Comments on: Standardizing cell phone chargers http://www.sindark.com/2008/04/30/standardizing-cell-phone-chargers/ dispatches from Canada's capital Mon, 01 Dec 2008 21:46:48 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: Emily http://www.sindark.com/2008/04/30/standardizing-cell-phone-chargers/#comment-38424 Emily Thu, 01 May 2008 06:22:34 +0000 http://www.sindark.com/?p=2708#comment-38424 I agree with Tristan in that it doesn't seem to be a pressing issue that tax dollars and government energy should be spent on. We have enough tendrils of the state stretching through the minutiae of our lives; forcing cell phone companies to standardize seems like more of an act of convenience for the consumer, rather than a measure of protection for their rights. The environmental effects are terrible, but not as terrible as some of the more indulgent, unmediated acts of pollution that corporations take part in. Say, chemical fertilizer use, or oil sands chemical treatment disposal. Though, it would make life a damn lot easier. I agree with Tristan in that it doesn’t seem to be a pressing issue that tax dollars and government energy should be spent on. We have enough tendrils of the state stretching through the minutiae of our lives; forcing cell phone companies to standardize seems like more of an act of convenience for the consumer, rather than a measure of protection for their rights.

The environmental effects are terrible, but not as terrible as some of the more indulgent, unmediated acts of pollution that corporations take part in. Say, chemical fertilizer use, or oil sands chemical treatment disposal.

Though, it would make life a damn lot easier.

]]> By: Milan http://www.sindark.com/2008/04/30/standardizing-cell-phone-chargers/#comment-38402 Milan Wed, 30 Apr 2008 21:10:36 +0000 http://www.sindark.com/?p=2708#comment-38402 Tristan, Correcting market failures is a well established role for the state - even when the industry where the failure exists is 'optional.' The state wouldn't just be "protect[ing] us from our forgetfulness." It would also be achieving the other benefits listed above - not least reducing the volume of black plastic dongles being tossed in the trash every year. Standards are usually good for everyone. That is why they are generally within the mandate of nation-states to provide. Tristan,

Correcting market failures is a well established role for the state - even when the industry where the failure exists is ‘optional.’

The state wouldn’t just be “protect[ing] us from our forgetfulness.” It would also be achieving the other benefits listed above - not least reducing the volume of black plastic dongles being tossed in the trash every year.

Standards are usually good for everyone. That is why they are generally within the mandate of nation-states to provide.

]]> By: Tristan http://www.sindark.com/2008/04/30/standardizing-cell-phone-chargers/#comment-38401 Tristan Wed, 30 Apr 2008 21:03:49 +0000 http://www.sindark.com/?p=2708#comment-38401 I don't see why the state needs to protect us from our forgetfulness. Owning a cellphone remains a free choice, meaning you can choose to own one or not and if you own one, you can choose to what extent you become reliant on it. There is no good reason to give up control over the way in which we become cyborgs. I don’t see why the state needs to protect us from our forgetfulness. Owning a cellphone remains a free choice, meaning you can choose to own one or not and if you own one, you can choose to what extent you become reliant on it.

There is no good reason to give up control over the way in which we become cyborgs.

]]> By: Padraic http://www.sindark.com/2008/04/30/standardizing-cell-phone-chargers/#comment-38398 Padraic Wed, 30 Apr 2008 20:47:40 +0000 http://www.sindark.com/?p=2708#comment-38398 I rode a bus from Ottawa to Fort St John, BC, to start a new job in an incredibly isolated area only to realize I had left my laptop power source on the kitchen table. Luckily, a co-worker also had an HP laptop so we alternated. I rode a bus from Ottawa to Fort St John, BC, to start a new job in an incredibly isolated area only to realize I had left my laptop power source on the kitchen table. Luckily, a co-worker also had an HP laptop so we alternated.

