BensonLeung
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Google engineer fries Pixel testing USB Type-C cable
You might not remember Benson Leung, the Google engineer that tasked himself with examining USB Type-C cables. He's been diligently doing so for months, but he's calling his tests to a halt after one went horribly wrong. Leung bought a USB 3.1 Type-C SuperSpeed cable (it's since been removed) from Surjtech on Amazon, and proceeded to check it using his Chromebook Pixel 2 and a pair of USB power delivery analyzers.
Google engineer takes on subpar USB Type-C cables
Trying to save a few bucks by purchasing offbrand cables? We've all done it -- but there's something you should know about new USB Type-C connectors popping up on cellphones (Nexus, OnePlus), laptops (Macbook, Pixel), tablets (Pixel C) and even Apple TV. The reason why they can charge so many devices, is their ability to transmit currents up to 3A, which could be 50 to 100 percent more electricity than older standards. That's why Google engineer Benson Leung has been putting various USB-C cables sold on Amazon to the test. He worked on both of Google's recent Pixel devices that use the new cable to charge, and found that many of the cables advertised as Type-C aren't actually suited for use with the laptop. They might not be wired properly to charge a laptop, or they don't accurately identify the power source -- something that could damage your laptop, USB hub or charger.
