The European Parliament is fed up with e-waste—in particular, charging cables. To fix the problem, lawmakers are debating a binding measure that would force gadget makers to use a standardised charging port.
This isn't the first time we've seen this from Europe. One reason why microUSB is so prevalent is back in 2009, the European Commission pushed for it as a universal standard on the continent. Even Apple, the notorious standout in the world of proprietary chargers, acquiesced and made available a microUSB adaptor. (Of course, it was Europe-only).
Once that initiative expired in 2014, European lawmakers tried again to force a common charger, reiterating that it would be not only convenient for consumers, but would also limit e-waste.
The only problem was the initiative called for a "voluntary approach"—a strategy that in a briefing, the European Parliament said has "not yielded the desired results" and "fell short of the co-legislators' objectives." And, while the briefing doesn't specify exactly what port type it has in mind, at this point, USB-C is the likeliest contender.
...
In 2018, European lawmakers conducted an inception impact assessment [PDF] on the idea of a common charger and called for feedback from manufacturers. In January last year, Apple provided it.In its statement, Apple contends that "regulations that would drive conformity across the type of connector built into all smartphones freeze innovation rather than encourage it. Such proposals are bad for the environment and unnecessarily disruptive for customers."
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The European Parliament (EP) just voted 582 to 40 to require one standard for chargers for all mobile phones. The EP cited the goals of reducing both frustration and electronic waste. The next step would be for the European Commission to draft a law and vote on it in July. Currently most of the industry uses micro-USB and is slowly adopting USB-C, however there are also phones using other connectors.
From the European Parliament resolution on a common charger for mobile radio equipment (2019/2983(RSP)):
1. Strongly stresses that there is an urgent need for EU regulatory action to reduce electronic waste, empower consumers to make sustainable choices, and allow them to fully participate in an efficient and well-functioning internal market;
2. Calls on the Commission to present and publish without further delay the results of the impact assessment on the introduction of a common charger for mobile telephones and other compatible devices with a view to proposing mandatory provisions;
3. Emphasises the need for a standard for a common charger for mobile radio equipment to be adopted as a matter of urgency in order to avoid further internal market fragmentation;
4. Calls, therefore, on the Commission to take action to introduce the common charger without any further delay by adopting the delegated act supplementing Directive 2014/53/EU on radio equipment defining a standard for a common charger for mobile phones and other small and medium-sized radio equipment by July 2020, or, if necessary, by adopting a legislative measure by July 2020 at the latest;
Earlier on SN:
The Dream Of A Common Charger Is Alive, Despite Apple's Complaining (2020)
European MEPs Back Single Charger Standard (2014)
EU Proposes New Legislation That Would Force Apple to Bring USB-C to iPhones, iPads, and AirPods
Apple has shifted nearly every portable device to tout a USB-C port, except for its iPhone lineup, its AirPods family, and low-cost iPad. Why the company does not shift to an all-USB-C affair might have to do with receiving royalty payments from partners that manufacture third-party accessories of the proprietary port, but that arrangement might come to an end, thanks to a legislation from the EU.
The proposed legislation would force all consumer electronics, not just Apple, which sell devices in Europe, to incorporate USB-C ports in a variety of products, ranging from smartphones, tablets, headphones, cameras, portable speakers, handheld consoles, and others. Calling it the 'common port,' the European Union claims that switching all products to USB-C would not just have benefits to the environment, but annual monetary savings for consumers that mount to $293 million.
Impact assessment study on common chargers of portable devices
Also at Reuters, NYT, BBC, AppleInsider, and Politico.
Previously: The Dream Of A Common Charger Is Alive, Despite Apple's Complaining
(Score: 5, Funny) by MostCynical on Thursday January 16 2020, @08:24AM (2 children)
What's wrong with this? [amazon.co.uk]
"I guess once you start doubting, there's no end to it." -Batou, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
(Score: 2) by zocalo on Thursday January 16 2020, @09:53AM (1 child)
UNIX? They're not even circumcised! Savages!
