Replug: Magsafe for headphones
 

There's an accessory called "Replug" that allows your headphones to disconnect if they're yanked on, kind of like Apple's mag-safe connector. I started thinking about this after accidentally yanking my N810 off of an elliptical while working out. Luckily, I caught it, but next time I might not be so lucky. Has anyone tried this? Is it a valuable tablet-saver or a waste of money?

Re: Replug: Magsafe for headphones
 

With our kids' lightweight iPods, I'm not so sure this would do much to protect the device.

But for an Internet Tablet it looks invaluable.

Thanks for cluing us in to this.

Roger

http://www.replug.com/gallery/2.jpg

Above: Connected.
Below: The tip separates on 1.5 pounds of lateral force. No magnets involved.

http://www.replug.com/gallery/3.jpg

Re: Replug: Magsafe for headphones
 

Looks like you can also get extra tips, 2 for $5. This is looking useful. Buy enough tips for one in each device, and keep the replug body on headphones to swap them back and forth.

If anyone has one of these, I wonder what force is required to connect? (I'm thinking of building a pocket/pouch dock with one of these and a 2mm charging connector, so disconnecting it wouldn't start audio through the speakers before I can pause it, but I'm concerned about the mating force required...) Also, concerned about the connection; is there noticeable connection noise when flexing the adapter, or is it solid until breakaway?

Re: Replug: Magsafe for headphones
 

I've been waiting for something like this my entire life!

I've had tremendous amounts of bad luck with 3.5mm shorts due to (I'm guessing) excessive force on the jack. This causes shorts which usually amounts to Capt'n only hearing mono through one speaker; a real shame when the jack is attached to an expensive piece of equipment.

Now that I have a little soldering experience, this is less of a concern, but, it is still a great way to increase the life of the jack!

Another cool thing:

I'm considering buying a few of these, stripping them down, and making my own 'magsafe' power adaptor for various devices. Mounted in the right way, this could be a quick solution for easy charging. Any comments on this idea?

As for 'protecting the device':

It all depends. I'm assuming that the magnet will be strong enough not to come loose when in ones pocket (for example). This means, that the right pulling force while connected may still bring the device to the ground. If the attractive force is too weak, and the plug will come undone too easily and get quite annoying.

Thanks for the link!

YARR!
}:^)~

The benevolent Capt'n

Re: Replug: Magsafe for headphones
 

This is cool. I also think the Capt'n's idea of modding one for the power adapter is a good one. I have knocked my tablet (with the power cord in) off my nightstand a few times now. Luckily, only a few scratches to the tablet, but the AC power cord tip is bent like crazy. Something like this would have prevented that from happening.

Re: Replug: Magsafe for headphones
 

I'd be concerned for some devices about the current levels. You're probably good for anything that charges off USB (i.e. less than 500 mA), but not laptops and such...

It's not a magnet, but yes, it has some risk of pulling devices around, but in many (most?) potentially harmful device yankings I've seen/done, the jerk is probably abrupt enough to pull this off. I'm not concerned about accidental disconnects, since they say it takes 2.5 pounds transverse force. (They don't say what end-force, but the jack probably disconnects first...)

Re: Replug: Magsafe for headphones
 

@EIPI,

I hear ya, brother. The 'magsafe' adaptor is probably the one thing that I love about my girlfriends macbook. That and the lithium polymer battery... And the 'under the screen' vent... But that's IT! ;)

On the replug:

The shipping costs are in-sane! I still love the device, but why oh why does it cost at minimum $11US to ship this thing to Canada?! Even national US shipping is ~$7US! Wowzah.

I may still buy one, though....


YARR!
}:^)~

Do tell, Capt'n

Re: Replug: Magsafe for headphones
 

I was thinking about that, but made a silly assumption that the conductive capacity (is that even a term?) of the wires would be enough to handle the current of a lappy. I'm still such a new'b when it comes to matters of electronics...

I do enjoy melting solder, though... It smells like... dizzy...

I was actually considering modding my Aspire one with this purpose in mind, rather than hacking together an inevitably horrendous magsafe adaptor using strong earth magnets. Oh well.

Great insight Benson. I was thinking of a slow pull of the table, parallel to the position of the jack, but you're correct: I would bet this case is so rare as to be a non-issue. The majority of the forces in an accidental tugging would likely be quick and have some degree of orthognality (again, is this even a term?) to the jacks position.

The replug is eerily similar to the idea that I had of using USB sound for the NIT in the 'What would you realistically like to see in the N900' thread. The idea was an 3.5 adaptor that could 'break away' from the USB port thus providing more USB ports on the device, and protecting the jacks in one elegant way. Love those memes..

