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Not to mention that syncing a half terabyte of content will take freakin forever...if it even works at all.
From what I have read so far, and I could well be wrong, this is a charging connection issue. Which would not appear to rule out the possibility of a phone with wireless charging but having a Lightning (or any other design) connection for data transfer ONLY.
 
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What would be hilarious is if Apple said ok, we won’t sell in EU. How long till the consumers forced a reversal of the policy?

While many would say Apple would never abandon the EU revenue stream, I also wonder whether Apple might do just this so as to avoid setting precedent of Apple allowing government entities to dictate device design choices.

Should such a requirement occur, the response will be interesting to observe.
 
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This is exactly the type of **** the EU is hated for by many (not by most, I know).

I actually think USB-C >>> Lightning and hate Apple doesn't bother unifying their charging cable standards. But this is Apple's ****up to sort out. It does not belong to the EU. What's next? They require black phones instead of 'space' grey?
Pathetic
If that’s how we finally get a black iPhone again I’m all for it! Someone has to save us from Apple’s team of Barbie world designers!!
 
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I sense sarcasm, but I'll say this anyway: the Lightning connector paved the way for USB-C to offer a better user experience (over micro/mini-USB), but failed to become the universal standard it could have been because Apple cannot and doesn't want to play nice with others.

On the flip side, USB-C is sturdier than Lightning, so there's at least an advantage to it.
I disagree the lightning is a better experience. Plugging it in is overall completely better. They are both sturdy connectors and both have weak spots. Lightning is also a smaller connector and has a smaller internal connection. Lightning is easier to connect when the connect and the device approach each other at a slight angle. USB-C has to plug in straight with very little leeway.
 
I agree Apple needs to get with the times, but if something better comes out, I hope the law doesn't prohibit devices from using it eventually. I'd rather them just remove the ports altogether. Wireless charging is where it's at now.
 
Well, from a charging perspective already USB-C allows 100 watt power output.. Seems more than enough from a charging point of view..

That's why the EU is going for this 'proposal' yet it's dumb. The issue is lightning existed in Apple's ecocosystem by 2yrs predating USB-C and think about the issues with the power and speeds - this does not make it a working solution>

USB-C 3.1 / 3.2 / Thunderbolt 3 / Thunderbolt 4 / USB-C 4.
Too many variables with cables, cable length devices that support which/this/that ... its a complete MESS.

Now let's make it a standard and drum up "Environmental benefits, reduced waste, convenience, and $293 million in annual savings for users are said to be among the advantages of the new directive."

Now Apple will change the cables for AirPods, iPhones and guess what will happen to the 100's of millions of cables out there - especially with users transitioning to iPhone 13 that never had an iphone before ... next year dump all into trash and landfill. that will NOT reduce waste .. it'll ADD waste and not benefit environment.

If the EU really wants to help the Environment ...
1. set this for 2022 for Apple.
2. implement or work with Apple and their citizens on disposal of lightning cables and broadcast this heavily, repeatedly through out the 3 months leading to Apple's official 2022 iPhone launch date! Impose a small fine for those that place the legacy cables in trash. Get's people thinking their actions HURT the environment and COST their city disposal more work and slows down proper disposal separation. Maybe Apple can have pre-paid envelopes to ship back for their recycling which I'm sure Apple will be happy with considering their Closed Loop recycled materials supply chain.

The last issue ... not considered is if USB-C is superceded ... then waste time/focus and tax payer dollars to make a new standard. LMAO.
 
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does this mean they can't do port less? It is more than iPhone - all electronic type devices - so we would be throwing out all the cables and charging bricks we own and buying all new. Speaking of waste.
So if Apple or someone else invents something better that USB-C they wouldn't be able to implement until the EU decides to allow it if they do - speaking of killing innovation.

It will never happen but I'd wish Apple would say fine - we will not sell devices in the EU.
 
I'm no fan of the EU, but if you left it to the corporates to sort out amongst themselves, how much do you think consumer's, environmental and other non-commercial interests would be recognised in the final outcome?
Based on history? Most of them. What corporation doesn’t care what it’s consumers think? They care desperately. They might just not care what you think.

I am not a no regulation guy but we are often talking about corporate dystopias from sci-fi instead of focusing on the real world where all dystopias come from govt and businesses do shady stuff but also often make standards, promote them, act for the common good etc.
 
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And there's an argument that it should, given the inefficiencies of wireless charging. I'd like to see how any company that goes fully wireless charging will align that with their green credentials.
While they are at it, maybe they should force them all to include a 3.5 mm jack as well. :)
 
Wouldn’t be that hard. Want to sell your products in the EU? Comply. No? Ok, you can’t sell them here, say bye to a large income source.
at some point i wish they would just tell someone no and do that. the people would still get the phones i promise
 
One thing that was mentioned elsewhere is that the USB-C cable is a female connector with the male side (the tab) being in the device. Thus, the possibility of breakage could damage the device rather than just the cable. Not sure how prevalent this is though.
It’s rare but it’s worse than that. It’s some insane fragile hybrid dreamed up by engineers. It just looks so fragile. I hate it. But in real world testing they don’t break that often.
 
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Why so authoritarian, EU? It's like you want to be up in everyone's business... let the market decide.

USB-Crybabies go home.
The market has had plenty of time to decide and it's failed. We've had decades of incompatible charging bricks sold with every kinds of device, like those crappy black things with a different jack on every single one. It's been awful for consumers and the environment, benefiting only bean-counters and Chinese factories. I'm pretty excited about the idea that maybe small-device power might be one day be standardised to the same degree as mains electricity. If that happens, the next stage would be no power bricks at all, we just plug phones and laptops directly into ubiquitous USB wall sockets.
 
