I started making the switch to USB-C in Dec. 2020. It feels like 2018 was the year USB-C really started taking off in the market. So I’m not too far behind!
What is USB-C?
USB-C is supposed to be a huge generational improvement over USB 2.0. I must admit that it also feels a bit like “planned obsolescence” for all the peripheral gadgets from 2005-2020. I really hope we figure out how to promote more ‘ethical capitalism’ over what could be called ‘wasteful capitalism’.
For end users the most visible benefits of USB-C are:
- the plug can go into the port both ways (not just one way like USB 2.0)
- the plug/cable/port can transfer full power to your phone/tablet/laptop
- it works across brands like Google, Microsoft, Apple, Samsung, etc.
Where do I see USB-C?
You might see it as a small rectangle with 4 rounded corners on your phone or tablet or game console.
Anker is a company that sells USB-C peripheral hardware, and they seem to have a pretty good brand reputation at this time. This video gives a quick overview of how their USB-C Hub works.
What is a USB-C Hub?
The simplified idea is that:
- Ethernet goes into the hub, then to the tablet/laptop & back again
- Power goes into the hub, then to the tablet/laptop & usb 2.0 devices
- HDMI sends video/audio from the tablet/laptop, to the hub, to a tv/monitor
- SD & MicroSD cards go into the hub, then to the tablet/laptop & back again
- this is super handy if you need to work with a MicroSD card and format it to FAT2 or EXFAT32 before you use it in a camera or drone!
- “Old” USB devices go into the USB 2.0 ports, then to the tablet/laptop
- something like a phone can get power this way too
Why Ethernet? Everything is wireless!
A hub with an ethernet port means a phone/tablet/game console can have hardwired internet for consistent downloading, streaming, etc. An HDMI port means the video/audio from your tablet can play on a tv without any wifi lag. How are you going to win at Fortnite and get all your Twitch donations otherwise!? (a PC tower won’t fit in your pocket)
What Next?
Honestly the days of doing most “office” work with a phone in one pocket and a hub in the other are already here. If you’re using your phone to connect to a virtual machine online, then you can probably do most “advanced” data processing work with a phone too!
If you want to grab a quick and simple USB-C hub consider something like the “Anker USB C Hub Adapter, PowerExpand+ 7-in-1 USB C Hub, with 4K USB C to HDMI, 60W Power Delivery, 1Gbps Ethernet, 2 USB 3.0 Ports, SD and microSD Card Readers, for MacBook Pro and Other USB C Laptops” (that’s just a link, I don’t get any affiliate kickbacks for sharing that). Try saying that 3 times fast… 😁
This short video shows how Anker intended a hub like that to be used: “Anker USB C Hub | PowerExpand 7 in 1 USB C Hub Adapter | 4K HDMI, Power Delivery, USB C Data Port“. Try saying that 3 times fast…
What if I want to get fancy?
Now, you might be wondering, ‘Can I link together a couple of smart devices with one hub?’. Well, that would probably take more planning. To start I would recommend you grab a stylus and start drawing out:
- hardware devices and their ports,
- cables and their plugs,
- the directions you want data to move in.
Once you have those limits/requirements mapped out you’ll be in a better place to ask questions and do research.
To direct ‘data traffic’ between many smart devices and one monitor/tv, I’m pretty sure it would require the hub to have some extra intelligence built into it. It seems you would need some way to teach the hub what ‘traffic’ needs to go where and when. There might be hubs out there that are designed to act like that ‘data traffic cop’ if you do some research. But don’t imagine the hubs above will be able to do something like that easily out of the box.
I hope this post finds you well, and that it helps ease your way through the change to USB-C a little bit!