I think some trolling of TechRadar is in order

[The_Q42]

I mean, unless this is satire: https://www.techradar.com/phones/phone-accessories/this-new-usb-c-power-cable-concept-is-so-ingeniously-simple-im-amazed-no-one-thought-of-it-before

 

Basically, this managing editor is obsessed with a concept straight out of the 80s where a 30W charger is permanently attached to a USB-C cable.  You know, so when your cable wears out, you have to throw the whole thing away instead of simply replacing the cable.  Because more e-waste is good and spending more money is too!

 

I really hope this was intended as satire . . . 

[AbydosOne]

7 minutes ago, The_Q42 said:

I really hope this was intended as satire . . . 

Take the concept of "press release disguised as an article" and apply "AI enhanced writing" to it. There's a reason I don't read much in the tech product news segment.

[YoungBlade]

If it's not satire, almost certainly, it is basically a form of product placement.

 

My hunch is that the company behind this product paid TechRadar (if not directly with money, then gave them something of value) and Jacob here was told by his superior to make a positive article about the product. AI may have been involved as well - perhaps Jacob asked ChatGPT what the positives about such a product are, and he ran with its suggestion.

 

In any case, this product is indeed trash. If the wall wart component was at least super compact - like, basically the size of a standard 3 prong cable - then maybe the integration could be justified. It would make it so that you could use it in a power strip, for example. Instead, you get all of the disadvantages of a wall wart charger without the advantages of being able to swap out cables, or have multiple ports for charging multiple devices.

[The_Q42]

Eh, you guys are probably right.  I just . . . was blown away but the sheer level of stupid, and had to post about it here where I figure my fellow nerds would understand. 

[starsmine]

Yea this is an ad unfortunately. 
Native Advertising though without disclosure I thought was very illegal. I would say report it to the FTC, but there enforcement of things is down right now for... reasons. Should still report it I suppose. 

They should be dragged for not disclosing native advertising I agree, but a troll campaign idk. 

[Blue4130]

8 hours ago, The_Q42 said:

I mean, unless this is satire: https://www.techradar.com/phones/phone-accessories/this-new-usb-c-power-cable-concept-is-so-ingeniously-simple-im-amazed-no-one-thought-of-it-before

 

Basically, this managing editor is obsessed with a concept straight out of the 80s where a 30W charger is permanently attached to a USB-C cable.  You know, so when your cable wears out, you have to throw the whole thing away instead of simply replacing the cable.  Because more e-waste is good and spending more money is too!

 

I really hope this was intended as satire . . . 

I don't know what they think makes this so special, literally every Nintendo Switch  comes with one...

 

[TetraSky]

Eliminating the versatile cord free wallplug... for an integrated wallplug... Where if the USB plug ends up failing, you have to buy a whole new cable+ integrated wallplug instead of just a cable... What an excellent article for a useless product that already existed.

[cmndr]

It's basically a very nice looking "laptop charger"

 

Not worth the effort to get upset over.