Other Likelihood of USB-C

[Puppuccino]

How is universal wires not a benefit to the average consumer...

Because USB-C is not widely used in electronics right now. 99.99% of things still use USB-A so changing something to use USB-C will create more plastic waste despite news reports (and the EU commission) saying the opposite.

People must just be bored of Lightning to want USB-C to replace it.

 

[goobot]

Because USB-C is not widely used in electronics right now. 99.99% of things still use USB-A so changing something to use USB-C will create more plastic waste despite news reports (and the EU commission) saying the opposite.

People must just be bored of Lightning to want USB-C to replace it.

Lol most new electronics come with usbc. To say 99% come with type a is beyond an exaggeration.

 

[mrochester]

Because USB-C is not widely used in electronics right now. 99.99% of things still use USB-A so changing something to use USB-C will create more plastic waste despite news reports (and the EU commission) saying the opposite.

People must just be bored of Lightning to want USB-C to replace it.

The EU proposals relate to the charging brick not the connector on the phone. Apple already has switched to USBC on the charging brick.

 

[one more]

IMHO, USB-C benefits over Lightning are overrated. My guess is that Apple will keep on using Lightning for the next few years and then get rid of that power socket altogether, as some rumours of “cable-free” iPhones suggested. By then they will have figured out a way to make a compact inexpensive wireless charger to bundle with all the iPhones sold.

Several bonuses here:
- they can use the extra space freed up by the removed power cord for adding more battery cells;
- satisfy the EU regulations for more universal charging solutions;
- make iPhone hacking with devices like Greybox impossible.

 

[Puppuccino]

Lol most new electronics come with usbc. To say 99% come with type a is beyond an exaggeration.

I disagree.

The EU proposals relate to the charging brick not the connector on the phone. Apple already has switched to USBC on the charging brick.

Not on the iPhone 11.

 

[mrochester]

I disagree.



Not on the iPhone 11.

Correct, but I meant in the sense that it will roll down to their cheaper products before long but that they have otherwise introduced such a product.

 

[T'hain Esh Kelch]

The EU proposals relate to the charging brick not the connector on the phone. Apple already has switched to USBC on the charging brick.

That is not correct. It is both the charger, and the unit. You can skip around the latter though, by providing wireless charging, but then you also have to supply one of those.

European Commission - Have your say

European Commission - Have your say

ec.europa.eu

•Separation of cable and charger plug, and specification of connector standards:
-The cable/connector to the product shall be separable from the plug charger to the mains and:
-the connection between the cable/connector and mains plug charger will be either standard USB Type A/B or, USB Type C and compliant with the USB 3.1 standard, where the charger plug will be clearly marked to show which USB 3.1 voltage profiles it is able to supply (ensuring reuse with other appliances)
-the connection between the cable/connector and the product shall be either USB Type C or USB 2.0 Micro B
-Alternatively, the product can be equipped with wireless charging functionality, where the compatible wireless charger is shipped separately from the product, can be used for multiple products, and meets minimum requirements for energy efficiency and no load power in line with the requirements for AC-DC power supplies of Regulation 278/2009.

 

[mrochester]

That is not correct. It is both the charger, and the unit. You can skip around the latter though, by providing wireless charging, but then you also have to supply one of those.

European Commission - Have your say

European Commission - Have your say

ec.europa.eu

Thanks for that. It would be a shame to be required by law to use a worse port than lightning.

 

[saber32au]

Pros of USB-C
- Much faster possible transfer speed
- Can share the same cable with other devices which you already have

+1

I too believe there is little to no chance in Apple changing the iPhone to feature a USB C port, but it would be nice to be able to use one cable across multiple devices (ie iPhone, iPad, android phone, android tablet, PC etc etc).

 

[theluggage]

If Jobs were alive, he might call USB-C a "bag of hurt."

Up to the point where Apple put USB-C ports on the Macs and iPad Pro, after which it would be "magical".

Yeah, it's a bag of hurt (turns out having 'one port for everything' doesn't simplify things - it makes them more complicated) - but unfortunately its the bag of hurt that the industry seems to be standardising on, and Apple didn't seem to have any eco-qualms about forcing them on Mac users.

At least on an iDevice there's a good excuse for only having space for a single port and needing dongles/adapters for everything.

The EU proposals relate to the charging brick not the connector on the phone. Apple already has switched to USBC on the charging brick.

Yeah, Apple is ahead of the game in providing re-purposable power bricks and minimising the number of different connectors (2 iDevice connectors and 2 versions of magsafe in 15 years is nothing c.f. manufacturers where every different model has a different connector...)

But, no, the EU seems determined to impose a single-connector on the device - which is overkill. Requiring power supplies to be sold as an optional extra rather than bundled with every new device (now that world+dog have a shoebox full of USB power supplies) would make more sense.

