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Finally, the GPS manufacturers realize a common power supply is the right approach

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sarah bennett

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Jun 30, 2009, 9:18:52 AM6/30/09
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As a followup to the two-year old article
A portable GPS should use standard mini-USB power (but which ones do)?
http://groups.google.com/group/sci.geo.satellite-nav/browse_thread/thread/85b2553d5c67a368/fdc54a0185621cc9#fdc54a0185621cc9

Note the Europeans finally, two years later, have made the small USB
connector the standard for power supplies starting next year!

Micro-USB to be universal EU phone charger
http://blogs.zdnet.com/igeneration/?p=1964

Hopefully this adherance to standards will migrate to the United States so
that all our portable electronics uses the same port for charging and data.

IMHO, the following should all use a standard-sized power/data port:
1. Cellphones
2. Earbuds
3. GPS
4. Cameras
5. Disks

Sam Wormley

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Jun 30, 2009, 9:53:43 AM6/30/09
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I'd rather see the power consumption of all devices reduced to the
point that the can be operated from solar power and ambient EMR
without the need to plug into anything.

Message has been deleted

Mike Coon

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Jun 30, 2009, 2:41:43 PM6/30/09
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Sam Wormley wrote:
> I'd rather see the power consumption of all devices reduced to the
> point that the can be operated from solar power and ambient EMR
> without the need to plug into anything.

Unfortunately so much kit these days uses power to pump out EMR as BT, WiFi
etc that there is no way we are going to be able to glean more than a tiny
%age of it back again. Most will still add to global warming as low-grade
energy...

Mike.
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danielchtong

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Jun 30, 2009, 6:22:41 PM6/30/09
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I would love to see it happen. But it is not mainly because most
manufacturers only want you to upgrade . And to use common parts does
not help it.

The worst part as far as I know in the tech field is printer
cartridge. Go to any Staples or Office Depot you will be surprised
with the variety of cartridges all of which can be standardised.
Nowaday they lose money on selling you the printer but they make up
the profit more than enough in selling you the cartridge

Daniel

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