YARR!
}:^)~

The meek Capt'n

Re: Replug: Magsafe for headphones
 

Not the wires, I think they're fine; the contacts should overheat first. I'm just not sure how much current they can take; you could try it (as long as you pay attention during "burn-in"), worst case you catch it overheating and have to un-mod it. If you do things right, testing before you mod the case at all, it should be possible to revert painlessly.
Well, "orthogonality" is definitely a term; without the o, not so much. :p

Of course, there's that terrible possibility where the device is jerked across the table, but as it starts to move, the plug breaks free, and the tablet keeps sliding, you turn around just in time to see the tablet slowly sliding over the edge, flipping through the air, and plummeting face-down onto some sharp object, rather than having its fall broken by the cable. :D

I hope that's not prevalent, but now that I've envisioned it :eek:, I've a mind to install an airbag landing system on all my tablets.

Re: Replug: Magsafe for headphones
 

@Capt'n
Slight correction: though this thing is similar in purpose to the mag-safe connectors, they say on the web-site that it doesn't actually use magnets. It's the rubber ring that holds things in place.

I've read some reviews, and I found one that did suggest no noticeable difference in sound quality when going through the replug. I suppose the only way that I'm going to find out if this could protect the n810 on the elliptical is to order one. I'm hopeful that it will, as it supposedly pulls off most easily with lateral force, which is what one would expect if the n810 is sitting on a ledge in video-viewing position when the headphones get yanked downwards by a flailing arm.

Re: Replug: Magsafe for headphones
 

I've often though the "magsafe" concept on a macbook/ibook etc is incomplete without mag-ether and mag-audio and mag-usb, so I'm pleased to see that someone's turned my thoughts into reality.

however, the best way to handle audio would be to set up A2DP and get bluetooth headset (or a Motorola S705 adaptor - I have one, works very well).

Re: Replug: Magsafe for headphones
 

Yeah, that sounds reasonable. I don't think I would go so far as to mod until I was sure it would work. Also, I was thinking about modding an existing brick and cord. Instead of opening the lappy, I would cut the cord in two and insert the breakaway component. It keeps it really simple and should have the same degree of effectiveness.

I'm thinking that, mag safe could be accomplished with a couple of cut rectangular magnets, and a fitting piece of metal, and some spring loaded contacts. Hmm....

Damn you benson! Daaaamn yooou!! :D


Damn you nodbodysbuisness! Daaaamn yooou!! :D


YARR!
}:^)~

tpurro] n'tpa]

Re: Replug: Magsafe for headphones
 

I have bad news to report. It's nothing about the actual product, which I can't review, since I still haven't received it. The Replug people did ship something out very quickly, they just shipped it to the wrong person. I got someone else's order and someone else's packing slip. Naturally I e-mailed them with my problem, but my e-mails went unanswered. I started thinking about contacting the credit card people to see if they could reverse the charge or something, when I remembered the packing slip: it had someone else's e-mail address on it. I e-mailed the other guy, and, sure enough, he had gotten my order. And, again, the Replug people had COMPLETELY IGNORED all of his e-mails.

Well, we've now sent each other our proper orders, and they should arrive in a week or two. To save money, we took the products out of the boxes and squeezed them into bubble envelopes. Once my order finally arrives, I'll post a little review here. I hope the product is good, but I'm not hopeful given how awful the customer service has been. If you want to order one, go ahead, but with these people... buyer beware!

Re: Replug: Magsafe for headphones
 

I received the adapter, no thanks to the Replug people. I plugged in some headphones and plugged it into the N810 and was able to pull the end off, so that much does work. I've only done it once though, so I'll have to report back once I've done some more experiments.

Re: Replug: Magsafe for headphones
 

I've played with the Replug adapter a little, and I have to say that it does perform pretty much as advertised. It took a little nerve to try it out with my N810, but I eventually tried setting it on the little half-inch ledge on my workout machine and giving the headphone cord a good yank down. It came apart, just as one would hope. I tried it again, and again the cord came off, with the N810 hardly moving from it's perch. It probably wouldn't work if the N810 were just laying on a flat table, but as long as there is anything holding the N810 back, the weight thing doesn't seem to be an issue. Overall, it seems like a pretty good product, just with abysmal customer service. It's rather a lot of money to protect an N810, but ultimately, the real reason that I bought it is to protect my N900 (once released, that is). It's the sort of product that will hopefully keep on working for decades even, as long as 3.5 mm jacks don't go out of style. Anyone who's thinking of buying one, just let me know if you have questions.