EU Moves One Step Closer to Mandating Apple to Switch iPhone, iPad, and AirPods to USB-C

[TracerAnalog]

Do you claim there is no competition in the aviation and automotive industries?

Those are two industries locked down extremely heavily with standards and regulations. Both are extremely competitive.

Funny. I work in aviation and particularly in innovation. And progress is actually (and thankfully) slow!!! But this has more to do with regulation about safety management (which is a very good thing!), the low profit margins in the industry (making developing new tech very expensive), the lifespan of airframes, etc. and less with standardizations by governments. How many aircraft manufacturers are there? Primarily two: Boeing and Airbus, both subsidized…

 

[akempf]

When governments do things like that, we are stuck with weird things like 314V systems not the opposite. I can 100% guarantee that what appears good, useful, or best now will not be in 10 years.

Well, USB-C is not exactly untested... It has been around for almost as long as Lightning, has been standardized by a large industry consortium, and has been embraced by all other smart-phone manufacturers and is used by all (including Apple) makers of notebooks and tablets - and all sorts of periphery and non-periphery (devices just using USB-C for charging because people have chargers).

Yes, it may well be obsolete in ten years time - in which case it will be succeeded by a new standard - perhaps backwards-compatible with USB-C. But it might also be sufficient - like wall power outlets have been for many decades.

 

[I7guy]

More like,
EU: "Time for everyone to use USB-C"
Apple: *releases port-less iPhone.
EU: Okay, I am fining you 10% of your worldwide revenue
Apple: So, what?
EU: No problem, I am now fining you 20% of your worldwide revenue
Apple: Ok, Ok, I get it. Puts USB-Cs on all products.
Apple Fans: USB-C is the best port in the world /s

Something along these lines:
EU: “Time for everyone to use USB-C”
Apple: “Yes sir Mr. EU we are releasing them. Please note the rest of the world is getting a combo lightning and USB-D. You guys will get the lowest common denominator in tech forevermore.

 

[sracer]

Apple "courageously" removes a standard port : cheers
Apple introducing a new and proprietary port : cheers
Apple refusing to switch over to a standard port (that Apple themselves were involved in developing) : cheers

I'm getting the impression that people simply like to cheer Apple. 🤔😳😂

 

[diego.caraballo]

Finally I will be able to watch movies on my iPhone.

 

[Sophisticatednut]

You've got to remember that non-tech people don't think like us. 99% of people will be furious when Apple switches the iPhone to USB-C because now all of their accessories and 800 lightning cables they have accumulated will all be worthless. And the EU claims this will REDUCE ewaste??? It's creating tons of it!

Imagine my shock, the moment apple releases a usb c iPhone and my old iPhone will just vanish up in smoke making it useless. You’re literally making **** up.

Honestly, I think it's a moronic directive. Yes, USB offers some advantages, but I can safely say that Lightning is a much more robust port design in my experience than USB-C.

I would be all for USB-C if they only made it more resilient. It always floors me just how physically weak USB designs often are. It'd also help if they actually policed cable and charger quality.


Lightning already supports USB 3 speeds in some devices.

Only one apple product supports USB 3. And that’s iPad Pro from 2015 I think. And ask yourself why apple opted with usb c. Nothing stops apple from having a more robust usb c port.

 

[Jimmy_Banks]

Funny. I work in aviation and particularly in innovation. And progress is actually (and thankfully) slow!!! But this has more to do with regulation about safety management (which is a very good thing!), the low profit margins in the industry (making developing new tech very expensive), the lifespan of airframes, etc. and less with standardizations by governments. How many aircraft manufacturers are there? Primarily two: Boeing and Airbus, both subsidized…

Claims to work in aviation and can only think of two aviation companies that manufacture aircraft, somehow ignores:

• Lockheed Martin
• Textron/Bell
• Bombardier
• Embraer

Also conveniently ignores the aviation companies involved in component design and innovation, such as

• GE
• Rolls-Royce
• Northrop
• General Dynamics

etc.

Aviation is extremely competitive. Standards and regulation have not prevented it from being competitive.

 

[akempf]

An adapter? More waste!
Added connectivity to screens? Apple already makes a dongle for that

quote: "more waste" ;-)

, plus wireless/AirPlay solutions. We don't need to regulate a different port for that.

...yes, you could always carry an Apple TV (or air play device) + a charger + charger cable + Apple-TV power cable with you instead of just plugging the device into the USB-C screen connector (like one does with iPads, macBooks, ...) -- no need to standardize the interface (connector)... ;-)

More access to chargers when I'm desperately out of iPhone battery somewhere outside my home/car/office? Dude it's 2022, if I find myself in that situation, the person/place that helps me out is more likely to have a Lightning cable and/or Qi vs. USB-C.

That's not 2022 what you're referring to, I'm afraid - it rather sounds like 2017... ;-)

 

[dbwie]

I get tired of the mixed messages from bodies trying to regulate the tech industry. On one hand, consumers need more choices, and on another hand, they need more uniformity (the ports).

