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The EU Wants All Phones to Work With Interoperable Chargers, Here’s What That Means for Apple's Lightning Port
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It doesn’t stop. That’s why it’s called a slippery slope.
It's likely Apple will include a USB Type C to Lightning adapter for European-market iPhone 12's that will allow USB-C charging at up to 25 W rate (the rate used by most higher-end cellphones Android with USB-C charging).
I wonder if Apple are briar-patching a bit - since iPads are now using USB-C, and Macs are all USB-C (so things like SD card readers, wired earphones, HDMI adapters could work across the whole range) it would make sense if they bought iPhone into the fold... Yeah, the lightning connector may be slightly better mechanically than USB-C, but its a lot better than the older options. However, it will break iPhone users's existing kit, so it would be great to be able to blame it on the EU...
On the other hand, the EU seems a bit obsessive about this - we've gone from 30 different chargers with proprietary captive cables to, basically, two general types of socketed chargers (USB-C and USB-A) and 4 cables (USB-A/USB-C to MicroUSB/Lightning) which sounds like success. Seems like the next step should be to roll it out to other gadgets, not engage in a War on Apple.
On the other other hand, if the directive is properly drafted, adopting USB-C could be part and parcel of adopting things like the USB-C power delivery spec and the various alt modes - so there's no nonsense like "yes, our phone will work with a standard charger, but only in low power mode" or "yes, we've got a USB-C connector, but you still need to buy our proprietary dongles...".
I mean, USB-C is a world of hurt, but its a standard world of hurt which is often the price of standards.
The reducing e-waste argument is actually very ironic. What do you think happens to all the incompatible chargers? We need to focus on REAL sources of waste, not this imagined problem. I’m very disappointed that the EU has chosen to take on this issue as opposed to another with more tangible impact
They going to force all hotels, airplanes, coffee shops, et. etc. to replace the USB-A ports to charge with whatever they decide it should be
So how many cables will now be thrown out and how many additional conversion dongles will be bought and carried.
I wonder how many people don't have conversion dongles already?
So how many cables will now be thrown out and how many additional conversion dongles will be bought and carried.
I wonder how many people don't have conversion dongles already?
That would be far worse. Now you are stifling not just connector standards, but the handshaking and power delivery standards. The whole world will move on, except for Europe which will be stuck with ancient technology while its politicians dither and decide whether or not to take the next leap.
This will create more waste at least in the short term. People will buy new devices and then have to throw away and replace Lightening cables for new USB-C cables and adaptors.
It’d be great if the EU could try and tackle corporate tax avoidance and the lack of data privacy we as consumers have. You know, important things.
Obligatory, I am actually pro-EU generally speaking.
It’d be great if the EU could try and tackle corporate tax avoidance and the lack of data privacy we as consumers have. You know, important things.
Obligatory, I am actually pro-EU generally speaking.
All current MBP and Retina MBA, as well as iPad Pro, are USB-C only.
Doesn't seem like a stretch to make the iPhone USB-C?
You already can charge your iPhone with the MacBook charger, you just need the USB-C to Lightning Cable. So really its just carrying one charger and two cables if you don't want to charge both devices at the same time.
If the EU has to enforce this, apple is to blame.
What on earth does this statement even mean?
Based on a reading of the article, seems pretty obvious doesn't it? Nozuka's contention is Apple's insistence on using their proprietary connector and an adapter led to the Commission being dissatisfied with their results of their initiative. Their latest attempt at regulation is a result of that dissatisfaction. Had Apple complied, we wouldn't be facing the regulation.
So that I'm clear my response is an answer to your question, not a statement of agreement with that opinion.
Yeah, the macbook with 4 usbcports nears perfection, with all 4 adapters attached to it, soon to be obsolete, but hey who cares? Not US apparently.
And have the same voltage on the socket where the pins have the same configuration, distance, size. Where left is left, right is right, a meter is a meter, an inch is an inch, a gallon is a gallon.. (cynical) you’re so right, standards are hindering innovation when it’s attached to an Apple device.. or is it the price of licensing Apple proprietary connectors, adaptors..
Dear idiots of the European Parliament, what about all the different wall plugs in Europe?
For example, most of Europe uses C or E/F type plugs, however in the UK and Ireland, you will only find type G sockets. In Italy, you might see a type L outlet, and in Switzerland, you might find a type J plug.
For example, most of Europe uses C or E/F type plugs, however in the UK and Ireland, you will only find type G sockets. In Italy, you might see a type L outlet, and in Switzerland, you might find a type J plug.
I do with mine but it is USB C so all I had to do was buy a USB C to Lightening cable.
Technology marches on and there is no way for a massively bureaucratic organization like the EU to keep up. Perhaps rather than trying to stifle innovation, they should work on productive uses for "electronic waste".
This right here is the reason I can never vote for a guy like Bloomberg, or live in a neo liberal stronghold. This constant legislating solutions to problems that are so god damn minuscule, and treating every issue like it’s a must be solved crisis. I mean people are practically latching on to these crisis like they’re following a rock band. “I was a raising awareness for micro plastics before it made the news.”
when everything is a crisis or injustice, nothing is.
when everything is a crisis or injustice, nothing is.
Politicians think more laws will solve the worlds problems 😂😂
One problem is that USB C as a protocol does more than just supply power. As a result, you would still wind up with various cables depending on what you wanted it to do, you couldn’t aim-lynbuy any 3rd party USB C cable and have it transfer data as well as supply power, for example.
In addition, having a standard power supply spec would mean it had to be set at the highest possible power requirement, meaning a lot of phones would have a more expensive power plug that is far more powerful than needed; and as device power demands increase teh EU would have to up the specs or wind up not being able to sell some devices.
Fantastic point.
Europe: all phones must use the same mid-2010's-technology power connector
Also Europe: you want your wall outlet to have prongs the shape of a butterfly? Go for it. You want your wall outlet to have round prongs in one building and flat prongs in another? No problem.
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And Apple is still shipping the USB-A to Lightning cable with the latest iPhones and iPads (not Pro).
This is going to end poorly for the end user.