I don’t know much about cables so if type something wrong forgive me …

I was wondering around with some old stuff, and found this cable that is usb to usb “as shown in the image below”

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71hHpyqvvnS._AC_UF1000,1000_QL80_FMwebp_.jpg

Now what i thought was that it might be used to connect 2 computers with each other so i tried that and connected 2 computers with each other using it and nothing happened Can anyone tell me what this cable is even used for ???

  • ch00f@lemmy.world
    20·
    10 months ago

    It’s not an officially sanctioned application of USB, but some product vendors use it for various reasons. After all, a USB cable is just a bunch of wires (some twisted together a special way).

    One example that springs to mind is the HTC Vive link box. This was made before USBC was very popular, and I’m guessing they wanted USB 3 speeds with a lower profile connector. Typically, you’d use an A to B cable, but the B connector is much taller.

    • deepinder_brar@lemmy.worldOP
      1·
      10 months ago

      Thanks for the info, I have another question. Can it be used to connect one pc to another maybe for sharing files or for doing some other stuff ?

      • ArbitraryValue@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
        8·
        10 months ago

        Generally no - USB connections are asymmetric, with hosts and devices. Your PCs are both hosts - they cannot function as devices or communicate with other hosts.

        • NPC@lemmy.world
          1·
          10 months ago

          It’d be like you trying to fill up 2 swimming pools with one hose, pumping water into each end, right?

      • ch00f@lemmy.world
        4·
        10 months ago

        Nope. Computer USB A ports are “upstream ports.” Both computers would be expecting to find a downstream device on the port. USB needs a single host to control everything. Can’t have two hosts.

      • rocker@kbin.social
        2·
        10 months ago

        If it was already tried with this specific cable and it didn’t work, then this cable doesn’t have the capability built in. Some cables like this have a bridge in the cable that allows pc to pc communication.

        • Nollij@sopuli.xyzEnglish
          2·
          10 months ago

          Laplink is a major product that still does this. In the center is a controller that acts as a device to both ends, letting both PCs act as a host.

          It still requires their software to make use of this connection, though.

      • Rednax@lemmy.world
        1·
        10 months ago

        Not without special support from the hardware and software. But a smartphone is pretty much a PC with specialized hardware and software. And you can certainly plug your smartphone into a PC to share photo’s.