Gurman: Apple to Release USB-C AirPods Pro Case, Likely Alongside iPhone 15 Launch

[cateye]

And twice the market share of of phones of the next competitor, Samsung.

Now go ahead and add up the marketshare of everyone making an Android phone and compare it against Apple.

Marketshare of the iPhone in North America is highest at about 50%, and is significantly lower everywhere else. Worldwide it is around 20%. Lightning is, and was, a problem to be solved and it finally was. It is not a standard, defacto or otherwise.

EDIT: Also, to your Tesla analogy. Tesla submitted its connector to be ratified as an official charging standard for electric vehicles, which precipitated the sudden lineup of other companies adopting it (primarily to take advantage of Tesla's superior charging network, but, any port in a storm). Apple has been asked—begged even—to do the same with Lightning, to open the connector to become an official standard, but it refused. It actively did not want it to be a standard, it wanted it to be proprietary. Live by the sword, die by it.

 

[spazzcat]

Now go ahead and add up the marketshare of everyone making an Android phone and compare it against Apple.

Marketshare of the iPhone in North America is highest at about 50%, and is significantly lower everywhere else. Worldwide it is around 20%. Lightning is, and was, a problem to be solved and it finally was. It is not a standard, defacto or otherwise.

EDIT: Also, to your Tesla analogy. Tesla submitted its connector to be ratified as an official charging standard for electric vehicles, which precipitated the sudden lineup of other companies adopting it (primarily to take advantage of Tesla's superior charging network, but, any port in a storm). Apple has been asked—begged even—to do the same with Lightning, to open the connector to become an official standard, but it refused. It actively did not want it to be a standard, it wanted it to be proprietary. Live by the sword, die by it.

You know you can have more than one standard? Just look in your toolbox ...

 

[notabadname]

Now go ahead and add up the marketshare of everyone making an Android phone and compare it against Apple.

Marketshare of the iPhone in North America is highest at about 50%, and is significantly lower everywhere else. Worldwide it is around 20%. Lightning is, and was, a problem to be solved and it finally was. It is not a standard, defacto or otherwise.

EDIT: Also, to your Tesla analogy. Tesla submitted its connector to be ratified as an official charging standard for electric vehicles, which precipitated the sudden lineup of other companies adopting it (primarily to take advantage of Tesla's superior charging network, but, any port in a storm). Apple has been asked—begged even—to do the same with Lightning, to open the connector to become an official standard, but it refused. It actively did not want it to be a standard, it wanted it to be proprietary. Live by the sword, die by it.

Sure, because you say so - wink wink 😉 🤣

 

[ApplesAreSweet&Sour]

You still plug them in; I can't remember when I didn't use wireless to charge mine.

All the AirPods models with Qi and MagSafe get super hot when charging wirelessly.

And they even stay hot when it’s done charging, as if the chip can’t shut off power intake when done charging?

I’m usually not fussy about what happens to my consumer electronics batteries. But this kind of heat is close to what you’d get by leaving them in your car or something similar.

I wonder if anyone has tested this with Qi AirPods cases? The exterior heat levels are quite worrying.

 

[CarAnalogy]

In 10 years, how often have phones other than Apple changed to a new USB standard?

Well, once, when they went to the upgraded standard. Apple had a chance to do it too. They helped design USB-C. Instead they went from one proprietary plug to another.

 

[CarAnalogy]

The design they helped invent was finalized in 2014, while the first Lightning iPhone went on sale in 2012. Also, USB C was based in part on Lightning, so arguably, USB C would not exist if it weren't for Lightning.

So it wasn't for lack of courage, but lack of time travel (Time Machine isn't an actual time machine).

They had time in the only direction anyone has it. One could argue they’re about two years late to USB-C as it is. And Lightning didn’t come out of nowhere. It was developed concurrently. Seems like they could have just not done that and focused entirely on USB-C and got it out sooner.

 

[tripsync]

Are you buying a usb-c iphone when it comes out? if so you can give your old cables to friends/family/coworkers who continue to use lighning this also helps them from buying more cables when theirs get damaged while their on the old connector.

it becomes ewaste when you throw away a perfectly good item.

my friends/family/coworkers are all either:

1) upgrading to USB-C iphone and dumping their lightning cables
2) continue using old iPhone but already have a generous surplus in lightning cables.

 

[tripsync]

Well, once, when they went to the upgraded standard. Apple had a chance to do it too. They helped design USB-C. Instead they went from one proprietary plug to another.

USB-C wasn't ready by the time they were designing the iPhone 4.

EDIT: correction: iPhone 5

 

[tripsync]

I believe you mean apples decision to implement proprietary charging created A lot of e waste.

USB-C wasn't ready by the time they redesigned the iPhone.

 

[spazzcat]

Well, once, when they went to the upgraded standard. Apple had a chance to do it too. They helped design USB-C. Instead they went from one proprietary plug to another.

