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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

#461

Post by onion2k »

_trackno5 wrote: post #49

Why do people think it is a good thing to have this enforced by law is beyond me. I don't see any win besides a minor convenience. A lightning cable weighs almost nothing and it's not a big deal to have one around. As to lightning port limitations, I question whether usb-c will give average iPhone users any other advantage other than charging their phone. What are people gonna do with it other than charge their phone…

Why do people think it is a good thing to have this enforced by law is beyond me.

Having unified, standard cables and power bricks means more reuse, which reduces waste and cost. It means someone switching from Android to iPhone or vice versa doesn't need to replicate all their cabling. It means users can buy a third party cable without paying Apple for a licence or a patent. These are all good things.

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

#462

Post by tempest-tost »

MichaelZuo wrote: post #439
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.

There were no mandates to adopt micro-usb in the EU. As a sidetone it's astonishing how quickly a lie easily disprovable by publicly accessible information, in this case the EU's own website, can be spread around by people that otherwise seem like credible HN members.

Am I missing something here?

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.engadget.com/amp/2010-12-29...

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

#463

Post by staticman2 »

seanw444 wrote: post #397
simplyinfinity wrote: post #376

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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

That's a fantastic point actually. I wonder why they choose to use USB-C at all for any device, when Lightning is objectively better from a physical engineering standpoint.

Apple has never managed to make a lightning device that can output 4k video or transfers data faster than USB 2.0. They are either incapable of improving the lightning connectors or couldn't be bothered.

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

#464

Post by krzyk »

wincy wrote: post #173
thefz wrote: post #140

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why? I use the same Baseus 65-W power brick for two phones and two laptops very, very conveniently. And GAN chargers are a third of the size of traditional power bricks. Also, who cares about magsafe? Only Apple laptops have it. I think the move to USB-C is a smart one, it can even reach 100W. Speeds are insane too.

Gaming laptops draw over 100W. Won’t this eliminate an entire market of laptops that require specialized plugs that can deliver more power? Or else you’ll end up with the dreaded “dies while it’s plugged in” situation.

Besides the fact that USB-C was updated to support 240W, laptop can have e.g. two USB-C ports for charging.

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

#465

Post by ralfd »

ChrisRR wrote: post #232
NextHendrix wrote: post #7

This gives me some cognitive dissonance. On the one hand, having a common connector will reduce waste and be much more convenient (eg "Hey have you got an iPhone charger?") and make losing a charger a cheaper mistake. On the other hand I'm not sure I like the idea of government mandating electrical connectors on devices, which could stifle innovation, or be very shortsighted in the typical government-rules-on-tech wa…

Does no-one remember how there were like 50 different phone connectors in the early 2000s? This is why we all (apart from Apple) settled on one standard

Yes, exactly: The market could innovate and develop better connectors. For example Apples Lightning, which is older (and smaller/more robust) than USB-C. Imagine instead the EU mandating micro USB and how we would be forced till the end of times to have a 50% chance to plugging it in wrong.

Is USB-C the best connector or form factor we could ever do?

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

#466

Post by shaman1 »

Being recently in the market for car tires I say that some standardisation benefits the consumer and reduces waste. There are so many sizes of tires that you have limited choice on purchase and resell. Unfortunately there is no incentive for companies to standardize because they loose revenue. Apple can make a custom port and sell an overpriced cable and adapter for it. Maybe it's slightly better but is it that much better to worth keeping it?

There should be a work group that takes more of these decisions with the aim to reduce waste says the dreamer in my but the circumspect thinks otherwise. If Apple invents a revolutionary port what happens next? Do they need EU approval?

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

#467

Post by ldoughty »

slavoingilizov wrote: post #374
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.

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…

My MacBook currently has 4 USB-C ports that I can pick to charge from.

My last Macbook had 5? different ports on it, two of which were older USB standards.

Nothing stops apple from ALSO having a proprietary connector, as long as USB-C is still an option to charge.

> Why don't we standardise payment protocols instead? Or biometric identity verification? Or ID cards even (that the UK is allergic to)?

None of these result in hundreds of thousands of tons of plastic and copper or other metals being put in a landfill or dumped in the sea because they were only useful for 3-5 models of a single businesses devices.

Apple is still free to make this e-waste, but now their devices must support charging on USB-C, which they are free to NOT make their own chargers for, as long as it's standard-compliant and supported

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

#468

Post by amarshall »

tempest-tost wrote: post #462
MichaelZuo wrote: post #439

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There were no mandates to adopt micro-usb in the EU. As a sidetone it's astonishing how quickly a lie easily disprovable by publicly accessible information, in this case the EU's own website, can be spread around by people that otherwise seem like credible HN members.

Am I missing something here? https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.engadget.com/amp/2010-12-29...

Non-AMP link: https://www.engadget.com/2010-12-29-european-standardization...

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

#469

Post by etiennebausson »

qwertyuiop_ wrote: post #210

Quoted post unavailable.

I suppose petty outburst are an explanation for your comment, given that this law has been in the works since 2018, and anticipated since 2005. I truly have no idea what your links have to do with the subject.
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