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Self-regulation only works if government regulation is a serious threat in case self-regulation fails. In this case, self-regulation failed, so government regul

Self-regulation only works if government regulation is a serious threat in case self-regulation fails. In this case, self-regulation failed, so government regulation stepped in to force industry to do what is right. All the handwringing about stifling innovation is on its face ridiculous as mandates to use micro-usb didn't stop android phones from adopting the new and better standard as soon as it was viable.

Krkrmfnfmmd 4y ago
Government mandates on how you can charge your phone won't stifle innovation?
- emptyfile 4y ago
  Was that a question? Of course not. In fact the parent comment even provides an example.
- garmanarnar 4y ago
  Correct! In fact it can even help innovation.
- pimterry 4y ago
  Yes, it won't. As parent points out, the EU previously mandated micro-usb support (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_external_power_supply https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_external_power_supply) which worked fairly well, and hasn't stifled the innovation that's resulted in USB-C.
  - nulld3v 4y ago
    > the EU previously mandated micro-usb support No they didn't, compliance is voluntary, just read the linked wiki page. I agree with the point that it won't stifle Innovation though. The swift passing of the USB-C mandate has proven to me that the EU can move quickly, so if a new connector comes along they will be able to switch the law reasonably quickly.
    - AlphaSite 4y ago
      This isn’t swift I don’t think, we’ve been hearing about this for years now.
      - nulld3v 4y ago
        This mandate was conceived in 2018: https://ec.europa.eu/docsroom/documents/46756/attachments/2/translations/en/renditions/native https://ec.europa.eu/docsroom/documents/46756/attachments/2/... I think 4 years is a reasonable time frame. Especially considering they weren't sitting around doing nothing for 4 years, most of it was research and surveys
    - httptoolkit 4y ago
      Technically voluntary, but every major phone manufacturer (including Apple) committed to it and followed it (although in Apple's case, with a dongle).
      - dahfizz 4y ago
        But, crucially, they were able to effortlessly move to a better connector when one came along. They were not legally forced to stick with Micro-B. Now they are legally stuck with USB-C indefinitely.
    - BurningFrog 4y ago
      If you've followed the EU for a few decades, you'd know they occasionally move quickly, but not often, and the movement is rarely in the best direction.
      - nulld3v 4y ago
        The multiple previous recommendations on mobile phone charging ports passed relatively quickly too.
        BurningFrog 4y ago
  - deleted 4y ago
    [deleted]
  - imoverclocked 4y ago
    > Although compliance is voluntary, a majority of the world's largest mobile phone manufacturers agreed to make their applicable mobile phones compatible with Europe's common external power supply specification (EN 62684:2010). Is compliance voluntary for this new ruling?
    - Mindwipe 4y ago
      TBF, it was "voluntary" for the old spec too. Everyone agreed to it in writing because otherwise they were told legislation would be swiftly passed. That's not really voluntary.
  - dahfizz 4y ago
    According to your link, compliance was voluntary. Its in the second sentence.
- dkjaudyeqooe 4y ago
  USB C was designed to be the "last" physical connector, the whole point was standardisation. Now that the market has failed to deliver this, government steps in. In this case it's supporting an innovation. More "innovation" in connectors is what we're trying to avoid.
- ben_w 4y ago
  What exactly is genuinely innovative about the iPhone connector at this point? It's 10 years old, and the only selling point I can see it having over USB (even when it was new) was the rotational symmetry (which is now also possible with USB C, which is what's being mandated).
  - BurningFrog 4y ago
    The point is that the next connector innovation will have to be ratified by the European Parliament.
    - yellowapple 4y ago
      Or you ship both connectors.
    - oplaadpunt 4y ago
      No, it doesn't. The technical details are passed as a so called 'delegated act', which defers the power to set the details of acts to the European Commission.[1] They can update this when necessary, and will do so if the USB forum updates to a newer version. I detest all the people who are confidently wrong about these things, it detracts from the interesting steps the EU has taken here. [1]: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=LEGISSUM:delegated_acts https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=LEGISSUM...
      - alain94040 4y ago
        Assuming you are correct, it still means that any startup that has an idea for an innovation in the phone cable space will first need to worry about how to convince the European Commission to approve it. That's quite a road block for a startup.
        frosted-flakes 4y ago
        Easy solution: add your new innovative charging port in addition to USB-C.
- axlee 4y ago
  I don't know, did government mandating electricity plugs standards stifle innovation?
  - ralph84 4y ago
