My phone is supposedly rated ip68, does not have a cover on either the headphone jack or USB type C port. It has been in the swimming pool and washing machine, yet hasn't had an issue. It is 3 years old. Am I missing something here?
That brings up a very interesting point --- just because the ''connector" is rated does not necessarily mean that the device to which it is connected is qualified and certified in a specific use or application.
Example: The phone you dunked in the washer, for standards X-Y, works for submersion and shock resistance, but not corrosion and chemicals (the soap and chlorine bleach) ...
The general assumption of any device being sold with a certification is all components of the device inherit the certification. To say otherwise would be falsely advertising the device.
Mobile devices with USB4 specs may take a huge hit to tablet and laptop sales as long as the manufacturer enables all of its capabilities. If I had a full computer in my hand, with a type C hub, I wouldn't need the bulkier devices anymore.
I remember the days before USB with Parallel and Serial Ports and some as the long as some USB hubs. This is great for tablets and laptops and of course mobile phones.. But it appears that one day desktops will grow up and use more of the ports. Even resent motherboards like ASRock motherboard advertise on this page have PS/2 ports which were in 1987 over 40 years ago.
The reason for PS/2 ports still being around is that there is a small but vocal subset of enthusiasts that insist on using them - mainly as they claim the interrupt-based signalling is faster or more responsive than the polling-based signalling of USB. This is largely nonsense, but they're loud enough to matter. I've heard that a lot of sysadmins and service technicians also prefer PS/2 for its reliability (though I struggle to see how this group would do without hotplug support...).
Nonsense. Some BIOS only works with PS/2 keyboards.
You should google “PS/2 vs USB” and read some in-depth articles about it. You can save us a lot time explaining to you why some of us, especially those in IT field, prefers PS/2 over USB.
Also, NKRO is easier to achieve via PS/2, rather than the hacky way modern USB NKRO keyboards do it, by appearing as multiple USB devices (sometimes up to 10 different devices) for the same keyboard, just so that the matrix detecting keypresses in different areas of the keyboard have their own USB data stream which doesn't conflict with keypresses elsewhere on the keyboard. Since PS/2 is interrupt based, when and if you hold a key down, system interrupt happens and it processes that input immediately, and other keys being pressed down doesn't prevent the new key that's also being pressed from being processed.
You are right. I can't wait for the day that my phone has as much or more processing power than my tablet or laptop. I'll just plug it in to it's hub and carry it and the hub around all day long when I need a larger screen, keyboard and touchpad on the go.
I get where you're going with that, but docking stations for laptops use a similar principal. However, the expectation is that the dock and connected peripherals will remain stationary and are instead duplicated at multiple locations (office desk, conference room, home office for telework, etc.) and doing so with a phone as the core computing device would be basically similar. I would argue that contemporary phones, even low-end models, are adequate from a processor power standpoint for most office work and are fine for some entertainment uses as well. Attempts to build docking support for phones have stayed on the fringes of mobile technology, but I think phones as docked computer replacements may ultimately become mainstream.
The problem with that arrangement is you then lose access to your phone as an independent device. Call comes through? You'd better have a headset. Need to take it outside? Better have a headset with excellent range.
We've already condensed a lot of devices into our phones - at some point further consolidation removes utility, rather than adding it.
Considering that the vast majority of phones are _never_ connected to anything through USB for data transfer, this isn't much of an issue. Sure, it would be nice if they all moved to at least 3.0, but it's not that big of a deal, and if it helps keep costs down that's fine.
so long as that reversible works and is "as durable" as "tried and true" non reversible makes sense to me, unfortunately, it seems the "new style" has many issues with connectivity as well as "durable" (looking at Apple) the connected not connected crap sucks with reversible ones, I myself do not mind fiddling to line the connector up...takes all of about 5 seconds with a quick glance, and seems to seat itself more sturdy like as well.
Are you talking about the reversible Micro USB-B connectors people hacked together, or USB-C? I've tried the former and agree, they're not the most durable, but I've had no issues with USB-C - it's so much more robust than Micro USB ever was.
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21 Comments
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eek2121 - Monday, February 10, 2020 - link
My phone is supposedly rated ip68, does not have a cover on either the headphone jack or USB type C port. It has been in the swimming pool and washing machine, yet hasn't had an issue. It is 3 years old. Am I missing something here?eek2121 - Monday, February 10, 2020 - link
Nevermind, missed that last paragraph.Smell This - Tuesday, February 11, 2020 - link
That brings up a very interesting point --- just because the ''connector" is rated does not necessarily mean that the device to which it is connected is qualified and certified in a specific use or application.Example: The phone you dunked in the washer, for standards X-Y, works for submersion and shock resistance, but not corrosion and chemicals (the soap and chlorine bleach) ...
