Goodbye Mini-USB, Hello Micro-USB

[Darius Wey]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.usb.org/press/pressroom/2007_01_04_usbif.pdf' target='_blank'>http://www.usb.org/press/pressroom/...01_04_usbif.pdf</a><br /><br /></div><i>"The USB Implementers Forum, Inc. (USB-IF) today announced the completion of the Micro-USB specification, a new connector technology that will replace many of the Mini-series plugs and receptacles currently used in portable products. This USB-IF connector specification was developed to support the growing miniaturization trend for portable devices, as well as the continued adoption of USB in mobile phones... The Micro-USB specification supports the USB On-The-Go (OTG) supplement, which was created in response to the growing need for portable devices to communicate directly with each other when a PC is not available. Micro-series definitions include: Micro-B receptacles for standard devices, Micro-AB receptacles for OTG devices, Micro-A and Micro-B plugs, and standard cables. The Micro-series are unique in that they feature a stainless steel shell, which yields more than 10,000 insertion cycles for longer life and higher durability, and passive latching mechanism for higher extraction forces. The Micro-series connectors will continue to maintain the ease-of-use and speed of the USB technology."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-20070105-usb.gif" /><br /><br />Grrr, just when you thought Mini-USB was here to stay, Micro-USB comes and crashes the party. Ah, 2007 - it's going to be a year of incompatible accessories once more. ;)

[Jason Dunn]

&lt;bangs head into keyboard>

:bangin:

AUGH! I hate new cable "standards"! That lame flat USB whatever that HTC used on the StrTrk drives me nuts, and now we have another new one? &lt;sigh>

[Eugenia]

Fully agreed. The mini-usb was just fine. Especially if all gadgets were using it. I really hate it when you get a new phone or gadget and it doesn't use mini-usb. Even if the microUSB will become an Open Standard, it's not standard.

[Ed Hansberry]

this is great. sign me up for this, and a new card standard that is "better" while we are at it. I was getting tired of all of my devices being able to share adapters and cards and stuff, and I have a whole passle of cash just waiting to be spent on this kind of thing, because buying stuff like groceries and gas gets old. :roll:

[BevHoward]

more than 10,000 insertion cycles for longer life and higher durability

Course... wifi sync would have similar "durability" ;-)

...and, I have never had a 4mm coax power jack/plug failure either.

[bsoft]

It's like stinking MicroSD - why was miniSD not "mini" enough?

Everyone should just keep using USB mini-B. It pisses me off enough that my iPod doesn't.

[ricksfiona]

I already carry a small plastic bag full of 'adapters' for my technical work... This is just so lame...

[martin_ayton]

... because buying stuff like groceries and gas gets old. :roll:

Actually, it does! :) I can't believe how much of my income goes on "groceries and gas" and some (most?) months I'd much rather spend it on fun stuff. Unfortunately, micro-USB does not come under any recognisable definition of "fun stuff"

[MitchellO]

I actually think this is a good idea. I mean as devices continue to shrink, it becomes harder and harder to fit a port the size of a miniUSB port onto a device. Whilst it may be yet another "standard", if it can catch on like miniUSB then I would be very happy. I could deal with having one mini and one microUSB cable in a bag. What would be better - the introduction of the microUSB standard, or manufacturers making up many different small USB connectors of their own?

[bystander]

Too bad we do not have a group of developers who would offer new products along with optional connectors to previous standard connectors.

At least then we could continue to use the add on and connection potentials to old toys and other devices along with the new ones.

I know I am dreaming.

[Dyvim]

I'll hold out until the introduction of the nanoUSB standard- where the connector is a carbon nanotubule 1 molecule wide. Then we should finally be at the end of the miniaturization trend (until they come out with the subAtomicUSB standard). I bet microUSB cords will be about as easy to handle as microSD cards. My coordination just isn't that good, especially after a couple cups of coffee.

[Jason Dunn]

Too bad we do not have a group of developers who would offer new products along with optional connectors to previous standard connectors.

Actually, PPC Techs (www.pocketpctechs.com) does that sort of thing quite well - they have all sorts of power adaptors for different plugs, and I think they're working on the HTC flatUSB (or whatever it's called) connector to create an adaptor to miniUSB for it. And I bed they'll create a microUSB to miniUSB adaptor as well, if it's possible. We'll report on all that stuff. ;-)

[cameron]

I actually think this is a good idea. I mean as devices continue to shrink, it becomes harder and harder to fit a port the size of a miniUSB port onto a device. Whilst it may be yet another "standard", if it can catch on like miniUSB then I would be very happy. I could deal with having one mini and one microUSB cable in a bag. What would be better - the introduction of the microUSB standard, or manufacturers making up many different small USB connectors of their own?

I'm with Mitchell on this one. While it sucks that we have to get new cords/accessories/etc - it means we'll only have to get them once (until the next "standard" comes out).

I also think that this is different than the SD card issue - as there are just too many "standards".

[Jason Lee]

I also think this is a good thing. If this standard had existed earlier maybe we wouldn't be stuck with this new flat HTC connector that will never work with anything else.

[jwhayn]

Some of us oldtimers remember when people complained that the 8" floppy disks were being replaced by the 5.25 then the 3.5 then the 3.5 double sided, und so weiter. If you ever wondered why we use the tems hard and floppy drives, then find an old 8" disk -- you will understand.