You missed the point; in that ten years, there have been 3 or 4 "standards".

 

[ApplesAreSweet&Sour]

I love how the EU is forcing a switch to USB-C “for the environment,” and in so doing, is basically forcing people to throw away millions of perfectly functional Lightning cables.

Well, there really wouldn’t be a huge switch or much throwing away to be done if Apple had started switching iPhones and all its portable and lithium battery dependent products away from Lightning and over to USB-C years ago.

Apple is clearly perfectly capable of doing this without lessening usability or any specs or features. It did this for all iPads and Macs and there are no more complaints with cables and ports for those post USB-C then there were when they were Lightning.

Lightning was not good enough for iPad and Macs, so why not give all Apple products increased data transfer rates, charging speeds and cross-compatibility with the rest of the market?

Apple is known for being the tech brand with the “walled garden”ecosystem of proprietary ports, cables and accessories.

Expensive and proprietary. But once you’re in the ecosystem everything just works and you don’t need a unique cable or port on your Apple accessories for them to work together.

..Except that’s exactly what you get when Apple for no valid reason other than pleasing shareholders thinks some of its products need to be Lightning while others are USB-C.

The main use case for the ports and cables are charging. But I cannot plug in an iPhone or AirPods using the cable that came with my MacBook or iPad? Even though the underlying tech is USB in all of Apple’s ports and cables?

Apple created this mess and consumers and the environment are paying the cleanup.

Don’t blame the EU for Apple’s greed and the ensuing mess that all its needlessly proprietary ports and cables create.

Not making the shift and letting Apple keep us in its arbitrarily proprietary USB 2.0 purgatory for another ten years will create less waste now. But forcing the shift now makes for way less waste in the long run.

 

[anselpela]

For all the guys saying they use the MagSafe charging exclusively, isn't that damaging the battery quicker than a normal cable? Might be a small percentage of difference, but I'm pretty sure I've read induction charging will diminish the battery life a little quicker than just using a cable...

For me the USB-C is a welcome change, but lightning was also fine for me...

So what?

I mean what are we doing here? We can't just use our things, we have to worry about them every single day and go out of our way to maximize the longevity of the battery? Can't stand this.

 

[cateye]

Sure, because you say so - wink wink 😉 🤣

Do you believe I'm lying? Feel free to offer contrary evidence, or, if you feel I'm purposefully trolling, report my post.

 

[Tagbert]

USB-C vs Lighting is a debate only relevant to a tiny minority!
I'm not bothered either way, however which ever way you spin it, the EU directive will create a lot of unnecessary e-waste 😏

The idea is that there may be a small spike of e-waste now but over time the number of cables will be smaller. Only a subset of people change their phones each year and most of us already have USB-C cables. It will just be more convenient to be able to have fewer cables around for charging. I travel enough that it would be nice to reduce the number of cables I need to carry around.

 

[cateye]

You know you can have more than one standard? Just look in your toolbox ...

Did I argue to the contrary?

First you want to redefine what the word "standard" means. Then when someone clarifies that the word "standard" has meaning, you move goalposts to argue that you both still get to have your definition, and that I somehow need to be educated that standards proliferate.

Sometimes I think all people like you are looking for is to be told how awesome Lightning is to validate your choices or something. I mean, ok? Lightning is great, use it forever for all I care. But it's still not a capital-S "Standard." One wonders how some of you survived the 30-pin to Lightning transition.

 

[ApplesAreSweet&Sour]

USB-C wasn't ready by the time they redesigned the iPhone.

Maybe not quite ready for the first gen. iPhone.

But what about making the shift a few years later?

Certainly wasn’t an issue for Apple to put USB-C in MacBooks or iPads.

iPad Pro ditched Lightning in 2018.

iPhones and AirPods are getting it in 2023-2024? Why?

Lightning is just the connector and port. The underlying tech is still USB.

How are other brands giving us uniform ports and cables across tablets, headphones and smartphones, while Apple is giving us a unique cable for iPhones, one for iPads, one for Apple Watch.

Having to carry around three different cables to charge my selection of Apple products is about the least Apple-esque thing about the current Apple ecosystem.

When it comes to charging ports and cables, all other brands are better at uniformity and convenience than Apple. Shameful.

 

[Tagbert]

I believe you mean apples decision to implement proprietary charging created A lot of e waste.

At the time Apple released Lightning, the only non-propriety option was micro-USB (and we will never talk about mini-USB). That was a terrible connector and Lighting was tons better. Later, when the USB consortium was planning a new connector, Apple helped design it based on their learnings with Lightning. It took several years for USB-C to become popular and commonplace.

When Apple replaced their old 30-pin connector with Lighting, there was such an uproar of people claiming that Apple was making them throw away their perfectly good cables and only doing this to make big money on cable sales. Apple learned that most of their customers are not technical and don’t like to change things. That was one of the factors that they had to consider when thinking about switching to USB-C.

