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New iPhones To Stick With Lightning Over USB-C, Include Slow-Charging 5W USB-A Charger In Box (9to5mac.com)

For those hoping the next iPhone would ditch the Lightning port in favor of the more versatile USB-C port, you'll surely be disappointed by the latest rumor. "Japanese site Macotakara says that not only will the 2019 iPhone use Lightning, Apple will also continue to bundle the same 5W charger and USB-A to Lightning cable in the box," reports 9to5Mac. "This is seen as a cost saving measure. It seems that customers wanting faster iPhone charge times will still have to buy accessories, like the 12W iPad charger." From the report: The site explains that Lightning port is not going anywhere and Apple is resistant to changing the included accessories to maintain production costs. Apple can benefit from huge economies of scale by selling the same accessories for many generation. As such, Apple apparently will keep bundling Lightning EarPods, Lightning to USB-A cable, and the 5W USB power adaptor, with the 2019 iPhone lineup. This is disappointing as Apple began shipping an 18W USB-C charger with its iPad Pro line last fall, and many expected that accessory to become an iPhone standard too. Even if the iPhone keeps the Lightning port, Lightning can support fast-charging over the USB Type-C protocol. It's not clear if the cost savings of this decision would be passed on to consumers with lower cost 2019 iPhone pricing.

248 comments

  1. Cost-saving After Billions In Unpaid Taxes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Insightful

    BIGLY what a shit brand.

    1. Re: Cost-saving After Billions In Unpaid Taxes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yeah they need to stop being shit cunts

  2. bend over. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Gotta love that, the devices users pay the largest markup for and apple choose cost saving measures over functionality. I guess as long as the user base continues to accept mistreatment that is exactly what they will get.

    1. Re: bend over. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

      For as long as a clueless pervert butt-fucking Tim Cocksucker leads it.

    2. Re:bend over. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Offtopic

      Yep, just like the democrat party, always quick to disappoint, yet the idiots keep voting for them. The similarities are uncanny!

    3. Re:bend over. by hazardPPP · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Yeah, a "cost-saving" measure on a device selling for upwards of $1000 and with a huge profit margin. Sold by one of the richest corporations in the world.

      "Profit-saving" measure is the proper word here.

      As you said however, gullible Apple fans deserve it. "There's a sucker born every minute" - and at least every 5 minutes it's an Apple fanboy.

    4. Re:bend over. by JaredOfEuropa · · Score: 5, Insightful

      As an Apple user I have to agree that there are not many compelling reasons left to upgrade. With many of the older models, Apple brought something exciting that was worth having: good performance upgrades, a convenient and secure (compared to the competition) fingerprint scanner, nice designs, better cameras... not necessarily being ahead of Android competitors, but still good reasons to get a new phone if you prefer iOS like I do. But the last few years have brought very little that I want. The phones are the same except for one new larger model, though they make 'em out of different material since the iPhone 7 IIRC, so trying to hold on to the newer ones feels like trying to hold a very thin wet bar of soap.

      Moving to a standard USB-C connector would be nice though. Not enough reason in itself to upgrade the phone, but it would help. Now just be brave, end the thinness war, add a physical home button again with fingerprint scanner, give us a bezel instead of a notch, or just drop the front-facing camera completely (along with the inane face unlock) and add a small screen to the back of the phone for taking selfies. A lot of the recent stuff they have done such as the notch, dropping the headphone jack, face unlock, all feel like they are rather clumsy workarounds.

      --
      If construction was anything like programming, an incorrectly fitted lock would bring down the entire building...
    5. Re: bend over. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "It's not clear if the cost savings of this decision would be passed on to consumers with lower cost 2019 iPhone pricing."
      Of course not, the point of keeping lightning connector and not USB-C is to keep their lock on accessory sales as well as keeping the price high.

    6. Re:bend over. by Gilgaron · · Score: 1

      Yeah I've got a 5S which usually works fine, but is occasionally slow enough at something that I consider replacing it, but if I'm going to lose my headphone jack I want at least a USB-C so I have something standard on it. Do any of the android phones continue to get patches and support as long as Apple yet?

    7. Re:bend over. by Higaran · · Score: 1

      Go with a pixel, it's got stock android, with no extra bloat ware, and gets the updates first, and the over the longest time period since they are googles own phones. You don't have a headphone jack, but you do have usb-c and with the pixel 3 you get wireless charging again, they dropped that for a few years.

    8. Re:bend over. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Posting AC so not to undo mods - I've got an iPhone 8 that was purchased upon first release. It's got wireless charging and the fingerprint scanner. I will **NOT** be replacing it. In fact, I'll pay the Apple tax and get the battery replaced within the next month or two. It's around 80% health, but it's only going to get worse.

      iOS is the only reason I'm staying with iPhone. Their new phones having nothing compelling amount them for me, and in fact, the lack of a fingerprint scanner is a "downgrade". The CPU/GPU performance of the iPhone 8 more than suffices for the games I do play with however, so I'm good there.

    9. Re:bend over. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I think its more that, most people don't *need* fast charging... and the battery will last much much longer if not fast charged.

    10. Re:bend over. by LordKronos · · Score: 1

      I don't think "profit-saving" is even accurate either. It would be more accurate to say profit-generating measure. And with their new wireless charging pad being released this year, what better reason to "upgrade" to that latest (expensive) accessory and help them generate even more profit

      And why did I put "upgrade" in quotes? Because wireless charging isn't much of an upgrade. Sure you don't have to plug in a wire, but it's slow. Even slower than the basic charger that comes in the box with your phone. But wait a minute....what if the charger that came with your phone was actually even SLOWER than the wireless charger? Then it truly would be an upgrade.

    11. Re:bend over. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Cost savings passed on to the customer. Instead of $1000 -> $1049 for the new model you'll pay $1048.80 ie. they'll still raise the price but try to convince you it would have raised more if they had to spend that extra nickel. This pisses me off the most with computer makers. Even when they have enough lanes to support it they'll still cheap out. Why have 4 usb 3.0 ports when you can have 2 usb 2 1 power share usb 3 and 1 standard usb 3? I mean why spend $0.25 on a $2500 machine so that the user does have to guess which one will do what they need to do (often in the dark, leaning under a desk etc)? Heck pass the cost onto the customer if you have to, yeah the market is price sensitive but not down to the $5 IMO. Don't skimp on the small and cheap things then tell the customer they are paying a couple dollars more but saving 10s of a hassle every couple days. Bring back the "it just works".

    12. Re:bend over. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yep, just like the democrat party, always quick to disappoint, yet the idiots keep voting for them. The similarities are uncanny!

      Oh yeah, yet another person who can't help but bring politics in to everything, even your USB charger. What a shallow group we have become.

    13. Re:bend over. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      In fact, the lack of USB-C is a good reason NOT to upgrade. You know it's coming eventually, why get stuck with a dead-end connector? I'm certainly not going to pay big bucks to get old tech that is quickly going to become an annoyance. My old phone still works, no USB-C, no sale. Simple as that.

    14. Re:bend over. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Constant change isn't needed -- they need to sell the 6 SE for the next 250 years and I'll buy one every 8 to 10 years

    15. Re:bend over. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I agree with you.

      I have an old iPhone6 that still works though the battery is crap so had to replace this with a generic. I also use a battery case to help extend battry life as I do find it difficult to get to an accessible sockets for overnight recharging.

      I use BT headphones now and so there is very little keeping me on the iPhone and just waiting for the right moment to get something else and I am serioulsy looking towards Android but I agree with you about the thinness wars and wish for a nice solid and long life package as a daily driver

    16. Re: bend over. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And then some Apple fan boy will blame, shame, guilt-trip and gaslight you for holding it wrong, not being thankful or not spending more money more frequently.

    17. Re:bend over. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I've got a 7plus and I vastly prefer the non-mechanical home button.

      But I don't feel compelled to upgrade non because I don't like the new features (FaceID is by all accounts amazing according to the dozen or so friend and co-workers that have newer devices)..

