Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

EU plans to force OEMs to use a common charger for all phones

xda-developers.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

301–310 of 751 posts

Re: EU plans to force OEMs to use a common charger for all phones

#301

Post by GordonS »

sidewndr46 wrote: post #287

Does anyone feel it is a little strange to have a government entity mandating a physical interconnect? I guess it has worked out well enough for receptacles. But on a phone it acts as a data connection as well. I guess I just wonder if in 20 years will every device still have a USB-C port on it in some odd location? No one is using it anymore, but it is still mandatory on everything.

No, I don't. Here the EU is creating legislation that forces manufacturers to increase interoperability, be more consumer-friendly, and more climate friendly.

This all seems within the remit of governments to me.

> I guess I just wonder if in 20 years will every device still have a USB-C port on it in some odd location? No one is using it anymore, but it is still mandatory on everything.

Or course not, it's not like legislation is set in stone and will never change.

Re: EU plans to force OEMs to use a common charger for all phones

#302

Post by epistasis »

sidewndr46 wrote: post #287

Does anyone feel it is a little strange to have a government entity mandating a physical interconnect? I guess it has worked out well enough for receptacles. But on a phone it acts as a data connection as well. I guess I just wonder if in 20 years will every device still have a USB-C port on it in some odd location? No one is using it anymore, but it is still mandatory on everything.

I think the expectation is that there will be additional rule changes to adapt to technology advancement. This isn't the sort of rule meant to last forever. The EU also has less of a problem with people being elected that try to prove that government doesn't work by intentionally making it work poorly.

Re: EU plans to force OEMs to use a common charger for all phones

#303

Post by birdman3131 »

Im not a fan of the quick charging standard being forced as it sounds like it will be one hell of a step back for anybody on a oneplus/oppo phone. The quick charging there is absolutely amazing. Im on an older version but even then my 1+ 7 pro charges fast and never gets hot while charging. Compared to PD or QC it is leagues better.

Re: EU plans to force OEMs to use a common charger for all phones

#305

Post by snek_case »

sidewndr46 wrote: post #287

Does anyone feel it is a little strange to have a government entity mandating a physical interconnect? I guess it has worked out well enough for receptacles. But on a phone it acts as a data connection as well. I guess I just wonder if in 20 years will every device still have a USB-C port on it in some odd location? No one is using it anymore, but it is still mandatory on everything.

You say that, but USB-A ports are close to 25 years old, and still plenty adequate for a lot of things, from headsets to audio interfaces to keyboard and mice. Devices with USB-A ports are still sold. I wish my MacBook Pro had some good old USB-A ports.

Re: EU plans to force OEMs to use a common charger for all phones

#306

Post by GhostVII »

ghostDancer wrote: post #230
GhostVII wrote: post #227

Am I the only one who thinks this is completely insane, just based on principle? How have we reached a point where we think it is OK for the government to tell me that I can't buy a phone without a specific charger. This isn't a safety issue, and there isn't any massive infrastructure requirement, let people make their own decisions. If I want to make a crazy phone that is 2mm thin and needs some special charger, I s…

Do you remember when every phone had a different charger?. I do it was crazy, stupid and expensive. They had to regulate it. Now is starting again.

Just because something is annoying doesn't mean it should be regulated. Especially when that regulation is going to stifle innovation.

And right now we don't have a tonne of different chargers, we have two, both of which are good in different ways.

Re: EU plans to force OEMs to use a common charger for all phones

#307

Post by walterbell »

0_____0 wrote: post #288
walterbell wrote: post #278

They need to mandate the presence of a physical cable, otherwise Apple will drop the port and move to wireless charging. Wired cable remains important for high-quality audio and secure data transfers. Both WiFi and Bluetooth have a long and storied history of vulnerabilities. While they are at it, can we please have a dedicated physical cable port for audio? It doesn't have to be TRRS 3.5mm, but it must be possible t…

I wonder what % of phone users have actually used a cable to move data to or from their phone in the last couple of years. I have, but I'm a weird nerd who likes to plug in removable storage once every 6 months or so.

The ones who still own their data? If data is money, they can also afford to buy new phones. iXpand USB-Lightning drives are supported by some iOS apps which process large files, e.g. media playback and editing.

There's no need for everything to be lowest-common-denominator. Product management is not statistics, it is aspirational leadership for upward mobility in human values, including but not limited to function, form, and creative power. e.g. a tiny minority of humans create art for millions, yet both can use the same device + accessories, if devices are not neutered.

Re: EU plans to force OEMs to use a common charger for all phones

#308

Post by letmeinhere »

While we're at it, can we enforce some labeling standards? USB-C has become this mystery port/cable that might or might not be capable of video/data/charging at ? throughput. Earlier USB standards had this issue to some extent, but C takes it to another level.

Re: EU plans to force OEMs to use a common charger for all phones

#309

Post by 542354234235 »

misnome wrote: post #236
sph wrote: post #4

Good, though in practice it's not the charger the problem, I use the same USB plug everywhere, it's Apple and their cable. Right now I always need with me a micro USB cable, an USB-C one, and Lightning, because Apple thinks different™. What's Apple reasoning for not abandoning Lightning for USB-C on their phones?

> because Apple thinks different™. This is a little unfair, when Apple has been more consistent in keeping the same ports and cables, and moved to generic USB-chargers long before it was standard for anyone else? USB-C wasn't even finalised until 2014; I can't remember how common USB-C was on phones before that, but Apple was using lightning for _years_ before that. What's the e-Waste consequence of changing and forc…

>USB-C wasn't even finalised until 2014; I can't remember how common USB-C was on phones before that, but Apple was using lightning for _years_ before that.

Everyone else was using micro USB for years before usb-C. So for years, every phone cable except Apple could also be used to charge your headphones, Kindle, Tablet, etc. It isn’t just phones we are talking about. When pretty much all devices are on one standard, and Apple refuses, that is where the e waste comes from. All my micro usb cables are still useful for random older products around the house. All my USB C cables are useful for random newer products around the house. My lightning cable is useful for exactly one item around my house ever at any given time. I have zero other uses for it. People don’t need to go out and buy new chargers and cables because they already have them for their other devices. That’s the whole point of interoperability.

Re: EU plans to force OEMs to use a common charger for all phones

#310

Post by HPsquared »

doikor wrote: post #295
HPsquared wrote: post #284

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do they all support the high voltage modes? USB PD goes up to 20V/5A (100W). https://www.cui.com/blog/usb-type-c-pd-and-pps#usb-power-del...

Yes. The A4 and A9 (A1 and A19 are ground) are the only pins that transmit power. Putting 20V/5A through the copper is not a problem even for the cheapest cable. edit: Ok looking at the other reply with the link to the google engineers stuff some have messed up the A5 (configuration channel) pin and thus the negotiation for giving more power fails and just defaults to normal levels that are safe for any device.

Sure the wire can almost certainly handle it, but are the contacts always going to be able to handle 5A? They are very small after all, and not treated very nicely. Not sure how it's handled by the protocol, but I've known cables to get hot due to contact resistance.
Post reply on HN