EU wants every smartphone and tablet to charge by micro-USB

[Alex(PlayMedium)]

This is a discussion that has been going on for years over here. They aren't trying to get specificly micro USB on every phone, but they want to standardize the interface.

The people in charge of doing this have no idea why microUSB is crap. Trying to standardize everything is such a true stereotype of the EU...

My sister's phone has had a broken micro USB connector for the second time now, I don't know anyone who has used a phone with micro USB for longer than a year who hasn't had any issues with micro USB.

 

But imo it is no big deal: wireless charging is pretty much ready for everyone to use, so soon we won't need a cable to charge our phone, to sync it to your PCs we can use bluetooth, so in a few years we won't even need a connector on our phones at all.

 

But untill then, a standard would be awsome(a different one than micro USB mind you ) because you would never have the situation again where you are on a trip or something, you forgot you charging cable and all your friends have different connectors on their phones. Basicly the idea is good, but not the way they want to achieve it.

[bcredeur97]

Mini USB > Micro USB

[EChondo]

At first I thought the title was talking about Mini-USB, not micro

I have never had a micro-USB connector break on me, but they are rather delicate. Mini-USB would be way better, like the PS3 controllers

[tahayassen]

"The newer Micro-USB receptacles are designed for up to 10,000 cycles of insertion and removal between the receptacle and plug, compared to 1,500 for the standard USB and 5,000 for the Mini-USB receptacle." -Wikipedia

 

GG Linus

[Theo]

Funny thing is, most people complaining about micro usb here, dont have their own opinion and just blindly repeat what linus has said/believes.

[KaareKanin]

Similar stuff has been tried before, the mini USB was pretty common, then a lot of tech companies decided to gather around one interface. They choose micro USB, I got mad, because the last one was better, and then it turned out to be mainly bull as far from all went with the new supposed "standard"

At least with this new suggestion, things won't change that much.

[Kuzma]

Never had problems with any connector besides VGA

[LAwLz]

Why does everyone hate micro usb? I have never had any problems with it.

Because Linus doesn't like it, and a lot of people blindly follow what Linus says.

 

Personally I don't have anything against micro USB. Never had one break on me (not even my Samsung charger which is easily over 1000 plugs/unplugs now). I would be happy if all phones started using a single connector. Also:

 

Durability:

EIA 364-09: The object of this test procedure is to detail a uniform test method for determining the effects caused by subjecting a USB connector to the conditioning action of insertion and extraction, simulating the expected life of the connectors. Durability cycling with a gauge is intended only to produce mechanical stress. Durability performed with mating components is intended to produce both mechanical and wear stress.

1500 cycles

5000 cycles for Mini “B”

10,000 cycles for Micro series

10,000 cycles for ruggedized Standard “A”

Cycle rate of 500 cycles per hour if done automatically and 200 if manual cycle

 

 

Test Phase 1-3: Durability

EIA 364 Test: 09

Severity or Condition of Test:

1500 cycles

5000 cycles for Mini “B”

10,000 cycles for Micro series

10,000 cycles for ruggedized Standard “A”

Cycle rate of 500 cycles per hour max.

 

Common Requirement: No physical damage and shall meet requirements of subsequent tests.

Micro-USB is rated for twice as high durability as mini-USB. That's directly from USB.org. Linus' "source" is a RP guy from some random company without any proper documentation on the test (they haven't released the results to the public, or anything like that) that was simply trying to make their device look better than the competition. Some anecdotal evidence from Linus made him believe it.

I think it's funny how Linus is very quick to bash micro-USB because he have had 2-3 devices with it break, but all his Razer devices that have broken down in the past (seemed like he have had more Razer devices break than micro USB devices) he is very quick to defend and say it's not Razer's fault and so on. Biased? I think so.

[LonliestofAll]

Linus, you will use Micro-USB. NOOOOOOOO!!!!

[bcredeur97]

please make apple switch to something non-proprietary.... please

[EricX2]

I thought they did that already years ago?

 

http://yro.slashdot.org/story/11/01/01/023248/micro-usb-cellphone-charger-becomes-eu-standard

[tahayassen]

Because Linus doesn't like it, and a lot of people blindly follow what Linus says.

