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Apple Reportedly Planning to Limit iPhone 15's USB-C Port in the Same Way as Lightning
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I’m willing to wait for reality. But as an 18 month first time Apple customer, it doesn’t matter. Given the 5-6 year market deficit in both speech reco and soft keyboard functionality, we’re backing out of the system.
I write a column in a speech tech magazine and have been pestering Apple to comment on why they’ve abandoned speech reco and also Siri as a competitive differentiator, but they seem to be embarrassed and refuse to comment. So it’s going to market with the facts showing that Apple is behind everyone in the mobile market. I’m headed back to Android sometime soon.
I write a column in a speech tech magazine and have been pestering Apple to comment on why they’ve abandoned speech reco and also Siri as a competitive differentiator, but they seem to be embarrassed and refuse to comment. So it’s going to market with the facts showing that Apple is behind everyone in the mobile market. I’m headed back to Android sometime soon.
I think it makes sense for Apple. High speed USB C on the phone obviates even the need for owning any other Apple hardware than the phone. Stick a dongle in that puppy and you’ve got HDMI, ethernet, external HDs/SD cards, an earphone, a mouse, a wired printer, charging.
I can't remember the last time I plugged in my phone to do any sort of data transfer. File management is done either via airdrop, cloud storage or web services (eg: I mail or telegram the file to myself). I guess it's less acceptance and more indifference.
OnePlus has been doing funky things with USB-C for quite some time now. Except they do so to enable extra features and promote sales of their own line of accessories that offer things like super fast charging... whereas this seems more like a punishment to users to force them to buy Apple's overpriced accessories that offer basic functionality like wired charging.
Once again, a sketchy rumor, given exposure through shoddy reporting, and taken as fact, causes click counts to soar, and the peanut galleries of the internet to explode in righteous indignation, coming from hypocrites who keep buying products from companies they purported despise.
Start with the basics. Type-C is a connector, nothing more. Lighting is also a connector. Both support power, data, video, etc, through standard protocols like USB data, PD, Thunderbolt, and so on, and both include provisions for hardware authentication.
Hardware authentication is part of the Type-C spec, and was first announced in 2016. The tools that Apple, or any other company, needs to bar unauthorized devices, cables, and power sources are already in place, and for each entity to implement, as an option. Why would Apple need, or want to reinvent the wheel with a phantom, non-conforming "new" standard that the rumor pushes?
It should be no surprise to most Apple owners that they design their own ICs, in house, and have for a long time. Apple Silicon, 5G modem, Wi-fi…smaller controllers, etc.
But guess what? Apple Silicon uses the ARM64 instruction set, their radio chips will have to conform to GSMA and Wi-Fi Alliance standards, as would any port interface to USB-IF specs. They're doing their own controller? That is of no consequence in and of itself.
Proprietary extensions to technical standards is nothing new. Apple 2.4, QuickCharge, Samsung FastCharge, etc. all existed before Type-C. Does anyone think that Qualcomm developed QC out of the goodness or its heart, or doesn't charge licensing fees for those who implement it? Sorry, Android users, you're playing the same game.
Samsung has its own PPDE that allows their affiliated wireless chargers to use higher rates than standard Qi chargers, as does Apple with MagSafe. Google's Pixel phones only go to max rate with their chargers. That does not make any of their chargers non-compliant with the Qi spec, or prevent their users from using a standard Qi charger that does not support those extensions, or vice versa, a iPnone to not function with a Samsung wireless charger.
Again, wires or wireless, none of this is anything new. And though not optimal, proprietary extensions does not preclude being spec-compliant, or basic functionality.
What Apple actually does, and how they implement a Type-C iPhone remains to be seen, and jumping to knee jerk conclusions is premature, and foolish.
Lightning is fully proprietary, and no doubt that permitted the monetization of it through the MFi program.
Apple could not pursue the same strategy fully with Type-C, and the only evidence we have so far, in the form of Macs and iPads, suggests that it won't. Save the pitchforks for if and when they do. And stop buying Apple.
Start with the basics. Type-C is a connector, nothing more. Lighting is also a connector. Both support power, data, video, etc, through standard protocols like USB data, PD, Thunderbolt, and so on, and both include provisions for hardware authentication.
Hardware authentication is part of the Type-C spec, and was first announced in 2016. The tools that Apple, or any other company, needs to bar unauthorized devices, cables, and power sources are already in place, and for each entity to implement, as an option. Why would Apple need, or want to reinvent the wheel with a phantom, non-conforming "new" standard that the rumor pushes?
