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question re micro-USB/regular USB cord



 
 
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  #1  
Old December 21st 17, 09:31 PM posted to alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt
Yes[_2_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 105
Default 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  
Old December 21st 17, 10:51 PM posted to alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt
Flasherly[_2_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 2,407
Default 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  
Old December 21st 17, 11:12 PM posted to alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt
Larc[_3_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 383
Default 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  
Old December 22nd 17, 12:59 AM posted to alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt
VanguardLH[_2_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 1,453
Default 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  
Old December 25th 17, 03:46 AM posted to alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt
Loren Pechtel[_2_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 427
Default 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  
Old December 25th 17, 04:48 AM posted to alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt
VanguardLH[_2_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 1,453
Default 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  
Old December 25th 17, 05:27 AM posted to alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt
Rene Lamontagne
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 187
Default 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  
Old December 25th 17, 02:03 PM posted to alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt
SC Tom
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 441
Default 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  
Old December 25th 17, 06:18 PM posted to alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt
Yes[_2_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 105
Default 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  
Old December 25th 17, 06:48 PM posted to alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt
Paul[_28_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 1,467
Default 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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