4 ms·

I'd like to see an interim conversion adopted for charging from USB3.1 to things like Magsafe on the MacBooks. In the dark days of laptops, stepping on the powe

I'd like to see an interim conversion adopted for charging from USB3.1 to things like Magsafe on the MacBooks. In the dark days of laptops, stepping on the power cable could end your laptop, USB 3.1 looks like it'd be a return to that if used as a primary charging source. Other than that, USB3.1 looks fantastic. Thunderbolt 1.0 speeds, big power, and much better connector.

stormbrew 12y ago
> to things like Magsafe on the MacBooks Unfortunately, the owner of patents on magsafe is unlikely to allow that to happen.
- pyre 12y ago
  The patent could probably be challenged. Magnetic power connectors existed prior to MagSafe (e.g. you don't want hot oil from your deep fryer to spill on you if you trip over the cord), so the patents seem more like those "X but on a computer"-type patents.
  - stormbrew 12y ago
    Oh I agree, the patents are ridiculous, but I think if any of the big manufacturers were willing to make a go of it, they'd have done it by now. That said, I think the specific innovation they rest their patent on is that it can be inverted. Under current patent doctrine that might be enough, and I suspect people wouldn't be very happy with a non-invertable magsafe-like.
    - pgeorgi 12y ago
      Make it a triangle that can be plugged in in any _three_ directions.
      - Miserlou57 12y ago
        Oh yeah.... Make it a circle!
  - desdiv 12y ago
    I fully agree with you that the MagSafe utility patent is a paper tiger, but unfortunately in this case Apple still hold a design patent on the general MagSafe connector shape[0]. So anyone is free to make their own magnetic power connectors, it just can't have five pins in a line that matches the exact sizes that Apple has chosen. [0] http://www.patentlyapple.com/patently-apple/2012/12/apple-wins-5-design-patents-covering-iphone-4-ipad-magsafe.html http://www.patentlyapple.com/patently-apple/2012/12/apple-wi...
baldfat 12y ago
Also the makers of magsafe are possibly ditching it for usb 3.1 if the latest macbook air rumors are true. http://9to5mac.com/2015/01/06/macbook-air-12-inch-redesign/ http://9to5mac.com/2015/01/06/macbook-air-12-inch-redesign/

stormbrew 12y ago

> to things like Magsafe on the MacBooks Unfortunately, the owner of patents on magsafe is unlikely to allow that to happen.

pyre 12y ago
The patent could probably be challenged. Magnetic power connectors existed prior to MagSafe (e.g. you don't want hot oil from your deep fryer to spill on you if you trip over the cord), so the patents seem more like those "X but on a computer"-type patents.
- stormbrew 12y ago
  Oh I agree, the patents are ridiculous, but I think if any of the big manufacturers were willing to make a go of it, they'd have done it by now. That said, I think the specific innovation they rest their patent on is that it can be inverted. Under current patent doctrine that might be enough, and I suspect people wouldn't be very happy with a non-invertable magsafe-like.
  - pgeorgi 12y ago
    Make it a triangle that can be plugged in in any _three_ directions.
    - Miserlou57 12y ago
      Oh yeah.... Make it a circle!
- desdiv 12y ago
  I fully agree with you that the MagSafe utility patent is a paper tiger, but unfortunately in this case Apple still hold a design patent on the general MagSafe connector shape[0]. So anyone is free to make their own magnetic power connectors, it just can't have five pins in a line that matches the exact sizes that Apple has chosen. [0] http://www.patentlyapple.com/patently-apple/2012/12/apple-wins-5-design-patents-covering-iphone-4-ipad-magsafe.html http://www.patentlyapple.com/patently-apple/2012/12/apple-wi...

baldfat 12y ago

Also the makers of magsafe are possibly ditching it for usb 3.1 if the latest macbook air rumors are true. http://9to5mac.com/2015/01/06/macbook-air-12-inch-redesign/ http://9to5mac.com/2015/01/06/macbook-air-12-inch-redesign/