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Apple did sign on to the EU's "Common external power supply" standardisation process. They didn't however implement it. In fact, Apple signed on in 2008 or 200
by kiallmacinnes 8y ago
Apple did sign on to the EU's "Common external power supply" standardisation process. They didn't however implement it.
In fact, Apple signed on in 2008 or 2009 to help develop the standard, which was completed + published in late 2010. Then in 2013, and again in 2014, they signed a agreement to extend to standard through to the end of 2014.
But... in 2011 or 2012 they introduced the lightning connector? And meanwhile, the the European Commission confirmed that all the agreements signatories, including Apple, are in compliance. There are some vague references to adaptors being available, and thus allowing them to be compliant with the (voluntary..) standard..
I think lightning will be replaced by USB-C - Some of Apples own products are moving to USB-C. But I find the history of the whole thing interesting. Had Apple taken a difference approach, one of cross-company standardisation, maybe lightning would have been delayed a little, but it could have also been THE standard. Just like USB-C is becoming today.
It's all a little reminiscent of Firewire, and Firewire's slow + painful, and ultimately - costly for consumers - demise.
- reaperducer 8y agoApple did sign on to the EU's "Common external power supply" standardisation process. They didn't however implement it. I wonder if going with wireless charging brings Apple into compliance. After all, you can get any number of wireless chargers with whatever connector the EU likes this time around. Drop the headphone jack... Drop the charging port... Make a completely wireless iPhone and tell the regulatory bodies to go stick their heads in a pig.
- kiallmacinnes 8y agoMaybe? My (layman's) understanding is that Micro USB is part of the "standard", and that any compliant Micro USB charger must be able to charge you phone. With some caveat around adaptors.. Hence how Lightning got the +1 - adaptors exist, so a Micro USB wall wart can be used to charge an iPhone.. I guess there is no reason a Micro USB -> Wireless charging adaptor can't be considered the same as a Micro USB -> Lightning adaptor - even if the whole "adaptor" thing is kinda skirting the entire point of the standard...
- eisa01 8y agoI thought the fact that the socket accepts any normal USB cable made them in compliance. I use my Apple charger for micro USB kit all the time
- kiallmacinnes 8y agoThat's a reading of the standard I've not considered. That the wall wart accepts a USB A plug, with a micro USB on the other end. I don't get why they would specify the micro USB in that case, but they do. I still think the spec was intended to be USB A on one end, and Micro USB on the other. But that's entirely plausible without actually going back and reading it again..
- selectodude 8y agoThe EU was far more worried about an excess of chargers than they were an excess of cables.
- j_jochem 8y agoThe point of the standard was to avoid power supplies becoming useless and going into the trash once the device they came with is no longer being used.
- kiallmacinnes 8y agoYes, that's obvious considering the PR they used about the weight and number of chargers hitting landfill welhen advocating for the spec. But the inclusion of the Micro USB plug in the standard, as well as the name, suggested they wanted a single plug. (I should add, I think a single plug, mandated by any kind of law - voulentary or not - is an overreach of government, as the best plug will change... Micro USB was the best (Standard) at the time. USB-C, despite its issues, is that today. Hence - I'd like a standard for chargers, but one that moves with reality..
- Fnoord 8y ago