Re:USB inventor explains why the connector was not designed ...
by dharmab on Monday October 09, 2023 @08:44AM
(#37819861)
> From my understanding I think that is not technically possible because to pass video they need the data lines but maybe I'm mistaken?
Counterexample: The Meta Quest link cables use a USB-C style connector but internally are very different from a regular cable.
Re:USB inventor explains why the connector was not designed ...
by lloeki on Monday October 09, 2023 @09:23AM
(#37820219)
So, not actually USB compliant? (save for the connector)
One can't blame non-compliant cables on USB-C as it could happen with any other connector.
Re:USB inventor explains why the connector was not designed ...
by slikrick on Monday October 09, 2023 @08:50AM
(#37819919)
and that can happen with literally every cable, people have abused USB-A and RJ45 for many decades...
Re:USB inventor explains why the connector was not designed ...
by usrusr on Monday October 09, 2023 @09:11AM
(#37820107)
Not every cable. Not if you make the connector a closed standard that can't be used without ruinous licencing fees and keep a squad of patent attorneys on retainer. Thankfully USB is not one of those.
Re:USB inventor explains why the connector was not designed ...
by lloeki on Monday October 09, 2023 @09:25AM
(#37820241)
> make the connector a closed standard that can't be used without ruinous licencing fees and keep a squad of patent attorneys on retainer
Time has shown that doesn't seem to prevent cheap - and potentially dangerous - knockoffs from areas outside possible litigation.
Re:USB inventor explains why the connector was not designed ...
by extraduder_ire on Wednesday October 11, 2023 @09:58AM
(#37844485)
My APC UPS is connected to my computer with a USB-A to rj45 cable. It is the most cursed cable I own, narrowly beating out the type-A to type-A usb2 cable I needed to buy to get a HTC vive to work. (I later "upgraded" to a type-c cable with A-to-C adapters on either end.)
IIRC, the Ethernet standard means ports should tolerate 5V, but I'm still spooked someone's going to use the cable thinking it's something else.
From my understanding I think that is not technically possible because to pass video they need the data lines but maybe I'm mistaken?
IIUC again even if it did work I think these would be non-compliant. People hell-bent on doing non-compliant things would do it irrespective of any design.
> low-voltage only cables
That's a given due to physical constraints (length, diameter: would you accept that all cables are 0.8m / thick and unbendable). It was so with USB-A too, as well as non-standard power delivery, at the risk of setting things on fire or destroying devices. USB-PD makes it so that you basically can't fry anything or melt a cable, it falls back to the best possible through negotiation. But then again, people hell-bent on doing non-compliant things would do it irrespective of any design.
> literally manufactures are going to cheap out and not do that and you have 1-way USB-C cables without any kind of orientation markers.
Non-compliant for sure. Ah, yes, people hell-bent on doing non-compliant things would do it irrespective of any design.
At least with USB-C+USB-4+USB-PD we get a fighting chance.
> An obviously key'd connector like firewire / ethernet would've solved all of USB-A's flip it thrice problems
Rumour has it that USB-B which is keyed, has five positions due to squareness. FireWire and Ethernet have the same state superpositions as USB-A. Hell I've seen people shove an Ethernet cable the wrong way in and have it fit (breaking the infamous clip in the process). USB-C? I lay it basically flat and clip it in, barely looking at the connector and not even taking a glance at the port. Worst case it needs a few degrees rotation.