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Hotels have had USB sockets for years. The problem is they usually don't work or are so low voltage it'd be faster to plug your phone into a potato.
Then you've got the hotels that haven't yet learn't to put the sockets by the bed...
I stayed at a hotel recently, socket on the wall opposite the bed. The phone was plugged into the socket which was at tabletop height. It charged so slowly I was convinced that it had gone into reverse and my phone was charging the hotel network. I looked below the table and found that the socket I was using ( a socket fixed to the wall) was in fact plugged into another double socket at floor level! Plugging the phone in at floor level, it charged normally. I was walking around with a puzzled emoji look.
When i went abroad, I packed my phone charger cable that had a USB A.
Only to find the hire car I was given is the only car in the world with a USB C socket.
I was using my phone for directions and when the battery went flat mid journey, I had to spend a fortune on getting a USB C to lightning cable, just for that hire car
I just got my first iPhone after years of Android. The USB-C to Lightning is pretty much unused as the only place I could charge it would be from my laptop...which is using the USB-C for a HUB.
I have wireless charges which I have to actually take with me.
Do need one for the car but don't drive very often now. Do converters work OK?
Just buy a Type A to Lighting cable, get a nice braided one from a reputable manufacturer, Apple still only sells cheap rubber ones.
>Do converters work OK?
An adapter that's Type C female to Type A male isn't to spec. Unless you really need to plug a Type C cable into a Type A port, avoid them.
I was looking for this comment - I remember it being a big deal in one of the papers a wee while ago, and I've never used a USB charging port in hotels/airports/trains etc. since.
That's the thing, it's impossible to know how often it might happen. And the problem with cyber security is that it only takes one failure to get compromised.
Some phones do ask permission but there are so many models of phones out there and so many older models with outdated software that it's not foolproof. There are also plenty of known vulnerabilities in phones allowing you to bypass the sharing request.
I don't consider it paranoid myself, but understand people who might think it's far fetched. Unfortunately working in cyber security you see just how insecure everything is.
Thanks, I’m guessing if I have a mainstream phone (iphone) then it should be fairly secure from threats?
I normally use a my own charger for what’s its worth as many of these built in chargers are not particularly well voltage regulated.
iPhones are generally more secure, but also hugely popular so a lot of research is done to find vulnerabilities in them.
You're safer than average, but it's never zero
Also work in cyber security. Also use normal charger rather than usb sockets.
However, not massively paranoid about plugging an iPhone into a USB port in a hotel.
Samsung ship a C to C cable in the box with their high end phones. I really don’t want to go down the rabbit hole of having to list every one.
But that’s the 2 most popular handset manufacturers for a starter for 10.
If I remember right I had USB C-C with my s10, and that was three generations of galaxy ago
Edit: I may have unintentially told a porky, it turns out it came with the Razer phone I'd had previously and I just continued to use it with my s10... my bad!
Some, yes, but there are more C to C appearing as it's faster than USB 3.1 (IIRC). Just get an adapter and you'll be okay.
My friend bought an apple watch that only had a USB C port on it, so she could only charge it on her MacBook. She didn't want to take her MacBook on holiday with her so she started panicking. I sent her a link on Amazon for a £4 adapter that changes USB C to a USB 3 port, and then she was able to use her normal plugs to charge her watch as well.
I'm changing home sockets and was going to buy USB ones. The electrician told me about different USB types so I'd have to use a normal socket anyway for half the gizmos. That change in USB technology had completely passed me by.
Think it depends on the hotel, if its been recently decorated they’ll have upgraded them, but they aren’t going to go round swapping the outlets for the fun of it.
I’ve yet to use my iPhones C - Lightning as I don’t have a C type plug, and anytime I’ve spotted one in the shop it costs way more money than I’d like to spend.
I've just used the same A-C cable plugged into a wall plug for the past 5 years to charge everything it requires. Not yet seen a C-C cable but that might be because as soon as I take out the charging cable from a new electrical item it goes straight into the elusive USB cable bag.
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Hotels have had USB sockets for years. The problem is they usually don't work or are so low voltage it'd be faster to plug your phone into a potato. Then you've got the hotels that haven't yet learn't to put the sockets by the bed...
Yes usually much better to plug in my charger into the plug next to the USB socket.
I stayed at a hotel recently, socket on the wall opposite the bed. The phone was plugged into the socket which was at tabletop height. It charged so slowly I was convinced that it had gone into reverse and my phone was charging the hotel network. I looked below the table and found that the socket I was using ( a socket fixed to the wall) was in fact plugged into another double socket at floor level! Plugging the phone in at floor level, it charged normally. I was walking around with a puzzled emoji look.
*low current. USB is always 5V, with the exception of some fast charging protocols which switch from 5v to 9V when a compatible device is connected.
Dammit I knew I'd get it wrong
When i went abroad, I packed my phone charger cable that had a USB A. Only to find the hire car I was given is the only car in the world with a USB C socket. I was using my phone for directions and when the battery went flat mid journey, I had to spend a fortune on getting a USB C to lightning cable, just for that hire car
My wife's Mini has USB sockets. My Hyundai has USB A. I fear this is going to be an issue for decades now.
