YIKES! I hope this is not the end of the dock connector. The dock connector, as others have said, have a lot more capabilities (video out, audio out, firewire charging, etc.) than a USB connector. Wouldn't it be sufficient if Apple simply supplied a cable that had the dock connector on one end and micro USB connector on the other end? Or perhaps this is what actually Apple will do.
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Apple to Adopt Micro-USB Connectors for iPhone Charging in Europe
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Except you wouldn't be able to connect it to any computer with the said cable, so a normal USB would have to be included as well. I don't think they're going to double the number of cables they bundle.
Note that in the long run, it wouldn't be Apple supplying the charger (of course they would be able to make their own, but it would have to work with any other smartphone). So they can't step around this with their own charger, even if it was open-standard. They would need to provide a way for charging iPhone without having to use a device utilizing their proprietary dock connector.
To be fair, iPod hasn't had the 30-pin dock connector since day one. The first generation iPod (which I owned and it was only 5GB) used a direct FireWire connector. Subsequent generations then did use the dock connector.
It's about time. Apple is particularly bad in this.
After getting my iphone 3GS i realized that i can't charge it with any of my old ipod chargers although they have a dock connector.
I also can't use the European charger and my car charger that worked perfectly for my iphone 2g anymore.
Apple please explain to me why a charger that could easily charge my iphone 2g can not charge my iphone 3GS?
Because probably the chargers you have were charging via FireWire. New generation iPod touch and iPhone can no longer charge using the FireWire pins of the dock connector.
I think that initially Apple will make an adapter that goes between the phone and the powercord, but eventually, I think Apple will adopt the standard because this is a large consortium of cell phone manufacturers that agreed to have a standard, and according to the article, Apple is part of the consortium. The point of this standard is environmental; to reduce waste of people throwing out their old cords, and also to create a standard so that if you ask another person if you can use their cell phone charger for a few minutes, you won't be out of luck.
I really don't see any difference; both connectors transfer data at the same speed.
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I really don't see any difference; both connectors transfer data at the same speed.
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This standard is dumb. Why would the micro-USB be on the power adapter's end of things? The whole point of micro-USB is to have the smallest possible port on the device itself, e.g. a phone, a GPS navigator, an MP3 player etc. They should've just adapted Apple's concept with a normal size USB port on the AC adapter, then they can put whatever the hell they want on the other end of the cable... micro USB, Apple 30-pin, a tesla coil, a carrot...
It is going to be micro-USB, not mini-USB, as someone already pointed out here https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/7975560/ .
I said Apple will not be bundling this Micro USB cable.
If you want a Micro USB kit, you will need to buy it separately.
OK. So what if I had another phone which was charged via mini-USB, and then I got an iPhone? The whole point of this standardization is that an old charger can be used with a new phone. So, I should be able to charge iPhone with a previously used charger. Without any proprietary cables. It has to work both ways.
I know it may be hard to believe, but it isn't just about Apple. It isn't about forcing Apple to allow using third-party chargers with iPhone. It's phone makers agreeing to have all their smartphones using the same, interchangeable chargers. Without proprietary cables.
The one on the right.
Thank you. How is the durability of those? With a regular-size USB plug, you can plug it in in a dark room without being afraid you are going to break a pin. In fact, you can be pretty harsh/brutal with it and it would take a lot to break it. But with the charger on my motorola RAZR, I had to be very careful because it had pins, and I didn't want to bend the pins. So, with this new USB standard, are these plugs durable (child-proof), and do they have pins or no?
Thanks.
Gizmodo: http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/cellphones/cell-makers-agree-on-a-single-charging-plug-302320.php
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Since the 'standard' allows for the fulfillment via an adaptor, Apple already fulfills it. Their USB-Dock-Connector cable is exactly this, USB on one end, phone on the other. What the people writing the standard did not envisage, was that instead of insisting on a miniUSB port on the phone, it would be much, much smarter to separate the charger from the cable leading to the phone and standardize the connection on the charger (as Apple has done it for years). Why nobody else is using that concept of separating the charger from the cable, is beyond me. With Apple's solution, it does not matter what you want to use as a charger, just find a USB port (the probably most universal connection to be found today, even more universal than any power socket).
No, we have not. Zero. Zilch. None. Physics has not changed in 20 years. It's simple transformer design.