(Score: 2) by Freeman on Thursday January 16 2020, @03:54PM
The correct answer, is all of the outdated and useless ends. Who actually thinks there are that many power types for up-to-date phones?
I may still be incorrect, with the correct answer being everything to do with that is bad.
Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee"
(Score: 2, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday January 16 2020, @08:39AM (10 children)
Apple has been replacing a superior charging connector on its Macbooks with inferior USB-C connectors. MagSafe was a really good idea that is superior to USB-C for charging laptops. I don't agree with creating proprietary connectors for the sake of being different than your competitors and driving accessory sales that way. For the sake of argument, let's say this was applied to laptops, where different manufacturers also have different chargers and connectors. Would it be good for consumers to replace a very good design like MagSafe with the uniformity of USB-C? In fairness, the advantages of MagSafe aren't as clear for phones. They may not be heavy enough to resist sliding off a table and causing the cable to disconnect, but it still isn't a bad idea. But let's say that Apple could make a connector like MagSafe for phones that would disconnect if the cable is tugged, rather than causing the phone to fall to the floor. Why should Apple be forced to use the USB-C standard that doesn't have that useful functionality?
(Score: 3, Interesting) by takyon on Thursday January 16 2020, @09:06AM
For me, USB-C is an improvement. I replaced a ~$100 laptop in part because the proprietary connector or port was failing and the connector had to be pressed in, draped over the laptop, or pulled tight in order to charge the battery. The Lenovo 100e replacement uses USB-C and feels sturdy. If I ever need to replace it, it will be easy to find generic versions or use one from another device.
I have tried MagSafe and I see the advantages, but it isn't universally loved [wikipedia.org] either. Since Apple has already killed off MagSafe, this complaint is more about Lightning [wikipedia.org]. Does Lightning have any clear advantages over USB-C?
Maybe we'll see a USB-CM standard. Same physical size, magnetic locking, etc.
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Thursday January 16 2020, @11:10AM (5 children)
Not quite the same, is it?
The charging voltage can vary between different laptop models (even from the same brand) more than between the charging voltage for mobile devices.
There's no way you could use a USB charger to power a gaming laptop, the wires aren't speced strong enough (only 0.9A for USB3.1 [wikipedia.org] for the current you actually need in the 5V spec-ed as the voltage.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
(Score: 5, Informative) by Zinho on Thursday January 16 2020, @12:24PM (2 children)
That's why USB C chargers have USB PD [wikipedia.org] as a feature - the ability to ramp up to 20V neatly solves the issues of current across the cable and preferred charging voltage, since they're negotiated between the charger and the device. Granted, my 15W phone charger won't keep up with the power demands of a Crysis benchmark on your gaming laptop; however, 100W USB PD adapters [amazon.com] can be had for ~$50, and will also charge my phone just fine. Any PD compliant laptop should be able to eat power from any compliant USB-C charger without burning the cable or destroying the power supply.
Honestly, having the same power connector for both my phone and laptop is brilliant, and so far I have no complaints about the situation.
"Space Exploration is not endless circles in low earth orbit." -Buzz Aldrin
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday January 17 2020, @12:32AM (1 child)
At worst make it 2 or 3 charging ports. So if you use 1 then low power normal mode. Plug in second or third then more than snotty power.
No different then the extra leads hang off an internal PSU
(Score: 2) by Zinho on Friday January 17 2020, @01:03AM
Not a problem.
Want to buy it all as a standalone package? It'll cost about $100. [amazon.com]
Already have a 100W charger and want to split it out to charge multiple devices? That's about $40. [amazon.com]
Just want to charge a bunch of phones? You can get 60W split 4 ways for about $30. [amazon.com]
You can have what you want. Just remember that safe power handling costs money. You can probably get Chinese knockoffs of these products cheaper on eBay or AliExpress, but don't be surprised when you get shocked or your house burns down.
"Space Exploration is not endless circles in low earth orbit." -Buzz Aldrin
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Dr Spin on Thursday January 16 2020, @09:42PM (1 child)
The charging voltage can vary between different laptop models (even from the same brand)
This should be declared a crime against humanity, punishable by death.
