Lots of new cables
The supremacy of miniUSB was wonderful while it lasted. One connector to rule all of our portable devices. A USB cable and charger everywhere -- car, bedroom, kitchen, office, airplanes...
Then it was improved, and made incompatible to our singular system. The new one, dubbed USB-C, was reversible and powerful. We no longer need to squint to figure out which side is the fatter one. And the new standard is power-full enough that it can be used to charge even computers. The 'C' in USB-C can be thought of as third generation USB, or as charging USB.
Never mind the advantages. I marked up one side of all my microUSB cables with a felt pen .The old microUSB standard also charged devices like cell phones, large tablets, and cameras.
But the technocrats in SillyCon Valley don't care about us, only to sell us something. Switching USB-A and microUSB ports to USB-C means more profits. Well, at least for cable makers.
My new cell phone uses USB-C. How to deal with the new interface, on top of all the microUSB charging stations scattered through out the house, office, and car?
Example of a stubby female microUSB to male USB-C adapter (image credit Alex NLD)
My solution was to create a parallel system: a USB-C cable wherever there currently is one for microUSB. Or else use adapters. I bought many:
- Stubby female microUSB to male USB-C adapters, to convert microUSB to USB-C (see figure)
- Short female microUSB to male USB-C adapters
- Long male USB-A to male USB-C cables, for use with chargers
I bought 3-6 of each, and so solved the charging problem. At least until the USB consortium decides USB-C is inadequate. Well, I should not complain. Most of these new adapters and cables were a couple dollars each -- nothing like the $100 I paid for the parallel cable I needed for my first printer.
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