    There are multiple different plug types used within the EU.
    - ragebol 4y ago
      Fair point. Those different plugs are standardized though so adapters & travel plugs can be made. I wondered why this has not yet been standardized EU-wide, but of course the cost of doing so would be huge, since those plugs & outlets are built into millions of buildings. Whereas phones and electronics change much faster and can thus more easily be transitioned, I suppose.
      - yellowapple 4y ago
        > the cost of doing so would be huge, since those plugs & outlets are built into millions of buildings You could always grandfather in old construction and only enforce the standard for new construction or renovations.
    - saiya-jin 4y ago
      They are slightly different but inter-compatible when using only 2-plug (without ground IIRC). Which means basically all non-energy-intense appliances including ie TVs. Heck, even Switzerland is compatible with them all. Notable exception of course are British, but they are not part of EU as we all know too well. It makes life so much easier. I can't understand why anybody would ever oppose this, either vested interest or butthurt ego?
      - Symbiote 4y ago
        Ireland, Malta and Cyprus are still in the EU, with British standard plugs. The EU considered this years ago, and decided the switch wasn't worth the cost.
reaperducer 4y ago
All the handwringing about stifling innovation is on its face ridiculous as mandates to use micro-usb didn't stop android phones from adopting the new and better standard as soon as it was viable. I'm not sure I understand your logic here. Android phones were able to quickly move to micro USB because they weren't restricted from doing so by a government regulation. If there was a government mandate requiring phones to have whatever connector came before micro USB, wouldn't that have prevented the Android phones from changing connectors/choosing the new innovation? Or was there a location where micro USB was required by law before, and since I don't live there, I wasn't affected by it? Edit: Strike that last sentence, since I see in other responses that there was, indeed, a location where micro USB was mandated. So my new question is: How does a company change to a new/better connector, if it's required by law to use an old connector? Edit edit: Looks like other responses show there was no mandate, that's just something that people on HN assume. It was a recommendation, not a law, like it is now.
- BiteCode_dev 4y ago
  Micro usb was mandatory in europe for phones years ago.
  - nulld3v 4y ago
    Are you talking about https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_external_power_supply https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_external_power_supply? This wasn't a mandate, it was just a recommendation.
  - tephra 4y ago
    No it was never mandatory only voluntary. There was a threat to make it mandatory but most mobile phone suppliers signed a letter of intent on implementing a common standard (apple included).
  - deleted 4y ago
    [deleted]
  - dahfizz 4y ago
    This is incorrect. It was a voluntary standard signed on by a non-binding MoU. All Manufacturers were free to "break" the agreement when moving to USB-C. Now they are stuck on USB-C until a new law is written.
slavoingilizov 4y ago
Well... I agree with the spirit of the effort, but not the letter of it. >>> From spring 2026, the obligation will extend to laptops So this would force Apple to replace MagSafe with USB-C? How is that not killing innovation? Standardisation should be a goal, but I just feel this particular effort is too specific and brings very little value to consumers. Why don't we standardise payment protocols instead? Or biometric identity verification? Or ID cards even (that the UK is allergic to)? I just feel the spirit of these efforts can be applied so much more successfully elsewhere.
- yoz-y 4y ago
  How would it force apple to replace magsafe? All modern apple laptops can already charge from USB-C. Magsafe is just another option.
- lgrebe 4y ago
  Because law makers actively experience the pain of having different chargers in their day to day lives.
- mateuszf 4y ago
  > How is that not killing innovation? It's not such a great innovation if it makes users life harder.
- code_duck 4y ago
  Is Apple currently using MagSafe? Both of the recent MacBooks in my household, from 2020 and 2021, have standard USB-C connections.
  - gorbypark 4y ago
    Yes, they brought it back. You can still charge via USB-C, though.
    - iainmerrick 4y ago
      It’s also worth noting that the MagSafe cable has USB-C on the other end, so it fits fairly nicely into a world where all your adaptors are USB-C. The old MagSafe cables were permanently attached to the adaptor.
MichaelZuo 4y ago
There were no mandates to adopt micro-usb in the EU. As a sidetone it's astonishing how quickly a lie easily disprovable by publicly accessible information, in this case the EU's own website, can be spread around by people that otherwise seem like credible HN members.
- tempest-tost 4y ago
  Am I missing something here? https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.engadget.com/amp/2010-12-29-european-standardization-bodies-formalize-micro-usb-cellphone-ch.html https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.engadget.com/amp/2010-12-29...
  - amarshall 4y ago