The voltage goes directly into a voltage regulator device which can be programmed to convert any input to the required output. The sole purpose of this design feature is to ensure huge amounts of working high-tech kit goes to landfill, thus causing pollution and global warming in a single blow.
Never mind piddling about with the regulations on new vehicles, manufacturers should be forced to provide all the necessary info for third parties to replace the drive trains of all cars which they have manufactured where the total value of cars still in service exceeds $10 million with lower carbon alternatives.
Warning: Opening your mouth may invalidate your brain!
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Thursday January 16 2020, @10:29PM
For reasons, I'm unable to call a DC-2-DC converter "high-tech".
Besides, due to various power levels different laptops require, you kinda need to. That is, unless you want to see heaps of copper being used to transfer 100-150W of power at 5V without everything going into a ball of flame or fry your balls when you put the laptop in your lap (currents of 20-30A - use a trace-width calculator [google.com] to see the width required for the traces in your power section).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
(Score: 2) by TheGratefulNet on Thursday January 16 2020, @03:49PM
search on your fav shopping site for magnetic usb cables.
magsafe is now there for regular cable.
fuck apple.
"It is now safe to switch off your computer."
(Score: 3, Insightful) by ilsa on Thursday January 16 2020, @03:49PM (1 child)
The problem is Apple's motivations.
There was no reason whatsoever that Apple couldn't have kept going with Magsafe. It was, and still is, the single best power connector ever invented IMO. But Apple has high margins on their accessories, and forcing people to buy new power supplies instead of reusing old ones, makes them more money. They chose to move away from MagSafe by their own volition.
Look at their iPhones. They still use lightning cables that end in USB-A ports. Why? Because now you have to buy another accessory, either a USB-C to A adaptor, or a whole new cable.
Apple's connector choices have nothing to do with value or functionality to their consumers, and everything to do with lining their own pockets.
So as far as I'm concerned, they've forfeited their right to complain.
Also... You can get things like this: https://mashtips.com/magnetic-usb-c-adapters/ [mashtips.com]
(Score: 5, Insightful) by DannyB on Thursday January 16 2020, @04:45PM
I would add . . .
If Apple wanted the Mag Safe connector to become the standard, they would make it available royalty free without licensing. But Apple has never been about industry standards. It always goes its own way, sometimes a superior way, but doesn't encourage they way becoming a standard.
And I say that as a once long ago, longtime classic Mac developer and once card carrying Apple fanboy(tm). But no more.
When trying to solve a problem don't ask who suffers from the problem, ask who profits from the problem.
(Score: 5, Insightful) by Bot on Thursday January 16 2020, @09:05AM (11 children)
an eco-minded political body would have mandated audio jacks.
Account abandoned.
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Thursday January 16 2020, @11:12AM (10 children)
Why so? Look, I can understand why a bot would be attracted to electrified holes, but what does audiojacks have to do with eco-minded political bodies?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
(Score: 3, Insightful) by MostCynical on Thursday January 16 2020, @11:50AM (8 children)
Maybe all the extra batteries in bluetooth devices?
"I guess once you start doubting, there's no end to it." -Batou, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Thursday January 16 2020, @12:27PM (7 children)
Aren't they rechargeable too? (I really don't know, I never used bluetooth in any form)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
(Score: 2) by kazzie on Thursday January 16 2020, @02:00PM
Invariably, yes.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by ilsa on Thursday January 16 2020, @05:58PM (5 children)
The problem is that most electronic devices that have batteries today, are sealed and unmaintainable. Most bluetooth headphones, eg Apple AirPods, *cannot* have their batteries replaced without destroying the product in the process.
And all batteries have finite lifespans, so once the battery goes, you only option is literally to throw them away.
And this doesn't factor in all the extra circuitry required to run those wireless devices.
By comparison, regular headphones are cheap, simple, and can last indefinitely if you don't break them. They are infinitely more economical to the consumer and better for the environment. Which is why gadget makers hate them.
