Frequently Asked Questions

A. Bluetooth is a short-range wireless technology that uses radio waves (in the 2.402 GHz to 2.48 GHz band) to transmit information, including audio, directly between two devices over short distances. For example, Bluetooth allows you to play music from your phone through your car stereo, headphones, AirPods or a portable speaker, and connects your iPhone with your Apple Watch.

Developed in 1994 by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group as an alternative to wired connections, Bluetooth creates a 10 m/33 ft. radius wireless network, known as a personal area network. This network is typically between two devices but can connect up to eight. Bluetooth is simpler and less expensive to set up than a WiFi network and uses less power which makes it far less likely to suffer, or cause, interference with other wireless devices. Bluetooth is a universal and world-wide standard that is built into all modern mobile phones and vehicles.

A.True Wireless Sound (TWS) uses Bluetooth technology to wirelessly deliver sound from a sound source, such as a stereo receiver, phone, TV, etc. to a receiving device such as a portable speaker, earphones, or headphones. Bluetooth microchips in the sound source and receiving device(s) are “paired” to deliver an audio signal that lets you listen to music, audio books etc. almost anywhere.

True Wireless Stereo Sound delivers an audio signal via two channels – one right and one left – that is then picked up by the right and left earphones, headphones, or paired portable speakers. Each earphone, headphone, etc. carries its own chip to pick up the appropriate channel. This stereophonic sound – two recordings playing at the same time creates a much more pleasant, immersive, and natural sound and listening experience.

A. “Qi” is a wireless charging standard established in 2009 by the Wireless Power Consortium. Qi utilizes inductive power transfer between a charger with a transmitting coil and a phone (or phone case) equipped with a Qi receiving coil. The Qi charging base does not activate until a Qi-compatible device (with a receiving coil) comes within 4 cm of it. Most phones have to be placed on (physically touching) the Qi charger.

Part of the Qi standard is a safety feature known as “Foreign Object Detection” (FOD) so if something other than a Qi-enabled device is placed on the base, the coil will not activate. There is still a “wired” element to this technology in that the charger has to be plugged in, or hardwired (in the case of built-in in-vehicle Qi charging), but the phone itself requires no charging cable. Due to its convenience Qi wireless charging was quickly adopted by all the top phone manufacturers, at first in their premium tier phones, but is now in most models.

A. USB Connector standards are created, regulated and updated by the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF). The Universal Serial Bus (USB) standard, developed by the USB-IF in the 1990s, was designed to simplify and standardize connections between computers and peripheral devices. It has been highly successful thanks to its compatibility with most platforms and operating systems, a low cost of implementation, and ease of use.

Most modern computers and laptops have several USB ports, and USB is also the interface of choice for most home and office peripherals including printers, mice, cameras, modems, and portable storage devices. The USB port in a computer can be used to connect, charge, and exchange data with a portable device like a phone, camera or tablet. There are also standalone dedicated USB chargers that plug into a 12V accessory port for in-vehicle, and plug into a 110V outlet or power strip for home/office. These USB chargers allow you to charge a portable device just about anywhere.

USB-C Connectors: Sometimes referred to as a USB Type-C, the USB-C connector has a symmetrical and fully reversible design that can be plugged in either way, i.e. there is no right or wrong side up. USB-C connectors are also 60% smaller than USB-A, making them perfect for smaller portable devices such as phones, tablets, cameras and drones. A USB-C cable is capable of carrying USB 4.0, USB 3.1, USB 3.0, USB 2.0, and USB 1.1 signals and can be built to carry up to 240W*, making it Power Delivery compatible.

The USB-C cable and connector is a multi-tasker that can transfer power and data in both directions. It is now the charging connector of choice for most phones (with the exception of iPhones), tablets, cameras, portable gaming devices and Chromebooks and laptops. Transfer rates up to 40Gbps* make USB 4.0 the ideal solution for transferring large amounts of data, such as HD video for editing, or high resolution photos for editing or storage.

*These power and data rates are based on the latest USB 4.0 Specification, but are also compatible back to the USB 2.0 Specification.

USB-A Connectors: Sometimes referred to as a USB Type-A or simply “USB”, these ports are commonly found on computers and hubs. USB-A connectors have a flat, rectangular interface which holds the connection in place by friction, making connection and disconnection very easy. Instead of round pins, USB-A connectors use flat contacts, which makes them sturdy and long-lasting.

USB-A provides a “downstream” connection that is intended for use solely on host controllers and hubs. It was not intended for use as an “upstream” connector on a peripheral device. This is important as a host controller or hub is designed to provide 5V DC power on one of the USB pins. USB-A to USB-A cables are occasionally used to connect USB devices with a USB-A female port to a PC or another USB device, and for data transfer between two computer systems.

Micro-USB Connectors: Introduced in 2007, and much smaller than regular USB-A connectors and about half the thickness of a Mini-USB, Micro-USB connectors are used to charge and transfer data between portable devices such as phones, MP3 players, GPS devices, printers and digital cameras. Micro-USB connectors, while still in use, are fast being replaced with USB-C connectors due to their increased power and data transfer capability, slim profile, and simpler (no wrong way) connection.

Mini-USB Connectors: A Mini-USB connector, introduced in 2005, and sometimes referred to as a “Mini-B connector”, is a significantly smaller, five-pin version of a standard USB connector. It has crimped sides that give it a trapezoid shape. Like other USB connectors, it is used to charge portable devices as well as transfer data between computers and other digital devices. Less durable than the Micro-USB connector (see below), Mini-USB connectors are not typically found on new devices now.

A. Lightning is the proprietary computer bus (for transfer of data between computers) and power connector designed by Apple Inc. to connect their devices like iPhone, iPad and iPod to chargers, computers, monitors, and other peripherals. Introduced in 2012, Lightning, with its 8-pin configuration, replaced Apple’s 30-pin dock connector. Smaller than its predecessor, the slim symmetrical connector can be inserted either way – there is no right or wrong way up.

In 2022 Apple replaced the Lightning port in its baseline iPad model with a USB-C port. The iPad Pro had already made the transition. Also in 2022, Apple announced it will comply with a European Union ruling, by switching iPhone connectors from Lightning to USB-C by the end of 2024.

A.The most common type of analog audio cable connector is the 3.5 mm, sometimes known as an Auxiliary or “Aux” cable. Typically used to connect portable devices, such as phones, tablets, and laptops, to external speakers or headphones, 3.5mm audio cables are small, lightweight, and easy to use.

3.5 mm Inputs are often found in older vehicles allowing you to plug in your phone or portable music player to play your music through the car stereo speakers. Whereas at one time all wireless phones included a 3.5 mm headphone jack, this is now uncommon due to slimmer phone designs and the popularity of wireless Bluetooth as a means to transmit an audio signal to wireless headphones, speakers and car stereos.