Hacker News Reader

Comment by mynameisvlad | Hacker News Reader

That Magsafe Lightning concept would never work. Not only is there not enough space to fit powerful enough magnets, not only is the Lightning connector 8-pin, but one of the only reasons MagSafe even works is that laptops are strong enough to still be in the same place if tugged slightly. Your phone will now not only be tugged along with the cord, but will then disconnect more easily and fly across the room.

View on HN

I disagree. Just build a strong magnet in there (as was suggested, maybe via the speaker). The advantage of the connector would not be the disconnect-on-trip feature, but rather convenience for plugging and unplugging. Namely, it's a lot easier to just have the cord snap it place magnetically than to futz around with the small metal tip[0].

You're assuming it'd either be too weak or too strong. They would calibrate it until it was "just right", as they do (or try to do) with pretty much all of their ergonomics decisions.

[0] Anecdotally, I own both a MagSafe 2 device and an iPhone 5.

Or just use wireless charging and sync.

Regardless, I still don't want a big magnet in my pocket

Yep, right next to all your cards. Brilliant idea if ever I'd seen one.

Are any of your cards still magnetic? In my wallet all bank cards use chips, other cards (subway tickets, etc) tend to be wireless/NFC, the remainder (IDs, licences) are either nonfunctional plastic, or chips as well.

OK, in travels some countries probably still try to read the creditcard magstripe, that may be a problem for a part of population. Otherwise it's just like worrying about the macbook demagnetizing your floppy disks..

My railcard is magnetic only, as well as my student discount card and several store cards.

My university ID uses a magnetic strip and RFID. However the university disabled RFID usage on all of the printers, doors, etc. on day zero after people found out you could easily spoof them.

Granted, at least my important cards use chips/NFC now.

Why not put the magnet on the cable?

Saying that this could "never work" is silly.

I don't know about you, but a Lightning connector is one of the easiest I've used. There's no "futzing around".

I use a thick case (OtterBox defender series iirc), and I'm sure that's what causing me the extra frustration. It's by no means a painful experience, though. I guess I wasn't properly separating my daily experience from the product's design :)

The entire discussion about MagSafe Lightning is pointless. A truly innovative iPhone 6 would use wireless charging.

This objection doesn't make any sense. The status quo is that if you tug on a Lightning cable, your phone will be tugged along with it, and will likely fall off the surface it is on. If you make it a MagSafe connector with appropriately weak holding force, and do the same thing, your phone will be tugged less hard, and will thus have less of a chance to fall off the surface it is on. It can't help but be an improvement, even if it's not a perfect solution.

The objection that actually does make sense is to point out that Lightning is a) reversible and b) has 8 separate data contacts on each side. It's not just a power connector. Can't really duplicate this with MagSafe or anything similar.

However, if you tug on it, there is a chance that it will not disconnect with a Lightning cable. There's still a good amount of force needed to actually pull and disconnect the cable. This means that if you, say, trip and fall, there's still a chance the cable will still be connected and limits the amount of distance the phone will travel.

With a Magsafe-like cable, it'll disconnect after the tugging happens, and if the pull from the tug is strong enough, it'll cause it to potentially go a greater distance, since there's no cable connected.

The magnets do need to be strong enough to ensure a good electrical connection.

Actually the HP Veer had this design, with magnets and pogo-like pins. As noted, however, the Veer's USB cable is a bit bulky and has fewer pins.

http://www.webosnation.com/hands-on-hp-veer-s-ridiculous-hea...

It could work... if they gave the connector a really big magnetic "ring" that held to the entirety of the bottom of the frame, not just the bit in the center. Maybe if they figured out a way to make the speakers also magnets... ;)

But the other issues will still plague it. It either won't disconnect, or will disconnect to easily.

Not only is there not enough space to fit powerful enough magnets

Make it an electromagnet powered by the USB host/power supply, and use the iPhone accelerometer (or more than one) to detect being yanked by the attached cord and disable the magnet to disconnect easily.

(or do what everyone else is and have an inductive charging matt with no connector).

In order to save space, you suggest... Electromagnets? That would require even more space.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com