    Non-AMP link: https://www.engadget.com/2010-12-29-european-standardization-bodies-formalize-micro-usb-cellphone-ch.html https://www.engadget.com/2010-12-29-european-standardization...
  - MichaelZuo 4y ago
    There were non-binding agreements. i.e. the EU hoped that the major players would standardize on one connecter, but this did not have the force of law behind it.
  - ThePowerOfFuet 4y ago
    It looks like you shared an AMP link. AMP is controversial because of concerns over privacy and the Open Web [0]. Fully-cached AMP pages like the one you shared are especially problematic. Maybe check out the canonical page instead: https://www.engadget.com/2010-12-29-european-standardization-bodies-formalize-micro-usb-cellphone-ch.html https://www.engadget.com/2010-12-29-european-standardization... [0]: https://old.reddit.com/r/AmputatorBot/comments/ehrq3z https://old.reddit.com/r/AmputatorBot/comments/ehrq3z
  - deleted 4y ago
    [deleted]
  - w4rh4wk5 4y ago
jollybean 4y ago
? how did self regulation fail ? There's nothing wrong with the way iPhone charges. This is an unnecessary intervention. There are plenty of bigger, more relevant fish to fry.
- treeman79 4y ago
  Relevant, probably. Bigger. Probably not. Apple is huge.
  - danaris 4y ago
    Just because Apple is huge doesn't mean any issue that involves Apple in any way is huge.
- krisoft 4y ago
  > There's nothing wrong with the way iPhone charges. Well. I'm lugging around one cable which charges all my devices from bike lamps to powerbanks. And there is a totally different cable I'm also lugging around to charge my iphone. Why is that necessary? Also my iphone charging cable frays all time, while my "everything else charging cable" does not.
  - Kerrick 4y ago
    > Why is that necessary? Because you chose to buy a phone that uses Lightning, rather than choosing to buy a phone that uses USB-C.
    - snakeboy 4y ago
      I doubt the charging port is the most important factor in choosing a phone for most people. Similar to how I voted for Biden even though I don't agree with 100% of his policies. It doesn't mean I don't disagree with him often - it's just that I only get one vote, so I have to prioritize. It's perfectly consistent for me to complain and make my opinion known when his administration does things I disagree with.
    - 4y ago
scarab92 4y ago
EU could have mandated adoption of a certain connector for a certain period of time, rather than for all time. That way regulation provides the stick to force standardisation, but allows whatever new innovations develop later to have a chance at gaining a foothold. If we find ourselves in this situation again (with a single holdout) we can force the standardisation for a period of time again.
- kalleboo 4y ago
  The EU regulation has a stipulation to re-visit the chosen standard at set intervals (IIRC 3 years?), it's not "for all time"
  - jamesrr39 4y ago
    You are correct, every 3 years. From https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/BRIE/2021/698819/EPRS_BRI(2021)698819_EN.pdf https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/BRIE/2021/6988... : > Reporting: the Commission would be required to report to the Parliament and Council on the application of the directive regarding new charging technologies every three years, starting from three years after the date of entry into force of the directive (article 47(2a) RED). By the same date, it would also be required to report on the impact of the possibility to acquire devices without any charging device and cable (article 3a(1) RED).
deleted 4y ago
[deleted]
hbgl 4y ago
The reason why Apple still uses the Lightning port is because of regulation in the form of patents which give them a 20-year-monopoly on their plug design. Without the previous regulation there would be no need for this new regulation.
neither_color 4y ago
It's not "right" as in morally right; it's just slightly more convenient. Mandatory convenience. I personally don't understand people's passion for this cause. I'm ok with dichotomy and nuance in life. I'm learning that having two cables is a huge impediment to some people's lives. So be it.
n8cpdx 4y ago
This assumes that it is in the government’s interest to dictate the kind of cable used to charge phones, and that making the “wrong” choice is such a bad outcome that industry needs to “self-regulate”. Perhaps the EU should step in to force industry to do what is right in all cases, not just charging cables: - ban e2e encryption - pedos and criminals use it - mandate client-side CSAM scanning on all devices, report directly to local police instead of going through untrustworthy Apple (they can’t even get charging cables right, can we trust them to protect your child?) - require all new devices to be tamper resistant so you can’t get around EU laws - require all phones to be the same shape and size so that citizens can re-use screen protectors and cases in perpetuity - ban purple devices - it offends EU bureaucrats, and obviously the continued existence of purple phones is evidence of the industry’s failure to self-regulate. EU bureaucrats know better than the market and always have.
- int_19h 4y ago
  The interest isn't in dictating the specific kind of cable, but rather in having a single kind that's universal. It's the industry that converged on USB-C by itself, not the EU bureaucrats.

