December 20, 2006
Sometimes it takes a communist
Though I have an increasing respect for China, I still don't really like their methods most of the time. I mean, they're nothing if not practical, but that practicality all too frequently manifests itself as downright ruthlessness.
That being said, it looks like it might take China to impose what should have probably happened years ago: standardized power and data cables for cell phones. There is no reason except deliberate consumer inconvenience to have proprietary handset connectors. They just want to be the only ones to sell it to you and make sure you have to buy a new one for each phone.
Right now it's pretty easy for a single person to have up to eight distinct power cords: one AC power and one car adapter for cell phone, laptop, mp3 player, and Blackberry. Imagine dropping down to two.
