this off Amazon for projects, and must be in the top single digit percentile for consumers of theirs for “cheap Chinese generic junk” and have yet to receive a single item I’ve noticed was not what it said it was. Some useless junk for sure, but those were all my fault and returned without issue. We are talking hundreds of USB-C cables now, ranging from charging only to full on thunderbolt driving multiple daisy chained 4k monitors.
    - creshal 2y ago
      > Just buy trusted brands like Anker, Monoprice, Cables Direct, etc. for slightly more than the cheapest on Amazon. That category includes cables that can - do one of the many quick charging standards (or multiple), but data only at 2.0 rates - data at 3.x rates (any variants) but no power delivery - power delivery, but only at limited wattages, and data at 3.0 speeds, to slow for alternate modes If you know what you're doing, you can dodge all these landmines, but 99% of consumers do not and never will, and to them USB-C is that weird connector where they never know what'll work today. (Whoever decided that USB2 passthrough only works in one orientation was a real sadist, too.)
      - talldayo 2y ago
        > and to them USB-C is that weird connector where they never know what'll work today. No? What world do you live in? Both of my parents have used USB-C for years, and they're more careful with their charging blocks than they are with their cables. All they care about is plugging in their devices to charge and USB-C cables do that fine. Both Lightning and USB are replete with non-conformant counterfeit cables, it's a moot point since people throw away anything that is nonfunctional. 99% of consumers don't need Thunderbolt capabilities, so they don't actually care if it's there. That's why your mom and dad don't charge their phones with fully-specced cables either. Considering that Lighting cables tend to max out their wattage at the USB-C minimum, I think these are some seriously bottom-barrel arguments. Even child-friendly manufacturers like Nintendo consider USB-C perfectly suitable to trust with children, because it's actually not that hard to deal with if you're just trying to charge a tablet. And so does Apple, if you don't consider the Mac a fully estranged business.
valianteffort 2y ago
>No, they all do it for cost reasons You think this (incorrectly) because you're being either willfully ignorant or just naive. Apple have more insight on their devices and consumers than you could possibly imagine. Apple know that practically no one connects their iPhone to a computer through the entire lifetime of the phone (less than 1%). So there is no reason they should include a USB3/4 cable when the only thing people do is charge their phone with it. It's added cost, and waste. Likewise, the ports on their laptops often go unused. They collect anonymized data on how often people plug something in to any port on their device. They know what people are doing, and what is worth spending money on. There is a reason they got rid of their extra I/O to begin with.

Valgrim 2y ago

Not sure what functionality is not covered by current cables. Both my laptop and phone, which are several years old, use the usb-C connector for power, data, video, audio, and combined with a hub can connect to any usb peripheral out there. Sure, the weird triple-split usb-c connector that came with my son's cheap walkie-talkies from Amazon doesn't do all that. But I don't expect it to, and it will at least charge my phone if I plug it, and that's the primary usage I want for this cable.

creshal 2y ago
Try buying an USB-C cable in a random brick and mortar store, or on Amazon. Between "fully thunderbolt 4 certified" cables that do everything, reliable, and "you get two wires for basic 5W charging" cables that reliably disappoint, there's a wild world of maybe sorta compatible cables (don't ask what they're compatible with), and that's before you get into counterfeiting problems (thanks, Amazon). Edit: Yes, like with all problems in life, "just be better informed than 99% of the population" is a possible, if smug, solution. Just not a good solution for the other 99%.
- eek2121 2y ago
  I haven’t had much of an issue if you ignore thunderbolt (I own no thunderbolt devices) Only one USB-C cable I have ever owned was not capable of fast charging, and it was sold by a third party on Amazon.
- phil21 2y ago
  Honestly I haven’t had much of an issue at all. Just buy trusted brands like Anker, Monoprice, Cables Direct, etc. for slightly more than the cheapest on Amazon. Have yet to receive a counterfeit, checking who is selling and fulfilling the item like you would anything else you buy from any other marketplace style site. I’m starting to believe the whole counterfeits/commingled inventory zeitgeist on Amazon is another one of those things that was somewhat true at one point, but is more overblown social media bluster like so many other topics are today. Do they happen? Of course. I just doubt it’s as common as trotted out on here. I buy an exceptionally large amount of stuff like this off Amazon for projects, and must be in the top single digit percentile for consumers of theirs for “cheap Chinese generic junk” and have yet to receive a single item I’ve noticed was not what it said it was. Some useless junk for sure, but those were all my fault and returned without issue. We are talking hundreds of USB-C cables now, ranging from charging only to full on thunderbolt driving multiple daisy chained 4k monitors.
  - creshal 2y ago
    > Just buy trusted brands like Anker, Monoprice, Cables Direct, etc. for slightly more than the cheapest on Amazon. That category includes cables that can - do one of the many quick charging standards (or multiple), but data only at 2.0 rates - data at 3.x rates (any variants) but no power delivery - power delivery, but only at limited wattages, and data at 3.0 speeds, to slow for alternate modes If you know what you're doing, you can dodge all these landmines, but 99% of consumers do not and never will, and to them USB-C is that weird connector where they never know what'll work today. (Whoever decided that USB2 passthrough only works in one orientation was a real sadist, too.)
    - talldayo 2y ago
      > and to them USB-C is that weird connector where they never know what'll work today. No? What world do you live in? Both of my parents have used USB-C for years, and they're more careful with their charging blocks than they are with their cables. All they care about is plugging in their devices to charge and USB-C cables do that fine. Both Lightning and USB are replete with non-conformant counterfeit cables, it's a moot point since people throw away anything that is nonfunctional. 99% of consumers don't need Thunderbolt capabilities, so they don't actually care if it's there. That's why your mom and dad don't charge their phones with fully-specced cables either. Considering that Lighting cables tend to max out their wattage at the USB-C minimum, I think these are some seriously bottom-barrel arguments. Even child-friendly manufacturers like Nintendo consider USB-C perfectly suitable to trust with children, because it's actually not that hard to deal with if you're just trying to charge a tablet. And so does Apple, if you don't consider the Mac a fully estranged business.

valianteffort 2y ago

>No, they all do it for cost reasons You think this (incorrectly) because you're being either willfully ignorant or just naive. Apple have more insight on their devices and consumers than you could possibly imagine. Apple know that practically no one connects their iPhone to a computer through the entire lifetime of the phone (less than 1%). So there is no reason they should include a USB3/4 cable when the only thing people do is charge their phone with it. It's added cost, and waste. Likewise, the ports on their laptops often go unused. They collect anonymized data on how often people plug something in to any port on their device. They know what people are doing, and what is worth spending money on. There is a reason they got rid of their extra I/O to begin with.