Apple should be fined for still using proprietary port

[Schfifty Five]

Seriously, when every single phone maker in the world is using micro USB and even apple phones can be charged using Samsung’s charger (plug apple cable into USB port) why the HELL does Apple still use its proprietary port??? It's not like its data transfer rate is any faster or anything... and now they have only 8 pins instead of 8000. Every single device phone/tablet, manufactured by Google Microsoft Blackberry Samsung Nokia HTC, you name it, uses the same freaking port, EXCEPT for Apple. Hell, even Apple manufactures its crap next door to its counterpart's sweat shop in China. What is the fvcking rational? I don’t think they make any more money by selling the accessories.
We have Samsung phones and Asus and Nexus tablets at home, all can be universally charged in any room of the house, yes, almost every room in the house has a wall USB charger with micro USB cable. My wife's work only offers fragging iPhones so she has the 5, she forgot her charger (cable) at work and is off for 10 days, she ended up borrowing neighbors cable, what a hassle, screw Apple. I think they should be fined by the govt for adding to more electronic waste.
Anyways I ended up buying 2 cables for $2.35 on ebay, will get them next week, I bought it because I know the same situation will arise again during Christmas...
We are planning to go on a road trip; can I just carry one charger/cable and maybe one more backup cable? NOOOOOOOO you have to carry this additional piece of sh1t coz you committed the sin of using Apply crap... It’s just sick.

/lameminirant

I think you should be fined by the govt for being posting such a crappy rant. You do realize that you sound like an uninformed child who just wants attention right?

 

[Spineshank]

Did you bitch as well when they went from mini usb to micro?

I prefer the lightning connector personally.

 

[Gunslinger08]

The butthurt displayed by rabid anti-<whatever> people always amazes me. If you don't like something, don't buy it.

 

[Schfifty Five]

Did you read OP? we did not "buy" any Apple products. Nor do I EVER plan to, now my kids, when they grow up, might want the "hip-n-cool" crap, then I will try to persuade them to think otherwise but I will not force them.

You hating on apple so much is just as much of a "hipster" thing as buying their products is.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Anyone that buys a device from Apple deserves what they get.

 

[Ichinisan]

Lightning devices grouped in order of release:

• iPhone 5
• iPod nano (7th generation)

• iPod touch (5th generation)

• iPad mini
• iPad 4th generation

• iPhone 5s
• iPhone 5c

• iPad mini 2 (retina)
• iPad Air (5th generation)

At least 9 devices already.

 

[Ichinisan]

Actually-

http://www.technobuffalo.com/2013/09/29/microusb-mandatory-european-union/

I don't know about a fine but the EU has been on about this for awhile due to the chargers ending up as e-waste.

It was already mandatory when Lighting devices were first released. At first, the microUSB-to-Lightning adapter was only available in Europe (included with every iPhone 5[maybe not?]) and existed only to comply with this regulation. Shortly after Lightning devices were released, Apple started selling the adapters exclusively on store.apple.com/us -- where they proved to be popular. Now they are available at various retailers in the US.

 

[nixium]

It's funny how people like to hate on apple at things like this.. I suppose you're going to next write a rant on samsung because you can't even use the same cable on their Note 3 and their Note 10.1 or their S4 series.. Thats right, you'll need THREE different cables if you go all samsung. LOL!

 

[Ichinisan]

It's funny how people like to hate on apple at things like this.. I suppose you're going to next write a rant on samsung because you can't even use the same cable on their Note 3 and their Note 10.1 or their S4 series.. Thats right, you'll need THREE different cables if you go all samsung. LOL!

I'm pretty sure the S4 and Note 3 can both charge from microUSB. My brother has the Note 3. The microUSB 3.0 connector is 2 parts, and the smaller part is a standard microUSB connector.

 

[noobsrevenge]

i dont think you can get all those docking controls to work over a standard micro USB

thats pretty much the only benefit to apples connector

Thats what apple wants you to believe. and they thrive because their marketing can make people believe that.

Good for them. Bad for their sheep.

 

[nixium]

I'm pretty sure the S4 and Note 3 can both charge from microUSB. My brother has the Note 3. The microUSB 3.0 connector is 2 parts, and the smaller part is a standard microUSB connector.

So you'll need three cables for making complete use of the cable, correct?

Hell even with that point, you'll need two cables then, for two products from the same damn company.

And guess what? Samsung tablet cables arent as ubiquitous as apple's cables, you can buy them from the nearest 7-11 for cheap.

How come no one's up in arms about it?

 

[Ichinisan]

Do you own Monster cables too?

:biggrin:

Absolutely not. I'm talking about real danger here. Very real. I wasn't kidding when I said that 2 counterfeit chargers burned up when I gave them to a friend. One of them did it after a month or so. The other was at least a year later. It's not just the counterfeits. The ultra-cheap ones are also ultra dangerous.

