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EU: Call to introduce common charger for all mobile phones

europarl.europa.eu

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Re: EU: Call to introduce common charger for all mobile phones

#121

Post by briandear »

zaarn wrote: post #51
Renaud wrote: post #32

Apple really dropped the ball on this and the argument they make (thing about all of the old accessories!) is pretty moot for the consumer. I want all phone to standardise on USB-C. No adapter for Apple, no exception. The point is not just about charging: accessory manufacturers have to develop 2 physical versions of their equipment, for Apple devices and for Android devices. This increases development and manufactur…

The EU simply told the manufacturers to agree on a single port or else they would have to regulate one. Apple ruined the party for everyone.

Why does the EU actually have a say here? Is this really that important that government should be involved? Don’t like Apple chargers, don’t buy them.

Re: EU: Call to introduce common charger for all mobile phones

#122

Post by notatoad »

mytailorisrich wrote: post #3

Obviously a common charger would simplify things. We are already almost there. But if the main goal is to reduce electronic waste then it won't change anything by itself because every device we buy comes with a charger, anyway. In order to reduce waste, purchases of devices and chargers should be decoupled (I don't need a new charger every time I change my phone). A universal charger would thus just be an enabler for…

while we're at it, let's stop shipping a pair of garbage-quality earbuds with every new phone.

Re: EU: Call to introduce common charger for all mobile phones

#123

Post by lsaferite »

bestouff wrote: post #77
gambiting wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well, at least one reason for different connectors is the fact that USB-C cannot support more than 100W(20V at 5amps). But I agree that literally every single laptop on the market that's below 100W should just use USB-C for charging.

My XPS 13 can suck 130W through its USB-C connector. For example with the TB-16 dock.

Must be a proprietary thing as USB-C using USB-PD maxes out at 100W.

Re: EU: Call to introduce common charger for all mobile phones

#125

Post by briandear »

C1sc0cat wrote: post #76
vegardx wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Phones are still able to output analog (and digital!) audio using a dongle. Ducking behind accessibility because you don't want to use a dongle seems a little disingenuous.

OH good and mandate separate mic and audio out as well :-)

Component video out, HDMI, optical audio out, SCSI, Serial ports and a floppy drive.

These should all be required by law in every device.

Re: EU: Call to introduce common charger for all mobile phones

#126

Post by jefftk »

wang_li wrote: post #114
ken wrote: post #95

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why stop at computers? Dewalt, Milwaukee, Makita, and every other power tool uses its own proprietary battery connector. Why stop at DC power? Last I checked, Germany, France, England, Italy, and many of the smaller countries all had their own AC power connectors. Why stop at hardware? iMessage, Hangouts, Messenger, Slack, and all the rest use their own proprietary interfaces. I still can't even save "a spreadsheet"…

> iMessage, Hangouts, Messenger, Slack, and all the rest use their own proprietary interfaces. For a certain core level of functionality, there should be regulations and laws in place that these apps all support a public and open protocol. They can have their own, but I should be able to use imessage to send an IM to skype on the desktop. This is no different than requiring standard signalling on the wires during the…

> For a certain core level of functionality, there should be regulations and laws in place that these apps all support a public and open protocol. They can have their own, but I should be able to use imessage to send an IM to skype on the desktop.

Historically, open protocols like this have had a major issue with spam. How does the Skype network verify that the iMessage IM is legitimate? What about the incoming IM from the TotallyNotAFrontForSpammers service?

Email is pretty much the only fully open federated push protocol, and it is only able to handle spam via complex reputation based hacks and message inspection (which is a poor fit for IM).

This is no different than requiring standard signalling on the wires during the era of landlines.

With the level of spam phone calls I get these days, you may see why I'm not excited about using the phone system as a model!

Re: EU: Call to introduce common charger for all mobile phones

#127

Post by gonzo »

ken wrote: post #95
fierarul wrote: post #25

Why stop at mobile phones? Is there a reason laptops need so many different connectors? I am willing to bet many random connectors are just planned obsolescence or a secondary revenue stream for producers. Also, let's take this further. Any reason laptop displays can't internally have a rather standardised connector? We are throwing away perfectly good displays on broken laptops. What if I could buy a $20 adaptor and…

Why stop at computers? Dewalt, Milwaukee, Makita, and every other power tool uses its own proprietary battery connector. Why stop at DC power? Last I checked, Germany, France, England, Italy, and many of the smaller countries all had their own AC power connectors. Why stop at hardware? iMessage, Hangouts, Messenger, Slack, and all the rest use their own proprietary interfaces. I still can't even save "a spreadsheet"…

> I can put any bit in any drill, and any blade in any saw,

Not really, no. Try fitting a bit with a 1/2” shank into your typical consumer battery-powered drill.

Re: EU: Call to introduce common charger for all mobile phones

#128

Post by mrep »

specialist wrote: post #33
Mindwipe wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Apple got them to water it down so manufacturing a Lightning to USB adaptor was sufficient. It appears to the EU have tired of this.

I love Lightning more than my first born child. I've been using USB-C now for about 3 months. Expected to hate it. It's pretty terrific. I'm sold. But whatever. Rumors are Apple will transition their mobiles to fully wireless charging. I'm totally on board.

I despise my pixels usb-c plug because it is so finicky. It's at the point where it takes like 5 attempts to get it to connect to my cars android auto and it frequently disconnects whenever I hit a bump.

Re: EU: Call to introduce common charger for all mobile phones

#129

Post by briandear »

glogla wrote: post #111
anoncake wrote: post #91

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes. There are valid reasons for not including a headphone jack whereas there are none for having two incompatible connector types (USB/Lightning) for the same purposes. It would make more sense to encourage manufacturers to make variants of their headphones with a USB plug (AFAIK USB-C supports analog audio). Mandating that all phones must have a headphone jack would make sense if manufacturers omitted it for antico…

> Mandating that all phones must have a headphone jack would make sense if manufacturers omitted it for anticompetetive or other nefarious reasons, knowingly acting against the interests of their customers. I guess that's a matter of opinion, because I am convinced that this is exactly what happened. Apple sells dongles for money and also makes money on Lightning licensing.

Do you still use a floppy drive? Was removing that “anti-competitive” or just seeing around corners. Wired anything is going away completely; just a matter of time. It isn’t some conspiracy to prevent you from using your old Walkman headphones.

Re: EU: Call to introduce common charger for all mobile phones

#130

Post by ksec »

gambiting wrote: post #35
fierarul wrote: post #25

Why stop at mobile phones? Is there a reason laptops need so many different connectors? I am willing to bet many random connectors are just planned obsolescence or a secondary revenue stream for producers. Also, let's take this further. Any reason laptop displays can't internally have a rather standardised connector? We are throwing away perfectly good displays on broken laptops. What if I could buy a $20 adaptor and…

Well, at least one reason for different connectors is the fact that USB-C cannot support more than 100W(20V at 5amps). But I agree that literally every single laptop on the market that's below 100W should just use USB-C for charging.

>every single laptop on the market that's below 100W should just use USB-C for charging.

Not just laptops, but electronics.

Recently I had to replace the crappy default PSU for my Synology NAS. It only uses 18W at peak during Read usage with 2HDD. Why do I need a specific power supply for that?

Most Router only uses 20W. TV Set Top Box / Recorder. Active Speakers. Electronic Shavers Battery Powered Small Drills or Kitchen Wares.

I have to search for that specific charger every time,

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