      It's because my phone is so damn good. It works. Every day. All day. It has wonderful screen. It's fast. The wifi is good. The cell data is great. Every service, app, feature is available whenever I want. It's getting close to two and a half years old and I've got zero complaints.

      I'll probably keep this thing for another two years at this rate.

      About the only thing that would compel an upgrade is a /crazy/ good camera. Talking clarity and optical zoom that approaches what you get on low end DSLRs and absurd low light performance.

    18. Re:bend over. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That's because our politics and buying habits are identical. It's why we have shitty politicians and shitty products on the shelves. The market and the voters speak in one voice, they want shit!

    19. Re:bend over. by exomondo · · Score: 1

      Gotta love that, the devices users pay the largest markup for and apple choose cost saving measures over functionality.

      Yep so you can buy a new apple macbook and a new apple iphone and be supplied a cable that can't connect the two of them...you have to go and buy a different cable or an adapter if you actually want to do that.

  3. What's gonna tell him? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    It's not clear if the cost savings of this decision would be passed on to consumers with lower cost 2019 iPhone pricing.

    I don't think so.

    1. Re:What's gonna tell him? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Obviously there will be an iPhone Pro with USB-C. At a higher price, of course.

    2. Re:What's gonna tell him? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Well, yeah, but that'll be the iPhone Pro 115 Max XS 5G which will be released after everybody has been screaming for it for the last 5 generations.

      Seriously Apple, would it kill you to simply increase the number by 1 for each model year?

    3. Re:What's gonna tell him? by LynnwoodRooster · · Score: 1

      New model numbers cost money - you have to pay to tool those! Better to just add a sticker to the end of the model number to extend it a bit...

      --
      Browsing at +1 - no ACs, I ignore their posts. So refreshing!
  4. Stupid question by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It's not clear if the cost savings of this decision would be passed on to consumers with lower cost 2019 iPhone pricing.

    No. This will go directly to Apple's bottom line. Same reason they hold on to lightning, license income from peripherals from third parties.

  5. Rolling Eyes by pudge · · Score: 1, Interesting

    Most customers want to keep the same connector, because they already have chargers and cables, and sometimes even accessories, for it.

    USB-C is better in the long run, but that doesn't make it better now.

    1. Re:Rolling Eyes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Considering I have a total of ... zero Lightning cables and accessories, but a ton of standard USB-C? I would consider the 2019 iPhone line totally useless (but given by my lack of Lightning accessories, you can assume I use Android phones and thus consider all of the iPhones useless).

    2. Re:Rolling Eyes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It'd be trivial to have a 6mm audio port in addition to everything else. It's not about what people want, it's about locking down the HDCP.

    3. Re:Rolling Eyes by pudge · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Considering I have a total of ... zero Lightning cables and accessories, but a ton of standard USB-C?

      Who cares? You’re not a customer.

    4. Re:Rolling Eyes by pudge · · Score: 3, Informative

      They removed the audio port to make it waterproof.

    5. Re:Rolling Eyes by Darinbob · · Score: 1

      I've only ever seen one USB-C cable and the person who uses it finds it annoying (it's not even for an iphone but a raspberry-pi style device). I don't know why someone would have a "ton" of those cables, maybe two if they have a new iphone. Fast charge doesn't matter if you're able to actually let go of the phone and put it down, charging overnight should last all day.

      I have now countered and balanced your data point, thus nullifying it.

    6. Re:Rolling Eyes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Fast charge doesn't matter

      Because you said so right? Not all phone users have the same daily schedule as you and are able to charge "overnight". Besides, why woud you not have current technology in the most expensive mobile phone "ever" if not cheap profit.

    7. Re:Rolling Eyes by fustakrakich · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Samsung has an audio port, it's kinda waterproof (down to about 5 feet). Apple removed the audio port as a marketing gimmick to sell their wireless earbuds. They hardly lost any customers over it, so they consider it a hit. Apple defines the value of propaganda.

      --
      “He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
    8. Re:Rolling Eyes by hazardPPP · · Score: 1

      I've only ever seen one USB-C cable and the person who uses it finds it annoying (it's not even for an iphone but a raspberry-pi style device). I don't know why someone would have a "ton" of those cables, maybe two if they have a new iphone. Fast charge doesn't matter if you're able to actually let go of the phone and put it down, charging overnight should last all day.

      I have now countered and balanced your data point, thus nullifying it.

      My new phone came with a USB-C fast charger. I didn't shop particularly for it, but I guess that's what new phones are supposed to come with now (I paid about $350 for it, so it's a midrange device).

      I absolutely LOVE the fast charging. I can charge the phone in under an hour. I'm now pissed off by my older devices that charge so slowly. This will become especially important as the phone ages and the battery capacity goes down - because at that point charging overnight is not enough to make it last all day. Fast charging matters and is by far the best and most important feature of my new phone. I consider all people willing to pay $1000 for a new phone without fast charging to be dumb, frankly.

    9. Re:Rolling Eyes by SeaFox · · Score: 1

      USB-C is better in the long run, but that doesn't make it better now.

      It's not going to "get better" later. They already have Lightning chargers, cables, and accessories now, and they will still have them three years from now too, as long as new iPhone models continue to use Lightning ports. They have to buy new everything at some point, unless Apple starts releasing iPhones with both Lightning and USB-C ports, and then does an actual transition of introducing new accessories slowly that are USB-C. Fat chance on that.

    10. Re:Rolling Eyes by SeaFox · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Who cares? You're not a customer.

      No, he's a potential new customer, which actually makes him more valuable. He's someone who, in large numbers, would change the market-share of the product. Getting people off competitors' products and onto yours is a higher priority for businesses, or do you think it's just an odd accident people switching from one broadband provider to another get discounts and loyal customers get nothing? Or that people get bonus rebates at their local Ford dealer when they trade in a similarly-classed Chevy vehicle?

      Once you have a customer under your umbrella it's easier to keep them there, because many people don't want to go through the hassle change entails, so you can spend more energy trying to create churn that benefits you.

    11. Re: Rolling Eyes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I have a ton of USB C cables because phones (regardless of Adapter) have terrible batteries and you need them everywhere you go. Non removable battery, such a good idea to force consumers to upgrade regularly as their devices become broken and obsolete.

    12. Re:Rolling Eyes by war4peace · · Score: 1

      List of personally-owned devices that have an USB Type C port, and how many such ports they have:
      - Desktop PC (1)
      - Lenovo X1 Tablet (1)
      - Monitor (Samsung C34H890) (1)
      - Port Replicator for laptop (2)
      - nVME SSD external enclosure (1)
      - Phone (Samsung Note 9) (1)
      - Samsung DEX (1)

      Add 5 or 6 chargers to that, that's a lot of USB type C cables needed for that.

      And you missed the point of the whole article: iPhones do NOT use USB type C, contrary to what you are implying. Or maybe you got confused, I don't know.

      --
      ...gis sdrawkcab (usually not responding to ACs; don't bother posting as AC)
    13. Re:Rolling Eyes by AmiMoJo · · Score: 0

      iPads and MacBooks use USB-C now, so even if you are a 100% Apple person you will need to carry two chargers/cables.

      It gets even worse if you need multiple dongles.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    14. Re:Rolling Eyes by stealth_finger · · Score: 2

      No they didn't. They did it to make it cheaper to make.

      --
      Wanna buy a shirt?
      https://www.redbubble.com/people/stealthfinger/shop?asc=u
    15. Re: Rolling Eyes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      If the insignificant cost of a new cable prevents you from being a customer, Apple does not want you.

    16. Re:Rolling Eyes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      except for Apple devices I have never seen a lightning cable. my phone, both my laptops, my generic docking station, my 2 desktop computers, chargers, power banks and hell even my fucking home server has USB-C. I have maybe 10 USB-C cables, they are cheap, fast and compatible across every newer device I own which includes ASUS, HP, Samsung, and ASrock based desktops. I keep several at my desktop, one beside bed, several at work and several in my laptop bag. not one of my devices has a lightning port, nor have I ever seen anyone not shackled to an idevice that has any need of one. You would have to walk around with your eyes shut to not see devices with USB-C everywhere given just about every phone/laptop/desktop has them nowadays and they usually come with a free one given that unlike the bullshit apple pulls USB-C is cheap.

