Spyke
sh.itjust.works

Ha. I like the vga part but the part that makes your usb - c connector look like an old fashioned proprietary apple lightening connector is just too much!

195
wahmingreply
monyet.cc

Thank you for pointing that out, I didn't notice it lmao

41
wahmingreply
monyet.cc

Yeah I'm not entirely sure, but it WOULD be possible to print a sticker like that

13

I know, I had to look at it for a while but the side edges in the pictures are rather sharp while a USB connector would have a completely round edge...

8
Empricornreply
feddit.nl

Am I missing something? That's Apple's proprietary connector, all right. But it's not "old-fashioned" in that it's still currently used for new devices (at least for iPads in the US).

Left: USB-C connector
Right: Apple Lightning connector

And USB-C has the wires on the inside (which then goes inside the port on the device). So, unless I'm mistaken, they weren't trying to look like anything other than the VGA part, because this connector wouldn't work for anything other than an Apple device...

4
discuss.online

I believe the joke is calling Apple old fashioned for still sticking to a proprietary cable and/or calling proprietary cables old-fashioned in general. But also, Apple will be switching the iPhone cables to USB-C next gen iirc, so maybe it's also old fashioned that way?

22
Obeliskoidreply
lemmy.world

Apple has already switched their whole lineup to USB-C as far as I can tell, currently replying to this from my USB-C iPhone 15. Even my AirPods are USB-C.

3
lemmy.world

Huh? Both my M1 air and iPad Pro only use USB-C. Do some of the iPads still use Apple's lightning? These are the only two apple products I own, so I have never had any other connector. Except for a couple random items (stupid mouse), everything I own can use the same charger. Packing and traveling is so much easier.

3
Empricornreply
feddit.nl

There's a lot of iPad Gen 1-9s out there. Not to mention iPods and older iPhones...

2
lemmy.world

I knew the phones and older devices had not, but I didn't think there were newish models of the iPads that hadn't switched to USB-C like the Pro line did.

I seriously love it. I can use the USB4/Thunderbolt ports to connect to my Dell monitor that includes PD (power delivery) and have 1 cable for everything. All of the ports for a keyboard, flash drives, Ethernet, whatever are on the monitor.

2

Ah, yeah that's true. I know we get used to only the absolute newest things being the norm, but... they still sell the Lightning models all over the world. Even in the US, this is straight from their website:

(In case it's not obvious, the USB-C port is on the wall charger. The actual iPad has the Lightning connector.)

1

You could put a sticker on the left one and (from the right angle) make it look like the right one.

1
Empricornreply
feddit.nl

It's progress! I believe that's the only regular iPad that has ever come with USB-C. Thank the EU, which required it! Gens 1-9 had the proprietary Lightning connector...

3

It’s actually kind of a pain because we have so many lightning cables set up where the old iPad (RIP) and our older phones charge.

I’m also a little dubious of the longevity of usb-c ports. 2 of the 4 on my MacBook are less that reliable when plugged into the charger.

Hopefully the iPad works out. The last one lasted us almost 10 years.

1

That one is a rectangle inside a rectangle. The one in the OP looks like a capsule shape inside a rectangle, more like a usbc connector, so i assumed it was an intentional add by the the person who made the thing as another layer on top of the joke.

But yeah it could also be just someone trying to be clever while whining about usbc not being adopted by iphones sooner, and the icon is off because it’s designed to be made with 3d printer without a high enough level of precision

1
lemmy.world

It's not the same without two little screws jangling about

116

I had fuckin bent pins and pins falling out of my vga connector. I had to straighten them and align them. Good times.

8

You could take the screws out of your iPhone and glue them onto the knobs, it’ll void your AppleCare though.

2
lemmy.world

How about display port that looks like HDMI? Oh wait...

79

No, how about DVI that looks like HDMI? Hold on...

Explaination: basically HDMI is patent-troll-guarded version of DVI with some additional(and useless or actively harmful) stuff

2

Because that stupid proprietary connector is now illegal in the EU YAAAAY

1
lemmy.world

this is the most comments I've seen on lemmy. now i know the community I'm in. God help me.

71
lemmy.world

Leave a factually incorrect, unprompted whataboutism about socialism or communism in a thread criticizing capitalism and I bet you could rival this comment count.

22
tocopherolreply
lemmy.dbzer0.com

There was a thread this week about Biden's achievements and it got at least 600 comments haha.

11
lemmy.world

Nice! I can definitely see how that would stir the pot. I've had a lot of good discussion on Lemmy, I really enjoy it.

10
Ann Archyreply
lemmy.world

I like it here too. It's smaller, nicer than... That other, silly place.

