5 ms·

Saying there was no mandate is only technically true. The EU gave an ultimatum to phone companies to make a compatible charger "or else", which led to a "Memora

by Fradow 4y ago

Saying there was no mandate is only technically true. The EU gave an ultimatum to phone companies to make a compatible charger "or else", which led to a "Memorandum of Understanding" [1] deciding on Micro-USB. Apple didn't follow that Memorandum, the EU got pissed, so now we reached the "or else" part (it took quite some time considering the Memorandum was more than 10 years ago). [1] https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/MEMO_11_75 https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/MEMO_1...

nolok 4y ago
> Apple didn't follow that Memorandum, the EU got pissed Just to add a step: Samsung got pissed, and told the EU either regulate, or we do our own thing too like Apple.
- mschuster91 4y ago
  Samsung actually had done their own thing - their early tablet lineup also had a 30-pin connector, and of course incompatible with Apple's 30-pin connector. [1] https://www.amazon.de/Original-Samsung-USB-lDatenkabel-ECC1DP0UBE/dp/B009VCFKPI https://www.amazon.de/Original-Samsung-USB-lDatenkabel-ECC1D...
  - q3k 4y ago
    > and of course incompatible with Apple's 30-pin connector “Of course” also because Apple's 30-pin connector was only approved for purchase and use by certified (read: paying) third parties.
  - yellowapple 4y ago
    Thankfully the Samsung one was black while the Apple ones were white, making it obvious which one went to my iPod Classic v. my Galaxy Tab 2 :) But yeah, I absolutely do not miss those 30-pin connectors.
- Fradow 4y ago
  I wasn't aware of that, thanks! Replying to sibling: that 30-pin connector predates the Memorandum. It's exactly such chargers that the EU wanted to regulate at the time. Every company had their own incompatible charger.
hackerman_fi 4y ago
Apple did release a micro USB -> lightning adapter for 19 €, which I believe was to ”comply” with the rules
- avidiax 4y ago
  The EU should have required that all marketing must depict a standard connector phone. So all their ads in the EU would have to show a stupid dongle hanging off the phone, like a vestigial tail.
MichaelZuo 4y ago
'Memorandums of Understanding' are not binding within the EU, not even between different departments in Brussels. They are, at best, strongly worded suggestions. So this is a significant difference. As a EU mandate implies that organizations can be prosecuted for ignoring it.
- deleted 4y ago
  [deleted]
dahfizz 4y ago
Curious that the "or else" stage doesn't actually enforce the micro-B connector of the original MoU. If that original legislation was binding, we likely never would have gotten USB-C in the first place.

by Fradow 4y ago

nolok 4y ago

> Apple didn't follow that Memorandum, the EU got pissed Just to add a step: Samsung got pissed, and told the EU either regulate, or we do our own thing too like Apple.

mschuster91 4y ago
Samsung actually had done their own thing - their early tablet lineup also had a 30-pin connector, and of course incompatible with Apple's 30-pin connector. [1] https://www.amazon.de/Original-Samsung-USB-lDatenkabel-ECC1DP0UBE/dp/B009VCFKPI https://www.amazon.de/Original-Samsung-USB-lDatenkabel-ECC1D...
- q3k 4y ago
  > and of course incompatible with Apple's 30-pin connector “Of course” also because Apple's 30-pin connector was only approved for purchase and use by certified (read: paying) third parties.
- yellowapple 4y ago
  Thankfully the Samsung one was black while the Apple ones were white, making it obvious which one went to my iPod Classic v. my Galaxy Tab 2 :) But yeah, I absolutely do not miss those 30-pin connectors.
Fradow 4y ago
I wasn't aware of that, thanks! Replying to sibling: that 30-pin connector predates the Memorandum. It's exactly such chargers that the EU wanted to regulate at the time. Every company had their own incompatible charger.

hackerman_fi 4y ago

Apple did release a micro USB -> lightning adapter for 19 €, which I believe was to ”comply” with the rules

avidiax 4y ago
The EU should have required that all marketing must depict a standard connector phone. So all their ads in the EU would have to show a stupid dongle hanging off the phone, like a vestigial tail.

MichaelZuo 4y ago

'Memorandums of Understanding' are not binding within the EU, not even between different departments in Brussels. They are, at best, strongly worded suggestions. So this is a significant difference. As a EU mandate implies that organizations can be prosecuted for ignoring it.

deleted 4y ago
[deleted]

dahfizz 4y ago

Curious that the "or else" stage doesn't actually enforce the micro-B connector of the original MoU. If that original legislation was binding, we likely never would have gotten USB-C in the first place.