There was no reason imo to switch to USB-c. If a person wanted it they could buy devices that had it.
But ok, the EU mandated it, fine. And now billions of lightning cables will ultimately become e-waste.
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EU Warns Apple About Limiting Speeds of Uncertified USB-C Cables for iPhones
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But ok, the EU mandated it, fine. And now billions of lightning cables will ultimately become e-waste.
This is NOT a problem when a 5 min charge gets you days of work and an overnight charge gets you over a month. Seriously, as the previous poster commented: plug it in before next bathroom break and carry on.
The placement of the port is really silly, I totally agree, but IMO it is nowhere near the problem people make it out to be.
That's what always happens with ancient technology.
You can't make that argument with a straight face when Apple glue their products together and oppose the right to repair as much as they possibly can.
I would guess that the rumor is partially true, but interpreted incorrectly.
I see a big hurdle in the fact that CarPlay generally relies on MFi, and if they switch from authenticated cables to non, you would lose CarPlay if you bought a new phone with an older car. So my guess is that they have USB-C cables with MFi that allow for backwards compatibility with existing systems. CarPlay would not be the only one, but it is probably by far the most prominent.
Framing is everything here.
You can say, "Apple is making special USB-C cables with MFi to ensure compatibility with existing 3rd party MFi systems"
OR you can say, "Apple is artificially limiting certain functionality over USB-C cables"
Both are "correct", but the second one is missing the point. The first is correctly including the context that prior systems will expect MFi authentication, and are not designed to work without it, while the second excludes that important context.
It could be that apple is intentionally excluding an embedded MFi authentication in its USB-C implementation, but there could be engineering reasons why doing so might compromise non-MFI connections.
I used to have access to many of the MFi docs, and always hoped to see something about MFi over USB-C, but never did.
Imagine, the EU forces apples hand and from 2023 on, you simply can't buy a new iPhone without buying a new car if you want CarPlay because for most new cars, aftermarket head units are no longer a reasonable option.
I see a big hurdle in the fact that CarPlay generally relies on MFi, and if they switch from authenticated cables to non, you would lose CarPlay if you bought a new phone with an older car. So my guess is that they have USB-C cables with MFi that allow for backwards compatibility with existing systems. CarPlay would not be the only one, but it is probably by far the most prominent.
Framing is everything here.
You can say, "Apple is making special USB-C cables with MFi to ensure compatibility with existing 3rd party MFi systems"
OR you can say, "Apple is artificially limiting certain functionality over USB-C cables"
Both are "correct", but the second one is missing the point. The first is correctly including the context that prior systems will expect MFi authentication, and are not designed to work without it, while the second excludes that important context.
It could be that apple is intentionally excluding an embedded MFi authentication in its USB-C implementation, but there could be engineering reasons why doing so might compromise non-MFI connections.
I used to have access to many of the MFi docs, and always hoped to see something about MFi over USB-C, but never did.
Imagine, the EU forces apples hand and from 2023 on, you simply can't buy a new iPhone without buying a new car if you want CarPlay because for most new cars, aftermarket head units are no longer a reasonable option.
What surprises me is not that the EU is able to enforce legislation and has some common sense by prohibiting letting any economic operator do what it wants on customers’ skin, but that in the USA they are not able to do it because ‘hey, we have lobbies!’
I believe that the USA has enough experience with the concept of the market, I would say that they are the ones with the most experience in the world, to finally be able to decide to legislate on it.
I believe that the USA has enough experience with the concept of the market, I would say that they are the ones with the most experience in the world, to finally be able to decide to legislate on it.
different use cases. iphone port's primary function is to charge the device. lightning does a good job already. same goes for magic keyboard, trackpad, airpod cases, mice, etc...
Damn, those EU bureaucrats putting an end to all the innovations Apple has made on Lightning! /s
11 years and Apple hasn't changed/improved a single thing. Too busy swimming in that MFI $$$.
Good riddance!
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This might be the only thoughtful post in the thread and that includes a bunch of mine😂
I do buy devices that have it. In fact, nearly every USB-powered product I own charges via USB-C. Except my iPhone and AirPods for some weird reason.
You make it sound like a simple this-or-that decision that people make, based solely on charging ports. People are allowed to want things to improve.
I say this as an American living in the UK. Both Europe and the US have strengths and weaknesses, but generally much of Europe is happier than the US. See
EDIT: I don't like the EU meddling with Apple products either but let us keep a sense of perspective about this.
A few years ago a researcher found a way to introduce malware through an iPhone port. I had understood that Apple then added intelligence (MFi) to their cables that prevented the problem. And perhaps MFi also protects against cables and/or ports that might overheat.
My memory is vague on this, but see the following:
A discussion of a hack to listen in to traffic on the cable:
appleinsider.com
MFi certification is now a standard that allows other vendors to produce acceptable cables. MFi specs have since evolved to add additional functionality:
en.wikipedia.org
My memory is vague on this, but see the following:
A discussion of a hack to listen in to traffic on the cable:
New malicious Lightning cable can steal user data from a mile away | AppleInsider
A new and upgraded version of a malicious Lightning cable that can steal user data and remotely send it to an attacker illustrates the threat of untrusted accessories.
MFi Program - Wikipedia
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
Ahh the good old "different use case" counter-point.
So please, AFTER Apple rolls out new iPhones with USBc, be sure to post how wrong Apple is for embracing USBc in the last of the major offerings. Because the "use case" will still be exactly the same and EU law is not global law... just as countries forcing a SIM slot in iPhone is not global law either.
Let me guess: the "use case" will evolve AFTER Apple launches iPhones with USBc so that USBc is finally fine in iPhone. Few if any will be in those post-launch threads making cases of how wrong Apple is for going USBc OUTSIDE the EU.
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Or — hear me out — entry-level iPads should use USB-C as well.
And look how bad shape America is in. I'm astonished how many chemicals (for example) are allowed in NA compared to EU where some of them are even illegal.
I take EU any day as I get better overall comfort of life. Something NA can only dream of.
I take EU any day as I get better overall comfort of life. Something NA can only dream of.
A quick read through the (US members') comments here will tell you all you need to know on the subject.
Truly depressing…
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But this does happen when older tech is replaced with new standard tech. When the headphone jack port was eliminated there wasa ton of headphone cables that were thrown out. That is a one recent example.
But stnadardizing the the port on iPhones to match the iPad and existing ports on the Macbooks will eleinimate waste in the long run IMHO. When traveling or just around th house, I can use one cable to charge all of my devices. One USB C cable for my iPhone and IPP and MBA
Oh no, won't somebody please think of American multinationals.
It's not an issue because the battery in the mouse lasts 45-60 days with daily usage. Plug it in overnight one day a month and you never need to worry about it.
So they need an Airpower mouse pad where it charges no matter where it is on the pad
The EU has the CE certification which is the validation that the product is safe to use for the consumer. In the US a consumer is expected to verify themselves whether it is safe.
If it has a CE logo but fails, the manufacturer is liable. If it is counterfeit, well it is counterfeit.