HAHAHAHA! That's not "inductive charging" at all. It relies on electrical contacts in the skin making contact with the electrical contacts on the pad. From their own "how it works" explanation:
"Once a compatible electronic device is placed on the WildCharger pad, power is transferred from the pad’s surface through the contact-points to the WildCharge adapter and into the device. The geometries of the charging surface and the contact-points guarantee that regardless of where the device is placed on the pad’s surface, a closed electrical circuit is formed between the surface and the device. Such direct contact allows for a very efficient and safe power transfer without generating harmful radiation or magnetic fields. Inductive chargers would have "magnetic fields," so there's proof-positive that they are not using inductive charging and that inductive charging has a real downside. If you don't even understand the technology, perhaps you should leave engineering to engineers (like me).
Yes, we should invest in a standard connector -- and they chose a really good standard from a physical and electrical standpoint. There is no reason, whatsoever, to claim that it "should be obsolete within the next 4-5 years." It's compact, carries an adequate level of current, and an appropriate voltage. It's a charging standard -- not a data standard. Get over it.
Recycling just somewhat reduces environmental damage; it does not eliminate it. It doesn't magically get rid of the pollution created in the manufacture of the recycled devices. It doesn't recapture the energy used to run the injection molding machines, wave soldering machines, pick-and-place equipment.
Nor does recycling allow an auto manufacturer to put a standard charging cable into a storage compartment. It doesn't let me use the same cable to charge my phone, my girlfriend's phone, my Bluetooth headset, her Bluetooth headset, etc. Recycling does not keep someone on a limited budget from having to buy all new chargers for their office and car.
And, believe it or not, it's not all about you. Standards are there to help everyone.
Why has the cable be part of the charger? I use my iPod or iPhone charger maybe two or three times per year, normally I charge via computers. On a lot of iPod model Apple did not and does not ship a charger at all, just a cable. How is that for avoiding the production of unnecessary chargers?
I fully agree, but what stops the car manufacturers to put a USB port (any kind, adaptor cables are cheap) into the car? Yes, a universal connector on the phone is even better, but equipping all phones with a cable that can connect to a USB port for charging is such a simple thing, that I do not understand why people have not done it already.
I disagree the whole point of the standardisation is so that the charger cable connects to the phone by micro-usb.
It's clearly stated in the future chargers won't be included with phones free of charge.
I use my iPod charger rarely as well, so I kind of understand your point, but including the cable in the standard has its advantages as well. You don't have to change cables with the phone = less waste. You can use someone else's charger without having to carry your cable with you even if you have different phones = more convenient. The best solution would be perhaps to split the standard in a charger with USB port and a micro-USB cable to connect the phone to it (or to a computer).
It's about time the car manufacturers did away with having so many "cigarette plugs" and added a USB plug for BOTH data and charging (like a computer does for your iPhone). The USB plug would be your music (and data) interface and your charger. You could just use your current iPhone USB cord to plug into the USB like you do your computer.
Most likely because the USB port cannot provide enough power for the range of devices that can run off the cigarette lighter port. I sure would be interested in seeing a Macbook powered from a USB port...
That's why I didn't suggest completely replacing cigarette ports. Right now, I have one on my dash, one in my glove box, and one in my center console compartment. I meant to replace one of those with a USB port since we won't be needing the cigarette port to charge our cell phones any more.
I put a pair of USB power ports into my car as well as an in-glove-box USB that allows my Alpine head unit to play from my 32GB thumb drive or my iPod Classic.
I think that the reason that more have not is two-fold: First, too many devices are not electrically compatible with the 5V USB standard. Some phones use 6V or higher chargers. Second, if you put it there, some numb-nuts is going to wonder why he can't interface his laptop to his Camaro as he attempts to make his own Knight Rider car.
Once all of the phones, headsets, GPS units, etc. standardize, it will be in every new car sold.
I am glad the EU went with the MicroUSB spec, as opposed to Mini-USB. The main reason is insertion cycles. MicroUSB can do 10,000 times the insertion and removal cycles as mini-usb, and the springs to hold the connection together are in the cable on micro, as opposed to being part of the connector with the mini -- easier to replace a cable than a device.
What are you talking about? The phone companies never offered the option themselves to their customers, they had to be forced. How likely is it that greedy mutinational companies are going to adopt a standard that will lose them money but is better for customers and the environment?