]]> By: Milan http://www.sindark.com/2008/04/30/standardizing-cell-phone-chargers/#comment-38393 Milan Wed, 30 Apr 2008 20:23:29 +0000 http://www.sindark.com/?p=2708#comment-38393 <a href="http://www.sindark.com/2008/01/31/how-not-to-lose-things/" rel="nofollow">How not to lose things</a> Thursday, January 31st, 2008 When leaving a hotel room or other room where you have been staying, cell phone chargers are absurdly easy to overlook. How not to lose things
Thursday, January 31st, 2008

When leaving a hotel room or other room where you have been staying, cell phone chargers are absurdly easy to overlook.

]]> By: Ashuri http://www.sindark.com/2008/04/30/standardizing-cell-phone-chargers/#comment-38388 Ashuri Wed, 30 Apr 2008 19:30:33 +0000 http://www.sindark.com/?p=2708#comment-38388 Can you please crossreference this post with the multi-step advice for not losing/forgetting things. I believe "trust but check" was one of the more sagacious morsels. Can you please crossreference this post with the multi-step advice for not losing/forgetting things. I believe “trust but check” was one of the more sagacious morsels.

]]> By: Erin http://www.sindark.com/2008/04/30/standardizing-cell-phone-chargers/#comment-38387 Erin Wed, 30 Apr 2008 19:26:17 +0000 http://www.sindark.com/?p=2708#comment-38387 what bothers me is when head phone jacks are not the same size. Seriously?! that needs to be standardized, like right now! The cell phone thing is a bit far-stretched.... although I found that the Jitterbug charger works on several other different phones. <a href="http://www.jitterbug.com/?utm_source=AARP%2BBlog&utm_medium=Media&utm_campaign=AARP%2BBC" rel="nofollow">Its the most standard thing I have seen</a>... what bothers me is when head phone jacks are not the same size. Seriously?! that needs to be standardized, like right now! The cell phone thing is a bit far-stretched…. although I found that the Jitterbug charger works on several other different phones. Its the most standard thing I have seen…

]]> By: . http://www.sindark.com/2008/04/30/standardizing-cell-phone-chargers/#comment-38362 . Wed, 30 Apr 2008 15:32:04 +0000 http://www.sindark.com/?p=2708#comment-38362 <a href="http://news.zdnet.co.uk/communications/0,1000000085,39289524,00.htm" rel="nofollow">Micro-USB to be phone-charger standard</a> David Meyer ZDNet.co.uk Published: 20 Sep 2007 12:30 BST The spaghetti-like nightmare that forms many users' collection of phone chargers, headset connectors and data cables could be set to end after a major mobile industry forum agreed to standardise on one type of connector. On Monday the Open Mobile Terminal Platform (OMTP) — a forum dominated by operators but including manufacturers such as Nokia, Samsung, Motorola, Sony Ericsson and LG — announced that its members had agreed on micro-USB as the future common connector. Micro-USB to be phone-charger standard

David Meyer ZDNet.co.uk

Published: 20 Sep 2007 12:30 BST

The spaghetti-like nightmare that forms many users’ collection of phone chargers, headset connectors and data cables could be set to end after a major mobile industry forum agreed to standardise on one type of connector.

On Monday the Open Mobile Terminal Platform (OMTP) — a forum dominated by operators but including manufacturers such as Nokia, Samsung, Motorola, Sony Ericsson and LG — announced that its members had agreed on micro-USB as the future common connector.

]]> By: Milan http://www.sindark.com/2008/04/30/standardizing-cell-phone-chargers/#comment-38358 Milan Wed, 30 Apr 2008 15:29:18 +0000 http://www.sindark.com/?p=2708#comment-38358 States do pass laws like this: for instance, the ones that force big internet and cell phone providers to lease parts of their network to other smaller providers. Virtually all of competition law follows this general template. States do pass laws like this: for instance, the ones that force big internet and cell phone providers to lease parts of their network to other smaller providers.

Virtually all of competition law follows this general template.

]]> By: Tristan http://www.sindark.com/2008/04/30/standardizing-cell-phone-chargers/#comment-38356 Tristan Wed, 30 Apr 2008 15:24:03 +0000 http://www.sindark.com/?p=2708#comment-38356 This is all a bit utopian. Why would we expect the state to pass such laws which are obviously in the best interest of consumers and not corporations? This is all a bit utopian. Why would we expect the state to pass such laws which are obviously in the best interest of consumers and not corporations?

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