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USB-C was supposed to simplify our lives, but instead it’s a total mess

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Re: USB-C was supposed to simplify our lives, but instead it’s a total mess

#301

Post by TAForObvReasons »

bluGill wrote: post #277
rolobio wrote: post #260

Earlier quoted context omitted.

From my research a few years ago, this is caused by the Switch asking the charger for 20V, but it actually expects 15V. The Nintendo charger obeys this hidden rule, but any other charger will happily provide 20V. I think the difference between a 20V and 15V charge isn't significant enough to blow the Switch up the first time you use it, but, over time it will blow up.

If this is really the case Nintendo is vulnerable to a class action lawsuit. Any lawyers want to take the case?

You purchase the switch with a provided charger. If that charger caused issues, then there's potentially a suit. It's not obvious that you'd say the same thing if they used a proprietary port like what the 3DS uses.

Re: USB-C was supposed to simplify our lives, but instead it’s a total mess

#302

Post by bshep »

edoceo wrote: post #175
derefr wrote: post #108

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because it could have happened just as well with any other plug. It could have been a non-conforming micro-USB charging port. Either way, it would have nothing to do with “the mess that is USB-C” (i.e. the inability to identify which of the various wire protocols that work over USB-C cables that a USB-C port follows/supports), because such a port isn’t following any of the USB-C-cable compatible standards. It’d be li…

ADB and PS/2 didn't look the same. Yes, small circles but IIRC ADB is 4 pins, PS/2 is 6 - and neither could be plugged to the other.

IIRC the rectangular peg in the ADB vs PS2 cable were slightly different and hence incompatible.

Re: USB-C was supposed to simplify our lives, but instead it’s a total mess

#303

Post by cnst »

The biggest problem is Apple. They've removed USB-A from their laptops close to 5 years ago, because USB-C is the future.

They've also removed the headphone jack from iPhone; however, the USB-C is still nowhere to be found. Why?!

The end result is that we can charge a MacBook with a ThinkPad power adapter, but no longer have MagSafe; have been using ugly adapters on MacBooks for close to 5 years now -- with no end in sight, yet still cannot use the same headset for both a MacBook and an iPhone.

Ironically, from this perspective, Android is now more compatible with a MacBook than an iPhone is -- my USB-A headphones with the USB-A-to-USB-C adapter can be plugged directly into either my Android or my MacBook, without any extra adapters, other than the permanently-attached USB-A-to-USB-C one. (Of course, the opposite isn't true -- and the USB-C adapter for the headsets from my phone doesn't work in a MacBook, but at least the opposite way everything works.)

Re: USB-C was supposed to simplify our lives, but instead it’s a total mess

#304

Post by yabones »

The most important thing the Gen-X'ers did for widespread adoption of technology was making things 'shapes and colours' easy. The rectangle peg goes in the rectangle hole. The red wire goes into the red socket. Any kindergarten graduate could plug their peripherals into their PC with little or no expertise because the only way they could connect was the right way. Before this, everything was DB9 or DB25, and a complete mess of electrical compatibility despite common connectors. Now, we find ourselves in the same position, the same connectors everywhere but inexplicable incompatibility.

That's my hot take: USB-C is just Millennial DB-9.

Re: USB-C was supposed to simplify our lives, but instead it’s a total mess

#305

Post by dheera »

mikepurvis wrote: post #291
dheera wrote: post #270

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I wish there were legal protections around this. Using a standard plug means it should accept the standard for that plug.

It depends, though. In all likelihood it would end up thrown back on the consumer— "Did you use a licensed/approved/certified charger? Sounds like you need to take this up with whoever made the charger that fried our product." It might help resolve certain really common cases like compatibility between the chargers and devices of the mainstream entities. I guess I'd argue that that should be happening on its own, but…

The chargers that use standard plugs should also be made to support the standard or they should be held legally responsible.

In this particular case I think even well-known name brand chargers which follow standards (Apple, Anker) are breaking the Nintendo, and that's unacceptable.

Re: USB-C was supposed to simplify our lives, but instead it’s a total mess

#306

Post by x3haloed »

jeremymcanally wrote: post #4

Really? I find it to be a game changer for me. The fact that my laptop, Switch, iPad, and several other devices can all share a charge has made my life much easier. I can just sprinkle a few of them throughout the house and never be without power. Before it was always a hunt to find a cable, or I had to be in [x] room to charge [y] device because that's where the charger lived. Plus, I can charge my MacBook on either…

The versatility of the port is amazing. It’s very useful to be able to use the same cable to charge, move data, and push audio and video.

