Apple is one of the biggest players in the development and promotion of USB-C. In fact, its design is exactly a more compact version of an existing Apple connector.
iPhone getting USB-C is just coming full circle.
The European Union is threatening to get tough on Apple and other companies which promised to standardize on a single charging port across brands, but have failed to do so …
Apple was one of 14 companies to sign an undertaking back in 2009 to harmonize their phone charging ports. The idea was that if everyone used the same physical connectors and power inputs, consumers wouldn't need to change chargers when switching from one brand of phone to another. That would reduce costs for consumers, and result in less environmental damage from obsolete chargers.
The companies promised to adopt a single standard – the MicroUSB port – by 2011. However, that agreement expired without action in 2012, when Apple of course replaced its old 30-pin connector with Lightning.
Reuters now reports that the EU is considering its options with regard to enforcement, including possible laws to make adoption of a single standard a legal requirement.
While the EU initiative made sense in theory, the time taken by these things was always going to make it a non-starter. The original agreement allowed for a two-year period, and was subsequently extended. In the meantime, of course, technology moves on. If companies had adopted the MicroUSB standard in 2014, when the agreement was last renewed, it would have delayed their ability to make a later switch to USB-C.
The EU's move does seem to be timed without much tech awareness. Almost all companies are voluntarily adopting USB-C, with Apple the lone holdout – for now, at least.
I hope so, it's dumb that my iPad pro and iphone need diffrent connectors.
I think that was one major point why Apple kept lightning for so long.We always get this 'about time, USB C is so much more common' - no it isn't. If you want common use micro USB (urgh). USB-C is still new, still a little lacking in stability with various implementations and power standards.
Good for them. But, it sorta says fuck you to everyone that bought an iPhone in the past few years.
New consoles come out every 7-8 years and millions have no issue spending nearly half a grand on new hardware/controllers. I think a lot of you are exaggerating the inconvenience of picking up a handful of new $5 cables to charge shit after a neary a decade of the old standard.
I will say, this is the one thing that has been great about apple. They at least give you some time with a piece of hardware. Like I have been able to keep my iPhones for 3-4 years each before going onto a new model.Total bullshit.
My wife's 2013 5s not only runs Apple supported iOS 12 - but everything she uses it for (Safari, Netflix, Photos, Facebook, Camera, Music, Podcasts, etc etc) still runs smooth as silk.
This.
That doesn't change anything in what I said? Micro-USB was always a poor standard to begin with, and the deal with UE resulted in Apple manufacturing an official micro-USB to Lightning adapter. With USB-C Apple released what was probably the first decent scale consumer device in MacBook (2015) followed by the MacBook Pro switching entirely to USB-C the following year. Since then more Apple devices have been adopting it and the iPhone is the natural conclusion.They're not, in fact they're one of the companies that haven't kept true to the agreements made in '09 where companies promised to standardise a single charging format.
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I think that was one major point why Apple kept lightning for so long.
My past three phones have been iPhone, Galaxy, Pixel so I think I may go iPhone next upgrade.
If they switch to USBC it would make the decision easier. Everything I've been buying lately (Pixel XL 2, iPad Pro, Mac Mini) is USBC so I don't want to go back to something proprietary.
I wouldn't be surprised if there is a split in Lightning/USB-C models next year like with the iPad. Can see Lightning dying a slow death instead of a quicker one.
The biggest problem with Lightning, and why Apple is probably going to sunset it in the new couple of years, is that they only have a single 5V line on the cable for power. With the new phones needing to charge faster this practically limits you to about 12W maybe 15W if you push the cable to its absolute limit. The USB-C variants can negotiate higher voltages on the power pin letting the cables carry more power. The iPad Pro for instance will happily switch to 12V/2A to pull 24W to charge on. You can't do that with Lightning.
How do you get tired of using any kind of phone? The vast majority of phone use is apps, that's the same regardless of the OS.Welp, I'm tired of using iPhones anyway. On the 8 and had em since the 4 and I'm guessing the google pixel 3xl uses usbc
iPhone has been problematic for me. I've had 4 of them and I've only had 1 AndroidHow do you get tired of using any kind of phone? The vast majority of phone use is apps, that's the same regardless of the OS.