Krkrmfnfmmd 4y ago

Government mandates on how you can charge your phone won't stifle innovation?

emptyfile 4y ago
Was that a question? Of course not. In fact the parent comment even provides an example.
garmanarnar 4y ago
Correct! In fact it can even help innovation.
pimterry 4y ago
Yes, it won't. As parent points out, the EU previously mandated micro-usb support (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_external_power_supply https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_external_power_supply) which worked fairly well, and hasn't stifled the innovation that's resulted in USB-C.
- nulld3v 4y ago
  > the EU previously mandated micro-usb support No they didn't, compliance is voluntary, just read the linked wiki page. I agree with the point that it won't stifle Innovation though. The swift passing of the USB-C mandate has proven to me that the EU can move quickly, so if a new connector comes along they will be able to switch the law reasonably quickly.
  - AlphaSite 4y ago
    This isn’t swift I don’t think, we’ve been hearing about this for years now.
    - nulld3v 4y ago
      This mandate was conceived in 2018: https://ec.europa.eu/docsroom/documents/46756/attachments/2/translations/en/renditions/native https://ec.europa.eu/docsroom/documents/46756/attachments/2/... I think 4 years is a reasonable time frame. Especially considering they weren't sitting around doing nothing for 4 years, most of it was research and surveys
  - httptoolkit 4y ago
    Technically voluntary, but every major phone manufacturer (including Apple) committed to it and followed it (although in Apple's case, with a dongle).
    - dahfizz 4y ago
      But, crucially, they were able to effortlessly move to a better connector when one came along. They were not legally forced to stick with Micro-B. Now they are legally stuck with USB-C indefinitely.
  - BurningFrog 4y ago
    If you've followed the EU for a few decades, you'd know they occasionally move quickly, but not often, and the movement is rarely in the best direction.
    - nulld3v 4y ago
      The multiple previous recommendations on mobile phone charging ports passed relatively quickly too.
      - BurningFrog 4y ago
- deleted 4y ago
  [deleted]
- imoverclocked 4y ago
  > Although compliance is voluntary, a majority of the world's largest mobile phone manufacturers agreed to make their applicable mobile phones compatible with Europe's common external power supply specification (EN 62684:2010). Is compliance voluntary for this new ruling?
  - Mindwipe 4y ago
    TBF, it was "voluntary" for the old spec too. Everyone agreed to it in writing because otherwise they were told legislation would be swiftly passed. That's not really voluntary.
- dahfizz 4y ago
  According to your link, compliance was voluntary. Its in the second sentence.
dkjaudyeqooe 4y ago
USB C was designed to be the "last" physical connector, the whole point was standardisation. Now that the market has failed to deliver this, government steps in. In this case it's supporting an innovation. More "innovation" in connectors is what we're trying to avoid.
ben_w 4y ago
What exactly is genuinely innovative about the iPhone connector at this point? It's 10 years old, and the only selling point I can see it having over USB (even when it was new) was the rotational symmetry (which is now also possible with USB C, which is what's being mandated).
- BurningFrog 4y ago
  The point is that the next connector innovation will have to be ratified by the European Parliament.
  - yellowapple 4y ago
    Or you ship both connectors.
  - oplaadpunt 4y ago
    No, it doesn't. The technical details are passed as a so called 'delegated act', which defers the power to set the details of acts to the European Commission.[1] They can update this when necessary, and will do so if the USB forum updates to a newer version. I detest all the people who are confidently wrong about these things, it detracts from the interesting steps the EU has taken here. [1]: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=LEGISSUM:delegated_acts https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=LEGISSUM...
    - alain94040 4y ago
      Assuming you are correct, it still means that any startup that has an idea for an innovation in the phone cable space will first need to worry about how to convince the European Commission to approve it. That's quite a road block for a startup.
      - frosted-flakes 4y ago
        Easy solution: add your new innovative charging port in addition to USB-C.
axlee 4y ago
I don't know, did government mandating electricity plugs standards stifle innovation?
- ralph84 4y ago
  There are multiple different plug types used within the EU.
  - ragebol 4y ago
    Fair point. Those different plugs are standardized though so adapters & travel plugs can be made. I wondered why this has not yet been standardized EU-wide, but of course the cost of doing so would be huge, since those plugs & outlets are built into millions of buildings. Whereas phones and electronics change much faster and can thus more easily be transitioned, I suppose.
    - yellowapple 4y ago
      > the cost of doing so would be huge, since those plugs & outlets are built into millions of buildings You could always grandfather in old construction and only enforce the standard for new construction or renovations.
  - saiya-jin 4y ago
    They are slightly different but inter-compatible when using only 2-plug (without ground IIRC). Which means basically all non-energy-intense appliances including ie TVs. Heck, even Switzerland is compatible with them all. Notable exception of course are British, but they are not part of EU as we all know too well. It makes life so much easier. I can't understand why anybody would ever oppose this, either vested interest or butthurt ego?
    - Symbiote 4y ago
      Ireland, Malta and Cyprus are still in the EU, with British standard plugs. The EU considered this years ago, and decided the switch wasn't worth the cost.

