While I'm against forcing a company to use a specific connector (especially Apple where every millimeter counts), I think this was way overdue because of terribly slow USB 2.0 speeds even on "Pro" models that shoot ProRes and 48MP raws.
Apple says iPhones will switch to USB-C chargers to comply with new EU law
191–200 of 482 posts
Re: Apple says iPhones will switch to USB-C chargers to comply with new EU law
#192I'm generally not a fan of the EU mandating technical decisions, but for me personally, Lightning connections have always been really low quality. Since my iPhone was about a year old, it often won't recognize a new Lightning cable that's plugged in, I have to unplug and re-plug it several times. Or it will charge for a minute and then suddenly think it's disconnected. Or you will bump it slightly and it thinks it's…
I've had iPhones since the original came out with the big ol iPod connector on it. Generally upgrading every two years, except the last one which was an Xs to a 14 Pro.
I have never had this happen. I welcome the USB-C change, but I have never once had what you're describing happen in however many years the Lightning connector has been out.. feels like 8+ years, but without looking I wouldn't know. I've had, I think, one Lightning cable fail to work and that was because my cat chewed on the cord.
Re: Apple says iPhones will switch to USB-C chargers to comply with new EU law
#193Apple should provide free eWaste recycling for lighting cables, with some assurance that the will actually be recycled.
Re: Apple says iPhones will switch to USB-C chargers to comply with new EU law
#194Earlier quoted context omitted.
That would double the amount of iPhone models they need to manufacture and sell. It might happen, but Apple likes thin product lines.
> That would double the amount of iPhone models they need to manufacture and sell. Aren't they already doing that with the US iPhone 14 models now having no SIM tray vs the rest of the world with SIM trays?
Not an expert but I would think not putting a board in is way easier than putting in a different one. It's also harder to manage supply for two different boards with different connectors, making different cables, split the accessories ecosystem etc.
Apple, esp. under Tim Cook, is super efficient when it comes to this stuff.
Re: Apple says iPhones will switch to USB-C chargers to comply with new EU law
#195I'm generally not a fan of the EU mandating technical decisions, but for me personally, Lightning connections have always been really low quality. Since my iPhone was about a year old, it often won't recognize a new Lightning cable that's plugged in, I have to unplug and re-plug it several times. Or it will charge for a minute and then suddenly think it's disconnected. Or you will bump it slightly and it thinks it's…
> I'm generally not a fan of the EU mandating technical decisions
How do you feel about California mandating emissions standards for vehicles?
Re: Apple says iPhones will switch to USB-C chargers to comply with new EU law
#196Earlier quoted context omitted.
They should start with the batteries first :D Every device in that smart home innovation comes with some battery that I have never seen before.
Power tools already have a standard, smart home is a totally different beast though, and AFAIK most items should use USB-C?
Are you saying power tools have a standard battery interface? That you could use batteries from any brand with any tool?
That has not been my experience.
Re: Apple says iPhones will switch to USB-C chargers to comply with new EU law
#197Earlier quoted context omitted.
> I'm more cynical in my interpretation of Apple's motives: I think they just wanted those licensing dollars They've switched every other non-iPhone device to USB-C. The more plausible interpretation would be that they don't want to piss off a core constituency of customers who've built up 10 years of Lightning cables. The number of people who care about standardizing on USB-C are definitely less than the vocal folks…
I just want my Mac and my iPhone to use the same charger. It’s not necessarily about the spending.
And just in time for MagSafe's return...the iPhone will go to USB-C! Of course, you can still charge a Mac over USB-C — it's just not as much of a unification as it seems.
Re: Apple says iPhones will switch to USB-C chargers to comply with new EU law
#198Earlier quoted context omitted.
> The contrast between "force Apple to stop adhering to legacy standards, USB-C is the future!!!" and "gubmint hands off muh 8-pin aux connectors!!!" is interesting. Both of these are the same stance to me, "existing industry standards appear to suffice, why foist something different on the market?" I don't think governments are behind a lot of these changes so that last bit is probably exaggeration but seems misplac…
> existing industry standards appear to suffice reminder: lightning came first , because the industry couldn't get its shit together and agree on a successor to micro-b, despite acknowledgement of the shortcomings. lightning is the pcie 8-pin in this comparison: you may not like the technical limitations it imposes, but, it works well enough that you can build products around it. So why impose a change to The Current…
>> existing industry standards appear to suffice
>reminder: lightning came first
Lightning was never a standard.
Re: Apple says iPhones will switch to USB-C chargers to comply with new EU law
#199Earlier quoted context omitted.
Maybe? The USB specifications calls for USB Micro-B to have the same 10,000 connect/disconnect cycles as USB-C: ----------------------------------- Table 3-1 USB Electrical, Mechanical and Environmental Compliance Standards Performance Requirement 1500 cycles 5000 cycles for Mini “B” 10,000 cycles for Micro series 10,000 cycles for ruggedized Standard “A” Cycle rate of 500 cycles per hour if done automatically and 20…
The main thing USB-C and Lightning have going for them, which Micro-B doesn't, is the redundancy of two connection pads. I've had more than one female Lightning port start to get tetchy about which direction a cable goes in. All I'll miss from Lightning is being able to clean the port with a toothpick. Then again, that's not a small thing. When I hear/feel a bit of grit in a USB-C port I get a sinking feeling, with L…
You can clean out a USB-C with a toothpick too, I did mine a few months ago when the connections got flakey and I got a ton of fluff out and now cables click in (which I forgot was supposed to happen).
Re: Apple says iPhones will switch to USB-C chargers to comply with new EU law
#200Earlier quoted context omitted.
Two key differences vs last time: 1. As you mentioned, most accessories have moved to wireless. I still (usually) use a physical cable for charging, and I guess I have a 3.5mm dongle, but I think those are the only two things I've plugged into my iPhone in years. Docks with a physical port, in particular, were super popular 10+ years ago and don't really exist anymore. People won't be throwing away speakers. 2. They…
I’m more hopeful that they’ll actually include drivers for those devices (probably not). It’d be nice to hook up a screen via hdmi instead of needing an Apple TV. Or plugging in a dock with regular mouse/keyboard attached.
USB-C iPads already support all of that, and you can already do those things today on current iPhones with an appropriate adapter -- search for "Lightning Digital AV Adapter" for an example.