It should be no surprise to most Apple owners that they design their own ICs, in house, and have for a long time. Apple Silicon, 5G modem, Wi-fi…smaller controllers, etc.
But guess what? Apple Silicon uses the ARM64 instruction set, their radio chips will have to conform to GSMA and Wi-Fi Alliance standards, as would any port interface to USB-IF specs. They're doing their own controller? That is of no consequence in and of itself.
Proprietary extensions to technical standards is nothing new. Apple 2.4, QuickCharge, Samsung FastCharge, etc. all existed before Type-C. Does anyone think that Qualcomm developed QC out of the goodness or its heart, or doesn't charge licensing fees for those who implement it? Sorry, Android users, you're playing the same game.
Samsung has its own PPDE that allows their affiliated wireless chargers to use higher rates than standard Qi chargers, as does Apple with MagSafe. Google's Pixel phones only go to max rate with their chargers. That does not make any of their chargers non-compliant with the Qi spec, or prevent their users from using a standard Qi charger that does not support those extensions, or vice versa, a iPnone to not function with a Samsung wireless charger.
Again, wires or wireless, none of this is anything new. And though not optimal, proprietary extensions does not preclude being spec-compliant, or basic functionality.
What Apple actually does, and how they implement a Type-C iPhone remains to be seen, and jumping to knee jerk conclusions is premature, and foolish.
Lightning is fully proprietary, and no doubt that permitted the monetization of it through the MFi program.
Apple could not pursue the same strategy fully with Type-C, and the only evidence we have so far, in the form of Macs and iPads, suggests that it won't. Save the pitchforks for if and when they do. And stop buying Apple.
Unfortunately Apple has lost confidence they can make great products and choose to resort to entrapment and creating proprietary interfaces as well as the cripple hammer to basic features.
I remember when Apple worked to give you the most technology for your money. Now they are giving you the most superficial hype with crippled features.
I remember when Apple worked to give you the most technology for your money. Now they are giving you the most superficial hype with crippled features.
Yep they dropped the 10 year old port but keep the 20 year old protocol. Sounds like present day Apple.
I'm shocked at how many Apple stans totally supporting this rumored cashgrab that have anecdotal stories of 10 for a buck wish.com USB-C cables that have exploded, melted through the ground, tried to hack the devices they were plugged into, or ran up a huge Onlyfans bill.
No, and neither does the EU directive.
Apple can have a cable that supports the EU legislated standard and include additional capabilities via MiFi. Such a design would be 100% in compliance with the EU law and USB-C standards.
They can also include charging capabilities beyond the EU requirements. The EU directive sets a minimum standard for compliance; and Apple could add to it so that a MiFi cable has capabilities beyond a generic USB-C PD cable. Bth would work but one would only charge at the EU required levels.
If this is true, that would mean that the official Apple USB-C cables that I already (from purchasing iPads and such) wouldn’t work fully with the iPhone. It is for that reason that I think this wouldn’t happen. The world of USB-C cables is already more confusing than it ought to be. If Apple did this, consumer confusion it would cause specifically among Apple-made USB-C cables would be quite high. People walking into the Apple Store saying something like:
“Why isn’t the Apple USB-C cable that I bought from Apple not working with my Apple product? What? I need to buy a different Apple USB-C cable from Apple? What?! Why? But I already have an Apple USB-C cable. Ugh, whatever. How much?! $30?!?! Plus tax?! But I already have one. I bought it like three months ago. It’s from Apple!!! You made this!!! I bought it from you!!! I picked it up from this exact store!!!”
😂
I understand Apple does things that aren’t the most consumer friendly sometimes. But (and call me naive for thinking this) I don’t think Apple would go THIS far.
“Why isn’t the Apple USB-C cable that I bought from Apple not working with my Apple product? What? I need to buy a different Apple USB-C cable from Apple? What?! Why? But I already have an Apple USB-C cable. Ugh, whatever. How much?! $30?!?! Plus tax?! But I already have one. I bought it like three months ago. It’s from Apple!!! You made this!!! I bought it from you!!! I picked it up from this exact store!!!”
😂
I understand Apple does things that aren’t the most consumer friendly sometimes. But (and call me naive for thinking this) I don’t think Apple would go THIS far.
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But can the EU do anything about it? It just goes to show the challenges of trying to legislate a particular course of action. You can list out what you want them to do, but you cannot tell them what not to do.
Anything is possible. Will not be surprised if this happens!!
