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

[dilbert99]

The fact that you're a developer is 100% irrelevant to the topic at hand. This is about something that's good for the consumers, not the developers. Wireless really is a great thing for consumers!

apart from the efficiency for a lot of wireless chargers, that could do with some regulation/research... (not that it is easy to make wireless charging as efficient as wired chargers at these sort of power ranges for mobile devices)
Heat is also currently an issue for your device when charged wirelessly.

 

[andy89]

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.

Do you seriously think these standards are going to last /forever/?

 

[4356870]

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

save some costs on apple side

 

[Colin Dawson]

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.

 

[recoil80]

I agree on the premise we need to reduce waste, but if that's the goal I think there is a simpler law they can pass: no more cables and wall plugs bundled with a smartphone.
This way Apple, and other companies, will gradually move to USB-C as it will be convenient for their customers, but in the meantime old cables and plugs will still be useful. I have plenty of Lighting cables, so I don't need a new one when I buy an Apple product. Once they move iPhone to USB-C I'll buy a new cable, or use one that I already have for my Mac or iPad Pro.
Speaking of which, no more earphones in the bundle. It is a waste, I'd rather have a discount or a coupon to buy other accessories.

 

[fokmik]

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

 

[Pupi]

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

It's thinner.

And more robust since no breakable tab inside the female plug.

I do still prefer the single-standard USB-C advantages though.

 

[Murkrage]

apart from the efficiency for a lot of wireless chargers, that could do with some regulation/research... (not that it is easy to make wireless charging as efficient as wired chargers at these sort of power ranges for mobile devices)
Heat is also currently an issue for your device when charged wirelessly.

Oh absolutely! It could definitely do with some regulation. The ease-of-use however is phenomenal. I have a couple of chargers scattered around. Put the phone down in that spot in my office? It's charging. At home while I'm in my home office? It's charging. I rarely, if ever, plug in the cable and I've been a fan of it ever since it was possible.

It's not that it's hard to plug in a cable, but picking up the phone and quickly walking somewhere is much easier now. Which is a plus in my book.

 

[Pupi]

It's funny how USB-C uses the old Mac Mini power connector design. You can tell Apple basically designed the whole thing.

 

[nStyle]

I think this is pretty stupid personally. Apple is not going to go from Lightning to something else other than USB-C and we’ve had Lightning for many years...

This is something the market can and should and will work out on its own.

I could understand if lightning cables were twice the cost of USB-C ones but they’re really not.

That said, I also think it’s weird the iPhone isn’t already USB-C.

 

[Scottsoapbox]

This is a common charger!
NOT a common charger cable!

I.E., Apple already does this with a lightning to USB-C cable.

 

[foobarbaz]

I agree on the premise we need to reduce waste, but if that's the goal I think there is a simpler law they can pass: no more cables and wall plugs bundled with a smartphone.

Absolutely! What good is a common standard if every device still comes with a charger? We'll just start throwing away compatible chargers instead of incompatible chargers.

Also, every charger is already compatible with each other. The cables are detachable, after all. And cables wear out way faster than charging standards. It would be more effective to require a 5 year minimum warranty on cables.

 

[Chris5488]

Apple states this transition would cause more waste, due to throwing away all older connectors and chargers. However Apple was already king in inventing new connectors and offering tons of adaptors just to make things work the way THEY want it to be... Even all new Macbooks are only offered with USB-C, while the good old HDMI and USB-ports were discarded without specific need or law. What about old Magsafe? What about my keyboard and mouse using USB? What about connecting an iPhone to your Macbook? Hypocriticism at it's best.

Why fight USB-C when you already implemented it on your Macbooks and iPads as only port?
Because Apple wants to sell adaptors and wants to license iPhone accessories to work exclusively and keep more people attached to the iPhone. Money is always the reason.

In the end: phones are connected wirelessly to everything and will be charged wirelessly. Especially a premium brand and company like Apple wants to make this transition as well.

 

[foobarbaz]

This is a common charger!

This is NOT a common charger cable!

I.E., Apple already does this with a lightning to USB-C cable.

Nope. (They apparently haven't realized cables are detachable yet.)

Otherwise the proposal would be USB-A and USB-C. Lighting and Micro-USB don't make sense on the charger side.
And Apple wouldn't care instead of protesting.

