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"USB-C" -> Good for consumer, I believe. "cookie banners for everyone" -> cookie banners only if your website is using cookies in a way that needs a cookie ban

"USB-C" -> Good for consumer, I believe. "cookie banners for everyone" -> cookie banners only if your website is using cookies in a way that needs a cookie banner. There are plenty of sites or web analytics technologies that don't mandate the use of a cookie banner. "GDPR nightmare for everyone" -> only for companies that intend touse personal data in non-ethical ways (cf. for instance: https://www.iccl.ie/digital-data/europes-hidden-security-crisis/ https://www.iccl.ie/digital-data/europes-hidden-security-cri... ). "now this new government rule on opensource contributors to software being held liable for security breaches." -> Indeed, that's problematic, specially the way this was (not) discussed with the open source sector. Cf. https://cnll.fr/news/la-france-doit-prot%C3%A9ger-sa-fili%C3%A8re-du-logiciel-libre-des-effets-de-bord-du-cyber-resilience-act-cra/ https://cnll.fr/news/la-france-doit-prot%C3%A9ger-sa-fili%C3... and https://cnll.fr/news/declaration-cra-cyber-resilience-act/ https://cnll.fr/news/declaration-cra-cyber-resilience-act/ (two texts that I wrote, in French, last year).

teitoklien 2y ago
"USB-C" -> Good for consumer, I believe With the same logic EU had tried to make Micro USB mandatory for everyone, it was a very poorly executed charging port which would break often and easily. If it was made industry standard back then, USB-C would have probably never come along or would have taken much much longer. The road to hell is paved with good intention, I doubt any decent government (which EU is) would pass laws that is bad for its people in short term. It’s just that these burden some regulations backfire in the long term. The problems with GDPR and Cookie Banner are well documented, it puts EU startups at a disadvantage because of having to pass all regulations before they can innovate and get up from the ground. Regulations like this should not apply to startups, the harm done to economy is far more than harm done to the public. Or else , EU citizens will forever be left using American Software, driving Japanese cars (EU car makers are in decline), use Chinese and American Robots (Largest German Robot company (KUKA Robotics) sold to China), use Chinese Solar Panels, Korean Phones, etc. I get what you’re saying, it all sounds sweet and good on paper. But it ends up being a race where brilliant european minds are running with 20kg weights on their shoes, while other major nations are supplying stimulants for their innovators to win the gold medal. It’s just the reality of what’s happening, if it continues EU will die a slow and painful death (Saying the truth as a well wisher for europe, they are pro-consumer in great many ways, but they are over regulating and hurting their next generation)
- hyperman1 2y ago
  The EU tried making micro USB mandatory only after first asking the industry to cooperate and self-standardize. Legislation was the very last thing tried. After years of Apple stalling not cooperating, the EU got fed up, and forced them. GDPR was similar: Only after years of abuse by adtech etc.., the regulator took action. Maybe this is a communication mismatch between US and EU culture? EU companies tend to take the hint from the EU and do something before they are forced. US companies say: ...but there is no law forcing me? Then act surprised when said law is written.
- bitwize 2y ago
  > If it was made industry standard back then, USB-C would have probably never come along or would have taken much much longer. USB-C is a clusterfuck of a connector, and I'm not just talking about the various voltages and how using the wrong cable can fry your equipment. I'm talking about the physical connector itself. See, the USB-C port has a shroud around the outside and a "tongue" in the middle where all the contacts are. The USB-C plug has a shroud which fits into the port's shroud, but inside the plug's shroud are all the contacts which align with the contacts on the tongue. This tongue is fragile, necessitating replacement of the whole port if it breaks or is otherwise damaged. If I am not very careful with my phone's USB-C connector, it can get flaky and make even charging (let alone data transfer) difficult and annoying within a year. Do you want to see an example of a good design? Look at Apple's Lightning connector, where the fragile tongue is on the more easily replaceable plug, and the port is just the shroud. Meaning my wife just plugs or unplugs her iPhone all the time, never worrying about what kind of damage dirt or lint might cause if it gets into the port or whether inserting or removing the plug too hard might permanently harm the port. It Just Works, every time. Mandating USB-C just made the connector situation worse for everybody. Mandating an open standard doesn't really help much if it's a shitty standard. It just squelches any improvements a company might make.
  - 6510 2y ago
    I don't have an opinion on this. The female plug always holds the power and the male taps into it. Doing it the other way around is unusual, you get a naked male plug with power on it just dangling around.
graemep 2y ago
> "GDPR nightmare for everyone" -> only for companies that intend touse personal data in non-ethical ways You do not understand GDPR. It is a burden even for businesses or non-profits that keep a minimal amount of data and do not trade it. As with all Eu regulation it is designed around big business. It actually helps the like of FB because they are more able to push people into agreeing to let them use their data. > "cookie banners for everyone" -> cookie banners only if your website is using cookies in a way that needs a cookie banner. Yes, but it does little good, and it stops end users from white-listing sites allowed to set cookies because you need to allow the cookies that track your cookie options. > "USB-C" -> Good for consumer, I believe. I disagree. It stops new connectors being introduced (because you will still have to provide USB-C). There is little gain: essentially slightly lower sales of charger cables. Add to that messes like VAT MOSS which was ridiculously heavy and even lead to some small businesses stopping sales to other EU countries to avoid complying with it.
- mschuster91 2y ago
  > I disagree. It stops new connectors being introduced (because you will still have to provide USB-C). And just like with the predecessor Micro-USB: nothing stops the EU Parliament from adopting new legislation to update to new technologies. Unlike the US Congress, the EU Parliament is still able to regularly pass new laws. > There is little gain: essentially slightly lower sales of charger cables. No charger included means thinner packaging of products like laptops and phones and thus better transport efficiency (you can store more products in one container), less e-waste from chargers and cables that end up in the "never used" bin, and an easier time for consumers: no need to carry half a bag worth of power bricks, a single Anker dual-port power supply is all I need when going on vacation - it powers our laptops, phones, Switch, everything.
  - graemep 2y ago
    In general USB chargers work with Apple devices. You just need another cable. Cables are small, fragile (so do not last anyway) and have minimal impact on transport or waste production. While legislation can be changed, it takes time and influence to do so. What manufacturer would introduce a new charger unless they are sure the EU would allow it? It essentially means it will only change if a big manufacturer lobbies for it BEFORE launching products, or if a standard gets established in the rest of the world before the products are launched in the EU. Not exactly encouraging innovation.

