Why does Apple seem to go against hardware standards?

[Rodimus Prime]

Something that has been on my mine for a little while and even more so after the iPhone release is how apple seems to go against industry standards.
They flipped to microSim which really does not offer anything over the standard sim card in the iPhone. The internal hardware to read it is still the same size so the minor extra size of the sim card really has ZERO effect on the phone.
Apple seems to of also gone against the agreement of putting a microUSB charger for the iPhone and sticking with the 30 pin connector only on all their iDevices. The making an adaptor agrument is is what I call a load of horse**** because that increase electronic waste and still no way to share chargers between phones or borrow one because no one going to carry that adapter on them and it is not like apple is going to ship a microUSB charger. On top of the argument that microUSB would increase size is BS because it is SMALLER in every way than the 30 pin. If anything apple could of just put it on the side of the phone and left the 30 pin. Then you get the best of both worlds.


If you look at the computers they are the only company that uses the mini DVI port. Everyone else choose to go with HDMI or mini HDMI for the connector on their laptops. I can not figure out why apple does not follow suit. It would be smaller than the micro DVI and in many ways easier on them.

Those are just some of the more recent examples. Apple has a history of doing this. you have the old apple display ports in the past. 30 pin connector, They pushed firewire then seem to drop it (only to bring it back). they seem to be avoiding blu ray and so on.

 

[miles01110]

The making an adaptor agrument is is what I call a load of horse**** because that increase electronic waste and still no way to share chargers between phones or borrow one because no one going to carry that adapter on them and it is not like apple is going to ship a microUSB charger.

You act as if Apple is under an obligation to use a standard port. They're not. I also don't really follow the "nobody is going to carry an adapter" argument. Nobody's going to carry a charger in general, they'll leave it at home or put it in their car.

Apple has a history of doing this.

Yeah, and their recent company performance metrics indicate that this isn't an issue.

 

[Rodimus Prime]

You act as if Apple is under an obligation to use a standard port. They're not. I also don't really follow the "nobody is going to carry an adapter" argument. Nobody's going to carry a charger in general, they'll leave it at home or put it in their car.



Yeah, and their recent company performance metrics indicate that this isn't an issue.

Apple sign the agreement saying they would do it. As charger part. People can often be over at a friends place and phone battery is getting low and they can charge it there while they are hanging out that or with a microUSB just plug it into a computer.

To me Apple is very 2 face. They preach about standards and open standards but in practices they are the other way around and try to make a very closed system.

I personally take advatage of the fact that I have a common charging connector for my phone (microUSB) and will level my charger at home when I got visit my GF and just use her charger or plug it into her computer.

 

[zacharace]

Apple sign the agreement saying they would do it.

Don't mean to be inflammatory, but of what agreement are you speaking?

I disagree, also, on the "need" to move to a microUSB charging interface. Apple has invested nine or so years--and consequently hundreds, if not thousands, of compatible devices, accessories, and cables--into the 30-pin connector; why change now?

Finally, as someone here already said, they're Apple--they don't have to "change," by any reasoning. They have little, if any, incentive to do so. I don't seem to follow the "two-faced" argument, either.

 

[maflynn]

Apple has a long and illustrious history of going their own way with hardware. Remember the ADB connector, or the ADC.

 

[MrCheeto]

I would take this post seriously, but the grammar has made me LUL.

 

[kdarling]

Don't mean to be inflammatory, but of what agreement are you speaking?

He's talking about this.

"Reuters reports that ten top mobile phone manufacturers, including Apple, have agreed to adopt the Micro-USB connector standard for smartphone chargers in the European Union. "

You act as if Apple is under an obligation to use a standard port. They're not. I also don't really follow the "nobody is going to carry an adapter" argument. Nobody's going to carry a charger in general, they'll leave it at home or put it in their car.

That's the whole idea of the Euro regulation (article linked above), which is to standardize chargers so you don't have to buy or carry specialized ones.

 

[belvdr]

Apple has a long and illustrious history of going their own way with hardware. Remember the ADB connector, or the ADC.

True, and they are very open about how they are looking after the environment. I'm not sure why they wouldn't use a standard and compatible port either, even though the MiniDisplayPort is a standard. I'd personally like to forego the adapters and plug straight in, but it seems Apple can only go so far with their walk with the environment.

 

[miles01110]

That's the whole idea of the Euro regulation (article linked above), which is to standardize chargers so you don't have to buy or carry specialized ones.

Right, but I was under the impression that it was a) not slated to start for some time (I guess it seems that it was scheduled for 2010 on, hrmm!) and was voluntary in the first place.

