jone55
Level 1 (4 points)
Desktops

Q: What's the full name of a usb cable to provide easy access to usb 3 flash drive ports on an iMac retina 4k OS X 10.11.6?

I would like to plug usb flash drives into my usb 3 ports without turning the iMac around every time I download an audio book. Some of my thumb drives are 2s and some claim to be usable as 2 or 3.  Both types are working fine. What would be the full name (As, Bs, male, female) of the appropriate cable, and who might offer a really short version (6 or 8 inches)?

iMac (Retina 4K, 21.5-inch, Late 2015), OS X El Capitan (10.11.6)

Posted on Sep 2, 2016 1:31 PM

by Kappy,Solvedanswer
Kappy Kappy
Level 10 (271,879 points)
Desktops
A:

Does your computer even have a USB-C port? If not, then you don't want that cable. Here's a nice and suitable hub: Sabrent 4-Port USB 3.0 Hub with Individual Power Switches and LEDs (HB-UM43). And, here is a short extender cable:UCEC SHORT SuperSpeed USB 3.0 Extension Cable - A Left & Right Angle - Male to Female - Pack of 2.

Posted on Sep 2, 2016 11:03 PM

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jone55

Q: What's the full name of a usb cable to provide easy access to usb 3 flash drive ports on an iMac retina 4k OS X 10.11.6?

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  • by Kappy,Helpful

    Kappy Kappy Sep 2, 2016 7:57 PM in response to jone55
    Level 10 (271,879 points)
    Desktops
    Sep 2, 2016 7:57 PM in response to jone55

    Why not get yourself a three or four port USB hub that supports USB 3.0. Look for one on Amazon.com.

  • by pokey b,Helpful

    pokey b pokey b Sep 2, 2016 7:56 PM in response to jone55
    Level 3 (684 points)
    Desktops
    Sep 2, 2016 7:56 PM in response to jone55

    What you are asking about is a USB extension cable. They are quite inexpensive. Do a google search for "USB extension cable" and you will find plenty. I have two that I use regularly, one came with a memory stick someone gave me a few years ago (I use it for memory stick loading, camera downloads, i-Phone updates, i-Pod syncing, etc), the other came with my Apple USB keyboard (although I do not find it for sale by itself on the Apple site).

  • by jone55,

    jone55 jone55 Sep 2, 2016 8:28 PM in response to Kappy
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Desktops
    Sep 2, 2016 8:28 PM in response to Kappy

    Thanks Kappy - I didn't know about hubs.  I'd prefer a cable but I can't find a 3.  All the extenders are 2s.

    What about this:

    monoprice.com

    USB 3.0 USB-C Male to USB-A Female Cable, 6-inch       $11.99

    Could the "male" use a thunderbolt port?

    I've been researching but it ain't easy!

  • by jone55,

    jone55 jone55 Sep 2, 2016 8:29 PM in response to pokey b
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Desktops
    Sep 2, 2016 8:29 PM in response to pokey b

    I looked at the cable to my keyboard but it has the wrong plug on the keyboard end.  It's just for recharging.

    Nearly all the inexpensive extenders are for usb 2s.  Apple's the one who put the ports in the back, they should include a few extenders for free!

  • by Kappy,Solvedanswer

    Kappy Kappy Sep 2, 2016 11:03 PM in response to jone55
    Level 10 (271,879 points)
    Desktops
    Sep 2, 2016 11:03 PM in response to jone55

    Does your computer even have a USB-C port? If not, then you don't want that cable. Here's a nice and suitable hub: Sabrent 4-Port USB 3.0 Hub with Individual Power Switches and LEDs (HB-UM43). And, here is a short extender cable:UCEC SHORT SuperSpeed USB 3.0 Extension Cable - A Left & Right Angle - Male to Female - Pack of 2.

  • by pokey b,

    pokey b pokey b Sep 3, 2016 5:54 AM in response to jone55
    Level 3 (684 points)
    Desktops
    Sep 3, 2016 5:54 AM in response to jone55

    I've not seen any as short as 6 or 8 inches but here's an Ebay link to some that are straight ended and start at 18 inches.

  • by jone55,

    jone55 jone55 Oct 15, 2016 9:56 AM in response to Kappy
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Desktops
    Oct 15, 2016 9:56 AM in response to Kappy

    Thanks a lot Kappy-  I used the link you provided and bought the UCEC SHORT (9 inch) SuperSpeed USB 3.0 Extension Cable - One Left Angle, One Right Angle - Male to Female - Pack of 2 - $20 on sale for $10 - from Amazon.  Just what I was looking for!  UCEC has a bunch of nice angle shifters - I don't know why they didn't show up on my search.

     

    ADVICE to readers: Study the pics carefully.  A cable can be straight out, or angled to the right, left. up or down.  Left & Right can really be Up & Down depending on whether your slots are vertical or horizontal.  My desktop has verticle  slots - the pics showed me to order Left & Right to get the Down angle I wanted.)  Also, notice that the package contains two opposite angles, one of each, so you have to buy two packages if you want two cables exactly the same.