The EU is moving ahead with push for a common charging standard after decisive vote

[Plutoisaplanet]

This is incorrect. There is tremendous benefit to Tesla vehicle owners, who now have access to all third party charging networks via the CCS connector (Ionity, etc.). We can thank the EU for compelling Tesla to adopt this universal standard, and soon we can thank them for compelling Apple likewise.

The regulation had nothing to do with Tesla vehicles, only about charging stations. The fact that Tesla Models S and X have a CCS adapter isn’t a result of the regulation and the same is true of Model 3’s getting the port. In fact the supercharging stations are still using CAN instead of PLC to communicate, meaning Tesla went beyond what the regulations required to support CCS in their vehicles.

Tesla vehicles could have the same design they currently do and a second port wouldn’t be needed on superchargers for them to be able to charge normally there and on public CCS stations. This is likely what Tesla was going to do if they didn’t have to comply with the regulation as they’re a member of CharIN (responsible for the design and promotion of CCS) and it would be the most simple/cheapest route forward.

 

[JaredTheDragon]

Surely you're joking. You really want to go back to the days of every manufacturer having their own proprietary cables, signaling standards, protocols, etc? Compatibility lock-in SUCKS. Apple only gets away with it because their the darlings of the fake counterculture, aka the limousine liberals.

Nailed it.

 

[QuantumPhysics]

Yes Apple please take your overpriced cra** away from Europe!!

Make them beg for Apple products.

 

[Fiat Lux]

Except these politicians don't "dictate technology development", they just want the involved parties to agree on a standardized one. And the rest of the world already agreed on USB-C. It's an open, royalty-free industry standard, maintained by USB-IF, of which Apple happens to be a member of btw. Apple uses exclusively USB-C ports on its laptops btw. And the iPad Pro. It makes no f*cking sense not to have a single connector for the rest of their product line.

A standard charging port allows the customer to switch brands without having to purchase new accessories every time. It protects you from vendor lock-in. It's better for your wallet and better for the environment as well.

Lightning is a walled garden. And please don't tell me how much superior it is, I already have a few months old Anker Lightning cable that only charges on one side. And if you dare to say I should stick to Apple cables, then please explain what the exact point of MFi certification is.

The one and only stakeholder who benefits from still pushing this stupid connector on a random subset of their products is Apple.

Attacking the EU in this matter is like... I don't know, Stockholm syndrome? What exactly do you like about having a proprietary (and expensive) connector that you can only use on your iPhone and iPad (sorry, some of your iPads), and literally nothing else in the World?

I'm not enjoying pissing Apple off, however, I will very much enjoy not having to carry around a Lightning adapter exclusively for my darn phone. While everything else is USB-C already.

The ultimate irony of it all is that Apple is actually using the USB Power Delivery protocol for charging - but via the Lightning connector. I just don't get it. What kind of sense does that make? This also means it's literally just swapping the d@mn port and it's done. No other changes need to be made. That's all the EU is asking of Apple.

Now, if only they could do the same with the Apple Watch and Qi charging... It just blows my mind, why on Earth does that thing also require its own darn special charger? It's so Apple.

^all this

 

[Jaryn211]

What about new standards? How exactly do they plan to adapt to new innovations? Because if waste is the biggest issue then we need to think about how much waste there would be if suddenly everything was to switch a brand new connector. I just dont think they'll plan that far ahead.

 

[Adi6293]

Make them beg for Apple products.

I think Europeans are more than happy with Samsung's and Chinese phones that are more advanced and sometimes even cheaper ; - P

 

[negroplasty]

Love the Apple bitching here. It's really very simple:

The Lightning cable preceded the USB-C cable by 2 years. That's why Apple doesn't use it. It ain't broke, so they don't fix it.

It really is that simple. There's also the matter of how much waste there will be when the hundreds of millions (billion+?) of iPhone users have to throw away all their lightning cables that they already have? Then there's the accessories, they'd need to be thrown away or have the user buy an adapter to keep using them (now we like dongles, eh?).

The longer USB-C is out there before the switch actually happens, the smoother the transition will be for everyone... and we all know it's going to happen eventually. There are many users that still don't even have USB-C ports on their PCs, so don't argue about how you only carry one cable it's a load of BS 90% of the time. People still haul around a USB-A to USB-C cable even if ALL their devices and charges are USB-C across the board because they know there are still devices out there they need to connect to that still don't have the USB-C ports.

What's funnier is that the people making the biggest stink around here aren't even Apple users, so this affects them even less. Forcing Apple to change this affects you how exactly? How do you think it will affect Apple users in the immediate term?

I agree in the long term it's the right decision, but just to do it at the right time. The ports need to be everywhere first, and they aren't unless people have the latest hardware (power users, typically)... that's why I think it makes sense for Apple to have added the ports to their devices first (Macs), then work their way down the line on their mobile devices from the most professionally oriented like their iPad Pros (again, targeting power users who will see the least negative impact as they are up to date with their hardware), and then eventually down to the more mainstream consumer devices (iPhone, iPad, etc.)

Before you come out with a holier than thou rant about how things need to be changed to suit you when you aren't even impacted, at least have a thoughtful argument to support why that is. There are good arguments on both sides, I think the best one is to do it but strategically in a way that makes sense... when the time is right, and not dictated by a bunch of clueless lawmakers and politicians.

