What an irony: many of us who think Lightning is a better option don’t want to force anyone to use it, while the EU thinks USB-C is better and wants to force it. And we’re the arrogant ones!
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EU Moves One Step Closer to Mandating Apple to Switch iPhone, iPad, and AirPods to USB-C
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Anger is where it's at. Nothing gets people more interested in a subject than good ole fashioned emotion.
Not RS232?
Just think of all the cables that would've been saved over the last 62 years.
I’m all for one standard (USB-C), but come again in 25 years when that standard is hopelessly outdated and hobbling future tech…
It's almost like *gasp* the standard can be updated if necessary!
Thats the problem"Slow and steady", what happens when USB D comes out and is better. Now manufactures have to keep supporting an old standard, and adoption of a new tech can't happen.
Like almost everything else in your life that is dictated by government standards and regulations. The horror.
Does the EU actually do anything except for fining American companies and now they think they know how to run a company than the company does. Politics need to be kept out of companies businesses. Like here in the US I’m sure the EU has never turned a profit. Who cares about if it is 2 different ports or not. I grab the cable I need and away I go. Honestly how many people here have cables out the wazoo lightening port usb c port maybe an old 30 pin dock connectors even.
What are you talking about? Even people who only use Apple devices will already have USB-C, whether it's because of a Mac or an iPad. Not to mention all the people who use a Logitech mouse, Sony headphones or a PC... This will help us get rid of the need of maintaining a separate special "iPhone cable", hence reducing e-waste.
It's about time!
Members of the European Parliament this week voted overwhelmingly in support of legislation that will compel Apple to offer a USB-C port on all iPhones, iPads, and AirPods in Europe.
The proposal, known as a directive, will force all consumer electronics manufacturers who sell devices in Europe to ensure that all new phones, tablets, laptops, digital cameras, headphones, headsets, handheld videogame consoles, and portable speakers feature a USB-C port, regardless of the manufacturer. Exemptions will only apply for devices that are too small to offer a USB-C port, such as smart watches, health trackers, and some sports equipment. This "common port" would be a world first and impact Apple in particular since it widely uses the Lightning connector instead of USB-C on many of its devices.
The Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee voted to support the legislation on Wednesday, with 43 votes in favor and just two against. In a press release, MEPs claimed that the move will reduce electronic waste, address product sustainability, and make use of different devices more convenient.
MEPs also expressed a wish to see clear information and labelling on new devices about their charging options, as well as whether or nor a product includes a charger. They claim that this will help to avoid confusion and ease purchasing decisions for consumers that own several devices and do not always need additional chargers. Apple removed the charger from all new iPhone models starting with the iPhone 12 in 2020.
In addition, MEPs want the European Commission to present a strategy for ensuring interoperability between wireless charging solutions by 2026 to prevent fragmentation and reduce waste, ensure user convenience, and avoid consumers getting locked into proprietary charging solutions. It is not clear if this would include Apple's MagSafe charging system for the iPhone and AirPods, since it is based on the Qi wireless charging standard.
In 2018, the European Commission tried to reach a final resolution on the issue but it failed to come into law. At the time, Apple warned that forcing a common charging port on the industry would stifle innovation and create electronic waste as consumers were forced to switch to new cables. The EU's effort resumed last year, with the European Commission spearheading a refreshed version of the directive. To come into effect, the European Parliament must approve the draft legislation next month, before talking with individual EU member states about the final directive.
Article Link: EU Moves One Step Closer to Mandating Apple to Switch iPhone, iPad, and AirPods to USB-C
I'm sure that Apple will not be too happy with this once it will hit their bottom line (a USB-Lightning cable costs 25 EUR which is absolutely ridiculous!!!!) but this is great news for consumers in the EU.
It's a major pain in the butt to have to carry around a Micro-USB cable for my camera and bluetoooth speaker a USB-C cable for my Go-Pro and laptop and a lightning cable for my iphone and ipad. It's a pain in the butt and wasteful!!!
Yes, theory is always beautiful. In reality, since no one will have a significant incentive to develop a better connector, all you’ll get will be small improvements already outdated in the cutting-edge tech world.
This is the same EU that don't even use the same electric outlet plugs! The irony.
Yeah, sure, tech companies will give up on innovating because of a port. Certainly a realistic concern /s.
Lightning has served its purpose. When it arrived it was great, the old pin-connector was huge and at the time, micro-USB port wasn't great either. Basically, Lightning-port was better than the alternatives and made the user experience better.
But that's not the case today. It's only annoying and performs worse than the USB-C port. But I can also see Apple go all in on MagSafe. Only problem would be that they'd struggle to not include one with the phone, and that would hurt the profitability.
But that's not the case today. It's only annoying and performs worse than the USB-C port. But I can also see Apple go all in on MagSafe. Only problem would be that they'd struggle to not include one with the phone, and that would hurt the profitability.
Tim has never been a product guy, he was and is known as a money guy. And MFI program is the only reason why the lightning port is still alive. MFI is Apples iron grip on the iPhone. But those times are over. Ive already left the company, Tim, Phil, Scott and all the old guys should follow him.
Apple needs fresh people and fresh ideas. Trying to stick to Apple tax and MFI won‘t work. Lightning will die, wallet garden and Apples holy cow IAP will fail too. Over and out - yes this will take 2 or 3 years. But this business model reached EOL.
you have to move with the times or the times move you …
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Freedom of choice (in technology) requires standardization. With USB-C, I can choose between thousands of displays, chargers, mass storage solutions, projectors, power banks, audio systems, networking technology, ...
If the market cannot achieve the standardization, regulation is required - to finally enable the freedom of choice and to enable innovative developments.
Remember the early days of engineering - when every single screw, nut and bolt was custom made? And once they were mass produced, nuts from manufacturer A were still not compatible with screws from manufacturer B? Or the pain today when trying to find a metric or an inch Allen key (whatever you don't have in your toolbox)?
But after the EU required MicroUSB (just for charging - at a time when phones required nothing else), this standard took off: suddenly, everybody had a charger, creating new types of devices or making existing types convenient to use or cheaper to purchase: Rechargeable bicycle lights, headphones, torches, car navigation systems, portable devices, reading lights, clocks, safety lights, ... Effectively, the standardization created the market for devices that would have been too cumbersome (and too expensive!) when each one required it's own, specific charger. But regulation made the market.
Now, we have seen no significant evolution in devices since the introduction of the iPhone - and we know that USB-C will be sufficient for Power and Data for some time to come. So, it's time for regulation - to support consumer choice, convenience and to avoid waste (chargers).
If, however, there will ever be another ground-braking category of personal devices (like the original iPhone was), which cannot use USB-C for some unforeseeable reason, then this unheard of class of device will be hardly affected by this mentioned EU regulation.
So, no government overreach - just good governance.
And just what Apple needs to finally transition its remaining Lightning devices to USB-C without upsetting its customers. (iPads and Notebooks did this transition a while ago already).
If the EU decides that charging and data transfer is similar to wireless technology then the new revolutionary tech would need (like 3G, LYE, and 5G) to be standardized and the patents would be required to be offered in FRAND terms.
Fragmentation used to be Android's problem now its Apple's. Tim Crook's Apple.