The new Genius Bar system allows you to make reservations further in advance than the old one, which was limited to just a few days. #gizmodoremainders
@yule-and-bellow: No - I mean if something initially costs $100 and someone says prices are cut by 50%, this means that the new price is $50. If they say prices are cut by 100%, this means the new price is zero. If you say the price is cut by 800%, this means the new price is -$700. #gizmodoremainders
I think thats right, you can tell me if I am or not because you're first comment flew right over my head, proving you have the superior mind of us two...or google is paying people massive amounts of money to have all the data in the world put in their cloud...further inching them closer to world domination
I think that most people are missing the fact that it gives you a car's cigarette lighter for your home. It's already one of, if not, the most widely adopted power sources in the world by the mere fact that it's in every car in the world. There are very few things you can't plug into one of those things. I think that's the real value to this thing. AND you get a USB port too? Very cool! #scoschepowerfuze
@Lizard_King: I'm specifically thinking of iPod FM transmitters that could come in handy if you have a radio without an iPod input. But I'm sure there are other things you can use it for. #scoschepowerfuze
@Bustout: yeah, I actually had a wall wart with a cigarette lighter jack that I used sometimes for charging batteries for my camera. I had the house charger, and a car charger, and with this wall wart I could charge both at once. #scoschepowerfuze
Just to clarify, that third picture shows that you can plug it into the wall, and theoretically, use a car socket out? Because I've been looking for that for a while. I was going to build one, but I've been so lazy--er...busy, lately, lol... #schoshepowerfuze
I work at a mall kiosk that sells cellphone accessories and I wish this standard would be adopted here. There are so many freakin' types of chargers and it gets so annoying trying to find the correct one for somebody's random phone. #universalchargingsolution
Wow, why is every "regulation" or "standardization" for technology not go along with what the industry is already using? We should have the main usb connector, and a mobile/small connector.
What does every portable hard drive, computer accessory, mobile phone (that uses usb) use so far? MINIUSB, not micro. #universalchargingsolution
@James Kinney: Why would you want mini as a standard, when you anticipate phones thinner than mini as an eventuality?
I think micro is a better choice, because we WILL have phones thinner than mini, and probably sooner than you or I think. The point of a standard is to stay relevant as long as possible, and picking the fatter format when "thin is in" would be a bad call.
And I have a microUSB using phone, and my connector is working just fine, and I tend to abuse my electronics. Maybe its just my luck though. #universalchargingsolution
Many of the phone manufacturers apparently saw this coming because we have been noticing many of the newer phones out there have already standardized on a micro USB port for their connectivity. Even better, there are converters for those using mini to change the chargers to micro for only a few bucks.
This concept has been floated almost since the inception of mobile phones. Nokia had the standard on power adapter plugs for many years and a few other cell phone companies were using their design, despite it not being an official standard. So, kudos to the companies pushing this forward.
Is Apple on whatever committee is considering this? I agree with the other folks here mentioning that, despite Apple's (supposed) reliance on standards, I am concerned that they might not add the micro port on the device. It seems even more unlikely that, despite it being possible, they would switch from their proprietary connector to a universal one. But, if they did - I would be sending a nice assortment of "I love you in a special sort of way" candies to Mr. Jobs. #universalchargingsolution
I have no doubt that they (all the competing companies) will find a way to screw this up. I'll just stick with my iPod and my iPhone. Works in my car, all the cables are interchangeable, etc.
The only thing this will end up helping is the phone makers, so they can sell the phone without a charger. I doubt they will lower the cost of the phone because of that, and average joe consumer will probably have to buy one with the new standard anyway, so that will be another $20 when buying a cell phone.
I don't really buy the 51,000 ton number. Like most statistics used to support a position, I suspect that very, very optimistic calculations were used. #universalchargingsolution
@CraigJ: Yeah, that may be true, but you'll only have to spend that $20 for a new charger once. Afterwards, the next time you get a new phone, the old charger will still work with it, so unless it breaks, you don't need to buy another new charger. And if it does break, because they're all the same, it should be really easy to get a new one.
