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EU sends Apple stark warning over USB-C charging on new iPhones

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Re: EU sends Apple stark warning over USB-C charging on new iPhones

#21

Post by pritambaral »

bartread wrote: post #11

I recently bought an Apple TV. It's a great device, but comes with a remote that's USB-C charged. That's fine except that it doesn't come with a USB-C cable, nor does the device have a USB port that could be used for charging the remote. So I ended up having to buy a third party USB charger and cable (I just don't have that much USB-C stuff laying around). That pissed me off and I wasn't shy about, politely, letting…

> With that being said, the EU can fuck right off with this USB-C insistence. I've been using iPhones for 13 years now personally, and for 6 years with work. I have lightning cables coming out of my ears (a mixture of first and third party). Charging devices up with a lightning cable is incredibly convenient, and especially since I have USB connectors in many of the power sockets around my house. All of that is rendered useless because of the EU's loathsome meddling.

I'm glad at least someone is forcing a notoriously hostile company like Apple to play ball. Like you, I too have many cables all over my home and office. Charging my devices with any of them is incredibly convenient, especially since I never have to check if it's the right cable or not.

All of that is rendered useless when my girlfriend needs to charge her phone though, because the manufacturer decided it was worth it to price gouge its customers over fucking chargers of all things.

And this is the situation without any Apple phones involved. Both our phones support USB-C. But her phone is old enough and from a scummy manufacturer that hadn't been forced to stick to the standard when selling that phone.

Re: EU sends Apple stark warning over USB-C charging on new iPhones

#22

Post by jon-wood »

bartread wrote: post #11

I recently bought an Apple TV. It's a great device, but comes with a remote that's USB-C charged. That's fine except that it doesn't come with a USB-C cable, nor does the device have a USB port that could be used for charging the remote. So I ended up having to buy a third party USB charger and cable (I just don't have that much USB-C stuff laying around). That pissed me off and I wasn't shy about, politely, letting…

You’re aware USB-A to USB-C cables exist right? None of your wall sockets are rendered obsolete, although admittedly you’ll need a few new cables/adapters.

Re: EU sends Apple stark warning over USB-C charging on new iPhones

#23

Post by kstenerud »

sjaak wrote: post #13

“Owing to the significant amounts of electronic waste caused by unused chargers …” Really?

Yes, really. I still have a box full of old transformers kicking around from the bad old days. Now about half of my stuff is USB-C powered, and in another 5 years when I finally ditch the last of my old stuff I won't need a bunch of 5, 9, 12, and 15 volt power connectors (some AC, some DC) with 0.5, 0.8, 1, 1.5, 2, and 3 amp capabilities, in three different barrel connector sizes and two polarities. And of course Apple's connectors and HP and Lenovo's custom laptop connectors.

Re: EU sends Apple stark warning over USB-C charging on new iPhones

#24

Post by kweingar »

have_faith wrote: post #10
nachteilig wrote: post #7

I would basically never assume that the EU actually understand the technical parts of these regulations. On its face it sounds pro-consumer, but USB-C is hardly a unified experience and I am almost sympathetic with Apple here from a user experience perspective.

Can you elaborate?

To be clear, I am pro USB-C, but I do get the arguments from the other side.

If I have a lightning cable and a device with a lightning port, I can plug it in and not really think much about it.

If I have a device with a USB-C port and a USB-C cable, I have no idea whether I can charge at full speed or even charge at all.

As an example, I plug my Xbox controller into my PC via USB-C. It keeps it fully charged. Recently I tried to plug in my USB-C headset into the same cable and it didn’t charge at all. In fact my headset died shortly after I unplugged it (after “charging” it all night), which was a bit of a pain. Turns out it can charge with my laptop charger or my iPad charger but not the Xbox cable plugged into my PC.

Maybe this isn’t a totally fair comparison, but it’s my personal experience.

Re: EU sends Apple stark warning over USB-C charging on new iPhones

#25

Post by henearkr »

oger wrote: post #16

First of all: the EU definitely had good intentions when regulating the charger mess. The amount of incompatible chargers rotting in drawers and (possibly) landfills could definitely be reduced over time by agreeing on a common physical and electrical interface. However — limiting technical progress is not a good idea and we see that with the plethor of different power modes existing within USB-C. Possibly politician…

What technical progress.

Don't you think that 20V and 240W that are the maximum for Power Delivery are enough to fast charge a smartphone? Even laptops use it!

Re: EU sends Apple stark warning over USB-C charging on new iPhones

#26

Post by misnome »

bpfrh wrote: post #12
nachteilig wrote: post #7

I would basically never assume that the EU actually understand the technical parts of these regulations. On its face it sounds pro-consumer, but USB-C is hardly a unified experience and I am almost sympathetic with Apple here from a user experience perspective.

Could you expand on that? The EU effort to standardize phone connectors led to nearly every phone manufacturer adopt micro usb and then usb c. I don't see any reason that apple would be unable to use usb c after a everyone else uses it for more then 2 years.

> The EU effort to standardize phone connectors led to nearly every phone manufacturer adopt micro usb and then usb c.

So, in other words, the EU forced one standard, which it is now abandoning (generating piles of micro-usb e-waste), and is now doing it again. And this is Apples' fault for not moving to USB-C in... 2012.

Didn't Apple use USB-A wall chargers with the 30-pin for phones at a time when everyone else was on proprietary power bricks?

Re: EU sends Apple stark warning over USB-C charging on new iPhones

#27

Post by andyjohnson0 »

withinboredom wrote: post #6
Lapalux wrote: post #4

I don't understand why Apple are dragging their heels on this so much

Money.

Apple can easily afford this. The real reasons for their foot-dragging are their need to differentiate their products, and their need (driven by their organisational culture) to feel that they are in control.

Re: EU sends Apple stark warning over USB-C charging on new iPhones

#28

Post by ta1243 »

oger wrote: post #16

First of all: the EU definitely had good intentions when regulating the charger mess. The amount of incompatible chargers rotting in drawers and (possibly) landfills could definitely be reduced over time by agreeing on a common physical and electrical interface. However — limiting technical progress is not a good idea and we see that with the plethor of different power modes existing within USB-C. Possibly politician…

If apple want that new standard that's fine, but they shouldn't be allowed to use it as a USP -- everyone else should be able to implement it, with no licensing.

Re: EU sends Apple stark warning over USB-C charging on new iPhones

#29

Post by misnome »

mszcz wrote: post #17
bartread wrote: post #11

I recently bought an Apple TV. It's a great device, but comes with a remote that's USB-C charged. That's fine except that it doesn't come with a USB-C cable, nor does the device have a USB port that could be used for charging the remote. So I ended up having to buy a third party USB charger and cable (I just don't have that much USB-C stuff laying around). That pissed me off and I wasn't shy about, politely, letting…

It's not EU's loathsome meddling, it's Apple's loathsome insistince on using a proprietary cable for years and years to make an extra buck that has your knickers in a twist now.

Which cable should they have used instead?

Re: EU sends Apple stark warning over USB-C charging on new iPhones

#30

Post by f1shy »

henearkr wrote: post #25
oger wrote: post #16

First of all: the EU definitely had good intentions when regulating the charger mess. The amount of incompatible chargers rotting in drawers and (possibly) landfills could definitely be reduced over time by agreeing on a common physical and electrical interface. However — limiting technical progress is not a good idea and we see that with the plethor of different power modes existing within USB-C. Possibly politician…

What technical progress. Don't you think that 20V and 240W that are the maximum for Power Delivery are enough to fast charge a smartphone? Even laptops use it!

Of course! 640kB will be enough for everyone!
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