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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

#871

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>Hell, in all likelihood, Apple is likely to ditch a charging connection altogether in favor of wireless charging in the near future. Lol. Literally not possible.

Why? I can definitely see Apple rolling this out to the Pro line first, then the regular iPhones, and then the SE. It could be like the home button, which disappeared on the X and then rolled through the 11s, and the SE will be the last to go. The benefit will be better water/dust-proofing, and slightly more internal room for battery or whatever else. I have only just started charging wirelessly, but I find it works…

For one, you can’t use the phone during wireless charging.

I know, ”akshually, you can use it, you just can’t hold it in your hand!”. Anyway, you can’t use it normally - it must be kept on the mat to charge.

Also, there are a bunch of accessories that require physical connection. Search for “iphone pendrive” for instance.

Bluetooth headphones still have laughable latency for music production, and decent quality full-duplex audio isn’t there either.

iOS developers will also tell you how reliable wireless debugging is. (Hint: it’s abysmal)

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

#872
post #739

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Lightning is a better connector for small devices it's more durable in my experience It's less durable in my experience. I can do this all day.

I don't see how USB-C can be more durable considering there's a plastic post on the female side holding the pins. That's an obvious failure point.

Black 4th pin seems like a somewhat common failure mode: https://ioshacker.com/iphone/why-the-fourth-pin-on-your-ligh...

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

#873
post #658

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Respectfully, I would claim it's short-sighted to believe that the individual consumer has any real say in what they want, need or get with respect to offerings by trillion-dollar international conglomerates. There is no such thing as a free and unregulated market. Well, it exists but we call it the law of the jungle. This is not to say that any regulation is sensible, but this kind of standardization to avoid vendor…

> Respectfully, I would claim it's short-sighted to believe that the individual consumer has any real say in what they want, need or get with respect to offerings by trillion-dollar international conglomerates. Whole heartedly agreed. If I, as a consumer, had my say then my flagship phone would still have a headphone jack, an SD card slot, and a replaceable battery. Yet here we are.

> and a replaceable battery

And with that EU will help out also, they are already working on a legislation for that.

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

#874

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> "what a shame a law needs to specify a specific port for ~iPhones~ devices." The only shame here is that companies consistently chose lock-in over open standards, even when it's clearly detrimental to the user's experience and the environment. If the "adults in the room" can't figure it out (out of greed), it's fair game for governments to step in and make a choice for everybody. That's what a government should do:…

> even when it's clearly detrimental to the user's experience This is entirely subjective. Personally, I’ve never been bothered by the different port type. I’ve also never really known it to be a problem for friends and family. That doesn’t mean I wouldn’t prefer USB-C for the iPhone. Just that for me it’s not been “clearly detrimental.”

This is not. Apple has the opportunity to standardize all of their devices under one serial/power connector - they have neglected to do this for over a decade, and it overtly effects the user experience. Case closed, apologist anecdata will not be considered.

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

#876
I wonder what product decisions the EU will make for Apple next. Maybe Tim Cook should just hire them. Imagine that first conversation:

[Apple Employee]: What other great product ideas do you have for Apple? [Legislator]: BRING BACK MY HEADPHONE JACK YOU FREE MARKET BULLY!

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

#877
post #706

As an EU citizen, I am really happy with this decision. I am an iPhone user, but having an iPhone is not ubiquitous here, almost all of my friends/special other, use an Android phone with USB-C. Most of their laptops, Mac or not, use or allow USB-C for charging. This as been the case for a few years now, yet, if I go somewhere for more than a full day and forget my lighting cable, my phone will become a useless paper…

There's nothing wise or moral about this decision. Mandating a technology standard, purely for personal preference and convenience reasons -- not for reasons related to safety, or pollution, or security -- especially for things that change as fast as phones, is one of the most short-sighted and naive things any government could do. There's a long history of Apple using proprietary connectors to achieve performance sp…

Not a fan of metric screw threads? Mandates were needed in some countries to change from imperial to metric because the market can't make such a non-incremental move on its own even if it's good for everyone.

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

#878
post #375

USB-C is inferior from the hardware/form standpoint. It's a larger, more fragile and flimsy connector (than lightning) which is very un-apple. It can be crimped shut if rolled on by a chair. Additionally the charging standards are a total mess, with PD and QC requiring compatible chargers and cables, which are often unlabeled. I'm all for a great charging standard but USB-C ain't it.

Apple itself is using the USB-C connector on their Apple MacBooks and Apple iPads. Somehow it's "Apple" there?! (Seriously, why am I constantly seeing these utterly ridiculous comments in Apple topics? Do you not think for half a second before writing something utterly misguided?)

Well maybe it's because you're also misguided. You missed the part where they use USB-C where appropriate. Think for just a second about how people use different devices, and you'll understand. Or if I have to explain: iPads are mostly used by responsible adults (such as parents). iPhones are used by a wide range of people who might be charging them while driving on the road, while sitting in a chair, in a public transit terminal, etc. iPhones need a much more rugged connector. So I suggest that you "think for half a second before writing".

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

#879

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's a phone charging port. It's not that serious. It's better for consumers if we all have the same one for everything, if possible. Unless you can tell me why not?

USB-C only exists because Apple proved to everyone how nice a reversible connector is, and USB caught up years later. Lightning has some other advantages like being thinner and less difficult to break. If Apple caves and moves to USB-C everywhere it’s very unlikely that future innovation in connectors will happen.

Fairly sure the USB-IF was already working on that. They don't move fast.
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