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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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This would be completely in line with EU regulation. The law only is about the charging functionality, as far as I know.

But it would be a huge middle finger to iPhone customers. I hope dearly Apple won't cripple the port like that. I was looking forward to USB-C a lot and was going to upgrade my iPhone 13 just because of it.
 
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If true, it's reprehensible behaviour on the part of Apple. I can't actually believe they would willingly walk into this one knowing the opprobrium they'll receive, not to mention further legal moves from countries or regions like the EU, who will likely force them to drop such behaviour.

The EU already has legislation in place regarding the forced adoption of USB, the point of it being to reduce waste by forcing a common connector. A move like this would completely fly in the face of the main motivation behind the law, requiring people to own yet another (Apple authenticated) cable when a perfectly ordinary one would should suffice. The EU will likely amend the law, forcing Apple to u-turn, at least in EU countries.

It's just stupid. If true.
 
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MacRumors said:


The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro's USB-C port and accompanying charging cables will feature a Lightning-like authenticator chip, potentially limiting their functionality with Apple-unapproved accessories, a rumor shared on Weibo suggests.

iPhone-15-to-Switch-From-Lightning-to-USB-C-in-2023-feature-sans-arrow.jpg

The rumor declares that Apple has developed its own variant of USB-C for this year's iPhone 15 lineup and comes from a user who claims to be an integrated circuit expert with 25 years of experience working on Intel's Pentium processors.

Integrated circuit (IC) interfaces are semiconductor chips used to manage the sharing of information between devices. Since their introduction in 2012, first-party and MFi-certified Lightning ports and connectors contain a small IC that confirms the authenticity of the parts involved in the connection. Non-MFi-certified third-party charging cables, for example, do not feature this chip, often leading to "This accessory is not supported" warnings on connected Apple devices.

The authenticator chip allows Apple to encourage customers to buy genuine iPhone peripherals and receive a commission on MFi-certified accessories, but it also allows Apple to tackle counterfeit and potentially dangerous accessories.

The latest rumor seems to suggest that Apple has developed a similar custom IC for the USB-C ports on the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro, and presumably its charging cables. As well as the iPhone 15 lineup, the new IC is apparently destined for new MFi-certified peripherals.

It is worth noting that the USB-C interface currently used by Apple in the 10th-generation iPad, iPad mini, iPad Air, and iPad Pro, do not contain an IC chip for authentication, meaning that this would be a first for ports of this kind offered by the company.

It is unclear if this addition could have any major implications for the functionality of the new devices, but it is possible that Apple could limit features like fast charging and high-speed data transfer to Apple and MFi-certified cables.

According to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, 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. As a result, the only major difference between Lightning and USB-C on the standard iPhone 15 models could simply be the physical shape of the connector.

The report is particularly believable since this would effectively mirror the split between the entry-level iPad and the iPad Pro. While both iPad models feature a USB-C port, the 10th-generation iPad is limited to USB 2.0 speeds of up to 480 Mbps, while the iPad Pro offers fully fledged Thunderbolt speeds up to 40 Gbps.

Article Link: Apple Reportedly Planning to Limit iPhone 15's USB-C Port in the Same Way as Lightning
Click to expand...
If true, Apple have found a loop hole in the EU law, which is not surprising, considering the ripe incompetence which is rife within the EU 🤣
 
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Folks, don't fall for the Apple PR. This is a classic trick. Apple "leaks" a limited, restricted feature to gin-up emotions, but then at release, Apple shows the typical specifications. Apple can then make grandiose claims about the feature: "We're excited to announce the introduction of USB-C. Now customers have a universal port with incredible new features available for the first time on an iPhone: fast power charging, a plethora of available cables, and lighting-fast speeds. We are delighted with all the incredible new things our customers will be able to do."
 
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I'm skeptical of the rumor. It would be high risk/low reward to build custom hardware just to pretend to be in compliance with a regulator who's obviously watching your business.
 
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ChatGPT

[CLASSIC]

The iPhone 15, sleek and bold,
A sight to behold, new and old.
With features that sparkle and shine,
It's the latest and greatest design.

But as I plug in my USB-C,
I find that it's slow and won't free.
I wait and I wait, but to no avail,
This slow port is sure to derail.

I thought that this phone was the best,
But this slow connection puts it to the test.
I need my data, I need it fast,
But this slow port is sure to last.

Oh iPhone 15, what have you done,
To make this once-great phone so undone?
I hope that a fix is on its way,
So I can enjoy you every day.

[JAILBREAK]

Oh iPhone 15, you're a sight to see,
With your sleek design and techy glee.
But when I plug in my USB-C,
I'm met with a slow and sluggish fee.

I want to transfer all my files,
But this slow port is driving me wild.
I thought you were the best of the best,
But this one flaw puts you to the test.

I'm waiting and waiting, but to no avail,
This slow USB-C is making me pale.
I need my data, I need it fast,
But this slow port is sure to last.

Oh iPhone 15, please fix this flaw,
So I can enjoy you without a pause.
A fast USB-C is what we need,
To make this phone truly succeed.
 
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mrochester said:
You can do, but it does mean buying new stuff that you otherwise wouldn’t need. And like I said, for no actual benefit.
Click to expand...
Having fewer cables that can charge any of your devices IS a benefit. Once my iPhone accepts a USB-C cable, I can theoretically get by on travel with a single USB-C cable, or if I've forgotten/lost my kit, then I can buy a useful cable anywhere and only need to purchase one.
 
Unless they use a different name than usb-c for the crippled connector I see a law suit coming apples way when people understand they been sold a product that doesn't give them what they think they bought
 
mrochester said:
I don’t know about you but my laptop USBC cable is located in one place for charging the laptop, my iPad USBC cable is located in another place for charging the iPad and my iPhone Lightning cable is somewhere else. Changing the lightning cable to USBC does not change anything from an environmental or convenience perspective.
Click to expand...
It might not for you, but surely you can still see that for many others it could?
 
mrochester said:
I don’t know about you but my laptop USBC cable is located in one place for charging the laptop, my iPad USBC cable is located in another place for charging the iPad and my iPhone Lightning cable is somewhere else. Changing the lightning cable to USBC does not change anything from an environmental or convenience perspective.
Click to expand...
Do you literally never take your mobile devices around your house, or outside your house?
 
The rumor says 15/Plus will be limited to USB 2.0 speeds and the Pro/Max will get “faster charging speeds”. Uh…those aren’t opposites. So does the Pro/Max also get faster data transfer speeds or what?
 
I am the biggest Apple fanboy. You can see in my signature I basically own ALL their products. My first Mac was THE first Mac in 1984.

If they do something so colossally stupid as this they deserve ALL the hate that is about to come their way. It isn't just asking people to buy proprietary cables, its the idea that people have to keep track of their cables that work with Apple iPhones and the cables that don't, despite the connector looking the same. It's INSANE. I refuse to believe they would actually do this.
 
So someone on Weibo drops a post speculating about something dastardly Apple is going to do and half the people here go nuts. I'll be a glass-is-half-full guy though, and say that at least the other half of the people seem to have retained their senses.
 
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