(Score: 2) by petecox on Thursday January 16 2020, @10:52PM (4 children)
I bought the best of both worlds - a Bluetooth headset that has a 3.5mm jack that I can use as an antenna for my phone's FM Radio.
When the battery dies, it reverts to just being a wired headset.
(Score: 2) by ilsa on Friday January 17 2020, @10:18PM (1 child)
Aww c'mon, you can't tease us with a post like that and not include a link to what you bought!
(Score: 2) by petecox on Friday January 17 2020, @11:03PM
(Score: 2) by toddestan on Saturday January 18 2020, @01:45AM (1 child)
But....why? Unless the DAC on your phone is absolute garbage (I suppose possible), the wired connection is going to sound better than the Bluetooth one.
(Score: 2) by petecox on Saturday January 18 2020, @06:27AM
Multiple devices.
I went with Bluetooth for my streaming box because it's a long mess of tangled cables when watching a movie. (Headphones still better for understanding foreign accents than external speakers)
I do plug the cord in when I'm on my phone, for the reason you mentioned.
(Score: 2) by Bot on Friday January 17 2020, @08:55AM
Literal metric thousand of tons of already perfectly working audio devices that ceased to be directly compatible with cellphones, requiring more adaptors or replaced.
Account abandoned.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Nuke on Thursday January 16 2020, @02:24PM (4 children)
FTFA :
I don't need innovation in a phone charging connector.
And how the hell does Apple explain how a standard connector is bad for the environment and disruptive to customers? As it is, every time I buy a new small gadget I get a new unique charger and lead with it, so I either throw a perfectly good old one away, or I put it in a box with the dozens of others that have been accumulating there for about the last 20 years. All their connectors are either some kind of small co-axial jack or some kind of USB, and none of them could not do anything that any of the others could as far as charging is concerned. The only innovation that has occured in charging in recent years is inductive charging, and that needs no connector anyway.
In fact I have two boxes : one full of chargers for things I no longer have, and one full of chargers for things I currently have. Waste of space and materials.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by theluggage on Thursday January 16 2020, @05:13PM (2 children)
Why do people always drag Apple into this when they're about the least worst offender? Apple have been shipping a common charger - a brick with a USB-A socket and detachable cable - with their iDevices since 2003 and, in all that time, have only used 3 different connectors on the iDevice end (the original 30 pin, Lightning and now USB-C on new iPads). I've frequently traveled with just an iPad brick and a couple of different cables to charge both Apple and non-Apple devices.
Even on Macs they've only had 2 variations on MagSafe (with adapters available) since 2006 and were one of the first to switch to USB-C (your mileage may vary... but it is standard) and current Mac power supplies have USB-C sockets on the brick...
Pretty sure power bricks waste more resources than cables...
Its now pretty common across phone manufacturers to have a USB socket on the brick and either micro-USB or USB-C on the device, but Apple have been ahead of the game when it comes to common power supplies, while the EU seem quite happy for power bricks to have captive micro USB cables that can't be changed...
If the EU wants to do something: ban the bundling of power supplies with devices full stop. Gives manufacturers an incentive to use standard connectors and stops them gouging for replacements, gives users an incentive to re-use old ones and breaks the deadlock of no manufacturer wanting to be the first one not to include a PSU (although I'm amazed that Apple, the nickel-and-dime masters, haven't already done that).
...but, really, it's a solved problem in the smartphone world now. Unlike the number of discarded handsets...
I think there's a point being missed here - the sound-activated singing fish went straight in the trash in 2003 (along with the 'hover board', the musical lava lamp, the rechargeable spaghetti winder, the super-fast 56k modem, 3 Zip drives and the amazing 1 Megapixel digital camera, the Sharp Zaurus, 4-port USB 1.0 hub, Asus EEEPC, Creative Nomad, Casio VL-tone, micro helicopter, VHS rewinder and one PCMCIA card with two DIN sockets, a corkscrew and a 'laser radiation' sticker) and is already perfusing through the oceans causing salmon to starve while trying to sing "I Will Survive" (or whatever), but because people think the PSU ought to be useful it goes in the box and, 20 years later, you worry about how many PSUs are going to waste (there's probably enough copper in those old PSUs for them to be worth recycling...) and forget that each was once the loving partner of an incredible gadget...
