EU Lawmakers Vote Overwhelmingly in Favor of Common Charging Standard, Despite Apple's Protestations [Updated]

[NickName99]

What a bad idea. So we'll never get a charging solution better than USB-C now. Politicians shouldn't get involved in technology, especially when they don't understand it.

This is an important concern, and it was brought up in the resolution:

“5. Points out that the Commission, without hampering innovation, should ensure that the legislative framework for a common charger will be scrutinised regularly in order to take into account technical progress; reiterates the importance of research and innovation in this domain to improve existing technologies and come up with new ones”

JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on a common charger for mobile radio equipment | RC-B9-0070/2020 | European Parliament

JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION pursuant to Rule 132(2) and (4) of the Rules of Procedure replacing the following motions: B9-0070/2020 (PPE) B9-0072/2020 (S&D) B9-0074/2020 (Verts/ALE) B9-0075/2020 (Renew) B9-0076/2020 (GUE/NGL) B9-0085/2020 (ECR) on a common charger for mobile radio equipment...

www.europarl.europa.eu

 

[jarman92]

there's no reason any future ports can't be the same shape and compatible usb-c. Look at the improvement from usb 2 to 3 using the same shape port.

Another great thing from the EU that I really hope the UK adopts. I'm fully ready for a usb-c only life.

People were saying exactly this in 2009 when micro-USB was the proposed standard. “It can’t get any smaller or better, so let’s just stick with this.” Obviously, that would have been enormously detrimental to the industry, since we all now agree that micro-USB sucks. So while we may not see NOW what future connectors could be, it’s incredibly arrogant and myopic to declare that USB-C should be the standard.

Also, the claim that this would reduce waste is absurd. Think about the tens if not hundreds of millions of Lightning chargers and accessories that will be rendered obsolete by this regulation.

 

[ericwn]

Hey EU politician type people, take a look at this.

NetDot 12th Generation Magnetic Cable,Fast Charging and Data Transfer for Micro USB/USB-C Phones (3 pack black,1m/1.5m/2m)

Discover the N. NETDOT 12th Generation magnetic charging cable that provides you with convenient and safe charging of your micro USB and USB Type-C devices. With a length of 1 to 2 metres and a data transfer rate of up to 4.8E+2 megabits per second, this cable is perfect for use in the office or ...

www.amazon.co.uk

There you go, problem solved. I use these cables to charge and power my iPad Pro, iPhone, PageFlip DragonFly, Corsair gaming headset, Beats studio3 headphones, as well as charge various power banks and other devices. One cable, and a tiny magnetic adapter solves the problem that you just spent god knows how much debating.

This really is such a non issue.

Got it. So all everyone needs to do is buy an entire new set of cables instead of agreeing to a standard. Simultaneously we all dump the cables from the box straight back into the landfill. Sounds wise.

 

[jarman92]

This is an important concern, and it was brought up in the resolution:

“5. Points out that the Commission, without hampering innovation, should ensure that the legislative framework for a common charger will be scrutinised regularly in order to take into account technical progress; reiterates the importance of research and innovation in this domain to improve existing technologies and come up with new ones”

JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on a common charger for mobile radio equipment | RC-B9-0070/2020 | European Parliament

JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION pursuant to Rule 132(2) and (4) of the Rules of Procedure replacing the following motions: B9-0070/2020 (PPE) B9-0072/2020 (S&D) B9-0074/2020 (Verts/ALE) B9-0075/2020 (Renew) B9-0076/2020 (GUE/NGL) B9-0085/2020 (ECR) on a common charger for mobile radio equipment...

www.europarl.europa.eu

Ah, yes, because we all know how technologically adept beaurocrats and politicians are...

 

[Lesser Evets]

Politicians dictating innovation... wow... the stupidest people in the world, detached from reality, controlling things they should have no say in. WELL DONE, HUMANITY!

 

[ericwn]

Somebody tell the EU to fix their sockets in all member countries then start giving lessons

Good point - at least the most ridiculous socket folks have just left the building.

 

[Justanotherfanboy]

Do you want an iPhone without wires? This is how you get an iPhone without wires.

Ummmm.... ok.

By governments FORCING companies to use Qi (a 12 year old standard)?
Sorry, pal- you’re backing the wrong horse!

