This is yet another “Must-See” product and the People’s Choice winner at KBIS 2012. Called U-Socket, the AC wall outlet has two USB 3.0-compatible power ports and can be installed on a 16 cubic inch or larger single gang electrical box, according to Fastmac, the manufacturer. The listed product meets UL and NEC specifications and carries a 5-star energy-efficient design. The USA-made outlet has a smart sensor that recognizes when a device is charged and shuts down, cutting back on vampire energy.
[+] Purchase a U-Socket from Fastmac for $24.95.
Credits: Fastmac.
This will be good for about three years—five max, till the next generation of connectivity takes over (they’re putting this stuff in cars, too. Same problem.
I agree. The outlet will never change but computer connectors will.
Actually, it’s just starting to become a standard. See this Wikipedia entry for more information on the USB standard for cell phones: http://bit.ly/xZqcXu
The main reason for setting a standard is due to the huge number of cell phones that are sold every year. That number is over 1 billion (the world’s population is 7 billion, which means 1 out of every 7 people on the planet buys a new cell phone every year :-o). This new standard will eventually require phone manufacturers to stop including chargers with each phone they sell. This will result in 1 billion less chargers in our land fills. You can already see this in action at Apple; they no longer provide AC Adapters with iPods, even the iPod touch. A day will come when Apple will stop bundling chargers with iPhones and iPads O:-)
So, computer connectors may come & go, but the standard for charging your mobile devices is just getting started…