Just looking at my el-cheapo Lightning cable, I could see how poorly-designed it was. The contacts didn't appear precise or even straight. The outer part that is supposed to be one piece of metal was made of at least 3, and they didn't even seem to fit together flush. I can imagine how it would short things out while inserting or removing. Even being made of dissimilar metals can cause an undesired corrosion or capacitance effect.

[edit]
Quick Google search:
http://www.righto.com/2012/03/inside-cheap-phone-charger-and-why-you.html
http://www.righto.com/2012/05/apple-iphone-charger-teardown-quality.html
http://www.righto.com/2012/10/a-dozen-usb-chargers-in-lab-apple-is.html

I'm glad I read the last one because I own the top-of-the-heap HP TouchPad charger :biggrin: -- it also revealed a feature I didn't know about.
There are other dissection articles you should read too.

 

[sdifox]

i dont think you can get all those docking controls to work over a standard micro USB

thats pretty much the only benefit to apples connector

max of 480mbps not enough for Apple controls?

 

[Oyeve]

So you'll need three cables for making complete use of the cable, correct?

Hell even with that point, you'll need two cables then, for two products from the same damn company.

And guess what? Samsung tablet cables arent as ubiquitous as apple's cables, you can buy them from the nearest 7-11 for cheap.

How come no one's up in arms about it?

The note 3 uses standard micro USB and standard usb3 cables. It works on both.

 

[Oyeve]

So you'll need three cables for making complete use of the cable, correct?

Hell even with that point, you'll need two cables then, for two products from the same damn company.

And guess what? Samsung tablet cables arent as ubiquitous as apple's cables, you can buy them from the nearest 7-11 for cheap.

How come no one's up in arms about it?

The note 3 uses standard micro USB and standard usb3 cables. It works on both. It charges faster using a usb3 cable.

 

[Ichinisan]

max of 480mbps not enough for Apple controls?

It uses a protocol that has less overhead than making your device operate as a USB host. In fact, I could always use my Universal Dock (30-pin) with a remote control while the iDevice was connected to a PC that could still view/copy files.

Since remote commands and such can be done with standards the iPhone *does* support (like Bluetooth A2DP), I still think the most compelling feature of Lightning is that it's reversible. After that, the sturdy connection.

 

[Ichinisan]

Apple seems to *know* how important compatibility is. The 30-pin connector had a looong life. The only major compatibility issue was when the 3G came out (second generation iPhone). Unlike the first iPhone, the iPhone 3G didn't support 30-pin-to-Firewire (1394) cables that some people had. If a charger used Firewire pins/voltage, it didn't work with iPhone 3G.

 

[Ichinisan]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lightning_(connector)#Lightning_vs_Micro-USB

• Power Capacity
  The micro-USB port is limited to 9 watts of power. This is sufficient to charge a phone, but not larger items like tablets. The charger for the iPad carries 12 watts; it is unknown if this is the upper limit for lightning.
  
• Bidirectional Power
  USB supports power in only one direction. The lightning port can either charge an iDevice, or allow the iDevice to power accessories such as the HDMI connector. While the optional supplement USB On-The-Go allows some USB devices to do this, few phones (as of nov 2013) support this, and it is difficult to figure out which devices are compatible with USB OTG. [23]
  
• Bidirectional Hosting
  Similar to above, (including the USB On-The-Go caveat) an iDevice is a client, when hosted by a computer, but becomes the host itself when accessories such as stereo docks, or card readers are used.
  
• Non-Obsolescence
  Intel has already replaced the micro-USB connector with the USB 3.0 Micro-B connector.[24] That connector is required to achieve USB 3 speeds from a hard drive, but being larger, can not be used to charge a micro-usb 2 phone.[25] Apple on the other hand, designed lightning to be adaptable to new technologies without physical changes.[citation needed]
  
• Ruggedness
  The lightning plug is a solid slab. Micro-USB is a hollow envelope that "is notoriously fragile" [26] [27][10][neutrality is disputed]
  
• Reversibility
  The ability of a Lightning plug to be inserted in either direction also reduces wear from attempts to insert the plug upside down.[17][18][20] If a pin on one side of a Lighting plug is damaged, it will continue to work if inserted in the other direction.[citation needed]
  
• Use as physical mount / dock connector
  Many devices use the Lightning port as a physical mount to hold the phone or iPad in place. While the specification for the Micro-USB 3.0 connector allows this, very few phones (as of Nov 2013) have the larger connector needed to fit on to such a device.
  
• Quality Control / Authentication
  Apple can resist the introduction into the market of badly made accessories from third parties. Some unauthorized devices do exist however. [19][20]
  
• Availability
  While scarce at introduction, Lightning accessories are now widely available. Phones with USB 3 or USB-on-the-go remain rare.[neutrality is disputed] [28]
  
• Revenue
  With Lightning Apple can collect licensing fees.[18]

Of course, many of you will choose to ignore everything except the last bullet point.