Thanks for that. It would be a shame to be required by law to use a worse port than lightning.

However, there are plenty of other arguments for switching the iPhone to USB-C (not least that its now standard across Macs and iPad Pro) and its something they probably should have done at the same time as dropping the 3.5mm jack (i.e. before lots of people bought lightning headphones/audio adapters). Methinks Apple may be briar-patching a bit so they can blame the EU for people having to buy new cables...

 

[compwiz1202]

The Magic 8 Ball shows YES

 

[goobot]

I disagree.

All major android devices come with usb c and all iPhone pro's come with usb c on the reverse end which makes up most of the phone market
All Macs came with usb c and a lot of pc's which makes up most of the computer market.
All iPad pros and surface come with usb c which make up most of the tablet market.
How is 99% of devices shipping with usb a in 2020?

 

[44267547]

People must just be bored of Lightning to want USB-C to replace it.

I challenge you to ask any average consumer if they know the difference between USB-C and lightning. You have to have the necessary applications to want to migrate to USB-C.

Lightning is still relevant and will be for years to come, even if Apple were to abandon it tomorrow.

 

[teohyc]

I challenge you to ask any average consumer if they know the difference between USB-C and lightning. You have to have the necessary applications to want to migrate to USB-C.

Lightning is still relevant and will be for years to come, even if Apple were to abandon it tomorrow.

Average consumer won’t know the difference between OLED and LCD on their phones too. Then why did Apple go with OLED?

 

[44267547]

Average consumer won’t know the difference between OLED and LCD on their phones too. Then why did Apple go with OLED?

I get what you're saying, but your comparison isn’t exactly appropriate. Consumers wouldn’t care about LCD versus OLED, simply because it doesn’t affect them in a way that would require any type of physical/cost transition (Unless PWM posed a personal issue) If Apple were to delete the lightning port and migrate to the USB-C, then all these accessories supporting lightning would be a difficult transition for the consumer, being there so invested with lightning enable devices/accessories.

 

[sprague.rod]

yes, and lightning is already reversible.

That's what I meant. The lightening bolt connectors are not only reversible but have rounded corners making insertion easy even in the dark and a big advantage for the sight impaired.

 

[saber32au]

If Apple were to delete the lightning port and migrate to the USB-C, then all these accessories supporting lightning would be a difficult transition for the consumer, being there so invested with lightning enable devices/accessories.

It'll be no different to when Apple switched from the 30 pin to the current 8 pin connector. Initially yes, there will be pain, but give it some time and people will switch over.

 

[mrochester]

It'll be no different to when Apple switched from the 30 pin to the current 8 pin connector. Initially yes, there will be pain, but give it some time and people will switch over.

At least there was a functional benefit of switching to lightning (much smaller, reversible,more durable). A switch from lightning to usbc brings none of those benefits and is probably less durable, so to all intents and purposes it will be a downgrade for iPhone users.

 

[saber32au]

A switch from lightning to usbc brings none of those benefits and is probably less durable, so to all intents and purposes it will be a downgrade for iPhone users.

USB-C is reversible. Durability varies depending on who you ask (ie personal experience) and what you read. If you read the literature for each connector, both claim to be capable of performing thousands of insertions/removals. Whether you believe that is another question...

Is it a downgrade? In my opinion, absolutely not, but acknowledge you/others may disagree.

For me, the ability to use one cable to power devices (ie laptop, monitors), charge devices (iPhone, iPad, macbook, laptop, andriod phone, android tablet), charger at a much higher rate (up to 100w for USB-C with the appropriate charger), transfer data at a higher speed (USB-C can be used as a replacement for HDMI/Display port/VGA) makes it (for my use) a superior connector.

For others, the benefits are reduced, if not non-existent. That's fine; we all use our devices differently, so there's no absolute right or wrong answer. It comes to each users use case...

 

[mrochester]

USB-C is reversible. Durability varies depending on who you ask (ie personal experience) and what you read. If you read the literature for each connector, both claim to be capable of performing thousands of insertions/removals. Whether you believe that is another question...

Is it a downgrade? In my opinion, absolutely not, but acknowledge you/others may disagree.

For me, the ability to use one cable to power devices (ie laptop, monitors), charge devices (iPhone, iPad, macbook, laptop, andriod phone, android tablet), charger at a much higher rate (up to 100w for USB-C with the appropriate charger), transfer data at a higher speed (USB-C can be used as a replacement for HDMI/Display port/VGA) makes it (for my use) a superior connector. Again, this may not be the case for others...

But lightning also being reversible means a change from lightning to usbc does not bring that functional benefit because the connector being replaced is already reversible.

I have a nearly 3 year old iPad and a nearly 2.5 year old MacBook Pro (which had a replacement keyboard in June 2019).

