Find tech advice for business here
Buzz Out Loud Lounge: Universal Chargers cellphones in the US
Universal Chargers cellphones in the US
by B14ion - 7/2/09 3:40 PMWill there be a Universal Charger for cellphones in the US? If so, what will force the manufacturers to do so? Since the companies are planning to do so in Europe, will they just simply make all cellphones they sell in the US use the universal charger?
Of course, if the US government forces the cellphone companies to have a universal charger, people would cry "SOCIALISM!" or "REGULATION BAD!"
The end of innovation?
by R. Proffitt
- 7/2/09 4:51 PM
In reply to: Universal Chargers cellphones in the US by B14ion
Would this signal the end to innovation? Imagine if such regulation mandated that same idea to memory cards. Imagine cell phones and cameras saddled with Compact Flash or better yet the prior standard of PCMCIA Memory!
Bob
Probably
by B14ion - 7/2/09 6:21 PM In reply to: The end of innovation? by R. Proffitt
Of course that assumes that the industry will stop lobbying Congress.
We can also have something similar to USB. Many companies have agreed on a USB specification making USB very universal.
Also, USB is also backward compatible with older versions of itself.
What about charging surfaces?
by R. Proffitt - 7/2/09 7:07 PM
In reply to: Probably by B14ion
Or fueling up with butane like http://www.technologyreview.com/blog/energy/23180/ or LIOH or TNBT (the next big thing.)
"The market" has done a great job of moving to standards and you're right. USB is one of them.
Bob
They would not be under the regulation
by Nicholas Buenk - 7/2/09 8:54 PM In reply to: What about charging surfaces? by R. Proffitt
Not being a recharging cable port, right?
Although I must say the last thing I want to do is have to buy cartridges to power a device, that is a step backwards to the 80s with replacable AA on everything...
A hex on this.
by R. Proffitt - 7/3/09 6:07 PM
In reply to: They would not be under the regulation by Nicholas Buenk
May all your devices demand LR44's!
Mandate the charger to have USB
by Nicholas Buenk - 7/2/09 6:04 PM In reply to: Universal Chargers cellphones in the US by B14ionAllow the manufacture to include any kind of port and cable on the device.
This would probably be a good compromise, without requiring much of a change in product design.
Universal Chargers cellphones in the US
by wizkids32 - 7/4/09 2:16 PM In reply to: Universal Chargers cellphones in the US by B14ionYes eventually they will.
I hope so...
by n74jw - 7/5/09 7:13 PM In reply to: Universal Chargers cellphones in the US by B14ionThat would be greand, but I am not going to hold my breath for it. I'd like a really cheap, universal, solar charger for my various gadgets (iPods, iPhone, GPS, and Nextel).
The cable connecting to the device shouldn't be mandated.
by hosko - 7/6/09 7:03 AM In reply to: Universal Chargers cellphones in the US by B14ionThe cable connecting to the device shouldn't be mandated, what should be mandated is the power brick that it connects to. That way each brick that plugs into the wall would have a standard output that you plug a cable into that then plugs into your phone. This should be standard for a whole range of devices.
This way someone could make a brick that has multiple outputs and turns its self off when not charging. The problem is having to have multiple down step transformers constantly plugged in at my desk to charge all the devices. If it was standardised you would just have one with multiple leads coming from it.
and
by n74jw - 7/6/09 7:10 AM In reply to: The cable connecting to the device shouldn't be mandated. by hoskoThe prongs for the A/C connector should NOT be attached to, or eminating from, the power brick itself. Chargers designed as such, block other electrical ports and render adjacent ports on surge strips inaccessible.
Should be a USB port then
by Nicholas Buenk - 7/6/09 8:26 PM In reply to: The cable connecting to the device shouldn't be mandated. by hoskoBecause many devices these days you also want to plug into a computer.
Leave the device side of the cable up to the manufacturer.
Removable brick
by B14ion - 7/13/09 3:29 PM In reply to: The cable connecting to the device shouldn't be mandated. by hoskoI have the LG Chocolate 3 from Verizon. The power cable has a some kind of microUSB that connects to the phone and the other end is a standard USB connector. This end then connects to a power brick. I haven't tried to remove the power brick and connect the cable to my PC because I don't want Verizon stuff near my PC.
Wouldn't it be nice if you can just connect your phone to computer's USB port and charge it that way?
I'm starting to think this is a bad idea
by Nicholas Buenk - 7/6/09 10:16 PM In reply to: Universal Chargers cellphones in the US by B14ionWith all the exceptions an issues. Don't want to mandate micro-USB on devices because it might clutter a device that would be better served by a port that does more functions, don't necessarily want USB on all chargers because USB is actually a pretty low power standard which might be an issue for some devices.
I'm thinking standardization is good but it should not be mandatory. Maybe do it with carrot rather than stick, tax break?
Low Power is an issue
by joedelco - 7/12/09 10:28 PM In reply to: I'm starting to think this is a bad idea by Nicholas BuenkI have a Nokia N95 that uses a AC/DC adapter that provides 5V output at 890mA. If Nokia was required to use micro USB and did not provide an internal circuit that allowed more current than the micro USB 2.0 spec (5V at 500mA) to charge the phone, it would take my phone almost twice as long to charge as it does now.
| Forum legend: | |
 |
Locked thread |
 |
Moderator |
 |
CNET staff |
 |
Samsung staff |
 |
Norton Authorized Support team |
 |
AVG staff |
 |
Windows Outreach team |
 |
Dell staff |
 |
Intel staff |
