An USB plug that goes both ways

Re:An USB plug that goes both ways by jjcm on Tuesday January 25, 2011 @04:25PM (#2140940)

I'd love to see a more natural feeling interface. Why, for instance, can't we have magsafe-esque connector for USB? Or hell, maybe even a TRS connector (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TRS_connector) with 2 or 3 additional ring contacts? Seems like both would be much more user friendly.

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Re:An USB plug that goes both ways by mikey_p on Tuesday January 25, 2011 @05:03PM (#2141117)

Anything in the TRS configuration is prone to shorting when connecting/disconnecting. Not at al suitable for an interface that includes powered conductors.

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Re:An USB plug that goes both ways by mturmon on Wednesday January 26, 2011 @12:28AM (#2142269)

Magsafe is patented by Apple:

http://patft1.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Se...

That's why docking stations don't have Magsafe connections.

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