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| Compatible Devices | Laptops, Cellular Phones (Refer to product description below for complete list) |
| Connector Type | USB 3. 0 |
| Connector Gender | Male-to-Female |
| Color | Space Grey |
| Item Dimensions LxWxH | 1.08 x 0.65 x 0.32 inches |
Note: Products with electrical plugs are designed for use in the US. Outlets and voltage differ internationally and this product may require an adapter or converter for use in your destination. Please check compatibility before purchasing.
Type-A to Type-C Adapter – Apricorn
Connects all Apricorn and other USB type-A Devices to USB type-C Ports
Type-A to Type-C Adapter
- SKU:
- ADAPTER-USB-A-C
- *FREE GROUND SHIPPING WITH ORDERS OF $200.00 OR MORE (Continental U.S. only)
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- SKU:
- ADAPTER-USB-A-C
- *FREE GROUND SHIPPING WITH ORDERS OF $200.
00 OR MORE (Continental U.S. only)
00 OR MORE (Continental U.S. only)
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DESCRIPTION
- USB type A female adapter connects all Apricorn USB 3 devices with A-type connecters to USB type-C ports such as 2016 and newer MacBooks, smartphones, tablets, video cameras
- Backwards compatible with USB 1, 2, and 3 gen. 1
- 6″ total length
- Transfer Rates of up to 5Gbps
- Also useful for USB type-A keyboards, mice, USB hubs, cameras, etc.
- Durable and reliable
Everything you wanted to know about USB Type-C, but were afraid to ask / Sudo Null IT News
Has everyone heard about USB Type-C? The one that is double-sided, fast-fashionable-youth, charges the new macbook,
makes hair smooth and silky and promises to become the new connection standard for the next ten years?
So, first of all, this is a connector type, not a new standard.
The standard is called USB 3.1. Secondly, we need to talk about the new USB standard, and Type-C is just a nice bonus. To understand the difference, what is behind USB 3.1 and what is behind Type C, how to charge an entire laptop from a USB cable, and what else can be done with the new USB Type-C:
Essentials at a glance
USB as a standard appeared almost twenty years ago. The first specifications for USB 1.0 appeared in 1994 and solved three key problems: the unification of the connector through which the equipment that expanded the functions of a PC was connected, ease of use for the user, and high data transfer speed to and from the device.
Despite certain advantages of the USB connection over PS / 2, COM and LPT ports, it did not immediately become popular. USB experienced an explosive growth in the early 2000s: first, cameras, scanners and printers were connected to it, then flash drives.
In 2001, the first commercial implementations of the USB that we are familiar and understandable appeared: version 2.
0. We have been using it for the 14th year now and it is relatively simple.
USB 2.0
Any USB cable version 2.0 and below has 4 copper conductors inside. Power is transmitted through two of them, data is transmitted through the other two. USB cables (according to the standard) are strictly oriented: one of the ends must connect to the host (that is, the system that will manage the connection) and is called Type-A , the other is to the device, it is called Type-B . Of course, sometimes in devices (such as flash drives) there is no cable at all, the “to the host” type connector is located directly on the board.
There is a special chip on the host side: the USB controller (in desktop computers it can be either part of the system logic or taken out as an external microcircuit). It is he who initializes the operation of the bus, determines the connection speed, the order and schedule for the movement of data packets, but these are all details. We are most interested in connectors and connectors of the classic USB format.
The most popular connector that everyone used is USB Type-A in the classic size: it is located on flash drives, USB modems, at the ends of the wires of mice and keyboards. A little less common are full-sized USB Type-B: printers and scanners are usually connected with this cable. The mini version of USB Type-B is still often used in card readers, digital cameras, USB hubs. Through the efforts of European standardizers, the Type-B micro version has become de facto the most popular connector in the world: all current mobile phones, smartphones and tablets (except for the products of one fruit company) are produced with a USB Type-B Micro connector.
Well, USB Type-A micro and mini format, probably no one really saw it. Personally, offhand, I will not name a single device with such connectors. I even had to get photos from Wikipedia:
Hidden text
All these connectors have one simple thing in common: inside there are four contact pads that provide the connected device with both power and communication:
| Contact number | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Designation | GND | D+ | D- | VBUS |
| Wire color | Black | Green | White | Red |
With USB 2.
0, everything is more or less clear. The problem with the standard was that two conductors for data transmission were not enough, and the specifications developed in the middle of the first decade did not provide for the transfer of large currents through power circuits. External hard drives suffered the most from such restrictions.
