Out you! We are not seeking reason here... just a lot of unjustified FUD and anti-European sentiment.
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European Commission Set to Adopt Universal Micro-USB Smartphone Charging Standard in January
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Out you! We are not seeking reason here... just a lot of unjustified FUD and anti-European sentiment.
Out you! We are not seeking reason here... just a lot of unjustified FUD and anti-European sentiment.
Sorry, forgot where I was just for a moment. And I bet the EU fat cats and bureaucrats will next be telling me what colour charger I'm allowed to buy.
That's it, I feel much better now.
I'm definitely interested in seeing what apple does here, it would be surprising to see them shift from their proprietary sync cable. That said it would be nice to be able to use the same USB cable to charge both my iphone and voyager pro headset
Hard to see if apple plays with someone elses standard, they like the patent income from their official licensed products/accessaries a lot.
Nice post but would have been so much better if you'd written Microsoft with a '$' or said 'EPIC FAIL' a few times in there. Please remember where you are in the future.
I do think Apple will offer free for European iPhone users an adapter that connects to the Apple iPod dock connector on the bottom of the iPhone 4 on one end and has a connector for the Micro USB connection on the other end. It's either that or Apple could get an exemption based on the fact devices that use the iPod dock connector are so widely used that it has become its own de facto standard for device dock connectors.
No exemption required - if you read the MoU the existing Apple charger already meets the requirements. The adapter is allowed to be the cable as long as the cable connects to the charger with a USB A connector.
Typical EU idiocy. They always jump in with new legislation to make things "better" for the consumer, but really the point seems to penalise British and American companies in favour of continental ones.
Did you know the sealant used for cricket bats is now illegal too? Meaning that they can barely be made anymore.
So...the connector to the "apparatus" can be proprietary as long as there is a USB plug on the other end. So we will still need to carry all the different wires. goodness that was logical lol.
And still we have 11 pages of discussion how Apple will solve this non existing existing problem just because almost no one checks the facts.
But I have not understood every bit in the memorandum. The charger is compliant but how about the Iphone? Currently you can't connect you Iphone to just any usb chargers since the Iphone will not recognise the charger. Will Apple need to make a change in the behaviour of the Iphone so that they accept other chargers than today? Or is that coverered by the proposal?
You have to remember that this is primarily about reducing the waste of old chargers, not really the convenience angle.
And still we have 11 pages of discussion how Apple will solve this non existing existing problem just because almost no one checks the facts.
But I have not understood every bit in the memorandum. The charger is compliant but how about the Iphone? Currently you can't connect you Iphone to just any usb chargers since the Iphone will not recognise the charger. Will Apple need to make a change in the behaviour of the Iphone so that they accept other chargers than today? Or is that coverered by the proposal?
Interesting point and one that doesn't appear to be covered in the outline document, although clearly compliance would be required to stay within the spirit of the document. My guess is that it's probably discussed on page 243 of the minutes of meetings behind the agreement that I doubt will be published.
How are British and American companies being penalised? They aren't.
Your new phone wouldn't necessarily come with a charger, so you'd keep using your old phone charger.
I would recommend you to read the FAQ regarding this memorandum
http://europa.eu/rapid/pressRelease...format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
And focus on this part
"What will be the impact of the MoU on prices?
Consumers will be able to purchase mobile phones without a charger, thus logically reducing their cost. They will also be able to purchase much more cost-effective stand-alone chargers than it is currently the case"
That is, going the same route as the Ipod (at least the Nano) that is delivered without charger and only with a charger cable
Sorry for spoling the fun with facts
Apples and Oranges. iPods never came with wall chargers because they were always intended as devices to carry your computer's music library with you on the go. Cells phones on the other hand need to function as standalone units.
The bottom line is a company needs to account for the lowest possible detonator and that is people who don't have computers to charge the device through USB. Look at USB right now. It's already a standard cable, yet almost all USB devices (PS3, USB HDDs, Cameras, etc) include the cable. Samething is going to happen to USB Chargers, even if they are interchangeable, they will still be included with each new device.
I totally agree. Apple we're telling you to put the micro USB port in there and be done with it. Make the phone edges squarer still or whatever you did to fit the big battery in there.
I also had another thought about this, and if there is a standard port for all phones I imagine car manufacturers will start slotting in little USB leads/docks into every car possibly in place of the usual lighter socket.
The first few iPods came with wall chargers, but then removed to reduce the costs. Phones can also be charged via computer if fitted with mini USB cable, or via adapter.
Printers don't come with USB cables ( to keep the cost down ).
Not all camera USB cables are the same, some use smaller connectors than mini USB - so they aren't interchangeable. PS3 USB cables: would it not be assumed these cables will always be in use?
Anyway, its dumb that manufacturers include standard cables in all devices - reduce the cost of the item and the consumer can buy the necessary cable separately if needed.
You seem to have forgot that the first 4 generations of iPods came with a charger in the box.
Apple cut down on the packaged accessories with the 5th generation so they could cut the prices.
Just a little scholarly reading would show you that the EU did not pass any legislation on this as the manufacturers themselves agreed on the best way forward.
As well as Nokia, LG and others who else signed up for it do you think? That's right... Apple, RIM, Texas Instruments.
Forgot about that, may bad
Mine did.
You wouldn't get the benefit anyways. Price points in a big way are based on marketing, 199 and 299 just "sounds right." How much could apple lower the price by if they didn't include the adapter + cable? 10 dollars, maybe? 189 and 289 just doesn't have a nice ring to it and wouldn't be chose as a selling price. So in the end you would just get less.
Talking about marketing, it's just bad business to leave out cables. If a consumer needs to go of there way to buy an extra then that's just an extra frustration for them and means odds are he may not buy your products in the future. That's why for the most part, companies include 'extra' accessories and why they will still include the ac adapter + cable in phone SKUs.
Good point about the phylogical (spelling ) pricing. If all companies didn't provide common cables there wouldn't be the issue.
Personally, I've got multiple camera, printer etc cables I simply do not need. Overall, its a waste. I'd safe $5 than have the wasted cable. There will be consumers with no cables, but a good store would remind the consumer they would need cable 'X'.
Personally, I've got multiple camera, printer etc cables I simply do not need. Overall, its a waste. I'd safe $5 than have the wasted cable. There will be consumers with no cables, but a good store would remind the consumer they would need cable 'X'.
No. If you would have read the next sentence in my post, you would have seen the obvious example of how the extra pins can be used - video output.
You actually signed off as The Stig, Your having a go at the EU while you are pretending to be the Stig which is officially copywrited and owned by the BBC. Hate to tell you mate, you do not have the rights to be impersonating him on a website, let alone signing off as him. The use of one port is about standards, same as phone companies in EU charging roaming charges which the EU is trying to abolish. Woud you be happy if all PC/Mac had different power adapters, as aposed to the cattle style one????
And still we have 11 pages of discussion how Apple will solve this non existing existing problem just because almost no one checks the facts.
But I have not understood every bit in the memorandum. The charger is compliant but how about the Iphone? Currently you can't connect you Iphone to just any usb chargers since the Iphone will not recognise the charger. Will Apple need to make a change in the behaviour of the Iphone so that they accept other chargers than today? Or is that coverered by the proposal?
Since the characteristics of the charger are specified, all Apple needs to have is an adapter or cable that uses the necessary resistance ratios to identify the charger characteristics. At worst, the only change needed to the iPhone itself would be a software change.
To demonstrate this, review this video, wherein an iPhone is charged happily and without complaining from a laboratory power supply once the proper resistor ratios are placed between the USB pins.