One should be at the bottom one at the top. I understand space on the phone is a premium but a second port would make the phone so much more usable. Wired headphones, flash drives, camera modules, speaker modules, keyboards, even connection to a TV, all could be used while charging. It’s a shame it’s not a thing, USB is extremely versatile port, but you only get one and it’s used for charging half of the time. (I am aware dongles exist)

  • Zak@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    21
    ·
    1 year ago

    Wired headphones… could be used while charging

    Sure is a shame nobody ever came up with a way to do that before.

    • morrowind@lemmy.ml
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      4
      ·
      1 year ago

      I hate how we’re stuck in a limbo between headphones jacks and usb-c. Like the change was bad to begin with, but if you’re going to switch to usb-c, then do it fully.

      USB-C for everything honestly would have been good if they had. But we’re stuck in a limbo

    • SJ0@lemmy.fbxl.net
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      2
      ·
      1 year ago

      The person who decided a headphone jack is superfluous should be found, tarred, feathered, and left naked and alone deep in the alaskan wilderness covered in pigs blood for the wildlife to enjoy.

  • Madlaine@feddit.de
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    13
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    1 year ago
    1. I never understood why space should be at premium. A phone does not need to be as thin as possible. 1½-2cm thickness is reasonable in my eyes, and would allow so much more ports and/or buttons. I would have use for 2-3 extra buttons.
    2. The biggest pro of two opposing ports: you could always charge your device regardless of orientation. With just a port on the bottom charging while scrolling in the bed is often uncomfortable
    • CaptFeather@lemm.ee
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      6
      ·
      1 year ago

      The biggest pro of two opposing ports: you could always charge your device regardless of orientation. With just a port on the bottom charging while scrolling in the bed is often uncomfortable

      This is my biggest problem with my switch! I have to awkwardly hold it when I’m trying to ay laying on the couch or in bed. I hear the Steam Deck has a port on top for charging so it’s already begun!

      • wolf@lemmy.zip
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        3
        ·
        1 year ago

        Can confirm top port for the SteamDeck. Perfect for relaxed gaming while charging. :-)

  • Hazdaz@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    7
    ·
    1 year ago

    Soon you’re gonna feel lucky that your phone has even ONE port.

    Give it 5 years and Apple will have removed their lightning and/or USB port and gone wireless on everything.

    • HobbitFoot @thelemmy.club
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      4
      ·
      1 year ago

      Apple is going to be compelled to offer USB-C as a wired charging connection in Europe if it offers a wired charging option.

      • Hazdaz@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        1
        ·
        1 year ago

        I’m sure Apple is working on some new wireless standard called “magic connect” or some shit like that. It will be 13.8% better but make all previous devices obsolete and incompatible pushing people to trash their old stuff and buy some new overpriced, proprietary stuff.

        Then when they introduce this new standard, their next presentation slide will pat themselves in the back because they are such a “green” company.

      • Pxtl@lemmy.ca
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        3
        ·
        1 year ago

        To give more details since somebody else gave you the short answer: Not only is it possible, most mid-to-high-end phones and all watches have that feature today. Google “Qi charging”, which is the modern global standard (although many devices are still on their own incompatible standards – Galaxy Watch, I’m looking in your direction).

      • delta@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        1
        ·
        1 year ago

        Yes but it currently wastes a lot of electricity and doesn’t charge the phone as fast in general.

  • MrTHXcertified@lemmy.sdf.org
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    6
    ·
    1 year ago

    You know what? As long as the second port isn’t gimped in any way (can do video out + all the typical USB things), then I might forgive them for taking away the headphone jack.

    • spiderman@ani.social
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      4
      ·
      1 year ago

      headphone jacks are still available for mid ranged androids, even along with a charger. pretty much the only win we can get for purchasing a mid ranged androids.

    • Aux@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      0
      arrow-down
      2
      ·
      1 year ago

      I started using wireless headphones back when I had Sony Ericsson 530i dumb phone. Also phones back then didn’t have headphone ports either. Who the hell cares about it?

          • RanchOnPancakes@lemmy.world
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            1
            ·
            edit-2
            1 year ago

            I think you misunderstand what I mean by “good” headphones. You’re caught in the electronics hype cycle. Good headphones exist outside of that cycle. Also good wired headphones you never have to charge, the battery never dies. If you take care of them they never become ewaste.

            One should be at the bottom one at the top. I understand space on the phone is a premium but a second port would make the phone so much more usable. Wired headphones, flash drives, camera modules, speaker modules, keyboards, even connection to a TV, all could be used while charging. It’s a shame it’s not a thing, USB is extremely versatile port, but you only get one and it’s used for charging half of the time. (I am aware dongles exist)

    • chicken@lemmy.dbzer0.com
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      0
      arrow-down
      2
      ·
      1 year ago

      I used to think this but a dedicated mp3 player is superior to using a phone for audio anyway

      • exu@feditown.com
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        1
        ·
        1 year ago

        If all you play is local media then maybe. I like to stream music from my own server though and also listen to podcasts on the go.

