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Comment by thematt | Hacker News Reader

New processor, new internals, new OS, new camera are all just expected upgrades at this point. Where's the innovation? That's what I'm expecting.

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What about the reversible cable connector? When was the last time you had a cable that didn't require looking at the cable before plugging it in? I know it's not really an innovation, but I don't understand why all cables can only have one way of going in -- when you plug in your usb cable, it's not obvious that it's upside down. Nobody looks at their audio cable when they plug in earphones; why can't normal computer cables be like this?

It does take a little more circuitry to detect orientation, but it seems like it would be worth it for a connector that gets used a lot.

Since forever, audio jack cables (I'm 25).

Digital cables, then?

Optical SPDIF

Yes... But the micro USB cable is interchangable between many devices. There is always one somewhere when you forgot yours.

Making it something completely new and unstandard and charge 30$ for an adaptor to everything up to your car that supported the old connector does not seem to be that much of an improvement. I see a lot of trouble in adopting the new iPhone and not many gains other than its faster lighter and lasts longer.

I think everyone understands the reasoning behind preferring micro usb, but why can't engineers consider users when designing a new connector? I feel like Apple is probably the only company who would go that extra mile to make cables user friendly -- I just don't see other companies making an effort to make cables friendlier to users. It's probably why Apple chose to design a connector themselves instead of choosing a universal standard.

It does take a little more circuitry to detect orientation

Which increases the price of small peripherals by a considerable amount.

> Where's the innovation?

Where was the innovation in the S2, S3 or the Nokia 920? And no, nfc nor wireless-charging don't really floor me. These are pretty small.

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