European Commission Moves Forward on Micro-USB Smartphone Charging Standard

[whatever]

I wish the EU would first standardize on electrical outlets before forcing companies to standardize on power adopters.

If I recall correctly the U.K., Italy, Switzerland and Denmark all have different outlets.

 

[mister.kevin]

This legislation is typical of the EU wanting to be seen to be doing something while actually just interfering where it is not needed.

The 30 pin connector is not only functional, but elegant, and has become accepted and used by many manufacturers. Just look at how many items have "iPod ready" as part of their marketing. As already explained the connector is capable of more than just power and data transfer, thus allowing direct control from external devices. My surround sound system has an iPod dock that allows you to playback video and audio. USB is not capable of this as easily.

The current method of having a USB connector at the wall wart end of the cable works well for other manufacturers too, I have seen Blackberry and HTC chargers that work the same way as Apple's. You can even plug your iProduct's sync cable into their USB outlets and charge from there. I still use an old HTC wall wart as a backup iPhone/iPod charger in this way.

I cannot see manufacturers reducing the cost of their items if they no longer include a charger and just a cable. What they will do is charge extra for a plug if you need one. First time buyers of smart phones will fall foul of this and it would be a bad move for the manufacturers if the buyer had to factor this in as part of the cost of buying their phone. The reality is that there will be no change to the amount of plugs/cables produced.

Another unseen cost of this move will be the extra tooling/design and impact of manufacture of these unnecessary dongles. It may only be a few grammes of plastic and metal but that will add up given the popularity of the iPhone. If Apple choose to add a micro USB port then you would have to consider the fact that you are adding yet another point for dust/water ingress.

Ask yourself what part of your charger fails. Is it the mains plug? Or the cable? I'd say 99.9% of the time if a phone charger fails, it is that the cable has degraded/frayed/whatever. If we have to then replace a charger with attached cable rather than just the cable like we do now we'd end up using more resources and spending more money (my puppy chewed my iPhone sync cable up, a quick swap for the spare from my iPod and we're good to go)

So really the most simple and elegant solution that the EU could have gone for is the current one, let the phone manufacturers use whatever connection at the phone end and just have a USB connector at the plug end. Anyone can use another person's plug, but would just need their proprietary cable. Job done. Ok so you'd be carrying a cable, but then you would probably be carrying a dongle if Apple didn't fully integrate the micro USB anyway.

Apologies for length, I have just read this thread and found it frustrating how many people fail to understand the drawbacks of pointless legislation that has been ill thought out.

 

[M2M]

Micro USB Connection List:
1. - 5.

vs

Apple Dock Connection List:
1. - 30.

Most of the Dock Connector is Data and could be multiplexed/demultiplexed one way or another if piped through USB. This is basic (level one) electrical engineering / information technology.
Yes this would put some strain to the CPU of the iDevice as someone pointed out. But as it is docked this and the resulting power drain can be neglected.

Still i see the challenge on how to handle need of faster connection speed if USB2 is not enough (and it already isn't).
I would wonder what the maximum transfer speed for data-sync of the Dock Connector is (more then USB2 ?), though.

I wish the EU would first standardize on electrical outlets before forcing companies to standardize on power adopters.

If I recall correctly the U.K., Italy, Switzerland and Denmark all have different outlets.

This I wondered when the EU (tried?) to regulate the curve, size and angle of bananas. I would see power outlets also more beneficial to be harmonized. I would vote to have the German Plug the UK Plug is just so... bulky

The current method of having a USB connector at the wall wart end of the cable works well for other manufacturers too, I have seen Blackberry and HTC chargers that work the same way as Apple's. You can even plug your iProduct's sync cable into their USB outlets and charge from there. I still use an old HTC wall wart as a backup iPhone/iPod charger in this way.

Would be great though if i could plugin my iPhone into Apples own Airport Express and charge my phone - or was this fixed in the latest firmware update ?
Likethis I would only carry an Airport Express and my Phone when travelling. Would always have Wifi in hotels the provide Ethernet only and also could charge my phone. God damn Apple should release Micro Airport Expresses the size of the iPhone Chargers.

 

[CFreymarc]

i hope apple doesnt rid the 30-pin connector from the iphone or any of its products. the best part of the iphone is the 30 pin connector!

IMO, one of the biggest secrets to Apple's success is keeping the same connector for almost a decade. The 30-pin connector can last another decade if managed right. I was told that only half of the pins are allocated and they are adding functionality to the pins as needed as technology progresses keeping backwards compatibility.