USB 3.0
To improve the performance of the standard, a new USB 3.0 specification was developed, which contained the following key differences:
- Five additional contacts, four of which provide additional communication lines;
- Increased maximum throughput from 480 Mbps to 5 Gbps;
- Increased maximum current from 500mA to 900mA.
In addition, there are 4 more connectors, electrically and mechanically compatible with USB Type-A version 2.0. They allowed both USB 2.0 devices to be connected to 3.0 hosts, and 3.0 devices to 2.0 hosts or via a 2.0 cable, but with limited power and data transfer rates.
USB 3.1
Since the fall of 2013, specifications have been adopted for the updated USB 3.1 standard, which brought us the Type-C connector, transferring up to 100 W of power and doubling the data transfer rate compared to USB 3.0. However, it is worth noting that all three innovations are just parts of one new standard that can be applied all together (and then the device or cable will receive USB 3.1 certification), or separately. For example, technically inside a Type-C cable you can organize at least USB 2.0 on four wires and two pairs of contacts. By the way, Nokia turned such a “trick”: its Nokia N1 tablet has a USB Type-C connector, but inside it uses a regular USB 2.0: with all the restrictions on power and data transfer speed.
USB 3.1, Type-C and power
The new standard USB PD (Power Delivery) is responsible for the ability to transfer really serious powers. According to the specifications, for USB PD certification, the device and cable must be capable of transmitting current with a power of up to 100 watts, and in both directions (both to and from the host).
At the same time, the transmission of electricity should not interfere with the transmission of data.
So far, there are only two laptops that fully support USB Power Delivery: the new MacBook and the Chromebook Pixel.
And then, who knows, maybe we will install such sockets at home?
USB Type-C and backward compatible
USB as a standard is strong in its backward compatibility. Find an ancient USB 1.1-only 16MB flash drive, plug it into a 3.0 port, and go. Connect a modern HDD to a USB 2.0 connector, and if it has enough power, everything will start up, just the speed will be limited. And if that’s not enough, there are special adapters: they use the power circuits of another USB port. The speed will not increase, but the HDD will work.
The same story with USB 3.1 and the Type-C connector, with only one correction: the new connector is not geometrically compatible with the old ones. However, manufacturers have actively begun production of both Type-A <=> Type-C wires, as well as all kinds of adapters, adapters and splitters.
USB Type-C and tunneling
The data transfer rate of the USB 3.1 standard allows not only connecting drives and peripherals, charging a laptop from the network via a Type-C cable, but also connecting, say … a monitor. One wire. And a USB hub with several 2.0 ports inside the monitor. 100 watts of power, speed comparable to DisplayPort and HDMI, a universal connector and only one wiring from the laptop to the monitor, the power supply of which will provide electricity to the display and charge the laptop. Isn’t it wonderful?
What’s on USB Type-C now
Since the technology is young, there are very few devices on USB 3.1. There are a little more devices with a USB Type-C cable / connector, but still not enough for Type-C to become as common and natural as Micro-B, which any smartphone user has.
Type-C personal computers can be expected already in 2016, but some manufacturers have taken and updated the line of existing motherboards. For example, USB Type-C with full USB 3.
1 support is on the MSI Z9 motherboard7A Gaming 6.
ASUS is not far behind: ASUS X99-A and ASUS Z97-A motherboards support USB 3.1, but, unfortunately, lack Type-C connectors. In addition, special expansion boards have been announced for those who do not want to upgrade the motherboard or give up a pair of USB 3.1 ports.
SanDisk recently introduced a 32 GB flash drive with two connectors: classic USB Type-A and USB Type-C:
Of course, we should not forget about the recent MacBook with passive cooling and only one USB Type-C connector. We’ll talk about its performance and other delights somehow separately, but about the connector – today. Apple abandoned both its “magic” MagSafe charging and other connectors on the case, leaving one port for power, connecting peripherals and external displays. Of course, if one connector is not enough for you, you can buy an official HDMI adapter, a classic USB and a power connector (still the same Type-C) for … $ 80.
🙂 It remains to be hoped that Type-C will also come to Apple mobile devices (and this will finally end the zoo with wires for smartphones), although the chances of such an update are minimal: was Lightning developed and patented in vain?
One of the manufacturers of peripherals – LaCie – has already managed to release a stylish external drive with USB 3.1 Type-C support for the new MacBook. True, his price is completely apple, but what can you do – you have to pay for new technologies and the PORSCHE DESIGN inscription.
In addition to Apple, Google is also flirting with USB 3.1 Type-C: the new ChromeBook Pixel, in addition to interesting characteristics, also received the corresponding port.
And, of course, do not forget about the device from Nokia. Their N1 tablet received a Type-C connector one of the first, however, without support for USB 3.1 functions.
