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They got dragged kicking and screaming to this solution by European regulators. Glad it’s finally done, but good Lord that was too long coming.

dmt0 3y ago
And now they're presenting it as an upgrade.
- happytiger 3y ago
  I mean, as snarky as I am about this, it still technically is an upgrade.
quitit 3y ago
While the EU is a factor, the EU's mandatory ruling came too late to affect this product. In term's of iPhone release schedules only the iPhone 17 would fall into needing mandatory USB-C. The USB-3 controller is in the A17 chip and not a separate component, considering the lead time for chip design and production it seems Apple had the transition in mind for quite a bit longer than the recent legislation changes in EU parliament. As a timeline: the EU Parliament only proposed making USB-C mandatory in September 2021, and then only formally approved it in October 2022, prior to that it was just the EU's serving suggestion. Enforcement only begins on new product introductions from the latest October 2024, Apple release their Phones in September, meaning both the iPhone 15 and 16 could realistically still use lightning without infringement. However now that Apple has introduced USB-C EU member states can safely fast track the law without affecting their economies (despite certain HN fantasies, forcing a major phone supplier out of the market for lolz is not good for a country.)
- Liquid_Fire 3y ago
  Surely Apple continue selling old models for a couple years, so waiting until the last moment would not work.
  - quitit 3y ago
    Not so as the mandate only applies to newly released products sold in the EU, not existing products. Also as the Pro's USB3 controller is in the A-series chip and not a separate component it stands that Apple had already planned the change over -before- the EU even tabled it as a mandatory requirement. Sure you could say that they saw the writing on the wall, which is certainly a factor, but they could have just as easily switched the port without deeper integration into the device just to satisfy a legislative requirement. On the other hand one could equally say: Apple have been transitioning their entire lineup to the type C connector over several years and now would be an appropriate time to bring the phone into the fold. The idea that Apple bent to the will of the EU is largely overblown, it was an obvious change and their hardware indicates that they've been planning this for a while.
    - Liquid_Fire 3y ago
      Do you have a source for "newly released"? Everything I can find talks about "new" only. I am not surprised that Apple have planned this for a while, because the EU have been pushing this for a while even before making USB-C mandatory. Previously it was only a recommendation for micro-USB, and Apple was practically the only manufacturer that didn't adopt it. If it was such an obvious change, why did it take them 5+ years longer than other manufacturers?
      - quitit 3y ago
        >The new rules would not apply to products placed on the market before the date of application. Source: The European Parliament website. https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20220930IPR41928/long-awaited-common-charger-for-mobile-devices-will-be-a-reality-in-2024 https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20220930IP... > Do you have a source for "newly released"? Everything I can find talks about "new" only. Respectfully the only place you need to be looking for this information is the EU parliament website.
        Liquid_Fire 3y ago
isykt 3y ago
You think Apple was dragged kicking and screaming into being able to sell the same accessories they have already developed but with a different connector? Once the EU signaled they were going to mandate this, there was no reason to do it any sooner. When Apple changed from 30-pin, there was an uproar. “Now my iPod Alarm Clock doesn’t work with my new iPhone!” Now gets it both ways: more sales, no blame. “The EU made us do it…”
- happytiger 3y ago
  One year and one product cycle in advance of being in violation of required changes isn’t exactly commendable innovation. You aren’t wrong about being able to make money and claim the high moral ground while doing so…

dmt0 3y ago

And now they're presenting it as an upgrade.

happytiger 3y ago
I mean, as snarky as I am about this, it still technically is an upgrade.

quitit 3y ago

While the EU is a factor, the EU's mandatory ruling came too late to affect this product. In term's of iPhone release schedules only the iPhone 17 would fall into needing mandatory USB-C. The USB-3 controller is in the A17 chip and not a separate component, considering the lead time for chip design and production it seems Apple had the transition in mind for quite a bit longer than the recent legislation changes in EU parliament. As a timeline: the EU Parliament only proposed making USB-C mandatory in September 2021, and then only formally approved it in October 2022, prior to that it was just the EU's serving suggestion. Enforcement only begins on new product introductions from the latest October 2024, Apple release their Phones in September, meaning both the iPhone 15 and 16 could realistically still use lightning without infringement. However now that Apple has introduced USB-C EU member states can safely fast track the law without affecting their economies (despite certain HN fantasies, forcing a major phone supplier out of the market for lolz is not good for a country.)

Liquid_Fire 3y ago
Surely Apple continue selling old models for a couple years, so waiting until the last moment would not work.
- quitit 3y ago
  Not so as the mandate only applies to newly released products sold in the EU, not existing products. Also as the Pro's USB3 controller is in the A-series chip and not a separate component it stands that Apple had already planned the change over -before- the EU even tabled it as a mandatory requirement. Sure you could say that they saw the writing on the wall, which is certainly a factor, but they could have just as easily switched the port without deeper integration into the device just to satisfy a legislative requirement. On the other hand one could equally say: Apple have been transitioning their entire lineup to the type C connector over several years and now would be an appropriate time to bring the phone into the fold. The idea that Apple bent to the will of the EU is largely overblown, it was an obvious change and their hardware indicates that they've been planning this for a while.
  - Liquid_Fire 3y ago
    Do you have a source for "newly released"? Everything I can find talks about "new" only. I am not surprised that Apple have planned this for a while, because the EU have been pushing this for a while even before making USB-C mandatory. Previously it was only a recommendation for micro-USB, and Apple was practically the only manufacturer that didn't adopt it. If it was such an obvious change, why did it take them 5+ years longer than other manufacturers?
    - quitit 3y ago
      >The new rules would not apply to products placed on the market before the date of application. Source: The European Parliament website. https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20220930IPR41928/long-awaited-common-charger-for-mobile-devices-will-be-a-reality-in-2024 https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20220930IP... > Do you have a source for "newly released"? Everything I can find talks about "new" only. Respectfully the only place you need to be looking for this information is the EU parliament website.
      - Liquid_Fire 3y ago

isykt 3y ago

You think Apple was dragged kicking and screaming into being able to sell the same accessories they have already developed but with a different connector? Once the EU signaled they were going to mandate this, there was no reason to do it any sooner. When Apple changed from 30-pin, there was an uproar. “Now my iPod Alarm Clock doesn’t work with my new iPhone!” Now gets it both ways: more sales, no blame. “The EU made us do it…”

happytiger 3y ago
One year and one product cycle in advance of being in violation of required changes isn’t exactly commendable innovation. You aren’t wrong about being able to make money and claim the high moral ground while doing so…