    17. Re: Rolling Eyes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      For their own good

    18. Re: Rolling Eyes by stealth_finger · · Score: 0

      If the insignificant cost of a new cable prevents you from being a customer, Apple does not want you.

      If you won't blindly pay $30 for a $5 cable you mean.

      --
      Wanna buy a shirt?
      https://www.redbubble.com/people/stealthfinger/shop?asc=u
    19. Re:Rolling Eyes by Opportunist · · Score: 1

      He's not their customer yet, so they do care.

      Once you have swallowed the whole Apple infrastructure hook, line and sinker you can't bail anymore anyway without cutting your losses.

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
    20. Re:Rolling Eyes by AmiMoJo · · Score: 1

      Thanks man, I needed a good chuckle today.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    21. Re:Rolling Eyes by e3m4n · · Score: 2

      One example was the adoption of gym equipment. When lightening first hit the scene the ability to play or even charge your phone from the equipment, while using the elliptical vanished. There is always something cool about knowing that I was generating my own re-charge power through my work out.

        I have a love hate relationship with the lightning connector. I love the fact that it’s reversible. I also love the fact that the connector is smooth and not prone to dents and dings. Micro USB tends to get worn out over time. When I plug in to recharge my son’s Kindle the cable is so loose that it could practically fall back out. It doesn’t matter how new the charging cable is, it is the socket that does not fit snugly. But I definitely hate the fact that the cable seems to die so much quicker. I don’t know if it is the design or what, but with the old connector I still have cables laying around that work to this day. It seems I am having to swap out my lightning cables annually. It is not even just the cheap third-party ones either. I’ve had the ones package with the phone fail as well. I have one that only works in one direction, i.e. it is not reversible; partial failure.

        I guess I need to take a closer look at USB-C. I don’t have any equipment that uses this. I wonder if they addressed some of the delicate nature of micro USB. Don’t get me wrong it’s highly functional, but the connector never seems to mesh together effortlessly. I have seen sockets damaged because somebody tried to push it in the wrong way. They probably shouldn’t have pushed as hard but on the flipside it’s just not as resilient.

    22. Re: Rolling Eyes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Only one charge is needed because usb-c to lighting cables exist.

    23. Re:Rolling Eyes by _merlin · · Score: 1, Interesting

      I have a Galaxy S8 with USB type C. I'm underwhelmed. The connector is loose, and it can disconnect from USB if you pick it up from the desk to check something on the phone. I've accidentally not charged my phone overnight because I didn't have the connector in properly. And it's a total mess because you don't know by looking at the connector what it supports. Does it support Thunderbolt-style PCI-e and DisplayPort packets? Does it support analog audio? Does it support USB 2 mode, or only USB 3 mode? Does it support power in, out, or both? At what voltage/current? It's one connector, but it's really easy to end up with two completely incompatible devices.

    24. Re:Rolling Eyes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Though the other posts make valid points, there's 1 extremely good reason iPhones should use USB-C. Because that's the only port Apple puts on MacBooks. Wouldn't it be fine to be able to connect your Apple iPhone to your Apple MacBook without needing an adapter?

    25. Re: Rolling Eyes by registrations_suck · · Score: 1, Interesting

      No, I donâ(TM)t think that he is. I doubt he would buy anything with an Apple logo on it, no matter what it was.

    26. Re: Rolling Eyes by fred6666 · · Score: 1

      The sooner they switch to USB-C, the less painful it's going to be. It's only a matter of when.

    27. Re:Rolling Eyes by Gilgaron · · Score: 1

      USB-C succeeds at all the things mini fails at, physically. In practice, there are a lot of incompatible chargers and so on for stupid reasons, although most stuff will charge while turned off while plugged into just about any USB charger, even if they're picky about charging source while in use.

    28. Re: Rolling Eyes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's only a matter of courage.

      ftfy

    29. Re:Rolling Eyes by bill_mcgonigle · · Score: 1

      It's much more likely that Apple will go completely wireless, so as to not have their perfect edges marred by ports.

      --
      My God, it's Full of Source!
      OUTSIDE_IP=$(dig +short my.ip @outsideip.net)
    30. Re:Rolling Eyes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Hasn't Apple spent the past decade deciding to change connectors on a whim. I mean on the laptop side they couldn't keep a charging port the same for more then 2 model years in a row. Now we are supposed to believe they care about the accessories you bought? What did Apple change it's business model last night?

    31. Re:Rolling Eyes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "No, he's a potential new customer"

      The fuck he is. That guy wouldn't buy an iPhone if it cost $10 and came with a hand-job.

    32. Re:Rolling Eyes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      ... ye-es? I agree with you but....
      WHY DID APPLE CHANGE THE PORTS ON THEIR LAPTOPS and iPads????
      Somewhere in the depths of One Infinity drive there is a hooded bean-counter bent over a blood-splattered ledger. He mumbles in an ancient and long-dead tongue as he enters his numbers one by one. At the end of his ritual the book is torn from his horned and gnarled fingers, his throat is slit and the ledger brought to the desk of the CEO. An acolyte stands there, all in black and trembling. The CEO motions to the book and the acolyte steps forwards. She reads the numbers aloud, decodes the mystic meanings and pronounces:
      "No USB-C ports for the iPhone users" and collapses. The acolyte is carried from the room never to be seen again. The CEO rubs his fingers together and a smile crosses his hooded face.
      "Excellent," he hisses. "Excellent!"
      Fuck Apple

    33. Re:Rolling Eyes by LynnwoodRooster · · Score: 1

      WTF? You don't know a current (or previous) generation Mac book which uses USB C? And you call yourself an Apple fan? HERETIC!

      --
      Browsing at +1 - no ACs, I ignore their posts. So refreshing!
    34. Re:Rolling Eyes by LynnwoodRooster · · Score: 1

      Lil' Wayne solved that for the Samsung phones...

      --
      Browsing at +1 - no ACs, I ignore their posts. So refreshing!
    35. Re:Rolling Eyes by apoc.famine · · Score: 1

      The connector is loose, and it can disconnect from USB if you pick it up from the desk to check something on the phone.

      Why on earth aren't you using the wireless charging if that's your use-case?

      That's where wireless charging really shines! I've got the little puck on my desk at work. Drop the phone onto it, glance to make sure that it lit up to indicate it's charging, and done. When I want to check something on the phone, pick it up, check, drop it back onto the charger. It is sooo much more convenient than a cable.

      --
      Velociraptor = Distiraptor / Timeraptor
    36. Re:Rolling Eyes by pudge · · Score: 1

      he's a potential new customer

      False.

      He's someone who, in large numbers, would change the market-share of the product

      Changing to USB-C would not pull in large numbers of new customers, obviously.

    37. Re: Rolling Eyes by pudge · · Score: 1

      Nah. There are many Apple-certified inexpensive Lightning cables these days.

    38. Re:Rolling Eyes by spire3661 · · Score: 1

      GoPro Hero 5, Lenovo Mirage stereoscopic camera, GoPro Fusion, Moto G6, Moto X4 area all devices i own that use USB-C and came with cables.

      --
      Good-bye
    39. Re:Rolling Eyes by spire3661 · · Score: 1

      Every $1000 phone supports variable rate charging.

      --
      Good-bye
    40. Re:Rolling Eyes by pudge · · Score: 1

      It is worth noting that Apple has many devices with USB-C.

      My MacBook Pro has *only* USB-C. Newer Apple TVs (last two or three gens) have only USB-C (in addition to HDMI and power). The new iPad Pro has only USB-C.

      Apple isn’t anti-USB-C. But their existing customers are mostly longtime customers who have lots of cables and chargers, and do not want to be forced to buy new stuff.

    41. Re:Rolling Eyes by pudge · · Score: 1

      I have a USB-C-to-Lightning cable. No adapter required.