10
ULSreply
lemmy.ml

Op still uses VGA. And is offended. 😬

6
lemmy.world

I came back to see how many people were truly offended by this like I was and....yeah. These are my people.

3

Can explain to someone with english skill issue?

1

I had to double check I wasn't on Reddit lol. Glad to see it.

3
lemmy.world

A power plug, but the three-prong ones like we have in the UK. The two lower prongs would appear to be plugged into the phone, and the top prong would just hover uselessly above the phone.

Bonus points for following the shape of the plug properly and having the cable come out of the bottom of the wall wart, so the phone can never lat down flat while it's charging.

57
mlg
lemmy.world

An ethernet cable that's actually wired for a serial port

looks at network hardware vendors

42
droansreply
lemmy.world

Sounds like someone accidentally used the wrong port a few times.

11

Lawful good: Please don't use 8P8C for anything other than 10/100/1000BASE* compatible protocols, especially on network devices. It's confusing.
Chaotic good: Please don't use ethernet cable for anything other than ethernet compatible protocols, especially on ethernet devices.
Lawful evil: That's a valid use of Cat5 cable.
Chaotic evil: Let's talk about RS-485

True neutral: Wires are just wires and standards are just standards. In a parallel dimensions, somewhere, cat5 is used for 8-phase delta mains power.

10
uis
lemmy.world

At first I thought it was great standard connector. It turns out to be non-standard garbage.

29
ULSreply

You have to buy a million dollar iPod to use it.

7
Aasikkireply
sopuli.xyz

Fun fact: if you design in fusion 360, you can make technical drawings quite easily with only a couple clicks.

2
jopepareply
lemmy.world

[Fact Check!] A YouTube video series says it takes 30 days to completely master. Did skillshare send you?

1

To completely master yeah maybe, but if you just want the cool drawings, it'll automatically make them from your model (I meant that assuming you already use fusion).

2
marcosreply
lemmy.world

Why two different and incompatible options?

Or, more generally, why can't I ever read some USB spec and get out with less questions than I had in the beginning?

11

Probably for the same reason why they decided to rename USB 3.0.

I guess they had a liquor cabinet in the room where they held their meeting

14

Because for some reason, the USBIF has been hit over and over again with the stupid stick ever since USB2 came out.

9
lemmy.world

These are for niche needs. For most applications neither is necessary. If needed and space is constrained the single pin variant allows additional connectors to be packed together on a single PCB. The dual pin option doesn't, it takes up space that could be used for additional connectors.

6
marcosreply
lemmy.world

I se no advantage at all for the dual pin design.

It looks exactly like what I imagined by screw-lock USB connector, but the single pin seems to be a really inspired design somebody had and made the entire committee angry for some reason.

4
lemmy.world

The single pin only resists force. Two pins resist torques being applied to the usb connector. The single pin does resist torque but it uses the connector potentially damaging the PCB.

9
Aasikkireply
sopuli.xyz

But why not make a dual screw design by adding one more screw to the bottom of the current single screw one? Would be more compact and allow them to be more cross compatible.

1

PCB are designed with things on top of them. Typically they are mounted with the bottom of the PCB at the bottom of a case. So following normal conventions there wouldn't be a place for the bottom screw to go into something. Unless you used a bespoke case. It's much easier to have the two screw design place the screws above the PCB.

It may seem like a minor change, but it costs substantial more in design time and effort. New folded steel cases and injection moulded cases would have to be developed. Designers would use a different port, or worse deploy their own two horizontal screw design. There would then be several two screw designs (metric/imperial/very close/very far etc).

Anyone with the niche need of the two screw vertical design would likely rotate the whole connector or use a flex cable to join the connector to the main board.

1

Because USB is pretty much neither universal or standardized, just the same shape and somewhat compatible

1

That's cool, but I wouldn't have anything to attach it to. It would be great if my laptop had those ports though.

4

You usually do not want connectors to be too stable.

The fact that it unplugs before any part breaking or pushing your devices away is almost always a feature, not a bug.

4
discuss.online

Cant do it, the BNC connector is not large enough to house a USBc end, even the Apple one which is the smallest I have. I would have to enlarge the BNC to a near comical size. Now if we removed the moulded housing it could be done, but it would have to be made on a bare PCB/Cable/Connector to be the right size.

2
cmnyboreply
discuss.tchncs.de

An N connector should be just big enough, if not, use a 7/16 DIN connector then.

3
discuss.online

Jack or Plug? if plug, would you want it to look like its plugged in, so just the retention tab and back half are sticking out?