Totals
USB 3.1 will finally become the “king” of connectors. You can connect almost anything through it: an external drive, a display, peripherals, a power adapter, and even an array of SSD drives.
Bandwidth and 100 watts of transmitted power is a serious bid for success.
Imagine the world in 5 years? Wherever you go, there is charging everywhere, and the connector fits, and you don’t have to ask. And it’s easy to connect a camera, and a phone, and in general everything-everything-everything … And only in the accounting department they used floppy disks, and they will continue to use them.
Our previous reviews:
» Two months with LG G Watch R
» The evolution of Razer mice on the example of DeathAdder and Naga
» Exploring Philips’ flagship TV: Part 1 | Part 2
Thank you for your attention!
How to listen to music in the car from the phone? Via Bluetooth, AUX, USB cable, transmitter
There are many ways you can connect your phone to your car radio and listen to your favorite music from your phone in your car. This is convenient, because now almost everyone has all the music stored in their smartphone. In addition, many use music services such as Apple Music, Google Play Music, Spotify, etc.
to listen to music online (or via the Internet from VK, other applications and sites). It doesn’t matter if you use music services, or music is downloaded to your phone’s flash drive, you can listen to it in the car by simply connecting your phone to the radio via Bluetooth, using a USB cable, AUX cable, or in another way. In this article, we will look at all the possible ways in which you can connect your smartphone to the car radio.
There is a huge number of standard head units and universal car radios. All of them differ in their capabilities and functionality. Some can only play music from old cassettes and receive radio, while some no longer support CDs. Modern radios most often support music playback only from USB drives, SD cards and via Bluetooth.
The newest and most advanced standard and universal radios (audio systems) support Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Of course, you can connect your Android smartphone or iPhone to such modern devices without problems at all (and not only to access music), most often even without using wires.
But even an old car radio can be connected to a phone and used to listen to music in the car. Even if there is no AUX. Almost all methods are equally suitable for both iPhone and Android smartphones. A conventional push-button mobile phone can also be connected.
Ways to connect a smartphone to a car radio
Most of the solutions that I will discuss in this article, I tested on my own experience. I’ll start with the most convenient and relevant (in my opinion). Since the article will be large, using the menu (article content) below, you can jump straight to the connection method that is right for you. If you still don’t know which method to choose (based on the capabilities of your radio and smartphone), then I recommend that you familiarize yourself with all the possible options.
- Bluetooth wireless connection
- AUX connection
- With USB cable
- Via a Bluetooth transmitter (if the radio does not have Bluetooth)
- Via radio (FM transmitter)
- Special emulator
- Apple CarPlay or Android Auto
Via Bluetooth (without wires)
One of the most convenient and popular ways.
It’s very simple: the smartphone connects to the car radio via Bluetooth and plays sound through the car’s speakers. And in some cases (depending on the radio), it is possible to use the car’s speaker system for hands-free calling. The radio screen displays information about calls, network level, smartphone battery charge and other functions. And the connection process itself is practically no different from connecting a phone to wireless headphones, or a speaker.
The main thing is that the radio in your car supports Bluetooth. This can be found by looking at the instructions, or the characteristics on the official website. If your car has a regular head unit, then you are most likely aware of whether there is Bluetooth there or not. Also, in most cases, there is a Bluetooth icon on the device itself, or a corresponding item in the settings. The process of connecting a smartphone to your car’s speaker system may differ from my instructions.
How to connect:
- Switch the radio to Bluetooth mode (BT AUDIO). This is usually done with the Mode button.
Perhaps, depending on the device, you need to activate the connection mode (if the phone does not detect the radio via Bluetooth). - We open the Bluetooth settings on the phone and select our radio tape recorder there. In this case, it doesn’t matter if it’s an iPhone or an Android smartphone.
- On the radio, you will most likely need to confirm the connection. Pairing appeared on my screen, and then Pair and two options NO and YES. Select YES (allow pairing) and confirm.
- Everything is connected!
- The network signal level and the charge level of my iPhone appeared on the radio screen (it also works on Android). Also on the phone there was a request for permission to synchronize my contacts. To be able to make and receive calls through the speakerphone in the car.
- We are interested in listening to music from the phone. All sounds from the phone are played through the car’s speakers. We just turn on the music on the phone (in the player, Apple Music, Spotify, Deezer, Google Play Music, YouTube, in the browser) and listen.
You can listen to audiobooks through special applications.
This is usually done with the Mode button. 
We just turn on the music on the phone (in the player, Apple Music, Spotify, Deezer, Google Play Music, YouTube, in the browser) and listen. Tracks can be switched using the buttons on the radio or on the steering wheel. You can also control the volume, receive calls. But it depends on the functionality of the radio, or the configuration of your car.