[daS]

I also think that this is different than the SD card issue - as there are just too many "standards".
Unfortunately, there are already too many "standards" for USB connectors as well.

I have a number of incompatible cables with various combinations of "standard" USB connectors such as the flat and square large A and B connectors, the MiniUSB connector and a few others that are not so "standard" but claim to be USB.

Fortunately, since there should be no need (at the moment) to connect a MicroUSB device to a peripheral with a square USB connector, I think that one or two more cables should do the trick. The problem is that I like to use the retracting cables for travel so that means buying a few more of those.

[thierryb]

And after or before the nanoUsb, the WirlessUsb, without any contact.

[k1darkknight]

Whilst it may be yet another "standard", if it can catch on like miniUSB then I would be very happy.
...

miniUSB "caught on"?
(looking at the bottom of my Axim X50v) Huh...someone forgot to tell Dell that. (looking at the bottom of 99.7% of cell phones) ...and the cell phone makers. (...bottom of any iPod) ...and Apple.
(...back of my multiformat flash card reader) 8O Is that a miniUSB??? Wow!

Ironic that one of the few devices to use the (former?) "new standard" is one that allows a PC to read data from 7 different types of nonstandardized "standard" data storage cards. (or 15 types, or 73 types, or whatever, depending on which company that packages this particular model...sorry...tangent...)

Anyway, isn't it kinda funny that the vast majority of portable devices use their own, proprietary connectors, and even within the same company, they often change connectors from one generation of devices to the next? Meanwhile, the IEEE and other standards-setters keep coming up with new standards, without doing anything (encouraging, convincing...hell, even bribing) that would get major device manufacturers to adopt this standard?

[TOCA]

Eaven if I agree all the way, about nagging on new "standards", I can't help thinking:"Why should PDA's be anny different, from anny other gizmo, gadget, thing?"

Every time you buy a new car, all your accessorys have to be upgraded to, because none of the things from the old one fits the new. Same goes for anny other sort of transportation, or what ever it is, you spend your savings on. Buying a new house, or renting a new flat: Your accessorys needs ajustments of some sort, upgrading from girlfriend 5.2 to wife 1.0 calls for changing of accessorys :roll:

[beq]

I've been wondering something. As you know the popular Motorola Razr cellphones all have a miniUSB port for charging and data connection.

But why is it that not one of our Razr V3's and V3i's can charge from any miniUSB cables except for Motorola's own cables that are made for the Razr?? I've tried all the miniUSB cables for my various gadgets (Pocket PCs, GPS units, etc), but they can't seem to charge a Razr. Yet all these other gadgets can charge from each other's cables, and they can also charge from the Razr's cable, weird.

Does the Razr have very finicky voltage/amp specification, or is it the case that it uses a non-standard miniUSB pin-out??

[Steve Jordan]

Grrr, just when you thought Mini-USB was here to stay, Micro-USB comes and crashes the party. Ah, 2007 - it's going to be a year of incompatible accessories once more. ;)

Based on the last few years of products across the board that I've seen, I really do feel the manufacturers have decided on constant, pointless evolution of their products (and quick obsolesence of old products) as their selling method.

I don't believe I've seen a real improvement in electronic products since... hell, I can't even think of any product improvement that was handled well in I don't know how long... but somehow, these new products come along, and we end up getting them, and a few months later, we're not really sure why.

I just upgraded to a RAZR phone. Why? Because I got it free when I re-upped my plan. Sure, it's pretty slick-looking, and it does more than my last phone. On the other hand, it doesn't have an extendable antenna, so it actually gets worse reception than my last phone! And I discovered that I can't plug my old earphone into it, unless I get... are you ready?... a mini-USB adapter!

Man, this whole "constant upgrade" stuff just blows.

[lapchinj]

Another adapter &lt;sigh>

I think I have an adapter to almost any connector design for any cable created in the past 15 years. I must have an adapter to an adapter that will take me from rj11 to rj45 to serial through parallel into all types of SCSI to phono, DVI then to any type of USB needed to boost my car. And all that in under a foot that I can plug into the back of my laptop that's up against the wall because of the availability of all those adapters in right angle design. As a matter of fact I can do the same thing in cords in under a mile :roll:

I love standards and my collection.

Jeff-

[ctmagnus]

:lol: "The great thing about standards is there are so many of them!"

[Jonathan1]

I don't get it. People were throwing a fit over on Engadget as well. All we are talking about is a port redesign, no? If that is the case its simply a matter of an adabter and as far as I can tell the redesign is for devices credit card sized. Something WELL beyond that ability to work with Mini-USB.

You guys need a new hobby other then complaining about new adapters. :razzing: Now if they were changing the protocol itself..... :snipersmile:

[lapchinj]

I don't get it...You guys need a new hobby ... :razzing:

You're absolutely correct. But I kinda like my adapter collection hobby and it seems that the guys who think up those connection standards really get their kicks out of getting us all riled up. But I will give up my adapter collection hobby and go back to stamp collecting if they will stop zinging us with their standards collection hobby :razzing:. But they have to stop first :wink:

Jeff-