Actually a pretty clever, and useful app. Definitely not only for "older relatives". People in my office, in their 20/30/40's, can't even handle the basics. That name though :D
> "I noticed it doesn't know about phones that have USB-C chargers."
Allthough I find the base concept of the side promising (not only for older relatives), it would be much more helpful if you add more connection types. Some examples:
- "Computer --> TV" only knows HDMI and VGA (E.g. what about [mini] Display Port?)
- "Computer --> Printer" only knows USB A to USB B
I would start with the most common possibility and go down to the more exotic ones, to not clutter the expirience for most people. Then you could even add more special connections where you need adapters for.
Note the first thing I tried (connecting a laptop with DVI, say, an old macbook) to a TV told me it didn't know what cable to use, I would've expected it to show me a DVI->hdmi cable
This is awesome! My only suggestion would be that for selections that are incompatible, you should offer an explanation about why they are incompatible. Just having the options greyed out and disabled is really frustrating for non-technical users.
For example: "I want to connect my tablet to the TV". As a techie, I know this is possible, but the solution is probably too complicated. It might be helpful to let the user make this choice, but then say "You can't do this with a cable". Even for stupid ones like "I want to connect my Printer to the TV", just say "This is not possible, you can't connect X to Y".
> For example: "I want to connect my tablet to the TV". As a techie, I know this is possible, but the solution is probably too complicated.
What do you mean? I've plugged in my mother's tablet to the TV on numerous occasions with a mini-HDMI to HDMI cable. Is that uncommon on newer tablets?
Well that depends on the tablet you have, so the next question when you select tablet-to-tv would be "Which tablet do you have"? Because a Nexus 7 doesn't have any HDMI ports, so you'd have to get a Chromecast or something (too technical).
When you select computer to TV, it asks whether your computer has a port like this (this being a picture of a HDMI port.) I see no reason why they couldn't do the same for a tablet.
You're missing a cable I had to buy recently for my father-in-law: Laptop to monitor: mini display port to DVI (specifically DVI without analog pins or it wouldn't fit into the plug on the monitor).
This is one of the few blatant affiliate plays that I'm 100% ok with. This provides a very useful service, I don't care at all that you have your amazon links there. Very very well done!
You know where this could become really valuable would be in helping people figure out which USB Type-C cable they need. Because of the proliferation of Type-C alternate modes (USB/HDMI/Displayport/Thunderbolt) and power levels, it'll will become common to use a cable that fits mechanically but doesn't function. I predict significant unhappiness!
Found a problem when trying to go for USB-C on Android.
I chose Mobile Phone to computer. It asked if I had an iPhone. I said no. It asked if I had an Android. I said yes. It showed me a picture of a Micro USB port and asked if the connection looked like that. I said no. Then it showed me a picture of an older iPhone with a 30pin connector and asked if I had that.
Not just ultrabooks, while my XPS 13 obviously only has a mini-DP my big chunky W540 from work only has one as well (the dock has one, but chances are consumers aren't going to buy a $150 dock for their TV when a $20 mini-DP to HDMI cable will do just fine).
> "If your phone is made by Samsung, HTC, Sony, Motorola, LG, Nexus, Nokia or Google it's definitely an Android phone. If you have an Apple iPhone, it's definitely not an Android"
Just a heads up, my Nokia running WP is definitely not an Android phone.
IMHO it would be useful if at least the result pages had permalinks so you could copy and share them.
I think the adapter suggested for "laptop with VGA" to "TV with HDMI" does not work that way around, which is exactly the kind of mistake this site should help to avoid.
As others have noticed, (m)DP is fairly important and missing.
It's worth pointing out that the results might be hidden if you've got an adblocker enabled. Took me a second after the result appeared to figure out why there wasn't any product link like other comments were mentioning.
Neat idea though. Almost makes me wish I had some tech illiterate people in my life so this could save me tech support.
Also, small suggestion: "TV" could reasonably be named "TV/Monitor/Projector".