Unlike Palm who totally destroyed their own third party accessory market changing the connector every CEO change that really screwed up the accessory market. In fact, one major automotive manufacturer had a prototype auto dashboard with a Palm Universal Connector up and running. Palm changed the connector to "multi-connector" without telling this major automotive manufacturer.

That cost Palm big bucks in lack of hardware compatibility. And no, the "just do Bluetooth" doesn't work since they had their own screwed up data scheme ignoring standard Serial Port Profile. Palm barely deserves their 1% market share. I hope the HP buyout cleans house of these short term marketing types for good!

 

[PeterQVenkman]

It's so funny that the so-called leading democracy seems to consist of a population that does not even remotely grasp the concept of freedom or that certain rules are brought in place to protect the interests of people that ultimately have to pay for everything.

You mistake weirdos on this forum for an entire country. Is the air thin up there? You know, on that high horse of yours?

IMO, one of the biggest secrets to Apple's success is keeping the same connector for almost a decade. The 30-pin connector can last another decade if managed right.

If optical media is dead, as these forums would have me believe, then I must insist that it takes Apple's crappy analog video connections with it to the grave. Upgrade the dock connector, Apple! And I don't mean mini display port capability.

 

[karsten]

I think that a standard connection/charger is an excellent idea; most people change phones every two or so years, and most have a drawer full of wall chargers, car chargers, data cables, etc that are useless. Requiring all of these devices to be charged via a standard charger is very consumer friendly.

I'm embarassed for the US that we weren't willing to take this step ourselves, first.

they could then take this a step further and manufacturers could make the chargers an optional accessory to keep costs down, then you would only need 1 for all your devices. saves on the landfill, and reduces costs.

 

[karsten]

JOBS MOVE:

NO iPhones/iPads shipments to europe anymore.

who's the boss?

nice

 

[OrganMusic]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPod; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_2_1 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8C148 Safari/6533.18.5)

If mini USB is being phased out in favor of micro, is that for computer peripherals as well?

I had a heck of a time finding a USB-A to micro patch cord when I needed one last summer.

 

[Rich2k]

Great so the EU wants to make my life easier by making sure I have a standard charger.

Except I already do, I have an iPhone charger in almost every room of the house. I have an iPhone, my wife has an iPhone and now I'd have to get rid of loads of chargers and buy new ones... geez EU way to make my life easier.

Stop getting involved in rubbish that really isn't important and try stabilising the economies of your countries

 

[k995]

nice

Android/RIM/WM steps in to fill the gap and Apple looses the biggest economic market in the world.

Who's the boss now ?

 

[Andronicus]

What are the advantages of Apple's 30pin USB over a micro-usb?

The thousands of products, docks, connectors there are.

 

[k995]

This legislation is typical of the EU wanting to be seen to be doing something while actually just interfering where it is not needed.

The 30 pin connector is not only functional, but elegant, and has become accepted and used by many manufacturers. Just look at how many items have "iPod ready" as part of their marketing. As already explained the connector is capable of more than just power and data transfer, thus allowing direct control from external devices. My surround sound system has an iPod dock that allows you to playback video and audio. USB is not capable of this as easily.

Read what the legislation is for, nobody is saying apple has to kill the 30 pin connector.

The current method of having a USB connector at the wall wart end of the cable works well for other manufacturers too, I have seen Blackberry and HTC chargers that work the same way as Apple's. You can even plug your iProduct's sync cable into their USB outlets and charge from there. I still use an old HTC wall wart as a backup iPhone/iPod charger in this way.

But most phones dont come with such a power plug, hence the regulation .

I cannot see manufacturers reducing the cost of their items if they no longer include a charger and just a cable. What they will do is charge extra for a plug if you need one. First time buyers of smart phones will fall foul of this and it would be a bad move for the manufacturers if the buyer had to factor this in as part of the cost of buying their phone. The reality is that there will be no change to the amount of plugs/cables produced.

Depends on the manufacturer, and plenty of third parti chargers will drop those prices. After all they alle work the same with this legislation.

Another unseen cost of this move will be the extra tooling/design and impact of manufacture of these unnecessary dongles. It may only be a few grammes of plastic and metal but that will add up given the popularity of the iPhone. If Apple choose to add a micro USB port then you would have to consider the fact that you are adding yet another point for dust/water ingress.

Ask yourself what part of your charger fails. Is it the mains plug? Or the cable? I'd say 99.9% of the time if a phone charger fails, it is that the cable has degraded/frayed/whatever. If we have to then replace a charger with attached cable rather than just the cable like we do now we'd end up using more resources and spending more money (my puppy chewed my iPhone sync cable up, a quick swap for the spare from my iPod and we're good to go)

No, because you only got 1 charger and not 3-4-5 different ones with each consecutive buy. You do realise people buy more then just iphones? That if you change in brand or even in generation of phone the plug changes?

