Apple Touts Progress of $4.7 Billion Clean Energy Investment

[danny842003]

Apple at times is a contradiction with their wireless future dream. Remove headphone jack, now one has to purchase expensive Lightening wired headphones or Bluetooth headphones that uses a battery and one more thing to be re/charged thus limiting its lifespan. Contrary to a device such as an iPhone which maybe supported for 5 years or more and the technology changes a lot, in contrast the technology in a headphone does not change as frequent but by utilizing a battery for each component and requiring more equipment to have the same benefit as its wired counterpart is contradictory environmental mindset. The one benefit of wireless neglects the majority disadvantages associated with its solution.

To me a compromised solution would be to have wireless headphones with the option of using it with a wire that way the battery can be prolonged and there is less waste.

The reality of the situation is Apple as a business needs to compete with other manufacturers and provide a comparable product. Adding ports on to wireless headphones is going to make them very clunky.
I will say I’ve never had a set of headphones which I’ve used regularly that have lasted 5 years. I wouldn’t say I’m rough with them just that wear and tear means they have a finite lifetime.

 

[Shirasaki]

We should keep in the back of our minds Apple doesn't have to do anything. They have a track record of lending a helping hand where needed, even though Apple doesn't get into all of the areas MacRumors posters would like them to get into. (however one can always make a donation)

Should Apple do more? Maybe. Are they obligated to do anything? No. They are a for profit company that has helped various causes and issues with time, materials and money. They didn't have to do any of that.

So let's not fall into the trap of telling a for profit company what their philanthropic goals should be.

Sure, as long as the profit is on the table, who cares about planet anyways. After all, its not solely Apple’s fault or maybe Apple’s fault at all for the planet to be it is what it is today right? I can believe Apple did not go deliberately destroying the planet in the past 20 or so years, cause why would they bother?

 

[I7guy]

Sure, as long as the profit is on the table, who cares about planet anyways. After all, its not solely Apple’s fault or maybe Apple’s fault at all for the planet to be it is what it is today right? I can believe Apple did not go deliberately destroying the planet in the past 20 or so years, cause why would they bother?

That's what is known as a slippery slope argument. The "slope" argument aside, recognizing that one can always do better is a positive thing. Not a negative thing that they are not spearheading the entire clean-up of planet earth.

 

[code-m]

The reality of the situation is Apple as a business needs to compete with other manufacturers and provide a comparable product. Adding ports on to wireless headphones is going to make them very clunky.
I will say I’ve never had a set of headphones which I’ve used regularly that have lasted 5 years. I wouldn’t say I’m rough with them just that wear and tear means they have a finite lifetime.

Apple could have started with the AirPods Max, have a lightening or USB-C port on each piece, it can be use to charge or data plus syncs both pieces. The cable can be water/sweat proof and if worn out it can be replaced similar to the pads plus an opportunity and market to add to the MFi segment.

The portion for AirPods/Pro steam is can have a unique wired screw or magnetic ends that attached to the stem while the microphone hole is placed on the outsize of the stem. The cable will be slim and at the other end a Lightening or USB-C connector to use with either iPhone or Mac, plus the opportunity for a longer cable and replaceable, call it MagSafe for iPods while the others will be MagSafe for iPhone and MagSafe for Mac.

 

[Tech198]

wow.. that's allot of solar panels.

 

[danny842003]

Apple could have started with the AirPods Max, have a lightening or USB-C port on each piece, it can be use to charge or data plus syncs both pieces. The cable can be water/sweat proof and if worn out it can be replaced similar to the pads plus an opportunity and market to add to the MFi segment.

The portion for AirPods/Pro steam is can have a unique wired screw or magnetic ends that attached to the stem while the microphone hole is placed on the outsize of the stem. The cable will be slim and at the other end a Lightening or USB-C connector to use with either iPhone or Mac, plus the opportunity for a longer cable and replaceable, call it MagSafe for iPods while the others will be MagSafe for iPhone and MagSafe for Mac.

Sure they could have but lets be realistic people aren't buying wireless headphones because they like wires. They're not going to like wires more after X number of years using wireless headphones. Realistically all this extra engineering could be worse for the environment if the majority never use it and still throw them away.
Don't the max charge via lightning anyway? I'm not sure as its not a product I'm likely ever to buy.

 

[Shirasaki]

That's what is known as a slippery slope argument. The "slope" argument aside, recognizing that one can always do better is a positive thing. Not a negative thing that they are not spearheading the entire clean-up of planet earth.

It may be a positive thing, but baby step is a baby step after all, and more changes are required to actually make a positive impact.


As for the “slippery slope” argument, there’s another thing called “butterfly effect”, and the eventual outcome does not guarantee a positive impact. I would like to keep that in mind when looking at articles of similar background.

 

[I7guy]

It may be a positive thing, but baby step is a baby step after all, and more changes are required to actually make a positive impact.


As for the “slippery slope” argument, there’s another thing called “butterfly effect”, and the eventual outcome does not guarantee a positive impact. I would like to keep that in mind when looking at articles of similar background.

Except the butterfly effect is mostly for fun. If I spit in the Atlantic Ocean, chances of that event causing a tsunami in the pacific ocean would be what? This is more cause and effect, where polluters cause real and calculable side-effects.

The slippery slope argument refers to this debate.

 

[code-m]

Sure they could have but lets be realistic people aren't buying wireless headphones because they like wires. They're not going to like wires more after X number of years using wireless headphones. Realistically all this extra engineering could be worse for the environment if the majority never use it and still throw them away.
Don't the max charge via lightning anyway? I'm not sure as its not a product I'm likely ever to buy.

Over-engineering has never stopped Apple from releasing a bad product only to have it replaced causing more environmental waste then reverting to what actually worked prior without admitting it made a mistake (i.e. Butterfly KB, G4 Cube, PM Trash Can, TouchBar, etc).

 

[danny842003]

Over-engineering has never stopped Apple from releasing a bad product only to have it replaced causing more environmental waste then reverting to what actually worked prior without admitting it made a mistake (i.e. Butterfly KB, G4 Cube, PM Trash Can, TouchBar, etc).

no but your idea is based on an environmental basis. I’m saying I think that idea is flawed.
Apple made those decisions for design reason rightly or wrongly. The two aren’t comparable.

 

[code-m]

no but your idea is based on an environmental basis. I’m saying I think that idea is flawed.
Apple made those decisions for design reason rightly or wrongly. The two aren’t comparable.

So when Apple promotes its green initiative it only matters if it aligns with their mandate even though it’s an environmental hypocrisy.

Got it Apple will promote its environmental strides and hope others ignore its other environmental damaging moves because it meets their vision of their wireless and convenient future.

 

[danny842003]

So when Apple promotes its green initiative it only matters if it aligns with their mandate even though it’s an environmental hypocrisy.

Got it Apple will promote its environmental strides and hope others ignore its other environmental damaging moves because it meets their vision of their wireless and convenient future.

I’m discussing why your idea is a bad idea.

 

[code-m]

I’m discussing why your idea is a bad idea.

I was discussing the hypocrisy of some of Apple’s decisions. I offered a possible solution, having present day battery technology on everything is damaging to the environment.

Apple wants to make everything wireless to align with their vision; great. Maybe invest in green battery technology similar to how Musk and Elon have spent millions of not billions to develop their own battery technology.

Bottom line is make green batteries. Invest in Carbon Nanotube battery or Graphene tech and fast tract it.