So, what if someone comes out with a wireless charging solution that charges double the speed of Qi, using 1/3 the energy, at 1/10 of the cost.... 6 months after this law comes out???
Wouldn't that innovation PRIOR TO THIS LAW greatly speed the way to phones with no wires? Certainly so. But, with this law enacted it would literally be illegal to offer that technology, unless you could somehow fit both it & a Qi together in your handsets without them interfering with each other- while you wait for EU to update their laws to force you to use that instead.
But, wait! Why would they ever change to a new standard that has 0% adoption rate and how would its adoption rate get above 0% if it were illegal to use??
Quite an ugly anti-innovation Catch 22 there.

 

[jarman92]

A few things to unpick there
Politicians aren't getting involved with technology, they are just mandating that standards are in place. It is up to the standards bodies/consortiums that will define the standard.
As for not getting better solutions that USB-C, I couldn't imagine needing a connector smaller than usb-c.
But in any case, you won't be stuck with USB-C just as we haven't been stuck with the variations of USB or HDMI or any other standard. There are mobile standards that from 2G and what ever went before it to 3g, 4g 5g, standards evolve over time. What we don't want is 50 different mobile connectors and charging bricks which in no way impedes a company. Take PD, which uses handshaking over different voltages and currents that vary with what each device needs.

If you take a look at the prices for different cables, we see that Apple Certified cables cost a lot more than USB ones even though Lightning has been out for a long time.

We don’t have “50 different mobile connectors and charging bricks,” we have 2: Lightning and USB-C. And the world didn’t go from 50 to 2 because of a ridiculously short-sighted regulation in the EU. We also have 2 mobile OSes; should the EU dictate—for the entire world—that every phone has to run Android, too?

 

[Elshad]

Good point - at least the most ridiculous socket folks have just left the building.

Ireland, Cyprus and Malta will remain and still use those Type G sockets

 

[TantalizedMind]

Am I the only one who thinks this is dumb? Why is everyone in love with USB-C? I don’t even own anything with that adapter. lol

 

[aylk]

What can lightning do that USB-C can’t?

About $60m per quarter for Apple.

 

[NickName99]

This was really, really good clickbait by MacRumors.

This is just about standardizing on a charger, rather than bundling (potentially different) chargers with every phone sold.

The EU plan: you buy a phone, continue using it with the USB-C charger and cables you already have. If you need a charger and/or cable, buy it separately. It would prevent hundreds (thousands?) of tons of waste per year. iPhones have supported USB-C PD charging since the iPhone 8, this isn’t a big deal for Apple in the near future.

The trick will be in moving to faster/better charging standards as they become available, as Apple has pointed out. Even just research into better charging tech will likely be hit pretty hard by this legislation.

 

[cicton]

I too want USB C to be introduced to the iPhone lineup, but what happens when something better comes along and companies are unable to switch because other companies want to stick with type C? it's not like Apple or any company is shipping their products without a charging block or cable.

 

[Ken Linger]

Somebody tell the EU to fix their sockets in all member countries then start giving lessons

This, by far, is the best response yet. If it were truly about convenience and simplicity, this would be a higher priority.

 

[H2SO4]

Wear out? The cord maybe, but the port on the phone is almost unbreakable.
People I found having issues with it, was because lint from their pockets got inside the port. I removed it using a toothpick and it was like new.

Nope. The port gets loose. Definitely not lint. Looked at that when I kept getting those “trust this computer” messages over and over. You might notice that one of the end contacts gets tarnished over time.

 

[Neepman]

These are the types of things that are why Brexit passed.

 

[Stromos]

I'd have no issues with an iPhone without wires. We cope just fine without it on the Apple Watch.

Edit - forgot to add that security should also be much stronger if there is no port to plug into and brute force passwords. I'm 100% for a fully wireless future.

I'm guessing you are not a long time Apple user. I guarantee you will have botched iOS update at some point. Enjoy sending your device to Apple.

 

[Neepman]

God people are fools. I wonder how many of those EU puppet states are running their local governments under 50 year old operating systems. Locking in one standard and that is exactly what you get. An Innovation and progress death knell.