 

[BeatCrazy]

Imagine my shock, the moment apple releases a usb c iPhone and my old iPhone will just vanish up in smoke making it useless. You’re literally making **** up.

Only one apple product supports USB 3. And that’s iPad Pro from 2015 I think. And ask yourself why apple opted with usb c. Nothing stops apple from having a more robust usb c port.

People aren't clamoring for their phones to support USB 3.0 speeds. We have AirDrop and cloud for that. USB-C is relevant on iPads/Macs because that's a tool used for manipulating/creating media and content in a way where data transfer speed and external accessory throughput is important.

No one needs a USB-C hub for their iPhone.

 

[norbinhouston]

So because new, superior tech will inevitably emerge we’re just supposed to let businesses do proprietary in whatever direction they choose for something as arbitrary as charging and data transfer?

Yes, power input and data transfer speeds will increase in the future. That’s inevitable.

But this isn’t rocket ships or nuclear reactors the EU is trying to regulate here. It’s charging ports and cables, nothing else. It’s plain old plastic and rubber insulation and copper wire paired with transistors and chips for getting electricity and data transferred to your phone.

If Apple can give you the exact same charging experience on iPads Pro as on iPhones but higher data transfer than Lightning then surely they can do the exact same thing on iPhones. What would get in the way for this or make it bad on iPhones?

Why not look at the upside -If anyone can take USB-C and make it even better than the competition and Lightning then it’s Apple.

This regulation cannot happen too fast. I’d want it from tomorrow if it were possible.

Nothing has ever been more common sense.

Is the lighting connection holding back the iPhone experience in anyway? I think you've been brainwashed by the media.

 

[akempf]

Something along these lines:
EU: “Time for everyone to use USB-C”
Apple: “Yes sir Mr. EU we are releasing them. Please note the rest of the world is getting a combo lightning and USB-D. You guys will get the lowest common denominator in tech forevermore.

Is there anything that Lightning can do which USB-C cannot? (USB-C provides more power, faster data-transfer, connectivity to more devices.) How can that be the "lowest common denominator"?
In fact, Apple is finally forced to provide it's customers with a state of the art connector!

 

[bcortens]

People aren't clamoring for their phones to support USB 3.0 speeds. We have AirDrop and cloud for that. USB-C is relevant on iPads/Macs because that's a tool used for manipulating/creating media and content in a way where data transfer speed and external accessory throughput is important.

No one needs a USB-C hub for their iPhone.

If we don't need the new tech, capabilities, or speed offered by a robust USB-C port then the innovation argument falls apart.

 

[BeatCrazy]

quote: "more waste" ;-)

...yes, you could always carry an Apple TV (or air play device) + a charger + charger cable + Apple-TV power cable with you instead of just plugging the device into the USB-C screen connector (like one does with iPads, macBooks, ...) -- no need to standardize the interface (connector)... ;-)

That's not 2022 what you're referring to, I'm afraid - it rather sounds like 2017... ;-)

USB-C only supports video if the device itself supports DisplayPort over Alt mode.

Just the connector/cable itself doesn't give you that functionality. So the EU is not magically coming to save us from having to cary less adapters, if we want to watch video from our phones to some other device.

 

[BeatCrazy]

If we don't need the new tech, capabilities, or speed offered by a robust USB-C port then the innovation argument falls apart.

USB-C is not the only vehicle to provide "new tech, capabilities, or speed".

 

[Ignacio Russo]

"Take the USB-C software you already have in iOS/iPadOS and that you've already enabled in iPads, and also enable it in the iPhone, then switch the iPhone port from Lightning to USB-C"

Was that supposed to be hard?

Not hard. The only problem I foresee is the different chargers and load ranges for USB-C from 96W to 10W? I foresee several issues https://www.howtogeek.com/240777/wa...b-type-c-cable-that-wont-damage-your-devices/

 

[hcherry]

But yes I’m waiting to buy a new iPhone and toss all my lightning cables in the trash considering 99% of my things have USB C port.
Headphones, Xbox controller, camera, mouse, iPad Pro, Apple Watch, charging bricks.

Only my iPhone that needs to be changed

Hmm…

• Advocates for a policy whose stated goal is to reduce waste
• Excited for policy to take effect so they can throw away cables that worked perfectly well

?

 

[bcortens]

USB-C is not the only vehicle to provide "new tech, capabilities, or speed".

So? Apple has done almost nothing with Lightning in 10 years, they upped its speed to 10 Gbps in some devices, yay. The innovation argument would be more compelling if Apple actually used their control over the port to innovate. But really we don't care about innovation in ports and don't actually want changing ports every year or two. We want a consistent standard with data, power, and video, that's what we use ports on phones for right now. Could apple come up with something new?
Requiring a common wireless standard (3G,LTE,5G) hasn't stifled wireless innovation, why should a common port standard stifle it?

