The future of charging devices on public transport

[jon0844]

Moderator's note: split from Class 707 - SWT

I now have a number of USB-C devices, and I have mains chargers, a multi-charger, car charger and portable battery pack with USB-C ports.

Yes, USB-A to USB-C doesn't give me the full 3A for rapid charging BUT there are different standards and it's not clear which will win out. Qualcomm has QuickCharge 3.0 that can work with microUSB or USB-C ports, and that can be even faster through the higher voltage output.

My powerbank has USB-C 3A and QuickCharge 3.0 outputs, so I'm covered. But I don't expect to see many USB-C solutions when out, so I carry a nice simple adapter in my wallet (with resistor) so I can use 'legacy' microUSB cables, that are all USB-A at the other end.

I increasingly use USB sockets in pubs with them above the three PIN sockets, as it does away with me carrying a bulky PSU.

 

[infobleep]

I now have a number of USB-C devices, and I have mains chargers, a multi-charger, car charger and portable battery pack with USB-C ports.

Yes, USB-A to USB-C doesn't give me the full 3A for rapid charging BUT there are different standards and it's not clear which will win out. Qualcomm has QuickCharge 3.0 that can work with microUSB or USB-C ports, and that can be even faster through the higher voltage output.

My powerbank has USB-C 3A and QuickCharge 3.0 outputs, so I'm covered. But I don't expect to see many USB-C solutions when out, so I carry a nice simple adapter in my wallet (with resistor) so I can use 'legacy' microUSB cables, that are all USB-A at the other end.

I increasingly use USB sockets in pubs with them above the three PIN sockets, as it does away with me carrying a bulky PSU.

Never been in a pub that's offered easily accessible plug sockets, never mind USB.

I suspect in 30 years time all the current formats will be obsolete or at least old school

 

[Peter Mugridge]

I suspect in 30 years time all the current USB formats will be obsolete or at least old school.

I've already got a computer that has a Thunderbolt connection fitted... ( it has all the USBs as well, I should add ).

 

[jon0844]

Isn't Thunderbolt on its way out? Even Apple seems set on USB-C going forward.

I've got Three devices with Thunderbolt but chose to stick with USB 2 or 3 for portable storage, and use one only as a display output.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

 

[J-2739]

Isn't Thunderbolt on its way out? Even Apple seems set on USB-C going forward.

I've got Three devices with Thunderbolt but chose to stick with USB 2 or 3 for portable storage, and use one only as a display output.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

I hope not! I already have to cope with different charger standards for my different Apple products!

 

[jon0844]

I think USB-C will make it redundant though.

 

[AM9]

I hope not! I already have to cope with different charger standards for my different Apple products!

Ah, a true Apple acolyte.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I think USB-C will make it redundant though.

Maybe this will end the stream of pointless proprietary interfaces from Apple.

 

[jon0844]

I think it wasn't just Apple, but Intel, that had a part to play in the standard.

USB I guess wins though because of backward compatibility. Firewire was for some time arguably better, but had the same problems Thunderbolt has had - widespread adoption.

A lot of people were clearly happy to stick with USB than change. Many people may have bought a USB 3 compatible product when they still had USB 2 and were happy to get the benefits when changing their laptop/computer later. With Thunderbolt, you need to change your computer AND likely get a totally different portable hard drive etc.

It's why despite having Thunderbolt and Thunderbolt 2 capable devices, I just use USB.

It's also why I think USB-A ports won't be going anywhere for a very long time. Especially in pubs, restaurants, coffee shops, trains, buses etc where it's just for charging.

 

[J-2739]

Ah, a true Apple acolyte.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


Maybe this will end the stream of pointless proprietary interfaces from Apple.

Nah, I'm actually a Samsung boy , but I might make a thread out of this...

I agree, Apple needs to stick to a standard interface.

 

[jon0844]

Apple likes its own lightning cable for iOS devices because it can put chips in them and make third parties license them, so they can make money from everyone.