Well ofc they can and if Apple tries something like this they probably will.
And you certainly can tell them what not to do. You do it through legislation. You make the initial law and then subsequently close any loopholes and clarify the original law, again, through legislation
Improved safety. No, I'm being serious here. Outside of the Note debacle, most cell phone battery fires can be chalked up to cheap cables either increasing the heat in the cable itself, or the battery, to unsustainable levels. It's one of those things you should spend some money on.
That’s PC Builder’s fault, mainly.
Sure, USB is a mess but even razor blades come in all sorts of packages.
Power, data speed, thunderbolt. It’s written write there on the box, you just need to select a cable with the performance / feature you need.
“May I have a thunderbolt 3 cable please?”
“This really expensive one has thunderbolt 4…”
“3 is fine”
“Sure, here you are.”
Staffer hands you a cable with an oval connector.
“May I have a displayport cable please?”
“DisplayPort, Mini Display Port or USB-C?”
“USB-C, please”
“Sure, here you are.”
Staffer hands you a cable with an oval connector.
“May I have a USB cable please?”
“Sure, A or C?”
“C please.”
“Do you need USB-3?”
“Yes”
“What speed? 5, 10 or 20?”
“The fastest one please.”
“USB 3.2 x 2, here you are.”
Staffer hands you a cable with an oval connector.
“Hello again, sir.”
“Hello.”
“How may I help you this time?”
“May I have a thunderbolt 4 cable please?”
“Thunderbolt 4 is Tight! Here you are, sir.”
The shop grows suddenly silent as the staffer hands you a super expensive cable with an oval connector.
The connector and even the “non-standard standard” is not really the issue. Poor staff training is the issue.
In Japan there are recently shops that have no floor staff, just a security guard and a kiosk that scans your basket at the exit.
It’s those sort of places that refuse to hire specialist staff that are letting their customers down.
Like websites that make accepting all data-assault cookies the default button but then force you to ensure a 10 second delay to pop up some overengineered selection screen with funky formatting and a plethora of buttons to turn some of it off.
EU regulations basically backfired and made data molestation legitimate if you just click the “sure, bro” button.
Still waiting for the law that makes “disable all unnecessary cookies” mandatory.
“the USB-C port on the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus will remain limited to USB 2.0 speeds – the same as Lightning. Only the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max models will apparently get faster charging speeds.”
Wait, isn’t that paragraph confusing high-speed and high-power? USB 2 speed is a data transfer rate and doesn’t affect your charging speed.
As a standard, USB-C is pretty non-standard. When I go shopping for cables there are ones rated high-power and low-speed, ones rated low-power and high-speed, and various ones rated for high and higher speeds and high-power. I would assume Apple is just going to do the same as everyone else and have different levels of USB, but with the same USB-C connector (which certainly seems to be within the specification), and I was under the impression that the connector was all that the EU mandated. I like to buy cables that are high-speed and high-power so I can just grab a cable without worrying about whether I’m using it on a Thunderbolt port or a phone, but it seems like they would be overkill and an unnecessary expense if all you are ever using is a phone.
And the initial rumour seems suspect, as I find it hard to believe Apple would be hacking the USB spec to not allow the use of valid USB-C cables.
Wait, isn’t that paragraph confusing high-speed and high-power? USB 2 speed is a data transfer rate and doesn’t affect your charging speed.
As a standard, USB-C is pretty non-standard. When I go shopping for cables there are ones rated high-power and low-speed, ones rated low-power and high-speed, and various ones rated for high and higher speeds and high-power. I would assume Apple is just going to do the same as everyone else and have different levels of USB, but with the same USB-C connector (which certainly seems to be within the specification), and I was under the impression that the connector was all that the EU mandated. I like to buy cables that are high-speed and high-power so I can just grab a cable without worrying about whether I’m using it on a Thunderbolt port or a phone, but it seems like they would be overkill and an unnecessary expense if all you are ever using is a phone.
And the initial rumour seems suspect, as I find it hard to believe Apple would be hacking the USB spec to not allow the use of valid USB-C cables.
Being incredibly petty has been part of Apple's DNA since the Steve Jobs days, if anything this is 100% on brand.
It's so stupid and unnecessary, it might actually be true.
You want to force us to use USB-C ports? Okay, here's your USB-C port, enjoy😆
Love it! It’s a good way to tell bureaucrats who know NOTHING about technology to shove it 
Only Apple would deliberately slow the standard speeds of a port standard down, to force you to upgrade for more profit on their bottom line. Always upselling is Apple.