EEVblog #578 - Proprietary Connector Rant - Panasonic LF1

Dave hates products with built in charging that don't use a standard Micro USB connector.
In this case the Panasonic Lumix LF1 with its stupid proprietary connector.
Why in this day and age of attempted standardisation are companies still doing this?
Dave also shows off a good example, the Sony NEX-5T that charges from standard Micro USB.

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[PropaneTreeFiddy]

Make a video replacing the shit connector with standard USB?

[tobortine]

Quality rant Dave. I like to hear a good passionate rant especially when it's justified.

[xjet]

At least that's not so bad as one of the small keychain cameras I encountered which use a seemingly standard mini-USB to USB cable for charging -- except that it's not and, to make things worse, if you *do* use a standard cable, it makes the magic smoke come out of the camera due to the different pin-to-pin wiring.

Now I always label *every* USB cable that comes with devices like this so I know exactly which one to use with which device.

Aaaarrgh!

[MariaEngstrom]

I totally agree, the only reason for proprietary connectors is greed. 

[marcan]

Canon compact cameras have a custom USB+AV connector, but it's compatible with miniUSB - the custom AV cable will only fit the camera's port, but the data cable is just a standard miniUSB cable. *That* is how you do it.

[XOIIOXOIIO]

"You know what I think of that, that's what I think of that!"

Loved that part, its too damn true

[artifactingreality]

If it was apple the connector would have 200 pins and cost $400  for a 14cm long cable.

[TheDutyPaid]

Dave let me introduce you to Apple, you will have a lot to talk about. 

[RossPotts]

Come on. Tell us how you really feel, Dave!

[VenturiLife]

The reason is... so that they can charge $30-50 a cable. Apple are notorious for it.

[electronicsNmore]

LOL. Too Funny. I agree though. Had the same thing happen to me. I found a mini USB  adapter online, luckily. All about making money. They design an inferior cable, so when it breaks, you have to buy a new one from them.

[RealationGames]

Been there. Same shit with Liquid Image helmet glasses. I managed to lose the cable somewhere, and there's nothing I can do with it. Manufacturer probably planned that I'd buy their 30$ cable again, but screw that. I stay away from them forever and ditch the damn thing altogether.

[bjtaudio]

David, David, they go to all the trouble of deliberately creating proprietary connectors so they can make more money. This works by forcing you to only be able to use their specific connectors and cables with their products, and charge a fortune for it. Cables often break or get lost, so you can't just use any cable but the "approved" cable at a higher cost. Or else your forced to buy a new replacement product. Also by deliberately making things incompatible they can stop you from mixing and matching connecting different products to get more functions and features, this means if you what a specific feature your forced to buy the much more expensive model in their range. Yes it's marketing, it's all about profits at you're expense, its intended to frustrate you.

[AintBigAintClever]

At least yours came with a USB cable. The DMC-LX2 comes with a mains charger and that's it. I bought a fake DMW-AC5 charger from eBay just to rip out the charging lead and fit it to a 12v-5v cigarette lighter regulator.

[MetalPhreakAU]

HTC managed to have their extUSB proprietary socket have 11 pins, to carry USB, audio, and microphone signals, while at the same time still having a standard mini-USB cable plug in absolutely fine. Engineering sockets that are compatible with older/existing connectors isn't hard. USB3 sockets accept USB2. There are combined USB2/eSATA ports. As you said, it's marketing bullshit aimed purely at screwing the consumer out of a few extra bucks when they lose that one cable...

[RetroGamerVX]

Why in the video description do you refer to yourself in the third person, interesting!

[TheChipmunk]

Dave, maybe make a video where you disassemble the camera (don't turn it on, take it apart!) and replace the shitty connector with a real microUSB one, maybe using the opportunity to show people how to identify the USB signals internally etc using your scopes/analyzers? :-)

[NickMoore]

The sony a7r uses a modified microUSB with a load more pins to enable remote control. Can't get a connector anywhere yet so I can't even DIY a remote. Its the only stumble but not an unexpected one.

[cmdstraker]

Is there any chance for you to just desolder the connector and put a regular micro usb on there? Since you don't seem to need the composite output anyway

[CamronLocke]

Dave, sorry for designing such a crappy camera. Special regards, -Panasonic