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The Xbox and Xbox 360 controllers have extra connections a few inches after the male USB connector. What is the purpose of this extra connection?

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It's so that the controller becomes unplugged at the breakaway point when the cable is pulled a little, rather than yanking on your console or controller. This design mitigates the age old "tripped on the controller cable; yanked my NES off the entertainment center" conundrum.

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    Don't forget bent and ruined connectors and wrecked cables.
    – SevenSidedDie
    Apr 11, 2013 at 3:49
  • Haha. So why not use a magnet, sort of like apple. Those are the only connectors I've ever seen actually disconnect when tripped over.
    – Sponge Bob
    Apr 11, 2013 at 5:47
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    Really? I thought I was always lucky when I was wading through the mess in my room and tripped over the Xbox cable. You're telling me Microsoft designed that for me? <3
    – Joetjah
    Apr 11, 2013 at 6:48
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    @KeeganMcCarthy: Well, Apple has a patent on those connectors.
    – André Paramés
    Apr 11, 2013 at 8:28

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