      In fact, I have more of those cables, than I have USB-C-to-USB-C cables. I have a bunch of USB-A-to-USB-C, but one USB-C-to-USB-C (not including my MacBook Pro power cables).

    42. Re:Rolling Eyes by pudge · · Score: 1

      And that audio port is more expensive and more prone to failure. Shrug.

    43. Re:Rolling Eyes by pudge · · Score: 1

      That's really not how it works. We’ve seen it before, when iPhones went from the “Dock connector” to Lightning. When Macs went to Firewire, and then to Thunderbolt. They will not have two ports.

      And I never said USB-C will “get better.” My point is that it will be a better business decision later. When? Well, since the premise I offered is that people have Lightning already, and not USB-C and since it is well-understood that more people are getting more USB-C devices every year then clearly, over time, the cost for individuals to go to a USB-C phone will decrease over time, since they are more likely to have other USB-C devices over time.

      It’s not really complicated.

    44. Re:Rolling Eyes by blindseer · · Score: 1

      No, he's a potential new customer, which actually makes him more valuable.

      There's a balance here. Switching to USB-C could mean gaining new customers but also losing existing customers.

      What does anyone gain with USB-C over Lightning anyway? USB-C can handle more power but the battery in a cell phone is unlikely to take advantage of it. Lightning and USB-C can both give USB 3.0 speeds. USB-C can go faster because of more data lanes and such but, again, in a phone this is unlikely much of an advantage. Could USB-C mean the ability to use more accessories? Maybe, but that also comes with the cost of people complaining that Apple did USB-C "wrong" because their non-compliant USB device doesn't work. By sticking with Lightning they have some control on the accessories that makes the Apple "ecosystem" more user friendly, if perhaps more expensive, for the user.

      There's a potential for losses on a switch too, not only gains. It sucks that Apple chose to stick with the wimpy 5 watt charger but that likely is also a compromise between cost, compliance with laws, user convenience, and so on.

      Once you have a customer under your umbrella it's easier to keep them there, because many people don't want to go through the hassle change entails, so you can spend more energy trying to create churn that benefits you.

      Right, people don't like change. Change too much and you lose your existing customers.

      --
      I am armed because I am free. I am free because I am armed.
    45. Re:Rolling Eyes by pudge · · Score: 1

      You’re probably right. Yes, it means you cannot do a “hard reset” and plug it into a computer to fix it, etc. But almost all people never do that anyway. The rest of my family only ever plugs their phones in for charging or headphones. Any emergencies, take it into Apple for servicing, I guess.

    46. Re: Rolling Eyes by pudge · · Score: 1

      That’s what I do. I use that cable all the time.

    47. Re: Rolling Eyes by pudge · · Score: 1

      Nope. As time goes on, more people will have more USB-C cables and chargers, from other devices. The pain will *decrease* the longer they push it out.

    48. Re:Rolling Eyes by Dixie_Flatline · · Score: 1

      No, they removed it because it took up space that they wanted for other things. The fact that they have wireless headphones to sell gave them options, but I don't think it was because of that specifically.

      The haptic feedback system they're using takes up space. The screen design takes up space. The reason why they don't have an audio jack on the new iPad Pros is because it would intrude on the space taken up by the screen because there are almost no bezels—they've decided that aesthetic of small bezels is more important than the headphone jack.

      I'm not going to argue that Apple spends a lot of time nickle-and-diming its customers with demonstrably worse accessory products (I miss you, mag-safe with integrated cable management power brick :( ) but they decided certain aesthetics and user experience was more important than the headphone jack. You may not agree with that design decision, but it's probably not the case that they did it to boost wireless headphone sales. Indeed, bluetooth headphones have been increasing in popularity since long before the removal of that jack—it was likely that they just picked that time to do it because they felt that few enough people would care because so many were already switching to wireless solutions.

    49. Re:Rolling Eyes by Dixie_Flatline · · Score: 1

      Yeah, USB-C combines all the benefits of not knowing what your cable does with the freedom to plug it into whatever you want and have it silently fail to do what you expect.

      Great connector, abysmally poor planning.

    50. Re:Rolling Eyes by JustASlashDotGuy · · Score: 1

      I use a Spigen wallet case (Galaxy S8 Case Slim Armor CS), meaning I have credit cards in my case so I don't need to carry a wallet. Wireless charging isn't a good option for me unless I want to run the risk of a magnet wiping my cards.

      Also, I find cable charging to be more convenient because I use my phone fair amount (over 6000 minutes per month on average). I need to be able to pick up my phone without it stopping the charge. My cable never falls out. I've had it happen, but only with very cheap cables.

    51. Re:Rolling Eyes by fustakrakich · · Score: 1

      Fine, make it an option then. Whatever, like you said above to the other guy, I'm not a customer. I guess they don't want me as one either. Regardless of yours and their opinion, look and feel are nice, but I consider a mic/headphone jack a necessity. Inch by inch the market is failing me.

      Anyway, contrary to your assertion, they did not remove it to make it waterproof. It is pure marketing. After all, Apple is the leading pioneer in computer lockdown, since the earliest Macs.

      --
      “He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
    52. Re:Rolling Eyes by fustakrakich · · Score: 1

      it's probably not the case that they did it to boost wireless headphone sales.

      Why not? It's just as big a part of the aesthetic as anything. Yes, Apple did it for marketing (aesthetics), that is what they do, make the machine look good. They didn't do it for waterproofing, or any other technically rational reason.

      --
      “He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
    53. Re:Rolling Eyes by apoc.famine · · Score: 1

      I'm not really surprised that when you're using your phone in an entirely different way than the GP that you wouldn't find wireless charging useful.

      --
      Velociraptor = Distiraptor / Timeraptor
    54. Re:Rolling Eyes by pudge · · Score: 1

      Yes, they did remove it — in large part —to make it waterproof.

      Yes, it could have been made waterproof with the port, at additional cost and complexity. That doesn't make it not a reason.

    55. Re:Rolling Eyes by pudge · · Score: 1

      The reason why they don't have an audio jack on the new iPad Pros is because it would intrude on the space taken up by the screen because there are almost no bezels—they've decided that aesthetic of small bezels is more important than the headphone jack.

      No: in fact, it would be easier to place it on the new iPad Pro, because of the flat edges. There is more than enough room in the device for an audio jack. It has absolutely nothing to do with space.

      But yes, it absolutely does have to do with the fact that Bluetooth headphones are becoming ubiquitous.

    56. Re:Rolling Eyes by Darinbob · · Score: 1

      Macbooks froze with the 2015 model, anything after that time got rid of the precious Esc key, and also changed the finish from everyman brushed metal to hipster brushed metal. Also I use the Mac at work, I only have a 6 figure salary so I can't afford a Mac for home.

    57. Re:Rolling Eyes by Darinbob · · Score: 1

      Is this a contest?

    58. Re:Rolling Eyes by Darinbob · · Score: 1

      That's one reason we are avoiding new Macbooks at work, it means buying all new adapters. Given that the existing ones are three years old maybe it's time to migrate to Linux (surprisingly, the dumbass move to standardize on Microsoft-everything-in-the-cloud at the corporate level means that we can get your corporate stuff done on Linux too).

    59. Re:Rolling Eyes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yep, most of the i-thing users I know already have a bunch of lightning cables at least. Mostly because they seem so incredibly fragile and regularly fray, break or the plug itself gets damaged contacts, so it's advisable to have a backup ready to go.

    60. Re:Rolling Eyes by fustakrakich · · Score: 0

      They removed the audio port to make it waterproof.

      Yes, they did remove it -- in large part --to make it waterproof.

      Ah, the caterpillar morphs into a butterfly... Well, sure, anything over 50% makes it large enough.. Hell, in the boardroom it only takes one (person, not percent) I'll let ya in on a little secret, everything about Apple is a marketing decision (though the thing with the chargers is probably just getting rid of old inventory), Android too. You gotta keep the treadmill running.

      --
      “He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
    61. Re:Rolling Eyes by JustASlashDotGuy · · Score: 1

      Yeah... I use my phones as..... a phone. Crazy.

