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Universal Power Adapter Struggling For Support

Posted by Soulskill on from the currently-a-shocking-resistance-to-unfulfilled-potential dept.

Ian Lamont writes "Last year, there was a lot of hopeful discussion surrounding an initiative to have the consumer electronics industry standardize their products on a USB-based universal power adapter devised by Green Plug. Eight months later, the effort has stalled. The reason: manufacturers have balked from using Green Plug's technology. '... Gadget makers seem to have no compelling financial incentive to adopt Green Plug's technology. It would require them to add Green Plug's chip, or similar hardware and software, into every phone, camera, or music player they build, making them more expensive and more complicated to build. Another stumbling block for manufacturers: A universal power supply would kill the market for replacement power supplies. Manufacturers sell these at a steep markup price to customers who lose or break the original one that came with the device, and aren't tech-savvy enough to procure a low-cost generic replacement.' Green Plug is now trying to drum up public outcry through a (slow) website, but the number of supportive comments and votes remains relatively low."

6 of 277 comments (clear)

  1. Slow Website by Snowblindeye · · Score: 4, Funny

    Green Plug is now trying to drum up public outcry through a (slow) website

    I'm sure posting a link on slashdot will make that website a lot faster. ;)

    1. Re:Slow Website by dangitman · · Score: 4, Funny

      Here's an idea; Powered by Slashdot® - harness the power of slashdot traffic to generate enough energy to power a small country. If we can ever solve the pickle matrix, we might even be able to generate several megawatts solely from "In Soviet Russia..." jokes.

      --
      ... and then they built the supercollider.
  2. Damn! by dangitman · · Score: 4, Funny

    I was really looking forward to charging my electric SUV via USB. Now my hopes are dashed!

    --
    ... and then they built the supercollider.
    1. Re:Damn! by dangitman · · Score: 3, Funny

      Looks to me more like you need 220 USB ports.

      No problem. I'll just buy more hubs.

      --
      ... and then they built the supercollider.
  3. Re:USB AA Batteries by vagabond_gr · · Score: 2, Funny

    Actually my electric razor does charge over USB.

    My razor charges over mini-donuts.

  4. Re:How can we lack behind China? by dotancohen · · Score: 2, Funny

    "A democratic, earth-caring nation?" What country are you talking about, again?

    Iran.

    --
    It is dangerous to be right when the government is wrong.