reaperducer 4y ago

All the handwringing about stifling innovation is on its face ridiculous as mandates to use micro-usb didn't stop android phones from adopting the new and better standard as soon as it was viable. I'm not sure I understand your logic here. Android phones were able to quickly move to micro USB because they weren't restricted from doing so by a government regulation. If there was a government mandate requiring phones to have whatever connector came before micro USB, wouldn't that have prevented the Android phones from changing connectors/choosing the new innovation? Or was there a location where micro USB was required by law before, and since I don't live there, I wasn't affected by it? Edit: Strike that last sentence, since I see in other responses that there was, indeed, a location where micro USB was mandated. So my new question is: How does a company change to a new/better connector, if it's required by law to use an old connector? Edit edit: Looks like other responses show there was no mandate, that's just something that people on HN assume. It was a recommendation, not a law, like it is now.

BiteCode_dev 4y ago
Micro usb was mandatory in europe for phones years ago.
- nulld3v 4y ago
  Are you talking about https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_external_power_supply https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_external_power_supply? This wasn't a mandate, it was just a recommendation.
- tephra 4y ago
  No it was never mandatory only voluntary. There was a threat to make it mandatory but most mobile phone suppliers signed a letter of intent on implementing a common standard (apple included).
- deleted 4y ago
  [deleted]
- dahfizz 4y ago
  This is incorrect. It was a voluntary standard signed on by a non-binding MoU. All Manufacturers were free to "break" the agreement when moving to USB-C. Now they are stuck on USB-C until a new law is written.

slavoingilizov 4y ago

Well... I agree with the spirit of the effort, but not the letter of it. >>> From spring 2026, the obligation will extend to laptops So this would force Apple to replace MagSafe with USB-C? How is that not killing innovation? Standardisation should be a goal, but I just feel this particular effort is too specific and brings very little value to consumers. Why don't we standardise payment protocols instead? Or biometric identity verification? Or ID cards even (that the UK is allergic to)? I just feel the spirit of these efforts can be applied so much more successfully elsewhere.

yoz-y 4y ago
How would it force apple to replace magsafe? All modern apple laptops can already charge from USB-C. Magsafe is just another option.
lgrebe 4y ago
Because law makers actively experience the pain of having different chargers in their day to day lives.
mateuszf 4y ago
> How is that not killing innovation? It's not such a great innovation if it makes users life harder.
code_duck 4y ago
Is Apple currently using MagSafe? Both of the recent MacBooks in my household, from 2020 and 2021, have standard USB-C connections.
- gorbypark 4y ago
  Yes, they brought it back. You can still charge via USB-C, though.
  - iainmerrick 4y ago
    It’s also worth noting that the MagSafe cable has USB-C on the other end, so it fits fairly nicely into a world where all your adaptors are USB-C. The old MagSafe cables were permanently attached to the adaptor.

MichaelZuo 4y ago

There were no mandates to adopt micro-usb in the EU. As a sidetone it's astonishing how quickly a lie easily disprovable by publicly accessible information, in this case the EU's own website, can be spread around by people that otherwise seem like credible HN members.