    62. Re:Rolling Eyes by apoc.famine · · Score: 1

      And a wallet. Which I do find crazy. And you also use it constantly, which is not how a lot of people use their cellphones, including the GP, who I was responding to. FFS, I even wrote, ...if that's your use-case. Obviously it's not yours.

      It's like you were jealous that people were communicating without you and jumped in to go, "NONE OF THIS APPLIES TO ME GUYS!!!!" That's great. Do you need a gold star?

      --
      Velociraptor = Distiraptor / Timeraptor
    63. Re:Rolling Eyes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Lightning is a better designed connector.
      USB-C is too flimsy and wears out way faster.

      USB-C may be better from standard perspective but the fact is that it's an inferior mechanical design.

    64. Re: Rolling Eyes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No, they never once stated that.
      Fans stated that, and keep repeating it.

      Fact is, it's not hard nor expensive to make a device with an audio jack waterproof.

      Fact 2: Apple owns Beats, one of the biggest if not the biggest headphone manufacturer, with a great line up of Bluetooth headsets.

      Fact 3:
      All those Bluetooth headsets will have to be dumped/replaced in 3 to 4 years due to the batteries being about dead by then. My Sennheiser from the nineties still works great today...

      I have no idea why anyone would ever be fan of Apple or a similar big company, but that just goes to show that I am rightfully not employed in a marketing department.

      aRTee

    65. Re:Rolling Eyes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Once you have swallowed the whole Apple infrastructure hook, line and sinker you can't bail anymore anyway without cutting your losses.

      Same applies to Android.

    66. Re:Rolling Eyes by exomondo · · Score: 1

      Yet the cable they supply with the iphone can't even connect the iphone to their laptops because their laptops only have usb-c.

    67. Re:Rolling Eyes by dgatwood · · Score: 1

      iPads and MacBooks use USB-C now, so even if you are a 100% Apple person you will need to carry two chargers/cables.

      Not to mention that for those of us who prefer wired headphones (for any of a hundred reasons), you can use the same USB-C wired headphones with your Mac and any Android phone, but you'll need a dongle if you use a Mac and an iPhone.

      The user experience resulting from keeping the iPhone line on Lightning while the Mac and iPad line move to USB-C is downright bad, and getting worse by the day. Apple should have dumped Lightning for USB-C on the iPhone at least three (and arguably four) years ago. At this point, they're so far behind the technology curve that I'm starting to wonder if Apple's management decisions are being made by Magic-8-Ball. Instead of innovating, the iPhone is playing catch-up, and losing. Not good.

      --

      Check out my sci-fi/humor trilogy at PatriotsBooks.

    68. Re:Rolling Eyes by exomondo · · Score: 1

      That's the point, the MacBook only has USB-C ports and ships with a USB-C-to-USB-C cable and the iPhone only has a Lightning port and ships with a Lightning-to-USB-A cable. What kind of ass-backwards nonsense is that? Apple used to pride themselves on an ecosystem of devices that worked seamlessly together and now if you buy their latest phone and laptop and you'll be supplied with an incompatible selection of ports and cables.

    69. Re:Rolling Eyes by _merlin · · Score: 1

      I said "disconnect from USB" - maybe I should've explicitly said "USB data" but I'm talking about when I have it on my desk connected to my PC with USB to transfer data. Sometimes picking the phone up to read a message is enough to cause the USB data connection to drop.

    70. Re:Rolling Eyes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Its Apple's new strategy to nickel and dime its customers. Even if you dont buy the adapter/cable from Apple any certified cable has gone through Apple's paid program so its win-win for them.

      This is how they boost their accessory/MFi program business.

    71. Re:Rolling Eyes by dgatwood · · Score: 1

      Yeah, USB-C combines all the benefits of not knowing what your cable does with the freedom to plug it into whatever you want and have it silently fail to do what you expect.

      Great connector, abysmally poor planning.

      I really have to wonder what kinds of bizarre garbage hardware folks are buying where they constantly have problems with USB-C not working. From what I've seen, everything is either a cell phone charger that only works with some subset of cell phones or a laptop charger that works with anything.

      Just throw away the Quick Charge junk and stick with standards-compliant hardware, and you basically won't encounter any problems, in my experience, or at least not significant problems. Devices might not charge quite as fast in certain combinations, but that's not the same thing as not working, and that's usually good enough 99% of the time. And of course, if you're buying hardware, it isn't really all that hard to buy stuff that works at fully speed with your device.

      --

      Check out my sci-fi/humor trilogy at PatriotsBooks.

    72. Re:Rolling Eyes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Sad to see someone with a low userid that has their lips wrapped so tightly around Tim Cuck's dick.

    73. Re:Rolling Eyes by dgatwood · · Score: 1

      Actually, it's very much the other way around, in my experience. Standard Lightning connectors are physically too small to allow for cables with a usable wire gauge. As a result, you have a choice between noncompliant Lightning cables with oversized connectors that don't fit through the holes in many popular iPhone cases or flimsy cables that don't last nearly as long as USB-C cables (or 30-pin iPhone cables).

      Also, I've had lots of problems with the authentication chip in Lightning cables failing, resulting in devices refusing to recognize them. I've never experienced similar failures with USB-C cables (even though they contain similar chips). My suspicion is that this is caused by so many Lightning cables being unauthorized knock-offs that try to mimic the behavior of the official chips, whereas USB-C is an open standard, and there are proper, authorized implementations of the authentication chip that are readily available. However, this could just be a different manifestation of the wires inside the cable breaking from being too thin. It's hard to say.

      Either way, I've found USB-C to be consistently better than Lightning in every measurable way. Maybe you're confusing USB-C with micro-USB?

      --

      Check out my sci-fi/humor trilogy at PatriotsBooks.

    74. Re:Rolling Eyes by SeaFox · · Score: 1

      he's a potential new customer

      False.

      If he's not a customer now, he can become one. Unless you're implying people sign some blood-oath never to change platforms. Even if he was on a contract paying off his phone, he could decide he is so fed up with his current phone he's going to get something else. I'm not saying that would happen over USB-C functionality (since the seems to be how you're misconstruing my post). I'm simply saying if he has the financial means he is always a potential customer.

      He's someone who, in large numbers, would change the market-share of the product

      Changing to USB-C would not pull in large numbers of new customers, obviously.

      Yeah, and that's not what I said -- obviously. He's a person who is currently using Brand X phone and not Brand Y. If a large number of people not using a certain brand of device abandon what they have, and change to that device, then the market share of that device will change. That's basic arithmetic.

    75. Re:Rolling Eyes by hazardPPP · · Score: 1

      So why are they shipping it with a slow charger?

    76. Re:Rolling Eyes by spire3661 · · Score: 0

      Because Apple has lost their fucking minds. This is the result of having a bean-counter run the company. (Tim Cook's expertise is logistics)

      --
      Good-bye
    77. Re:Rolling Eyes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      They didn't use the space for anything special. They saved money removing a part while offering an expensive alternative product to solve the problem.

    78. Re:Rolling Eyes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No, he's a potential new customer, which actually makes him more valuable. .

      Once you have a customer under your umbrella it's easier to keep them there, because many people don't want to go through the hassle change entails, so you can spend more energy trying to create churn that benefits you.

      Your logic module seems broken, you should have that looked at.

      For example, if it is easier to keep a customer than to bring in a new one then wouldnt existing customers be worth more as the cost of retention would be less for roughly the same revenue generation. Doubly so given that the best form of advertisement is word of mouth as existing customers bring in new customers to the wornderful and enjoyable experience that they are having.

      Getting people off competitors' products and onto yours is a higher priority for businesses, or do you think it's just an odd accident people switching from one broadband provider to another get discounts and loyal customers get nothing?

      Define what business you are referring to, because in some industries that is clearly not the case and quite often it works the other way around. To use your example of a dealership, there is a dealership that my family buys vehicles from and when ever it is time for a new vehicle the red carpet gets rolled out for us. Sales guys know us all by name, we get excellent value on our trade-ins no matter what the brand and when it comes to service, we get treated like family.

