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EU lawmakers snub Apple's pleas, vote to push for charging cable standard

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Re: EU lawmakers snub Apple's pleas, vote to push for charging cable standard

#351

Post by nindalf »

freepor wrote: post #340
visarga wrote: post #328

Earlier quoted context omitted.

EU isn't legislating USB-C, it's demanding that the industry standards body have a common standard for charging, and continue to develop it as a common standard. The manufacturers are going to be collaborating on the specs. It will be like TCP/IP, DNS, UTF and many other things.

But why does the EU bureaucracy know that charging ports cannot be an important part of product differentiation? I would hope they wouldn’t legislate a common screen size or a common operating system... why legislate a common charging port? I STRONGLY prefer Lightning and would hope that people who prefer Lightning like me can buy Apple and people who prefer USB-C can buy Android.

Given a choice between having one or two charger for both phone and laptop, you'd prefer having 2?

Re: EU lawmakers snub Apple's pleas, vote to push for charging cable standard

#352

Post by Symbiote »

djannzjkzxn wrote: post #268
DangitBobby wrote: post #263

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Aren't these cables notorious for fraying and breaking? https://frayedlightningcables.tumblr.com/ Anecdotally, my friends' cables always seem to be frayed. I personally have not owned an apple phone in many years, but I recently bought an apple brand usb-c to 3.5mm adapter at an airport because that's all they had and I forgot mine at home... It stopped working after about a month of very gentle use. It's in perfect…

Is this any better than the cables that come with non-Apple devices? I’m skeptical.

I check the electronic waste bin in my apartment building every so often, there's often something interesting I can try and fix.

There are always broken Apple charger cables. They don't have a rubber grommit on the end of the cables, so they wear out.

Android or PC laptop cables that are in the bin are usually in working order, with an obsolete device.

Re: EU lawmakers snub Apple's pleas, vote to push for charging cable standard

#353

Post by jakehop »

sho_hn wrote: post #180
veeralpatel979 wrote: post #175

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes but why is it so bad to let companies choose what charging cables they provide? You get a free charging cable usually when you purchase a new phone and charging cables are cheap. I get the environment argument but I don't see how this moves the needle on protecting the environment. If anything it could scare off tech companies from developing charging cables that are better for the environment.

I carry two phones, my private Android phone (my personal preference) and an iPhone imposed on me by work. Not having to bother with two sets of cables would be a welcome improvement. As for "not moving the needle", every little thing sums up. Also, it's not just the cables - manufacturing lines, shelf space, redundant labor, ...

I’m pretty sure that using two phones offsets any environmental savings from a single cable by quite a bit. Who knows when the EU will crack down on that kind of splurging?

Re: EU lawmakers snub Apple's pleas, vote to push for charging cable standard

#354

Post by anticensor »

nomel wrote: post #245
kevingadd wrote: post #148

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why would you use SCSI to charge a phone? It'd be a standardized power connector, probably like those small round ones that are used for all sorts of household appliances. Similarly, your projector is already using a standardized power cable: The one that goes into your wall socket. For cables that don't terminate with a regular 2/3 prong on the other end, there are a few standardized shapes there too. My monitors an…

The charge ports of cellphones have almost always had data capabilities built in.

Old Nokia chargers disagree with various barrel connectors. It is not like "Anyone with thin-barreled Nokia charger?" was in the distant past.

Re: EU lawmakers snub Apple's pleas, vote to push for charging cable standard

#355

Post by Symbiote »

scarface74 wrote: post #215
ClumsyPilot wrote: post #214

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not an analogy, it's a general principle: we put a standard in place in important industries with mature technology. Your car has a standard interface to a petrol pump. Fire engine has a standard interface to a fire hydrant. Some people believe it's time for a standard interface between a phone and a charger.

We don’t have to reach for other industries. Electricity in the home is definitely “mature” yet we never saw the need for the government to mandate a standard for a plug on the device end.

The "other end" almost always has IEC connectors in Europe. Is this not the case in your country?

If there's no regulation enforcing this, it's because the EU doesn't think it's necessary — the industry has agreed upon a standard without intervention.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IEC_60320

Re: EU lawmakers snub Apple's pleas, vote to push for charging cable standard

#356

Post by Symbiote »

ashildr wrote: post #141
iSnow wrote: post #123

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Haha, I've been around when tech-illiterate regulators from the EU weren't around to stymie innovation in the oh-so important field of power connectors. In fact, I still have a box full of wall-warts from at least 5 phone manufacturers, and not one would fit on a different maker's phone. In fact, for some producers, the power plugs were even different for different models. Yeah, I so miss those days.

I have the same box, with wall warts from my first cellphone in about 1998 until today. Now tell me, how many of those wall warts are from Apple and don’t have a USB-Port or a fixed cable? Exactly 0. Now tell me how many of the other manufacturer’s power adaptors have either a fixed cable or a non-USB port? All wall warts that came with any Apple Phone or iPad I ever used are still usable because they are USB.

Apple's first phone was released only just before the first EU regulation came into force. Presumably they were aware of the upcoming regulation.

Re: EU lawmakers snub Apple's pleas, vote to push for charging cable standard

#357

Post by atoav »

freepor wrote: post #340
visarga wrote: post #328

Earlier quoted context omitted.

EU isn't legislating USB-C, it's demanding that the industry standards body have a common standard for charging, and continue to develop it as a common standard. The manufacturers are going to be collaborating on the specs. It will be like TCP/IP, DNS, UTF and many other things.

But why does the EU bureaucracy know that charging ports cannot be an important part of product differentiation? I would hope they wouldn’t legislate a common screen size or a common operating system... why legislate a common charging port? I STRONGLY prefer Lightning and would hope that people who prefer Lightning like me can buy Apple and people who prefer USB-C can buy Android.

Because the EU isn't there to pamper big corporations, it is there to strengthen the rights of consumers and citizens by strengthening competition. If your company can't survive without selling adapters or locking in customers with unnecessary differing standards (and therefor avoiding competition), maybe it isn't really healthy to begin with.

I would have a different perspective if there was really a practical reason for apple to go the different route — but there isn't.

Re: EU lawmakers snub Apple's pleas, vote to push for charging cable standard

#358

Post by Symbiote »

tootahe45 wrote: post #332
ClumsyPilot wrote: post #132

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You are misunderstanding. The idea is that manufacturers are free to do USb D, E... Z, they just have to all agree on whatever is their next thing. It also is just a charger, they can do whatever they want with data.

Why bother innovating in this area then if it provides no advantage for an individual company?

So, Apple won't be implementing 5G?

Re: EU lawmakers snub Apple's pleas, vote to push for charging cable standard

#359

Post by scarface74 »

Twixes wrote: post #262
scarface74 wrote: post #187

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So because it would be more convenient for you we need government intervention?

Making life convenient is kind of one of the things that governments should do for their citizens. And intervention is the only way to make that XKCD strip about standards not true.

The last thing I want is government passing laws to make life “convenient”.

Re: EU lawmakers snub Apple's pleas, vote to push for charging cable standard

#360

Post by krebspsycho »

Running with the argument that the EU wants the plug that plugs into the phone standardized... what about an Apple Watch that can make LTE calls? Would that be considered under this? Where would you force a company to add a port of any kind to a device that size?
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