(Score: 2) by toddestan on Saturday January 18 2020, @02:02AM (1 child)
Maybe because Apple actually has a pretty terrible track record? Computers purposely designed to not be upgradeable - starting with the original Mac? All-in-one computers where you have to throw out a perfectly good monitor when the computer part becomes obsolete? Laptops where everything is soldered and whole thing, including battery is glued together? Setting completely arbitrary minimum requirements on OS upgrades to purposely cut off support for perfectly good hardware after only a few years?
Apple was also the pioneer on sealing batteries into devices so they couldn't be replaced, starting with the original iDevices in 2003. Not a single iDevice has ever used a standard charging port, always requiring some special propriety fruitcake Apple-only connector. Maybe excusable back in 2003 though I would argue mini-USB was already established as a standard most were using, but complete bullshit 10 years ago. Ditto for today where every phone is either USB-C, microUSB, or a special snowflake Apple connector.
How about having the "courage" to remove the 3.5mm jack, with the Apple solution being AirPods which are completely and utterly disposable with no way to possibly replace the battery?
Also, don't forget Apple doing their best to shut down third party repair services, as they don't want people repairing their products but instead throwing them away and buying new Apple products.
(Score: 2) by theluggage on Saturday January 18 2020, @06:47PM
I wasn't suggesting that Apple are environmental saints - but this thread is about phone power supplies, and in that respect criticising Apple who were using USB-A charging bricks back when other manufacturers didn't even use the same connector on different models is nonsense.
Anyway, you missed my main point for the sake of turning this into an Apple hate-in: chargers and batteries are the tip of the iceberg when (e.g.) people are still buying a whole new phone every 18 months because that's what the phone makers' contract-based business model encourages. Personally, I tend to keep my phones for at least 3-4 years (and would still be using a 6-year-old Android phone if it hadn't been rendered unreliable by a software "update" a couple of years back).
Repairability is something that a few "maker" types - and certain websites run by companies who make money selling tools - obsess about, and its certainly a good thing... but there's an aspect of supply and demand there, sad reality is that too many of us, when our phone or laptop goes phut, think "whohoo! new phone time!".
All that glue and non-replaceable batteries? Yes, there's an element of planned obsolescence there, but the big driver is that consumers are gagging for everything to be thinner and lighter -and gluing a 'bare' battery into the case saves a lot of space and weight c.f. the spring-loaded contacts, hinges, catches, flaps, whatever needed to make a battery compartment, plus the protective case you have to put around the potential lithium bomb that is a modern battery to make it safe for muggles to handle. Perhaps we should start demanding bigger phones?
...and those pesky all-in-one Macs? Sure, Apple are no angels, and I don't much like their current laptops, but for the last 10 years or so, the bulk of consumer PC sales have consisted of laptops and 2-in-1s, none of which win any repairability prizes. Sure, some of them are more repairable/upgradeable than Macs (and others are worse [ifixit.com]) but all laptops take their displays, keyboards, batteries etc. to the grave with them, and PCs and Androids outnumber Macs and iPhones many-to-one.
Anyway, you're not going to save the planet by forcing Apple to drop the pimple on the tip of the e-waste iceberg that is Lightning. Something much broader is needed to stem the stream of pointless, ephemeral junk being manufactured. Focussing on Apple smacks of regulatory capture. That said, Apple are probably briar-patching anyway, so they can blame the EU for all the Lightning landfill when they go USB-C or all-wireless.
(Score: 2) by krishnoid on Thursday January 16 2020, @09:24PM
Same way Trump accuses people of ... pretty much anything? Wait, that's it! They're leaking a new product, the iProjection -- show your iPhone screen on any surface! It's genius-bar none.