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EU Passes Law to Switch iPhone to USB-C by End of 2024

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Re: EU Passes Law to Switch iPhone to USB-C by End of 2024

#371

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's the number one reason, why I am not upgrading and tell everyone who asks me, to not do it either. This law is so good, even its anticipation has environmental benefits.

The law will stifle further innovation for cables. Imagine still having USB A because the EU said so.

> Imagine still having USB A because the EU said so.

The EU literally did mandate USB-A/plug + micro-USB (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_external_power_supply).

The successful development & widespread use of USB-C afterwards, culminating in this updated directive standardizing it, is a very neat demonstration that it didn't stifle innovation at all.

Re: EU Passes Law to Switch iPhone to USB-C by End of 2024

#372

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Whereas cables can be made by anyone competent. Like the myriad businesses already making lightning cables?

I think it was pretty obvious from context clues that they were talking about USB since it's standardized. If lightning were standardized then other companies would be able to produce the cables. I don't see what your point is.

I misunderstood the line of reasoning for the person I responded to. I originally interpreted it as standardization allows others to make the cables.

Re: EU Passes Law to Switch iPhone to USB-C by End of 2024

#373

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There are at least 3 different standards for wall plugs in the Eu.

Unless I'm misunderstanding you, they're all part of the same standard, CEE 7, but have different purposes and are intentionally incompatible.

No. Include the UK/Ireland plug in that.

Re: EU Passes Law to Switch iPhone to USB-C by End of 2024

#374

Self-regulation only works if government regulation is a serious threat in case self-regulation fails. In this case, self-regulation failed, so government regulation stepped in to force industry to do what is right. All the handwringing about stifling innovation is on its face ridiculous as mandates to use micro-usb didn't stop android phones from adopting the new and better standard as soon as it was viable.

Well... I agree with the spirit of the effort, but not the letter of it.

>>> From spring 2026, the obligation will extend to laptops

So this would force Apple to replace MagSafe with USB-C? How is that not killing innovation?

Standardisation should be a goal, but I just feel this particular effort is too specific and brings very little value to consumers. Why don't we standardise payment protocols instead? Or biometric identity verification? Or ID cards even (that the UK is allergic to)? I just feel the spirit of these efforts can be applied so much more successfully elsewhere.

Re: EU Passes Law to Switch iPhone to USB-C by End of 2024

#375

USB-C is inferior from the hardware/form standpoint. It's a larger, more fragile and flimsy connector (than lightning) which is very un-apple. It can be crimped shut if rolled on by a chair. Additionally the charging standards are a total mess, with PD and QC requiring compatible chargers and cables, which are often unlabeled. I'm all for a great charging standard but USB-C ain't it.

Apple itself is using the USB-C connector on their Apple MacBooks and Apple iPads. Somehow it's "Apple" there?!

(Seriously, why am I constantly seeing these utterly ridiculous comments in Apple topics? Do you not think for half a second before writing something utterly misguided?)

Re: EU Passes Law to Switch iPhone to USB-C by End of 2024

#376

USB-C is inferior from the hardware/form standpoint. It's a larger, more fragile and flimsy connector (than lightning) which is very un-apple. It can be crimped shut if rolled on by a chair. Additionally the charging standards are a total mess, with PD and QC requiring compatible chargers and cables, which are often unlabeled. I'm all for a great charging standard but USB-C ain't it.

Is this why Apple use USB-C on some of their iPads?

Re: EU Passes Law to Switch iPhone to USB-C by End of 2024

#377
post #353
post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I am similarly of two minds. As an engineer, I can imagine how legal mandates for technology choices could stifle innovation and make the future of technology worse. But at the same time, I think there may be a place for mandating interface compatibility. To give some old-school examples, how differently might industrialization have gone if rail systems weren't mandated to operate under some shared standards? Or wher…

> To give some old-school examples, how differently might industrialization have gone if rail systems weren't mandated to operate under some shared standards? I'm not sure that analogy holds particularly well. The UK did build rail systems without shared standards, and only standardised on gauge in 1846, which was very late in the industrial revolution: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Gauge_War - Standards for…

> Effectively, the UK let (mainly by omission, not intentionally) the solutions compete and then selected the most broadly used solution to standardise on.

We're down to two connectors here, one of which is only used by a single vendor; do you think that hasn't already happened?

Re: EU Passes Law to Switch iPhone to USB-C by End of 2024

#378
post #323

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well i really like magsafe :)

They're not incompatible. They make bootleg magsafe USB-C cables.

Beware, there is a lot of actual safety equipment that goes into a MagSafe connector that probably isn’t in the knock-offs. Moving 5 A of current can cause a spark and start a fire right in your lap.

- http://www.righto.com/2013/06/teardown-and-exploration-of-ma...

- http://www.righto.com/2016/03/counterfeit-macbook-charger-te...

Re: EU Passes Law to Switch iPhone to USB-C by End of 2024

#379
post #331

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Whereas cables can be made by anyone competent. Like the myriad businesses already making lightning cables?

That point maybe sounds smart, but doesn't actually make any sense to have added, as I can respond with "yes!!" and it doesn't contradict anything about the argument you are ostensibly trying to undermine. That (importantly) said, the new statement isn't even a true thing to be trying to note anyway in this context: unlike USB-C, which is an industry standard, Apple owns lightning and so if one were to imagine forcin…

I misinterpreted the comment I responded to and had the reasoning backwards.
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