teitoklien 2y ago

"USB-C" -> Good for consumer, I believe With the same logic EU had tried to make Micro USB mandatory for everyone, it was a very poorly executed charging port which would break often and easily. If it was made industry standard back then, USB-C would have probably never come along or would have taken much much longer. The road to hell is paved with good intention, I doubt any decent government (which EU is) would pass laws that is bad for its people in short term. It’s just that these burden some regulations backfire in the long term. The problems with GDPR and Cookie Banner are well documented, it puts EU startups at a disadvantage because of having to pass all regulations before they can innovate and get up from the ground. Regulations like this should not apply to startups, the harm done to economy is far more than harm done to the public. Or else , EU citizens will forever be left using American Software, driving Japanese cars (EU car makers are in decline), use Chinese and American Robots (Largest German Robot company (KUKA Robotics) sold to China), use Chinese Solar Panels, Korean Phones, etc. I get what you’re saying, it all sounds sweet and good on paper. But it ends up being a race where brilliant european minds are running with 20kg weights on their shoes, while other major nations are supplying stimulants for their innovators to win the gold medal. It’s just the reality of what’s happening, if it continues EU will die a slow and painful death (Saying the truth as a well wisher for europe, they are pro-consumer in great many ways, but they are over regulating and hurting their next generation)

