MS Design Lets You Put Batteries In Any Way You Want

jangel writes "While its strategy for mobile devices might be a mess, Microsoft has announced something we'll all benefit from. The company's patented design for battery contacts will allow users of portable devices — digital cameras, flashlights, remote controls, toys, you name it — to insert their batteries in any direction. Compatible with AA and AAA cells, among others, the 'InstaLoad' technology does not require special electronics or circuitry, the company claims."

Comments

What to work on next.

[bob_jordan]

Thats one of lifes great problems solved. Any chance they can work on Windows stability next?

Bob.

Re:What to work on next.

[hedwards]

What are you talking about? I recently put a Win XP disc into a solvent and it did indeed dissolve. Therefore XP must be solvable.

Pretty proud, eh?

[GrumblyStuff]

They even made a logo for it. http://www.windowsfordevices.com/images/stories/microsoft_instaload_logo.jpg

Neat but not buzzword or logo worthy.

Re:Did Microsoft REALLY just patent the diode brid

[jamesh]

Sometimes the stuff you learn in basic electronics can be really useful. In this case though it just made you look like a dick. RTFA.

Now if only...

[jamesh]

Now if only someone could invent something that would stop my wife putting non-rechargable batteries in my charger and blowing them up. She said it was an accident... I just think she likes the explosions.

Re:Now if only...

[Andrewkov]

How is she getting through so many batteries??

Re:Dodge this

[Anonymous Coward]

...but I just realized my old-ass flashlight counts as one.
( it's been replaced years ago by a proper wind-up for emergency cases and a decent Maglite-like one with a rechargable set for more frequent/high intensity beam use )

Thanks a lot

Re:Did Microsoft REALLY just patent the diode brid

[k2r]

>And Sun Tzu also Said

It's Oracle Tzu now and it's not a strategic product anymore, you insensitive clod!

Re:An actual patent

[bingoUV]

The '+' and '-' symbols on batteries makes children ask about what they are.

This is where USPTO comes to the defence of civilization. Some electronics manufacturers will not be able to afford a license on this Microsoft Patent. So their battery would need to be placed in the correct orientation. So children would ask - "Why do batteries need to be placed this way in this device but works any which way in the other device?"

Such a question would not only enable you to teach electrical engineering to the said children, but you could also go on a long and cathartic rant about patents and how the country is going to the dogs.