 

[Tagbert]

If Apple cared about the environment and e-waste as they claim they do, instead of releasing a new USB-C case they could have just released a 10$ USB-C female to Lightening male adapter. This could have solved this “problem” for all devices still using Lightening plugs.

I mean, this could be a universal one-fits-all solution, instead of making zillions of new cases for AirPods that have a 2-3 years lifespan anyway, then their built-in batteries degrade.

Just because new AirPod cases will have Lightning doesn’t mean that everyone needs to buy replacement cases. It just means that anyone buying a new model will have USB-C. Those adaptors you mention already exist and could be used, though it is still another cable to manage.

 

[jimothyGator]

Well, once, when they went to the upgraded standard. Apple had a chance to do it too. They helped design USB-C. Instead they went from one proprietary plug to another.

Not true. As I pointed out in another post, during this time, Android phones shipped with mini USB, micro USB, micro USB B superspeed, and USB C.

Heck, some Android phones, including ones from Sony and LG, had mini or micro HDMI ports!

Some important things to remember are:

1. Lightning came out years before USB-C, and was far superior to the alternatives at the time.
2. In some ways, Lightning is still superior to USB C. It's slightly smaller and more durable. Both the male and female connectors are less susceptible to collecting lint than USB-C.
3. As you point out, Apple helped design USB C. It stands to reason then that USB C design was influenced by Lightning, in particular the reversal nature of the port. Had Apple not created Lightning, it's likely USB C would have lacked this defining feature, if it would have been invented at all (as oppose to, say, a faster micro USB).
4. The EU tried, but thankfully failed, to force standardization on Micro USB. Had they had their way, USB C may never have been created or caught on. We'll never know if a connector superior to USB C could have been invented by won't be.
5. Micro USB and Mini USB were two of the worst connectors ever designed: too easy to break or bend, difficult to get the right orientation the first time, only half an amp (2.5W) went used according to spec. Had Apple just gone along with "the standard" instead of inventing Lightning, the iPhone would have been much worse off, and (because of Apple and Lightnings influence on USB C), likely all phones would have been worse off, as well.
6. Has anyone, EU included, actually quantified how much waste this will reduce, net of how much additional waste it will create, compared to the total waste produced by Europeans and North Americans? While even small differences can be useful, I suspect the EU is exaggerating the actual impact. (This cuts both ways: both those touting standarization as essential for reducing waste, and those countering that it will increase waste, are likely arguing over an insignificant contribution).

 

[Tagbert]

TIL USBC was the first universal port.

Whoosh….. Apple brought out Lighting 2 years before USB-C was revealed. Even then it took several years for USB-C to become common and replace all of those micro-USB connectors.

 

[ZZ9pluralZalpha]

I believe you mean apples decision to implement proprietary charging created A lot of e waste.

You really wanted AirPods and iPhones that charge over micro-USB?

 

[spazzcat]

Did I argue to the contrary?

First you want to redefine what the word "standard" means. Then when someone clarifies that the word "standard" has meaning, you move goalposts to argue that you both still get to have your definition, and that I somehow need to be educated that standards proliferate.

Sometimes I think all people like you are looking for is to be told how awesome Lightning is to validate your choices or something. I mean, ok? Lightning is great, use it forever for all I care. But it's still not a capital-S "Standard." One wonders how some of you survived the 30-pin to Lightning transition.

My point is that you can have more than one standard and lighting, and USBC can both be considered standards. I have no issue with lighting and, I also have no issue with USBC.

 

[Tagbert]

Ten years. Not like Apple would hold themselves to it but Schiller said “the connector for the next ten years.” Frankly it’s long overdue. In fact I think Lightning was a mistake in the first place. They didn’t have the ”courage” to push forward with the industry standard connector that they helped invent.

Why was Lighting a mistake? At the time it was a massive improvement over the old 30-pin. Remember that? The USB alternatives, mini and micro both sucked big time. USB-C was still 2 years in the future and it was not possible to go with it, standard or not. 😆

 

[spazzcat]

The idea is that there may be a small spike of e-waste now but over time the number of cables will be smaller. Only a subset of people change their phones each year and most of us already have USB-C cables. It will just be more convenient to be able to have fewer cables around for charging. I travel enough that it would be nice to reduce the number of cables I need to carry around.

I guess if you consider over 200 million phones a year small. When I travel I still charge everything at night, so I need to carry the same number of cables no matter what the interface is ...

 

[tripsync]

Maybe not quite ready for the first gen. iPhone.

But what about making the shift a few years later?

1. That'll piss off thousands of manufacturers that were building thousands of lightning accessories
2. That'll piss off hundreds millions of customers that bought into the lightning ecosystem
3. They had plans for lightning in other products: Apple Pencil 1 for example.
4. Hundreds of millions of lightning cables that are only used for 3 years is wasteful.