EU plans to force OEMs to use a common charger for all phones • Hacker News Board

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

#421

Post by kukx » Thu, Sep 23, 2021, 2:19 PM UTC

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…

For the love of God, we do not want a government to be in charge of the innovation. When government declares specifically what technology is mandated then we can be quite certain that there will be no more progress in this area. For example why bother working on a better port than USB-C, if there is this new risk of not being able to even use it.

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

#422

Post by Scoundreller » Thu, Sep 23, 2021, 2:20 PM UTC

aaaaaaaaaaab wrote: post #209

avianlyric wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Probably they think they can make the jump to a completely wireless phone before any USB-C mandates come in. Apple's timing with the lighting port wasn't great, with it arriving just before USB-C, and I imagine they're very reluctant to change the port on their phones because people already have lightning cables everywhere. Personally I would love to see USB-C on my iPhone, but I look at my parents, and having the po…

How do you use a phone while charging it wirelessly?

I think some automotive holsters do this so you’re not plugging/unplugging it, but still using it for nav/music/handsfree calls.

Which is even more of a waste given the inefficiency of wireless charging and the kWh cost of electricity in an ICE.

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

#423

Post by birdman3131 » Thu, Sep 23, 2021, 2:21 PM UTC

zamadatix wrote: post #375

birdman3131 wrote: post #303

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.

OnePlus 9 Pro (and previous 7 Pro) owner chiming in. OnePlus was quick to market with good fast charging but it's not all that special these days. You'd never be able to practically tell if my phone used QC 5 or Warp Charge 65T for instance. But that note aside QC/Warp Charge/ is just out of specced USB PD and most (including OnePlus) have already moved to supporting in spec USB PD on top of their proprietary modific…

Did they finally get rid of the can't charge very fast while the screen is on and gets hot enough to cook eggs while charging issues with QC5? Because at least with QC3 and previous that was a major issue.

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

#424

Post by capdeck » Thu, Sep 23, 2021, 2:21 PM UTC

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.

Apple created very profitable side business of licensing its proprietary connector to anyone who wants to create an accessory to iPhones. Uber-strong commercial motivation will never incentivize Apple to do the right thing - which today is switch to USB-C. The amount of electronic trash that this side business generates has a huge tax on the environment, not to mention inconvenience and extra spend for iPhone users.

While government regulation is usually the road to hell paved with good intentions, nothing else will force Apple to do the right thing. So, I guess, we'll have to choose "lesser evil"?

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

#425

Post by znpy » Thu, Sep 23, 2021, 2:21 PM UTC

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.

It honestly feels strange that this hasn't arrived earlier.

Think about going back to every device having its own proprietary charger, as it was in early 2000s:

- mobile phone? branded charger, incompatible with everything else

- mp3 player? branded charger, incompatible with everything else

- boombox? branded charger, incompatible with everything else

- cordless phone? branded charger, incompatible with everything else

- cassette player? branded charger, incompatible with everything else

That was dumb.

With USB-c/thunderbolt able to do both power delivery and power-negotiation, there really is no honest reason to use a proprietary connector.

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

#426

Post by mindcrime » Thu, Sep 23, 2021, 2:21 PM UTC

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.

Does anyone feel it is a little strange to have a government entity mandating a physical interconnect?

Yes, absolutely.

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

#427

Post by wrboyce » Thu, Sep 23, 2021, 2:21 PM UTC

filiphorvat wrote: post #382

jhoechtl wrote: post #362

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Just to be clear, power sockets are not standardized in the EU. Italy has different ones (Type L), France as well (Type E), and the UK too (but they are no longer ... you know) ... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mains_electricity_by_country

To be fair, the CEE 7/7 plug will work almost everywhere in the EU, not counting the UK of course. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AC_power_plugs_and_sockets#CEE...

If you use a screwdriver or similar to open the socket covers (shove the screwdriver into the earth socket) then you can indeed use a CEE 7/7 in a UK socket.

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

#428

Post by gruez » Thu, Sep 23, 2021, 2:21 PM UTC

GordonS wrote: post #301

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…

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

How's that going with the EU cookie legislation?

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

#429

Post by Scoundreller » Thu, Sep 23, 2021, 2:21 PM UTC

InsomniacL wrote: post #124

kozlowsqi wrote: post #73

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have like 3 lightning cables, apple deprecating lightning would account to me throwing these cables away and buying usb-c. I suppose other apple users would have to do the same. Not to mention other lightning accessories, headphones and such. Lightning is still included on airpods (pro and max). Furthermore, usb-c is younger than lightning. And lightning was arguably superior to previous usbs (more durable). So whi…

> I have like 3 lightning cables, apple deprecating lightning would account to me throwing these cables away I'm sure that's the same argument every phone manufacture made before the EU legislated it and Apple found their loophole. An adapter to fit on the end of the lightening could alleviate that problem until people have switched.

I use old cables to tie up and support tomato plants… it’s a big bundle…

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

#430

Post by cnst » Thu, Sep 23, 2021, 2:21 PM UTC

PragmaticPulp wrote: post #275

The article focuses on forcing USB-C ports (popular), but the proposal also unbundles chargers from products like cell phones (unpopular). Apple and several other vendors already unbundled chargers from their boxes with mixed reception. Will be interesting to see how this proposal is received when people realize it means they’ll be purchasing chargers separately.

Before Covid, every booth at every trade show would give you a free wall charger. Some of them were just 1-port 1A 5W throwaway, but also some better stuff, too.

I can't imagine buying a charger together with the phone is a thing. You either lose them nonstop, or you have so many of them you don't need anymore.