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?
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.
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.
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!
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
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).
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".
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.
"Your older relatives," really? Did I miss the memo about how I'm supposed to become instantly stupid and lazy just because you happened to come along and be born? (Late?)
I know I know, "people whose purchasing of electronic junk surpasses their ability/willingness to use Wikipedia" just isn't catchy.
> "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.
> "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.
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!
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
The ageism in this post is incredible. I speak as someone who is the "older relative" to a lot of people, and as someone who provides tech support to those same people. Characterizing older relatives as people who need help with cables is as ridiculous as characterizing millenials as "digital natives". My generation has been cabling shit together for decades, from stereos to VCR's to DVD's to quadraphonic sound systems to DVR's. If anything, cabling has gotten simpler these days. HDMI and USB cover a multitude of sins. Curb your ageism, please!
As many have mentioned, this is missing some key connectors (USB C, DP, etc). I wanted to launch with an initial subset of connections just to get going. Also I found USB C hard to distinguish in a photo compared to Micro USB. But I will put it in soon, for sure.
Technology wise this app uses two things I really want to recommend. Netlify for the static hosting with automatic SSL provision (and they have awesome GitHub integratiOn). And Preact, which is the front end framework in use here. This is the same API as React but bundles down to 3kb which is really cool.
The question section is great, with lots of helpful picture, but then the answer is just text - how about some pictures there too? If i tell my mum she needs a USB 2.0 A-Male to B-Male, that might help her order a cable from amazon but it doesn't help her find what she's looking for in the shoebox full of cables under the computer desk.
[+] [-] jbob2000|9 years ago|reply
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".
[+] [-] pjc50|9 years ago|reply
(Is there a visual/ML tool that users can use on their phones to identify cable plugs and sockets?)
[+] [-] witty_username|9 years ago|reply
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?
[+] [-] eitland|9 years ago|reply
[+] [-] justusthane|9 years ago|reply
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.
[+] [-] saddestcatever|9 years ago|reply
[+] [-] Jaruzel|9 years ago|reply
[+] [-] PeterWhittaker|9 years ago|reply
Within IT, we know what a dongle is. Outside IT, it sounds like it might mean dildo or dong or something equally penilesque.
Combine that with "daddy", and, well, we might get it as a joke, but your churchgoing grandma might not.
This service is not for IT people, so it cannot assume IT culture....
[+] [-] jblok|9 years ago|reply
[+] [-] detaro|9 years ago|reply
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
[+] [-] aarondf|9 years ago|reply
[+] [-] overcast|9 years ago|reply
[+] [-] amatus|9 years ago|reply
[+] [-] delecti|9 years ago|reply
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".
[+] [-] deutronium|9 years ago|reply
[+] [-] RIMR|9 years ago|reply
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.
[+] [-] rdiddly|9 years ago|reply
I know I know, "people whose purchasing of electronic junk surpasses their ability/willingness to use Wikipedia" just isn't catchy.
[+] [-] qntty|9 years ago|reply
edit: also DisplayPort for connecting to laptops
[+] [-] schlowmo|9 years ago|reply
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.
[+] [-] DKnoll|9 years ago|reply
[+] [-] 13of40|9 years ago|reply
[+] [-] string|9 years ago|reply
Just a heads up, my Nokia running WP is definitely not an Android phone.
[+] [-] khedoros1|9 years ago|reply
[+] [-] mrgreenfur|9 years ago|reply
Charge by the minute and see how long your patience lasts.
[+] [-] gumby|9 years ago|reply
[+] [-] crooked-v|9 years ago|reply
[+] [-] Xeoncross|9 years ago|reply
http://www.notebookreview.com/feature/what-printer-cables-do...
[+] [-] morsch|9 years ago|reply
[+] [-] smcg|9 years ago|reply
[+] [-] dhodges|9 years ago|reply
[+] [-] jblok|9 years ago|reply
Technology wise this app uses two things I really want to recommend. Netlify for the static hosting with automatic SSL provision (and they have awesome GitHub integratiOn). And Preact, which is the front end framework in use here. This is the same API as React but bundles down to 3kb which is really cool.
[+] [-] notatoad|9 years ago|reply
[+] [-] stevekemp|9 years ago|reply
I'm surprised there weren't (affiliate) links to Amazon in the responses - that would be such an obvious route to profit.