Mojang seems to have decided to take an interesting path with the Redstone update; rather than add a new redstone component for every single possible function, they're adding on to currently existing components and component archetypes. Thus far, the list of updates to preexisting redstone components includes(For the sake of being complete, I'm including some 1.4 additions as well as additions to component archetypes):
-Repeater: Added latch functionality by powering its side with another repeater.
-Dispenser: Added a wide variety of spawnable entities(Boats, minecarts, etcetera), allowed use of some items(Bonemeal, flint/steel, etcetera), added automatic armor equipping.
-Button: Added secondary button type with new trigger type(Arrow).
-Pressure Plate: Added new types with new trigger type(Quantity of items).
-Minecart: Allowed various blocks to be placed inside, allowed cart coupling, added rail type, other things...
This is only the fourth snapshot of 1.5, and Mojang doesn't seem to be straying from this path. This leads me to believe that we'll see more updates to existing redstone components, both to those above that already have been updated, and other, yet un-updated ones.
This said, some plausible updates I speculate are:
-Noteblocks: Add a second version that plays a note that directly correlates with the strength of the redstone signal.
-Levers: Add a new lever type with 16 different positions, one for each level of redstone signal strength, cycled through similarly to currently existing noteblocks.
-Detector Rails: Add new types for each kind of pressure plate, change stone detector rail to only detect minecarts with mobs, wooden detector rail to detect all minecarts.
-Redstone Lamps: Change to have brightness directly correlate to signal strength.
-Pistons: Change all attach-type blocks to always remain attached to a block as a piston pushes it, except when a different block is in the way(This includes, but is not limited to, all rails, torches, repeaters, comparators, redstone wire, pressure plates, etcetera). Allow other pistons to push extended pistons(Treat both parts of extended piston as attached to eachother in this case). Treat any block touching the extending side of sticky piston as attached and thus move if the sticky piston moves.
-Powered Rails: Change speed boost strength to be dependant on signal strength.
-Buttons: Add more kinds with new trigger types, such as a mob bumping into the wall.
What are your thoughts on and predictions for this current trend? Personally, I prefer it this way; a block is much more interesting if it has more features and uses than meets the eye.
-Repeater: Added latch functionality by powering its side with another repeater.
-Dispenser: Added a wide variety of spawnable entities(Boats, minecarts, etcetera), allowed use of some items(Bonemeal, flint/steel, etcetera), added automatic armor equipping.
-Button: Added secondary button type with new trigger type(Arrow).
-Pressure Plate: Added new types with new trigger type(Quantity of items).
-Minecart: Allowed various blocks to be placed inside, allowed cart coupling, added rail type, other things...
This is only the fourth snapshot of 1.5, and Mojang doesn't seem to be straying from this path. This leads me to believe that we'll see more updates to existing redstone components, both to those above that already have been updated, and other, yet un-updated ones.
This said, some plausible updates I speculate are:
-Noteblocks: Add a second version that plays a note that directly correlates with the strength of the redstone signal.
-Levers: Add a new lever type with 16 different positions, one for each level of redstone signal strength, cycled through similarly to currently existing noteblocks.
-Detector Rails: Add new types for each kind of pressure plate, change stone detector rail to only detect minecarts with mobs, wooden detector rail to detect all minecarts.
-Redstone Lamps: Change to have brightness directly correlate to signal strength.
-Pistons: Change all attach-type blocks to always remain attached to a block as a piston pushes it, except when a different block is in the way(This includes, but is not limited to, all rails, torches, repeaters, comparators, redstone wire, pressure plates, etcetera). Allow other pistons to push extended pistons(Treat both parts of extended piston as attached to eachother in this case). Treat any block touching the extending side of sticky piston as attached and thus move if the sticky piston moves.
-Powered Rails: Change speed boost strength to be dependant on signal strength.
-Buttons: Add more kinds with new trigger types, such as a mob bumping into the wall.
What are your thoughts on and predictions for this current trend? Personally, I prefer it this way; a block is much more interesting if it has more features and uses than meets the eye.