 

[Rodimus Prime]

Right, but I was under the impression that it was a) not slated to start for some time (I guess it seems that it was scheduled for 2010 on, hrmm!) and was voluntary in the first place.

Apple agreed to do it.
The other ones who signed it if you look at their phones that they released since the agreement they have switch over to it. The companies just switch their new phones over to it if they had not been release yet.
RIM was using mini USB and the bold 9000 be one of the last one since then they have switch over to micro for the phones release since then.
Samsung their new phones designs when from Samsungs own connector to microUSB. Same for LG and so on.

Apple was the one who clearly is not following threw on the agreement. 3GS was fine it was out in a product cycle but iPhone4 for example they clearly had enough time to bring it in.

 

[Rodimus Prime]

True, and they are very open about how they are looking after the environment. I'm not sure why they wouldn't use a standard and compatible port either, even though the MiniDisplayPort is a standard. I'd personally like to forego the adapters and plug straight in, but it seems Apple can only go so far with their walk with the environment.

The only thing I can think of why they sticking with the miniDisplay port is it can still output an analog signal. Apple just screws you on the adaptor part because they make a DVI-D adaptor instead of a DVI-I which forces you to buy 2 adapters i you want to run both.

The other players have gone with an HDMI port and if they choose to put an old anolog output they put a VGA port on it and even that is being dropped.

Going from that I believe for the 30 you have to pay for the mini Display port to VGA you can get an adaptor that can go from HDMI to VGA.

 

[belvdr]

I just bought an adapter to go from Mini DisplayPort to HDMI with audio. I have yet to test it, but it's another adapter. The machine looks great when not connected. After connecting, the pile of cords makes it just another PC.

 

[patrick0brien]

Hmmm. Somebody wasn't here in the '80's

 

[iOrlando]

my theory is apple knows what types of technology/products they can very well implement down the road (4-10 years). Therefore, they try to move the markets towards that technology/product to meet apple's technology. Prime example is removing that particular port on the macbook in 2008 (i think they later put it back due to all the complaining). In retrospect, you can see they really dont see camcorders and cameras being as popular down the road.

also i take it to be a way for apple to flex its muscle - change the landscape so that competitors are constantly trying to keep up in return and in the process competitors spend time, money, and energy changing their products/plans to match the current technology

 

[DesignerOnMac]

Something that has been on my mine for a little while and even more so after the iPhone release is how apple seems to go against industry standards.
They flipped to microSim which really does not offer anything over the standard sim card in the iPhone. The internal hardware to read it is still the same size so the minor extra size of the sim card really has ZERO effect on the phone.
Apple seems to of also gone against the agreement of putting a microUSB charger for the iPhone and sticking with the 30 pin connector only on all their iDevices. The making an adaptor agrument is is what I call a load of horse**** because that increase electronic waste and still no way to share chargers between phones or borrow one because no one going to carry that adapter on them and it is not like apple is going to ship a microUSB charger. On top of the argument that microUSB would increase size is BS because it is SMALLER in every way than the 30 pin. If anything apple could of just put it on the side of the phone and left the 30 pin. Then you get the best of both worlds.


If you look at the computers they are the only company that uses the mini DVI port. Everyone else choose to go with HDMI or mini HDMI for the connector on their laptops. I can not figure out why apple does not follow suit. It would be smaller than the micro DVI and in many ways easier on them.

Those are just some of the more recent examples. Apple has a history of doing this. you have the old apple display ports in the past. 30 pin connector, They pushed firewire then seem to drop it (only to bring it back). they seem to be avoiding blu ray and so on.

What about Sony Ericsson phones and their chargers? You can't charge their phones at a friends house unless someone brought a Sony Ericsson charger.

I will never understand the Blu-ray drive. I would much rather get OFF my computer, and relax in a nice chair and a drink and watch a blu-ray movie on my 40" LCD home entertainment center. I could care less about blu-ray for my iMac., or my MBP.

Guess I'm not up to the modern times.....

 

[Rodimus Prime]

What about Sony Ericsson phones and their chargers? You can't charge their phones at a friends house unless someone brought a Sony Ericsson charger.

I will never understand the Blu-ray drive. I would much rather get OFF my computer, and relax in a nice chair and a drink and watch a blu-ray movie on my 40" LCD home entertainment center. I could care less about blu-ray for my iMac., or my MBP.

Guess I'm not up to the modern times.....

Did sony sign the agreement for cell phones because Apple did sign it? On other sony products they use more open standards.