[oofangus]

Harveystyles,

The Touch does have a proprietary interface called 'ExtUSB'. From what I understand, though, this is a superset of regular USB that includes additional wires for audio (i.e. headset / microphone). The mini-USB pins on the ExtUSB connector are just regular mini-USB pins - I think.

Regarding the form factor, a regular mini-USB cable fits into the ExtUSB port on the phone, though the mini end of an HTC ExtUSB cable won't fit into a regular mini-USB device. The ExtUSB cable has a bulge in the upper-right corner (as you're looking into the end of the cable) that prevents it from being used improperly.

I guess that just because a normal mini-USB fits into the ExtUSB port doesn't mean that doing so is supported. But, the Touch (at least my Touch) comes with what appears to be a normal mini-USB cable that the User Guide (p.14) identifies as "USB Sync cable". I used this to sync for several weeks before I bought my cradle (which also has a normal-looking mini-USB cable) and everything worked fine. Likewise, this cable works with all of the other mini-USB devices I've tested. I think that HTC just includes a normal mini-USB cable - and, by extension, that any other mini-USB cable should work.

Obviously some - nay, many - do not. My meager intellect can't figure out what the difference is.

-Michael