You’d be surprised at how many people have multiple devices with different types of charging ports. It isn’t just a matter of iOS versus Android either. For example, I have an iPhone, which uses a Lightning connector, but my external battery case needs a micro USB connector to charge up.
Connect Plus is a keychain sized hub with a USB, micro USB, and Lightning connector so you don’t have to worry about dragging multiple cables around with you. Just plug it into any portable power bank with a USB port and you can charge your Android or iOS devices.
The development team at Echo Connect is looking for crowdfunding to produce the Connect Plus via IndieGoGo. Early bird pledges can pre-order the device for $15. The regular campaign price is $19.
The Connect Plus is expected to retail for $35 (during the campaign, you can order two-for-one at $35) with shipping expected to start in April 2015.
The Connect Plus is a Y-shaped connector with a loop for a keychain attachment. The idea is that users will be able to plug the USB port into a laptop or external battery pack. Then connect an iOS device to one side and a micro USB compatible device (like an Android smartphone) to the other.
The key-like device is designed with hard plastic around the connectors and a soft flexible body for better durability.
One bonus for this product is that the company is planning to make the Lightning port MFi licensed. So, you won’t end up with a connector that doesn’t support charging with the next iOS update.
The only problem I see with this duel connector is that the USB port doesn’t have any length or range. So, you can’t connect it to a wall plug. It can only be connected to a USB port that can lay flush with a flat surface (or hung from a lanyard, according to the IndieGoGo campaign video, but I wouldn’t trust that).
Monoprice has an MFi certified USB cable that has both a micro USB and Lightning connector, but you can’t charge two things at the same time. There are also a handful of thee-in-one USB cables, but I haven’t seen one with MFi licensing.
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“It isn’t just a matter of iOS versus Android either. ”
Indeed, instead it’s a matter of ios versus every other portable device. For most of us without iphones, we use microUSB to charge everything universally. (And Apple can’t even keep their own standards straight – amusingly this device will with one port charge everything except Apple, but on the other port only charge half of Apple devices, due to the way they changed the connector).
Remember the mess we had a few years ago when every phone manufacturer had a different charger? Apple need to be forced to standardised.
Not exactly, there are still those Samsung connectors as well – a non-trivial fraction of the market.
What samsung connectors are you referring to?
Watch this thing go on sale on Aliexpress for 99 cents a piece in a few weeks.