Mobile devices - One charger for all  (2011 it starts )  - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Kiriakos-GR
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 10, 2011, 06:58:52 pm
content: One charger for all, mobile phones - PDA - etc etc..It becomes an reality at 2011 , the European idea becomes an standard .video.

author: saturation
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 10, 2011, 09:09:33 pm
content: This is good news, and its about time. A lot of still useful chargers are thrown away as phone makers change cable jacks as often as software. Years ago, various USB jacks was used for chargers in many phones, then they abandoned them for proprietary cables, Motorola comes to mind. Apple has always had their own, which has made them a PITA.

author: Zero999
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 10, 2011, 09:42:48 pm
content: Does this mean that in the future not all phones will be sold with a charger?Imagine having a phone,getting rid of it and buying a new one, now you have two charges, which might both work but you still only need one. The phone manufacturers need to stop bundling phones with chargers, in order to minimise waste.

author: Kiriakos-GR
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 10, 2011, 10:33:09 pm
content: An spare charger, its not an waste.But an workable option could be, that the charger will become an optional choice ..

author: Wim_L
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 10, 2011, 11:13:50 pm
content: It wouldn't be the first device like that. Just like printers are often sold without parallel or USB cable.And then there's those standard mains power cords. I rarely have to unpack one these days, so many of them just keep piling in.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 10, 2011, 11:50:31 pm
content: The big question is, will Apple jump on board? I doubt it.Not that it actually matters that much, Apple phone sales aren't that huge in the global scheme.Dave.

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 11, 2011, 12:39:33 am
content: And of course when they come out you will have to buy one for your new phone which will cost as much as if it had a charger (the bundling will stop) and you will still need to use the old one for your current mobile phone.Then the micro usb will become nano usb then pico usb and so on. Each time buying a new charger for your new phone and using the old ones for the older models. Not to mention the adapters needed to use your older phones with the universal charging surface at that time in the future.Clearly this is not aimed to make your life easier or to reduce waste. Instead, it will increase profit margins which will be maintained by the introduction of new advanced 'universal' chargers. And all of this wrapped in a 'green package'. Perfect! Kind of 'deja vu' with why PMPO was introduced in amplifiers and Daves vblog with that Dyson vacuum cleaner.I dont buy it.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 11, 2011, 12:43:08 am
content: Quote from: Alex on February 11, 2011, 12:39:33 amI do.Normally I'm cynical, but this is a good and logical move.I can't see any future need to move below Micro USB in size, so the standard will stick.Phones won't shrink any further, they need screen realestate and battery life.Dave.

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 11, 2011, 12:54:58 am
content: Profit/gain reduction (direct/indirect) is never a logical move in the eyes of MNCs, this is an insider's opinion. Carbon taxes had to be introduced for factory emissions to be reduced.Don't get me wrong, a standard charger that we can use for a few generations of mobile phones will be a dream come true. At least then I will know what power supplies I have available for other uses in the 'box with chargers'...

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 11, 2011, 01:10:20 am
content: Quote from: EEVblog on February 10, 2011, 11:50:31 pmThey'll likely have to if they want to continue to sell in the EU after a certain date (and I wouldn't be surprised if other countries also adopt it, just like almost all consumer electronics is RoHS these days). It might be a half-assed solution like an adapter cable which charges it at half the normal rate, though, not sure how many loopholes are in the directive.

author: flapjackboy
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 11, 2011, 01:22:05 am
content: Quote from: alm on February 11, 2011, 01:10:20 amNah, he'll just loosen the licensing restrictions on the dock connector to allow it to be used by anyone. Let's face it, just about everything has a dock connector on it these days and the other phone/mp3 player manufacturers would love to have their products with a dock connector.Not saying I agree with that tactic, but Hell will host the winter olympics the day Jobs gives up the dock connector.

author: Sionyn
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 11, 2011, 02:08:37 am
content: good idea and a bad ideamy new phone takes 7 hours to charge over usbbut 3 hours from it proprietary dock thingso i took a look with my fluke and this thing is pulling a massive 3amp for charging current

author: ziq8tsi
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 11, 2011, 02:52:09 am
content: Appleisone of the original signatories to the MoU. But the scheme does not require them to drop the proprietary connector, or even to include a µUSB socket alongside. It is explicitly permitted to supply an adapter. No doubt the adapter will feel much more like part of the charger than the phone.Another interesting loophole is that the MoU does not guarantee that participating phones will be able to charge over USB! The "Common External Power Supply" shorts D-/D+ to indicate that it is a charger, not a host, and both the voltage and current requirements (5V±5%, 500mA..1500mA) are higher than for USB.Personally I would prefer to do away will mains chargers and use standard USB, even if it is slower. At least there is hope that many manufacturers will implement things so that this is possible.

author: williefleete
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 11, 2011, 02:57:23 am
content: Quote from: Sionyn on February 11, 2011, 02:08:37 amwhat the heck kinda mAh rating is that battery?

author: PetrosA
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 11, 2011, 03:38:50 am
content: I'm all for standardization like this. I have bought three generations of Nokias in part so I wouldn't have to upgrade my car chargers ($30-40 US) plus I can keep my contacts and other data somewhat from one generation to the next. I wish they would settle on one USB format though. Each of the last two Nokias I had used a different cable, which are also different from my cameras and different from my GPS. Who thinks all this shit up?