 

[Appleman3546]

There were already rumors that Apple was going to not include a charging port in their future iPhones, this may have been the final straw for the research and development team at Apple. Time for Apple to do back charging only and wireless data transfer...a temporary solution is to just offer a dongle with their same lightening chargers

 

[JokerPower]

I agree about this. Instead of simplifying peoples life, Apple is still sticking with Lightning.. And the most weird thing is when you need to connect your iPhone to the Mac, which is USB-C..

 

[Kabeyun]

I see how this could potentially stifle innovation, but I’m not sure I see Apple’s argument that it would dramatically increase waste.

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

1. We already have iPhones that don’t need charging wires.
2. This EU decision is about choosing a charging wire. What’s your point?

Great news! Finally Apple will be forced to do something it should’ve done 3 years ago.

Aren’t they already moving towards USB-C? Maybe not completely enough yet, but it’s happening without the EU butting in.

As for not getting better solutions that USB-C, I couldn't imagine needing a connector smaller than usb-c.

Once, people couldn’t’ve have imagined all of Mozart’s works stored on a rectangle the size of a fingernail. It’s not about what you can imagine today.

Apple is still sticking with Lightning.

MacBooks and iPads are now moving to USB-C, and I’m betting iPhones are already planned to.

 

[bookofxero]

You should not think that just because it works for you it works for everyone. I have a lot more data to handle on my phone than on my watch, and I prefer the massively superior security of a locally encrypted full backup over the alternative wireless options.

Firstly, wireless options are significantly less efficient at charging than wired options.

Second, they are less convenient. While you can use your device while it is charging wirelessly, you are limited in how you can use it compared to when you are using a cable. You also get fewer options for protective cases to maintain compatibility.

Lastly, the security point is questionable at best. As I mentioned before, I only use encrypted local backups. Not only are they more secure, but they are more complete. Even if they allowed wireless complete backups, it is much easier to snoop and save wirelessly transmitted packets to attempt to brute force offline than it is to intercept a wired connection. It is also much easier to spoof a "trusted" access point. It is silly to believe that there are not exploits that can easily siphon your data without a wired connection - just ask Jeff Bezos.

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.

 

[loekf]

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

Well, we got rid of the UK from today, so we're only left with:

Plug & socket types

www.worldstandards.eu

I think the main problem now are the Italians with their 3-pin connectors in old homes.

 

[Morgenland]

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.

Because they don't understand, they tried going into politics. And therefore they cannot independently decide which of their technical advisor crew is a useful character. It'a a dilemma!
[automerge]1580470191[/automerge]

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

Smaller footprint. The iPhone is designed on a µm scale, not millimetres!

 

[RedWeasel]

One of the reasons why I'm happy for the UK to have left this ****-club of dumb bureaucrats.

 

[bookofxero]

He is also a consumer, as are all developers. They need the devices for various purposes, professional and personal.

Hundreds of hours of his life are absolutely relevant to the argument. I have personally saved countless hours using full local backups over iCloud and I am not a developer.

I admit I have not looked into it - could you point me to whitepapers showing that wireless charging will ever be as efficient as wired charging? Does iTunes allow full, encrypted local backups through wi-fi sync? What security is there to prevent packets from being sniffed off the network Or over the air when connected wirelessly?

Just because they do not fit - and even sometimes contradict - your point does not negate their relevance, nor does labeling them irrelevant to avoid discussion or debate make it actually so.

The fact that you're a developer is 100% irrelevant to the topic at hand. This is about something that's good for the consumers, not the developers. Wireless really is a great thing for consumers!

 

[RedWeasel]

Politicians shouldn't get involved in technology, especially when they don't understand it.

Which is pretty much always. Because otherwise they would do something useful with their lifes and not be politicians.

 

[Morgenland]

My only explanation why the British government is pulling 40% of its population out of the EU against their will is probably their penchant for old-fashioned plugs. These dinosaurs might have been the next to be eliminated.

AC power plugs and sockets - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

In politics, it is usually easier to reach agreement on small things (USB/Lightning), but rarely where it would really make sense.

 

[itsmilo]

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

it’s redic that it wasn’t the case since they announced the first MacBook with usb-c

One of the reasons why I'm happy for the UK to have left this ****-club of dumb bureaucrats.

Your country has the biggest and most redic sockets in the entire world and you are complaining about a standardized charging cable lol