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

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

#251

Post by larrys »

csours wrote: post #222
phkahler wrote: post #202

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>> The average consumer has no idea if one of these cables will actually do what they proclaim. Isn't that what standards compliance is supposed to be for? Shouldn't the product have to be tested against the standard in order to get labeled USB X.Y ?? Or doesn't USB have such a requirement?

To quote Tommy Boy: "Hell, I can take a crap in a box and slap a guarantee on it for you"

The quote I always seem to remember from that movie is: "New guy puking his guts out".

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

#252

Post by kej »

BHSPitMonkey wrote: post #93
DiabloD3 wrote: post #66

I see no reason why to buy anything but Anker. I once tried to purposely destroy an Anker MicroUSB cable (bought a 5 pack that had three 3ft, one 6ft, one 1ft, didn't need the 1ft), by grabbing the head of it with clamping pliers and yanking the fuck out of it with the cable wrapped around my hand, and bending it to near 180 degrees repeatedly for about 5 minutes. I could not kill it without straight up taking wire c…

As someone who also owns and recommends several Anker products, I do have a counterexample: A microUSB cable I bought about a month ago has gotten it's locking pins stuck in the retracted position somehow, and no longer secures itself inside the port. Not a common case, of course, but they're not infallible.

On most microUSB cables I've used, you can take a needle or safety pin and gently pry the locking pins back out to whatever locking strength you'd like.

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

#253

Post by georgemcbay »

radiorental wrote: post #25

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 t…

bradfitz has this pretty famous video "review" (of sorts) of Nest fire alarms:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpsMkLaEiOY

The review is extremely negative, explicitly telling people not to buy Nest products. Those are (and were at the time of that video) a Google product, as Google acquired Nest in 2014.

Brad still works at Google. I'm sure Benson will be fine.

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

#254

Post by voltagex_ »

lchengify wrote: post #81

These reviews took me back (and made me laugh). They have the same to-the-point-and-technically-correct tone as code reviews internal to Google. In all seriousness though, these are important for a non-obvious reason: Nexus 6x devices don't ship with USB2-USB3 adapters (they only have a USB3 cable with a wall charger). So ... anyone who wants to hook up their Nexus 6x to a laptop will almost certainly to Amazon to bu…

What I can't work out is am I going to damage my new 5X with any of these cables? There's a limited number that'll ship to Australia

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

#255

Post by tempestn »

maxerickson wrote: post #236
tempestn wrote: post #214

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Presumably you leave it connected for a while to charge the car battery, and then start.

They are powerful enough to crank the engine. Random youtube demo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLZeFiJA5LM

Wow, I stand corrected. That's impressive.

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

#256

Post by linker3000 »

novaleaf wrote: post #113
DiabloD3 wrote: post #66

I see no reason why to buy anything but Anker. I once tried to purposely destroy an Anker MicroUSB cable (bought a 5 pack that had three 3ft, one 6ft, one 1ft, didn't need the 1ft), by grabbing the head of it with clamping pliers and yanking the fuck out of it with the cable wrapped around my hand, and bending it to near 180 degrees repeatedly for about 5 minutes. I could not kill it without straight up taking wire c…

i like Anker (good bang for buck) but they are not above fail: I have a 5 port USB charger and the middle port stopped working (thankfully the others still work, so I have a 4 port charger now) I bought a bunch of their external battery packs (aprox 15 of them) and none of those have failed)

I had a port die on an Anker unit that was about 11 months old - it was replaced by Amazon (UK) without any fuss + I got a prepaid label to send back the faulty one.

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

#257

Post by blakeyrat »

radiorental wrote: post #25

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 t…

I used to test Xbox 360 network connectivity, during which we'd regularly buy consumer routers, hubs, and switches and ensure compatibility with Xbox 360's network stack. (There were different types of NAT which could cause problems, and some had problems with low MTUs.)

It never occurred to me, or anybody else working in the lab as far as I know, to post the results of our testing on Amazon reviews. We just did the testing.

Huh.

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

#258

Post by voltagex_ »

wamatt wrote: post #209
post_break wrote: post #87

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Aukey now rivals Anker, if not exceeds. Check them out.

Haven't tried their cables, but I switched to Aukey's chargers some time ago. In particular, the 4 port 9.6a/48W car charger is an engineering delight.

I'm not sure who's OEMing those, I've also seen them under the "Tronsmart" brand.

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

#259

Post by odbol »

fixermark wrote: post #216
x0x0 wrote: post #194

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If only there were some way for google to get high quality usb-c cables to customers! Like not charging $13 plus shipping for a 1m cable (a ridiculous profit margin), and keeping them in stock. Or hell, throwing 5 of them in with everything they sell that uses usb-c. I mean, that would have to cost dollars. Whole dollars , on a $500 phone! https://store.google.com/product/usb_type_c_to_usb_standard_...

The fact that the market is full of low-cost USB-C cables that aren't reliable may suggest that the cables cost $13 because it's actually a $13 problem to get it right. ;)

It's probably not. It's just no one is buying USB-C cables yet. Once they are common and produced at massive scale, the price will drop considerably.

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

#260

Post by toomuchtodo »

will_pseudonym wrote: post #234
toomuchtodo wrote: post #224

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Amazon link?

This looks to be the newest, most powerful out of the group: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B012YUJJM8/ Here's the full set of products: http://www.ianker.com/Solar-Chargers/category-c53-s1 There are Amazon links on each individual product page.

Thank you!
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