      Or how about your broadband example where i am paying for a service that isnt publically offered but is a much cheaper rate than you can get if you were to switch from another company because i have a history with this provider and they know that giving me a bit of a discount when i ask for it is a good investment for a customer who has a history of paying their bills on time and doesnt require any extra costs to acquire (you know like advertising or a sales team)

      Maybe you have your views because you just dont ask for those discounts? trust me they are there ( i am also paying 50% the going rate on a mobile plan because i called up and asked customer service really nicley to be put on one of their un-advertised plans)

      Any business school will teach you that maintaining customers costs less than attracting new customers. Maintaining customers has a double dip effect of maintaining a revenue stream plus the benefit of word of mouth (free advertising and no sales cost).

    79. Re: Rolling Eyes by fred6666 · · Score: 1

      The pain will increase since more lightning garbage accessories will be discarded. Have they made the switch 3 years ago we wouldn't be talking about lightning anymore.

  6. Article confuses ports and protocols by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    USB-C is a connector, not a protocol. Perhaps they meant USB-PD (Power Delivery) over USB-C.

    Not that I really blame them for being confused given the atrocious naming.

    1. Re:Article confuses ports and protocols by willy_me · · Score: 1

      The USB-PD protocol is physically tied to USB Type-C signals. It can not be implemented over a Type-A connector. You require the CC (Configuration Channel) lines to facilitate USB-PD communication. The Type-A connector instead relies on specific pull-up / pull-down resistors on the data lines. It is nasty compared to the newer, USB Type-C / USB-PD standard.

      I suppose Apple could use an active Lightning to Type-C cable to implement USB-PD. It would not be simple and would require that the Lightning connector be able to facilitate configuration data.

  7. Re: No new iphones in Federal prison by reiterate · · Score: 1, Insightful

    You need to capitalize the "traitors", "Trump Traitors" would denote a cadre of traitors under the banner of Trump, whereas "Trump traitors" suggests a group who has betrayed Trump. Also, shuuuuuuut the fuuuuuuck uuuuuuup

  8. The 5W charger is a joke by hcs_$reboot · · Score: 1

    but it seems people who want to buy an iPhone don't care enough, to the point they'd switch to android.

    --
    Slashdot, fix the reply notifications... You won't get away with it...
    1. Re:The 5W charger is a joke by Chrontius · · Score: 3, Informative
    2. Re:The 5W charger is a joke by jpaine619 · · Score: 0

      I can't imagine why anyone would stay with Apple

      https://www.theverge.com/2019/...

      trotting out security incidents is retarded. Apple has them too. Sometimes serious ones (see above).... If you're gonna do a comparison, at least base it on technical merits.

    3. Re: The 5W charger is a joke by cyber-vandal · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Why would anyone want OS updates for 5 years and no Google watching your every move?

    4. Re:The 5W charger is a joke by mentil · · Score: 1

      The profit margin on each iPhone is so huge that I don't buy the 'cost-saving measure' angle. Many factories are already tooled for USB-C ports/chips and that can be ramped up to supply Apple. They could even use the exact same 5W charger, if the included cable is USB-A on one end and USB-C on the other.

      The real rationale is that moving to USB-C won't encourage enough people to get an iPhone that it's worth losing the lock-in of Lightning and creating confusion with another port switch. I remember the switch from 30-pin to Lightning and how many end-users were and still are confused by that: "The box says 'iPhone compatible' so why does it not work?".

      --
      Corruption is convincing someone that the selfless ideal is the same as their selfish ideal.
    5. Re: The 5W charger is a joke by war4peace · · Score: 1, Troll

      The kind of OS updates that deliberately slow down your phone "to protect customers"? Yeah, I wonder...

      --
      ...gis sdrawkcab (usually not responding to ACs; don't bother posting as AC)
    6. Re: The 5W charger is a joke by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      They have to offer something - iOS is an inferior operating system so they 'bribe' you (lure?) with "No Spy! Cool updates!"

      How many people do you know of who have iphones for 5 year?? Everyone I know who gets iphones gets a new one at 2 years, minimum.

      The five year shit is for the secondary market. So that's where your average consumer fits in, cost wise, since most people don't need to take out a loan (err payment plan) to afford either a 2-3 year used iphone or a new mid-low range android.

      I'd love 5 years and no google but fucking hell, Apple and its shit iOS and all its €20 apps can suck it.

    7. Re:The 5W charger is a joke by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Look its easy. If you sell a product and get a 50% margin on it, and you're a public company, your investors EXPECT a 50% margin.

      Should that margin drop to 49.5%, they will be asking for blood.

      Drops to 45% and the CEO will have to do something!! won't someone think of the investors yacht payments??

    8. Re: The 5W charger is a joke by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Apple don't need to watch your every move because they've already decided what you are allowed to do.

    9. Re: The 5W charger is a joke by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'm one of these people.

      Calling iOS an "inferior" OS is total delusion. iOS is years ahead of Android, both from user's and developer's perspectives. It's slick, convenient and well-thought-out. It's the iOS that sell iphones, without it they truly would be overpriced pieces of junk with mediocre hardware.

    10. Re: The 5W charger is a joke by cyber-vandal · · Score: 2

      The update that can be turned on and off you mean? Is that worse than no updates at all leaving users vulnerable?

    11. Re: The 5W charger is a joke by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The kind of OS updates that slowed down the CPU on phones where power draw exceeded what could be provided by the worn out battery?

      I'd like if I could slow my phone down (running Lineage without Google Play so I don't know how to do this). It has more CPU and GPU power than I need, and it's got a dual core 1GHz with out-of-order execution.

    12. Re: The 5W charger is a joke by war4peace · · Score: 0

      So, wait... you provided "5 years of OS updates" as a selling point and now you provide "the ability to turn them off" as another selling point? Makes no sense.
      But I am not here for the Android versus iOS or Google versus Apple wars. I was just refuting your argument, because it's very easy to cherry-pick positive things and omit negative things.

      My take: if we analyze both pros and cons for either of the two opposing parties (Apple/Google or Android/iOS) there will be perfect balance in the end. Either are equally good and equally bad at the same time. It's a matter of preference.

      --
      ...gis sdrawkcab (usually not responding to ACs; don't bother posting as AC)
    13. Re: The 5W charger is a joke by war4peace · · Score: 1

      The kind of OS updates that slowed down the CPU on phones where power draw exceeded what could be provided by the worn out battery?

      That's what they say, isn't it? Believing it is a choice.

      --
      ...gis sdrawkcab (usually not responding to ACs; don't bother posting as AC)
    14. Re: The 5W charger is a joke by cyber-vandal · · Score: 2

      No you can turn off the "feature" that slows the OS down when the battery is old and struggling (or replace the battery). As for the rest of your post, Slashdot is no place for rational analysis and common sense ;-). I actually have an Android phone as well, a Galaxy S4, and it runs nicely with LineageOS 14 but to me it should be up to Samsung or Google to provide this rather than abandoning their customers after 18 months maximum.

    15. Re: The 5W charger is a joke by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I’ve had a 6s since 2015 and it’s only gotten better.

    16. Re: The 5W charger is a joke by stealth_finger · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Why would anyone want OS updates for 5 years and no Google watching your every move?

      The people who want OS updates and no apple owning them?

      --
      Wanna buy a shirt?
      https://www.redbubble.com/people/stealthfinger/shop?asc=u
    17. Re: The 5W charger is a joke by Opportunist · · Score: 0

      Wait, wait, what? You can replace batteries in Apple products now?

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
    18. Re: The 5W charger is a joke by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yes, you take it to the dealer and pay them and they put in a new battery.

      Or you can do it yourself with a bit more difficulty

    19. Re: The 5W charger is a joke by e3m4n · · Score: 1

      As dumb as Siri is with dictation, I have no fears of it reporting back my information. Aside from incorrect pronouns (they instead of she, it instead of them,etc), its likely to report me playing squash or flying a box kite. There is some comfort in that ;-)

    20. Re: The 5W charger is a joke by athmanb · · Score: 1

      Takes like an hour if youâve never done it before but are relatively competent. Technicians that do it all day long can manage 20 minutes. And many Android phones arenât significantly easier fyi.

