Apple to Adopt Micro-USB Connectors for iPhone Charging in Europe

[kernkraft]

Not perfect, but better than the current situation.

They will not do away with the 30 pin dock adaptor. This is European MPs in suits who have no idea of the consequences of their actions forcing something on everyone. The aim is to keep everything 'simpler' for the average user so they don't get confused about which of 20 different chargers to use.

That I'm all for. Forcing manufacturers into a particular specification without any regard or thought for the limitations it might present is what I'm against. Same fiasco as with European software patents.

The manufacturers had two choices - either to let the EU rule about the matter or to propose their own solution. They chose the latter. Frankly, they should have done it years and years ago. I don't know, why they want to stick with that particular technology, but it is obvious, that the present situation doesn't benefit consumers nor technological development and it is wasteful. I have a box full of phone chargers and often when I go abroad, I have to buy new ones. It's just ridiculous! Is there any open-source standard that could be even better? After all, the mini-USB might attract a license fee.

 

[Anuba]

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.

I'm not sure about durability, but it looks like this one will be joining a long list of plugs that will drive you crazy when you're trying to insert them without looking (i.e. in the dark or on the back panel of some device).

Round plugs are the best, you always find the hole. (That's what she said)

Flat ones like Apple's magsafe and the power plug on Mac Mini are good because they go in either way so all you have to do is find the hole.

Fullsize USB and 6-pin firewire 400 are OK... you have a 50% chance of getting it wrong but then you just flip it around 180 degrees.

DVI, 4-pin firewire, 9-pin firewire and Mini USB are hopeless, you have to see what you're doing.

This micro-USB one looks like it belongs in the last category, the ones you can't insert blindly, but due to the flat shape you'll probably think you got it right so you'll try to push it in when it's upside down.

 

[SAN66]

I'm not sure about durability, but it looks like this one will be joining a long list of plugs that will drive you crazy when you're trying to insert them without looking (i.e. in the dark or on the back panel of some device).

Round plugs are the best, you always find the hole. (That's what she said)

Flat ones like Apple's magsafe and the power plug on Mac Mini are good because they go in either way so all you have to do is find the hole.

Fullsize USB and 6-pin firewire 400 are OK... you have a 50% chance of getting it wrong but then you just flip it around 180 degrees.

DVI, 4-pin firewire, 9-pin firewire and Mini USB are hopeless, you have to see what you're doing.

This micro-USB one looks like it belongs in the last category, the ones you can't insert blindly, but due to the flat shape you'll probably think you got it right so you'll try to push it in when it's upside down.

+1 And trying to insert micro-USB blindly can result in broken pins and then you have to replace the cable which defeats the purpose of what they're trying to do.

As I stated before this imposed standardization simply stifles innovation, companies should come to agreements, but they should still innovate and not have things forced upon them by governing bodies. I would love to see a magsafe power/communications connector or some other less pin oriented connector in the future on ipods or iPhones, but if they decide to "stick with the standard" they would be less likely to expend R&D towards these endeavors.

 

[windywoo]

Oh what bollocks. Without USB would there be such a wide range of peripherals that support Mac and PC? Without Bluetooth how would you share files between phones and computers? Without standards how would phones even talk to each other?

 

[aristotle]

The manufacturers had two choices - either to let the EU rule about the matter or to propose their own solution. They chose the latter. Frankly, they should have done it years and years ago. I don't know, why they want to stick with that particular technology, but it is obvious, that the present situation doesn't benefit consumers nor technological development and it is wasteful. I have a box full of phone chargers and often when I go abroad, I have to buy new ones. It's just ridiculous! Is there any open-source standard that could be even better? After all, the mini-USB might attract a license fee.

Sorry but why should I give a crap about the other phone brands. I think it's great that the companies are agreeing on a standard but that should not mean that everyone has to get rid of their existing port especially if there is a ecosystem designed around it like with the iPod/iPhone docking port.

