3 ms·

> if you use a cable not OK'd by us, you're on your own That is misbehavior from Apple, because it adds a cost to the consumer. MiFi is absolutely not free. T

> if you use a cable not OK'd by us, you're on your own That is misbehavior from Apple, because it adds a cost to the consumer. MiFi is absolutely not free. The consumer friendly option is allowing the use of a perfectly good USB-C cable (from J5 Create, for example) that doesn't have the MiFi tax without artificial restrictions.

bilbo0s 4y ago
No one disallows using the J5 cable. That's the entire point. That's what makes all this fair. It's the consumer who chooses what products s/he will use. The only thing being codified here is that if you happen to use a janky cable Apple didn't certify, the results are on you. All that, to my mind, is totally reasonable. You can use a certified cable. You can use a non certified cable. The consumer is totally free to make any choice s/he chooses. They only warrant that if you use the certified cable, your phone won't blow up.
- falcolas 4y ago
  Then we're reading this sentence from TFA quite differently: > Shrimp states that Apple will limit data and charging speed for cables connected to iPhone without the MFi certification. To me (and I'd wager it's the same for most folks), that's Apple implementing a technical block on the cables separate from their actual capabilities.
  - bilbo0s 4y ago
    That's not for the cable, that's for the accessory connected to the cable. I thought we were talking about the cables here? With respect to the cables, that's part of the USB C spec. Not the spec to which you are referring. The whole point of the E Mark is to signal that it is safe to send otherwise dangerously high speeds and wattage down the cable. So they're just saying that they promise to follow the spec for cables they certify. Now the accessories, you're right, but I don't know the rules for accessories. I do know them for the cables.
    - falcolas 4y ago
      There is nothing in this article which suggests this (that it applies only to the accessories) is the case. Remember, a USB-C cable not just a bunch of wires hooking two connectors together. It's two SOCs which negotiate the cable's capabilities with the devices on either end before allowing the flow of power or data across the cable itself. In fact, there is no spec on what the cable itself consists of - it could be a fiber optic cable for all the USB-C spec cares. It's why you can use an expensive DP USB-C cable and not get thunderbolt support - because the chipsets in the cable itself have to support the thunderbolt spec. It's why it's entirely plausible that Apple can specify that you can only use MiFi compatible cables if you want full charging or data transfer capabilities.
- FireBeyond 4y ago
  > The only thing being codified here is that if you happen to use a janky cable Apple didn't certify, the results are on you. "Janky" is inserted by you. I can use high quality cables that aren't certified and perfectly capable of handling power, and such. With this comes the implication that any manufacturer who is not willing to give Apple a cut of their cable sales is something inferior and subpar. > They only warrant that if you use the certified cable, your phone won't blow up. I guarantee you that they warrant no such thing. And that they'll point you at the cable manufacturer if something damages your phone.
i386 4y ago
> MiFi is absolutely not free. Paying for MFI might be a problem for your local Brooklyn usb-c cable artisan but not for your high volume low margin Asian cable manufacturer.
- Eisenstein 4y ago
  I have plenty of good USB-C cables I spent a bunch of money on. Why should I have to buy more just for Apple? The whole point of USB-C was to not have to do that anymore.
- falcolas 4y ago
  As of 2018, it's an extra $4 per connector (that means cable with two connectors is $8) plus a flat $99 yearly fee. It was $10 (or 10% of the cost) prior to that.

bilbo0s 4y ago

No one disallows using the J5 cable. That's the entire point. That's what makes all this fair. It's the consumer who chooses what products s/he will use. The only thing being codified here is that if you happen to use a janky cable Apple didn't certify, the results are on you. All that, to my mind, is totally reasonable. You can use a certified cable. You can use a non certified cable. The consumer is totally free to make any choice s/he chooses. They only warrant that if you use the certified cable, your phone won't blow up.

falcolas 4y ago
Then we're reading this sentence from TFA quite differently: > Shrimp states that Apple will limit data and charging speed for cables connected to iPhone without the MFi certification. To me (and I'd wager it's the same for most folks), that's Apple implementing a technical block on the cables separate from their actual capabilities.
- bilbo0s 4y ago
  That's not for the cable, that's for the accessory connected to the cable. I thought we were talking about the cables here? With respect to the cables, that's part of the USB C spec. Not the spec to which you are referring. The whole point of the E Mark is to signal that it is safe to send otherwise dangerously high speeds and wattage down the cable. So they're just saying that they promise to follow the spec for cables they certify. Now the accessories, you're right, but I don't know the rules for accessories. I do know them for the cables.
  - falcolas 4y ago
    There is nothing in this article which suggests this (that it applies only to the accessories) is the case. Remember, a USB-C cable not just a bunch of wires hooking two connectors together. It's two SOCs which negotiate the cable's capabilities with the devices on either end before allowing the flow of power or data across the cable itself. In fact, there is no spec on what the cable itself consists of - it could be a fiber optic cable for all the USB-C spec cares. It's why you can use an expensive DP USB-C cable and not get thunderbolt support - because the chipsets in the cable itself have to support the thunderbolt spec. It's why it's entirely plausible that Apple can specify that you can only use MiFi compatible cables if you want full charging or data transfer capabilities.
FireBeyond 4y ago
> The only thing being codified here is that if you happen to use a janky cable Apple didn't certify, the results are on you. "Janky" is inserted by you. I can use high quality cables that aren't certified and perfectly capable of handling power, and such. With this comes the implication that any manufacturer who is not willing to give Apple a cut of their cable sales is something inferior and subpar. > They only warrant that if you use the certified cable, your phone won't blow up. I guarantee you that they warrant no such thing. And that they'll point you at the cable manufacturer if something damages your phone.

i386 4y ago

> MiFi is absolutely not free. Paying for MFI might be a problem for your local Brooklyn usb-c cable artisan but not for your high volume low margin Asian cable manufacturer.

Eisenstein 4y ago
I have plenty of good USB-C cables I spent a bunch of money on. Why should I have to buy more just for Apple? The whole point of USB-C was to not have to do that anymore.
falcolas 4y ago
As of 2018, it's an extra $4 per connector (that means cable with two connectors is $8) plus a flat $99 yearly fee. It was $10 (or 10% of the cost) prior to that.