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question re micro-USB/regular USB cord
Are manufacturers playing games with us - again?
I have a Canon digital camera and an LG smartphone. Both of them came with their own microUSB to USB cable to connect the microUSB port on the device to a USB port on another device, Because the cords look the same and product descriptions say they are microUSB ports (on the device), I thought I'd leave one cord plugged into my pc on a semi-permanent basis and use it with either device as needed. However, when I tested them out, the microUSB connector of the cord that Canon supplied would not fit into the microUSB port on the phone. Same problem trying to use the smartphone cord with the camera - won't fit. The last time I remember something like this was from the 50s. Sears used non-standard screw threads in goods sold under their brand. My mother had a repair shop, and her customers would get upset because repair times were longer because she had to place special orders to get replacements for Sears equipment than for mainstream brands. From my experience today, it sure seems like someone is messing around. Has anyone else run into this problem? Is this problem just bad luck on my part or are the manufacturers really playing fast and loose with specs microUSB dimensions? It would have been much more convenient to have been able to use one cord with either one. Instead I'll have to keep both handy. John |
#2
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question re micro-USB/regular USB cord
On Thu, 21 Dec 2017 20:31:11 -0000 (UTC), "Yes"
wrote: Has anyone else run into this problem? Is this problem just bad luck on my part or are the manufacturers really playing fast and loose with specs microUSB dimensions? It would have been much more convenient to have been able to use one cord with either one. Instead I'll have to keep both handy. John I think you've initially answered your question. I've also a Canon digital camera, but older. I'd trust Canon, possibly over LG, for specs, even if they're both better respected names, for the reason the LG phone, of *oid devices, comes out of a tradition of proprietary plays. The other options are to try and drill up some industry specs, if you can make the minute measurements;- Ebay also will have all sorts of conversion adaptors. Not always a bad thing, ordering directly out of the Chinese technology districts -- aside from cutting potentially significant middlemen cost markups, or Chinese and Japanese LG/Canon in direct competition -- an upside residual remains, if it's so, technologically sourced, that the adaptors just may stand a chance of correctly fitting usually an inconsiderable bill. I've an mechanical LED keyboard en route now, coming directly from inside China, that hasn't much of a standing in Western marketing, or any consequent mark-ups. A potential realization I hope to appreciate for the cost-to-gain, at a risk of going outside of a closer culture indemnity markets provide. |
#3
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question re micro-USB/regular USB cord
On Thu, 21 Dec 2017 20:31:11 -0000 (UTC), "Yes" wrote:
| Are manufacturers playing games with us - again? | | I have a Canon digital camera and an LG smartphone. Both of them came | with their own microUSB to USB cable to connect the microUSB port on | the device to a USB port on another device, Because the cords look the | same and product descriptions say they are microUSB ports (on the | device), I thought I'd leave one cord plugged into my pc on a | semi-permanent basis and use it with either device as needed. However, | when I tested them out, the microUSB connector of the cord that Canon | supplied would not fit into the microUSB port on the phone. Same | problem trying to use the smartphone cord with the camera - won't fit. | | The last time I remember something like this was from the 50s. Sears | used non-standard screw threads in goods sold under their brand. My | mother had a repair shop, and her customers would get upset because | repair times were longer because she had to place special orders to get | replacements for Sears equipment than for mainstream brands. From my | experience today, it sure seems like someone is messing around. | | Has anyone else run into this problem? Is this problem just bad luck | on my part or are the manufacturers really playing fast and loose with | specs microUSB dimensions? It would have been much more convenient | to have been able to use one cord with either one. Instead I'll have | to keep both handy. I sometimes think things often get changed just for the sake of change. Then there are USB "C" connectors. I really like those better since I don't have to pay attention to how I plug it into my phone. It has rounded sides, so no bottom and top difference to worry about. Larc |
#4
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question re micro-USB/regular USB cord
Yes wrote:
