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New USB-C logos make picking USB cables, chargers less confusing

pcworld.com

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Re: New USB-C logos make picking USB cables, chargers less confusing

#161

Post by lolsal »

thedrbrian wrote: post #96

So it’s good that the fruit company are finally going to be forced by the EU to implement USB-C on their phones at same time as telling me that I need a matrix to explain which usb cable I need.

I share this opinion. I'm deep in the Apple camp but it never bothered me that they didn't jump on USB standards. They are a complete mess and if I plugged a shoddy cable into my device and fried it I would be super pissed at Apple for putting me in a position to make that mistake.

I don't charge my recent generation MacBook with anything other than the Apple charger for this exact reason.

Re: New USB-C logos make picking USB cables, chargers less confusing

#164

Post by [deleted] »

KptMarchewa wrote: post #131
y4mi wrote: post #125

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've never seen a laptop that didn't label the thunderbolt capable ports, are you sure that wasn't just you not paying attention? Or do you honestly expect all ports to be thunderbolt capable? If so, you'd have to expect a massive increase in price for that

Does not seem to be that expensive. https://frame.work/

[deleted]

Re: New USB-C logos make picking USB cables, chargers less confusing

#165

Post by miohtama »

bradfa wrote: post #153
a9h74j wrote: post #135

The new logos show the word 'certified'. Wait for the "super-certified" and "ultra-certified" USB logo variants in two years, to help clear up the newly-latent confusion. One new logo shows the word 'charger'. Wait for the "super-charger" and "ultra-charger" and "really really a charger" variants in three years, to help clear up that newly-latent confusion. Leibnitz had a hypothesis that all one needed was one base w…

I assume you'll only be able to legally use these logos on your products and packaging if you actually pay for certification. Most USB devices/charges/etc aren't certified today, I don't see this new logo scheme changing that. Certification costs money, and you might fail. No consumer really cares (or probably no consumer understands) what buying a "certified" USB thing even means. If your existing USB things don't h…

I am also wondering how can they enforce small manufactures just slapping these logos everywhere? It is unlikely the organisation is going to achieve anything by trying to sue small Chinese producers.

Re: New USB-C logos make picking USB cables, chargers less confusing

#166

Post by cesarb »

jdhn wrote: post #138
Tijdreiziger wrote: post #110

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Why can’t all USB C cables just do all the things? I'd guess 'cost'.

What's the difference in cost between a cable that can do the bare minimum, and a cable that can do everything, assuming they're the same length? Just seems like the USB committee is unnecessarily complicating everything.

> What's the difference in cost between a cable that can do the bare minimum, and a cable that can do everything, assuming they're the same length?

A USB-C cable that can do the bare minimum needs five wires (one twisted pair for data, power, ground, and the configuration channel), and they can all be thin. A cable that can do everything adds to that four more differential pairs (which also have more stringent signal integrity requirements than the lone USB 2.0 pair), one extra pair for sideband use, and the power and ground wires must be thicker to handle the higher current. So it's tripled the number of wires, made some of them thicker, and the cable has to meet a more strict signal integrity. No wonder it's more expensive.

Re: New USB-C logos make picking USB cables, chargers less confusing

#167

Post by y4mi »

andybak wrote: post #151
netizen-936824 wrote: post #141

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's probably indicated when the posted stated that they "...plugged it into a different USB C port..." Considering USB c != thunderbolt

Well they look the damn same.

USB 3.2 is thunderbolt, so they've been the same for over 6yrs now.

tgaj probably just hasn't paid any attention to hardware in years but still feels like he should talk about it with confidence.

Re: New USB-C logos make picking USB cables, chargers less confusing

#168

Post by nikau »

dijit wrote: post #61
nikau wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What's the advantage of that over usb-pd chargers that also deliver 20V?

That there aren't as many 5-12v ones that you can accidentally use in place of it? That there aren't a bunch of cables which _might_ work, not to be confused with the same cables that carry data.

Yeah but usb-c is safe - if its not the right protocol it just defaults to 5v and nothing gets damaged.

Barrel connectors of wrong voltage and/or polarity will let out the magic smoke.

Re: New USB-C logos make picking USB cables, chargers less confusing

#169

Post by nikau »

dustintrex wrote: post #58
nikau wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Previously we had tons of incompatible plugs, but if the physical plug fit, you were reasonably assured that it would actually work. I suspect you never did any work with 9 or 25 pin serial.

Touché, I actually did and even soldered my own at times! I'm tempted to say that's different (tm) though, since you generally had zero expectation that random DB-9/25 cables would be interchangeable.

I never want to see a serial breakout box or HP 4952 serial analyzer again.

(actually I lie it would be cool to have a 4952 to play around with again)

Re: New USB-C logos make picking USB cables, chargers less confusing

#170

Post by bradfa »

miohtama wrote: post #165
bradfa wrote: post #153

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I assume you'll only be able to legally use these logos on your products and packaging if you actually pay for certification. Most USB devices/charges/etc aren't certified today, I don't see this new logo scheme changing that. Certification costs money, and you might fail. No consumer really cares (or probably no consumer understands) what buying a "certified" USB thing even means. If your existing USB things don't h…

I am also wondering how can they enforce small manufactures just slapping these logos everywhere? It is unlikely the organisation is going to achieve anything by trying to sue small Chinese producers.

I expect the USB organization can sue Amazon and other vendors for allowing these kinds of products to be sold if they're illegitimately using the logo. I'm not fully versed on copyright or trademark law but I believe that's what would apply to the improper use of this logo on a product.
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