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When The EU Speaks, Everyone Charges The Same Way
(hackaday.com)
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this post was submitted on 31 Dec 2024
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Oh is it the "it's gonna generate a load of e-waste" talking point?
Yes, yes it is. The right wing anger factories have been pushing that line because they want anti-eu sentiment.
Not having a universal standard ultimately creates continuous unnecessary e-waste.
Having a mandated universal standard stiffles innovation, though. Lightning only exists because of how bad microUSB was. Sure, USB-C is better in every way and it was time for Apple to make the switch but it made sense at the time. Imagine if all devices were mandated to have microUSB back then, we wouldn't be moving to USB-C until now.
If the standard isn't sufficient, you work to improve the standard. The standard was micro USB under the common external power supply legislation with compliance being voluntary. When usb-c gained popularity the legislation was started to change it about 4-5 years ago.
What Apple went and did was go and create a proprietary connector and refuse to change to the (new) de facto standard until forced long after the time at which it would have been reasonable to change. This is why a mandatory standard was required, one that they also obstructed the for as long as possible.
If Apple had played cooperatively, the dust would have settled on this getting close to a decade ago, and would probably still be voluntary compliance
I don't disagree with anything you said but you're missing the point. Governments move really slowly, it took them thirteen years to make USB-C the standard. When something better comes along, nobody will be able to put it on their devices because there's a law saying they have to have USB-C. I hope I'm wrong and the EU quickly modifies the regulation to allow for a new standard soon after it's developed, but I really don't think that'll be the case.
There's nothing to stop companies having a proprietary connector as well as USB-C. When something better comes along, and everyone can see and agree it's better, the rule can be updated.
Yeah, I don't think that's happening. Nobody will put 2 connectors on their phones, most likely we're just gonna be stuck with USB-C on phones for a decade while every other device moves to NewConnector3000.
It's not just that USB-C is better, it's that it has been better for years and years and years and Apple was clearly never going to change until someone forced their hand, for no reason other than greed. They had every opportunity. Apple was the only one stifling innovation, and creating e-waste in the process that runs contrary to their greenwashing propaganda.
Yeah, I know USB-C is and has been better for years. That's my point. It has been better since it came out and it took the EU 13 years to force Apple to make the switch. Something better will eventually come along and we will be stuck with USB-C for 13 years.
So instead of having 1 company with an outdated port, every company will be forced to use the outdated port until the government decides to change the regulation.
You say "1 company" like Apple doesn't create an enormous portion of all consumer electronics, and especially phones.
They're still 1 company so it's very easy to avoid their products. I've only ever used 1 Apple product. Didn't like it so I never bought another one and had been enjoying the freedom of using whatever port I want ever since. Now I'm stuck with USB-C.