Also, if a friend is over at your place, you could let him charge his phone there if need be, which you could only do now if you had the same phone. There are all sorts of possibilities that this brings to the table. #universalchargingsolution
I don't even see why America has to hop on board per se - I mean, the cellular industry is pretty international, and assuming that manufacturers will want to sell as widely as possible, it would be logical for American and foreign manufacturers to adopt this standard and sell those phones into the US market, regardless of whether the US government passes a law or or adopts a regulation requiring it. #universalchargingsolution
@Canoehead: you're forgetting that there is a strong incentive for manufacturers to have a proprietary charger - they can charge a lot more for replacement devices, and even license the rights. Manufacturers may be on board with this idea now for a number of reasons (not the least of which is public pressure) but they could have all adopted a system like mini-USB years ago but chose not to in favor of being able to sell high-margin peripherals. #universalchargingsolution
@Canoehead: Companies will do what ever is cheapest for them. Think of power supplies that are now for the most part 240/110V. It means one production line for the whole globe. #universalchargingsolution
@weatherman: Ding! Weatherman wins the thread. That's 51,000 tons of profits sitting out there - those phone chargers probably cost a couple bucks to make, but sell at 6x that. You lose money on your main item, and make money on all the items that make the main item work. #universalchargingsolution
@tatublu: i doubt it, actually apple has pushed tons of standards, gizmodo made a post about it a while ago. i think we would see apple push the iphone adapter as a standerd before adopting micro usb... #universalchargingsolution
methane is not methanol. But they're both highly flammable and sort of dangerous, so they have that going for them.
Also, I have a feeling that if you have to buy cartridges of methanol, there will be a market for methanol cartridge refills, just as there is an ink cartridge refill market. #toshibafuelcell
I have the Mophie and LOVE it, it's not hard to take off at all, those are rumors. Mine fits snug and slides off easlily too. I WISH, someone would make a case such as the Mphie that's just thicker instead of taller so it could have a larger capacity battery. The thickness would be much better to tolerate than the height in my opinion. This looks like it's a "snap and break" waiting to happen because it's so tall. And not very pocketable like a thicker one would still be. Not for everyday use probably, but certainly better than almost double the height of this thing. I don't like this one. Love the power, but footprint it too high.
11/11/09
11/11/09
Something is wrong with this sentence... #gizmodoremainders
11/11/09
Better? Worse? #gizmodoremainders
11/11/09
11/11/09
I think thats right, you can tell me if I am or not because you're first comment flew right over my head, proving you have the superior mind of us two...or google is paying people massive amounts of money to have all the data in the world put in their cloud...further inching them closer to world domination
10/29/09
10/30/09
10/30/09
10/30/09
10/30/09
10/29/09
10/29/09
you appear to be in luck, sir. #schoshepowerfuze
10/29/09
10/26/09
10/26/09
Even Apple may struggle against the force of a Union. #universalchargingsolution
10/24/09
10/24/09
What does every portable hard drive, computer accessory, mobile phone (that uses usb) use so far? MINIUSB, not micro. #universalchargingsolution
10/24/09
10/24/09
10/25/09
when cell phones are thinner than the miniusb i will believe you.
the micro is a piece of crap!!! i hate using it it never feels correct sliding into the phone. feels cheap and like it will break.
miniusb ftw! #universalchargingsolution
10/27/09
I think micro is a better choice, because we WILL have phones thinner than mini, and probably sooner than you or I think. The point of a standard is to stay relevant as long as possible, and picking the fatter format when "thin is in" would be a bad call.
And I have a microUSB using phone, and my connector is working just fine, and I tend to abuse my electronics. Maybe its just my luck though. #universalchargingsolution
10/27/09
11/10/09
10/24/09
This concept has been floated almost since the inception of mobile phones. Nokia had the standard on power adapter plugs for many years and a few other cell phone companies were using their design, despite it not being an official standard. So, kudos to the companies pushing this forward.
Is Apple on whatever committee is considering this? I agree with the other folks here mentioning that, despite Apple's (supposed) reliance on standards, I am concerned that they might not add the micro port on the device. It seems even more unlikely that, despite it being possible, they would switch from their proprietary connector to a universal one. But, if they did - I would be sending a nice assortment of "I love you in a special sort of way" candies to Mr. Jobs. #universalchargingsolution
10/24/09
The only thing this will end up helping is the phone makers, so they can sell the phone without a charger. I doubt they will lower the cost of the phone because of that, and average joe consumer will probably have to buy one with the new standard anyway, so that will be another $20 when buying a cell phone.
I don't really buy the 51,000 ton number. Like most statistics used to support a position, I suspect that very, very optimistic calculations were used. #universalchargingsolution
10/24/09
Also, if a friend is over at your place, you could let him charge his phone there if need be, which you could only do now if you had the same phone. There are all sorts of possibilities that this brings to the table. #universalchargingsolution
10/24/09
10/24/09
10/24/09
10/25/09
10/24/09
10/24/09
10/22/09
Also, I have a feeling that if you have to buy cartridges of methanol, there will be a market for methanol cartridge refills, just as there is an ink cartridge refill market. #toshibafuelcell
10/08/09
10/08/09