[automerge]1580502537[/automerge]

This is an important concern, and it was brought up in the resolution:

“5. Points out that the Commission, without hampering innovation, should ensure that the legislative framework for a common charger will be scrutinised regularly in order to take into account technical progress; reiterates the importance of research and innovation in this domain to improve existing technologies and come up with new ones”

JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on a common charger for mobile radio equipment | RC-B9-0070/2020 | European Parliament

JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION pursuant to Rule 132(2) and (4) of the Rules of Procedure replacing the following motions: B9-0070/2020 (PPE) B9-0072/2020 (S&D) B9-0074/2020 (Verts/ALE) B9-0075/2020 (Renew) B9-0076/2020 (GUE/NGL) B9-0085/2020 (ECR) on a common charger for mobile radio equipment...

www.europarl.europa.eu

Right and then you will see a few year fight over EU adaption.

 

[Stromos]

You'll still have a port for servicing unresponsive units. Even the iWatch has a diagnostics port.

As for wireless charging itself, that is a misnomer. The wireless charger itself requires a wire. You think these legislators won't seek to standardize the wireless chargers too?

Standardization doesn't necessarily stifle innovation. There are all sorts of standards defining digital products and the internet. The standards aren't static. They are ever evolving. Even Apple, in a related article, wants to standardize SMS two-factor authorization.

This. All you are doing is giving Apple a reason to have to take your phone to be serviced as soon as you have a botched iOS update. Been on iOS since 2008 and it doesn't happen often but it happens. They will gladly take your phone for a week and charge you for doing so.

 

[Piggie]

What a bad idea. So we'll never get a charging solution better than USB-C now. Politicians shouldn't get involved in technology, especially when they don't understand it.

Just because USB 1 was a official standard, does not mean USB 2 and USB 3 can't come along as future standards in time.

 

[Analog Kid]

A few things to unpick there
Politicians aren't getting involved with technology, they are just mandating that standards are in place. It is up to the standards bodies/consortiums that will define the standard.
As for not getting better solutions that USB-C, I couldn't imagine needing a connector smaller than usb-c.
But in any case, you won't be stuck with USB-C just as we haven't been stuck with the variations of USB or HDMI or any other standard. There are mobile standards that from 2G and what ever went before it to 3g, 4g 5g, standards evolve over time. What we don't want is 50 different mobile connectors and charging bricks which in no way impedes a company. Take PD, which uses handshaking over different voltages and currents that vary with what each device needs.

If you take a look at the prices for different cables, we see that Apple Certified cables cost a lot more than USB ones even though Lightning has been out for a long time.

Committees and consortiums are politicians.

Bill Gates couldn’t imagine needing more than 640k of RAM.

Changing from lightning to USB-C will cost me more than just sticking with what I have.

Specifying the brick and the port is even dumber than specifying the port alone...

We haven’t been stuck with variants if USB or HDMI because companies are free to innovate and don’t need 27 countries to agree it’s ok to update the standard.


Banning lead? Sure, that’s a good use of government regulation. Connectors on phones? Let the free market do its job.

Imagine being able to charge your phone with the same charger as your MacBook and iPad.
USB-C iPhone, yes please.

Why stop at only one or two orders of magnitude? They should require your Tesla use the same port.

 

[M.PaulCezanne]

Apple is obviously correct that regulators probably shouldn’t mandate these protocols, but that doesn’t let Apple off the hook as Lightning is certainly not innovative anymore.

 

[I7guy]

Apple is obviously correct that regulators probably shouldn’t mandate these protocols, but that doesn’t let Apple off the hook as Lightning is certainly not innovative anymore.

Doesn’t have to be innovative, has to be functional.

 

[Justanotherfanboy]

Just because USB 1 was a official standard, does not mean USB 2 and USB 3 can't come along as future standards in time.

You’re missing the point.
If it were ILLEGAL to use USB 2 or 3, and by law you had to use USB 1.... obviously 2 & 3 would never have come to pass.

THAT is the point. (& the difference)

 

[Mike-G]

If it was that dominant it would rule the world. It's not.

Another example of the uk plug superiority. The live wire is shortest and the earth wire is the longest. Meaning that in the unlikely event (because it is secured very well) the cable is ripped out of the plug, the live disconnects first and the earth disconnects last. And they are all fused.

Changing a plug and outlet standard for an entire country, let alone the world is an unrealistic task. Every building and every appliance would have to be changed.