3
lemm.ee

Side note, does anyone know some sort of cable sleeve similar to this that instead grabs onto the device and stabilizes the port?

As much as I like type-C, the ports on my laptop have worn down significantly and aren't always stable

26
lemmy.world

Depends on what you mean by stable.

It's likely dust in the port. If you gently clean it out with a toothpick or other small flat instrument you will get it to seat better. If dust is the issue, you should see some lint at the bottom of the port.

16
denastreply
lemm.ee

Sorry for not being clear, I'm not talking about connection stability, I mean the type-c port (female) becomes flimsy over the years and doesn't hold the connector (male) securely anymore

5
lemmy.world

Neither are they. If there's dust or fuzz down in there, it doesn't physically seat correctly, and ends up being wobbly.

12

This isn't usually the cause. If the cable isn't inserting fully then yes it can be dust and that often helps the problem, but the retention mechanism itself wears out over time leading to the cable slipping out easily and depending on the design things can get wobbly. I work with electronics for a living and with laptops more often than not it's the latter category with dust not being too common of an issue since they aren't kept in pockets. Phones on the other hand it's usually dust, but I don't interact with many USB C phones old enough for wear to be an issue.

3

Have you tried a different cable? With usb c it should be the cable that becomes flimsy and not the port.

1

Personally I have the opinion that usb-c should be a connector for mobile devices only and there should be something with the size of a type a or b for stationary stuff. The size makes the connector too flimsy

7

Yes, but they typically require that the side on the laptop is also prepared for it. Look for example how the usb ports on toughbooks look. They have a screw next to them.

5
lemmy.sdf.org

You can use some of that heat shrink wire wrap to create a stiff cable where you want and how big

3
Anticorpreply
lemmy.world

USB-C has been really fragile for me. Cables tend to only last a couple of months on my phone. People say it is a robust connector type, so idk if my phone is defective and destroying them, or if people are being overly generous about the connector resilience.

3
HardNutreply
lemmy.world

This was my experience with micro usb, and everyone seemed to agree they were total shit. As for USB-C, I've never even heard of someone having trouble with the actual cord. Generally the issue is that there is lint or something in the charge port. I don't think I've ever thrown out a USB-C cord, to my memory.

In short, check for lint, and if that's not the issue then yeah it really might be your phone. Mind if I ask what kind of phone you have?

13

I've had a couple usb-C cords die, and a couple of outlet adapters. Always fun trying to troubleshoot what the issue is.

4
Anticorpreply
lemmy.world

Pixel 7 Pro. It's definitely not lint. I'll try the cables with other devices after they stop working and they're dead. I've resorted to buying the expensive cables and even those eventually wear out.

1
Mokopareply
lemmy.world

I've had issues with the cable on my pixel 6 pro not staying seated - so I plug the phone in and if there's slight movement and it stops charging, very annoying... I also had the same issue with my pixel 5, so much so that I had to get it repaired. I don't do anything unusual wear and tear wise (like working on a building site), and since the 5, I always make sure the port is debris free before plugging in.

It's frustrating because I have an iPhone for work and the connection on that is reassuringly solid.

2
Anticorpreply
lemmy.world

Yeah, the iPhone cable is nice. It's just a simple male to female, not this double inception stuff that USB-C is. But USB-C is faster, and more universal. I guess the problem is probably my phone. I already had to get it replaced once because the port burned out. Great job Google! Nice flagship phone you've got there.

2
Zinkreply
programming.dev

Do you often use your phone hand-held while it is charging? The devices should be able to handle it, of course, but it sounds like you've had a lot of issues!

Agreed on the Apple lightning connector though. I am happy to see USB-c finally becoming the standard, but it's mechanically a nice connector.

1

I wouldn't say "often", but occasionally. I guess a few times per week for 10-20 minutes or so.

1
reddthat.com

My question is on the cables. I learned way too quickly that the quality of the cables matters a ton with USB C.

I haven't had any problems with USB C cables failing other than the one one of my kids chewed on

5

I don't really know why your cables would be falling so fast, but to be fair part of the design of USB C is that, inverting the design of USB A, the connector is on the cable side, in the hope that the cable should be the part that deteriorates first. That way fewer devices get trashed for having dodgy sockets.

2
Strykkerreply
programming.dev

I've had mine for like 4 years at this point and they are still perfect. I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say you are either buying cheap shit or are abusive as fuck with your cables.

2
Anticorpreply
lemmy.world

Your limb has snapped, and you are injured.

Neither of those things are true, but I think my phone port might be frying them. I already had to return 1 Pixel 7 Pro for a dead port that burned up a cable on its way out.

