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USB frustration vanquished by reversible plugs & cables

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Buffalo has addressed a problem that affects basically all humans with electricity: the scourge of the unmarked, obscured, or otherwise misaligned USB plugs...AND cables...AND hubs, etc.

Buffalo’s tech is not a new idea, but for some reason it’s an idea that hasn’t really proliferated, which, when you think about it, is kind of unbelievable. We’ve all been struggling with this problem for like 15 years, and only NOW it’s being addressed.

Buffalo went all in - this new line of universally reversible USB products, called どっちもシリーズ (Docchi mo Shirees), which simply means The Either Way Series, (entertaining visual marketing allows us to forgive the uninspired naming) include USB:

Cables of all Sizes & Flavors Memory Sticks Port-Type Hubs Standard Hubs Memory Card Drive Hubs Wall Plug-In Power Car Chargers And Probably Some Other Stuff, Too

Plug Away!

So whether it’s on the plugging end or the receiving end, being right-side-up or wrong-side-down ceases to be a concern. The cables and ports have integrated a sort of variable positioning tongue that slides either up or down depending on the plug’s or cable’s configuration - and the great part is that said configuration...DOESN’T MATTER!

Prices for the lineup are very reasonable and in most cases are either congruent to traditional USB products or just a few hundred yen more. And hey, for the peace of mind that comes with knowing that plugging in your USB devices will never again elicit profanity or the throwing of one’s expensive electronics across one’s room or office, a few hundred yen extra is no big deal.

Source: AkihabaraNews

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I'm not sure there was ever a problem. If you tried to plug a USB plug the wrong way, it just wouldn't go. Simply turn it over and try again, presto, it works. The only people that would have problems are those who don't realize that they only plug in one way so they try and force the connection thereby breaking the plastic tab inside. I've never seen that happen though, so I doubt it is a problem.

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I did damage a camera once by plugging in a wrong USB cable. I think it was a Nikon.

Some manufacturers make proprietary connectors, not matching the standard ones.

The force needed wasn't that much, about what you need to plug connecters that are slightly misaligned (due manufacturing tolerances?). Or maybe the power connector on a Sony cam.

But after that the tab with the pinouts was mashed and wouldn't work.

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