But not all USB-C cables are made alike.
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But the simplicity ends with having a USB-C port.
Choosing the right cable and knowing what kind of port you really have is another ball game.
Plus, you have to know if the USB-C port on your equipment supports all that.
Because theres no mandate for a USB cable/port to do all the things mentioned above.
USB-IF (USB-Implementers Forum) is an organization that looks at standardizing USB for hardware manufacturers worldwide.
You cant just pick up any USB cable and expect it to do all these things.
So how the heck would you identify a cable or a devices USB capabilities correctly?
There are two parts to that story.
Data
Data is probably the most complex standard given how its named (or numbered).
Then there are other complexities.
For instance, the theoretical data communication speed of USB 2.0 is 480Mbits/sec (60 Mbytes/sec).
Take a look at the table below for more info.
Dont worry if you cant remember it.
But there arent many USB4 supported cables or devices around yet.
Plus, its the only protocol to be exclusively compatible with a USB-C connector.
But the implementation and execution are not that simple.
Well talk about that in a bit.
My brother is a trucker living in midwest Ohio.
He doesnt understand gadgetry and he doesnt care.
Thats the consumer we are aiming to educate with our new logo schemes.
It seems simple enough, right?
Just include these damn logos in your product packaging.
But who will enforce this?
The body isnt in any position to force hardware brands to use their logos on USB devices and peripherals.
Organizations can becomeUSB-IF membersfor a nominal annual fee of $5,000.
Apart from maintaining standards, USB-IF certifies cables and peripherals.
For members, its free, and non-members can get their products through approved labs.
And even if you get the certification, youre not forced to use the logo.
But having one connector doesnt mean cables are similar.
He said his advice to consumers would be to buy USB-IF certified cables.
However, like I just talked about, figuring out exactly which cable to buy is still difficult.
If youre pulling your hair out by now, I dont blame you.
But things might get better.
What does the future look like?
The prospect of USB 4 looks great.
Its like a supercable that does all the things.
The problem of logo vs. specification still stands, though.
And all USB 4 cables might not have all capabilities that are listed under the standard.
So good luck going through various cable specifications with a magnifying glass.
Despite all this, USB-IF is sticking with its logo-first methodology.
All of these cables will also have markings indicating their power rating.
This sounds great in theory, but how does the organization plan to execute this?
That doesnt sound good.
The ports are unified but you still need different cables for different devices.
My keyboard has usb-c port but doesnt work when plugged to usb-c computer for example.
I can’t see any benefit but confusion since it is now impossible to know which cable does what.
Or USB-C that supports USB 3.1 Gen?
Or maybe the Thunderbolt 4 USB-C?
USB-C that supports video signal or USB-C thats for power only?…
Yes, its a port that works and makes things slightly easy.
It should be much simpler than that.
That’s one heck of a mixed bag.
He likes to say “Bleh.
That’s one heck of a mixed bag.
He likes to say “Bleh.”