Are manufacturers playing games with us - again? I have a Canon digital camera and an LG smartphone. Both of them came with their own microUSB to USB cable to connect the microUSB port on the device to a USB port on another device, Because the cords look the same and product descriptions say they are microUSB ports (on the device), I thought I'd leave one cord plugged into my pc on a semi-permanent basis and use it with either device as needed. However, when I tested them out, the microUSB connector of the cord that Canon supplied would not fit into the microUSB port on the phone. Same problem trying to use the smartphone cord with the camera - won't fit. The last time I remember something like this was from the 50s. Sears used non-standard screw threads in goods sold under their brand. My mother had a repair shop, and her customers would get upset because repair times were longer because she had to place special orders to get replacements for Sears equipment than for mainstream brands. From my experience today, it sure seems like someone is messing around. Has anyone else run into this problem? Is this problem just bad luck on my part or are the manufacturers really playing fast and loose with specs microUSB dimensions? It would have been much more convenient to have been able to use one cord with either one. Instead I'll have to keep both handy. "micro" gets abused regarding description of the USB connectors. MicroUSB could be instead miniUSB. microUSB https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon....303372859_.jpg That has a tiny profile with a D-shaped connector miniUSB https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon....L._SL1500_.jpg That is larger with a more box-like shape with tangs on one end. The above are asymmetrical connectors: they can be inserted only in one orientation. Type C are symmetrical and you don't have to worry about which way you insert the connector into the jack. https://www.bhphotovideo.com/images/...to_1141594.jpg Compares the asymmetrical miniUSB to the type-C USB. https://i1.wp.com/www.gadgetmatch.co...e-C-sample.jpg Shows a double-ended type C cable. For older smartphones, they likely have an asymmetrical microUSB port. For newer smartphones, they likely have the symmetrical type C USB port. However ... and here's the catch ... many camera makers use their own proprietary connectors on their cables and camera ports. You have to use THEIR cable to use with THEIR camera. "Canon" doesn't give a model so no one else can check what connector style that model uses. You could compare the camera cable or the camera port to see if it matches the pics above for the micro, mini, and type C USB connectors or if whatever model you have uses a proprietary cable. I've seen the same happen with UPS makers where they have a serial port on the UPS case but it is not wired the same as a standard DB-9 serial port. That means you must use their speciality serial cable with their proprietary serial port (unless you find a wiring diagram and solder together the end of a serial cable on the UPS end). That's why they typically have icons on the cable ends to indicate which goes to the PC (that has the standard wiring at that end) and to the UPS (the end where they change the wiring to whatever they wanted). |
#5
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question re micro-USB/regular USB cord
On Thu, 21 Dec 2017 17:59:26 -0600, VanguardLH wrote:
However ... and here's the catch ... many camera makers use their own proprietary connectors on their cables and camera ports. You have to use THEIR cable to use with THEIR camera. "Canon" doesn't give a model so no one else can check what connector style that model uses. You could compare the camera cable or the camera port to see if it matches the pics above for the micro, mini, and type C USB connectors or if whatever model you have uses a proprietary cable. That's truly obnoxious. Cameras travel--we want a minimum of gear. There shouldn't be extra cables in my bag just because some manufacturer wants to sell more cables rather than use something standard. |
#6
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question re micro-USB/regular USB cord
Loren Pechtel wrote:
On Thu, 21 Dec 2017 17:59:26 -0600, VanguardLH wrote: However ... and here's the catch ... many camera makers use their own proprietary connectors on their cables and camera ports. You have to use THEIR cable to use with THEIR camera. "Canon" doesn't give a model so no one else can check what connector style that model uses. You could compare the camera cable or the camera port to see if it matches the pics above for the micro, mini, and type C USB connectors or if whatever model you have uses a proprietary cable. That's truly obnoxious. Cameras travel--we want a minimum of gear. There shouldn't be extra cables in my bag just because some manufacturer wants to sell more cables rather than use something standard. That's truly obnoxious. Smartphones should come with a minimum of bundled apps so we actually get most of the system RAM and internal storage we were told came in the phone. That's truly obnoxious. Apps that worked in prior versions of the OS will quit working because a new version came out that requires a new minimum OS version. Despite the old version works on the old OS, the store delivers only the latest version. Your choice is to give up on the app or buy a new phone. That's truly obnoxious. That 99% of the free apps at the store aren't free at all. The cost is ads ... content which the author absolves themself of any responsibility, like covert apps that pretend to show the Back, Home, and Recent buttons trying to get users to click on those instead of the real ones. Or they place the ad banner as a translucent overlay atop the buttons (for phones that don't have real buttons but instead show icons on the screen) so there's a good chance you'll hit the ad's activate/install buttons instead of the ones for the phone. Oh, then there are the fullscreen ads the "free" adware-ridden app supplies that takes over your phone along with blaring loud audio. Some authors don't even provide a payware ad-free version because they get more revenue from the ads than if they offered paid versions. That's truly obnoxious. That users