They could just ya know...butt out and focus on more important things that actually matter. If the majority of users actually wanted this, it would have happened without the EU dictating it.
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Upcoming USB-C AirPods Pro Not Expected to Include Any Other Hardware Changes
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In good time. There's probably more inventory to sell off of Lightning-based Mac accessories. I suspect no new ones will be made with Lightning. So as inventories thin out, USB-C versions will be announced. Apple knows how to maximize every cent. They spend like every penny counts but charge like we consumers should "think (VERY) different" about that.
I think my favorite Steve Jobs story about this is something to the effect that a worker was complaining about not having free vending machines and having to pay for chips, he said "my job isn't to buy your chips, my job is to make the stock price go up so you can buy your own ****ing chips."
I'm sorry, but what sort of innovation is required for wireless earbuds?
AirPods are a mature product. There's no need to change things simply for the sake of change.
If they design a new usb-c connector for the Magic Mouse but put it on the bottom again the internet will explode.
I will instantly replace all my peripherals, including my really nice black on space grey pro 10-keypads, for USB-C. I am so done with multiple connectors in my house. The iPhones will otherwise be the last things.
Yes. But it’ll be shiny. And shiny things made by Apple is the only reason I need to upgrade.
Cook should be removed as CEO for these anti consumer practices
The most likely time for them to upgrade those Mac accessories to USB-C would be during a Mac-focused produce announcement. We may see one this fall or early next spring. Alternately, they may just quietly upgrade those product and only issue a press release, at most.In good time. There's probably more inventory to sell off of Lightning-based Mac accessories. I suspect no new ones will be made with Lightning. So as inventories thin out, USB-C versions will be announced. Apple knows how to maximize every cent. They spend like every penny counts but charge like we consumers should "think (VERY) different" about that.
edit: upgrading those accessories is probably the lowest priority. The benefit of switching to USB-C is having fewer cables when you travel. At your desk you can keep one lightning cable around to charge them as long as you need.
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Most of us have had to deal with that weird mix of USB-C and Lightning for the last several years. At least this is one more step toward the end of that transition.
Precisely what “anti consumer practices” are you referring to? Everyone who has APPs already has a charger that works just fine with a Lightning cable.
No. The current regulation does not apply to devices that use wireless or inductive charging only, so it doesn’t apply to the Apple Watch. If the iPhone or other phones do go entirely wireless in coming years, they will likely use the new Qi-2 standard that is compatible with iPhone MagSafe because Apple worked with the Qi group to bring Qi and MagSafe together in a new standard. The EU will have no problem with that arrangement.
Also, the current ones only came out a year ago. It seems a little soon to bring out AirPods with new functionality. As you said, these are fairly mature products where the core features need or have little room for improvement.
It doesn’t matter. This is not a major change in any regard. It will be a small inconvenience for some offset by a small convenience for others. The environmental impact will probably be a wash. In two years no one will even think about this change.
For accessories that never leave your desk, does it matter what cable they use to charge? You can keep one cable on your desk to charge those devices. This change matters more for devices that are charged when traveling where you want to bring fewer cables and chargers and don’t want to forget that one critical cable when you leave.
What anti-consumer practice?
Complying with an EU regulation to adopt a standard charging connector?
Providing said connector to those who want to carry fewer cables when traveling?
If still under warranty or AppleCare, have it checked and if needed, exchanged for a new one at an Apple Store. They have individual charging cases and each side earbuds for replacement available if you need just one instead of all three.
Wouldn’t surprise me if they found something about that arrangement to complain about. The EU likes regulations, so they’d probably come up with something 😒
I'm well aware of what the regulation says.
Which is terrible for the environment as wireless charging is extremely inefficient. This goes against EU's reasoning for the USB-C mandate which is supposedly for the environment. It's also bad for the environment since billions of cables were sold just to switch over from lightning for the few years it had a USB-C port. It would have been better to either ban wireless upfront or to let Apple stay on lightning and then go portless in a few years.
Either way, EU is doing an awful job for the environment here.
Same outcome had Apple stayed on lightning for another few years. But now we've spent an extra billion on producing USB-C cables and releasing tons of emissions for nothing.
How long ago? There were no phones out there with USB C when Apple first started making this move. Apple promised 1 decade of Lightning to iPhone customers, and they held up to that promise.
You mean when they were trying to mandate micro-usb? They should probably stay out of these things since they lag so far behind.