EU plans to force OEMs to use a common charger for all phones • Hacker News Board

Re: EU plans to force OEMs to use a common charger for all phones

#281

Post by bognition » Thu, Sep 23, 2021, 1:20 PM UTC

PragmaticPulp wrote: post #275

The article focuses on forcing USB-C ports (popular), but the proposal also unbundles chargers from products like cell phones (unpopular). Apple and several other vendors already unbundled chargers from their boxes with mixed reception. Will be interesting to see how this proposal is received when people realize it means they’ll be purchasing chargers separately.

I understand why unbundling chargers from devices is unpopular, especially as charging cables move from USB-A to USB-C but honestly its the right call.

I currently have more than a dozen USB-A plugs (wall warts) lying around and who knows how many more I've already thrown away. Not once have I purchased a device that used USB-A and needed to buy a wall wart for it.

I will have to buy a few USB-C wall warts but i wont buy a dozen of them.

Re: EU plans to force OEMs to use a common charger for all phones

#282

Post by Reason077 » Thu, Sep 23, 2021, 1:21 PM UTC

Aaargh20318 wrote: post #6

selfhoster11 wrote: post #2

Good. We need this. The USB-C connector is capable of providing laptop-grade power supply, and Apple is the only straggler that I know of.

I think it’s a horrible idea. It means moving to a future, better standard (let’s say, USB-D) is neigh impossible as it would require a change to an EU directive (that is: 27 countries need to agree on it). Just getting this into law has already been in the works for years and years, if the EU had worked a bit faster we would have been stuck with micro USB-B, which would have been unfortunate.

USB C's physical form is likely to remain stable for years to come. There seems to be plenty of room to evolve the cables and device capabilities while retaining physical backwards compatibility.

I mean, USB 4 can already do up to 40 Gbps, and upcoming versions of the standard are said to be going to 80 Gbps[1]

[1] https://www.anandtech.com/show/16858/intel-executive-posts-t...

Re: EU plans to force OEMs to use a common charger for all phones

#283

Post by akmarinov » Thu, Sep 23, 2021, 1:21 PM UTC

Apple has until 2024 to conform, but by that time it’s likely the iPhone will be portless.

Interesting is that the older iPhones they sell which at that time would be something like iPhone 13/14 will also need to have USB-C.

Re: EU plans to force OEMs to use a common charger for all phones

#284

Post by HPsquared » Thu, Sep 23, 2021, 1:22 PM UTC

diffeomorphism wrote: post #279

Invictus0 wrote: post #277

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Clearly these lawmakers don't understand that USBC cables are not readily interchangeable from one device to another. I don't even blame them, the USB foundation made the mother of all marketing blunders with this standard.

For charging? They pretty much are. For everything else? Maybe with somewhat reduced speed/features but good enough.

Do they all support the high voltage modes? USB PD goes up to 20V/5A (100W).

https://www.cui.com/blog/usb-type-c-pd-and-pps#usb-power-del...

Re: EU plans to force OEMs to use a common charger for all phones

#285

Post by post_break » Thu, Sep 23, 2021, 1:22 PM UTC

I can see the good and bad in this. But as of right now USB C looks like the future with both the amount of power it can deliver as a port, as well as speed in terms of Thunderbolt 4, plus thunderbolt 4 will open up to not just intel if I understand correctly. Every single device in my house now uses USB C. From phone, laptop, tablet, to keyboard, air monitor, even my flashlights charge via USB C.

Re: EU plans to force OEMs to use a common charger for all phones

#286

Post by sokoloff » Thu, Sep 23, 2021, 1:22 PM UTC

diffeomorphism wrote: post #279

Invictus0 wrote: post #277

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Clearly these lawmakers don't understand that USBC cables are not readily interchangeable from one device to another. I don't even blame them, the USB foundation made the mother of all marketing blunders with this standard.

For charging? They pretty much are. For everything else? Maybe with somewhat reduced speed/features but good enough.

> For charging? They pretty much are [the same].

If only that were true: https://www.engadget.com/2015-11-04-google-pixel-engineer-vs...

I've had more trouble with crappy USB-C cables [charging only] in the short time that's been a thing than the entire time of micro-USB.

Re: EU plans to force OEMs to use a common charger for all phones

#287

Post by sidewndr46 » Thu, Sep 23, 2021, 1:23 PM UTC

Does anyone feel it is a little strange to have a government entity mandating a physical interconnect? I guess it has worked out well enough for receptacles. But on a phone it acts as a data connection as well. I guess I just wonder if in 20 years will every device still have a USB-C port on it in some odd location? No one is using it anymore, but it is still mandatory on everything.

Re: EU plans to force OEMs to use a common charger for all phones

#288

Post by 0_____0 » Thu, Sep 23, 2021, 1:24 PM UTC

walterbell wrote: post #278

They need to mandate the presence of a physical cable, otherwise Apple will drop the port and move to wireless charging. Wired cable remains important for high-quality audio and secure data transfers. Both WiFi and Bluetooth have a long and storied history of vulnerabilities. While they are at it, can we please have a dedicated physical cable port for audio? It doesn't have to be TRRS 3.5mm, but it must be possible t…

I wonder what % of phone users have actually used a cable to move data to or from their phone in the last couple of years. I have, but I'm a weird nerd who likes to plug in removable storage once every 6 months or so.

Re: EU plans to force OEMs to use a common charger for all phones

#289

Post by p4l4g4 » Thu, Sep 23, 2021, 1:24 PM UTC

Invictus0 wrote: post #277

PragmaticPulp wrote: post #275

The article focuses on forcing USB-C ports (popular), but the proposal also unbundles chargers from products like cell phones (unpopular). Apple and several other vendors already unbundled chargers from their boxes with mixed reception. Will be interesting to see how this proposal is received when people realize it means they’ll be purchasing chargers separately.

Clearly these lawmakers don't understand that USBC cables are not readily interchangeable from one device to another. I don't even blame them, the USB foundation made the mother of all marketing blunders with this standard.

Just charged my phone with my laptops Usb-C charger, without any issue. Apart from special features like fast-charge, I'd say compatibility is very good.

Re: EU plans to force OEMs to use a common charger for all phones

#290

Post by concinds » Thu, Sep 23, 2021, 1:24 PM UTC

donatj wrote: post #226

Hear me out, I’m an Android guy at heart and I genuinely believe the lightning connector is vastly superior. I never have lightning connectors fail to seat, nor fall out of a socket while I’m using a device, nor have I ever broken a lightning connector on a device. These are all seemingly fundamental problems with USB-C. I have had THREE USB-C sockets fail on two phones through normal use, on Pixel and OnePlus device…

I've read on forums that if you use a really thin, small metal device, e.g. a sewing needle for example, you'll be able to dig up tons of tiny lint and make the port work like new again. You say yours is free of debris but it's possible you used thicker tools, and didn't manage to dislodge it all.