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

[AndiG]

The bit I've bolded there is the problem I have with this. It's just naive. You should never accept an overreach of power, even if it is for a good cause. The next time, it probably won't be.

Sure, Apple should have put USB-C in the iPhone, but they should have done it by their own choice and/or from pressure from the customer base. Solving the problem with EU regulation is just trading one bad situation for a worse one.

Like Fadell said - the next big thing will be wireless. And the USB-C port is capable of handling USB 4.0 as well. And USB-C is capable enough to handle Displayport (two lanes) and Thunderbolt.

Apple became too big, too lame and too nasty. It is a sad thing that we need regulations to get this monstrosity moving.

Lightning is dead, finally.

 

[I7guy]

Like Fadell said - the next big thing will be wireless. And the USB-C port is capable of handling USB 4.0 as well. And USB-C is capable enough to handle Displayport (two lanes) and Thunderbolt.

Apple became too big, too lame and too nasty. It is a sad thing that we need regulations to get this monstrosity moving.

Lightning is dead, finally.

Be careful what government overreach you support. The next one may not be to your liking.

 

[AndiG]

Be careful what government overreach you support. The next one may not be to your liking.

I don't like that. But the EU has waited for over ten years. The whole industry committed to USB-C as a standard. The whole industry, but Apple. 10 years of talking and arguing, and Apple hasn't moved a nanometer.

So if you want to blame anyone. Blame Apple.

 

[I7guy]

I don't like that. But the EU has waited for over ten years. The whole industry committed to USB-C as a standard. The whole industry, but Apple. 10 years of talking and arguing, and Apple hasn't moved a nanometer.

So if you want to blame anyone. Blame Apple.

I don’t blame apple at all. Unless it’s safety or health related I’m not in favor this type of regulation. Apple may have been headed down this road anyway. But in the long run I thing it’s a net negative rather than a net positive.

 

[mrochester]

I don't like that. But the EU has waited for over ten years. The whole industry committed to USB-C as a standard. The whole industry, but Apple. 10 years of talking and arguing, and Apple hasn't moved a nanometer.

So if you want to blame anyone. Blame Apple.

Who's been talking and arguing?

 

[fat jez]

Can somebody list me the advantages of lightning that make it a better option than usb-c? Technologically that is. What can lightning do that usb-c can’t?

I don’t see already owning lightning cables as being an advantage over usb-c in this discussion.

 

[mrochester]

Can somebody list me the advantages of lightning that make it a better option than usb-c? Technologically that is. What can lightning do that usb-c can’t?

I don’t see already owning lightning cables as being an advantage over usb-c in this discussion.

From my experience, lightening is a sturdier and more secure connection.

Other than that there are no technological benefits at all.

 

[Azzin]

Can somebody list me the advantages of lightning that make it a better option than usb-c? Technologically that is. What can lightning do that usb-c can’t?

I don’t see already owning lightning cables as being an advantage over usb-c in this discussion.

For me, it’s the way Lightning fits into devices, I much prefer the feel of it over USB C, it just feels sturdier.

 

[fat jez]

For me, it’s the way Lightning fits into devices, I much prefer the feel of it over USB C, it just feels sturdier.

Yeah, I'd agree with that.

 

[danny842003]

I don't see why the EU should be able to force an American tech company to put a certain charging port on their devices. If they want to control how phones are designed they should make their own tech company. They didn't earn that, and shouldn't have anything to do with it.

Do you also enjoy encountering the ridiculous cookie popup banners on every website? Doesn't look like either of us are European but we have to deal with that. Absolute stupidity.

People seem to be unable to grasp the difference between:

a) Apple should do this
b) A government power should force Apple to do this

Government forcing people to do things you'd prefer them to do is a dangerous road...

The EU aren’t forcing an American company to do anything.
The EU are saying if you want to sell in the EU you have to play by our rules. Apple will because it’s bad business not to but they don’t have to.

I spent the vast majority of my life living in the EU although I no longer do. I’m no fan of the EU but stuff like this is well within their remit.

 

[lartola]

For me, it’s the way Lightning fits into devices, I much prefer the feel of it over USB C, it just feels sturdier.

Nonetheless, lightning does need to be updated. It’s 10 years old and still features slower data transfer speeds than USB-C. If lightning isn’t going away outside the EU, it needs at least an upgrade.

 

[teh_hunterer]

The EU aren’t forcing an American company to do anything.
The EU are saying if you want to sell in the EU you have to play by our rules. Apple will because it’s bad business not to but they don’t have to.

I spent the vast majority of my life living in the EU although I no longer do. I’m no fan of the EU but stuff like this is well within their remit.

Just like they didn't force the whole internet to adopt those cookie banners. Ok.

 

[teh_hunterer]

I don't like that. But the EU has waited for over ten years. The whole industry committed to USB-C as a standard. The whole industry, but Apple. 10 years of talking and arguing, and Apple hasn't moved a nanometer.

So if you want to blame anyone. Blame Apple.

It doesn't matter how long the EU has waited, the question is should they have the power to force this change. I'm all for the iPhone adopting USB-C, but ultimately it's not worth power overreach to achieve it.

I'm not trying to single you out, but too many people are willing to accept this because the change being enforced is one they personally like.

 

[danny842003]

It doesn't matter how long the EU has waited, the question is should they have the power to force this change. I'm all for the iPhone adopting USB-C, but ultimately it's not worth power overreach to achieve it.

I'm not trying to single you out, but too many people are willing to accept this because the change being enforced is one they personally like.

Again it’s not overreach. The EU get to set the rules for the EU that’s their job. You don’t have to like it but stop pretending it’s something it isn’t.