tempest-tost 4y ago
Am I missing something here? https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.engadget.com/amp/2010-12-29-european-standardization-bodies-formalize-micro-usb-cellphone-ch.html https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.engadget.com/amp/2010-12-29...
- amarshall 4y ago
  Non-AMP link: https://www.engadget.com/2010-12-29-european-standardization-bodies-formalize-micro-usb-cellphone-ch.html https://www.engadget.com/2010-12-29-european-standardization...
- MichaelZuo 4y ago
  There were non-binding agreements. i.e. the EU hoped that the major players would standardize on one connecter, but this did not have the force of law behind it.
- ThePowerOfFuet 4y ago
  It looks like you shared an AMP link. AMP is controversial because of concerns over privacy and the Open Web [0]. Fully-cached AMP pages like the one you shared are especially problematic. Maybe check out the canonical page instead: https://www.engadget.com/2010-12-29-european-standardization-bodies-formalize-micro-usb-cellphone-ch.html https://www.engadget.com/2010-12-29-european-standardization... [0]: https://old.reddit.com/r/AmputatorBot/comments/ehrq3z https://old.reddit.com/r/AmputatorBot/comments/ehrq3z
- deleted 4y ago
  [deleted]
- w4rh4wk5 4y ago

jollybean 4y ago

? how did self regulation fail ? There's nothing wrong with the way iPhone charges. This is an unnecessary intervention. There are plenty of bigger, more relevant fish to fry.

treeman79 4y ago
Relevant, probably. Bigger. Probably not. Apple is huge.
- danaris 4y ago
  Just because Apple is huge doesn't mean any issue that involves Apple in any way is huge.
krisoft 4y ago
> There's nothing wrong with the way iPhone charges. Well. I'm lugging around one cable which charges all my devices from bike lamps to powerbanks. And there is a totally different cable I'm also lugging around to charge my iphone. Why is that necessary? Also my iphone charging cable frays all time, while my "everything else charging cable" does not.
- Kerrick 4y ago
  > Why is that necessary? Because you chose to buy a phone that uses Lightning, rather than choosing to buy a phone that uses USB-C.
  - snakeboy 4y ago
    I doubt the charging port is the most important factor in choosing a phone for most people. Similar to how I voted for Biden even though I don't agree with 100% of his policies. It doesn't mean I don't disagree with him often - it's just that I only get one vote, so I have to prioritize. It's perfectly consistent for me to complain and make my opinion known when his administration does things I disagree with.
  - 4y ago

scarab92 4y ago

EU could have mandated adoption of a certain connector for a certain period of time, rather than for all time. That way regulation provides the stick to force standardisation, but allows whatever new innovations develop later to have a chance at gaining a foothold. If we find ourselves in this situation again (with a single holdout) we can force the standardisation for a period of time again.

kalleboo 4y ago
The EU regulation has a stipulation to re-visit the chosen standard at set intervals (IIRC 3 years?), it's not "for all time"
- jamesrr39 4y ago
  You are correct, every 3 years. From https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/BRIE/2021/698819/EPRS_BRI(2021)698819_EN.pdf https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/BRIE/2021/6988... : > Reporting: the Commission would be required to report to the Parliament and Council on the application of the directive regarding new charging technologies every three years, starting from three years after the date of entry into force of the directive (article 47(2a) RED). By the same date, it would also be required to report on the impact of the possibility to acquire devices without any charging device and cable (article 3a(1) RED).

deleted 4y ago

[deleted]

hbgl 4y ago

The reason why Apple still uses the Lightning port is because of regulation in the form of patents which give them a 20-year-monopoly on their plug design. Without the previous regulation there would be no need for this new regulation.

neither_color 4y ago

It's not "right" as in morally right; it's just slightly more convenient. Mandatory convenience. I personally don't understand people's passion for this cause. I'm ok with dichotomy and nuance in life. I'm learning that having two cables is a huge impediment to some people's lives. So be it.

n8cpdx 4y ago

This assumes that it is in the government’s interest to dictate the kind of cable used to charge phones, and that making the “wrong” choice is such a bad outcome that industry needs to “self-regulate”. Perhaps the EU should step in to force industry to do what is right in all cases, not just charging cables: - ban e2e encryption - pedos and criminals use it - mandate client-side CSAM scanning on all devices, report directly to local police instead of going through untrustworthy Apple (they can’t even get charging cables right, can we trust them to protect your child?) - require all new devices to be tamper resistant so you can’t get around EU laws - require all phones to be the same shape and size so that citizens can re-use screen protectors and cases in perpetuity - ban purple devices - it offends EU bureaucrats, and obviously the continued existence of purple phones is evidence of the industry’s failure to self-regulate. EU bureaucrats know better than the market and always have.

int_19h 4y ago
The interest isn't in dictating the specific kind of cable, but rather in having a single kind that's universal. It's the industry that converged on USB-C by itself, not the EU bureaucrats.