Who still uses USB regularly enough to feel this is a problem? Memory sticks are irrelevant in todays Gb ethernet as standard world, printers are wireless or networked, scanners don't exist for all intents and purposes, mice and keyboards are bluetooth... the list goes on!
An USB plug that goes both ways
41–50 of 138 posts
Re: An USB plug that goes both ways
#42Smart, but I wonder how robust it is. With a sliding mechanism that small that's going to be constantly barraged with fumbling fingers, will it be able to stand the test of time? Something tells me it'll go the way of floppy disks - accidentally mangled springs, which will make the user have to toss it and get a new one. The major difference being that USB cables don't come in packs of 10.
It has the lowest robustness possible: it's some student's design project and doesn't even physically exist. All the illustrations are renders or bad composites.
I'm aware, but that doesn't mean I can't question the robustness of the (hypothetical) final interface. If a man looks at a blueprint and asks, "will it work?" he's not asking if the ink on paper has structural integrity - he's asking about the final product.
Re: An USB plug that goes both ways
#43The preamble that talks about how USB is increasingly important in our lives is hilarious: typical hyperbolic introduction to student projects that try and fail to justify the importance of the project.
It is especially funny because it falls back on the "increasingly important" trope, when it is not only false but subsumed by a far better argument: USB is ubiquitous.
Re: An USB plug that goes both ways
#44Earlier quoted context omitted.
USB ports are supposed to be current limited. Given that those components cost money to buy and money to place… I think we know where low end equipment vendors are going to end up.
I'd expect current limiting to be a feature of even the cheapest USB interface ICs. It's really easy to test and potentially a short-circuit/fire hazard. Not the kind of thing any testing lab would be likely to overlook.
Wasn't there a problem recently with a USB device, that was popular on Hacker News, getting overheated and becoming a fire hazard. The sleep/time one. I believe they recalled them. Granted, I don't know which side of the cable was at issue.
Re: An USB plug that goes both ways
#45I read a poignant comment on YouTube (I know, I know) the other day:
"I have a theory, that USB cables have three sides: Wrong side A, wrong side B and right side. Geometry would tell us that the first side would be the same as the third one, but I know the truth."
Re: An USB plug that goes both ways
#46Who still uses USB regularly enough to feel this is a problem? Memory sticks are irrelevant in todays Gb ethernet as standard world, printers are wireless or networked, scanners don't exist for all intents and purposes, mice and keyboards are bluetooth... the list goes on!
Almost everyone still uses USB as the baseline for almost everything. Few people use Bluetooth mice or keyboards. Networked scanners and printers are expensive when compared with USB appliances. Gb network is only standard on high-end components, most are still 10/100. USB drives are the most common form of data transfer because of the assurance that they will be compatible with most machines.
Re: An USB plug that goes both ways
#47I've always wondered why the USB port is the way it is. It seems such an unbelievably stupid design, but I assume there must be a reason for it. Does anyone have a link, or brief explanation? Incidentally a search for "why is the usb port such a stupid design?" (without the quotes) brings up nothing remotely relevant on any of the major search engines. Strange.
I have been as frustrated as anyone by trying to plug in USB plugs both ways. Or by finding that USB plugs make a rather neat fit in RJ45 jacks.
But really, looking back on the history of common connectors (DB plugs, DIN plugs, 10BASE2, etc.), USB looks really simple, safe, cheap, reliable, and easy-to-use. I've never had a USB socket go bad. I've never shorted out any equipment by brushing a USB plug with a conductive object. I've never needed to clean a USB connector to get it to work properly. But all those things have happened to me with USB's predecessors.
Re: An USB plug that goes both ways
#48The preamble that talks about how USB is increasingly important in our lives is hilarious: typical hyperbolic introduction to student projects that try and fail to justify the importance of the project. It is especially funny because it falls back on the "increasingly important" trope, when it is not only false but subsumed by a far better argument: USB is ubiquitous.
Yup, you could sum it all and simpl say:
"With the ubiquity of USB, here is a plug design that makes connecting more hassle free {pictures}"
HOWEVER,
This guy has been beat to the punch by guys at CES this year.
There was a guy handing out samples of a USB adapter that you plug into any existing USB cable and i does what this guys design does, except it doesnt have any moving parts. Rather than the sliding plastic thing, it is simply the contact board center-mounted in the metal shroud, regardless of which way you plug it, it works.
My buddy ordered 1000 to give away to customers.
Re: An USB plug that goes both ways
#49Well, after 10+ years of using USB widgets of every shape, size, and color - I just discovered from reading the article that the USB symbol is always on the top side. So, I certainly got my value out of HN today. :-)
- ... that the USB symbol is always on the top side Yes, I thought that, except that on my father's computer it goes on the bottom. I checked quite thoroughly.
That might be because your father's computer has the usb ports mounted upside down.
It happens very often though. And in some laptops you even have all combinations at once: some mounted right, others upside down and one or two mounted vertically...
It's a mess...
Re: An USB plug that goes both ways
#50Earlier quoted context omitted.
I'd expect current limiting to be a feature of even the cheapest USB interface ICs. It's really easy to test and potentially a short-circuit/fire hazard. Not the kind of thing any testing lab would be likely to overlook.
Wasn't there a problem recently with a USB device, that was popular on Hacker News, getting overheated and becoming a fire hazard. The sleep/time one. I believe they recalled them. Granted, I don't know which side of the cable was at issue.
Wakemate - it wasn't the cable, it was the "wall wart" charger. When I got mine (and discarded it) I noticed it was curiously similar to the iPhone 3G charger that was also recalled. Of course, my current iPhone charger looks identical as well.