 

[danny842003]

Just like they didn't force the whole internet to adopt those cookie banners. Ok.

That’s not true though. It’s businesses that operate in the EU that have to have them. If I go on an Australian government website there’s no cookie banner.

 

[teh_hunterer]

Again it’s not overreach. The EU get to set the rules for the EU that’s their job. You don’t have to like it but stop pretending it’s something it isn’t.

It is absolutely overreach. And it's dangerous because the people making these decisions impact the whole world and do not have the knowledge or skill to understand the impact of the laws they put in place. Case in point, they ruined internet browsing for the whole world with their cookie laws.

As for "it's their job", yeah some jobs are bad.

That’s not true though. It’s businesses that operate in the EU that have to have them. If I go on an Australian government website there’s no cookie banner.

Who goes to the Australian govt website? You can point to some virtually irrelevant websites but it doesn't refute the point.

 

[teh_hunterer]

For me, it’s the way Lightning fits into devices, I much prefer the feel of it over USB C, it just feels sturdier.

It certainly does. However, for me it's actually a little too sturdy. I plug my iPhone in to charge once every few months, or sometimes I have to charge an older iPad at work, and I find it a bit annoying the force required to unplug them.

 

[lartola]

It doesn't matter how long the EU has waited, the question is should they have the power to force this change. I'm all for the iPhone adopting USB-C, but ultimately it's not worth power overreach to achieve it.

Without the power overreach the EU would have never achieved it. Apple makes money out of the lightning cables and accesories because they own the standard and can charge a fee to 3rd party manufacturers who make lightning cables and accessories. Apple would have never given that up without regulations in place to corner them between that or no longer selling their products in the EU.

 

[lartola]

It certainly does. However, for me it's actually a little too sturdy. I plug my iPhone in to charge once every few months, or sometimes I have to charge an older iPad at work, and I find it a bit annoying the force required to unplug them.

Personally, ever since I got one if the newer iPad Pros with USB-C I have found that it’s the other way around: I require more force to unplug the USB-C cables and dongles of my new iPad than I did to unplug the lightning cables and dongles of my previous iPad.

 

[teh_hunterer]

Without the power overreach the EU would have never achieved it. Apple makes money out of the lightning cables and accesories because they own the standard and can charge a fee to 3rd party manufacturers who make lightning cables and accessories. Apple would have never given that up without regulations in place to corner them between that or no longer selling their products in the EU.

I'm not sure what the argument is here. If they can't achieve it without a power overreach then they shouldn't achieve it.

 

[danny842003]

It is absolutely overreach. And it's dangerous because the people making these decisions impact the whole world and do not have the knowledge or skill to understand the impact of the laws they put in place. Case in point, they ruined internet browsing for the whole world with their cookie laws.

As for "it's their job", yeah some jobs are bad.



Who goes to the Australian govt website? You can point to some virtually irrelevant websites but it doesn't refute the point.

It totally refutes the point. No website is forced to have the cookie banner. But they are if they’re going to operate in the EU. Nobody is forced to make money in the EU.

You can’t say democratically given power is an overreach. This is what the people of the EU have decided they want to do. Just because it upsets you doesn’t make it an overreach of powers invested in them.

 

[teh_hunterer]

It totally refutes the point. No website is forced to have the cookie banner. But they are if they’re going to operate in the EU. Nobody is forced to make money in the EU.

You can’t say democratically given power is an overreach. This is what the people of the EU have decided they want to do. Just because it upsets you doesn’t make it an overreach of powers invested in them.

You're just using weasel words to avoid the reality. Everyone who browses the internet has had their experience marred by the ridiculous cookie laws. The laws were stupid in the first place, affected people way outside their jurisdiction, and made the internet a worse place. You want to keep pretending that's not the case in order to not face the argument, but everyone knows the EU made the internet worse for everyone.

Democracy is a negotiation. Just because the EU can legally do something at a point in time, doesn't make it right, or good. Maybe the EU won't last forever. Maybe they shouldn't? And if your defense of their actions is the best argument for what they're doing, I doubt they will.

 

[danny842003]

You're just using weasel words to avoid the reality. Everyone who browses the internet has had their experience marred by the ridiculous cookie laws. The laws were stupid in the first place, affected people way outside their jurisdiction, and made the internet a worse place. You want to keep pretending that's not the case in order to not face the argument, but everyone knows the EU made the internet worse for everyone.

Democracy is a negotiation. Just because the EU can legally do something at a point in time, doesn't make it right, or good. Maybe the EU won't last forever. Maybe they shouldn't? And if your defense of their actions is the best argument for what they're doing, I doubt they will.

It’s not weasel words you’re just making false accusations. Their actions can be wrong but it’s not overreach that’s my point. You’re making false claims on the issue.

 

[teh_hunterer]

It’s not weasel words you’re just making false accusations. Their actions can be wrong but it’s not overreach that’s my point. You’re making false claims on the issue.

OK, don't engage with the argument then. It's fine.

 

[mrochester]

Nonetheless, lightning does need to be updated. It’s 10 years old and still features slower data transfer speeds than USB-C. If lightning isn’t going away outside the EU, it needs at least an upgrade.

You do know the connector shape has nothing to do with data transfer speeds? Apple could introduce a USBC iPhone with the same transfer speeds as the current lightning iPhone. Likewise, Apple could release a lightning iPhone with USB3 speeds, if they so chose.

If it’s more speed that you want you need to ask Apple to upgrade the iPhone to USB3. Asking them to change the connector shape won’t necessarily achieve what you want.