ACE: Apple Type-C Port Controller Secrets • Hacker News Board

Re: ACE: Apple Type-C Port Controller Secrets

#121

Post by aftbit » Thu, Dec 31, 2020, 2:07 AM UTC

xxpor wrote: post #103

M2Ys4U wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They already do. I was looking at a sensor package (light, temp, humidity, particulates) earlier and it comes with a cellular modem and a free SIM with a modest data allowance for 2 years to send readings to the cloud.

I wish Zwave/zigbee were more practical to use. I'm not too worried about someone local pulling readings out of the air, but giving all of this crap access to my wifi, relying on cloud services that could go down at any time, and even adding a bridge straight in (your SIM comment) is just rediculous. For things like cameras or other high bandwidth applications wifi makes sense, but for the usual sensor/switch stuff,…

Can you recommend specific parts? I'm hoping to build out a smart home lighting and sensor solution soon using local protocols. Part of it will be an IoT wifi network & VLAN without internet access but I'd like to experiment with Zigbee/Zwave as well.

Re: ACE: Apple Type-C Port Controller Secrets

#122

Post by aftbit » Thu, Dec 31, 2020, 2:14 AM UTC

frederikvs wrote: post #24

Roritharr wrote: post #2

Once again i'm amazed what ALSO has a processor in it. I'm wondering if at some point I'll just see it as normal that nearly every device, no matter how static it may seem, has more processing power than my first computer.

Another thing to consider : more and more single-use items also have processors and electronics in them. At what point will disposable electronics have more processing power than, say, the Apollo flight computer? A couple of examples that I've noticed : There's a sports good store near here where they attach some form of RFID tag to each item (including individual protein bars), to automate the scanning. That means t…

Those RFID tags are pretty minimal though. Basically just a thin trace antenna and silicon die directly molded into plastic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAm7qAKAXwI

I still agree that it's amazing that our society can make functional structures with feature sizes in the nm/µm ranges so cheaply that we can afford to throw them away.

Re: ACE: Apple Type-C Port Controller Secrets

#123

Post by naikrovek » Thu, Dec 31, 2020, 2:14 AM UTC

TheRealSteel wrote: post #32

xg15 wrote: post #27

Apart from the processors, I'm amazed/bewildered that USB is now complex enough, that the power component of it has its own serial communication protocol (USB-PD), which also has a vendor registry and is extensible with proprietary messages - and by the looks of it, is already in widespread use for all sorts of things that have nothing to do with power delivery. Isn't this sort of reinventing USB on top of USB?

When I lost the charger for my Nintendo DS, I was able to MacGyver one out of a piece of cardboard and two strips of aluminium foil. A quick look at the USB-A port spec, and pin locations on the similar-to-USB-but-proprietary DS charging port indicated it was a very simple construction. Amazingly, this hack worked successfully and I was able to have my yearly Elite Beat Agents binge. The hardest part was actually not…

USB-PD is almost always in place on top of normal USB 5V, 500mA current delivery as a fallback. Your hack would have worked if you had a type-C plug you could have hacked apart and soldered to, and charging would have been dreadfully slow.

Re: ACE: Apple Type-C Port Controller Secrets

#124

Post by naikrovek » Thu, Dec 31, 2020, 2:16 AM UTC

colejohnson66 wrote: post #105

greggturkington wrote: post #97

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Oh, 'USB 3.2 Gen 2' (aka 'USB 3.1' or 'USB 3.1 Gen 2' OR 'USB 3.2 Gen 2')?" "There's your problem, you need 'USB 3.2 Gen 2 × 2 .' You idiot!"

Just wait for USB4!

That's just Thunderbolt 3 without the Intel trademark "Thunderbolt" name, isn't it?

Re: ACE: Apple Type-C Port Controller Secrets

#125

Post by naikrovek » Thu, Dec 31, 2020, 2:19 AM UTC

Roritharr wrote: post #2

Once again i'm amazed what ALSO has a processor in it. I'm wondering if at some point I'll just see it as normal that nearly every device, no matter how static it may seem, has more processing power than my first computer.

Every single SD card or MicroSD card has an ARM CPU onboard to track flash wear and to handle physical to logical block mapping. Everything has a CPU anymore.

