5 ms·

Nonsense. Why does Apple have their own plug format instead of supporting USB? Is it somehow better? Easier? Blatantly not. This is just vendor lock in, the opp

Nonsense. Why does Apple have their own plug format instead of supporting USB? Is it somehow better? Easier? Blatantly not. This is just vendor lock in, the opposite of the fundamental ethic of the Internet.

pixl97 12y ago
> Is it somehow better? Apple's magsafe and lighting adapter plugs are far better than USB connectors. They are reversible and don't have tabs to break off on the device side.
- gagege 12y ago
  Tabs?
  - pixl97 12y ago
    http://cdn.ndtv.com/tech/images/gadgets/Samsung_Galaxy_S5_flap2_ndtv.jpg http://cdn.ndtv.com/tech/images/gadgets/Samsung_Galaxy_S5_fl... If you look close at in the connector on this S5 you can see there are two separate 'tabs' that are rather fragile if you are not careful removing and inserting your power cable. I've seen these break on phones before. http://images.anandtech.com/doci/8554/DSC_1380.jpg http://images.anandtech.com/doci/8554/DSC_1380.jpg The iphone connector has no small fragile pieces like that.
- rhino369 12y ago
  I really hate to admit it, but I love the lighting adapter. Blows micro USB out of the water.
txu 12y ago
USB ∉ Internet
TeMPOraL 12y ago
While their plug can be defended on engineering grounds, I'd ask a different question - why lock down Bluetooth to Apple devices only? iPhones were perfectly able to exchange data with non-Apple devices until at some point they weren't.
- Retric 12y ago
  You can still use iPhones with car's built in systems so it's not really Apple only. If you mean accessories like wireless keyboards I think the same 'just works' arguments directly apply. There are lot's of terrable 3rd party products out there.
  - xg15 12y ago
    Of you redefine "just works" as "just works if you own a product from our carefully curated list of authorized accessories", then yes...
gambiting 12y ago
Apple's 30 pin connector was pretty much always superior - it could do Audio/Video output natively, and also had pins for media control,so other manufacturers could add media support according to one established standard. As for the Lightning connector - it's reversible. That's "better" enough for me.

pixl97 12y ago

> Is it somehow better? Apple's magsafe and lighting adapter plugs are far better than USB connectors. They are reversible and don't have tabs to break off on the device side.

gagege 12y ago
Tabs?
- pixl97 12y ago
  http://cdn.ndtv.com/tech/images/gadgets/Samsung_Galaxy_S5_flap2_ndtv.jpg http://cdn.ndtv.com/tech/images/gadgets/Samsung_Galaxy_S5_fl... If you look close at in the connector on this S5 you can see there are two separate 'tabs' that are rather fragile if you are not careful removing and inserting your power cable. I've seen these break on phones before. http://images.anandtech.com/doci/8554/DSC_1380.jpg http://images.anandtech.com/doci/8554/DSC_1380.jpg The iphone connector has no small fragile pieces like that.
rhino369 12y ago
I really hate to admit it, but I love the lighting adapter. Blows micro USB out of the water.

txu 12y ago

USB ∉ Internet

TeMPOraL 12y ago

While their plug can be defended on engineering grounds, I'd ask a different question - why lock down Bluetooth to Apple devices only? iPhones were perfectly able to exchange data with non-Apple devices until at some point they weren't.

Retric 12y ago
You can still use iPhones with car's built in systems so it's not really Apple only. If you mean accessories like wireless keyboards I think the same 'just works' arguments directly apply. There are lot's of terrable 3rd party products out there.
- xg15 12y ago
  Of you redefine "just works" as "just works if you own a product from our carefully curated list of authorized accessories", then yes...

gambiting 12y ago

Apple's 30 pin connector was pretty much always superior - it could do Audio/Video output natively, and also had pins for media control,so other manufacturers could add media support according to one established standard. As for the Lightning connector - it's reversible. That's "better" enough for me.