are stuck with mobile versions of web browsers. You get crippleware instead of a decent client. That's truly obnoxious. That users pay $800 for extremely overpriced toy computers. That's truly obnoxious. That glass screens can resist scratching (only from object with a lesser MOH, like keys, versus pocket lint that has quartz or sand) but shatter upon dropping from hip height. And now they're putting glass on the backside, too, so any drop can mean a shattered surface ... unless you get an armored case that means tough **** trying to plug it into a charging stand, increased distanced from the coils for wireless charging, or are too big for belt cases. Had a dumb flip phone that lasted years while dropped, sat on, and abused quite often but I have to buy an armor case, 9 MOH screen protector, carry case for the armored phone, and there's even insurance you can buy to further increase the cost of your smartphone (which probably doesn't cover the reasons the phone gets broken). That's truly obnoxious. That kids can't be out with the family and actually talk to the family instead of being disconnected with texting. Go to the grocery store and nearly everyone is on their phone. Go to an expensive Disney theme park and, yep, the boobs are glued to their phones instead of enjoying what they paid for. Outside of wifi and cellular range many smartphone users become aimless. Someday someone defendant will blame the smartphone on why they committed a crime and some asshole psychiatrist will label it as some severe form of smartphone addiction to provide an excuse. Everything is a disease to provide an excuse. That's truly obnoxious. That users have absolutely no security to use their smartphone. Just a swipe across the screen. Oh, perhaps a pattern to unlock like that's real secure, uh huh. Yet they have records or access to them on that phone for their bank accounts, credit cards, etc. Forget losing your wallet. That's truly obnoxious. The telcos continue to allow Caller ID spoofing and there are even sites to help with that. The Cyborg have already invaded. They're the ones not just carrying smartphones but have them powered on all the time and in constant use. |
#7
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question re micro-USB/regular USB cord
On 12/24/2017 9:48 PM, VanguardLH wrote:
Loren Pechtel wrote: On Thu, 21 Dec 2017 17:59:26 -0600, VanguardLH wrote: However ... and here's the catch ... many camera makers use their own proprietary connectors on their cables and camera ports. You have to use THEIR cable to use with THEIR camera. "Canon" doesn't give a model so no one else can check what connector style that model uses. You could compare the camera cable or the camera port to see if it matches the pics above for the micro, mini, and type C USB connectors or if whatever model you have uses a proprietary cable. That's truly obnoxious. Cameras travel--we want a minimum of gear. There shouldn't be extra cables in my bag just because some manufacturer wants to sell more cables rather than use something standard. That's truly obnoxious. Smartphones should come with a minimum of bundled apps so we actually get most of the system RAM and internal storage we were told came in the phone. That's truly obnoxious. Apps that worked in prior versions of the OS will quit working because a new version came out that requires a new minimum OS version. Despite the old version works on the old OS, the store delivers only the latest version. Your choice is to give up on the app or buy a new phone. That's truly obnoxious. That 99% of the free apps at the store aren't free at all. The cost is ads ... content which the author absolves themself of any responsibility, like covert apps that pretend to show the Back, Home, and Recent buttons trying to get users to click on those instead of the real ones. Or they place the ad banner as a translucent overlay atop the buttons (for phones that don't have real buttons but instead show icons on the screen) so there's a good chance you'll hit the ad's activate/install buttons instead of the ones for the phone. Oh, then there are the fullscreen ads the "free" adware-ridden app supplies that takes over your phone along with blaring loud audio. Some authors don't even provide a payware ad-free version because they get more revenue from the ads than if they offered paid versions. That's truly obnoxious. That users are stuck with mobile versions of web browsers. You get crippleware instead of a decent client. That's truly obnoxious. That users pay $800 for extremely overpriced toy computers. That's truly obnoxious. That glass screens can resist scratching (only from object with a lesser MOH, like keys, versus pocket lint that has quartz or sand) but shatter upon dropping from hip height. And now they're putting glass on the backside, too, so any drop can mean a shattered surface ... unless you get an armored case that means tough **** trying to plug it into a charging stand, increased distanced from the coils for wireless charging, or are too big for belt cases. Had a dumb flip phone that lasted years while dropped, sat on, and abused quite often but I have to buy an armor case, 9 MOH screen protector, carry case for the armored phone, and there's even insurance you can buy to further increase the cost of your smartphone (which probably doesn't cover the reasons the phone gets broken). That's truly obnoxious. That kids can't be out with the family and actually talk to the family instead of being disconnected with texting. Go to the grocery store and nearly everyone is on their phone. Go to an expensive Disney theme park