Re: ACE: Apple Type-C Port Controller Secrets

#126

Post by jeddf » Thu, Dec 31, 2020, 7:46 AM UTC

TheRealSteel wrote: post #75

bluefirex wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

USB-C is now a requirement for me to upgrade my iPhone. I'm holding onto my XS until they switch to that.

The lack of USB-C is the reason I didn't replace my Airpods with more Airpods when their battery died. (Still looking for a decent replacement -- I unfortunately cannot use the kind that has those rubber seal plug things, I must have the hard plastic style like the non-pro Airpods)

Just got the Soundpeats Trueair 2, they're very very similar design to airpods. Case is slightly smaller even, much lighter/cheaper feeling but are well built enough, work reliably and have usb-c.

Re: ACE: Apple Type-C Port Controller Secrets

#127

Post by cesarb » Thu, Dec 31, 2020, 9:48 AM UTC

naikrovek wrote: post #124

colejohnson66 wrote: post #105

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Just wait for USB4!

That's just Thunderbolt 3 without the Intel trademark "Thunderbolt" name, isn't it?

No, there are some differences; AFAIK, USB4 can also tunnel USB 3.x (Thunderbolt 3 uses the PCIe tunneling plus a PCIe xHCI USB host on the device), and its compatibility with Thunderbolt 3 is optional.

Re: ACE: Apple Type-C Port Controller Secrets

#128

Post by fingerlocks » Thu, Dec 31, 2020, 12:45 PM UTC

aftbit wrote: post #121

xxpor wrote: post #103

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I wish Zwave/zigbee were more practical to use. I'm not too worried about someone local pulling readings out of the air, but giving all of this crap access to my wifi, relying on cloud services that could go down at any time, and even adding a bridge straight in (your SIM comment) is just rediculous. For things like cameras or other high bandwidth applications wifi makes sense, but for the usual sensor/switch stuff,…

Can you recommend specific parts? I'm hoping to build out a smart home lighting and sensor solution soon using local protocols. Part of it will be an IoT wifi network & VLAN without internet access but I'd like to experiment with Zigbee/Zwave as well.

Not OP, but I’ve been happy with everything made by Aeotec. My whole house is outfitted with their products on a raspberry pi + homeassistant setup. Entire process was really simple and easy, no need to “experiment”. You’ll be done in half an afternoon.

https://aeotec.com/

Re: ACE: Apple Type-C Port Controller Secrets

#129

Post by TheRealSteel » Thu, Dec 31, 2020, 4:19 PM UTC

nvllsvm wrote: post #113

TheRealSteel wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

When I lost the charger for my Nintendo DS, I was able to MacGyver one out of a piece of cardboard and two strips of aluminium foil. A quick look at the USB-A port spec, and pin locations on the similar-to-USB-but-proprietary DS charging port indicated it was a very simple construction. Amazingly, this hack worked successfully and I was able to have my yearly Elite Beat Agents binge. The hardest part was actually not…

When I lost the charger for my Nintendo DS, I was able to MacGyver one out of a piece of cardboard and two strips of aluminium foil. I did the same thing for my 2DS XL, but instead modded the device with a non-PD USB-C breakout board. Works great with both USB-PD and regular USB-C chargers and cables. https://nullsum.net/posts/usbc-mod-new-2ds-xl/ Now, in the days of complex calculated power delivery negotiation, a h…

Ah, that's a good point, I suppose many devices will still slow-charge from an old style connection with USB-A on the other end.

Re: ACE: Apple Type-C Port Controller Secrets

#130

Post by TheRealSteel » Thu, Dec 31, 2020, 4:24 PM UTC

naikrovek wrote: post #123

TheRealSteel wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

When I lost the charger for my Nintendo DS, I was able to MacGyver one out of a piece of cardboard and two strips of aluminium foil. A quick look at the USB-A port spec, and pin locations on the similar-to-USB-but-proprietary DS charging port indicated it was a very simple construction. Amazingly, this hack worked successfully and I was able to have my yearly Elite Beat Agents binge. The hardest part was actually not…

USB-PD is almost always in place on top of normal USB 5V, 500mA current delivery as a fallback. Your hack would have worked if you had a type-C plug you could have hacked apart and soldered to, and charging would have been dreadfully slow.

Yes, it seems like you're absolutely right, thanks for the correction!

I should have realised this was obvious - new phones still charge just fine off any old USB-A charger just fine, provided you have a USB-A to C cable -- they'll just slow charge.