author: Kiriakos-GR
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 11, 2011, 11:17:56 am
content: Quote from: Sionyn on February 11, 2011, 02:08:37 amThis text brings in mind an new consideration .In the question what if ? My device needs a charger with X-mA , and the new wide spread standard offers less.The good part will be that you will be able to charge in any place - with any charger.And I bet that their output in mA will become another standard too.Like , all or every portable device, it will end up to have the same voltage and current requirements .But hey what it will happen with the fast charge option ? possibly there will end up with dual connectors = dual charging powerCurrently the major deference of all chargers are just the plug.And so its possible some old chargers to be saved , by just replacing the plug of them with the new !!

author: scrat
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 11, 2011, 02:00:11 pm
content: Quote from: Sionyn on February 11, 2011, 02:08:37 amThe problem could be already solved by the fact mentioned by ziq8tsi:Quote from: ziq8tsi on February 11, 2011, 02:52:09 amThe USB output current limit of 500mA (100mA standard) is for hosts, so I think if a charger is recognizable it will have a higher power, and the device to be charged will know it.

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 11, 2011, 02:05:16 pm
content: Quote from: scrat on February 11, 2011, 02:00:11 pmThere is a standard for providing more power via USB, it even allows the communication to be shut down to focus fully on charging. I think Wikipedia has more details. So even some computers may be able to provide the power, not sure how widely it is implemented.

author: FreeThinker
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 11, 2011, 02:15:00 pm
content: Quote from: glossyshinywhite on February 11, 2011, 01:00:48 pmhttp://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/02/15/business/main6209772.shtmlGo Figure

author: FreeThinker
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 11, 2011, 03:38:46 pm
content: Okay, but 100M is not insignificant!No it's a massive 0.046% of world wide sales

author: flapjackboy
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 11, 2011, 06:59:16 pm
content: Quote from: glossyshinywhite on February 11, 2011, 02:17:52 pmWhen you consider that Nokia sold more phones in one quarter last year than Apple have sold since the iPone's release then yeah, it is.

author: FreeThinker
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 11, 2011, 09:52:20 pm
content: Quote from: glossyshinywhite on February 11, 2011, 09:40:34 pmEBAY! Ya

author: Hypernova
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 12, 2011, 03:00:54 am
content: mA limit of s single USB isn't that great an issue since portable HDD's already had to face it. They simply got double the output by combining two ports together.

author: glossywhite
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 12, 2011, 11:20:20 pm
content: Quote from: Hypernova on February 12, 2011, 03:00:54 amWow, such an elegant solution...

author: Wim_L
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 13, 2011, 02:43:53 am
content: Quote from: Hypernova on February 12, 2011, 03:00:54 amThis one is a lot of fun if you've got some silly computer where the manufacturer of the case put the microphone ports between the two front USB connectors, making it impossible to bridge the gap with the usually really short lead between both plugs.

author: kaptain_zero
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 13, 2011, 04:09:25 am
content: What I don't understand, now that induction charging is becoming more common place, is the fact that they didn't just go that route. I could then purchase a single charging pad and toss *any* mobile device onto it for recharging. All that would be needed is a small mobile version of the induction charger for auto use. Device manufacturers could then ditch the connection socket for charging and the related charger/cable, saving those costs for adding other features and no charger need be included with each device.RegardsKaptain "No money hungry manufacturer will allow themselves to be harassed by consumers using devious tactics like logic and common sense." Zero

author: Kiriakos-GR
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 13, 2011, 06:40:54 am
content: Well, after the new plug , what comes next are the universal battery charger for Li-ion.I just got one for just 2.50$ plus shipping ( 1.80 EUR ) , it will work for my Sanyo HD1010 camera battery,plus for my mobile phone battery.I will test it in two weeks ..Check the video ..http://shop.ebay.co.uk/eshoppingcity1/m.html?_nkw=+3G+USB+Commerce+Multi-purpose+Battery+Charger&_sacat=0&_odkw=New+3G+USB+Commerce+Multi-purpose+Battery+Chargers+9864&_osacat=0&_trksid=p3911.c0.m270.l1313

author: scrat
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 13, 2011, 08:51:11 am
content: Quote from: kaptain_zero on February 13, 2011, 04:09:25 amEfficiency would go really down with those chargers. It's small power, but billions phones wasting each 1W power mean GW power wasted...

author: saturation
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 13, 2011, 01:46:53 pm
content: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inductive_charging#DisadvantagesSo far, with a lot of extra electronics its approaching 86%, but you can easily exceed 95% with SMPS and a cable, for very less cost, so easily applied to every design, particularly if the inductive electronics adds size and weight to a device like a cellphone.Quote from: scrat on February 13, 2011, 08:51:11 am

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 13, 2011, 01:56:02 pm
content: Micro-USB (or mini-USB) was already a de-facto standard for some manufacturers, so that made it a logical choice. I think the micro-USB stanard was proposed by a bunch of manufacturers, and adopted by the EU. No cellphone manufacturer offers inductive charging as standard, as far as I know.

author: Kiriakos-GR
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 13, 2011, 04:55:22 pm
content: USB belongs to the world of computing,and this sector had feel first the need ,so to create an compatible standard about connectivity.There is no need to say how happy I am, that by the same USB cable ,I can connect on my computer my HP iPAQ rx5915 (PDA - GPS) and my portable hard drive (mini USB).The next group that needs to find common ground about USB connectivity ( that includes data transfer and charging)are the manufacturers of the digital photo & video cameras.