Universal cell phone charger?

[coolVariable]

So apparently cell phone manufacturers might be coming to their senses by implementing a universal standard for their chargers:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7894763.stm?lss

But of course the are doing it by saying "F*CK YOU!" and implementing the little used micro-USB standard, not the rather common mini-USB.


Mini-USB is widely used currently and is probably the most common standard at the moment.
From Blackberrys to HTC cell phones ... they all work with mini-USB chargers and cables.
I personally have probably 8 mini-USB chargers and at least 10 mini-USB-to-USB cables.

I therefore want to say: Thank you GSM industry and F*CK YOU BACK!


(Sorry for the rant but I am sure everybody here agrees that this is 1. overdue and 2. a big screw up if they dn't go with a currently common standard!)
---------------------

If you feel like I do (or even if you don't) and want to let them know what you think, here is the contact information of the GSM Association:

email: webmaster@gsm.org

London Office
The GSMA - London offices are situated at:

1st Floor,
Mid City Place,
71 High Holborn,
London
WC1V 6EA.

Tel. +44 (0)20 7759 2300
Fax. +44 (0)20 7759 2301

Atlanta Office
Atlanta office is situated at:

400 Northpark
1000 Abernathy Road
Suite 450
Atlanta
GA 30328
USA

Tel. +1 678 281 6600
Fax. +1 678 281 66

 

[AkumaX]

The cool thing is that you can just get a microUSB->miniUSB adapter.

 

[dakels]

Micro USB was probably chosen for its size and universal ease of use? I have seen many phones that could not fit a normal mini USB connector. Also, micro USb seems to have a more durable fit due to its shape. I see mini USB's breaking constantly. Just my observation. I'm not advocating micro USB, all my stuff is mini. I just can understand the rationale behind using it and frankly I think it may be a better standard even if it screws people like us who have a million mini USB parts.

 

[OCGuy]

8/10 rant*




















*nerdiness scale used for this rating

 

[dullard]

1) It is long overdue. There is no reason that every device that I have needs a seperate charger.

2) I say go with either the smallest or the cheapest. I doubt that miniUSB is either.

 

[Babbles]

Sounds like great news!

 

[ivan2]

had the same problem when I tried to find a charger for my verizon nokia. damn i hate the microusb, and when u compare their size it's not that big of a difference, and it seems more flimsy

 

[TwiceOver]

I just love how Motorolla phones use mini usb to charge but will not charge unless you have Windows Drivers installed or use a branded charger.

 

[nakedfrog]

Originally posted by: dakels
Micro USB was probably chosen for its size and universal ease of use? I have seen many phones that could not fit a normal mini USB connector. Also, micro USb seems to have a more durable fit due to its shape. I see mini USB's breaking constantly. Just my observation. I'm not advocating micro USB, all my stuff is mini. I just can understand the rationale behind using it and frankly I think it may be a better standard even if it screws people like us who have a million mini USB parts.

Whaaa? Pics of a phone that can't accommodate a mini-USB connector, please...

Originally posted by: TwiceOver
I just love how Motorolla phones use mini usb to charge but will not charge unless you have Windows Drivers installed or use a branded charger.

Yeah, that's a huge annoyance.

 

[dainthomas]

Originally posted by: TwiceOver
I just love how Motorolla phones use mini usb to charge but will not charge unless you have Windows Drivers installed or use a branded charger.

how is that possible?

 

[nakedfrog]

Originally posted by: dainthomas

Originally posted by: TwiceOver
I just love how Motorolla phones use mini usb to charge but will not charge unless you have Windows Drivers installed or use a branded charger.

how is that possible?

It says "Unauthorized charger" if the PC doesn't have the drivers installed.

 

[LS21]

my panasonic camera is the first device i have with microusb. what gives? i was happy with almost everything using miniusb (portable drive, assorted cameras, most phones). whyTF micro? how is it "Universal" anymore if they start changing stuff up?

why bother with type A and type B and all that stuff?

 

[Leros]

Originally posted by: nakedfrog

Originally posted by: dainthomas

Originally posted by: TwiceOver
I just love how Motorolla phones use mini usb to charge but will not charge unless you have Windows Drivers installed or use a branded charger.

how is that possible?

It says "Unauthorized charger" if the PC doesn't have the drivers installed.

USB ports only put out 100mA of current unless the device requests more (up to a max of 500mA). That's just part of the USB standard.

It might have something to do with that.

 

[HannibalX]

Somehow this doesn't seem that important.

 

[Leros]

To all those complaining about micro-usb.

Micro-usb is probably the future. With thinner and smaller devices, it only makes sense that the connector needs to get smaller. In 5 years, you'll have 5 micro-usb cables laying around too.

