But does the Ethernet adapter work with the new Chromecast? I'm also unhappy that Chromecast doesn't use USB-C yet.
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> I'm also unhappy that Chromecast doesn't use USB-C yet.
Why would it need to? It only draws 1A @ 5V. That's well within what one would expect from a high-output USB2.0 or 3.0 port.
You're also not likely to be frequently removing and reattaching the power cable to the device, so who cares if there's only one way to plug it in?
Edit: Or are you talking about Displayport-over-USB-C vs. HDMI? If you are, I, too am disappointed that the CC doesn't output over DP or miniDP. Displayport->HDMI adapters are easy to come by (and one could be packed right in to the CC box), DP is technologically superior to HDMI, and its consortium is not run by a bunch of evil thugs. ;)
Just a minor clarification but USB-C is not necessarily USB 3.0. It's solely a form-factor as such a USB 2.0 type-C can be a perfectly normal thing to find.
Because the Nexus phones use it, and it's easier to have one standard across your devices (where possible)?
Just my guess.
Very few devices use USB-C cabling. Very many mobile devices use Micro USB cabling. Most folks will have a mess of Micro USB cables on hand, but very few USB-C cables.
Your argument is sound, but you're making it four or six years too early. :)
But as long as new devices are coming out with micro usb the usb c cables won't become as common as micro usb cables.
Uh... Chromecast doesn't support USB anything. The microUSB connector on the device is just a convenient power plug form factor.
(Edit: I should add that there is in fact a USB host controller behind that port, or at least there is per the rooting instructions I remember reading. But the product as shipped has no USB "support" for anything but 5V DC power.)
Since the Ethernet adapter uses the microUSB connector, it clearly supports USB something besides just power.
I'm guessing its a full-fledged general-purpose port that just has limited uses in the Chromecast devices (upgradeable) software.
The ethernet adapter using that connector absolutely does not mean it is a USB device. Note that that's a microUSB-B connector, which is not generally used for a host controller. For all we know, the connection between the ethernet adapter and the device is completely proprietary. I'd be willing to bet it's a USB device and they just used a very strange connector setup, but we certainly don't know that just based on the connector.
It's not that uncommon. Many phones can act as USB hosts. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USB_On-The-Go
Given that the Ethernet adapter is 100mbit -rather than 1gbit- ethernet, it's a good bet that the port is USB 2.0.
If we cheat a little, and look at Chromecast rooting instructions [0] we get a strong indication that that port is totally a USB 2.0 port. :)
[0] http://cord-cutters.wonderhowto.com/how-to/root-your-chromec...
Not true. It supports usb ethernet adapters.