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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

#331

Post by tytso »

mdlowman wrote: post #124

Reading the reviews, it looks like there's basically one complaint. Ports/devices with older connectors (USBA, mini-B, micro-B, B) aren't necessarily going to be able to (or supposed to be able to) handle a 3A current draw. A device that supports USBC should handle current draws this high. But to do so, it must be able to determine if it is safe to draw this much current. That's only doable with a USBC->USBC connecti…

I've smoked a USB wall-wart that was spec'ed to be able to provide 2A. At the time I had assumed it was a dodgy USB charger, but I now believe that it was the cable which was dodgy.

Benson has posted instructions if you want to test a cable yourself and you have a 2015 pixel: https://plus.google.com/+BensonLeung/posts/jGP5249NppF

The problem is that you'll need a sacrificial USB charger, and if you're lucky, you'll find out from the Pixel's diagnostics whether or not the cable is dodgy. If you're unlucky, you may also find out when the USB charger dies. In Benson's words, "Plug in the suspect USB cable and plug the other end into a DCP charging wall wart (preferably one you don't have any sort of sentimental attachment to)".

Also read all the way through to the end. There are instructions for how to do this without needing to put the Pixel into dev mode, which is useful for those of us who need to use the Pixel in its enterprise enrolled mode to access our corporate accounts. :-)

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

#332

Post by tytso »

xixi77 wrote: post #185

This is awesome, and I really hope more companies do this. I wonder though: from the few reviews I've looked at, it seems that the main complaint is that the cable does not identify itself as a legacy connector, and can result in the device drawing too much power from the port, potentially damaging whatever is on the other end. Definitely an unfortunate result, BUT: I wonder, is it still a common concern when the dev…

I've smoked two wall warts because of trying to use a dodgy USB-C cable to charge a 2015 Pixel. In one case, the wall wart sim[ply stopped charging.

In the second case the wall wart started charging my Nexus 6 REALLY FAST on one port and the other port has gone dead. I haven't had a chance to check it out with a volt meter, but I suspect it's now putting out substantially more than 5V on one port, and substantially less than 5V on the other. Fortunately the N6 supports Quick Charge 2.0, so as long as the voltage wasn't more than 9V, it probably didn't do any real harm to the phone (although it was actually charging faster than my normal QC charger). But since I also noticed the phone getting really hot, I've stopped using that charger, and it doesn't look like I've significantly damaged the N6 batteries. At least, the battery life hasn't been compromised and it hasn't burst into flames. Yet. :-)

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

#333

Post by DiabloD3 »

thescriptkiddie wrote: post #301
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…

Interesting. I bought an anker wall charger that blew up the second I plugged it in, and an anker car charger that is so noisy it kills FM reception when it's plugged in. I had assumed that they were just another shenzen shit factory at that point. Maybe both items were fakes?

Anker has had problems with fakes.

Unless you bought it through Amazon using the links off Anker's website, it's probably a fake.

Though, if it's any consolation to Anker, scammers only counterfeit the best.

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

#334

Post by nandemo »

mikeash wrote: post #117
maxerickson wrote: post #89

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, no pitchfork in hand here, but I also wouldn't be surprised if Amazon didn't appreciate that sort of activity.

For sure. I'd hope they'll be self-aware enough to realize that it would be crappy to yank the reviews or punish the reviewer for recommending another store where the products aren't broken when Amazon is full of broken products. But I wouldn't be very confident of that.

I heard from an Amazon manager, during a hiring event, that Amazon never deletes reviews. The context was a specific negative review on the Kindle.

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

#335

Post by jrockway »

andrewguenther wrote: post #69
jwr wrote: post #13

This is such a great service to everyone! I wish more companies let their engineers do that. Too few knowledgeable people call out the crap we're being sold.

I don't think we know if Google "let" him yet. Most companies have very strong policies against things like this...

Google doesn't have a strong policy against things like this. It mostly boils down to using your best judgement. "Would you like to read this on the front page of the New York Times?" is the usual question to ask yourself. I also like to ask myself, "is this factually correct, and am I providing proof?"

On HN, I tend to limit my responses because I usually end up being attacked for something I have nothing to do with, by virtue of some grudge the commenter has with Google. If you want to call me out for my own work, go ahead, I value feedback greatly in areas that I can control. If you have useful commentary, I'll try my hardest to make sure that people with understanding in that area see your comments. But if you just want to yell at me by virtue of who pays my salary, I find that all very unenjoyable and would prefer to not be involved.

I also notice that lurkers with blogs tend to like to take quotes from HN and convey them as the official word of Google out of context, which I also don't like being involved in. Learned that lesson my first week at Google :)

Finally, one also ends up attracting the crazies that email me threats against other Google employees. All those get forwarded directly to Security Operations and don't get a reply from me.

HN is a pretty big community these days and isn't quite the bastion of sanity that it once was. This limits how open many people will be with the community more than any policy.

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

#336

Post by Obi_Juan_Kenobi »

esaym wrote: post #138
ryan-c wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My assumption is that he's working on some sort of project where he's buying many cables on Google's dime to test them, then reporting his results on Amazon. My worry would be the cables that get good reviews being switched out for crappy cables down the line. I've had problems with this for cables and adapters before - I'll re-order from Amazon and get a slightly different product that is not 100% compatible with th…

Or pretty much anything on amazon has that happen. Most recently a "good ol' American made" can opener turned out to be a cheap China counterfeit: https://www.amazon.com/review/R3MJPDPNRM9HXR

I'd be pretty surprised if you couldn't return it.

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

#337

Post by x0x0 »

kllrnohj wrote: post #298
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 ones on Amazon are all $15-$20 and even monoprice is $10 Since Google isn't the manufacturer they are not making a ridiculous profit margin. Whole dollars on a $500 phone is more likely to be Google's entire profit margin, though. The profit margins on phones is razor thin unless you're Apple.

Just because monoprice sells them for $10 one at a time, I don't think that tells you much about the cost to put more than one in phone package you're already handling when you buy millions at a time.

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

#338

Post by x0x0 »

ars wrote: post #283
poizan42 wrote: post #145

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Or the seller creates a new account and keep selling the cables until another bad review. And then does the same again and so on.

Once a part gets a bunch of good reviews unless the other one is way cheaper people will just by the known good one.

Except for a given review, you can't tell which seller sold that item. Anyone can list on a given item.

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

#339

Post by x0x0 »

gleenn wrote: post #319
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_...

Manufacturers got to lengths to squeeze pennies out of the Bill of Materials (BOM) in products like these. I remember listening to some conversations and being blown away at the tiny savings here and there, and our product was over $100.

But so what? Why is google selling phones -- to promote android and google as a brand, or to make money? If it's to make money, fine, then eek every penny out of that BOM. But they claim it's the former, and cheap cables are apparently a brand image problem, so they should solve it by not cheaping out on the large investment they've already made.

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

#340

Post by tempestn »

aerovistae wrote: post #235

I don't understand why this is so fascinating that it has 724 upvotes, can someone explain?

1200something now. I agree; this seems interesting enough to be on the homepage for a bit, but not vastly more so than many other stories. Not sure what's going on!
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