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While many would say Apple would never abandon the EU revenue stream, I also wonder whether Apple might do just this so as to avoid setting precedent of Apple allowing government entities to dictate device design choices.

Should such a requirement occur, the response will be interesting to observe.
And it wasn't government entities which imposed the existing voltage/frequency and outlet design standards? Which Apple seem perfectly happy to follow. (Much as they would have found it easier to use US standard power and outlet standards on everything, everywhere.)

Therefore, there is a precedent.
 
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Apple all ready complies as it now uses Type-C connector on all of it’s products including laptops to charge, the EU states charger so technically Apple is fully compliant.

the cables going from the charger to the devices will always be needing replaced at some point so that will never change and makes no sense to force manufacturers to specify what port they use on the device itself just the charger and even then not all chargers if type-c or not can be used on any device as that requires multiple chargers to meet the power requirements of the device being charged so don’t address e-waste just simplify charging as if charger under rated for device with type-c with PD the device can charge at different rate depending on the power it receives
 
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But USB-C is here to stay and is a good standard. With USB-C I can charge at 100W, transfer data at 40Gb/s, hook up monitors, cameras and other devices and of course it is reversible. It is a great standard and one that should be the default standard. Hell, you can even connect external graphics cards over USB-C ports (Thunderbolt).

Your assumption is companies will implement all the USB-C capabilities, but that may not be the case. You could wind up with a power only USB-C implementation in some phones, some that only work with Thunderbolt cables, etc.

- Try moving a 100GB ProRes movie off your phone with Lightning / USB 2 (when it becomes available). USB C will be much faster.

That depends on what version of the spec a manufacturer implements. You could get slow or fast data speeds, with the speed dependent on the cable configuration as well so one cable won't always fit all.

The EU could be doing something about the fact that the EU hasn’t ever standardized on electrical wall outlet connectors, supply voltage or even supply frequency.

and rail gauge...

This will be absolutely horrible for innovation. One only needs to look at “modern” military systems to see how archaic the technology is. In most cases it is 20-30 years behind what is current.

Part of the reason is it is proven and it works. Modern tech is nice but it sucks to find out it is buggy when teh shooting starts...

the free market also gave us Boeing planes which were known to crash, Theranos, dumping of lead pollutants into our drinking water, etc.

we all need rules. Profit motive alone is not enough to be a decent society.

and the EU gave us Airbuses that crash, faulty breast implants, car manufacturers that cheat on emissions, etc. No way is perfect and it's hard to find the right balance...

That's why the EU is going for this 'proposal' yet it's dumb. The issue is lightning existed in Apple's ecocosystem by 2yrs predating USB-C and think about the issues with the power and speeds - this does not make it a working solution>

USB-C 3.1 / 3.2 / Thunderbolt 3 / Thunderbolt 4 / USB-C 4.
Too many variables with cables, cable length devices that support which/this/that ... its a complete MESS.

Exactly. At best USB-C is a defined set of pinouts, and which are used depends on the configuration chosen. Nothing says you can't use pins for other purposes if you do not use them in your chosen configuration. Apple could, for example, decide to use UBS 3.x and the unused TX/RX pins to handshake with the cable to verify it is certified so that non-certified cables don't work or yield a warning.

Despite the claims, this isn't one cable to rule them all.
 
- Try moving a 100GB ProRes movie off your phone with Lightning / USB 2 (when it becomes available). USB C will be much faster.

- Apple will eventually go USB c. But if it is mandated too soon, they will not be able to sell the previous generation Lightning port phones.

Just to be clear: USB-C is a connector specification, it doesn’t guarantee support for a given USB protocol underneath. I have a very old USB-C cable that only supports the USB 2.0 protocol, for example, which is functionally no different from Lightning.
 
The only good argument I've heard in favor of lightning is that it's easier to waterproof. Idk if this argument is still valid. I haven't seen any data to support the statement.

Glad to see Europe is doing something about this - a universal charging standard would be great.
 
I don't care if the iPhone ever uses USB-C instead of Lightning. But, if they do, I'd rather it be because Apple chose to.

And if they do switch the iPhone to USB-C, I hope theses products will follow:
Magic Keyboard; Magic Mouse; Magic Trackpad; Dual Dock; AirPods case; AirPods Max(Does that currently use Lightning?); etc...
 
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THis is just the excuse Apple needs to make the change globally - now they can redirect some of the hate towards the EU. Apple knows they have to move, it's just such a touchy situation asking everyone to get rid of all of their accessories.
 
• Apple releases iPhone 13 with ProRes codec video & pseudocinematic tools
• iPhone 13 releases with Lightning at USB2 transfer speeds
• There isnt even a transfer progress indicator. Is my file transferring? Who TF knows.

Hey Apple, tell us you don't believe in your own new flagship feature without telling us.
Saddest part is all these cheapo consoles now come with USB-C standard, making Apple actually seem antiquated. Apple can't be bothered to put USB-C on a $1200 phone. Nice.
 
I don't care if the iPhone ever uses USB-C instead of Lightning. But, if they do, I'd rather it be because Apple chose to.

And if they do switch the iPhone to USB-C, I hope theses products will follow:
Magic Keyboard; Magic Mouse; Magic Trackpad; Dual Dock; AirPods case; AirPods Max(Does that currently use Lightning?); etc...

Exactly when the switch happens, retire lightning forever.
 
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