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Greg Joswiak: Apple Will Have to Comply With the EU and Switch iPhone to USB-C

rlhamil said:
My point is that if government solves every problem someone wants solved, it is doing WAY TOO MUCH, to the point that the addiction to power will take away more than hazards and inconveniences. Government should deal with the LEAST that is absolutely necessary, and even if that means consumers benefit less or not every need is met, caveat emptor.

Before there were forced conversions of connectors, there were forced conversions in Spain, centuries ago. Force is force, once those who use it get addicted to it.

If I want to buy a phone with a connector made out of flint and gold plated baby dinosaur bones and someone wants to sell it to me, what the HECK business does any government on the planet have specifying otherwise?
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So the USB C change is being driven by the Spanish Inquisition?
 
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I was already not able to charge Playstation 5 controller using iPad charger with usb-c usb-c cable… hope Apple will not be next Nintendo of this
 
As always, MKBHD keeping it real (and I agree with his theory)
 
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I think the EU may NOT allow Apple to do a portless iPhone. Reason: the difficulty of transferring ProRAW image files and ProRes video files out of the phone (AirDrop is not that great of a solution, either).
 
SactoGuy18 said:
I think the EU may NOT allow Apple to do a portless iPhone. Reason: the difficulty of transferring ProRAW image files and ProRes video files out of the phone (AirDrop is not that great of a solution, either).
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The government doesn't give one iota about how long it takes to transfer ProRAW images from your iPhone to your computer. Not one tiny little f.

Now, they could write a law that says if a device has a battery bigger than X, then it requires a physical port to allow for efficient charging. Wireless charging is horribly inefficient - 50% or so if memory serves. That's a BOATLOAD of wasted energy and extra carbon in the environment, which they DO actually care about and have in their perview.

But if you take the regulation verbatim, it's simple. If a device has a charging port, it needs to be USB C. If it doesn't have a charging port, it doesn't have to have a charging port.

Apple does need a port for diagnostics/repair purposes, or some way of forcing a connection if the OS is misbehaving or if the phone is locked etc. They could achieve this with the smart pin connectors on an iPad. That's not a charging port - that's a data connection.

So there are plenty of ways for Apple to say FU to the EU and ditch the port altogether, if they want. Chances are they won't and they'll just slap a USB C port on like they did on the latest Apple TV Remote control.

But my iPod Pros sitting on their wireless charger right now certainly don't need a USB C port and may never get one.
 
I'm gonna be a mad m-effer if Apple goes portless on future iPhones.

I just now got to where almost all of my devices can charge with USB-C... but Apple thinks it's better for me to carry around a drink coaster on a cable? (MagSafe Puck) 🤣

Come on Apple. You were an early believer in USB-C with the 2015 Macbook... the rest of the laptop line and most iPads are now USB-C... and even things like the Apple TV Remote are USB-C.

But the iPhone? You think the only choices should be Lightning Port or NO Port?

Ugh.
 
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SactoGuy18 said:
I think the EU may NOT allow Apple to do a portless iPhone. Reason: the difficulty of transferring ProRAW image files and ProRes video files out of the phone (AirDrop is not that great of a solution, either).
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Req specifically allows wireless charging and no port. It has nothing to do with data transfer.
 
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SactoGuy18 said:
I think the EU may NOT allow Apple to do a portless iPhone. Reason: the difficulty of transferring ProRAW image files and ProRes video files out of the phone (AirDrop is not that great of a solution, either).
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As mentioned, EU doesn't care about data transfer.

Besides, all Apple has to do is come on stage and say "We dropped the ports. We're introducing AirDrop 2 for these new iPhones, and it allows for 20% faster data transfer than the previous Lightning connection."

All problems solved. Bookmark this post for next year :)
 
BeatCrazy said:
As mentioned, EU doesn't care about data transfer.

Besides, all Apple has to do is come on stage and say "We dropped the ports. We're introducing AirDrop 2 for these new iPhones, and it allows for 20% faster data transfer than the previous Lightning connection."

All problems solved. Bookmark this post for next year :)
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That still won't occur under EU's new rules. The iPhone 15 and newer will switch to USB Type C with the same port used on the iPad Air 5.
 
SactoGuy18 said:
That still won't occur under EU's new rules. The iPhone 15 and newer will switch to USB Type C with the same port used on the iPad Air 5.
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The EU rules for USB-C charging only impact devices that use wired charging. If the device only uses wireless charging, then no USB-C port is required. Ain't no USB-C coming to the iPhone :oops:

I strongly recommend watching this video:
 
SactoGuy18 said:
That still won't occur under EU's new rules. The iPhone 15 and newer will switch to USB Type C with the same port used on the iPad Air 5.
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I agree that the 15 or 16, will use USB-C. Nothing in the rule prevents dropping plug charging and going strictly wireless. I would not be surprised to see a plug less design at some point.
 
jlc1978 said:
I agree that the 15 or 16, will use USB-C. Nothing in the rule prevents dropping plug charging and going strictly wireless. I would not be surprised to see a plug less design at some point.
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Unless wireless battery charging technology REALLY improves, I don't see Apple going with a portless iPhone. Also, what happens if you have to essentially do a "from scratch" install of iOS on your iPhone?
 
jlc1978 said:
Setting standards is a reasonable function of government, even if I disagree with the standard or rational.
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Except the Swiss were the last to give women the right to vote. Hardly letting all people make "their own choices and doing their own thinking without being told what to choose and think..."



Godwin's law.



The question is "What is the least amount?" In this case, the EU adopted a standard developed by industry, not one developed by some EU technocrat. Even the regulation is very minimal, as companies are free to develop their own implementations beyond the plug and basic PD. Apple could develop a MiFi equivalent for its cable if it chooses to do so.

Nothing in the spec mandates USB-C as the only choice. Apple, or any other manufacturer, could go to wireless only charging and keep Lightening or other non-USB-C plug for data only. Not that that will happen, for technical reasons at least.


Really? USB-C is the moral equivalent of the Inquisition?

That argument really jumped the shark.

I didn't expect a kind of Spanish Inquisition arguement, but then I bet nobody expected the Spanish Inquisition!



No one is forcing Europeans to only use USB-C power cords. They are free to buy a non-USB-C device outside of the EU and use it in the EU, as is anyone who travels to the EU.



This is hardly an abuse of power.

Is the USB-C connector the right one to standardize on? There are valid points on both sides. Given that was the direction the major players were moving to anyway, defining a minimal set of requirements at least ensures some level of compatibility; even if it doesn't mean one cable will rule them all.
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I think abuse of power is the wrong wording. My issue is are they trying to solve real issues like energy prices or the other issues in EU rather than what port or app stores or how you get apps????
 
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