Important! If you have a radio without Bluetooth, you can buy a special Bluetooth transmitter (receiver). It connects via AUX and takes power from USB. Then you can output sound from any phone. But only switching tracks on the radio will not work, you have to do it on the phone. I will talk about Bluetooth transmitters in even more detail.
I believe that this connection is one of the most convenient and affordable today. And if you are lucky and you have a car with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support, then after connecting, icons of the most necessary applications that may come in handy in the car will appear on the screen of the head unit.
Including the Music app.
We connect the phone to the radio via AUX
The easiest and fastest way. In addition, even in old radios, as a rule, there is an AUX input. And the phone has a 3.5 mm headphone jack. Or does it come with an adapter. On the radio, the AUX input looks something like this:
This is an input for a regular 3.5 mm jack. If you have a head unit, then the AUX input can be somewhere in the armrest, glove compartment, some kind of pocket. To connect the radio to the phone via AUX, you need a 3.5 mm jack – 3.5 mm jack cable.
I had it in the kit. If you do not have it, then you can buy it in almost any digital equipment store. He’s not expensive.
Connecting:
- Insert one end of the cable into the AUX input on the radio, and the other end into the 3.5 mm output on the phone.
- We switch the radio tape recorder to AUX mode.
- Turn on music on your phone and listen to it in your car.
- Music playback can only be controlled on the phone.
iPhone can also be connected via AUX.
If you have a new iPhone that no longer has a 3.5 mm output, then use an adapter. If the adapter was not included with the phone, you will have to buy it yourself. By the way, I have already seen a Lightning – 3.5 mm jack cable on the Internet.
I myself often listen to music in the car via AUX, since there is no Bluetooth in my radio. Not as convenient as Bluetooth, but not bad either.
Via USB cable
The goal is to use the phone simply as a storage device. That is, there is music on the flash drive (or internal memory) of the phone, we connect the phone to the radio tape recorder via USB in data transfer mode, the radio tape recorder scans the phone’s memory, finds audio files there and starts playing them. As if we connected a regular USB flash drive.
Please note! The possibilities of this connection method are highly dependent on the functionality of the radio.
For example, there are radios that support connecting Android devices via USB. In this case, a special application is installed on the phone. You can control playback both from the phone and from the radio.
Important:
- The car radio must have a USB input. Again, if this is a standard system, then the USB input is most likely located in the glove compartment, or in the armrest.
- iPhone will most likely not be connected in this way. Because the iPhone cannot be used as a storage device. Unless your car only has Apple CarPlay support. Or the radio supports iPhone cable connection (see specifications). This feature is available on some models from Alpine, BOSS, JVC, Kenwood, Pioneer.
- Most often you need a USB to Micro USB cable. Or USB – USB Type-C (on new, high-end smartphones). But not every cable will fit. The fact is that there are cables that were originally designed only for charging the phone. It is difficult to distinguish it. You need a USB data cable. The one that comes with the phone should work.
- You can only listen to music that is stored in the phone’s memory (or on a flash drive). Music via the Internet, various music services (the same Spotify, Deezer), applications, browser, you will not be able to listen. The exception is cars with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay (I will talk about them at the end of the article). On them, when connecting a smartphone via a USB cable, the functionality will be huge. Including access to online music services.
- You can try to connect not only an Android smartphone, but also some ordinary, push-button phone. The main thing is that it is defined as a USB drive. If you connect it via USB to a computer and just transfer files, then it will most likely be possible to connect it in the car.
- The phone will charge immediately.
You need a USB data cable. The one that comes with the phone should work. We connect the smartphone with the radio:
- Connect one end of the USB cable to the phone and the other to the car radio.
- The phone may ask in which mode to connect. Or manually select “File transfer” (data storage device) in the settings.
- If the radio does not automatically switch to the “USB” mode, then do it manually.
- After reading the USB drive, audio files should appear and music from the phone will start playing.
- Most often, playback can only be controlled on the car radio.
Working method, can be used. But as we have already found out, it has many disadvantages and various nuances.
Via Bluetooth transmitter or receiver (receiver)
We need a special Bluetooth transmitter or Bluetooth receiver (also called a Bluetooth AUX receiver). And a radio with AUX input. The bottom line is to add Bluetooth support for a radio that does not have it.
In a nutshell, what is the difference between a transmitter and a receiver. The transmitter can work in two modes: receive sound via Bluetooth from the same phone and transmit it to speakers, headphones, radio.