So really the most simple and elegant solution that the EU could have gone for is the current one, let the phone manufacturers use whatever connection at the phone end and just have a USB connector at the plug end. Anyone can use another person's plug, but would just need their proprietary cable. Job done. Ok so you'd be carrying a cable, but then you would probably be carrying a dongle if Apple didn't fully integrate the micro USB anyway.

That would be another solution but would be even more expensive, after all a detachable plug + cable is more expensive then an all in one piece.

Apologies for length, I have just read this thread and found it frustrating how many people fail to understand the drawbacks of pointless legislation that has been ill thought out.

Its far from pointless, I think with all the different bussines phones I had over the last 5 years (included an iphone) I have about 6 different chargers with 4 different plugs.

With this legislation I would have 1 or 2 wich I could keep using.

 

[Nuvi]

I just don't understand what is so wrong about having a different type of connection for different devices? They all achieve the same purpose. If you don't want to use a 30 pin connector then don't buy Apple products.

Are you seriously this misinformed, lack imagination or are you just retarded? Gee, "what is so wrong about having a different type of connection for different devices" - you seriously aren't the very sharp if you need to ask that question... Lets see, with a standard you can use one capable type with every single mobile device in the planet...

 

[swagi]

This legislation is typical of the EU wanting to be seen to be doing something while actually just interfering where it is not needed.

The 30 pin connector is not only functional, but elegant, and has become accepted and used by many manufacturers. Just look at how many items have "iPod ready" as part of their marketing. As already explained the connector is capable of more than just power and data transfer, thus allowing direct control from external devices. My surround sound system has an iPod dock that allows you to playback video and audio. USB is not capable of this as easily.

The current method of having a USB connector at the wall wart end of the cable works well for other manufacturers too, I have seen Blackberry and HTC chargers that work the same way as Apple's. You can even plug your iProduct's sync cable into their USB outlets and charge from there. I still use an old HTC wall wart as a backup iPhone/iPod charger in this way.

I cannot see manufacturers reducing the cost of their items if they no longer include a charger and just a cable. What they will do is charge extra for a plug if you need one. First time buyers of smart phones will fall foul of this and it would be a bad move for the manufacturers if the buyer had to factor this in as part of the cost of buying their phone. The reality is that there will be no change to the amount of plugs/cables produced.

Another unseen cost of this move will be the extra tooling/design and impact of manufacture of these unnecessary dongles. It may only be a few grammes of plastic and metal but that will add up given the popularity of the iPhone. If Apple choose to add a micro USB port then you would have to consider the fact that you are adding yet another point for dust/water ingress.

Ask yourself what part of your charger fails. Is it the mains plug? Or the cable? I'd say 99.9% of the time if a phone charger fails, it is that the cable has degraded/frayed/whatever. If we have to then replace a charger with attached cable rather than just the cable like we do now we'd end up using more resources and spending more money (my puppy chewed my iPhone sync cable up, a quick swap for the spare from my iPod and we're good to go)

So really the most simple and elegant solution that the EU could have gone for is the current one, let the phone manufacturers use whatever connection at the phone end and just have a USB connector at the plug end. Anyone can use another person's plug, but would just need their proprietary cable. Job done. Ok so you'd be carrying a cable, but then you would probably be carrying a dongle if Apple didn't fully integrate the micro USB anyway.

Apologies for length, I have just read this thread and found it frustrating how many people fail to understand the drawbacks of pointless legislation that has been ill thought out.

All your points may be correct - but - as far as I've heard, Apple doesn't include a connection to a power outlet OOTB anymore. I heard several people, that said their iPhone4, iPod touch just came with a mere USB cable.

And I don't see the reasoning against microUSB. I have used several mobiles in my life and each one came with a different powerchord. If you ask me, that's a lot of wasted plastic and energy. We could have a lenghty discussion about useless EU legislation - but this decision actually makes sense.

 

[gorjan]

I wish the EU would first standardize on electrical outlets before forcing companies to standardize on power adopters.

If I recall correctly the U.K., Italy, Switzerland and Denmark all have different outlets.

You don't. Only the UK has different outlets. (the Danish plugs aren't used outside of some special places like labs. The standard europlug is used almost everywhere.)

 

[rococoloco]

Great so the EU wants to make my life easier by making sure I have a standard charger.

Except I already do, I have an iPhone charger in almost every room of the house. I have an iPhone, my wife has an iPhone and now I'd have to get rid of loads of chargers and buy new ones... geez EU way to make my life easier.

