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European Commission Pushing Micro-USB Standard for Cellphone Chargers
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Jhwk
02/17/09

In reply to European Commission Pushing Micro-USB Standard for Cellphone Chargers
There's a Micro? I call Shenanigans. This is complete and unadulterated Bullshit. in what world would a micro work that couldn't handle the mini? you lost a whole one mm in thickness - whoopee freaking doo. this is just further evidence of the global electronics system sticking it to the man!

Fuck you GSM Association and the horse you rode in on.
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IN THE FACE!
02/17/09

@Jhwk: ???

But in any event:

You can't spell WILDCATS without L-A-S-T.
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EmilKoleszar
02/17/09

In reply to European Commission Pushing Micro-USB Standard for Cellphone Chargers
Yes it reduces waste, but now devices won't come with a "free" charger anymore. They'll just assume you already have one, or make you buy one at a ridiculous markup (anything over $4 for one of these things is a complete ripoff) Do you think the manufacturers are going to pass on the savings to consumers? Probably not.
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IN THE FACE!
02/17/09

@EmilKoleszar: But we all WILL already have one...

I only need so many, wasn't the point to reduce waste? Fewer chargers manufactured = less waste...
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satoru
02/17/09

In reply to European Commission Pushing Micro-USB Standard for Cellphone Chargers
What I see happening though is what Motorola does with their crappy Motorola Q. The port is mini-usb but you cannot use just any old usb charger with it. It's very annoying!
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FredicvsMaximvs
02/17/09

@satoru: I own a Q9m, and it charges just fine on anything with a mini USB connection. I have successfully charged it with a wall wart, car adapter, and my laptop.
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IN THE FACE!
02/17/09

@satoru: There is usually a hack you have to perform to unlock that behavior, that is one of the worst things I have ever seen a manufacturer do to their phones...

A previous room-mate of mine had a VZW Razor that would ONLY charge on a Motorola mini-USB wall charger. I had a T-Mobile MDA at the time (also used mini-USB to charge), if my roommate plugged his razor into my phone's charger it would show a little window on the screen saying "Unauthorized Charger" or something, and it wouldn't charge...
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strider_mt2k
02/17/09

In reply to European Commission Pushing Micro-USB Standard for Cellphone Chargers
Very cool.

My Omnia comes with a tone of cool accessories, but Ghod help me if any of them fails, because each and every one has that stupid proprietary Samsung connector on it.

Micro USB isn't my favorite, but it'll do JUST FINE!!
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Sockatume
02/17/09

In reply to European Commission Pushing Micro-USB Standard for Cellphone Chargers
Funnily enough, the mini-USB-B connector is depreciated now in favour of micro-USB-B. It's a "dead" standard, effectively.
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Herman
02/17/09

@Sockatume: Says who?

There a thousands of devices that still use it.
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IN THE FACE!
02/17/09

@Herman: Says who? Port nerds apparently.

No one else seems to care...
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aesop17
02/17/09

In reply to European Commission Pushing Micro-USB Standard for Cellphone Chargers
And is this the end of Apples "buy my accessories or else" corporate style or is there some way for them to get around it? Let's hope not.
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IN THE FACE!
02/17/09

@aesop17: You expect Apple to just stop being douche-bags because some consortium of competitors want to standardize something.

All this will do is spur Apple to release their new micro-display port* for the iPhone 3G V2...

*The micro-display port dongle will cost $700 and only support 720i.
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Billy Briere
02/17/09

In reply to European Commission Pushing Micro-USB Standard for Cellphone Chargers
Why not micro-usb? [www.intomobile.com]
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rshettle
02/17/09

@Billy Briere: What's the point? Are the mini-usb's not small enough for you?
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IN THE FACE!
02/17/09

@rshettle: I'm holding out for pico-usb.
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Daniel Hertz
02/17/09

In reply to European Commission Pushing Micro-USB Standard for Cellphone Chargers
but companies like Apple must have a choice, as the "Dock connector" has many other useful pins; stereo line out, stereo line in and video out, etc. Does this mean I will have to have more ports on my phone? If mini USB had some spare pins, then it would be fine, but otherwise, more ports ports on phones, and more cables to connect them!
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Anticitizen
02/17/09

@Daniel Hertz: The Dock connector is such an entrenched standard among Apple's mobile equipment, that I don't think they'll replace it anytime soon.
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Gonzie
02/17/09

@Anticitizen: i can't see the EU having a major issue with it since they include a USB cable and charger (at time of writing) in the box
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obk
02/17/09

@Gonzie: They said they are trying to fight wasteful chargers.. which they say means that it will have no use after the device dies.. so apple would have to change to fit in. boo hoo for them.
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Jamie Collins
02/17/09

@obk: Don't think so. The dock connector is dominantly a USB cable and they would argue that it doesn't even NEED a charger.
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IN THE FACE!
02/17/09

@Jamie Collins: Yes, because it runs on unicorn shit and magical pixie dust...

Oh, if only I had a REASON to sync data as often as the phone needs to charge...
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Serolf Divad
02/17/09

In reply to European Commission Pushing Micro-USB Standard for Cellphone Chargers
Yaaaay, I love the idea. As it is, a bunch of my devices use mini-usb for power and it's nice to be able to keep one charger in the car for all of them. Alas a few of my devices do not, and I really wish they did.
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thetiminator69
02/17/09

@Serolf Divad: sorry dude ... you're gonna need another charger in your car. the new standard is the new and IMO obnoxious microUSB.

Why couldn't they use miniUSB? seriously, is it THAT much bigger??? its already a friggen standard!!!
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Serolf Divad
02/17/09

@thetiminator69:

the new standard is the new and IMO obnoxious microUSB.

Uh... I guess I spoke too soon.
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IN THE FACE!
02/17/09

@Serolf Divad: STEP AWAY FROM THE DONGLE! We are going to sedate you, and monitor your mental state for a short period of time, before releasing you back into the intarwebs; THIS IS FOR YOUR OWN SAFTEY!
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European Commission Pushing Micro-USB Standard for Cellphone Chargers

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