Kobo Forma mini USB cable

jmmcg9 · 06-01-2020, 09:51 PM

Man I hate mini USB. I have to dig out my reading glasses every time I charge a device using that adapter.
I received my new Kobo Forma on Friday and I love it!
It uses a mini USB connection. However the cable supplied with the device doesn’t appear to have an up or down orientation like every other mini USB cable I have seen. The Forma female connection does appear to have an orientation. Is this a new type of reversible cable or do I need to up the magnification on my reading glasses?

davidfor · 06-01-2020, 10:50 PM

Firstly, the connector on the Forma is "Micro USB", not "Mini USB".

Micro USB ports and cables normally have an orientation. But, the cable with the Forma is reversible. They are very nice cables and should work with any device with a micro USB port. They probably aren't as secure as the normal plugs, but, as long as you aren't planning to hang a device from the cable, it should be OK. And they are much easier to use.

jmmcg9 · 06-02-2020, 12:36 AM

Davidfor,
Thanks for that information. I never heard of the reversible option. I need to invest in a batch of new cables for my other micro USB devices and ditch the reading glasses I leave by all of my chargers!
Also this gives me piece of mind that am not destroying the port on my new Forma!

hobnail · 06-02-2020, 02:20 AM

I didn't like the USB cable that came with the Forma and instead use a "standard" non-reversible USB cable. The one that came with the Forma just seemed sort of dodgy and I always felt like I was going to damage the connector in the Forma.

But I certainly do agree that having to get out the Sherlock Holmes magnifying glass to figure out which way to plug it in is a pain in the neck. I've solved that problem by having a cable where the cable comes out the side of the connector at a 90 degree angle instead of straight out like they normally do. So with the buttons on the right the cable goes up along the right edge.

meeera · 06-02-2020, 06:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hobnail

But I certainly do agree that having to get out the Sherlock Holmes magnifying glass to figure out which way to plug it in is a pain in the neck. I've solved that problem by having a cable where the cable comes out the side of the connector at a 90 degree angle instead of straight out like they normally do. So with the buttons on the right the cable goes up along the right edge.

Another option is to just put a dab of nail polish or tape on the cable on the "up" side.

JSWolf · 06-02-2020, 06:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmmcg9

Davidfor,
Thanks for that information. I never heard of the reversible option. I need to invest in a batch of new cables for my other micro USB devices and ditch the reading glasses I leave by all of my chargers!
Also this gives me piece of mind that am not destroying the port on my new Forma!

There is another solution. Get some nail polish and put a small dot on side up plastic part of the connector and you'll easy know which is the correct orientation. It's a lot cheaper then buy all new cables.

JSWolf · 06-02-2020, 06:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by meeera

Another option is to just put a dab of nail polish or tape on the cable on the "up" side.

I didn't read your post before I posted mine. Seems great minds think alike.

stumped · 06-02-2020, 06:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

There is another solution. Get some nail polish and put a small dot on side up plastic part of the connector and you'll easy know which is the correct orientation. It's a lot cheaper then buy all new cables.

does not work as a multi device solution , because different devices have the socket oriented differently
i had tried the dot idea, but then needed to memorise for each device, with screen side up, should dot be facing up, or down...

JSWolf · 06-02-2020, 07:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stumped

does not work as a multi device solution , because different devices have the socket oriented differently
i had tried the dot idea, but then needed to memorise for each device, with screen side up, should dot be facing up, or down...

But it should work for most devices.

davidfor · 06-02-2020, 07:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stumped

does not work as a multi device solution , because different devices have the socket oriented differently
i had tried the dot idea, but then needed to memorise for each device, with screen side up, should dot be facing up, or down...

Then add a dot to the device to show the relative orientation.

Nightflyer · 06-02-2020, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hobnail

. I've solved that problem by having a cable where the cable comes out the side of the connector at a 90 degree angle instead of straight out like they normally do. So with the buttons on the right the cable goes up along the right edge.

I've been using this method for my devices for awhile including in the car and I didn't even consciously realize it.

Quoth · 06-02-2020, 02:57 PM

I add a black or white bar on the same side of the connector where the logo is printed. It there isn't the USB logo I use white marker or nail varnish on the side of the connector that SHOULD have the logo.
I've thought the little self adhesive gemstones might work and look good. You'd be able to feel it.

twowheels · 06-02-2020, 03:02 PM

Unfortunately my Clara doesn't follow the USB standard. The USB standard says that the narrow part of the connector is supposed to be the TOP. Cables are labeled with the USB logo on the narrow side and you're supposed to be able to orient the cable using the side with the logo, but Kobo decided to use the wrong connector (they make top mount and bottom mount connectors to allow you to have the correct orientation), meaning that the cable must be turned backwards -- annoying.

EDIT: The cable that came with the device has the USB logo on the A side (the side that plugs into the computer), and is properly labeled and oriented, but the B (device) side is unlabeled too.

Ripplinger · 06-02-2020, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stumped

does not work as a multi device solution , because different devices have the socket oriented differently
i had tried the dot idea, but then needed to memorise for each device, with screen side up, should dot be facing up, or down...