I've had crappy Nokia, Motorola and Samsung phones with their crappy chargers but now I don't give a damn since I have an iPhone.

 

[Penguinwrangler]

This!

Actually, I can Imagine Apple modifying the 30 pin connector on the iPhone and iPods to allow a micro USB cable to be plugged in, too. Micro-USB is pretty thin, and some sort of funnel construction inside could guide the micro USB jack to the right place. This would make the 30 pin cables and micro-USB work, without killing the design.

Duh Duh Duh Duh Duh. Apple is ALL about everything having dual-functionality in their software UI, why would their hardware design be any different???

 

[mrscribble]

Sorry but why should I give a crap about the other phone brands.

Because other people do! Apple don't make every phone out there, and a lot of people are given phones by their work. Standardisation should've happened years ago - no more asking around for chargers: "Has anyone got a Samsung charger? No, the other one. Or maybe it's the other one..." And far, far less waste.

I think it's great that the companies are agreeing on a standard but that should not mean that everyone has to get rid of their existing port especially if there is a ecosystem designed around it like with the iPod/iPhone docking port.

Where did you read that everyone has to get rid of their existing port?

I've had crappy Nokia, Motorola and Samsung phones with their crappy chargers but now I don't give a damn since I have an iPhone.

Because you might buy a different phone brand someday?

 

[Sehnsucht]

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...

Round plugs are the best, you always find the hole. (That's what she said)

What's with the "micro" stuff, folks? Why not something big like this:

External Molex connectors...now we're talking!

 

[diamond.g]

I'm not sure about durability, but it looks like this one will be joining a long list of plugs that will drive you crazy when you're trying to insert them without looking (i.e. in the dark or on the back panel of some device).

Round plugs are the best, you always find the hole. (That's what she said)

Flat ones like Apple's magsafe and the power plug on Mac Mini are good because they go in either way so all you have to do is find the hole.

Fullsize USB and 6-pin firewire 400 are OK... you have a 50% chance of getting it wrong but then you just flip it around 180 degrees.

DVI, 4-pin firewire, 9-pin firewire and Mini USB are hopeless, you have to see what you're doing.

This micro-USB one looks like it belongs in the last category, the ones you can't insert blindly, but due to the flat shape you'll probably think you got it right so you'll try to push it in when it's upside down.

Don't you have a similar problem with the dock connector?

 

[locovaca]

I think it's dubious, note how the point was really to stop selling phones with chargers!

Ugh I love the way European countries do things, they can't get people to willingly adopt so they force them.

Yes, because I'm sure you always did the right thing as a kid and not because your parents told you to.

 

[Anuba]

Don't you have a similar problem with the dock connector?

Not really... it's never on the back of anything, you have it right in front of you when you insert it, and it would have to be pretty damn dark for me to not be able to see that big ol' symbol on one side of the (white) dock connector.

The connector is pretty big though, do the really need all those pins? Some of them are probably for firewire which iPods haven't supported for ages. Something like micro-USB would allow them to shrink the iPod Nano, and put a bigger speaker (or even stereo speakers... silly but whatever) on the iPhone. But they'd lose video and audio output of course.

What's with the "micro" stuff, folks? Why not something big like this:

External Molex connectors...now we're talking!

Hell yeah! Give us something fat and sturdy, like a Scart connector. Sure, it's bigger than the power adapter and probably bigger than the cellphone too, but that's easily fixed by making those much bigger.

I love Scart connectors because they're so easy to insert. You just reach inside the dark and cramped cabinet where your DVD player is, and the connector just slides into the port effortlessly. After 6,000 failed attempts. I love the cables too, they're so flexible and thin.

 

[FX120]

IMO micro USB is retarded. It's not really any smaller footprint wise than mini-USB, just slimmer, harder to insert, and much more fragile.

I'd rather see Apple start putting something like extUSB on their devices. That way all the additional functions of the 30-pin dock connector, like analog audio and video out are still there, while remaining pin-compatable with existing mini-usb cables which are found on virtually any other portable device these days.

