One should be at the bottom one at the top. I understand space on the phone is a premium but a second port would make the phone so much more usable. Wired headphones, flash drives, camera modules, speaker modules, keyboards, even connection to a TV, all could be used while charging. It's a shame it's not a thing, USB is extremely versatile port, but you only get one and it's used for charging half of the time. (I am aware dongles exist)
The person who decided a headphone jack is superfluous should be found, tarred, feathered, and left naked and alone deep in the alaskan wilderness covered in pigs blood for the wildlife to enjoy.
I believe Steve Jobs is already dead. And those who inherited his billions probably don't mind all those extra AirPod sales, especially if people keep losing them.
I hate how we're stuck in a limbo between headphones jacks and usb-c. Like the change was bad to begin with, but if you're going to switch to usb-c, then do it fully.
USB-C for everything honestly would have been good if they had. But we're stuck in a limbo
headphone jacks are still available for mid ranged androids, even along with a charger. pretty much the only win we can get for purchasing a mid ranged androids.
What do you use for a dedicated mp3 player? These days all I see are dying (flash chips) used SanDisk Sansa players, cheap Amazon ones, and super audiophile level $400 ones...
I started using wireless headphones back when I had Sony Ericsson 530i dumb phone. Also phones back then didn't have headphone ports either. Who the hell cares about it?
Well, if they are forced to bring back removable batteries which may be seem the case in a few years (unless they befuddle the EU authorities), they might have to bring back X if they remove it as well...
I'm sure Apple is working on some new wireless standard called "magic connect" or some shit like that. It will be 13.8% better but make all previous devices obsolete and incompatible pushing people to trash their old stuff and buy some new overpriced, proprietary stuff.
Then when they introduce this new standard, their next presentation slide will pat themselves in the back because they are such a "green" company.
To give more details since somebody else gave you the short answer: Not only is it possible, most mid-to-high-end phones and all watches have that feature today. Google "Qi charging", which is the modern global standard (although many devices are still on their own incompatible standards -- Galaxy Watch, I'm looking in your direction).
On the plus side it'll make waterproofing way easier. And ports are often the first thing to break on phones in my experience. Honestly my biggest disappointment will be the loss of the SIM slot, since e-SIMs give me the creeps. I like that my relationship to the cellular provider is on a part I can pop out.
Yeah gadget makers were able to water proof Walkmans back in the 80s and these were devices with probably a dozen real physical buttons, a headphone jack and battery compartment, and hinged wide open to let a cassette tape inside. Waterproofing as well as durable buttons was something that was solved decades ago regardless of what Apple's marketing bullshit has led people to believe.
You can plug a USB hub into your phone. That'd give you more ports.
I'm fairly certain there are hubs out there with a pass-through for charging as well
Having something built in is so much better than needing a dongle. There's a reason why even Apple brought back ports like hdmi and sd card slot to their Mac book pro line to eliminate even the needing a dongle for some people.
I use them too! My phone usually fast charge at 30W, but with the magnetic cable it is capped at 5W (thanks God). I've seen drastic improvement in term of battery life because it charges slower and do not stress the battery as much as at 30W
That's what I use to connect external storage on my Chromecast w/ Google TV, kinda useful while traveling and the Internet sucks.. Shame it only supports FAT32 for external drive tho..
I never understood why space should be at premium. A phone does not need to be as thin as possible. 1½-2cm thickness is reasonable in my eyes, and would allow so much more ports and/or buttons. I would have use for 2-3 extra buttons.
The biggest pro of two opposing ports: you could always charge your device regardless of orientation. With just a port on the bottom charging while scrolling in the bed is often uncomfortable
The biggest pro of two opposing ports: you could always charge your device regardless of orientation. With just a port on the bottom charging while scrolling in the bed is often uncomfortable
This is my biggest problem with my switch! I have to awkwardly hold it when I'm trying to ay laying on the couch or in bed. I hear the Steam Deck has a port on top for charging so it's already begun!
Wireless USB never took off. Essentials company was promisimg with PH1, it had wireless USB port. only released two wireless USB compatible devices for it though.
You know what? As long as the second port isn't gimped in any way (can do video out + all the typical USB things), then I might forgive them for taking away the headphone jack.
I can't relate at all. My phone is a PHONE, with options of short-term entertainment. I have other devices for other "computery" activities. I personally almost never use even my single USB-C port, thanks to wireless charging and wireless headphones. Sounds like your phone is your main device.
Well, it depends what you imagine "general purpose computing" is. Android OS is primarily targeted at phones, with specific set of requirements, so I don't think it can ever match desktop OSes, without major sacrifices from the both worlds.
Many countries not so well off like us in the West do not have the luxury to have a smartphone and a computer. So options with 2 USB ports would be interesting. The bastardisation of the smartphone is a disgrace.
What exactly is getting bastardized? Phones never had 2 USB ports. And there are still new phones with headphone jack (Zenphone 10 comes to my mind). Yes, many brands dropped it, but it's not a conspiracy (or at lest doesn't have to be), it's just basic economics.
I have a desktop i use at least 50% of the time and a couple of laptops i barely use because i don't like to carry them, so when i need to do something away from the PC I'll do it with my phone if at all possible. Sounds like you don't use your devices in different places often.
I agree with this idea. But it would make it harder to pick up your phone blindly and know which end is the top. I instinctively feel for the usb port on the bottom so it's oriented correctly by the time my arm swings it into view.
Can USB hubs even allow the phone to be charged and simultaneously control things through the same port? I know I tried that back in the USB2 days and found it infuriatingly false, since had set up a wired USB mouse and game controller to my tablet for portable shooters. One particular hazard is I've found that combining bluetooth headphones and game controllers can result in unplayably-bad latency on Android, so wired options would be nice.
The usb c port on my 2 year old phone is still virgin...never plugged in a cable, ever. My dash mount charges wirelessly, my overnight charger charges wirelessly. I have a wireless charger on my desk if I need it (but never use it). I cannot imagine needing a 2nd usb port.
If this is anything like the first EU decision and how it is worded, people are vastly overstating what it actually means. The important part about that one decision is that devices with water protection should only be serviceable by certified professionals, which should include the manufacturer's repairmen and third parties, but not the end user. On the removable batteries part, having pull tabs already suffice the requirements, the batteries just can't be glued down requiring alcohol or other prying methods to remove.
What about when using it as a hotspot? There is no internet where I am, but I have data, so I use it for laptop use. It's actually my primary ise if data. The hotspot uses a lot of power, tho. Can the os not regulate charging? I thought that was the case now. No need to cycle to lower %s for battery health.