However, it’s confusing AF. I feel like the first failure really is that it’s very unclear which ports and which cables support which features and how fast. You really have to know the technical differences when shopping. And you basically have to label every cable you buy, otherwise you have no idea what it’s capabilities are when you find it in your closet a year after buying it.

The other huge issue is spec compliance. It’s not clear to the average consumer whether they’re buying spec-compliant devices or non-compliant device-killers.

Re: USB-C was supposed to simplify our lives, but instead it’s a total mess

#307

Post by jaypeg25 »

floatingatoll wrote: post #235
mikepurvis wrote: post #170

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't actually own a Switch, but my partner and I both charge our laptops (mine a Dell XPS, hers a MacBook) from the same after-market USB-C charging bricks. I don't love that it's like this, but basically the product page just lists every known-to-work device, including Nintendo Switch: https://www.amazon.ca/Charger-Adapter-Replacement-Thinkpad-M... Now, I'm a cheapskate, so most of my electronics are older device…

Word of warning, for those reading this far: The Switch and Switch Dock are not USB-C devices. That you’re able to plug in a USB-C charger or USB-C device and see it supposedly work just means that you haven’t yet encountered the scenario(s) that can electronically damage the Switch. Nintendo’s warranty does not cover this damage when it occurs, requiring a full-cost repair or replacement as you connected unlicensed…

what about the switch pro controller? I'll sometimes charge it on whatever usb-c cable is nearby when I'm gaming and the controller starts to die. Is that OK?

Re: USB-C was supposed to simplify our lives, but instead it’s a total mess

#308

Post by floatingatoll »

dheera wrote: post #270
floatingatoll wrote: post #235

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Word of warning, for those reading this far: The Switch and Switch Dock are not USB-C devices. That you’re able to plug in a USB-C charger or USB-C device and see it supposedly work just means that you haven’t yet encountered the scenario(s) that can electronically damage the Switch. Nintendo’s warranty does not cover this damage when it occurs, requiring a full-cost repair or replacement as you connected unlicensed…

I wish there were legal protections around this. Using a standard plug means it should accept the standard for that plug.

I wish the same about people who sell adapters for plugging 15A electrical devices into 25A electrical outlets.

Sadly, the legal burden is placed exclusively on the buyer (via electrical code).

Re: USB-C was supposed to simplify our lives, but instead it’s a total mess

#309

Post by richrichardsson »

lambada wrote: post #261
derefr wrote: post #163

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The USB Consortium’s licensing strategy is to restrict what people can label with the USB logo, by holding trademark over that logo. You then have to work out an arrangement with them, in order for your hardware to proclaim itself as USB-compatible by using the logo. This is their “in” to ensure you’re doing USB correctly. The Nintendo charging port is not labelled with a USB logo. It’s fundamentally not a USB-C port…

Interestingly in the UK, Nintendo _explicitly_ label it as a USB-C port. I'm not sure if they do or not elsewhere, but they definitely claim it's a USB-C port 'for AC charging' over here. https://imgur.com/a/fwTM699

That seems like a bit of a grey area. I'm sure most people would assume that means it's a USB compatible port, but I'm also sure they would argue that they didn't explicitly state it to be a USB port, just a USB Type-C connector for use with the AC adapter or Switch dock.

Re: USB-C was supposed to simplify our lives, but instead it’s a total mess

#310

Post by astura »

jeremymcanally wrote: post #4

Really? I find it to be a game changer for me. The fact that my laptop, Switch, iPad, and several other devices can all share a charge has made my life much easier. I can just sprinkle a few of them throughout the house and never be without power. Before it was always a hunt to find a cable, or I had to be in [x] room to charge [y] device because that's where the charger lived. Plus, I can charge my MacBook on either…

Well, tfa mentions the Switch in particular as having potential issues with some chargers:

>Other devices, like the Nintendo Switch, only partially support the standard, and some unsupported chargers have bricked devices, reportedly due to the Switch’s maximum voltage being exceeded.

It also mentions issues with some devices/ports supporting "Power Delivery" and some not, and no way to tell them apart by just looking at them.

So, yeah, you can get lucky and everything just works, but that's not universal.

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