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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

#501

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…

Car tire sizes are designed for specific wheel sizes (diameter and width), which in turn are manufactured on criteria such as arch sizes, break disc and caliper clearance requirements, engine power, steering mechanism and suspension setup (for offset) and of course looks. Car wheels are interchangeable to an extent but you have to maintain same diameter to keep speed measurement accurate, so bigger wheel results in thinner tires for summer for example, and smaller, cheaper and uglier wheels for winter season where you risk curb damage, but then smaller wheel - taller tire. We would have to give up the massive car choice amounts we have to standardise here so I'd say not a great analogy.

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

#502

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...

Clicking that link in Firefox prompts me to download a font. LOL

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

#503
post #445
post #368

Earlier quoted context omitted.

USB-C has the springs in the plug while the receptacle is only fixed contacts. Lightning on the other hand has the springs inside the receptacle. This means that for USB-C you replace the cable when the springs wear out, but for Lightning you need to replace the port. Cleaning lint out of a USB-C receptacle with a toothpick is safe, but sticking anything into a Lightning port could damage the springs.

On the flipside, this means the thin logic board that connects to the pins is in the host device, not in the cable. Which means if you break it off, you need to replace the whole port, which might be difficult or expensive; instead of the (relatively) cheap cable. I _love_ USB-C as a concept, but this alone makes, in my opinion, Lightning the superior physical connector. And yes, I have had to replace / throw away en…

Anecdotal evidence: I have had to replace a device because of a failed USB-C port, but I have never had to replace a device because of a failed Lightning port. I know, it's one data point, but there it is.

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

#504

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> What is the procedure/convention for superseding this directive when something supersedes USB-C? I believe the EU are saying they'll keep up with new standards as they come in. The problem I see is, how can a new standard come in if nobody is allowed to use it. Its a chicken & egg problem, the EU will allow new standards as they're used, but nobody is allowed to use new standards until the EU allows it. Thats aside…

The connector can still remain the same while the internal changes. USB-C is just the connector head. Look at USB4 that still uses the USB-C head. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USB4 It's just like we have new modern electronics, but they are all able to plug into the same wall sockets. I don't have to remodel my home.

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

#505

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Apple is part of the USB-IF. They also have pushed USB standards to consumers since the iMac. Hell, Apple participates of every single industrial forum they can benefit from. Apple has moved on to USB-C for almost every other product they have. They know Lightning is old and insufficient, even for their iPad Air. The only reason why Apple keeps Lightning around is for phones and some portable accessories, and the rev…

This is not the reason. The reason is, the last time they changed ports (from 30pin to lightning) it created huge blowback from consumers who had lots of 30pin accessories that were no longer compatible, and even though lightning is FAR better people don’t like switching. USB-C is not much different than lightning for charging / connecting a phone, so the blowback from consumers will be huge when all their accessorie…

Except lightning also still operates at USB 2.0 speeds - so if you don't want to trust Apple with your data in iCloud backups (which as it's not E2EE encrypted is foolhardy, plus you have to pay for a higher tier for any phone with more than 5GB of personal data) it takes an absolute age.

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

#506
post #411

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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?

Yes, have you ever visited the United States? Their AC wall plugs are extremely bad. They wiggle out all the time and expose hot connectors before falling out. You can literally shock yourself by partially unplugging a wall connector and putting your finger on exposed connectors.

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

#508
EU knows best. Just look how well making everyone click to accept cookies worked out.

And “empower consumers to make more sustainable choices“. typical gov speak. If I was Apple I’d build in a lightning to usb-c adapter to the bottom and add a chin to the phone that resembled the older Pixels and engrave on it EU mandated.

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

#509
post #480
post #473

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Saying there was no mandate is only technically true. The EU gave an ultimatum to phone companies to make a compatible charger "or else", which led to a "Memorandum of Understanding" [1] deciding on Micro-USB. Apple didn't follow that Memorandum, the EU got pissed, so now we reached the "or else" part (it took quite some time considering the Memorandum was more than 10 years ago). [1] https://ec.europa.eu/commission/…

> Apple didn't follow that Memorandum, the EU got pissed Just to add a step: Samsung got pissed, and told the EU either regulate, or we do our own thing too like Apple.

I wasn't aware of that, thanks!

Replying to sibling: that 30-pin connector predates the Memorandum. It's exactly such chargers that the EU wanted to regulate at the time. Every company had their own incompatible charger.

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

#510

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is the USB2 speed a limitation of the Lightning connector, or is it that Apple just doesn't care to improve this? Because if it's the latter, as you say, there's no guarantee we'll see improved speeds because of the port change.

The Lightning connector has 8 pins: 2 for power, 2 for ID/control, and 4 for 2 differential lanes of anything. Those 2 differential lines are used for all data transfer, and, IIRC, are bidirectional. So, in theory, the Lightning connector could carry USB 3.0's differential RX/TX lanes no problem. My guess as to why Apple hasn't implemented that is a lack of demand. Syncing/backup is expected to be handled on the devi…

Except the free tier on iCloud is miniscule so you're forced to stump up cash if you actually want to backup.

Plus iCloud is stubbornly not E2EE.

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