    21. Re: The 5W charger is a joke by bill_mcgonigle · · Score: 1

      I like how Apple forces Google as the iOS search engine for eight billion dollars a year, and still has people who buy into their schtick that they are there to protect your privacy.

      --
      My God, it's Full of Source!
      OUTSIDE_IP=$(dig +short my.ip @outsideip.net)
    22. Re: The 5W charger is a joke by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'm a devloper on android, and you claim its better from developers perspectives? please tell me how the iOS is years ahead of android? Oh its because you program and target their APIs directly? Then you're a €20 app developer, go fuck yourself.

      Cross platform capabilities are easy easy with many frameworks that give near native speed. And you can't tell me unless you're doing some shit 3D clone of some shit 3D game that you need 'low level API access'.

      I'll give you this - the hardware may be advanced (or faster in benchmarks, at the least) but the OS is limited, locked, and walled. If that's your kettle of fish, go have a fry. For people who don't want to pay €20 for an app and don't give a shit about icloud or itunes, iOS is an overbloated pile of shite.

      If you think its easier to develop for you've never made an android app. Or you like swift or some such nonsense and have fully drank the 'i'm a professional who makes > $75,000 a year" koolaide last time you were at a meeting with your bro-coworkers.

    23. Re: The 5W charger is a joke by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Sue, you can now, after customer outrage and Apple lying about it.

    24. Re: The 5W charger is a joke by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      Why would anyone want OS updates for 5 years

      I struggle with this too! What do those OS updates get you? An animated poo? OS updates stopped being relevant about 4 years ago when it became increasingly obvious that the smartphone industry (not just Apple, but Google as well) ran out of ideas.

      I used to care about phone updates. These days I only care about security updates, and Android has pretty much solved that problem by decoupling it from the OS itself. When the most amazing new feature to roll out through the OS is a function that allows you to deliberately limit you using your phone, the ever increasing list of supported emoticons, a camera program that is only slightly different from the previous one, ... it's stopped being relevant.

    25. Re: The 5W charger is a joke by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Difference: Apple actually fixes them while Android is just a feature that rarely gets a fix

    26. Re: The 5W charger is a joke by Kohath · · Score: 1

      Because they saved $83.00 on their phone. Saving $83.00 and calling everyone else who paid more "stupid" is what life is about.

    27. Re: The 5W charger is a joke by dittbub · · Score: 1

      Apple phones stay in circulation longer than other phones. Its a matter of preference that you don't like apple phones but many people do because they work well for quite a long time.

    28. Re: The 5W charger is a joke by dittbub · · Score: 1

      I know more android users that upgrade every year than iphone users.

    29. Re:The 5W charger is a joke by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The difference is that, with Apple, you have at least 5 years of OS updates. With Android it's a lottery.

    30. Re:The 5W charger is a joke by CastrTroy · · Score: 1

      This is proof that many people buying Apple products will buy their products regardless of how bad of a deal it is. The type of connector makes little difference in most people's lives, but the refusal of Apple to give a quick charger on such an expensive phone is simply inexcusable. There is no reason other than greed and charging the customer extra for the privilege of fast charging.

      --

      Anthropic principle: We see the universe the way it is because if it were different we would not be here to see it.
    31. Re: The 5W charger is a joke by cyber-vandal · · Score: 1

      Better than ignoring your customers and leaving them vulnerable to malware.

    32. Re:The 5W charger is a joke by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      iOS has had plenty of the same type of bugs.

      Why switch? Well, WiFi Direct for one. Windows, Linux, FreeBSD, and Android all implement the open standard. Apple decided to create a proprietary implementation called AirDrop for MacOS and iOS. I can take an Adroid phone and plug it into Windows, Linux, or FreeBSD and pass files thanks to MTP. Apple decided not to implement it in MacOS or iOS. I can side load apps that don't fit into Apple's G-rated store. Privacy, which Apple talks about it a lot, ends up being very expensive and you get vendor lock-in as a result.

    33. Re: The 5W charger is a joke by war4peace · · Score: 1

      Any statistics to back that up? I'm not saying you're wrong, just curious. Off the top of my head I'm thinking of a few reasons for this outcome, none related to reliability in time.

      --
      ...gis sdrawkcab (usually not responding to ACs; don't bother posting as AC)
    34. Re:The 5W charger is a joke by dgatwood · · Score: 1

      The real rationale is that moving to USB-C won't encourage enough people to get an iPhone that it's worth losing the lock-in of Lightning and creating confusion with another port switch. I remember the switch from 30-pin to Lightning and how many end-users were and still are confused by that: "The box says 'iPhone compatible' so why does it not work?".

      You're close. The real rationale is that Apple makes $4 off of every (properly licensed) Lightning cable sold. That's a lot of bucks.

      --

      Check out my sci-fi/humor trilogy at PatriotsBooks.

    35. Re:The 5W charger is a joke by jpaine619 · · Score: 1

      Always amazes me how monoculture is bad when it's MS, but good when it's Apple.

      You fanboys are weird..

    36. Re: The 5W charger is a joke by jpaine619 · · Score: 1

      Yeah, like all those macbook air's that have failed due to shitty video cables... Fixed for $500..

      There was a time Apple was the best.. I don't dispute that, but they're shit now.

    37. Re: The 5W charger is a joke by cyber-vandal · · Score: 1

      I would switch in a heartbeat to a third provider that offered the freedom of Android and the regular updates and lack of spying of iOS. LineageOS is close but not quite there.

    38. Re: The 5W charger is a joke by cyber-vandal · · Score: 1

      I bought this 6s in 2015 and I appreciate the fact that this device that cost more than my laptop is still getting updates. You may be happy with something costing £800 being abandoned by the manufacturer after 18 months but I don't think it's unreasonable to expect them to continue to support their products for longer.

    39. Re: The 5W charger is a joke by cyber-vandal · · Score: 1

      Wow when did Apple shoot your dog?

  9. For a fast charge... by LordHighExecutioner · · Score: 3, Funny

    ...you have to buy iFranklin. Just connect it to the Lightning port, beam the rod towards the sky and wait for the next thunderstorm to full charge your iPhone.

  10. Huh? by Freischutz · · Score: 1

    This is seen as a cost saving measure. It seems that customers wanting faster iPhone charge times will still have to buy accessories, like the 12W iPad charger.

    Will have to buy one? I have had one for years and use it to charge everything from iPhones to Garmin devices, Android devices and headphones.

  11. Wow!! by Vinegar+Joe · · Score: 0

    This is so insanely cool!!!!!!

    --
    "The average reporter we talk to is 27 years old......They literally know nothing." - Ben Rhodes
  12. Cost saving? by cyber-vandal · · Score: 0

    Their prices have gone up dramatically. Apple have lost the plot lately.

    1. Re:Cost saving? by Freischutz · · Score: 1

      Their prices have gone up dramatically. Apple have lost the plot lately.

      They seem to have finally woken up to that: https://www.bbc.com/news/busin...

    2. Re:Cost saving? by houghi · · Score: 1

      Lately? How does it feel waking up after a 15 year coma?

      --
      Don't fight for your country, if your country does not fight for you.
  13. Passed On by mentil · · Score: 1, Insightful

    It's not clear if the cost savings of this decision would be passed on to consumers with lower cost 2019 iPhone pricing.

    Oh I guarantee they'll take the entire 5 cents off the total price, making it ONLY $1199.95! Order now!

    --
    Corruption is convincing someone that the selfless ideal is the same as their selfish ideal.
  14. Nothing says greed louder than cheap accessories by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    bundled with a $1000 phone. Good for you, Apple, that you get economies of scale with that trash.

  15. Re: No new iphones in Federal prison by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I see what you're saying I guess except you're wrong. And the traitors are days away from denoument.

  16. Why stick with this cheap but obsolete connector? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Courage. That's why.

  17. Re: Why stick with this cheap but obsolete connect by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Hilarious! This guy said courage in an Apple article...wish I had mod points!!!