 

[Habakuk]

A German blog writes:

"This EU commitment needs no changes in relation to the dock connector in future iPhones. 'The signed memorandum gives manufacturers the option to settle an adapter for connection to the universal charge,' said Apple spokesperson George Albrecht."

http://www.fscklog.com/2009/06/appl...sellem-ladegerät-für-künftige-eu-iphones.html

Does nobody use the Apple AV cable?

iPhone as YouTube Remote Control for TV Sets
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0JjLstblHk

 

[3247]

A bit surprised to see Apple among the companies, but happily so. I guess the EU threat "standardize, or we'll regulate" didn't hurt.

I guess that the Chinese threat "comply with our regulation, or don't sell in China" has been more effective. The EU was only a secondary theater. The reason companies gave in to the Commission so quickly is simply that they were planning to switch to Micro-USB anyway in order to sell their phones in China.

Of course, they could make a special version for China. However, it's probably more economic to sell the same product everywhere.

As many others, I find it hard to believe the dock connector is going anywhere, but micro usb for charging wouldn't be too complicated or too costly to add in addition to the dock connector. Also, all reporting I've seen so far is about charging, so having a micro usb connector won't necessarily mean than the connector can to be used for anything other than for charging...

That would be extremely stupid. The whole point of using Micro-USB (not Mini-USB, BTW) is that you have to carry a single cable which can be used for charging (using a computer or a USB power supply) and data transfer.

While I can see some sense in this idea, I really wish they came up with a more sturdy connector. The Micro-USB connector is so damned flimsy and can't withstand being plugged in and out every day. The micro-usb connector on our TomTom failed after about six months and I've had several micro-usb connectors fail over the years too.

Probably not. Micro-USB was introduced in 2007. Are you sure you're not confusing it with Mini-USB?

This standard is dumb. Why would the micro-USB be on the power adapter's end of things?

Why would you think that this be the case?
Just because some clueless person, who even mixes up Micro- and Mini-USB, said so?

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...

… and you'd still have to carry different cables. Of course, having cables filling up landfills is an improvement over having wall warts filling up landfills.

I've had crappy Nokia, Motorola and Samsung phones with their crappy chargers but now I don't give a damn since I have an iPhone.

Actually, Nokia's chargers are quite good: They're one of the most efficient (green) chargers available.
If Apple products had an Micro-USB (not Mini-USB, BTW) connector, it would make sense to buy Nokia chargers for them.

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.

Another reason, of course, could be Mini-USB having been deprecated by USB-IF.

 

[Drag'nGT]

The mini USB has been a good idea for a while now. It kills a good bit of the companies accessory sales but who cares. I want the whole US to make driving with out a bluetooth headset illegal. Anyway, I just hope the 30 pin is kept on the phone so all my accessories and the new ones on the way like the Tom Tom dock will work for old and new phones.

 

[Rodimus Prime]

I see this as a good thing. Very quick way to reduce the amount of useless junk changing cell phone creates.

For example I was packing up my apartment and I found no less than 5 difference chargers. Reminded me that I need to threw most of them away. When I retire my current cell phone I will have 3 chargers to trash.

It would be nice to be able to reuse them because it allows me to leave a charger in different places that I am commonly.

 

[Anuba]

Why would you think that this be the case?

It's just based on the assumption that Apple wouldn't want to lose all the functionality that comes with the 30-pin connector. Over USB, it's only for charging and transfering data, but it adds other functionality when you use it in a Dock. Audio out, video out, remote control etc. Much of the iPod/iPhone accessory market is based around this... all the docking stations/chargers with built-in speakers, for example. I can't imagine that all that can be replicated through a 5-pin micro-USB port.

 

[aristotle]

Because other people do! Apple don't make every phone out there, and a lot of people are given phones by their work.

How is that the responsibility of other companies other than the maker of the handset you currently own?

