Google engineer writing Amazon reviews on USB-C cables that don't work • Hacker News Board

Re: Google engineer writing Amazon reviews on USB-C cables that don't work

#21

Post by colechristensen » Wed, Nov 04, 2015, 6:59 PM UTC

lips wrote: post #7

It would physically pain me to work at a company that sells defective equipment. I'd like to see amazon just develop in-house testing for certain types of stock. Cables, power supplies...

I don't want to pay for that.

I would like Amazon to provide better access to searching for and sorting commodity items. (and to remove from inventory defective ones on a limited basis)

For example, I'm searching for the least expensive bulk CR123A batteries. I'd like to sort by price per battery and buy the lowest with at least 3 stars. A fairly simple request.

But you can't. Amazon lacks (in most cases) per unit pricing information or the ability to sort by it. The batteries are cataloged in at least four different site departments meaning sorting is impossible over all of them. It's frustrating to have to try to deal with such a stupid problem.

Re: Google engineer writing Amazon reviews on USB-C cables that don't work

#22

Post by melling » Wed, Nov 04, 2015, 6:59 PM UTC

Has there been any uptick in USB-C adoption? Apple skipped it in their latest iMacs. I think they're waiting for the USB-C/Thunderbolt 3 unification.

https://thunderbolttechnology.net/blog/thunderbolt-3-usb-c-d...

I've seen a couple Dell laptops but not much else. It's a much better form factor. Not to mention the elimination of USB superposition: :-)

http://9gag.com/gag/6756457/usb-superposition

Re: Google engineer writing Amazon reviews on USB-C cables that don't work

#23

Post by proee » Wed, Nov 04, 2015, 6:59 PM UTC

Johnny555 wrote: post #15

Is there a simple test that someone could do with a multimeter to test these cables themselves? Or is it more than just having a pullup resistor on the right pins?

These are very high-speed cables, so there's a lot that can go wrong from a signal integrity standpoint.

Re: Google engineer writing Amazon reviews on USB-C cables that don't work

#24

Post by acqq » Wed, Nov 04, 2015, 6:59 PM UTC

Johnny555 wrote: post #15

Is there a simple test that someone could do with a multimeter to test these cables themselves? Or is it more than just having a pullup resistor on the right pins?

His reviews that I've read up to now do seem to be about if the resistor exists at all (if it doesn't the devices don't draw more current) or if it's of false resistance (and then the devices can try to draw more than the power source can provide, potentially damaging it).

Re: Google engineer writing Amazon reviews on USB-C cables that don't work

#25

Post by radiorental » Wed, Nov 04, 2015, 6:59 PM UTC

What I find interesting here is that Benson is essentially using his employer as a reputation guarantor.

I guess depending on the company's HR that could fall either way of

a) This is great, we're getting nice PR

b) Mr Benson, we need to have a quiet word about what it is you do here and what Google is not in the business of.

Really interesting.

edit: I assumed this is part of his job. I just find the publishing of the result along with Google's name interesting.

If/when I evaluate software for a solution as part of my job, I wouldnt dream of publishing my findings and referencing my employer - but I like what Benson has done.

Re: Google engineer writing Amazon reviews on USB-C cables that don't work

#26

Post by ScottWRobinson » Wed, Nov 04, 2015, 7:00 PM UTC

And this exemplifies why (in my eyes) Google seems to have the best engineers - they're willing to go above and beyond in everything they do

Re: Google engineer writing Amazon reviews on USB-C cables that don't work

#27

Post by bosdev » Wed, Nov 04, 2015, 7:01 PM UTC

Joeri wrote: post #20

whistlerbrk wrote: post #11

Why two star reviews instead of one for the cables that fail to meet the spec? Does Amazon / do people view 1-star reviews as bitter / exaggerated? Are they less visible?

They can still be used for data exchange, just not for charging.

They probably work for charging as well in most cases. The issue with most of them is they could allow too much current to flow, more than a micro-usb cable is rated for. Some consumers might appreciate this though, trading an miniscule fire hazard for their device charging faster.

Re: Google engineer writing Amazon reviews on USB-C cables that don't work

#28

Post by alistproducer2 » Wed, Nov 04, 2015, 7:01 PM UTC

The best engineers in the world work at Google.

Re: Google engineer writing Amazon reviews on USB-C cables that don't work

#29

Post by GFK_of_xmaspast » Wed, Nov 04, 2015, 7:01 PM UTC

lips wrote: post #7

It would physically pain me to work at a company that sells defective equipment. I'd like to see amazon just develop in-house testing for certain types of stock. Cables, power supplies...

Don't they have an in-house line of cables?

Re: Google engineer writing Amazon reviews on USB-C cables that don't work

#30

Post by mindslight » Wed, Nov 04, 2015, 7:01 PM UTC

It would be good if he did resistance tests as well. I killed my phone's battery by absentmindedly using a shitty cable that was basically tinsel wire.

(details: I was full-time tethering while plugged in. I assume the charge controller thought the battery was charging but it was actually slowly discharging)