1
lemmy.world

Have you tried using a different charger? What about your other devices? Do you have issues with them? I wonder if the charger is what is damaging them.

2
Aasikkireply
sopuli.xyz

That could actually be one of the more confusing ones.

11

But one of those chonky third party ones with the buttons on the sides, and have a FireWire cable coming out of there too for that 2003 feel

1
lemmy.sdf.org

Terrible ideas:

  • Garden hose
  • NEMA 10-50 - each "prong" could be a different connector
  • CCS
  • USB-A
  • Quick-connect air coupler
22

How about a patch cable to female aux connector? Just leave it laying around somewhere visible in the office.

3
lemmy.world

A 24 pin mobo power connector just to strike ptsd into those who notice.

14
Zinkreply
programming.dev

The pro move there would be to physically modify it so that the power is actually going through the ribbon cable. So bulky, yet so thin!

2
Panqreply

That isn't even a terrible idea - with that many conductors, you should be able to carry tens of amps. Use two for "Data" (detecting charger) and you've got... 21 positive and 21 negative. I'd not be surprised to see that hit 100W without catching fire.

3

Print USB-A sleeves with the logo on the wrong side. People will be so surprised and confused when they can't plug the cable in on the first try!

14
shalafireply
lemmy.world

Hah! I never noticed the logo thing, I always aim with the metal seam facing down. Rarely fails.

8
poppyreply
lemm.ee

What about when it’s vertically oriented

2

Up is still up. The circuit board is the frame of reference, not the floor of the room.

1

You inspired at least one print. Thankfully, I have blue filament on hand!

10
discuss.tchncs.de

First we has the Flesh Light. Then we broke the mold with the Vajankle. Now we have cracked the code with the VaGC!

7
lemm.ee

I think it was in an episode of Mindhunters when they're speaking with Ed Kemper or someone, and he talks about cutting his mom's head off and having sex with her neck.

I had to look up what in the world a vajankle was, and I thought, "that's some serial killer shit." I don't even mean that in a kink shaming kind of way, that line from Kemper was just the first thing that popped into my mind... but thank you, I guess; now I know that's something that exists.

5
Wahotsreply
pawb.social

It's a chastity cage, so one can't use their dick. Something used in various kink scenes. Typically they are made of plastic, dunno if a metal one is a good idea if you need to take it off, haha.

2

I searched Etsy for Vajankle. I did get the one vajankle, amid a gallery of horrors.

4
stringerereply
reddthat.com

Bonus for fitting an adapter plug into a pipe fitting for an external hose that sits flush with the wall outket when plugged in.

2

One of those big old audio jacks. Bonus points for use of metal and leaving a good chunk of it ‘sticking out’.

7

I just cut up an old VGA cable to make some of these tonight. Surprisingly not that hard to take apart. I'll need to use my dremel to cut the screws off of their little blue thumb grips so I can glue them on.

6

Nah, this is Apple. It's got to be the most expensive: Lemo medical grade.

1

USB-A sleeve for an aux-cable (aux would just kinda dangle in the casing)

HDMI sleeve with a hole drilled through for an Ethernet to poke out

5
aardreply
kyu.de

Which of them, though?

3
aardreply
kyu.de

50 pin centronics should be bulkier in all dimensions

2

Given the color and size, this looks like an old VGA connector, but since we cant see the pins it could b a serial connector. Def not big enough for SCSI

0
lemmy.ml

We need that guy from Reddit who makes useless products…

3
lemmy.world

You shouldn't use this long term.

The cable strain relief (the ribbed part on the end) is nonfunctional because it is hard 3D printed plastic without any give, it's a very easy way to wear out your cable at that spot from the concentrated cable strain.

1
lemmy.world

I assumed this structure is printed as a hollow shell, with a rigid plastic, you can maintain a solid shape, which you can't do with a shell of a soft TPE material.

I've had multiple old charger cables fail at the same spot because of the lack of strain relief.

What could be done to make it viable long term is to print the main body with a rigid plastic to maintain structure and only print the strain relief with a soft TPE material, but that would involve a little bit more complexity and assembly.

1

You could design it so that you can print the strain relief part separately, but I think we are way overthinking this, as it's just a fun gag.

1

If this were designed in such a way that the metal plates surrounding the connector pins went fairly deep into the plastic casing, this would make for a very durable cable.

1

Remember parallel connection? You know, that giant ass VGA lookalike that worked like a slower version of USB? Let's make a connector sleeve that looks like that, surely it's not a terrible idea at all even if your phone has a headphone jack (it blocks the headphone jack from being used due to its size).

0