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this post was submitted on 09 Oct 2023
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Somewhat understandable, but they could've also done something like HDMI and DisplayPort and gone with a shape that could only plug in one way. It might not have been "as cheap as possible" but probably not as much added expense as the extra wiring and stuff. (maybe, idk shit about manufacturing)
The problem there is at least as much from how hard it is to twist the cables as it is from the connector shape. The asymmetric connector is still better than nothing.
I can think of some examples of asymmetric connectors that work great: mini USB; North American 3-prong power plugs; old school PC video, serial, and game ports; original NES controller connections, etc.
I really wish hdmi was symmetrical. (Peer behind tv, “which way goes up?” Tries to plug it in, “fml it was the other way” flips it drops it)
I wish too, mainly because HDMI cables are much less flexible and twisting them 180° can create tension.
Unfortunately HDMI already uses pins on both sides of the connector, so you would have to shrink them to half their size first, then double them.
That is unfortunate. Too bad there is no standard as to which side is the top.
Not all asymmetric port designs are good. SCART was capable – HDMI of the 1990s-2000s – but you cannot really feel where one ends and another begins with 2-3 of them in the rear of almost every TV and VCR sold in Europe back then. They carried flawless RGB video, two-way composite A/V, remote control signals etc. However, they were bulky (why 21 individually shielded wires instead of twisted pairs?), expensive and got loose easily. This was before digital technology that enabled error correction and multiplexing.