You’ve never lent someone a cable? It’s not a question of someone bringing a cable for everyone, it’s nice for people to be able to say “crap, I‘m at 3% and I left my cable at home/it’s broken, do you have one on you?”. I wouldnt say it’s a primary reason to have common cables, but it’s certainly useful. I’ve had that happen with friends, with coworkers, with devices at conferences, etc. It’s not exactly crazy rare….
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EU Warns Apple About Limiting Speeds of Uncertified USB-C Cables for iPhones
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Not their resposibility if you want to buy cheap knock off. That's on you.
Okay dude. If it’s your belief that people go through cables like water and my belief they don’t it seems we have different real world observations. And sure when I travel I need a bunch of cables because I have micro usb as well as lightning. I don’t travel with usb-c cables.
Outside of tech websites..I'd say it's probably safe to assume most people don't care enough to worry about that now. Another probable swing and a miss for the "benefit" column.
If the average user actually gave a crap about that...it would change without needing this regulation. There comes a point where the customer noise gets so loud that a business can't ignore it if they want to be/remain successful. Clearly the customer noise isn't loud enough here, which would suggest it's not really a pressing issue that people want "fixed". What the people WILL see though...is in a few months when NONE of the old cables they've stocked up on work with their new phone and now they have a bunch of useless cords that are going to go straight into the garbage because the average customer is probably not going to take the effort to send the old ones to Apple or bring them to a store to be recycled. I have a double digit number of lightning cables in a drawer. I will send them to Apple to be recycled. Will the average user do that? Doubt it. The average person can't even be bothered to use the recycle bin that gets picked up every week. Those cords will go straight into the trash like all the recyclable paper and cardboard that they throw in there.
That’s what happens when you think politicians and lawyers know better than electrical engineers.
Yeah, politicians hate monopolies. If you don’t want to be under their rule, pay their taxes, or obey their regulations, they won’t force you — right?
The mind boggles.
Be interesting to see how this shakes out, EU is talking about a standardized connector and Apple is talking about it implementation beyond the connector.
Last year, the EU passed legislation that will require the iPhone and many other devices with wired charging to be equipped with a USB-C port in order to be sold in the region. Apple has until December 28, 2024 to adhere to the law, but the switch from Lightning to USB-C is expected to happen with iPhone 15 models later this year.
It was rumored in February that Apple may be planning to limit charging speeds and other functionality of USB-C cables that are not certified under its "Made for iPhone" program. Like the Lightning port on existing iPhones, a small chip inside the USB-C port on iPhone 15 models would confirm the authenticity of the USB-C cable connected.
"I believe Apple will optimize the fast charging performance of MFi-certified chargers for the iPhone 15," Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said in March.
In response to this rumor, European Commissioner Thierry Breton has sent Apple a letter warning the company that limiting the functionality of USB-C cables would not be permitted and would prevent iPhones from being sold in the EU when the law goes into effect, according to German newspaper Die Zeit. The letter was obtained by German press agency DPA, and the report says the EU also warned Apple during a meeting in mid-March.
Given that it has until the end of 2024 to adhere to the law, Apple could still move forward with including an authentication chip in the USB-C port on iPhone 15 models later this year. And with iPhone 16 models expected to launch in September 2024, even those devices would be on the market before the law goes into effect.
The report says the EU intends to publish a guide to ensure a "uniform interpretation" of the legislation by the third quarter of this year.
It is worth emphasizing that Apple potentially limiting the functionality of uncertified USB-C cables connected to iPhone 15 models is only a rumor for now, so it remains to be seen whether or not the company actually moves forward with the alleged plans. iPads with USB-C ports do not have an authentication chip for this purpose.
(Thanks, Manfred!)
Article Link: EU Warns Apple About Limiting Speeds of Uncertified USB-C Cables for iPhones
I worked in developer tools on compilers in the past. Most programming languages have been standardized but that is just saying what keywords there are what they should do and so on, but what they don't do is say how to implement the functions. So I think could get ugly.
Apple has been "fingerprinting" parts for ages to corral people into buying their Apple parts and accessories. I think Sun Microsystems was first company I remember fingerprinting parts then Apple copied them and more and more over time. A lot of the time the fingerprint is the only thing different nothing else which is frustrating. So outcome will affect a lot of things.
Says who?
What, you think I'm going to immediately go buy new gear to replace the perfectly good gear I already have?
I'm also not one of these "go buy new stuff just because it's newer than my current stuff" kind of guys. I've had my Sennheiser headphones since 2010. They have a microusb connector. I've got other devices, such as transmitters, receivers, battery chargers and other things with microusb connectors that I will not be replacing ANY time soon. Apple could go USB3 tomorrow and I would still need a variety of different cables for at least 10 years...which is well past my current life expectancy.
Summary: trying to solve a problem I simply don't have.
I‘ve had this at the office so many times, someone forgets their cable, asks around. Every brand uses USB-C except iPhones and then it‘s „oh sorry, I only have an iPhone cable“, or vice versa. Same as in any other public situation, or when being with friends, family, etc.