hyperman1 2y ago
The EU tried making micro USB mandatory only after first asking the industry to cooperate and self-standardize. Legislation was the very last thing tried. After years of Apple stalling not cooperating, the EU got fed up, and forced them. GDPR was similar: Only after years of abuse by adtech etc.., the regulator took action. Maybe this is a communication mismatch between US and EU culture? EU companies tend to take the hint from the EU and do something before they are forced. US companies say: ...but there is no law forcing me? Then act surprised when said law is written.
bitwize 2y ago
> If it was made industry standard back then, USB-C would have probably never come along or would have taken much much longer. USB-C is a clusterfuck of a connector, and I'm not just talking about the various voltages and how using the wrong cable can fry your equipment. I'm talking about the physical connector itself. See, the USB-C port has a shroud around the outside and a "tongue" in the middle where all the contacts are. The USB-C plug has a shroud which fits into the port's shroud, but inside the plug's shroud are all the contacts which align with the contacts on the tongue. This tongue is fragile, necessitating replacement of the whole port if it breaks or is otherwise damaged. If I am not very careful with my phone's USB-C connector, it can get flaky and make even charging (let alone data transfer) difficult and annoying within a year. Do you want to see an example of a good design? Look at Apple's Lightning connector, where the fragile tongue is on the more easily replaceable plug, and the port is just the shroud. Meaning my wife just plugs or unplugs her iPhone all the time, never worrying about what kind of damage dirt or lint might cause if it gets into the port or whether inserting or removing the plug too hard might permanently harm the port. It Just Works, every time. Mandating USB-C just made the connector situation worse for everybody. Mandating an open standard doesn't really help much if it's a shitty standard. It just squelches any improvements a company might make.
- 6510 2y ago
  I don't have an opinion on this. The female plug always holds the power and the male taps into it. Doing it the other way around is unusual, you get a naked male plug with power on it just dangling around.

graemep 2y ago

> "GDPR nightmare for everyone" -> only for companies that intend touse personal data in non-ethical ways You do not understand GDPR. It is a burden even for businesses or non-profits that keep a minimal amount of data and do not trade it. As with all Eu regulation it is designed around big business. It actually helps the like of FB because they are more able to push people into agreeing to let them use their data. > "cookie banners for everyone" -> cookie banners only if your website is using cookies in a way that needs a cookie banner. Yes, but it does little good, and it stops end users from white-listing sites allowed to set cookies because you need to allow the cookies that track your cookie options. > "USB-C" -> Good for consumer, I believe. I disagree. It stops new connectors being introduced (because you will still have to provide USB-C). There is little gain: essentially slightly lower sales of charger cables. Add to that messes like VAT MOSS which was ridiculously heavy and even lead to some small businesses stopping sales to other EU countries to avoid complying with it.

mschuster91 2y ago
> I disagree. It stops new connectors being introduced (because you will still have to provide USB-C). And just like with the predecessor Micro-USB: nothing stops the EU Parliament from adopting new legislation to update to new technologies. Unlike the US Congress, the EU Parliament is still able to regularly pass new laws. > There is little gain: essentially slightly lower sales of charger cables. No charger included means thinner packaging of products like laptops and phones and thus better transport efficiency (you can store more products in one container), less e-waste from chargers and cables that end up in the "never used" bin, and an easier time for consumers: no need to carry half a bag worth of power bricks, a single Anker dual-port power supply is all I need when going on vacation - it powers our laptops, phones, Switch, everything.
- graemep 2y ago
  In general USB chargers work with Apple devices. You just need another cable. Cables are small, fragile (so do not last anyway) and have minimal impact on transport or waste production. While legislation can be changed, it takes time and influence to do so. What manufacturer would introduce a new charger unless they are sure the EU would allow it? It essentially means it will only change if a big manufacturer lobbies for it BEFORE launching products, or if a standard gets established in the rest of the world before the products are launched in the EU. Not exactly encouraging innovation.