You are absolutely misguided here. Apple proposed a USB Type C solution, including the Lightning one. The USB foundation fought for 7 years over what to do, and Apple gave up.
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EU Sets Official Deadline for When iPhone Must Switch to USB-C
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That is a lot of nails in the coffin of the "we are stuck forever and USB-C will never evolve" argument.Here is a simple guide for all of your USB C needsoh and good luck finding cables with those "Associated Symbols"
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With Apple & the Faithful singing "Apple was going to go to USB-C" anyhow without the EU mandate
This is only within the EU market, but of course many if not all companies don't want one version of connector just for the EU market and another for the rest of the world.
It's not so unusual for a region to dictate standards within its market. As I understand, cars sold within the US have to have certain tail lights in a fixed part of the car (typically the fender area) and cannot rely solely on lights that are mounted to the trunk lid. You'll see that same model cars sold in the EU and US sometimes have tail lights in slightly different areas because of the US market requirement.
Manufacturers will probably have a number of years to make the switch and slowly phase out USB-C.
That's cool. How does power work into that? I never knew there was a difference at one time. Now so far I've seen 60 100 140 250W cablesHere is a simple guide for all of your USB C needs
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We don't need new wall plugs because we're not changing the size and build of our electrical outlets to fit smaller and smaller walls. And yeah, we don't even have a global standard for that in over 200 years.
The fact that you think that what you can see improving is the limit of what can improve is exactly why this is the wrong direction. The Type C connector has a host of issues, and the size is STILL one of them. Do you know how many iterations of USB Type B there were? Over the past 20 years, Apple has used 2 connectors. You cannot say the same for any of the other smartphone manufacturers. Most of them have used more than 5 different connectors in the same time frame, some of them had more than 5 at one time on their different models, and some of them used more than 20 over an 8 year period. The industry moved to USB Type C on its own, it finally got there. Now the industry should decide what and when the next connector will be, and the EU shouldn't even be part of the discussion.
True wireless charging is so far away you might as well be talking about flying cars becoming the standard. All wireless charging is inefficient as well, in a world where we're looking to reduce energy consumption, it's not going to fly as the standard anyway. By the time that happens, we will have had to have moved to renewables worldwide and decide we have gone at least 10-15% beyond the world's energy usage. Don't expect to see that in your future children's lifetimes.
Ahh yes, because we're all buying cars from the same factories in China on a yearly basis. The world needs a single standard, the EU shouldn't be dictating it. It would be counterproductive to everyone involved if there were multiple versions of phones for every region based on local laws. So as far as staying in a lane, you're really not staying in your own.
Let's not kid ourselves. Corporate greed is not what drives innovation. On the other hand, most developed countries are mandated by their constitution to devote resources and have a science and research yearly budget.
The intention of the EU directive is to unify a fragmented market, under one connector. The point is to have a unified connector, not to lock us specifically to USB-C. And creates a frameworks where updated technologies can be implemented, as long as they are done in sync with other manufacturers and adhere to laws relating to interoperability and openness. The directive also mentions considerations for future technologies.
It seems that USB-C will be that standard.
USB-C is an international connector, not the EU standard. The EU just chose to adopt it.
And exactly how will that ball ever get rolling? May as well close up shop on the USB Foundation, since the EU will determine the direction.
MicroUSB was also international, and the EU almost made it the standard AFTER USB Type C existed. You might be missing the point.It seems that USB-C will be that standard.
I am guessing that the large manufacturers will keep developing the USB-C until they start to see the limits of the connector or diminishing returns that do not make financial sense. They will work and develop a connector that will meet their requirements and submit the new proposal to the legislators.
This is not hard at all. It would be easier if you and the rest of people getting upset at this would say what really bothers you/them. I seriously doubt it's the technical aspect of a connector. Some people are desperately trying to make this discussion about politics.
What’s that freedom of a private company principle you talk about? Countries have rules, you can obbey them or leave the market.
Should companies be allowed to do all they wanted to do, no restrictions whatsoever? Is that what you’re saying?
Apple gets to enjoy staying a generation behind, like they’ve been doing with lightning for years, so there’s a bright side for apple in this, I suppose.
They're not at all developing USB Type C anymore, they're manufacturing it. You completely overestimate how this foundation comes to decisions, it usually takes them FAR longer than it should because they are already their own bureaucracy. And the foundation practically disbands until someone puts forward a suggestion. In this case, it was Apple that was pushing forward to USB Type C. The same goes for eSIMs. It was almost 10 years ago when Apple started the push for eSIMs.
I've been a proponent of USB Type C since 2009. Literally every purchase I make is predicated on whether or not it has a USB Type C connector. I watched the EU almost force MicroUSB on everything, when MicroUSB could not even do half of what a Lightning connector could let alone USB Type C, and that should tell you plenty about how "easy" this really is.
What really bothers me is that I'm a technologist, I am constantly looking forward to what will be next to improve upon technology. I'm a liberal, a progressive, and a US government employee. Nothing here from my political leanings aligns with my concerns. I'm FOR government regulation. But all of these years in government has also taught me that once laws are built around things, they nearly always end up bumping against something unexpected. And fixing those laws, when it comes to technology, will not get the attention it needs unless it's a current hot button issue. In five years or so when these officials in the EU inevitably move on to other appointed or elected positions, it will not be the priority for their replacements to keep an eye on the tech world. It COULD go that way, but it likely won't, and any promise that it will is not able to be kept in a democracy.
So, I've been waiting forever for Apple to move iPhone to USB Type C. I've been patient, as I know this is far bigger issue for them than the people here who think they're making a fortune off of selling a connector seem to realize. It's not nearly as simple as what is on the surface here. I'm extremely pleased that we're finally at the point that iPhone will have it...but after 14 years or so of following this connector, I'm already starting to look at 2030. Where will this go in another 10 years when this connector, which really wasn't even the best the foundation could come up with, starts to show its limitations?
All other products? Are you aware of what Apple products are even left that don't have USB Type C?