Microsoft's InstaLoad Tech May Revolutionize Battery Use

Added by Will Greenwald on July 2, 2010

Microsoft has demonstrated remarkable ingenuity in a truly unexpected place. The company's latest and arguably most useful advancement of the year is not a motion-control system for the Xbox 360 or a new, streamlined design for Internet Explorer, but a simple redesign of the battery holders we've all taken for granted.

Most battery compartments have a single contact on either side: one positive and one negative. For any device to work, you must insert the batteries in very specific directions, so the positive ends of the batteries face the positive contacts and the negative ends face the negative contacts. Making sure the batteries are properly aligned is an inconvenience that has plagued us for decades.

Microsoft's new InstaLoad technology changes that.

Instead of one contact at either end, InstaLoad compartments have two contacts: a flat contact for the negative end of the battery and a recessed contact for the positive end. If the positive end of a battery is inserted against the contact, its narrower, protruding end only touches the positive contact. If the negative end is inserted, its flat end only touches the negative contact. It's a remarkably simple design that forces us to ask why nobody has thought of it before.

According to Microsoft's documentation, InstaLoad technology is new but could show up in wireless mice and other Microsoft-made devices in the near future. However, thanks to several announced licensing deals, InstaLoad might show up in a number of non-Microsoft products. Eleven firms have announced partnerships with Microsoft to use InstaLoad in their products, including Duracell and Spectrum Brands (the company that owns the Rayovac battery brand). While Wired is skeptical about InstaLoad appearing in non-Microsoft products due to Microsoft's licensing policies, the already impressive list of partners indicates that we could see InstaLoad flashlights and remote controls available in every convenience store in the near future.

37 Comments

Majkiboy on July 2, 2010

I don't see the revolution?

Hexogen on July 2, 2010

Is this really that big of a deal? It's not that hard to insert batteries in a specific direction.

ribbs on July 2, 2010

Yes it's nice, but a revolution it is not.

grorc on July 2, 2010

This produced mixed feelings. First, as nerds, geeks or whatever else we may call ourselves, most of us understand the basic principles of electricity and batteries and so it may seem a bit of a no-brainer that you need to put the batteries in a certain way. Also, out of all the inconvenience life has to offer, this is hardly one that one would think needs fixing.

With that being said, relate it to the seed-less watermelon. I am sure that all the other scientists that were going into fields like cancer research and putting people on the moon laughed at the guy who said he was going to take the seeds out of the watermelon and stop once and for all the annoyance of having to spit out the seeds.

My grandparents may have thought, "Seedless watermelons? Whats the point, who cares about the seeds?" But I would be incredibly annoyed with having seeds in my watermelon and would say something to the effect of, "We can put a man on the moon but we can't grow a seedless watermelon?" So years from now my kids are going to complain when they find some archaic device that requires them to put the batteries in a certain way.

Kind of like the line in Back to the Future II, "You have to use your hands?! Thats a baby's toy."

grorc on July 2, 2010

On the other hand, I do not think I can even remember the last time I used a device that required batteries that required me to put them in a certain way. Maybe a flashlight. Everything I have uses lithium batteries that only fit in the specific device a certain way....

JoelTGM on July 2, 2010

Ah, smart. A nice little improvement.

Kajaah117 on July 2, 2010

@Majkiboy said:

" I don't see the revolution? "

I have to agree with this. It's an ingenious invention that negates a small inconvenience we've all had to deal with, cool, but this headline is just a little(very) hyperbolic.

Waffles13 on July 2, 2010

@Kajaah117 said:

" @Majkiboy said:
" I don't see the revolution? "
I have to agree with this. It's an ingenious invention that negates a small inconvenience we've all had to deal with, cool, but this headline is just a little(very) hyperbolic. "

I'm fairly certain that that is why it's titled that way.

Kajaah117 on July 2, 2010

@Waffles13: You might be right. If I read it in Will Smith's sarcasm voice it works... but this post wasn't by that Will. I have no reference. =P

JeffreyGee on July 2, 2010

Every time you load a battery wrong, an angry Canadian clubs a baby seal. Fact of life. This changes all of that. This is a revolution!

[/sarcasm]

GozerTC on July 2, 2010

*Chuckles*

Personally I don't care, but my wife will love this! She is often confused by the little simbology put into cameras and such on how to put the batteries in. This would save her the trouble. It's a little thing, like sliced bread, not a huge leap but an improvement.

Microshock on July 2, 2010

Oh boy, because looking to see how the battery had to go in was extremely difficult.
I guess it's a good thing but rechargeable batteries are way more common to me than AA batteries.

And I doubt stuff like flashlights will get licensing from microsoft just to put this tech in.

Addfwyn on July 2, 2010

Okay, it's neat and all, but it's a bit of a stretch to say this is revolutionary or that it will change the way we use batteries or devices forever. Slow news day?

Now, when MS gets solid wireless power/charging down as an industry-wide standard, get back to me. A new way to put batteries in...not quite as exciting.

Radar on July 2, 2010

This honestly should have happened years ago. It was never really a inconvenience to me anyways, it only takes a few seconds and I only have to do it every 3 or 4 months (depending on device obviously).

A revolution would be eliminating the batteries altogether and having the controller run off of the pizza grease and sweat from my hands.

zaidbaby on July 2, 2010

Microsoft Rocks !!! But will be boring without BG

gunslinger on July 2, 2010

This is the perfect example of solving a problem that never existed.

DMack on July 3, 2010

Next I hope Ford develops a car with a steering wheel on both sides because I keep sitting in the wrong seat of my car.