and, yep, the boobs are glued to their phones instead of enjoying what they paid for. Outside of wifi and cellular range many smartphone users become aimless. Someday someone defendant will blame the smartphone on why they committed a crime and some asshole psychiatrist will label it as some severe form of smartphone addiction to provide an excuse. Everything is a disease to provide an excuse. That's truly obnoxious. That users have absolutely no security to use their smartphone. Just a swipe across the screen. Oh, perhaps a pattern to unlock like that's real secure, uh huh. Yet they have records or access to them on that phone for their bank accounts, credit cards, etc. Forget losing your wallet. That's truly obnoxious. The telcos continue to allow Caller ID spoofing and there are even sites to help with that. The Cyborg have already invaded. They're the ones not just carrying smartphones but have them powered on all the time and in constant use. Truly well put, VanguardLH, I agree with you 110%, Stupid phones are turning our young generation into a bunch of virtual Zombies. I wouldn't and will never own a stupid phone ever, I will hang on to my POTS line until they tear the wires out. Rene |
#8
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question re micro-USB/regular USB cord
"Loren Pechtel" wrote in message ... On Thu, 21 Dec 2017 17:59:26 -0600, VanguardLH wrote: However ... and here's the catch ... many camera makers use their own proprietary connectors on their cables and camera ports. You have to use THEIR cable to use with THEIR camera. "Canon" doesn't give a model so no one else can check what connector style that model uses. You could compare the camera cable or the camera port to see if it matches the pics above for the micro, mini, and type C USB connectors or if whatever model you have uses a proprietary cable. That's truly obnoxious. Cameras travel--we want a minimum of gear. There shouldn't be extra cables in my bag just because some manufacturer wants to sell more cables rather than use something standard. I have an older Canon PowerShot SD700IS (purchased over 10 years ago) and it uses a standard mini-USB connection, so it's not ALL Canon's. Maybe the newer or really older ones use proprietary ports? Don't know about them. -- SC Tom |
#9
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question re micro-USB/regular USB cord
Rene Lamontagne wrote:
Truly well put, VanguardLH, I agree with you 110%, Stupid phones are turning our young generation into a bunch of virtual Zombies. I wouldn't and will never own a stupid phone ever, I will hang on to my POTS line until they tear the wires out. Rene I seem to recall an AT&T customer rep telling me that (removing POTS) is in the works around 2020 in my area. I've never had a smartphone until just a few days ago. I saw a video on YouTube explaining that a smartphone could be used separately from a cell phone network, for example, AT&T or T-Mobile, and work with a wi-fi network; it does not need a SIM card to work. With the appropriate apps, I could send and receive phone calls over the internet. Given the info about AT&T's plans and using a smartphone as a wi-fi phone, I decided I better start checking it out so I could have a better feel for what my options are. I didn't want to get caught flat-footed if what AT&T reps said turned out to be true. For whatever reason, I had never thought about using a smartphone in that manner until then. BTW, even with the smartphone, I do not like using them (neither cell phone nor smartphone). They are too small for my fingers, they are uncomfortable to hold while talking (as compared to the POTS phones I grew up with) and the screen display is too small for my tired eyes. So the only time I carry it around to use is when I'm in transit. Otherwise, I keep it turned off and use my pc and my traditional phones at home. My sister doesn't understand why I don't see her text messages she sends to me LOL. John |
#10
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question re micro-USB/regular USB cord
SC Tom wrote:
"Loren Pechtel" wrote in message ... On Thu, 21 Dec 2017 17:59:26 -0600, VanguardLH wrote: However ... and here's the catch ... many camera makers use their own proprietary connectors on their cables and camera ports. You have to use THEIR cable to use with THEIR camera. "Canon" doesn't give a model so no one else can check what connector style that model uses. You could compare the camera cable or the camera port to see if it matches the pics above for the micro, mini, and type C USB connectors or if whatever model you have uses a proprietary cable. That's truly obnoxious. Cameras travel--we want a minimum of gear. There shouldn't be extra cables in my bag just because some manufacturer wants to sell more cables rather than use something standard. I have an older Canon PowerShot SD700IS (purchased over 10 years ago) and it uses a standard mini-USB connection, so it's not ALL Canon's. Maybe the newer or really older ones use proprietary ports? Don't know about them. On cameras, it's the battery pack that is non-standard. If you go to Best Buy, there's a whole rack of different battery pack models. The two connectors on my camera are standard, even if they're miniature. The USB cable came in the box. Charging is via a separate charger which accepts that particular pack. The pack only has one cell in it (so you can run it flat). My camera managed to run it flat once (I'm pretty sure the camera was turned off when I put it away), and the charger would still recharge it. Paul |
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