  • andyMFK@reddthat.com
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    3
    ·
    1 year ago

    Weird headphones don’t use ucb-c, there is already a standard for headphones and it’s the 3.5mm audio jack.

    • Aux@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      1 year ago

      That’s not the only standard though. There is also 6.3mm jack, XLR and many other open and proprietary connectors.

    • LucyLastic@beehaw.org
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      0
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      1 year ago

      a) I have a USB-c headset at work

      b) the 3.5mm headphone jack can’t be used to transfer data (at a good rate)

      • andyMFK@reddthat.com
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        3
        ·
        1 year ago

        Not sure what exactly you mean by headset. But headphones and IEMs will use a 3.5mm or 1/4" jack. My sennheisers use it, my beyerdynamics use it, my audio Technicas use it. Even my KZ IEMs and moondrop IEMs use it. This is a universal standard for a reason.

        And not sure what the data rate has to do with anything. It’s an audio connector, it’s not used to transfer data, it’s used to move the drivers in a set of headphones. As usb-c doesn’t output line level audio, any headset you have that uses it needs its own DAC and amp which is problematic for e-waste reasons.

        • LucyLastic@beehaw.org
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          2
          arrow-down
          1
          ·
          1 year ago

          Headset, as in headphones with a microphone. I use it for MS Teams meetings and a bit of music and it works fine.

          The point OP was trying to make is that you can use USB-c for other things besides listening to music.

          Since you seem to be an audiophile with a list of fancy headphones (don’t ask me, my Cardo combined with earplugs is fine for the level of listening I want to do) then wouldn’t an offboard DAC / amp that you could keep far longer than a phone, and isn’t restricted by size constraints going to be better than a built-in version?

          Also, if you’re worried about e-waste maybe you shouldn’t buy so many headphones. My partner’s Sennheisers have lasted 20 years so far.

  • bitwolf@lemmy.one
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    2
    ·
    1 year ago

    I still keep a drawing of my ideal phone from years ago and I also has two ports like you mention. I totally agree!

  • BCsven@lemmy.ca
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    1
    ·
    1 year ago

    Wireless USB never took off. Essentials company was promisimg with PH1, it had wireless USB port. only released two wireless USB compatible devices for it though.

  • Futurama@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    0
    ·
    1 year ago

    I agree with this idea. But it would make it harder to pick up your phone blindly and know which end is the top. I instinctively feel for the usb port on the bottom so it’s oriented correctly by the time my arm swings it into view.

    • arin@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      0
      ·
      1 year ago

      The phone screen can rotate based on orientation. I can use it upside down and it’s fully functional

      • Pxtl@lemmy.ca
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        0
        ·
        1 year ago

        This sounds neat until you need to use the camera or actually phone somebody on it. Which end is the mic?

        • PotatoKat@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          1
          ·
          1 year ago

          Idk about your phone, but my phone has a mic on both ends and a speaker on both (though the speaker placement is a bit different on the bottom than it is on top).

  • Humanius@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    0
    ·
    1 year ago

    You can plug a USB hub into your phone. That’d give you more ports.
    I’m fairly certain there are hubs out there with a pass-through for charging as well

    • ImaginaryFox@kbin.social
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      2
      ·
      1 year ago

      Having something built in is so much better than needing a dongle. There’s a reason why even Apple brought back ports like hdmi and sd card slot to their Mac book pro line to eliminate even the needing a dongle for some people.

      • SuperFola@programming.dev
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        1
        ·
        1 year ago

        I use them too! My phone usually fast charge at 30W, but with the magnetic cable it is capped at 5W (thanks God). I’ve seen drastic improvement in term of battery life because it charges slower and do not stress the battery as much as at 30W

  • Pxtl@lemmy.ca
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    0
    ·
    1 year ago

    Can USB hubs even allow the phone to be charged and simultaneously control things through the same port? I know I tried that back in the USB2 days and found it infuriatingly false, since had set up a wired USB mouse and game controller to my tablet for portable shooters. One particular hazard is I’ve found that combining bluetooth headphones and game controllers can result in unplayably-bad latency on Android, so wired options would be nice.

  • Piers@beehaw.org
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    0
    ·
    edit-2
    1 year ago

    I agree. If we’re going to lose the headphone port in favour of connecting to a universal connection (either directly or via an adaptor) then it’s time we have two of them. As for positioning I gather that there are lots of handheld PC’s with the one on top and one on bottom configuration and that it’s generally accepted to be the best way (and my on top 3.5mm and on bottom USB-c seems to work pretty well) so I think you’re right but it would be nice to see manufacturers try out a few different configurations to see in practise what people prefer.

    • ChickenBoo@lemmy.jnks.xyz
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      1 year ago

      I think on a phone it would make sense for bottom and side, which is the top of a handheld PC. That way you could have the cord sticking out whatever direction was handy for you by turning your phone.