Monkeyman04 on July 3, 2010

I see this only as a nice thing if your stoned/drunk and can't figure out which end is + or - on the battery.

greyjasper on July 3, 2010

It's the little things like this that DO change everything, but are taken for granted. What I want is a usb port that can switch orientation to match how I am holding it.

Majkiboy on July 3, 2010

@grorc said:

" This produced mixed feelings. First, as nerds, geeks or whatever else we may call ourselves, most of us understand the basic principles of electricity and batteries and so it may seem a bit of a no-brainer that you need to put the batteries in a certain way. Also, out of all the inconvenience life has to offer, this is hardly one that one would think needs fixing. With that being said, relate it to the seed-less watermelon. I am sure that all the other scientists that were going into fields like cancer research and putting people on the moon laughed at the guy who said he was going to take the seeds out of the watermelon and stop once and for all the annoyance of having to spit out the seeds. My grandparents may have thought, "Seedless watermelons? Whats the point, who cares about the seeds?" But I would be incredibly annoyed with having seeds in my watermelon and would say something to the effect of, "We can put a man on the moon but we can't grow a seedless watermelon?" So years from now my kids are going to complain when they find some archaic device that requires them to put the batteries in a certain way. Kind of like the line in Back to the Future II, "You have to use your hands?! Thats a baby's toy." "

Well, I want seeds in my watermelon! It would be really booring to et a melon without seeds, its half the joy :D

Have a Facebook account?
User Name *:
Password *:
Email *:
Terms Of Service *:
Birthday *:
Notifications:

Type the words above including the space. Get new words?

Processing....

Popular News

best of
most viewed
most commented

How To Rip DVDs to Play on Any Device—For Free! Our ultimate DVD copying guide shows you how to use Handbrake to rip discs for playback on your laptop, Xbox, PS3, iPhone, Zune, netbook, iPad, PSP, iPod, and pretty much anything else
Video: How To Build the Best $1500 Gaming PC, Step-by-Step Do you like saving money? What about playing PC games? Have you ever considered building your own PC? We show you exactly what you need to know to build an awesome $1500 gaming PC.
How To Build an Awesome $500 Windows Home Server We pick the best parts to build a lean media backup and streaming machine.
Apple iPad Wi-Fi Review Apple's device isn't magical, but it is going to make the tablet a real category--for better or for worse
Nexus One vs HTC Desire vs HTC Incredible: What's the Difference? HTC is releasing more Android phones all the time, but is there a difference?
How To Steal Mac OS's Best Features for Windows Windows 7's Aero is a fine UI, but there are just a few things it's missing. Here's how to steal some of Mac OS's features.
How To Rip a Blu-Ray Movie with Just One Click The MakeMKV utility decrypts and rips a Blu-Ray disc with just one click, preserving the original video quality of the source file.
How To Stream All of Your Video Files to iPhone and iPad Get your DVD rips off your computer and play them on a mobile device, without having to convert them beforehand.

Apple Fall Event 2010 Discussion Thread: iPods and AppleTV Discuss Apple's Fall Event announcements here!
What Are You Playing This Weekend? The weekend's upon us, and like any good nerds, we're spending the last days of summer holed up in our houses playing board and video games. What are you playing this weekend?
iPod Nano 6G vs 5G: Everything You Need to Know The iPod nano is ready to go running. Are you?
Your Shiny New Xbox 360 Controller is Already Outdated Transforming d-pad makes it more than just a cosmetic update.
Everything You Should Know about Apple's New iPod Touch All views expressed in this deck are the sole property of the internet rumor machine.
Why the Obama Administration's Stance on Piracy Sidesteps Complicated Issues Addressing an audience of workers in the music industry, Commerce Secretary Gary Locke reaffirmed the Obama administration's commitment to cracking down on media piracy on the Internet.
Living with Technology: Two Mice for One Desktop PC What would drive a man to use two mice for one computer?
Android Market Roundup: 5 Apps to Put a Smile on Your Phone It's the weekly Android Market Roundup.

Apple Fall Event 2010 Discussion Thread: iPods and AppleTV Discuss Apple's Fall Event announcements here!
What Are You Playing This Weekend? The weekend's upon us, and like any good nerds, we're spending the last days of summer holed up in our houses playing board and video games. What are you playing this weekend?
Your Shiny New Xbox 360 Controller is Already Outdated Transforming d-pad makes it more than just a cosmetic update.
Never Give Up: Microsoft May Be Working on One More Zune Just in time for Apple's new iPod Touch announcement, a rumor is brewing indicating that Microsoft is going to give the Zune another go.
Why the Obama Administration's Stance on Piracy Sidesteps Complicated Issues Addressing an audience of workers in the music industry, Commerce Secretary Gary Locke reaffirmed the Obama administration's commitment to cracking down on media piracy on the Internet.
The New AppleTV: $99, No Apps, All About Streaming The original AppleTV was a device with an identity crisis. The latest update aims to fix that, and a whole lot more.
Living with Technology: Two Mice for One Desktop PC What would drive a man to use two mice for one computer?
Everything You Should Know about Apple's New iPod Touch All views expressed in this deck are the sole property of the internet rumor machine.

Recent User Blogs

simian This is not the Android Tablet You Are Looking For.
Forte A list of (future) complaints about the new iPods
fox01313 first blog post
Forte I would pay for OnLive if...
sorryawkward Making A Hack Pro Journal: 1st Entry
Scotty_Gun The Trials of Linux: LAMP Server with Ubuntu
lane I never realized how limited the iPhone was on 3G...
zyn Windows 7
brianmcdon College starts soon.
Forte College Students: Free Stuff Awaits You

help | terms and conditions | privacy | advertise