Infinite USB plug is a big idea for small conveniences

In a classic case of "why didn't we think of this first," Chinese design student Gonglue Jiang has shown us a new way for overcoming the limitations imposed by the scarcity of USB ports on some computers. Instead of forcing you to constantly hot swap devices into that one port, Gonglue's Infinite USB plugs keep all your cables connected, thereby facilitating those smartphone syncs, spy camera recharges, and -- for the ultimate irony -- maybe even a USB hub. If you're thinking this would be brought down by a bout of bandwidth starvation once you start some USB multitasking, you're probably right, but power shortages shouldn't be an issue as the author has also come up with an external power connector that joins into his Infinite chain of connectivity. If only this wasn't just a concept.

[KGB Posted Mar 22nd 2010 6:06AM]

@or4n

*face palm

How do you think USB hub works?? Do you plug your first gadget in to first port on the usb hub if you need your first gadget??

[petebob796 Posted Mar 22nd 2010 6:26AM]

@KGB You didn't understand. If he/she needs to unplug the first device plugged in (in the row) all devices on that row get unplugged at least temporarily.

[KGB Posted Mar 22nd 2010 6:34AM]

@petebob796

Ohh.. if you doing data transfer on other 5 devices at the same time??

yeah, that would suck.

[canarsieville Posted Mar 22nd 2010 5:59AM]

Yea, this looks like a good idea in theory, but realistically it's not. There's too much strain when you have more than 2 of these plugged in.

Imagine 5 of these plugged into the same port. And then imagine yourself moving the cable around at the one on the very end. Either the entire thing will be disconnected or break under the stress.

Not hatin', just sayin'.

[nashix Posted Mar 22nd 2010 6:08AM]

Huh? Its Monday morning so I might be missing something. But doesn't a un/powered USB hub give you ...say 6 USB ports on 1 ?

Why would I want to carry tons of these tiny parts?

[Jordo1234 Posted Mar 22nd 2010 7:06AM]

@nashix
Cause what if you only need 1 extra USB Port, Seems smarter carrying one of those over a USB Hub :D

[KGB Posted Mar 22nd 2010 6:13AM]

And if you use a USB extension cord like many usb hubs have, then the strain on main usb port wont be a problem.

just sayin.

[weeman Posted Mar 22nd 2010 6:20AM]

Arghhh why didn't I think of that!! *facepalm*

[Tim1961 Posted Mar 22nd 2010 6:31AM]

Cool a China idea I can rip off

[cashclientel Posted Mar 22nd 2010 9:45AM]

@Tim1961 I saw it first.

[thumbtack Posted Mar 22nd 2010 6:32AM]

I like the look of those cables, too. I can't believe USB has been around for so long and I've never seen a USB cable and thought, "That looks pretty stylin'."

[Electrofreak Posted Mar 22nd 2010 6:36AM]

Quick Apple! Patent it here in the US so you can sue the pants off this Chinese kid as soon as he starts a business!

[Ahmed Alzayani Posted Mar 22nd 2010 6:53AM]

We already have this for power adapters, the issue is as you chain them they become very bulky and not so stable. and as the big issue (as any USB hub) is that it still needs external power.

[Gavin M Posted Mar 22nd 2010 7:46AM]

I was just thinking about something like this last night. My nettop has six USB ports but two are used by the keyboard and mouse( I'm getting a Bluetooth set soon, any suggestions want a key board with track pad) I always seem to use more USB then I have ports.

[wherebdbooty Posted Mar 22nd 2010 6:38PM]

@Gavin M

I'm in the market for a bluetooth htpc remote combo, too. I saw this one from EFO for $60:

http://efo.buy-lowest.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=194

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmGhK2LN1Z4&feature=player_embedded

Pros: bluetooth, backlit, trackpad scroll-area
Cons: keyboard layout

It's similar to the Rii Mini Wireless keyboard, though more Blackberry-ish in design.

I think I'd pick this one over the Rii, it seems to have enough of the features that kept me on the fence with the Rii. I just wish the keyboard didn't seem to have such a horrible layout, though.

[Motlee Posted Mar 22nd 2010 8:05AM]

Does anyone really plug in 50 different USB devices at once?
Seems like a good idea, just not sure of the necessity.

[XChrisX Posted Mar 22nd 2010 8:23AM]

@Motlee It's not so much that we do, but now more or less the fact that we can!

[MosesusedaniPad Posted Mar 22nd 2010 8:07AM]

Anal USB Hub. That's some train.

[kopmis Posted Mar 22nd 2010 8:40AM]

Haha, Macbook Air is used as the example device. Of course.

[grenga Posted Mar 22nd 2010 8:52AM]

I've never seen a computer that has enough space between ports to allow for a cable jutting out on the side. So loose one to gain one. Useless.

It'd be cool if devices just had a port to daisy chain them if you run out. Oh wait, that's Firewire.

[rotarydialz Posted Mar 22nd 2010 10:49AM]

Every once in a while you see one tow truck towing another. That's odd.

[mp3 Posted Mar 22nd 2010 10:52AM]

Could be interesting for low-powered USB devices like USB thumbdrives, but devices requiring the full 500mA of a powered USB port will cry upon this.

For example, some, if not most external 2.5" HDD requires two USB ports for a total of 1000mA in order to work at full capacity. Plugging them on the same USB port is not going to help.

[tangent Posted Mar 22nd 2010 10:56AM]

I love the website's typo -- suplly ... hmm, it reminds me the Intel Core i7 chips

[spin cycle Posted Mar 22nd 2010 12:01PM]

The USB spec does not allow daisy chaining. It's essentially impossible to plug a bus-powered hub (which each of these is) into anything but a self-powered hub (which these aren't).

It'd be great if engadget would stop putting up concepts by industrial designers. They are a dime a dozen and aren't actual gadgets.

[snowrid3r Posted Mar 22nd 2010 12:22PM]

so there all connected to one?or are they each a seperate cord?

[aikiwolfie Posted Mar 22nd 2010 5:02PM]

Are we defining "infinite" as 127 in this article? If I remember correctly 127 is the most USB devices we can have daisy-chained together like this.

Of course I could be totally wrong. But I'm pretty sure I'm very near the mark if not right on it.

[enkay Posted Mar 22nd 2010 5:27PM]

While it's a great idea, I'm not sure why everyone is going crazy over it now. My Antec cooling pad has one of those already and it's been around for over a year... maybe more.

[Eternal Density Posted Mar 22nd 2010 7:32PM]

Why hasn't this always existed?

[MatsSvensson Posted Mar 23rd 2010 3:44AM]

Where does the shit go?!

[jweavercrg Posted Apr 26th 2010 6:36AM]

Hmm, bit of a failed design in my head, hubs the way to go -
Here's some more -
http://www.cut-rate-gizmos.com/6-usb
and and usb3.0 section :) - http://www.cut-rate-gizmos.com/14-usb-3