 

[captaincranky]

Resist them Apple...or don't sell there.

Europe isn't worth your soul.

Not one damn bit.

Since when did Apple develop a soul?

 

[gollum21]

It was finally time to force Apple to do it. Apple was just using it's different ports/cables to make it harder for people to switch thus locking them into the ecosystem. (and to sell expensive crappy peripherals and cables)

Sadly, this is only for "charging" if I'm not mistaken. So Apple could still put in a USB port, but only allow power transfer and not data transfer (no USB mouse, ect, functionality). So people could still need to buy a USB adapter for peripheral devices on applicable products. lmao

Plus the standard might not be for USB anyways. Just a charging standard.

 

[brucek]

My home and car already have a robust set of lightning chargers and lightning cables everywhere I need them. If they succeed in forcing a switch to USB-C, they will have cost me a lot of extra money and generated a lot of waste. The consumer protection I would have been more interested in here is one which ensures 3rd parties are able to compete by making fully officially compatible cables and chargers.

And while USB-C may seem like a great choice today, I am not eager to turn over the pace of innovation to a government committee. When I got my first job I wasn't hearing any complaints about the bulky and heavy RS-232 cables in use at the time. Would we still be using them today if this regulation had passed back then?

 

[Beerfloat]

I don't see what the big deal is. All they need to do to be compliant is include a tiny USB-C to Lightning converter dongle and they can keep using their preferred phone connector form factor if they insist.

That's what, like $0.25 cents in hardware cost? Or just an increase of $225, £225 or €245 for the consumer after Apple accounting and currency conversion.

 

[Constantine1216]

...
This directive is about a charger, not a cable.
Additionally, they as well want to standardize wireless chargers.

We have standard wall plugs, standard dvd readers, standard power in electrical lines, standard petrol and so on. This is nothing weird to have a standard charger. This will make simple to sell devices without a charger, just with a cable if needed. No need to another device to change the current.

That is great thing, in addition with 100% 'right to repair'.

I agree with this statement.
Purley my .002 cent opinion:
With any new "standard" will come the pains of switching/implementation, but it's a step in the right direction.
We have too much electronic waste. The oncoming of it will be tough, as with most new changes, but forward-moving this helps limit waste and allows more focus to other tech advancements.

+1 to 'right to repair'

 

[Mike89]

This standard usb-c connector and then Apple's proprietary Lightning connector situation is just stupid and I blame Apple. Apple just insists, and is proud of it, to stay a closed system and I don't see them changing from that practice unless they are forced to. Apple needs to get with the program. I'm not an Apple guy, do not own any Apple products and will not contribute to Steve Jobs dreams. Even though he is deader than Elvis.

 

[Lew Zealand]

This standard usb-c connector and then Apple's proprietary Lightning connector situation is just stupid and I blame Apple. Apple just insists, and is proud of it, to stay a closed system and I don't see them changing from that practice unless they are forced to. Apple needs to get with the program. I'm not an Apple guy, do not own any Apple products and will not contribute to Steve Jobs dreams. Even though he is deader than Elvis.

Maybe if the USB consortium had come up with USB-C before Apple came up with Lightning, then history would have been different. It's silly to blame Apple for not supporting a standard which didn't exist yet.

Oh, so they should switch once USB-C came out? And abandon the 275 million iPhone users with Lightning ports (and the tens of millions of iPad and iPod Touch users...)? And this assumes they immediately adopt the USB-C standard which no phone companies actually did. So you can tack 100s of millions of more units to the total. Don't forget the Lightning accessories.

Yeah, that's not how you run a business.

 

[Beerfloat]

Oh, so they should switch once USB-C came out?

The proposal wouldn’t require switching. It’s about the chargers also supporting USB-C.

 

[Lew Zealand]

Apple's portable device chargers use a bog-standard USB-A receptacle. Plug in any cable which has good 'ol USB-A on one end and it delivers power through whatever cable output you have on the other end. I just plugged in a Micro-USB FLIR IR camera into iPad and iPhone chargers and the FLIR charges with it's USB-A to Micro-USB cable.

I assume if you have a USB-A to USB-C cable, it will also charge a device that way as the concept is identical. Ah wait, I *do* know that works, my Mom's MacBook (USB-C charging only) can be charged, slowly, from an iPad charger with a USB-A to USB-C cable because I had to once or twice.

It seems Apple's chargers are already industry standard.

 

[Puiu]

What about new standards? How exactly do they plan to adapt to new innovations? Because if waste is the biggest issue then we need to think about how much waste there would be if suddenly everything was to switch a brand new connector. I just dont think they'll plan that far ahead.

Just like with the switch from older USB to USB-C, people don't just suddenly throw their cables and buy new phones and new cables. The transition is gradual and most cables will be used by people until they break (same with phones). it will also act as an incentive to keep compatibility for multiple generations.

Innovations in future standards will be done as a group and will be adopted as a group. The individual innovations will focus on the phones and chargers (quick charge version XXX, wireless charging, special batteries, high wattage, etc) not the charging port and cables (which are mostly done to lock people into an ecosystem anyway).