EU Passes Law to Switch iPhone to USB-C by End of 2024 • Hacker News Board

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

#411

Post by axlee » Tue, Oct 04, 2022, 2:08 PM UTC

Krkrmfnfmmd wrote: post #335

cyborgx7 wrote: post #318

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.

Government mandates on how you can charge your phone won't stifle innovation?

I don't know, did government mandating electricity plugs standards stifle innovation?

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

#412

Post by nulld3v » Tue, Oct 04, 2022, 2:08 PM UTC

pimterry wrote: post #351

Krkrmfnfmmd wrote: post #335

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Government mandates on how you can charge your phone won't stifle innovation?

Yes, it won't. As parent points out, the EU previously mandated micro-usb support ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_external_power_supply ) which worked fairly well, and hasn't stifled the innovation that's resulted in USB-C.

> the EU previously mandated micro-usb support

No they didn't, compliance is voluntary, just read the linked wiki page.

I agree with the point that it won't stifle Innovation though. The swift passing of the USB-C mandate has proven to me that the EU can move quickly, so if a new connector comes along they will be able to switch the law reasonably quickly.

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

#413

Post by stingraycharles » Tue, Oct 04, 2022, 2:09 PM UTC

dogleash wrote: post #352

reaperducer wrote: post #340

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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. I'm not sure I understand your logic here. Android phones were able to quickly move to micro USB because they weren't restricted from doing so by a government regulation. If there was a government mandate requiring phones t…

> If there was a government mandate requiring phones to have whatever connector came before micro USB, wouldn't that have prevented the Android phones from changing connectors/choosing the new innovation? Dunno, we have a test case tho: how'd the Micro-B to USB-C transition go in EU markets?

It’s going just fine, from my perspective. Unfortunately I now have three different types of cables (micro-B, USB-C and lightning), and it makes it extra challenging that USB-C is sometimes double ended, sometimes B-to-C. On the other hand, it’s very nice I can charge my new Framework laptop and iPad using the same cable cable and charger.

But it’s going quite quickly, and most of the apple devices I bought recently already have USB-C in one way or another, and the actual problem for me is replacing power banks and chargers so that they support USB-C as well. Most of them assume USB-C == “high power slot”, when I just need a few of them for smaller stuff (AirPods and Apple Watch both came with USB-C cables).

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

#414

Post by [deleted] » Tue, Oct 04, 2022, 2:09 PM UTC

pimterry wrote: post #351

Krkrmfnfmmd wrote: post #335

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Government mandates on how you can charge your phone won't stifle innovation?

Yes, it won't. As parent points out, the EU previously mandated micro-usb support ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_external_power_supply ) which worked fairly well, and hasn't stifled the innovation that's resulted in USB-C.

[deleted]

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

#415

Post by culturestate » Tue, Oct 04, 2022, 2:09 PM UTC

pwpw wrote: post #350

coffeeblack wrote: post #240

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Very much agree. The port design of lightning is superior, too bad that now a law mandates Apple to sell the inferior solution. But that’s what you get when laws eliminate competition.

Bell Labs allowed others to produce transistor based hearing aids royalty free. Volvo allowed others to use a 3-point harness system royalty free. Apple created Lightning to solve a problem and wanted royalties on all products using it. Naturally, the market moved to another solution. While Lightning may be a good piece of technology, I think Apple is largely to blame for its demise. Standardization is good for consu…

> they were the only major manufacturer on the market not playing ball with a standardized port

I genuinely believe that there’s only one real reason Apple resisted moving away from Lightning:

They saw the writing on the wall from the EU over the last few years, and - remembering the way people lost their minds over the switch from 40-pin to Lightning (“it’s a money grab! they want me to replace all of my accessories!”) - chose to wait so they’d have someone to deflect blame to.

Licensing revenue from Lightning MFi is a drop in the bucket. I’m not a manufacturing operations expert, but I have to imagine that the simplification of supply chains alone will nearly offset that loss over time.

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

#416

Post by imoverclocked » Tue, Oct 04, 2022, 2:09 PM UTC

pimterry wrote: post #351

Krkrmfnfmmd wrote: post #335

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Government mandates on how you can charge your phone won't stifle innovation?

Yes, it won't. As parent points out, the EU previously mandated micro-usb support ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_external_power_supply ) which worked fairly well, and hasn't stifled the innovation that's resulted in USB-C.

> Although compliance is voluntary, a majority of the world's largest mobile phone manufacturers agreed to make their applicable mobile phones compatible with Europe's common external power supply specification (EN 62684:2010).

Is compliance voluntary for this new ruling?

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

#417

Post by vladvasiliu » Tue, Oct 04, 2022, 2:09 PM UTC

webmobdev wrote: post #341

vladvasiliu wrote: post #199

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You can already buy non-Apple branded lightning cables. Apart from the cable that came in my iPhone 7's box many years ago (which still works perfectly and, excluding a little dirt, looks like new), all my other lightning cables are off-brand ones that cost much less than $20 apiece. More like 10. Some of them (Aukey brand) developed a wonky connection after a while, or only work on one side. The others (Amazon Basic…

> You can already buy non-Apple branded lightning cables. Lightening cables are not a standard and thus Apple dictates terms even with non-Apple lightening cables. As lightening cables are not an industry standard the prices are influenced by Apple and artificially inflated (even for non-Apple ones). And they can only be used with Apple devices. (Lightening cables have seen a recent price fall only after Apple shifte…

I don't particularly follow Apple's products, so I don't know when they started selling USB-C devices, and hence what "recently" means to you.

What I can say, is that in France on Amazon, USB-C cables and Lightning cables had similar prices when I last bought mine a few years ago. I usually compare Amazon Basics and Ugreen / Aukey brands.

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

#418

Post by gorbypark » Tue, Oct 04, 2022, 2:10 PM UTC

code_duck wrote: post #391

slavoingilizov wrote: post #374

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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 biometr…

Is Apple currently using MagSafe? Both of the recent MacBooks in my household, from 2020 and 2021, have standard USB-C connections.

Yes, they brought it back. You can still charge via USB-C, though.

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

#419

Post by nulld3v » Tue, Oct 04, 2022, 2:10 PM UTC

BiteCode_dev wrote: post #355

reaperducer wrote: post #340

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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. I'm not sure I understand your logic here. Android phones were able to quickly move to micro USB because they weren't restricted from doing so by a government regulation. If there was a government mandate requiring phones t…

Micro usb was mandatory in europe for phones years ago.

Are you talking about https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_external_power_supply? This wasn't a mandate, it was just a recommendation.

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

#420

Post by tephra » Tue, Oct 04, 2022, 2:10 PM UTC

BiteCode_dev wrote: post #355

reaperducer wrote: post #340

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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. I'm not sure I understand your logic here. Android phones were able to quickly move to micro USB because they weren't restricted from doing so by a government regulation. If there was a government mandate requiring phones t…

Micro usb was mandatory in europe for phones years ago.

No it was never mandatory only voluntary. There was a threat to make it mandatory but most mobile phone suppliers signed a letter of intent on implementing a common standard (apple included).