Maybe Apple should bring their own power outlets along which we could install into our walls as well. After all, they will be better.
So about three weeks ago my neighbors house caught fire from a faulty charger. Destroy a room to the point where the ceiling caved in and it caused damage throughout the house house. They had to move. If it happened this week with the high fire weather we have been having it would have probably put all house around here at risk.
I had a car charger start smoking while I was on the freeway a few years back. Burned my hand trying to disconnect the charger and get to the shoulder. It wasn't a cheap/no-name charger to any stretch of the imagination. At best I got a we'll send you another one that shouldn't happen.
Was there any news coverage about any of it?
It's a real problem that's just overlooked.
Not to mention I am not crazy about USB C in general. I know it's personal experiences but I've had a Switch go bad with the response you're at fault for using Anker instead of Nintendo. I've had ports become lose that I have to have plugged in just right to charge. Coworker lost two Chromebooks to dead USB C charging ports made by Asus and using either stock or name brand chargers. I have dropped serious money (with research) on getting good cables and chargers and I've still had issues. USB C is great standard for everyone to blame the other guy when there is a problem and the person who loses is the customer. Anker blamed Nintendo for not running proper USB C spec and Nintendo said if it's not their charger its not on them. Where is the government intervention here?
Plenty of "experts" in this thread claiming that if you have a fire/port break/bad experience it's on you. Give me a break. The majority of people on here are claiming that a good charger is dictated by spending lots of money. What reality do you all live in? Most people are technology stupid and likely think that gas station cable is no different than any other. I bet some of those cables even cost a pretty penny just because they are convenient.
I really want to know how EU warranty laws are going to work with this? Does someone just have to plug in a USB Port killer to get a new device? I am asking a real question because I honestly don't know. What determines manufacturer defect vs abuse?
People are likely used to throwing the Apple ones out at least as they are dreadful quality.
Wouldn’t it be a good idea to sell, give away or donate those cables instead? Others might exactly need those ones from your drawer…no need for them to be brand new. THIS would really reduce unnecessary use of resources, in my opinion.
It being Lightning or USB-C does not have any influence over how warranty works. These cases have happened forever and will happen forever, same as when you buy a „cheap“ Lightning cable.
The root cause for any accident is usually wear and tear, which is also applicable to your „expensive“ Apple cable. You don‘t need a PhD in anything to understand how current flows and what affects it, so don‘t try to make people believe like this is some kind of wizardry or rocket science because it sure ain‘t.
But I guess our almighty bean counters are best to judge what‘s good for us.
Seems like I throw away at least one lightning cable a month. I don't buy the cheapest cables either.
If you are lightening data, does that mean you're representing it with less bits or what?
This is just a reminder to folks to not leave equipment charging unattended next to overly flammable material.
If you're not in the room, charge your phone on your desk, not shoved between cushions of your couch, etc.
Charging batteries are always at risk of bursting into flame, even with first party chargers and cables. If you're not home at all you're best off unplugging any devices that might be charging.
Sure it would. It would also be a good idea for the frigging EU to stop being such a giant power-happy PITA. It would also be a good idea for Apple to stop being so stubborn about so much.
Lots of good ideas to go around. Unfortunately, none of them are to be found by any of the people making the big decisions!
True, and usually excluded by a warranty; although a cable should not break within a year or two.
I dout the USB-C requirement will have any impact on warranty claims.
However, there is more to it than current flows, such as wire gauge. Just because a cable is the same thickness doesn't mean it is the same gauge, and could be a much thinner wire with a thicker jacket and or no shielding.
I suspect plugs are more of a danger, since they carry higher voltages.
I still have and use my cables that came with my iPhone 5s and iPad from 2013. Apart from getting less flexible and having some attack marks from our cat, they still work fine.
My daughter however destroys a 2m cable every year. Gues it's all in how one handles and uses them.
Don't think that will stop when all cables will be USB-C type.
The thing with Google is you know what you're getting yourself in for. They take my data and give me back a lot of useful products. They also sell the best camera phones on the market for a fraction of the competition.Well, that just means they think Google is worse. It isn't like there is much consumer choice out there.
Apple are a lot sneakier than most of their customers realise. The thing that annoys me is their locking away of basic features like a telephoto camera, AOD and VRR on their most expensive models and calling these 'Pro' features when £200 Android devices have them (although obviously not at the same level)
The base iPhone deserves more and the Pro models could benefit from some actual market pushing features like Pencil support, manual camera, periscope lenses amongst others.
Say what you like about Samsung but their base S23 still includes all mod cons. The Ultra model adds new features to look better rather than starving the bottom one.
I would just drop the EU market if I were apple. Initially this would mean loss of profit but in the long run it’s only gonna be beneficial. It’s gonna become impossible to keep up with this ever growing rule making EU fetisjisme. These EU-SSR bureaucrats think the’re so damn smart. They would ruin the whole Tech industry just to satisfy their ridiculous convictions. I live in the EU and I am deeply ashamed of this ever lasting self-destruction political mentality.