I use one those old silver marking pens (remember writing on floppy disks so you didn't have to bother with labels? that type of silver marking pen). So S was for the Sony readers, K for Kobo, and had to resort to A for Amazon Kindles. That works really well on black cables.

I have one that's a white shinier plastic cable though, and most anything, even a permament black magic marker eventually rubs off that one, so I have to redo it periodically.

Oh and add an H in there for my Harmony remotes. With so many letters possible on some, I have a couple of cables connected permanently to my PC to cover all of them.

Fortunately my newest cell phone and tablet are both C, I can't wait until everything eventually gets switched to C to avoid the issue, but I doubt it'll happen anytime soon.

4691mls · 06-02-2020, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twowheels

Unfortunately my Clara doesn't follow the USB standard. The USB standard says that the narrow part of the connector is supposed to be the TOP. Cables are labeled with the USB logo on the narrow side and you're supposed to be able to orient the cable using the side with the logo, but Kobo decided to use the wrong connector (they make top mount and bottom mount connectors to allow you to have the correct orientation), meaning that the cable must be turned backwards -- annoying.

EDIT: The cable that came with the device has the USB logo on the A side (the side that plugs into the computer), and is properly labeled and oriented, but the device side is unlabeled too.

Yeah, my Kobo and Tolino have the wide part of the port facing one way while my cheap Lenovo tablet and my old Moto phone had it in the other. It sure would be nice if all the device makers agreed on which side is up.

My current phone is USB-C so i don't have to worry about direction for it.

06-01-2020, 09:51 PM	#1
jmmcg9 Zealot Posts: 123 Karma: 6420516 Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Austin, TX Device: Oasis 2, iPad Pro (12.9”), iPhone 11 Pro Max, iPad Mini 5, Forma	Kobo Forma mini USB cable Man I hate mini USB. I have to dig out my reading glasses every time I charge a device using that adapter. I received my new Kobo Forma on Friday and I love it! It uses a mini USB connection. However the cable supplied with the device doesn’t appear to have an up or down orientation like every other mini USB cable I have seen. The Forma female connection does appear to have an orientation. Is this a new type of reversible cable or do I need to up the magnification on my reading glasses?

06-02-2020, 03:02 PM	#13
twowheels Wizard Posts: 1,853 Karma: 13432974 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: Kobo Clara HD, iPad Pro 10", iPhone 15 Pro, Boox Note Max	Unfortunately my Clara doesn't follow the USB standard. The USB standard says that the narrow part of the connector is supposed to be the TOP. Cables are labeled with the USB logo on the narrow side and you're supposed to be able to orient the cable using the side with the logo, but Kobo decided to use the wrong connector (they make top mount and bottom mount connectors to allow you to have the correct orientation), meaning that the cable must be turned backwards -- annoying. EDIT: The cable that came with the device has the USB logo on the A side (the side that plugs into the computer), and is properly labeled and oriented, but the B (device) side is unlabeled too. Last edited by twowheels; 06-02-2020 at 03:09 PM.

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06-01-2020, 10:50 PM	#2
davidfor Grand Sorcerer Posts: 24,905 Karma: 47303824 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Sydney, Australia Device: Kobo:Touch,Glo, AuraH2O, GloHD,AuraONE, ClaraHD, Libra H2O; tolinoepos	Firstly, the connector on the Forma is "Micro USB", not "Mini USB". Micro USB ports and cables normally have an orientation. But, the cable with the Forma is reversible. They are very nice cables and should work with any device with a micro USB port. They probably aren't as secure as the normal plugs, but, as long as you aren't planning to hang a device from the cable, it should be OK. And they are much easier to use.

06-02-2020, 12:36 AM	#3
jmmcg9 Zealot Posts: 123 Karma: 6420516 Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Austin, TX Device: Oasis 2, iPad Pro (12.9”), iPhone 11 Pro Max, iPad Mini 5, Forma	Davidfor, Thanks for that information. I never heard of the reversible option. I need to invest in a batch of new cables for my other micro USB devices and ditch the reading glasses I leave by all of my chargers! Also this gives me piece of mind that am not destroying the port on my new Forma!

06-02-2020, 02:20 AM	#4
hobnail Running with scissors Posts: 1,586 Karma: 14328510 Join Date: Nov 2019 Device: none	I didn't like the USB cable that came with the Forma and instead use a "standard" non-reversible USB cable. The one that came with the Forma just seemed sort of dodgy and I always felt like I was going to damage the connector in the Forma. But I certainly do agree that having to get out the Sherlock Holmes magnifying glass to figure out which way to plug it in is a pain in the neck. I've solved that problem by having a cable where the cable comes out the side of the connector at a 90 degree angle instead of straight out like they normally do. So with the buttons on the right the cable goes up along the right edge.

06-02-2020, 02:57 PM	#12
Quoth Still reading Posts: 14,010 Karma: 105092227 Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Ireland Device: All 4 Kinds: epub eink, Kindle, android eink, NxtPaper	I add a black or white bar on the same side of the connector where the logo is printed. It there isn't the USB logo I use white marker or nail varnish on the side of the connector that SHOULD have the logo. I've thought the little self adhesive gemstones might work and look good. You'd be able to feel it.

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