Apple May Have To Abandon Lightning Cable

[RAMROD 118,048]

Because EU lawmakers, that's why. 

 

Apple could be forced to abandon its Lightning connector cable if European lawmakers get their way.

The cable is used to charge and sync many Apple devices, such as the iPhone.

But members of the European Parliament urged the European Commission on Monday to force tech giants to adopt a single universal charging method.

Two other charging cables - USB-C and micro-USB - are used on Android devices, and Apple has already stopped using Lightning on the 2018 iPad Pro.

European regulators will vote on the matter on a yet to be determined date, but Apple says the proposed regulation would stifle innovation and be disruptive to consumers.

 

How likely is this to happen?

If the regulator enforces its proposed regulation, Apple devices sold in Europe would be required to have a new charging method.

It is likely Apple would then adopt USB-C, considering the company's 2018 iPad Pro ditched Lightning in favour of the technology.

Another possible option would be to remove charging ports and cables entirely and use wireless charging instead.

Some analysts are even predicting that Apple could scrap its charging ports altogether by releasing future iPhone and iPad models that rely solely on wireless charging.

A new cable would mark the tech giant's third in 13 years.

The regulator is determined to cut down on electronic waste being created by obsolete cables, which it estimates generate more than 51,000 tonnes of waste per year.

 

 

Source:

 https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-51137069

 

 

So, what do y'all hunties think? Are you for or against? 

[DC 25,164]

You mean I can finally charge my iPhone with an android charger?

[RAMROD 118,048]

2 minutes ago, ProjectJoanne said:

You mean I can finally charge my iPhone with an android charger?

May be, iPad already anyway 

[xoxo Craig 55,649]

#AndroidWins 

[Economy 53,127]

Why would this stiffle innovation? Stupid excuse

 

has a standard plug for toasters, microwaves, lamps and everything you use stop innovation and products?

 

If everything else has a standard plug don't tell me electronics and phones can't

 

Apple is just money hungry and want to sell its seperate chargers

 

The typical Corporation has a profit margin of 5% to 10% of revenue. If it's a struggling competitive industry like airlines 2% profit margins are common... For apple some quarters it's been as high as 30%

 

 

 

[Guest]

It's been long enough. USB-C is vastly superior and the only reason why Apple still uses Lightning ports and cables is because they own the patent and can profit off of its exclusivity. Get with the program, babes.

[FATCAT 60,967]

Apple was already going to jump to USB-C, hell my iPad already has that cord, this is a great thing! 

That being said, watch them jump to no-port asap haha

 

[JusKeepBreathin 19,311]

USB C break less often. Lighting cables are trash. You might as well buy them in bulk on Amazon when you purchase your new iPhone. 

I have a Pixel 2 XL and I still have the charger that came with my phone. 

Planning on getting the Pixel 4 but I might just wait until a version 5. 

[Florian 20,017]

6 minutes ago, RAMROD said:

Another possible option would be to remove charging ports and cables entirely and use wireless charging instead.

Some analysts are even predicting that Apple could scrap its charging ports altogether by releasing future iPhone and iPad models that rely solely on wireless charging.

This won't happen any time soon, you will need a port for app development, debugging and a lot of thing.

So they would still need to have a port, and it just makes more sense to have a USB-C port that allows to both charge and transfer data.

Not to mention that a wireless charging base is not easy to take with you if you need to move somewhere and charge there

[Economy 53,127]

5 minutes ago, nenhures said:

It's been long enough. USB-C is vastly superior and the only reason why Apple still uses Lightning ports and cables is because they own the patent and can profit off of its exclusivity. Get with the program, babes.

This

 

The fact that a typical Corporation only has profit margins of 5% to 10% of revenue and apple some years is 30%

 

They don't need the profit from seperate chargers

[Florian 20,017]

14 minutes ago, Economy said:

Why would this stiffle innovation? Stupid excuse

They've been using that argument for years to not follow the EU guidances. They just want to lock the customers and force them into buyi'g a 40€ charger from them. And make the port evolve every few years so people are forced into buying a new one.

I'm happy the EU is finally making laws instead of guidances to force them into the right path. It's a farce at this point.

[SHALLOW 16,469]

I don’t think Apple’s actually gonna take the big of a leap and remove ports, that’d be “innovating” and Apple doesn’t do that anymore... also i think that’d be too weird

[iAstroLeo 14,459]

Take that UK  

[LateToCult 42,144]

Inb4 “this accessory is not supported” whenever you try to charge with a USB-C that isn’t from Apple.  

[Bloody hooker 6,445]

8 minutes ago, Economy said:

Why would this stiffle innovation? Stupid excuse

 

 

The only thing that I can think of is the internals. It would push a lot of ideas and upcoming models back, because everything would have to be adjusted to fit in a USB-C port. From what I’ve watched and read, Apple designs their products at least three years ahead of time.

As for the complete wireless charging idea, Apple is working on that as well, but doesn’t want to rush it. I hate that idea, and hope they don’t implement it for at least another five years.