Standardisation should've happened years ago - no more asking around for chargers: "Has anyone got a Samsung charger? No, the other one. Or maybe it's the other one..." And far, far less waste.

I think it is great that some standardization is happening. I have chargers from old Motorola and Samsung phones that I have no use for. But that should be up to the industry, not for the government to impose.

Where did you read that everyone has to get rid of their existing port?

If this will take the form of a small adapter, then I have no problem with it but there is no room for an additional port on the iPhone.

Because you might buy a different phone brand someday?

Did you read what I wrote? I had various device from Motorola, Samsung and Nokia in the past. It is highly unlikely that I would ever go back to any of those brands now especially since I use a mac running OS X as my primary home environment and that I have a considerable investment in apps from the app store which would not work on another device.

 

[whatever]

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.

You're assuming that the cable will be connect to plug adapter.

Also Apple can get by just buy introducing a USB to Micro USB adapter. Since the only purpose of this adapter is for charging.

 

[Number 41]

I see this as a good thing. Very quick way to reduce the amount of useless junk changing cell phone creates.

Really, reducing junk is a laudable goal, but should never come at the expense of the end-user experience.

Not saying that's the case here, but if the choice is between an easier solution and an environmentally-friendly solution, give me the easier solution 100 times out of 100.

There's plenty of landfill space in New Jersey.

 

[Rodimus Prime]

Really, reducing junk is a laudable goal, but should never come at the expense of the end-user experience.

Not saying that's the case here, but if the choice is between an easier solution and an environmentally-friendly solution, give me the easier solution 100 times out of 100.

There's plenty of landfill space in New Jersey.

I honestly do not see how it would effect the end-user. For me it would help me out and it would help out a lot of other smart phone users as over they years they all collect extra chargers.

For example I have extra LG chargers and because of that I leave one at my parents place for when I go down their for a weekend. I can just not bother packing mine and use mine there.

As for the micro USB port being useful most people have extra USB cords they could plug in and charge in a pinch for their phone.

Sorry I see it more as being better for the end user. I could care less about the environmental part of it. I just hate collecting the extra junk over the years because I am a bit of a pack rat.

 

[bruinsrme]

how is apple goign to fit the mini usb connectors on the iPhone and iPod Touch. The mini usb is a lot larger than the 30 pin connector

 

[Imhotep397]

1 benefit only...

Personally, I liked the original port idea that combined firewire and USB functionality. USB only iPods have seen an across the board sucky data transfer speed drop as a result of going to only USB. The one and only potential benefit of this is that the dock connector could stay, go back to being firewire and we could go back to being able to download and album in 10 seconds or less.

 

[alex4bes]

I dont think this is the future....... what happens when a company has a breakthrough that can only be achieved by using their own made port...

This sort of standardisation will make or break the market... It looks all sparkley and nice to the eco-heads now but i think it will only lead to poor aftermarket products from "less advantaged" countries and will be dangerous.

USB was a great idea.... look at it now.....How much cheap USB tat do you see coming from china that breaks and is unsafe?

Apple need to distance themselves from this and continue to provide a better product....

WHO DOESNT HAVE AN iPOD CABLE?

 

[MattInOz]

Apple has been quite good in respects to keeping the basic Dock connector over the past few years (of course they removed Firewire at some point, and added in video out at another point, and I presume some of the pins are spare to future functionality). However at some point soon they will want to update the pin-out to include HD video output (HDMI or DisplayPort signals, which can be routed to a HDMI or Displayport Port within a dock or similar hardware).

In addition, the EU should also extend this to Digital Cameras and portable media players.

Didn't Apple shift a couple of Pins for the iPhone Power spec on the dock?
They would have been well aware moves where a foot for something like this.
So I'm wondering if they might have planned on a somewhat backward compatible mirco dock connector say that can still use the 30 pin version or the new say 20 pin connector down one end or the mirco usb down the other.

I guess if they have enough unused pins in the midde to allow for the casing of either smaller plug to connect.