Great idea, but many common connection options are missing. Connecting TV with HDMI to computer asks only about full size HDMI and VGA and then gives up. No DVI, no display port, nothing else.
This is really nice. If you are looking to expand, I would like to see more audio equipment included, such as synthesizers, mixers, and computer audio interfaces. I've recently been struggling somewhat with the difference between mono, balanced mono, and stereo connections as I try to set up a small home studio.
Older people often have older hardware since they don't feel the need to change what works. My first search for a common older printer connector (USB AB) didn't work:
I want to connect my... Printer/Scanner
to my... Computer/Laptop
Printer/Scanner connection: USB B
Computer/Laptop connection: USB A
You need this cable
USB 2.0 A-Male to B-Male
There is no way I am showing my grandfather this. He'll surely do it wrong and blame me. Even when I do all the work for him, he gets confused, tells me I did it wrong, redoes it himself, and then blames me when it doesn't work...
Last time I tried to help him, we argued for an hour about the difference between an HDMI cable and a high-speed HDMI cable...
My clients, on the other hand, will love this tool.
64 comments
[ 3.4 ms ] story [ 147 ms ] threadedit: also DisplayPort for connecting to laptops
Allthough I find the base concept of the side promising (not only for older relatives), it would be much more helpful if you add more connection types. Some examples:
- "Computer --> TV" only knows HDMI and VGA (E.g. what about [mini] Display Port?) - "Computer --> Printer" only knows USB A to USB B
I would start with the most common possibility and go down to the more exotic ones, to not clutter the expirience for most people. Then you could even add more special connections where you need adapters for.
Note the first thing I tried (connecting a laptop with DVI, say, an old macbook) to a TV told me it didn't know what cable to use, I would've expected it to show me a DVI->hdmi cable
For example: "I want to connect my tablet to the TV". As a techie, I know this is possible, but the solution is probably too complicated. It might be helpful to let the user make this choice, but then say "You can't do this with a cable". Even for stupid ones like "I want to connect my Printer to the TV", just say "This is not possible, you can't connect X to Y".
(Is there a visual/ML tool that users can use on their phones to identify cable plugs and sockets?)
What do you mean? I've plugged in my mother's tablet to the TV on numerous occasions with a mini-HDMI to HDMI cable. Is that uncommon on newer tablets?
I chose Mobile Phone to computer. It asked if I had an iPhone. I said no. It asked if I had an Android. I said yes. It showed me a picture of a Micro USB port and asked if the connection looked like that. I said no. Then it showed me a picture of an older iPhone with a 30pin connector and asked if I had that.
EDIT: and I'm fairly sure the suggestion for connecting a VGA laptop to a HDMI TV doesn't actually work that way around.
You can buy a VGA to HDMI adaptor, but I haven't tried one.
Just a heads up, my Nokia running WP is definitely not an Android phone.
IMHO it would be useful if at least the result pages had permalinks so you could copy and share them.
I think the adapter suggested for "laptop with VGA" to "TV with HDMI" does not work that way around, which is exactly the kind of mistake this site should help to avoid.
As others have noticed, (m)DP is fairly important and missing.
given the watermark, you are probably not allowed to use this image on your site in this way https://www.dongledaddy.com/images/tv/hdmi.jpg
Neat idea though. Almost makes me wish I had some tech illiterate people in my life so this could save me tech support.
Also, small suggestion: "TV" could reasonably be named "TV/Monitor/Projector".
http://www.notebookreview.com/feature/what-printer-cables-do...
Should add a Phone => Computer guide though would be more specific to the model type (ex: may need a Lightning to HDMI adapter).
Last time I tried to help him, we argued for an hour about the difference between an HDMI cable and a high-speed HDMI cable...
My clients, on the other hand, will love this tool.
Charge by the minute and see how long your patience lasts.
I had to do an input for each device and tag the ports so the logic in the application can create custom setup guides.