Stop getting involved in rubbish that really isn't important and try stabilising the economies of your countries

Wow,

Such arrogance, lets not make inroads into sustainability just because you and yours are affluent enough to be iDevice people. You will not need to get rid of your chargers, new devices will come with the required connections as standard.

I'm amazed at the self centered responses on this thread, it reminds me of when plastic bags were banned, best decision ever, but you still had certain people whine and moan about their convenience being trampled on.

News Flash People.
Not everything is about YOUR convenience.

This is a very good move, it will prevent a lot of waste, it will promote reuse, it will encourage more sharing of accessories.

It doesn't have to be an 'issues Olympics', sure there's financial meltdown but that doesn't mean we can ignore everything else to the exclusivity of that issue, don't minimise one with contrast with another, it's something right-wing politicians do all the time.

 

[Lennholm]

Look who hasn't read the original article.

Euro standards bodies have confirmed that Apple's adapter based solution is OK.

A bundled micro USB receptable to 30-pin dock plug adapter would be OK, but not what Apple currently ships with the devices

 

[iEdd]

This seems pointless. The only way this would achieve anything would be to have a female micro-usb on the device - which is also fairly pointless.

If it's about convenience, eg. you forget your charging cable:
- I've never seen anyone carry a USB to micro-usb cable around. MAYBE mini USB, but it's rare.
- I see heaps of people with a USB to 30-pin dock connector in their bags.
- Adaptor? Seriously? If you forget your charging cable, are you going to remember the adaptor on the off chance that someone has a micro USB cable?

I think if anything, the EU should force other manufacturers to adopt the Apple standard.

"Oh Crap"
"What?"
"Forgot my charger"
"Don't worry, you can use mine. I have my standard USB to micro-USB cable. You're lucky, as I'm only one of 3 people that actually carries one of these around."
"Where do I plug it in?"
"Duuuude. You forgot the dock connector to micro-USB cable."
"..."
"Oh, nevermind, common Dave has a super ubiquitous USB to dock connector. We're good."

 

[Gatteau]

I hate Europe for this.

 

[OllyW]

All your points may be correct - but - as far as I've heard, Apple doesn't include a connection to a power outlet OOTB anymore. I heard several people, that said their iPhone4, iPod touch just came with a mere USB cable.

The iPhone still comes with a charger in the box.

 

[mrochester]

This seems pointless. The only way this would achieve anything would be to have a female micro-usb on the device - which is also fairly pointless.

If it's about convenience, eg. you forget your charging cable:
- I've never seen anyone carry a USB to micro-usb cable around. MAYBE mini USB, but it's rare.
- I see heaps of people with a USB to 30-pin dock connector in their bags.
- Adaptor? Seriously? If you forget your charging cable, are you going to remember the adaptor on the off chance that someone has a micro USB cable?

I think if anything, the EU should force other manufacturers to adopt the Apple standard.

"Oh Crap"
"What?"
"Forgot my charger"
"Don't worry, you can use mine. I have my standard USB to micro-USB cable. You're lucky, as I'm only one of 3 people that actually carries one of these around."
"Where do I plug it in?"
"Duuuude. You forgot the dock connector to micro-USB cable."
"..."
"Oh, nevermind, common Dave has a super ubiquitous USB to dock connector. We're good."

This is why I think Europe should go further to mandate that the device itself must have a micro USB connector on it. Don't forget that when all devices have these micro USB connectors on them, micro USB charging cables will be very very common.

 

[Tanguyvd]

Agreed! at most I hope they'll just include an adaptor or something

i think so too. the 30pin is a much more heavy duty connector than the micro usb found on most camera's these days. i hope an additional connection would be added, but please don't replace the dock-connector we have !

 

[iEdd]

This is why I think Europe should go further to mandate that the device itself must have a micro USB connector on it.

Yeah, I can see that happening once it gets out there.

It just makes no sense as it is to have a dock to micro USB adaptor when you are just as likely to have a dock to USB cable on hand. It's only ever a benefit if it's built in.

 

[k995]

Yeah, I can see that happening once it gets out there.

It just makes no sense as it is to have a dock to micro USB adaptor when you are just as likely to have a dock to USB cable on hand. It's only ever a benefit if it's built in.

Thats the choice of the manufacturer.

I understand that it would be too much to force all companies to add an extra port or to change the design completly of current plugs.

 

[baryon]

the problem with a converter is that it defeats the purpose of the entire USB thing. The point is to be able to charge your phone no matter where you are, even if you don't have the charger with you, because your phone has a connector that connects to the most common cable you can find.

If you need an adapter for this, you probably left it at home, and you can't charge your phone.