The Technology Vent and Rant Thread

[Solitaire1]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Our dog used to have a tracker that charged via USB-C. But it only charged if it was low power. So I had to buy a low power USB-C cable. This is something I never had a problem with mini-USB or micro-USB.

I'm beginning to wonder if a solution to this is to have specific power cords for different devices using the USB-C connector. As an example, have a cord designated for digital audio players (DAP), one guaranteed to work with any DAP but no other devices (it may work, it may not work). However, it is likely that there will be the same problem we now have, getting all of the DAP Manufacturers to agree on one standard charging cable.

[ratinox]

Originally Posted by Solitaire1

I'm beginning to wonder if a solution to this is to have specific power cords for different devices using the USB-C connector. As an example, have a cord designated for digital audio players (DAP), one guaranteed to work with any DAP but no other devices (it may work, it may not work). However, it is likely that there will be the same problem we now have, getting all of the DAP Manufacturers to agree on one standard charging cable.

I think it's more likely the power draw from the device being off standard like the OG Nintendo Switch. If the device deviates from USB-C power specs then it's going to be inconsistent for what chargers and cables work.

[PeterT]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Our dog used to have a tracker that charged via USB-C. But it only charged if it was low power. So I had to buy a low power USB-C cable. This is something I never had a problem with mini-USB or micro-USB.

What IS a low power USB-C cable? I tried searching Amazon with no luck.

[nana77]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

That problem you've had with USB ports is not something that USB-C will solve. You can still have the same problem with USB-C ports. Maybe it was user error.

The ones I was meaning are the previous DC power jacks, and micro USB (ah, dear Nokia N900).
USB-C seems more solid and large; there are several graphic tablets that had that DC's jack fell.

Sometimes it's what's wrote on the cable's box that lacks informations, or them are not well explained, onto USB-C ones (imho); but there is a new standard coming out LOL (GPMI, one-cable standard taking on HDMI, DisplayPort, and Thunderbolt); and so now -again- I would ask myself if that new protocol supports:

One will have a standard USB-C connection (known as GPMI Type-C), while the other appears to use a new connection standard (GPMI Type-B). Type-C cables will support 96 Gbps of data bandwidth along with up to 240 watts of power, while Type-B doubles both of these numbers to 192 Gbps and 480 watts.

is it plausibile to say that those Panasonic Viera (Plasma TV) weren't consuming too much.

[JSWolf]

One new vent is Kobo is making major mistakes yet again. They are updating the Clara Colour and the Clara BW when what they need to do is update the Libra 2, the Elipsa, and the Sage.

[ratinox]

Originally Posted by nana77

is it plausibile to say that those Panasonic Viera (Plasma TV) weren't consuming too much.

I figure the new power specs are to accommodate power-hungry GPUs in notebook computers. Even a relatively light discrete GPU needs ~125-150W on top of the ~60-80W the rest of the system needs.

[nana77]

Originally Posted by ratinox

I figure the new power specs are to accommodate power-hungry GPUs in notebook computers. Even a relatively light discrete GPU needs ~125-150W on top of the ~60-80W the rest of the system needs.

I guess nope, as that cable would be from the laptop to a monitor: it repleaces the hdmi, adding this standard where it doesn't needs to have two cables for that puorpose, as several monitors nowadays use one for the power delivery and one for data.
I recall the main issue within plasma TV was that them was power hungry (350w/450w) for screens from 42" to 50". That technology did get "stagnant", (2012 was the latest ones made) and the close OLED too become a thing on phones and tables for the most (from Samsung). Then OLED came out on monitor again some years ago, at its price.
I don't know how much an OLED TV consume, but I guess less than plasma ones, but adding 4K etc wouldn't be surprised if the rate is the same.
Besides the fact that plasma has 1080p limit, them are sold from 70$ to 300$, and someone's really gave it away during covid's electric bills growing up.
But now the standard says 350W it's not alot lol.
Just to mention, as a OLED would be newest, and smarter, the Viera's contrast ratio is 5,000,000:1, and darkest blacks; comparing a LCD, QLED, IPS etc that's around 5000:1 (7000:1 on QLED).

BTW, that's another thing I like from the Steam's Deck: it stays around 13W/35W (also sharing GPU VRAM with RAM, as used in consoles, but rarely or never on PCs/laptops).

Ah, forgot to mention plasma's has a 3ms response, as high end gaming monitors.

[ratinox]

Originally Posted by nana77

I guess nope, as that cable would be from the laptop to a monitor: it repleaces the hdmi, adding this standard where it doesn't needs to have two cables for that puorpose, as several monitors nowadays use one for the power delivery and one for data.

Oh, right. Because we're also seeing upper tier displays with integrated docking stations. One cable to the notebook to connect everything.

I recall the main issue within plasma TV was that them was power hungry (350w/450w) for screens from 42" to 50". That technology did get "stagnant", (2012 was the latest ones made) and the close OLED too become a thing on phones and tables for the most (from Samsung).

Plasma displays also suffer from burn-in.

BTW, that's another thing I like from the Steam's Deck: it stays around 13W/35W (also sharing GPU VRAM with RAM, as used in consoles, but rarely or never on PCs/laptops).

Turns out running a 7-inch, 1280x800 display panel is relatively cheap both in terms of graphics performance and direct power draw.

Shared graphics memory is nearly ubiquitous on PCs. Any PC with an integrated GPU uses shared graphics memory, assuming the iGPU is not disabled and discrete graphics is used exclusively. Gaming PCs rarely use it because system RAM is typically quite slow compared to video RAM. Steam Deck, PS5 and Xbox Series could be viewed as outliers in this regard, sharing very fast DDR system RAM or going all in with GDDR for system RAM.

[Quoth]

Google's OAuth & Security and Capchta / reCAPTCHA are out of control.

Periodically I have to re-authorise Thunderbird email. Stupid American-centric images that are too small and often too poor.

Now I've failed to meet Google's definition of human.

With the demise of the ISP email accounts I use gmail only for messages from hosting and domain name providers, because if something is wrong there, my regular email won't work.

The current anti-competition fine in EU needs to be x3 as much as a fine for arrogance.

They have also destroyed search.

[Quoth]

Google is a total pain! And very evil.

[Graham44]

Originally Posted by Quoth

Google is a total pain! And very evil.

It certainly is!

Hope you manage to sort out your gmail though

[ownedbycats]

I don't know why people are suddenly yelling at me after posting this in a Discord server.

[nana77]

Originally Posted by ratinox

Plasma displays also suffer from burn-in.

Thanks also for the others anwers; just one thing I'd like to add, because it's probably concelead, and that's the fact that whoever would had bought a new device like that on those times, most probably would have been keeping it maniacally fine.

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by Graham44

It certainly is!

Hope you manage to sort out your gmail though

Eventually there was a "browser" pop-up that on the 2nd screen asked for a password instead of running "I'm not a Robot" and huge number of captcha images.

I think that's a scam for AI?
https://xkcd.com/1897/
or
https://m.xkcd.com/1897/

The password worked.

No alerts or info on web based gmail, google Security page, android playstore etc till I'd successfully re-authorised Thunderbird.

Nowhere to complain and the bottom of frame links on the Google security popup were all dead.

There are actually two gmail accounts on my Thunderbird. One doesn't really matter as it's the account for my Android phone. Both had the same issue.

[ratinox]

Originally Posted by Quoth

There are actually two gmail accounts on my Thunderbird. One doesn't really matter as it's the account for my Android phone. Both had the same issue.

Are you using your primary passwords or app passwords? My understanding is that app passwords bypass those checks in exchange for weakened account security.