Or receive sound via cable and transmit it via Bluetooth to the same headphones. That is, work on reception and transmission (TX – transmitter, RX – receiver). A Bluetooth receiver can only receive audio via Bluetooth and transmit it via cable.
As you already understood, both devices are suitable for us. Since we need to receive sound from a smartphone via Bluetooth and transmit it to the car radio via AUX. I won’t tell you for a long time, but rather I’ll show you how it works with a real example.
- We connect the Bluetooth transmitter (receiver) to the power supply from the charger, or the USB port of the radio. We also connect the radio to the transmitter using a 3.5 mm cable via AUX.
- If you have a Bluetooth transmitter, then it must be switched to receiver (RX) mode. Well, in AUX mode, if it has other modes.
- Turn on the transmitter (depending on the model). Mine needs to be turned on as it has a built-in battery. But there are models that start working immediately after connecting to the power supply.
- We activate the connection mode on the transmitter (so that our phone can see it). Perhaps it is already searchable by default immediately after connecting. Again, it all depends on the specific model.
- In the Bluetooth settings on the smartphone, select our transmitter and connect to it.
- We switch the radio tape recorder to AUX mode.
- Now you can turn on music in any application on your phone and listen to it in your car.
The photo above shows that BT-B19 is selected as the audio output source(my transmitter).
I have a transmitter model not quite suitable for use in a car. It is very large, with a battery. There are more compact and simple models, smaller in size than a flash drive.
Via FM transmitter (radio)
FM transmitter is a separate device that receives sound from a smartphone via Bluetooth or AUX and transmits it to the radio via radio (FM tuner). The radio on the radio is tuned to the FM frequency on which the FM transmitter broadcasts sound.
If your radio only reads cassettes or CDs and picks up the radio, then you can connect your phone to it via an FM transmitter. There are a huge number of different devices. They differ in their capabilities, design, etc. In addition to transmitting music from the phone via the radio, FM transmitters can read SD cards, ordinary USB flash drives, and work as a speakerphone. They are usually powered by a cigarette lighter. Or via USB from charging.
Buying such a device makes sense only if the radio in the car without AUX input and Bluetooth. If there is AUX, then it is better to buy a Bluetooth transmitter. But this is purely my opinion. With such a connection, there may be poor sound quality, interference.
It works like this:
- FM transmitter connected to power.
- A smartphone is connected to the transmitter via Bluetooth, or using a 3.5 mm (AUX) cable.
- The radio on the radio is tuned to the FM frequency that is set on the FM transmitter.
- You can control music from your phone. If the connection is via BT, then also with the buttons on the transmitter itself.
In some cases, this is the only solution that allows you to listen to music in the car using your phone. We are talking about old radios and regular head units.
Special emulator for headunit
There are devices such as CD changer emulators for radio. This device is connected to a special connector (on the rear panel of the radio) and allows you to read music from SD cards, USB drives, receive it from your phone via AUX, or Bluetooth. And the radio “thinks” that it works with a conventional CD changer. Everything connects beautifully and works, without a collective farm. Suitable for old standard car radios.
It is connected via the input for the CD changer. Or through a special adapter.
It is usually displayed somewhere in the glove compartment, or in another convenient place. The head unit detects it as a CD changer.
Nothing complicated, just be careful when choosing this device. There are a lot of them on the same AliExpress. Be sure to find out if a particular model is suitable specifically for your car. It is necessary that certain protocols that are supported by the emulator and the head unit match. Read reviews, ask the seller, google information on your car model.
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
Well, this is the best solution to date. If your car has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support, then you can not only listen to music from your iPhone or Android smartphone, but display the necessary applications on the head unit screen: maps, podcasts, audio books, instant messengers, calendar, phone. You can also use voice search.
Support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto must be on the side of the standard head unit or car radio. Some popular manufacturers such as Gazer, Pioneer, ALPINE, Kenwood, SONY, JVC have already released radios with support for these functions.
For cars (original devices), Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support started appearing in cars from 2016. But it all depends on the brand, model, configuration. Currently, more than 500 car models support this function. Many models from Audi, BMW, Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Chevrolet, Citroen, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Subaru, Skoda, Toyota and others. It is strange that Mercedes is not on this list.
A complete list of supported cars is available at https://www.android.com/auto/ and https://www.apple.com/ru/ios/carplay/. You can also learn more about these functions there.
- iOS device support: all iPhones from iPhone 5.
- Support for Android devices: From Android 5 to Android 9, you need to install the Android Auto app from Google Play. In Android 10, Android Auto is built into the system.
The phone is connected to the car via a cable. Some devices have wireless connectivity. Well, as far as I understand, the possibility of a wireless connection also depends on the car itself (configuration).