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They did mandate micro USB. In 2009. It didn't suck - for the past decade every single phone on the market charged with the same cable, except Apple's. I was ne

by dTal 5y ago

They did mandate micro USB. In 2009. It didn't suck - for the past decade every single phone on the market charged with the same cable, except Apple's. I was never sure how they got away with that. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_external_power_supply https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_external_power_supply

hanche 5y ago
By providing a micro USB to Lightning adapter, I think. I’ve got one. It is easily the most expensive gadget, per weight or volume, that I own.
seanmcdirmid 5y ago
Micro USB is just so much harder to use than lightning. It’s one reason I’ve avoided Android phones, plugging in micro USB cables is much more tedious than lightning cables. Thankfully they got away with it. USB-C is much better, still not as easy to plug-in as lightning, but at least you don’t have to think carefully about what the orientation is anymore. Wireless charging is even better, which is what I’m using right now. Cables kind of suck in general (though micro USB is probably the worse one in the last two decades).
- Dayshine 5y ago
  I just don't really understand this argument. I charge my phone every... 2 days? And Micro USB takes... 3 seconds to plug in? Type C maybe 1/2 seconds? Is saving 2 or 3 minutes a year worth the environmental (and actual monetary!) cost of duplicate cables? If you dislike having to plug things in then just buy one of those magnetic adaptors so it takes... 1 second.
  - smichel17 5y ago
    In my experience, Micro-USB cables have a far shorter lifespan than any other common, comparable cable. Wish they'd gone straight from Mini-USB to USB-C.
  - seanmcdirmid 5y ago
    Maybe you are younger or have more dexterity in your fingers? I really have problems with them, and my thumbs remember the pain of plugging those micro USB things in even now as I’m typing this. But yes, I think magnetic adapters or wireless charging is the way forward. I’m pretty careful when I buy things now (eg the Bluetooth speakers I just bought has a wireless charging dock, and that’s why I bought them over the others). I bought a magnetic USB-C adapter for my MacBook Pro charger but haven’t had a chance to use it yet (pandemic means I don’t move my laptop very much).
  - FDSGSG 5y ago
    >Is saving 2 or 3 minutes a year worth the environmental (and actual monetary!) cost of duplicate cables? What's the most you'd be willing to pay per minute if you could just add more minutes to your life?

by dTal 5y ago

hanche 5y ago

By providing a micro USB to Lightning adapter, I think. I’ve got one. It is easily the most expensive gadget, per weight or volume, that I own.

seanmcdirmid 5y ago

Micro USB is just so much harder to use than lightning. It’s one reason I’ve avoided Android phones, plugging in micro USB cables is much more tedious than lightning cables. Thankfully they got away with it. USB-C is much better, still not as easy to plug-in as lightning, but at least you don’t have to think carefully about what the orientation is anymore. Wireless charging is even better, which is what I’m using right now. Cables kind of suck in general (though micro USB is probably the worse one in the last two decades).

Dayshine 5y ago
I just don't really understand this argument. I charge my phone every... 2 days? And Micro USB takes... 3 seconds to plug in? Type C maybe 1/2 seconds? Is saving 2 or 3 minutes a year worth the environmental (and actual monetary!) cost of duplicate cables? If you dislike having to plug things in then just buy one of those magnetic adaptors so it takes... 1 second.
- smichel17 5y ago
  In my experience, Micro-USB cables have a far shorter lifespan than any other common, comparable cable. Wish they'd gone straight from Mini-USB to USB-C.
- seanmcdirmid 5y ago
  Maybe you are younger or have more dexterity in your fingers? I really have problems with them, and my thumbs remember the pain of plugging those micro USB things in even now as I’m typing this. But yes, I think magnetic adapters or wireless charging is the way forward. I’m pretty careful when I buy things now (eg the Bluetooth speakers I just bought has a wireless charging dock, and that’s why I bought them over the others). I bought a magnetic USB-C adapter for my MacBook Pro charger but haven’t had a chance to use it yet (pandemic means I don’t move my laptop very much).
- FDSGSG 5y ago
  >Is saving 2 or 3 minutes a year worth the environmental (and actual monetary!) cost of duplicate cables? What's the most you'd be willing to pay per minute if you could just add more minutes to your life?