Hey, FireWire was awesome. It was so much better than USB for data-intensive use cases, and it's a damn shame the licensing for it was so screwed up. At least ThunderBolt seems to be picking up where FireWire failed.Lightning was an outgrowth of the 30 pin connector. Every time new functionality came out, Apple used a few more of the reserved pins on the connector for new functionality. This had two problems, they ran out of pins and some of the pins were used for obsolete things (Firewire, anybody? That's built into the 30-pin spec). Lightning was an attempt to move as much as possible to the PHY and just leave the pins as a dumb high speed serial link. Basically it's GPIO on steroids. You get 5V, two high speed serial lanes, and a ground. Want to support DisplayPort on Lightning? You plug into Lightning, send display data over the link, the dongle does the work translating the high speed serial to DisplayPort. Want to support the next display standard on Lightning? You have a new dongle that does the same thing with the same Lightning interface.
Then you're either deluded or don't have any idea what you're talking about.
Micro USB was absolutely terrible. There is nothing redeeming about it other than size.
well, I'm tired of my Pixel 'cause of this.How do you get tired of using any kind of phone? The vast majority of phone use is apps, that's the same regardless of the OS.
Jom you already upgraded to OnePlus I thought? Why worry about such iPhone nonsense 😅No it's not all metal.
Like the outer-most part of the port is metal and then inside is white plastic.
Yeah I've tried toothpicks, toothpicks with a bit of paper towel on them, q-tips with some of the cotton removed so it can fit in the port, even those little brush looking flosspicks. Nothing worked. I think my port is in especially poor shape where it basically would need to be replaced if I want it looking new again.
This. It's time to do away with proprietary accessories.I don't see what more testing is required. They use it on the new iPads, so the switch is inevitable. Good riddance!
It's not going to become standard overnight. But when all smart phones move to usb c, that will significantly impact and advance its standardization.I hope not - its so dumb I'll have to replace all my lightning chargers with USB C ones and nothing else in my house uses USB-C except the switch
We always get this 'about time, USB C is so much more common' - no it isn't. If you want common use micro USB (urgh). USB-C is still new, still a little lacking in stability with various implementations and power standards.
I'd be ok getting USB C but also ok not.
I stopped myself from buying a pair of Beats Studios because the connector is MicroUSB. Worst port ever.Micro USB was absolutely terrible. There is nothing redeeming about it other than size.
I've had usb C phones for what, 4 years now? Whenever the Nexus 6p came out. It's not new it's the standard now. I'm sorry you are slow to adopt but don't let that hold the rest of us back.I hope not - its so dumb I'll have to replace all my lightning chargers with USB C ones and nothing else in my house uses USB-C except the switch
We always get this 'about time, USB C is so much more common' - no it isn't. If you want common use micro USB (urgh). USB-C is still new, still a little lacking in stability with various implementations and power standards.
I'd be ok getting USB C but also ok not.
For what it's worth, I've been using USB-C phones for the past four years or so, and I've never had a cable or port 'get loose'. I actually prefer it to my iPad's Lightning cable, which I've always found to take too much force to plug in--it's awkward if you're trying to do it with one hand, with nothing to brace the iPad against. (This is a surprisingly common scenario, I've found.)
Happens to iPhones often too. It's why wireless charging or magnetic chargers are so good.My Nexus 6P USB-C port is loose now after 3 years, the plug will wiggle in it and it only charges when held at a certain angle. It is to the point that I have to prop the phone up to charge it.
Happens to iPhones often too. It's why wireless charging or magnetic chargers are so good.
With lightning port it usually just has dust/lint crammed in there and a wet toothpick will make it good as new.Happens to iPhones often too. It's why wireless charging or magnetic chargers are so good.
Good for them. But, it sorta says fuck you to everyone that bought an iPhone in the past few years.