The next Apple move is to charge broadcasters to have their programming included within the combined Apple TV guide. Now that's actually a really good thing, akin to when Sky developed its own EPG, but it's also a clever way to skim off the top and get ever richer (while we will pay).

But this is where I stop talking about Apple until such time that it starts building trains. Suffice to say you won't see Lighting sockets on trains anytime soon.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Lightning is a vastly superior and more robust plug to the last generation of USB. Provided there's "big" USB on the other end, I really don't see an issue with it.

Micro USB, while standard, is an awful piece of design.

 

[coppercapped]

Apple likes its own lightning cable for iOS devices because it can put chips in them and make third parties license them, so they can make money from everyone.

Right from the start SCSI, Firewire and the later interconnection systems are self-configuring - and therefore include chips in their architecture - as they are designed to work without a CPU at one end.

The next Apple move is to charge broadcasters to have their programming included within the combined Apple TV guide. Now that's actually a really good thing, akin to when Sky developed its own EPG, but it's also a clever way to skim off the top and get ever richer (while we will pay).

Is this a fact? Or is it your wishful thinking?

But this is where I stop talking about Apple until such time that it starts building trains. Suffice to say you won't see Lighting sockets on trains anytime soon.

Stopping writing about Apple is probably a good thing. I don't know about trains - but rumours abound about Apple's future car...

 

[jon0844]

Is this a fact? Or is it your wishful thinking?

It's what Apple has said. Basically moving away from a TV platform with loads of apps to one single interface. Everything in one place, and providers can charge you subs via that.

And Apple has stated that it will manage the transactions and take a cut.

Look it up!

 

[Bletchleyite]

You already can with a battery pack - I reallyu don't understand why any smartphone or tablet user is without one.


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[J-2739]

You already can with a battery pack - I reallyu don't understand why any smartphone or tablet user is without one.


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Replacing a battery is not really that easy (and impossible on some phones like the Samsung Galaxy S6)

 

[Domh245]

Replacing a battery is not really that easy (and impossible on some phones like the Samsung Galaxy S6)

I think that Neil meant something like this instead of a second battery that you can carry around.

 

[J-2739]

I think that Neil meant something like this instead of a second battery that you can carry around.

It's a portable charger but it still needs to be charged as well (albeit at home, but you can do that to a phone also).

 

[Domh245]

It's a portable charger but it still needs to be charged as well (albeit at home, but you can do that to a phone also).

But the point is that a battery pack/portable charger/power bar/etc (especially the larger ones) that you can charge up overnight at home then means that you aren't reliant on finding any chargers during the day. Today for example, my Mum went on a business trip and kept 2 phones (iPhone 6 and a Lumia 650) fully charged all day without access to any chargers. I think that is broadly related to what we were talking about before?

 

[Bletchleyite]

It's a portable charger but it still needs to be charged as well (albeit at home, but you can do that to a phone also).

Get one with at least 20Ah and you won't need to charge it often.


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[jon0844]

But the point is that a battery pack/portable charger/power bar/etc (especially the larger ones) that you can charge up overnight at home then means that you aren't reliant on finding any chargers during the day. Today for example, my Mum went on a business trip and kept 2 phones (iPhone 6 and a Lumia 650) fully charged all day without access to any chargers. I think that is broadly related to what we were talking about before?

Yes. And I can charge my phone with the powerbank in my bag. Indeed, as I usually carry two devices I can charge the second without ever getting it out. No chance of getting caught up in wires and no chance of leaving anything behind.

I think wireless charging, if it properly takes off, would be convenient as the phone is put on a table anyway - but I rarely if ever opt to use power sockets on trains that do have them.

Incidentally, I bought a Lenovo N22 Chromebook today. They're £99 on Amazon Prime at the moment. Incredible value, with an Intel chip that might 'only' be a Celeron but is as good as my 2011 MacBook Air i5 on most tests.

It doesn't charge via USB but it does have 10-15 hour battery life. I've been using it for over an hour for web browsing only and it says 12 hours left (and on 94%).

Eventually I hope we can all wait until we get home or to a hotel room to charge and stop worrying too much about every seat having power.