The port on the iPad is as tight and secure a connection as the day it was bought. The usbc ports on my MacBook Pro are now quite loose and the charging cable does not ‘click’ into place when pushed in (it just sort of pushes in with no way of knowing it has been properly engaged other than it has been fully inserted into the port).

I know which port feels much more durable from experience.

the other downside of lightning to usbc is the colossal amount of waste that will be generated for minimal return for the end user (1 charger cable vs 2).

 

[saber32au]

But lightning also being reversible means a change from lightning to usbc does not bring that functional benefit because the connector being replaced is already reversible.

I know. I was responding to your previous point below:

switching to lightning (much smaller, reversible,more durable). A switch from lightning to usbc brings none of those benefits

USB-C is reversable, so it's one feature that's retained (yes, I'm being a tad pedantic!).

I have a nearly 3 year old iPad and a nearly 2.5 year old MacBook Pro (which had a replacement keyboard in June 2019).

The port on the iPad is as tight and secure a connection as the day it was bought. The usbc ports on my MacBook Pro are now quite loose and the charging cable does not ‘click’ into place when pushed in (it just sort of pushes in with no way of knowing it has been properly engaged other than it has been fully inserted into the port).

I know which port feels much more durable from experience.

Fair enough. That hasn't been my experience to date, but acknowledge everyone's experience is different.

the other downside of lightning to usbc is the colossal amount of waste that will be generated for minimal return for the end user (1 charger cable vs 2).

Disagree. It's wasteful (IMHO) to manufacture a cable which has a limited purpose (ie to charge/transfer data for lightning enabled devices).

More efficient (and less wasteful) to make a cable that works across a multitude of products, many brands, and can fulfil multiple functions.

 

[mrochester]

I know. I was responding to your previous point below:



USB-C is reversable, so it's one feature that's retained (yes, I'm being a tad pedantic!).



Fair enough. That hasn't been my experience to date, but acknowledge everyone's experience is different.



Disagree. It's wasteful (IMHO) to manufacture a cable which has a limited purpose (ie to charge/transfer data for lightning enabled devices).

More efficient (and less wasteful) to make a cable that works across a multitude of products, many brands, and can fulfil multiple functions.

Well if instead of getting 1 lightning cable and 1 usbc cable with your 2 products you get 2 usbc cables, you haven’t achieved any savings or efficiencies.

 

[TheIntruder]

Up to the point where Apple put USB-C ports on the Macs and iPad Pro, after which it would be "magical".

Yeah, it's a bag of hurt (turns out having 'one port for everything' doesn't simplify things - it makes them more complicated) - but unfortunately its the bag of hurt that the industry seems to be standardising on, and Apple didn't seem to have any eco-qualms about forcing them on Mac users.

Don't get me wrong, there are a lot of good things that Type-C make possible. However, the design (and subsequently, implementation) of the new standards is a mess, and much of it rests on the shoulders of the USB-IF.

Disagree. It's wasteful (IMHO) to manufacture a cable which has a limited purpose (ie to charge/transfer data for lightning enabled devices).

More efficient (and less wasteful) to make a cable that works across a multitude of products, many brands, and can fulfil multiple functions.

LOL.

Put down the Kool-Aid.

It doesn't get better.

Is that really the Utopia that users were promised with Type-C? Pure and simple? One cable connector to rule them all?

And that's a pure USB Type-C-to-C cable, designed for a future where Type-A, and all other ports have theoretically been banished.

Layering Thunderbolt 3 and 4 on top of Type-C brings its own set of potentially pitfalls, but at least TB is more of a niche product, and the cysts at the end of each cable at least provide some physical clues to help differentiate them from USB cables.

 

[saber32au]

Well if instead of getting 1 lightning cable and 1 usbc cable with your 2 products you get 2 usbc cables, you haven’t achieved any savings or efficiencies.

No, not in that situation.

For me on a recent work trip, the USB-C cable was used to charge my laptop, iPad, and connect my laptop to a monitor. Using one cable to serve multiple purposes is nice!

LOL.

Put down the Kool-Aid.

It was never in my hand!

For me, USB-C provides tangible benefits. It might not for you and your use case; that's ok.

Is that really the Utopia that users were promised with Type-C? Pure and simple? One cable connector to rule them all?

I don't read too much into the marketing hype; I focus more on the application of the product, and how it can benefit me.

For my use case, USB-C provides tangible benefits. If it's not the case for you, that's fine.

 

[azentropy]

I wasn't for USB-C in the past, but now I am. Nothing against lightning, but I'm tired of traveling and having to bring basically 4 different cables/adapters. Lightning for my iPhone 8, USB-C for my iPad Pro 11, the Apple Watch charging cable for my Apple Watch 5 and MagSafe for my 2015 13" MBP. So hoping this Apple releases a 14" MBP (or at least a 13" with the keyboard and a 32gb RAM option) and that the 5.4" iPhone has USB-C.