Samus - Tuesday, February 11, 2020 - link
The general assumption of any device being sold with a certification is all components of the device inherit the certification. To say otherwise would be falsely advertising the device.dryvelectronics - Monday, February 10, 2020 - link
Mobile devices with USB4 specs may take a huge hit to tablet and laptop sales as long as the manufacturer enables all of its capabilities. If I had a full computer in my hand, with a type C hub, I wouldn't need the bulkier devices anymore.HStewart - Monday, February 10, 2020 - link
I remember the days before USB with Parallel and Serial Ports and some as the long as some USB hubs. This is great for tablets and laptops and of course mobile phones.. But it appears that one day desktops will grow up and use more of the ports. Even resent motherboards like ASRock motherboard advertise on this page have PS/2 ports which were in 1987 over 40 years ago.Valantar - Tuesday, February 11, 2020 - link
The reason for PS/2 ports still being around is that there is a small but vocal subset of enthusiasts that insist on using them - mainly as they claim the interrupt-based signalling is faster or more responsive than the polling-based signalling of USB. This is largely nonsense, but they're loud enough to matter. I've heard that a lot of sysadmins and service technicians also prefer PS/2 for its reliability (though I struggle to see how this group would do without hotplug support...).sonny73n - Tuesday, February 11, 2020 - link
Nonsense. Some BIOS only works with PS/2 keyboards.You should google “PS/2 vs USB” and read some in-depth articles about it. You can save us a lot time explaining to you why some of us, especially those in IT field, prefers PS/2 over USB.
Samus - Tuesday, February 11, 2020 - link
As an IT admin I could give two shits about polling speed, it's about reliability.JoeyJoJo123 - Tuesday, February 11, 2020 - link
Also, NKRO is easier to achieve via PS/2, rather than the hacky way modern USB NKRO keyboards do it, by appearing as multiple USB devices (sometimes up to 10 different devices) for the same keyboard, just so that the matrix detecting keypresses in different areas of the keyboard have their own USB data stream which doesn't conflict with keypresses elsewhere on the keyboard. Since PS/2 is interrupt based, when and if you hold a key down, system interrupt happens and it processes that input immediately, and other keys being pressed down doesn't prevent the new key that's also being pressed from being processed.Spunjji - Wednesday, February 12, 2020 - link
2020 - 1987 = 33Modified for the HStewart Factor = "over 40"
Seems legit
azazel1024 - Tuesday, February 11, 2020 - link
You are right. I can't wait for the day that my phone has as much or more processing power than my tablet or laptop. I'll just plug it in to it's hub and carry it and the hub around all day long when I need a larger screen, keyboard and touchpad on the go.sheesh.
PeachNCream - Tuesday, February 11, 2020 - link
I get where you're going with that, but docking stations for laptops use a similar principal. However, the expectation is that the dock and connected peripherals will remain stationary and are instead duplicated at multiple locations (office desk, conference room, home office for telework, etc.) and doing so with a phone as the core computing device would be basically similar. I would argue that contemporary phones, even low-end models, are adequate from a processor power standpoint for most office work and are fine for some entertainment uses as well. Attempts to build docking support for phones have stayed on the fringes of mobile technology, but I think phones as docked computer replacements may ultimately become mainstream.Spunjji - Wednesday, February 12, 2020 - link
The problem with that arrangement is you then lose access to your phone as an independent device. Call comes through? You'd better have a headset. Need to take it outside? Better have a headset with excellent range.We've already condensed a lot of devices into our phones - at some point further consolidation removes utility, rather than adding it.
qlum - Monday, February 10, 2020 - link
Meanwhile usb 2.0 even over usb-c is still a thing on phones.HStewart - Monday, February 10, 2020 - link
But will USB 2.0 connector work submerge in water and run at 40GpsArmedandDangerous - Monday, February 10, 2020 - link
USB 2 isn't a physical standard. What he's saying is that a lot of phones although its physical port is Type-C, only transfer at USB 2.0 speeds.Valantar - Tuesday, February 11, 2020 - link
Considering that the vast majority of phones are _never_ connected to anything through USB for data transfer, this isn't much of an issue. Sure, it would be nice if they all moved to at least 3.0, but it's not that big of a deal, and if it helps keep costs down that's fine.valinor89 - Tuesday, February 11, 2020 - link
As long as it has usb-c connector I am happy. It is very seldom that I need to transfer huge ammounts of files over USB.The improved ease of use and reliability of usb-c is worth it even if the device is only capable of using the usb2 speeds.
I hope more cheap (and not) gadgets switch to usb-c conector. Non reversible usb needs to die.
Dragonstongue - Tuesday, February 11, 2020 - link
so long as that reversible works and is "as durable" as "tried and true" non reversible makes sense to me, unfortunately, it seems the "new style" has many issues with connectivity as well as "durable" (looking at Apple) the connected not connected crap sucks with reversible ones, I myself do not mind fiddling to line the connector up...takes all of about 5 seconds with a quick glance, and seems to seat itself more sturdy like as well.reversible, not so much
Spunjji - Wednesday, February 12, 2020 - link
Are you talking about the reversible Micro USB-B connectors people hacked together, or USB-C? I've tried the former and agree, they're not the most durable, but I've had no issues with USB-C - it's so much more robust than Micro USB ever was.