USB-C as the standard eliminates a multitude of other connections, but there remains a field where confusion continues: the cable.
But soon there will only be one connector, right? Yes, through decisions such as the German government’s in accordance with the European Union, USB-C will become the standard for all new devices by the end of 2024. Anyone bringing a mobile phone, tablet, or other cable-rechargeable device to market in Germany or generally in the EU must use USB-C as the connection. By 2026, variety in connectors will also end for laptops, which will then also be charged via a universal connection.
But there is a literally hanging problem, namely the cable.
One plug for all doesn’t solve everything
Why is the cable a problem? As Chip lists, a wide variety of cables can hang from such a USB-C connector. These differ not only in their speed for data or their throughput of power. Some, for example, completely exclude the transport of images for monitors. The new Thunderbolt 5 from Intel also uses a USB-C connector but can do much more than the now outdated USB-2 standard (via Intel). Here, a different cable is used which, however, is connected with an identical connector.
Do all USB-C connectors work for everything? Mostly yes, but the amount of power or data that is transferred can vary greatly. There are also cases where an inserted and completely intact cable does not provide the full feature set.
How can I prevent picking the wrong USB cable? It’s best to always use the USB-C cable with the connector that came with the device. Perhaps mark it with a sticky note indicating what it is for.
How could this be solved? We do not have a perfect solution at this point, but generally, when it comes to technology that is externally indistinguishable to laypeople, a uniform naming helps. For example, Thunderbolt connectors indicate the type of connection with a lightning symbol, along with a number on the connector to specify the version.
There would be enough space if, as an additional standard, a plastic cap was simply placed behind every connector.
USB sticks can be a true treasure trove of secrets. A particularly mysterious one fell into the hands of a Reddit user on a train. What was he supposed to do with it? On the stick, a proposal was written: A Reddit user finds a USB stick on a train, dares to open it, but the content disappoints