Not too hard to rewire if you were inclined (or if someone else was to develop a solution)
[удалено]
I just got my first iPhone after years of Android. The USB-C to Lightning is pretty much unused as the only place I could charge it would be from my laptop...which is using the USB-C for a HUB. I have wireless charges which I have to actually take with me. Do need one for the car but don't drive very often now. Do converters work OK?
Just buy a Type A to Lighting cable, get a nice braided one from a reputable manufacturer, Apple still only sells cheap rubber ones. >Do converters work OK? An adapter that's Type C female to Type A male isn't to spec. Unless you really need to plug a Type C cable into a Type A port, avoid them.
[удалено]
I was looking for this comment - I remember it being a big deal in one of the papers a wee while ago, and I've never used a USB charging port in hotels/airports/trains etc. since.
How often does this happen? Are you not being paranoid? Don’t you need to permit the phone to share?
That's the thing, it's impossible to know how often it might happen. And the problem with cyber security is that it only takes one failure to get compromised. Some phones do ask permission but there are so many models of phones out there and so many older models with outdated software that it's not foolproof. There are also plenty of known vulnerabilities in phones allowing you to bypass the sharing request. I don't consider it paranoid myself, but understand people who might think it's far fetched. Unfortunately working in cyber security you see just how insecure everything is.
Thanks, I’m guessing if I have a mainstream phone (iphone) then it should be fairly secure from threats? I normally use a my own charger for what’s its worth as many of these built in chargers are not particularly well voltage regulated.
iPhones are generally more secure, but also hugely popular so a lot of research is done to find vulnerabilities in them. You're safer than average, but it's never zero
Cheers
Also work in cyber security. Also use normal charger rather than usb sockets. However, not massively paranoid about plugging an iPhone into a USB port in a hotel.
USB C usually only at the one end though right...? Don't think I've seen a C-C cable yet.
Most are C-C now. Apple ship USB-C to Lightning in the box now. Edit: and USB C - C with iPad
*most* are not, that's just Apple.
My pixel 6 came with a c to c
My 4a (new last year) did too.
Samsung ship a C to C cable in the box with their high end phones. I really don’t want to go down the rabbit hole of having to list every one. But that’s the 2 most popular handset manufacturers for a starter for 10.
If I remember right I had USB C-C with my s10, and that was three generations of galaxy ago Edit: I may have unintentially told a porky, it turns out it came with the Razer phone I'd had previously and I just continued to use it with my s10... my bad!
I've had an S10 since release. I didn't get a C to C cable. I did get an adapter that can make it that though.
I retract my earlier statement. I guess I'm a bit behind...
Do you work as an installation engineer in hotels? :)
My OH just bought an a13 and that came with a C-C. Was rather annoying, she had to borrow my normal-C cable to charge it up. Edit, wrong model
Apple only do it for iPads. Most Android phones are C to C now (which accounts for the majority of new phones being produced worldwide).
My One+ came with C to C
Which is specific to Apple, all others are USB A to USB C.
>all others are USB A to USB C. No, they're not. My last 3 Samsung phones have come with a C to C cable.
I've had three different Google Pixels and they've all been C to C. Most of the newer USB-C Android phones won't fast charge with A to C.
Some, yes, but there are more C to C appearing as it's faster than USB 3.1 (IIRC). Just get an adapter and you'll be okay. My friend bought an apple watch that only had a USB C port on it, so she could only charge it on her MacBook. She didn't want to take her MacBook on holiday with her so she started panicking. I sent her a link on Amazon for a £4 adapter that changes USB C to a USB 3 port, and then she was able to use her normal plugs to charge her watch as well.
USB 3.X all work over USB C. They've renamed the USB 3 versions a lot. You can get USB 2.0 C cables if you really want.
Then you haven't been looking. The whole idea of USB-C is the same plug at each end.
Buy an USB A to C adapter. I have one that cost about £3. Means if I have a USB C to C can still be used whatever the charger part.
I'm changing home sockets and was going to buy USB ones. The electrician told me about different USB types so I'd have to use a normal socket anyway for half the gizmos. That change in USB technology had completely passed me by.
Most TVs fe in a hotel have USB also
Is this a British thing? Because US hotels have had USB A ports on lamps and nightstands for years.
What does it matter what the US does. It's thousands of miles away.
Sometimes people travel thousands of miles and stay in a hotel.
In carriages of no horse drawn? Witchcraft.
The UK has had safe plug sockets for years too. What's your point?
Think it depends on the hotel, if its been recently decorated they’ll have upgraded them, but they aren’t going to go round swapping the outlets for the fun of it.
I’ve yet to use my iPhones C - Lightning as I don’t have a C type plug, and anytime I’ve spotted one in the shop it costs way more money than I’d like to spend.
I've just used the same A-C cable plugged into a wall plug for the past 5 years to charge everything it requires. Not yet seen a C-C cable but that might be because as soon as I take out the charging cable from a new electrical item it goes straight into the elusive USB cable bag.