 

[bluespark]

while I totally do not like that politicians make these kind of mandates - Apple and all the others had plenty time to move towards USB-C across the board rather than continuing with proprietary crap.
For us consumers, it's a good thing.
Going "portliest" esp wireless charging, while convenient, it's counter environmentally friendly, wireless charging is just so inefficient

This is pretty much my view as well. Governments are typically not in the best position to make decisions like this unless a common standard is genuinely necessary, and I don't think one is necessary here. However, I do think USB-C is better and that Apple should have done this on its own. I'll therefore happily accept the result.

I also agree with you on the environmental cost of wireless charging. It makes sense as an option, but it shouldn't be the only charging option.

 

[PlasmStudios]

By the time this actually comes to fruition, and Apple has to implement it, they'll be ready to go port less. I imagine they'll just remove the port entirely.

 

[EugW]

Only one apple product supports USB 3. And that’s iPad Pro from 2015 I think. And ask yourself why apple opted with usb c. Nothing stops apple from having a more robust usb c port.

That is incorrect. The the 2017 iPad Pros also support USB 3 speeds.

As for the robustness of the ports, my MacBook already has a loose USB-C port.

Anyhow, I agree USB-C has some advantages but forcing manufacturers to standardize on it seems wrongheaded. Basically regulators are wasting tax dollars on pointless exercises so that they can claim they are actually doing something.

 

[quietstormSD]

I would so love it when Apple finally ditches lightning for USB-C. I really don't know the benefits of lightning over USB-C, other than having it increases Apple's revenue.

If something is better, sure have that. But if it's not, then why stick with it?

 

[falkon-engine]

So how often does you iPad Pro or MBP flop around your car with USB-C. I guess never, same as mine.

But my phone daily. I can't afford to purchase a car that has wireless AirPlay.

So many people disregard real world use cases, those use cases are probably closer to the norm than exception as well.

What point are you trying to make? My car only has usb-a charging ports, but an usb-a to usb-c cable works just fine for android and would do the same for an iPhone if it supported usb-c.

The bigger problem for me is I have a usb-c charger with 100W of charging. It has usbpd3.0 as well as PPS for super fast charging Samsung android phones. I can charge every mobile device in my house with that charger and a usb-c to usb-c cable with no problems and at full speed. With the lone exception being my iPhone.

I need to remember to travel with a separate lightning cable everytime I travel. And Apple’s lightning cables are garbage. They fray and break easily. My 6 foot long thunderbolt cable has been used for charging, displayport, pcie tunneling, and more for years, and it has never frayed nor broken in all that time. But my Apple lightning cables keep breaking after extended use. Usb-c is a better solution in my lived experience. I’m over lightning. In fact I no longer use lightning anymore. I use MagSafe charging. And guess what… the Apple MagSafe charger uses USB-c, not lightning. Lightning is outdated and it is time for apple to move on.

And if usb-c was so bad why’d apple implement it on nearly every modern iPad that it offers ? Every MacBook. Every MagSafe charging cable.

Usb-c works well supports up to 240W. It is a good solution for the mobile devices we use today.

 

[akempf]

I get tired of the mixed messages from bodies trying to regulate the tech industry. On one hand, consumers need more choices, and on another hand, they need more uniformity (the ports).

It's not a mixed message - it's actually most consistent:
a) Interfaces must be standardized so that b) consumers can have a choice.
(A choice on either side of the interface, i.e. a choice of phone, on side A, and a choice of periphery side B - i.e. screens, chargers, headphones, storage, health devices, ...)

Without a standardized interface, consumers are usually stuck to one vendor. And without standardization, innovators cannot invest in product development, as their fancy new (periphery) device might become obsolete (due to a changing interface) before the new product has been sold sufficiently.
So, standardization of INTERFACES (e.g. connectors) enables free markets and free choice on both sides of the interface.

 

[CoolSpot]

Apple had two options, chose poorly and now has to suffer the consequences.

If Apple really thought that Lightning was going to be better than USB-C, then they should have been more aggressive in getting other companies to adopt it and make it the standard. Don't charge a royalty for certified cables, don't be greedy with it, just push it so that Samsung and everyone else wants to use the "better" connector. Lighting is miles better than MicroUSB and would have given Apple a very strong case to make to other manufacturers.

They didn't do that, consumers suffer, and now the EU is stepping in and telling them to play nice with everyone else. Maybe USB-C is the sub-optimal connector, but having 100% interconnectivity between USB devices and cables and chargers outweighs whatever minor benefits (like the detent lock or thinner connector) there were for the proprietary connectors.

Lastly, its really ****ing lame for people to feel like they need to have a stake in lightning cables and connectors on Apple's behalf. Apple is not using lightning for your benefit or resisting because they secretly have some super-duper uber connector that will render everything else obsolete. They use lightning because they collect cable royalties and having a large collection of lightning cables is a bit of friction if you ever decided to go outside the Apple ecosystem.