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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

#111

Post by Aardwolf »

blurrybird wrote: post #109

As somebody who last night got an Apple stem out of their daughter's lightning port using a SIM card ejector tool, I'm torn. You can't do that (safely) with USB-C because of the female plug design.

Then make this thing standard for everyone, whatever, just ensure there is one standard. This of course requires cooperation from the industry.

P.s. I'm not actually advocating for making this standard, USB C has too much momentum and I don't think any Linux based device I use knows this other connector.

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

#112

Post by whywhywhywhy »

thedrbrian wrote: post #19
sjaak wrote: post #13

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

Well they are going to force people to bin all their lightning cables for this new one.

Even within the apple ecosystem those things are annoying and a waste of space. I can charge my laptop you can charge an iPad from USBC but phones and AirPods need lightning when the port is basically the same size. So I have to carry an extra cable everywhere.

Ridiculous. I’ll take throwing them all in a landfill if I never have to use or see one again.

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

#113

Post by askvictor »

prettyStandard wrote: post #93
a13o wrote: post #78

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The last time they changed their connector (to lightning) they invalidated a lot of third party accessories designed around the old connector. Not simple stuff, like cables, but docks galore; many in expensive long-term purchases like luxury cars and stereo equipment. It stressed a lot of partnerships that define Apple's luxury brand status.

I agree that switching creates waste, not switching creates other waste. If they wanted to minimize waste, they should have released lighting and usb-c iphones years ago and slowly phased out the lighting. Maybe even just update lightning to support USBC speeds. But alas we are stuck with this local optimum when there was a better global optimum that we missed for profit.

If they wanted to minimize waste they would have contributed to developing USB-C, which would have been in the pipeline when they were working on Lightning. Or failing that, making Lightning an open standard that other gadget makers could adopt. But that doesn't make as much money as vendor lock-in.

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

#114

Post by whywhywhywhy »

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.

They had enough confidence in the spec to have 5 years of laptops where it was the only charging option…

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

#115

Post by capableweb »

bartread wrote: post #90
capableweb wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So you're mad that the regulation doesn't personally take your specific situation into account? Could you maybe see or understand that maybe the regulation is a bit more "big picture" than specific individuals needs, like society at large?

> So you're mad that the regulation doesn't personally take your specific situation into account? There are millions of iPhone users in the UK. It seems unlikely that I'm the only one with a bunch of soon to be useless cables.

The majority of people in the world (EU included) have a different phone than iPhone.

Also, bit unrelated to bring up the UK (or your UK-situation) with all of this, the submission is about a EU regulation. But you seem to already get that. However:

> Apple will no doubt consider it easier to supply EU compliant iPhones in the UK, for which I can't really blame them, but I'll gladly shake my fist at Brussels over it.

Aren't Apple the ones you should bitch about instead? EU forces Apple to act within EU regulation in the EU-zone, and Apple might just follow EU regulation in the UK because it's easier, and then you blame the EU?

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

#116

Post by echelon »

manuel_w wrote: post #8

The EU stance and strictness on this is one of the things making me happy to be an EU citizen.

Thank you for this!

Next up: make "side loading" apps a thing.

Do it with these stipulations:

1. Make it easy, part of the normal flow. Not hidden in an obscure panel or behind three or four dialogues.

2. Make it non-scary (no negs from Apple saying you'll destroy your device or safety)

3. Make it so it isn't called something negative like "side loading", but a part of normal user behavior: "download app", "web install", etc.

4. Make it so that Apple can't degrade the app experience for these apps.

If y'all can accomplish that, all will be right with the world again.

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

#117

Post by saiya-jin »

a13o wrote: post #78
Lapalux wrote: post #4

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

The last time they changed their connector (to lightning) they invalidated a lot of third party accessories designed around the old connector. Not simple stuff, like cables, but docks galore; many in expensive long-term purchases like luxury cars and stereo equipment. It stressed a lot of partnerships that define Apple's luxury brand status.

Apple is the only one who should be concerned about its 'luxury' brand status, we users have completely different priorities then tax-evading mega corporations milking its users base with high margins.

And Apple a luxury in 2023, really? Competition phones are more expensive and loaded with better hardware, some look significantly better (cough notch cough), Apple also has budget phones... I don't think you understand the term luxury if you include current Apple into it. Louis Vuitton is an example of luxury brand. Apple is alternative to Android or Windows for laptops, thats it.

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

#118

Post by taf2 »

What happens when there is a better USB-C plug - isn't there a concern that locking into the current standard means in 50 years the EU is still stuck. I imagine we're in uncharted territory given in less then my lifetime USB was invented and has gone through at least 14 iterations e.g. it's been changing very fast.

Unfortunately I fear even asking this question probably angers some, but I think it's an interesting question because unlike other things in history we're seeing such rapid iteration. Maybe the laws in the EU have accounted for this - it just seems like a short term good thing that could be not so great in a few years down the road... thoughts?

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

#119

Post by tezza »

rmm wrote: post #97

I just realised I rarely plug a cable into my phone at all these days. Genuinely I think the last time I did was in a hire car that only had cable CarPlay. At my desk I got a wireless charger as well as my bed side. Data is over the cloud now etc Serious question how long until they drop the port full stop? Like what if they achieve serious wireless charging speeds And actually does anyone know if that’s allowed with…

At Glastonbury, the largest line inside is for the free phone charging.

People queue for hours, a tragic waste of festival time.

Wireless pads would make charging times longer and hence the queues too.

Camping / trekking you still want cables for speed of charge

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

#120

Post by phist_mcgee »

echelon wrote: post #116
manuel_w wrote: post #8

The EU stance and strictness on this is one of the things making me happy to be an EU citizen.

Thank you for this! Next up: make "side loading" apps a thing. Do it with these stipulations: 1. Make it easy, part of the normal flow. Not hidden in an obscure panel or behind three or four dialogues. 2. Make it non-scary (no negs from Apple saying you'll destroy your device or safety) 3. Make it so it isn't called something negative like "side loading", but a part of normal user behavior: "download app", "web insta…

And when old grandma gets hit with a fake banking app download that steals her life savings all will be right with the world as well?
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