 

Personally I don't have anything against micro USB. Never had one break on me (not even my Samsung charger which is easily over 1000 plugs/unplugs now). I would be happy if all phones started using a single connector. Also:

 

Micro-USB is rated for twice as high durability as mini-USB. That's directly from USB.org. Linus' "source" is a RP guy from some random company without any proper documentation on the test (they haven't released the results to the public, or anything like that) that was simply trying to make their device look better than the competition. Some anecdotal evidence from Linus made him believe it.

I think it's funny how Linus is very quick to bash micro-USB because he have had 2-3 devices with it break, but all his Razer devices that have broken down in the past (seemed like he have had more Razer devices break than micro USB devices) he is very quick to defend and say it's not Razer's fault and so on. Biased? I think so.

To be fair, Razer allows him to put bread on the table unlike his viewers *cough adblock.

[martinrox1568]

Some guy was really trying to push the Iphone5 connector in the comments but failed to provide any evidence of its "superiority" other than its fits in both ways. Both can carry a 2amp charge/video/data etc etc. The only difference as far as the data goes the the standard micro is usb 2.0 and to carry 3.0 it needs the extra add on. oh and it only fits one way.

 

 I honestly wouldnt mind, my headset and mouse both use micro as does my phone and previous phone, never had an issue with any of them.

the iphone 5 connector cannot push video over the connector. 

[SKOONJar]

NO MICRO USB DEGRADES SO QUICKLY

[catbutts]

Just last week, my computer stopped recognizing my phone when I plug it in :) :)

[Ookami]

 Focus on making more beautiful women!!!

Look whos talking...

 

 

As for the topic.

 

Im for this - same standard for all devices (apart Satan Corporation known as Apple). With phone thickness its easier to implement micro-USB rather then mini-USB.

[LAwLz]

To be fair, Razer allows him to put bread on the table unlike his viewers *cough adblock.

If that has any effect on what Linus recommends then I am sorry, but don't trust anything he says about anyone who sponsors him. Hopefully that's not what is happening though, because talking better about manufacturer X because they give you money is called being a "shill" and it's a very bad thing.

[aEi1aesainee2]

One worldwide standard would be much better than an infinite (ie: non finite number, because we've seen companies change their standard each few years) number of different plugs.

 

Just think of the screws and screwdrivers, the mess it would be if each company manufactured their own screws and screwdrivers.

[Wulfgar]

What does Linus think about this?

[Kamil]

One worldwide standard would be much better than an infinite (ie: non finite number, because we've seen companies change their standard each few years) number of different plugs.

 

Just think of the screws and screwdrivers, the mess it would be if each company manufactured their own screws and screwdrivers.

 

Alternatively, think of the mess if every single thing manufactured could be disassembled using a single screwdriver. Or the mess if every single product was held together using only screws. Standardization is cool, but a single solution will never work for ALL problems, just most of them, which is why MOST phones do use Micro USB and if you have an issue with phones that don't then you personally can not buy them. Or if you have an issue with Micro USB, you can avoid it.

[zonetrooper90]

After about 18 months I'm starting to have problems with the microUSB on my phone, so my next phone will have some alternative way of charging, so I only have to use microUSB for data transfer... it's great to see that they want a standard for these devices, but I would have liked to see a better option... 

[colonel_mortis]

I've never had micro USB break on me, mainly because I don't own (or at least notice) any devices that use it. However, it does look like a really flimsy connector, and mini USB looks so much more robust. If they made the standard just require USB, with guidance on using mini where possible but micro on really small devices, I think it would be a much better idea. Then again, do we really need a standard at all? I don't really think so. Most companies with sense have already migrated to USB anyway. The EU are good at messing things up.

[sterreprop]

OWH GAWD WHY...

[That Norwegian Guy]

Why does everyone hate micro usb? I have never had any problems with it.

 

Because the port lives on average for about 200 inserts, which is woeful.

[Yoinkerman]

It's not that they outright break, it's that they become super flaky after only a few uses.  I'm really gentle with my connectors and they still get flaky, on everything.