 

[sdifox]

It uses a protocol that has less overhead than making your device operate as a USB host. In fact, I could always use my Universal Dock (30-pin) with a remote control while the iDevice was connected to a PC that could still view/copy files.

Since remote commands and such can be done with standards the iPhone *does* support (like Bluetooth A2DP), I still think the most compelling feature of Lightning is that it's reversible. After that, the sturdy connection.

Which is why I was saying Anubis' idea is not right...

 

[zinfamous]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lightning_(connector)#Lightning_vs_Micro-USB

Of course, many of you will choose to ignore everything except the last bullet point.

I wonder why:

• Non-Obsolescence
  Intel has already replaced the micro-USB connector with the USB 3.0 Micro-B connector.[24] That connector is required to achieve USB 3 speeds from a hard drive, but being larger, can not be used to charge a micro-usb 2 phone.[25] Apple on the other hand, designed lightning to be adaptable to new technologies without physical changes.[citation needed]
• Ruggedness
  The lightning plug is a solid slab. Micro-USB is a hollow envelope that "is notoriously fragile" [26] [27][10][neutrality is disputed]
• Reversibility
  The ability of a Lightning plug to be inserted in either direction also reduces wear from attempts to insert the plug upside down.[17][18][20] If a pin on one side of a Lighting plug is damaged, it will continue to work if inserted in the other direction.[citation needed]

granted, those are all fine things--the whole list, certainly--but no one really takes any kind of Apple-released marketing mumbojumbo seriously. So much of it is either FUD or unfalsifiable talking points.

 

[lord_emperor]

I hate apple and proprietary connectors as much as anyone, but Apple isn't doing it "just because". The dock connecter and standardized shape of their products adds functionality.

It's something lacking in Android devices. I have a 3.5mm audio + USB cable run to my phone in my car but it looks ghetto.

 

[Ichinisan]

granted, those are all fine things--the whole list, certainly--but no one really takes any kind of Apple-released marketing mumbojumbo seriously. So much of it is either FUD or unfalsifiable talking points.

Non-Obsolescence
Intel has already replaced the micro-USB connector with the USB 3.0 Micro-B connector.[24] That connector is required to achieve USB 3 speeds from a hard drive, but being larger, can not be used to charge a micro-usb 2 phone.[25] Apple on the other hand, designed lightning to be adaptable to new technologies without physical changes.[citation needed]

Incorporating a USB 3.0 mini B connector would compromise the design of smaller devices like the iPhone 5/5s/5c...not to mention iPod nano and others. The speakers and microphone would have to be moved to a less optimal position. I don't think anyone would dispute that.

Ruggedness
The lightning plug is a solid slab. Micro-USB is a hollow envelope that "is notoriously fragile" [26] [27][10][neutrality is disputed]

Though I've seen people dispute that microUSB is fragile, I've personally experienced multiple failed microUSB connectors. One example: My expensive Plantronics Voyager headset. Despite using great caution, the female connector in the headset pulls out along with the cable (detached from the PCB inside). I've got several other devices where the connection is loose...even though I've treated them with great care to reduce wear and try to avoid this happening.

Reversibility
The ability of a Lightning plug to be inserted in either direction also reduces wear from attempts to insert the plug upside down.[17][18][20] If a pin on one side of a Lighting plug is damaged, it will continue to work if inserted in the other direction.[citation needed]

After more than a year of use, I can say the Lightning connector on my iPhone 5 is still tight and sturdy. I probably connect and disconnect 3x more than most owners would (over and over at work, in the car, and at home). I'm actually amazed that it still clicks in and doesn't wiggle.

 

[tommo123]

Yeah, iirc, Europeans do not get chargers with phones by default anymore, they have to ask for it...

what? every phone i've had has come with a charger and a usb cable. i keep them and plug them in different places. benefits of a standard cable :whiste:

hopefully the EU will force apple to change to that connector. won't stop apple raping the wallets of heroin chic hipsters though. they could just add another connector next to it like samsung have done and have a combined port to connect to speakers etc

 

[Ichinisan]

what? every phone i've had has come with a charger and a usb cable. i keep them and plug them in different places. benefits of a standard cable :whiste:

hopefully the EU will force apple to change to that connector. won't stop apple raping the wallets of heroin chic hipsters though. they could just add another connector next to it like samsung have done and have a combined port to connect to speakers etc

Samsung didn't come up with the USB 3.0 micro B connector.

To support USB 3.0 speed with a "standard" connector, you need to use that. It's simply too big for some devices and would require other design compromises.

It's really ignorant to attribute that design to Samsung. Also, it's not a desirable design. Lightning has many advantages over that and over microUSB (2.0). I just bought a USB 3.0 mini B cable from Amazon and it was defective.

 

[Anubis]

max of 480mbps not enough for Apple controls?

seems im wrong but i thought it had to do with the number of programmable pins not the speed