Apple argues against EU calls for universal mobile charger, says it would stifle innovation

[cliffordcooley]

So it was the charger all these years stifling innovation.

... standards should prevail through competition, not through legislation.

You will never get a standard while companies are competing to have their own method.

 

[Gezzer]

I'm confused why Apple are fighting this, they put USB-C into everything else other than the iPhone?
At one point, you could buy a £1500 iPhone and a £2000 MacBook and from the word go you couldn't plug them into each other. That was just unacceptable.

I hope the EU actually stick to their guns, Apple are the last ones to use a custom connector as far as I'm aware, the rest of the world moved on with Type-C.

Apple is the type of company that loves proprietary hardware, because it makes them potentially a single source for the products thus reinforcing their "walled garden" ecosphere. They're not the only OEM that does this, but they've taken it to an art form.
So IMHO their reaction isn't about whether they will or will not adopt a universal standard like a USB C connector in the future making the objection moot. But more that it sets a precedence preventing them from not only changing to another standard to replace USB C, but potentially being used to force other universal standards on them as well.

 

[deemon]

Yeah it will definitely stifle Apples innovative ways to rid people of their moneys

Also ... no one did say you can't add to your new phone A SECOND plug for your innovative creation. Just have one standard charging port also ... mind blown... I know.

 

[Markoni35]

Wait, shouldn't activists support Apple? After all, they are advocating diversity, while EU wants every charger to look exactly the same. I support the EU suggestion, but... how come those various activists aren't insisting on forced diversity? As they usually do.

 

[MarkHughes]

Alternative headline: Apple makes it clear just how much money they make from non standard cables.

 

[ypsylon]

Apple as a company are really thick and will never acknowledge they are on the wrong side.

However playing devil's advocate. I like Lighting. It is much more resilient and damage resistant than any USB-C. What happens if USB-C is no longer viable. Will EU legislate another standard idiocy like straight bananas or right shade of green for cucumbers?

 

[Shaitan]

Bwahahah. Apple, which was amongst the first phone producers to lock in the battery?! Apple, which produced a TON of waste by getting rid of the headphone jacks(and thus forced users to throw away headphones)?! Apple, which produces a TON of non-standard connectors for the iphone, iMac, I...whatever and changes them so as to keep the largest profit margins?!
Apple should be LEGALLY fined up to their nose until they (and also Samsung, LG and everyone else):
- provide user replaceable battery
- a software update of at least two years, just as long as the warranty

 

[Shadowboxer]

I’m with Apple, I’d prefer our governments keep their regulatory fingers in their pockets. We don’t currently really have a problem with this so why are we going to start adding rules and regulations?

I just wish some of our tech companies would stand up against our clueless administrations.

 

[cliffordcooley]

I just wish some of our tech companies would stand up against our clueless administrations.

I can see who is clueless. Just a few weeks ago I was asked for a charger. I had no choice but to tell them I didn't use Apple products.

 

[mattferg]

Bwahahah. Apple, which was amongst the first phone producers to lock in the battery?! Apple, which produced a TON of waste by getting rid of the headphone jacks(and thus forced users to throw away headphones)?! Apple, which produces a TON of non-standard connectors for the iphone, iMac, I...whatever and changes them so as to keep the largest profit margins?!
Apple should be LEGALLY fined up to their nose until they (and also Samsung, LG and everyone else):
- provide user replaceable battery
- a software update of at least two years, just as long as the warranty

Agree, except the last point, where Apple has a history of providing the longest software support for their phones (currently the 6S, a 5 year old phone)

 

[mattferg]

I’m with Apple, I’d prefer our governments keep their regulatory fingers in their pockets. We don’t currently really have a problem with this so why are we going to start adding rules and regulations?

I just wish some of our tech companies would stand up against our clueless administrations.

We don't have a problem because the EU has been pushing and legislating towards one standard for some time now. If they hadn't we'd still have 100s of different DC barrel jacks.

 

[mattferg]

Apple as a company are really thick and will never acknowledge they are on the wrong side.

However playing devil's advocate. I like Lighting. It is much more resilient and damage resistant than any USB-C. What happens if USB-C is no longer viable. Will EU legislate another standard idiocy like straight bananas or right shade of green for cucumbers?

I imagine someone will come out with a new standard everyone agrees on (the USB Foundation?) and the EU will nominate that.

 

[Ultraman1966]

Apple as a company are really thick and will never acknowledge they are on the wrong side.

However playing devil's advocate. I like Lighting. It is much more resilient and damage resistant than any USB-C. What happens if USB-C is no longer viable. Will EU legislate another standard idiocy like straight bananas or right shade of green for cucumbers?

I know you are taking the piss but the EU has never legislated for straight bananas and other silly things.
I too would like to use the lightning connector, when will Apple licence this out?