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I bought a £16 smartwatch just because it used USB-C

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Re: I bought a £16 smartwatch just because it used USB-C

#171

Post by Findecanor »

Iulioh wrote: post #61
globular-toast wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I feel like the USB committee might be somewhat to blame. When most people think USB-C they're just thinking the cable. Why can't it just do regular slow charging with C to C cable?

It's not the usb c committee problem, the devices you are buying are out of spec This is because the cable is 2 sided so it can't assume polarity So it's a tradeoff for not having to guess how to insert the cable

> This is because the cable is 2 sided so it can't assume polarity

To clarify (and to tell my own tale on the topic):

The power pins on both sides should be connected in both a plug and in a socket. However, when it comes to the USB 2.0 data pins only the socket end must be double-sided (short A6 to B6 and A7 to B7).

Back when "Type C" was new, I wanted to build a project with it, so I got one of the first socket breakout boards available. I built a mechanical keyboard out of aluminium with a slot milled to fit that breakout board. After everything was painted and soldered did I plug it in and it did not work ... It took me a while of troubleshooting before I retried it with the cable plugged in the other orientation. The breakout board had connected only A6/A7. B6/B7 were not available.

Re: I bought a £16 smartwatch just because it used USB-C

#172

Post by xbmcuser »

jgalt212 wrote: post #130
rikafurude21 wrote: post #93

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why is it so hard for americans to accept that china makes great tech without coping about "le CCP spyware!" - it seems so absurd, like why would the CCP want to know the heart rate of the type of guy who buys a 16 pound smartwatch? Why dont americans create 16 pound smartwatches?

China hopes that if they sell enough some will end up on the wrists of military or intelligence personnel, or more likely the family members of such people.

They don't need to do that they can just buy and pay american politicians directly just like Israel does.

Re: I bought a £16 smartwatch just because it used USB-C

#173

Post by OJFord »

KnuthIsGod wrote: post #165
Aaargh20318 wrote: post #101

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> This problem seems prevalent on cheaper devices. I’ve seen it on plenty of higher-end devices as well; and even worse. The worst offender I’ve encountered is the TermoWorks Billows. ThermoWorks is a well established brand that makes high end thermometers and is considered one of the best on the market. So I was quite surprised to discover how their ‘Billows’ product is powered. The device itself needs 12v and has a…

ThermoWorks products are made in China and marketed to gullible Americans.

There are high-end brands that spec products to a high standard and have them made (to that standard) in China. But I agree, GP is confusing high-price with high-end.

That said, thermometry is pretty easy and well understood and you don't need crazy accuracy for cooking, so 'low-end' is fine really, just don't pay high-price for it.

Re: I bought a £16 smartwatch just because it used USB-C

#174

Post by chneu »

ofrzeta wrote: post #11

I have an Amazfit smartwatch that gets charged by a simple USB cable with two pins that magnetically attaches to the back of the watch. When I was on vacation and forgot that cable I was able to make my own by cutting a USB cable and attaching the wires to the contacts of the watch with tape. That simplicity is hard to beat. And this watch is water resistant.

You can recharge Garmin watches the same way. I've had to do it a few times.

Re: I bought a £16 smartwatch just because it used USB-C

#176

Post by thinkmassive »

johnyzee wrote: post #140
feistypharit wrote: post #79

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I used to have a bip and loved it. The big thing was battery life and always on screen. It used a reflective LCD screen to do it. No newer amazefits use them. I’ve since moved to using COROS watches. Not as cheap but really good. Always screen, weeks of battery. Even GPS functions are efficient . Recently did 11 hr hike with GPS and only used about 23% battery.

I really want a smartwatch with proper always on screen (so memory LCD, like those COROS ones), but I also need LTE so I don't have to bring my phone on short errands. Unfortunately no such product currently exists for some reason. The Apples, Galaxies and Pixels offer always-on, but they dim down a lot in order to not drain the power, which kind of defeats the purpose. A memory LCD screen on one of these watches wou…

Garmin Forerunner 945 LTE launched four years ago, and it has LTE plus an always-on screen.

Re: I bought a £16 smartwatch just because it used USB-C

#177

Post by rurban »

I hate those watches with direct USB ports, I prefer those magnetic connectors via USB-C. Can also charge them in the bus, if needed. You get such watches from Ali for ~20€, with all the sensors. With gadgetbridge.org you got a proper Software app without phoning home to China, only to the NSA via Google. My favorite is still the Huawei/Honor Smart Watch 2, but the GT5 comes close. Still have to try the HarmonyOS watches, which should be better than Android. And a GPS routing connector to Google Maps

Re: I bought a £16 smartwatch just because it used USB-C

#178

Post by m-p-3 »

DecentShoes wrote: post #56
ackfoobar wrote: post #5

> The watch is simply missing the two 5.1k resistors connecting the CC1 and CC2 pins of the USB-C connector to ground that are required to indicate to whatever is plugged in that it wants 5v power. This is so annoying. Back when USB-C was less prevalent, I bought a pair of wireless earbuds over another for the same reason as the title - because it used USB-C. But then I cannot charge it with my macbook, unless I add…

This is insanely common. I have about 6 devices with this problem, and I consider it unforgivable. Not only did you not include USBC charging, you went out of your way to trick me and lie and pretend you did. I would have preferred just using micro usb at that point. Powkiddy committed fraud and said the RGB30 can charge from USB-C, but they lied, it can only charge from USB A to C cables. Using it is a massive pain…

The RGB10 Max 3 Pro has the same issue, kinda annoyed with that since my new battery pack is USB-C only..

Re: I bought a £16 smartwatch just because it used USB-C

#179

Post by msgodel »

Reason077 wrote: post #110

> "I plugged it until fully charged, then wore it conti> nuously. After 24 hours of use, even with all my fiddling, that battery was at 80%. After four days, it still had 40% left"* So if a £16 generic competitor can last 4 days, what's Apple doing wrong? Why can't a £450 Apple Watch (non-Ultra) last a full 24 hours on a charge?

WTF Apple watches cost $450? You can't even run a text editor on it! What are people buying?

Re: I bought a £16 smartwatch just because it used USB-C

#180

Post by phantomathkg »

rikafurude21 wrote: post #93
Arech wrote: post #85

TBH, such a low price for so many working (!) features is an amazing achievement if not subsidized! What bothers me here, however, is...a provenance. Let me guess, it asks from your smartphone access to your location, contacts, calendar, SMS archive, email, medical records and political views and attitude towards CCP and then does some shady syncs with .cn servers "just to keep you data safe in case a meteor hits you…

Why is it so hard for americans to accept that china makes great tech without coping about "le CCP spyware!" - it seems so absurd, like why would the CCP want to know the heart rate of the type of guy who buys a 16 pound smartwatch? Why dont americans create 16 pound smartwatches?

Because APT will use any devices to infiltrate.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSaix1C-UMI

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