Microsoft Announces InstaLoad Battery Tech
Sometimes the smallest technological developments make a big difference.
It's not a big deal, but it is annoying. You check the little positive and negative markings on the battery cover (if they're there at all) and then you put them in the wrong way around anyway. Sure, taking them out and switching them around isn't going to make you late for your lunch date, but it's something you'd like to avoid if at all possible.
Thanks to Microsoft, it is. Microsoft recently debuted a new technology called InstaLoad, which involves doubling the number of contacts in the battery compartment. By including a set of positive and negative contacts at both ends of the compartment (instead of a single positive contact at one end and a single negative contact at the other end), Microsoft has enabled users to cram batteries in any way they like. This should come in particularly handy when changing batteries in the dark.
Microsoft is licensing the technology out to any and all third-party device suppliers and already counts Duracell on its list of licensees. If companies want to license the technology for accessibility products aimed at people with vision or learning disabilities, Microsoft is willing to license the technology royalty-free.
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Cool, I need this for my wife and grandmother who keep putting the batteries in wrong!
Simple tech that'll probably turn more of a profit for them in the long term than the Xbox 360.
Coming next! Cars where you can spray gasoline wherever you want and it runs!
Crap!!! This is one of those "why didn't I think of that" ideas.
But can It play Crysis?
not impressed
how has this never been thought of
damn we all suck
Designed for the same people who need those directions on shampoo bottles.
fortehluls - Really? Was this supposed to be funny?
it really good of them to license it out for free.
this is something people will really appreciate.
You could do the same by using a bridge rectifier. I've done it many times on small circuits which could be harmed by reverse voltage. Just use 4 diodes with a low voltage drop.
what's next? interchangeable left/right shoes?
great but ehh..
..let me know when microsoft announces instacharge battery technology
@weirdguy99 its murphy's law. if there is more than one ways to do something and one of it is wrong, then someone dull enough is going to do it. This battery is designed to have no wrong ways.
What is meant by "Microsoft is willing to give the license royalty free".!! Were there expectations of charges to be paid for this..!! Anyway, this is a push towards creating idiocracy on the note of making life more simpler.. Now people don't need to learn the basics with battery terminals also.. This will certainly help in raising peoples IQ.. Nicely done..
You could do the same by using a bridge rectifier. I've done it many times on small circuits which could be harmed by reverse voltage. Just use 4 diodes with a low voltage drop.
ya but this doesnt do jack vs putting - to - or + to + on batteries, it does not correct the flow of current
and yes like others said, i cant believe it has not been thought of and why didnt i think of it
What microsoft having a heart, has to be a trick! haha
I thought we could already do this it was just a matter of adding cost onto a device that stopped this. W2go microsoft apparently...
is it the first opensource product from Microsoft?
If you can't figure out how to place your batteries in devices even by looking at the diagram, natural selection isn't doing its job.
Nice, now I can just be lazy and not even look at the things I'm cramming batteries in to
I am betting it was not done before because many changing/discharging(device it self) systems run the batteries in a series. That being said its much cheaper to use a single metal plate to connect the + and - on 2 batteries then to use some complex system.
I see the point above about diodes, yes that would work very well, but over 4 batteries and one per battery, that's a fair loss in voltage.
Its about time batteries are fully fool proof
You could do the same by using a bridge rectifier. I've done it many times on small circuits which could be harmed by reverse voltage. Just use 4 diodes with a low voltage drop.
Correct me if i am wrong but rectifiers as i understand them are basically used for ac to dc conversion.. I can understand using diode(s) on a reverse current (dc line) protection role as diodes block dc.. But this very nature would make them unsuitable to be used in forward dc current paths.. And batteries do produce dc current..
Good move by Microsoft. Something like this should've been standard years ago1
Crap!!! This is one of those "why didn't I think of that" ideas.
No kidding. It's taken how many decades for someone to come up with this... and it was Microsoft?! Come on!!
Microsoft idea, Simple and brilliant.
NOW I CAN PUT MY BATTERY IN MY MICROSOFT CORDLESS MOUSE ANYWAY I WANT!
MICROSOFT. SOLVING THE WORLD'S PROBLEMS ONE AT A TIME..
Wow that is great.
Simple tech that'll probably turn more of a profit for them in the long term than the Xbox 360.
FTA:
Microsoft is giving this away. That's what royalty-free means, at least... that's what it's supposed to mean.
Instaload: for when you're too f-ing stupid to put batteries in correctly.
FTA:Microsoft is giving this away. That's what royalty-free means, at least... that's what it's supposed to mean.
I read it as the license is free as long as it is an accessibility product for handicapped people, I assume they will still want royalties from other third-party groups.
I'm sorry but wtf. Putting in the batteries the right way isn't hard...at least not after 2 tries!