Well, FWIW even without these kinds of forcing, Apple still will move on to the USB-C connector... USB-C is literally an Apple designed port. The iPad Pro is adopting USB-C, I suspect that the next generation of iPhones will also adopt USB-C. It's just that the current market of lightning is too big and they weren't prepared for the overhaul yet.
Apple may have to abandon Lightning connector cable
41–50 of 156 posts
Re: Apple may have to abandon Lightning connector cable
#42I mean, it's good to reduce disposable cables, but it's not like Apple is egregious about this. The Lightning port has been in use longer than the time between the release of USB and Mini-USB, Mini-USB and Micro-USB, Micro-USB and USB-C, or USB-C to today. The 30-pin connector was current for 9 years, even longer than Lightning has been around.
Lightning cables are by far the most fragile. Either they get frayed, tarnished, or just plain stop working. Edit: it's not just me, a simple Google search turns up the following: [0]. Apple phone/tablet hardware is great but the cables they ship are unfortunately not very good. [0]: https://www.cnet.com/news/these-are-the-lowest-rated-product...
YMMV, anecdotal, etc. but my Apple-brand cables have never done this, while some walmart $5 ones have.
Re: Apple may have to abandon Lightning connector cable
#43I mean, it's good to reduce disposable cables, but it's not like Apple is egregious about this. The Lightning port has been in use longer than the time between the release of USB and Mini-USB, Mini-USB and Micro-USB, Micro-USB and USB-C, or USB-C to today. The 30-pin connector was current for 9 years, even longer than Lightning has been around.
Lightning cables are by far the most fragile. Either they get frayed, tarnished, or just plain stop working. Edit: it's not just me, a simple Google search turns up the following: [0]. Apple phone/tablet hardware is great but the cables they ship are unfortunately not very good. [0]: https://www.cnet.com/news/these-are-the-lowest-rated-product...
The ones that Apple sells, at least. The braided cables are seriously durable.
My favorite variant, though, are the magnetic Lightning chargers you can get for basically nothing on Aliexpress. Never have to worry about plugging in/unplugging your phone ever again; just put it into your phone once, and then whenever you need to charge just connect the magnetic cable to it.
Re: Apple may have to abandon Lightning connector cable
#44While I'm fraustrated with the connector diversity in my home, I'm not at all keen to have technology design mandated. Would this forbid a certain type of product from using something better, and force new design to be via committees? I mean, it's not like Europe uses all the same mains power plugs. Well, I guess UK leaving will help there.
I share you concern, but I wonder if a strong law could account for this? "You must use the standard, unless doing so would have a substantial impact on your product's capabilities." (I wrote this in 30 seconds, replace with more legally sound version.) I feel like Apple would have a hard time arguing the lightening is technically more capable than USB-C. But if they want to create something that is a clear improveme…
Lightning is smaller, case closed.
Re: Apple may have to abandon Lightning connector cable
#45Just switch to wireless Qi charging and eliminate cords altogether.
I would be all for it, as long as there was some strong and small magnetic Qi charger that allows you to charge while using the phone at the same time as you hold it in one hand. Maybe it already exists, in which case, great, I am all for it already.
Re: Apple may have to abandon Lightning connector cable
#46Earlier quoted context omitted.
They are telling the industry to choose one common connector, and to standardize around it.... They are not dictating which one.... and that the one they choose has to be set in stone (i.e. never change) De facto it is going to probably be USB-C, and I think it is a good move.... If years down the road, there is a new connector called USB-D (or whatever it is called), they can switch to it.... Also, this is for charg…
But if it's law to use the standard connector than how do you use a different (lets say newer) connection if the law says to use the standard connector. There's a bit of a chicken and egg problem. Somebody is going to have to build a device with a connector that isn't standard at some point to make progress.
It only means that device makers will have to agree on a new standard before they can drop the previous one. I agree that it will slow down things, but there is no chicken and egg problem.
Re: Apple may have to abandon Lightning connector cable
#47Does anyone know if there's any merit to Apple's claim that USB-C isn't compatible with the iPhone's slim dimensions? (From the article: "Apple insisted that its slimmer devices would be unable to fit the then-new USB-C technology ...") Just looking at the tech specs for the iPhone 11 (lightning) [1] versus iPad Pro (USB-C) [2], the former is actually thicker at 8.3 mm compared to 5.9 mm, and yet the iPad Pro can hav…
It's bullshit as far as I can see.
Most Android flagships with Type-C are either similar or thinner than the iPhone (Samsung S10 for example which is 7.8mm and Moto Z3 is 6.8mm!).
Re: Apple may have to abandon Lightning connector cable
#48Earlier quoted context omitted.
I share you concern, but I wonder if a strong law could account for this? "You must use the standard, unless doing so would have a substantial impact on your product's capabilities." (I wrote this in 30 seconds, replace with more legally sound version.) I feel like Apple would have a hard time arguing the lightening is technically more capable than USB-C. But if they want to create something that is a clear improveme…
Lightning is smaller, case closed.
Is it meaningfully smaller? Side by side, they look the same size to me.
Re: Apple may have to abandon Lightning connector cable
#49I mean, it's good to reduce disposable cables, but it's not like Apple is egregious about this. The Lightning port has been in use longer than the time between the release of USB and Mini-USB, Mini-USB and Micro-USB, Micro-USB and USB-C, or USB-C to today. The 30-pin connector was current for 9 years, even longer than Lightning has been around.
Lightning cables are by far the most fragile. Either they get frayed, tarnished, or just plain stop working. Edit: it's not just me, a simple Google search turns up the following: [0]. Apple phone/tablet hardware is great but the cables they ship are unfortunately not very good. [0]: https://www.cnet.com/news/these-are-the-lowest-rated-product...
In my experience, the connector has never been implicated in a failing Lightning cable; it’s always been the cable itself. By contrast, the average lifespan of a micro USB cable in my household is a couple months, before the connectors themselves get bent beyond repair.
Re: Apple may have to abandon Lightning connector cable
#50Does anyone know if there's any merit to Apple's claim that USB-C isn't compatible with the iPhone's slim dimensions? (From the article: "Apple insisted that its slimmer devices would be unable to fit the then-new USB-C technology ...") Just looking at the tech specs for the iPhone 11 (lightning) [1] versus iPad Pro (USB-C) [2], the former is actually thicker at 8.3 mm compared to 5.9 mm, and yet the iPad Pro can hav…
I was thinking they might keep the lightning standard until they would finally remove all connectors from iPhones. But then the whole AirPower charging pad didn’t work out, so not sure why they wouldn’t switch over finally.