 

[dullard]

Originally posted by: iFX
Somehow this doesn't seem that important.

No, but it'll save a ton of waste (no more having millions of chargers go unused each year). And it'll be nice if you can just plug in any device into one charger - rather than carrying a half dozen chargers with you (I'm thinking of when travelling) or having a half dozen chargers cluttering up your desk/counter/floor.

 

[So]

Mini-usb may be small enough from the space on the case perspective, but from a space in the phone / on the PCB perspective, microusb allows you to incorporate many more features. Remember, by going to USB, you have to accept that for any other ports on the phone, you'll need another space hogging connector. Remember, proprietary connectors include traces for things like microphones, speakers, serial i/o, etc.

Micro-usb is the way to go - it's an open standard, chargers will be readily available, and five years from now you will love micro-usb, just like you hated mini-usb back when companies started putting that on devices.

 

[TwiceOver]

Originally posted by: Leros

Originally posted by: nakedfrog

Originally posted by: dainthomas

Originally posted by: TwiceOver
I just love how Motorolla phones use mini usb to charge but will not charge unless you have Windows Drivers installed or use a branded charger.

how is that possible?

It says "Unauthorized charger" if the PC doesn't have the drivers installed.

USB ports only put out 100mA of current unless the device requests more (up to a max of 500mA). That's just part of the USB standard.

It might have something to do with that.

It will also say Unauthorized Charger if you use a USB wall wart adapter like the ones you find on ebay.

Sucks. Almost every device I have will charge using mini usb except my phone, which has the connector and is used for charging, but can't use.

 

[SunnyD]

Imagine all the companies that will be going out of business because they can no longer make proprietary adapters anymore! The EU just fucked the economy hardcore!

 

[dakels]

Originally posted by: nakedfrog

Originally posted by: dakels
Micro USB was probably chosen for its size and universal ease of use? I have seen many phones that could not fit a normal mini USB connector. Also, micro USb seems to have a more durable fit due to its shape. I see mini USB's breaking constantly. Just my observation. I'm not advocating micro USB, all my stuff is mini. I just can understand the rationale behind using it and frankly I think it may be a better standard even if it screws people like us who have a million mini USB parts.

Whaaa? Pics of a phone that can't accommodate a mini-USB connector, please...

I don't know off the top of my head. I just remember seeing phone jacks in thin places where I wouldn't think a mini usb would fit well. I'm not saying they couldn't accommodate it somewhere else.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wi...s/f/f4/USB_types_2.jpg

There is a significant different in size, height especially. Like my girlfriend's phone, I don't remember which it is but the thin location of the connector, I could see why they used micro over mini.

Whats the downside to micro? It does all the same stuff as mini but smaller?

 

[RU482]

Originally posted by: SunnyD
Imagine all the companies that will be going out of business because they can no longer make proprietary adapters anymore! The EU just fucked the economy hardcore!

maybe the economy of China

 

[dakels]

Originally posted by: RU482

Originally posted by: SunnyD
Imagine all the companies that will be going out of business because they can no longer make proprietary adapters anymore! The EU just fucked the economy hardcore!

maybe the economy of China

Well seriously, that must piss off companies where proprietary power adapter accessories are a good part of the revenue considering they probably have a huge profit margin.

 

[Saga]

I hope RIM tells them to go fuck themselves and keeps Mini-USB. I have more Micro break than Mini due to how fucking frail it is.

 

[AkumaX]

Originally posted by: dakels

Originally posted by: nakedfrog

I don't know off the top of my head. I just remember seeing phone jacks in thin places where I wouldn't think a mini usb would fit well. I'm not saying they couldn't accommodate it somewhere else.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wi...s/f/f4/USB_types_2.jpg

There is a significant different in size, height especially. Like my girlfriend's phone, I don't remember which it is but the thin location of the connector, I could see why they used micro over mini.

Whats the downside to micro? It does all the same stuff as mini but smaller?

Yap, just an adapter for all those whom have a jillion mini-usb for all their other devices (card readers, cameras, etc...)
http://www.amazon.com/Motorola...-SKN6252/dp/B001EJFZ5G

 

[coolVariable]

Out of everybody who replied we have 1 device using micro usb (digital camera) and one maybe using micro usb (GF cell phone).
How many mini-USB devices?

Withouting thinking about this too long, I have the following mini-usb devices (probably more):
- 2 external HDD enclosures
- 2 cell phones
- 3 skype phones
- 1 web cam (I think)
- 2 digital cameras
- 1 multi-card reader

if you compare the pics the size difference is negligible, especially if you compare the size of the plug on the devices.
It's just one more way to screw customers as long as they still can.