  18. Proprietary by hawguy · · Score: 1

    Apple can benefit from huge economies of scale by selling the same accessories for many generation.

    I think they meant "Apple can boost their profit by selling proprietary Lightning accessories"

  19. I don't blame them by AbRASiON · · Score: 1

    They'll get so much flack for it from people who don't know better.

    Between USBc teething issues and the switch to lightning only being what 4 or 5 begrudging years ago, it makes sense to wait.

    Let's see them make Apple pencil and headphones USB C and a few more MacBooks being out in the wild.

    They'll bide their time on the flagship product

  20. Cost savings? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Remind me how much the âoebudgetâ iPhone costs?

    1. Re:Cost savings? by stealth_finger · · Score: 1

      Premium price, budget product.

      --
      Wanna buy a shirt?
      https://www.redbubble.com/people/stealthfinger/shop?asc=u
  21. Alle charge by ruddk · · Score: 1

    But is slow charge not still better for the battery?

    1. Re:Alle charge by JaredOfEuropa · · Score: 1

      No, it is not.

      --
      If construction was anything like programming, an incorrectly fitted lock would bring down the entire building...
    2. Re:Alle charge by Ormy · · Score: 2

      In general, a slow charge is better for the battery. Fast-charging can be done with minimal harm to the battery if certain conditions are met. For more details see the link below. (Link discusses in terms of Li-ion, not sure if Apple has switched to LiPo but we can assume they behave similarly to Li-ion).

      https://batteryuniversity.com/index.php/learn/article/ultra_fast_chargers

    3. Re:Alle charge by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'm going to say yes. Heck on my current OnePlus device the dash charger hasn't even left the box. I've found on all my devices, tablets and phones, they last longer on each charge if I slow charge them. So while I would agree that battery technology has gotten a point where fast charge is not as bad for batteries, slow charging them is still better for them.

  22. There's only one kind of charging... by cardpuncher · · Score: 4, Funny

    ... Apple truly understands.

    1. Re:There's only one kind of charging... by Opportunist · · Score: 1

      Through the nose.

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  23. Re: Why stick with this cheap but obsolete connect by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Courage always comes with some rage.

  24. At this point, Apple is mocking its customers... by gweihir · · Score: 0

    Not that they would notice.

    --
    Most ACs are not even worth the keystrokes to insult them. Be generically insulted by this and ignored otherwise.
  25. What about a touchscreen by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Can you guys find out if the new iPhone will have a touch screen? What about ios? Maybe you should confirm if they'll be using Android instead next iPhone.

    Please keep us up to date on every component. Thanks

  26. Great feature! by alexdixon · · Score: 0

    It's a great feature that I wish to embed in every brand of smartphones. Every product should avoid blasting and secure the usage of smartphones. Users should avail the full safety when they purchase by spending a lot of money. All smartphone brands should ensure the safety for the users when they sell their product. Smartphone brands promise 1 year warranty for the accessories but, I never found safety warranty on any of the smartphone brands. Many people, including students, are using smartphones today. Students may have to use fully for their studies such as researching, writing assignments, online references, or hiring professional writers from Essays Chief. Everyone has their own way of using smartphones for their daily life. So, it is very important that smartphones brands should ensure safety.

  27. Lightning over USBC. LIke VOIP ? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Have Apple invented a new protocol, LOUC ?

    Or is the author unfamiliar with the idea of writing clearly ?

  28. You're .. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ... charging it wrong?

  29. What was it about chargers, that EU said by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    That if the industry can't figure it out, then there would be laws. Obviously Apple has no intention of going with the general industry choice.

    But i kind of agree with https://www.theregister.co.uk/2018/08/16/europe_phone_plug/
    It's not that just the plug needs to be standardized, although i think that would be a start.

  30. Re:No new iphones in Federal prison by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    shut up apk

  31. Many sides to a connector... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Seeing both ports, I wonder if the result of accidental snapping is different. A snapping smartphone connector would preferably leave the phone side intact, and only damage the connector on the cable.

  32. Re: No new iphones in Federal prison by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Wtf is denoument

  33. Dual port by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    How about having both an USB-C and Lightning port? Would make it easier to charge and use accessories at the same time. It would also make the phone last longer, since wear and tear on the port is significant.

    1. Re:Dual port by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I don't know what lightning connector looks like, but probably it would be impossible to integrate one to the other, like i had USB-A on some inside DP or HDMI connector on my old laptop. If it is possible, then why not a hybrid connector?

    2. Re:Dual port by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Answer to myself:
      Now that i've looked at the lighting connector, there is a small chance of being able to build a hybrid connector, where when attaching the lightning connector (as it is smaller and reverse gender) it would push the tongue of the USB-C connector backwards into the phone. But i have no made any measurements, probably they are just enough out of specs to each other, that a hybrid would be too complex. Also it would probably not be a very durable atleast for the USB-C part.

  34. So much drama... by Camembert · · Score: 0

    .... for purely a rumor.

  35. maintain production costs by sad_ · · Score: 4, Funny

    "...Apple is resistant to changing the included accessories to maintain production costs."

    understandable, they barely make a profit with selling price they're asking for those phones.

    --
    On a long enough timeline, the survival rate for everyone drops to zero.
  36. As long as Apple is resistant to changing by Opportunist · · Score: 1

    I'm resistant to changing to Apple.

    It is actually that simple.

    --
    We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
    1. Re:As long as Apple is resistant to changing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'm resistant to changing to Apple

      You mean changing *away* from Apple, right?

      After all there isn't an Apple article on this site you haven't posted in, and even this article you've made 6 posts already.
      It would be mind boggling for a person to do that on a topic that they had nothing to do with...

    2. Re:As long as Apple is resistant to changing by Opportunist · · Score: 1

      It's more morbid curiosity. A bit like why I hang out around flat earth and other conspiracy sites. I wonder what makes people consider it a good idea.

      I admit, I rarely understand humans. Twice so if they're irrational. And these are about the most irrational things I can think of. And it's fascinating to behold. It's kinda surreal, a little bizarre and also a tad sad. But absolutely fascinating.

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  37. Re: No new iphones in Federal prison by Opportunist · · Score: 1

    Trump Traitors? Is that like the Wesley Crushers?

    --
    We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  38. Re:Why stick with this cheap but obsolete connecto by Opportunist · · Score: 1

    The word you're looking for is chutzpah.

    --
    We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  39. annuda shoah by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    do not question the (((chosen))), goyim

  40. $1200 for an upgraded 6S plus by LostMyBeaver · · Score: 2

    Give the exact same phone as the 6S plus with a longer battery and a faster CPU and I'll buy it before it ships. But no headphone jack and no touch ID is a deal breaker. I'm simply no wasting money on a phone which removes features. iPhone 6S Plus was the best phone Apple ever made. I'll keep repairing the one I have until Apple makes a legitimate replacement.

    Face ID - nice feature, but doesn't actually add convenience.
    Wireless charging - useless feature since I can't charge while watching the phone. The charger needs a cable anyway.
    Edge to edge screen - means I can't use a protective cover to avoid breaking the glass and still be able to reach all parts of the screen. Also, holding the phone from the sides becomes difficult as it interferes with the text.
    Swiping gestures to replace the home - means you have to swipe either side of the phone. If I use the phone right handed, I can manage this, but left handed, I end up dropping it all the time.

    I upgraded from the iPhone X 256GB to the iPhone 6S plus and it was the biggest upgrade I ever made on a phone.

    1. Re:$1200 for an upgraded 6S plus by LostMyBeaver · · Score: 2

      Let's also add that restoring an iPhone from the cloud should give you the option as to whether you have to download all the damn films which were on the old phone to complete the process. When I replaced my phone at the Apple Store in Tokyo, I had to sit in the store and share wifi with the other users for 5 hours one day because I couldn't get my settings onto my replacement phone without downloading all the films. I tried stopping it twice, but it completely freaked on me.

      You shouldn't have to download 110GB of films you've already watched just to restore your settings.

    2. Re: $1200 for an upgraded 6S plus by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You let them do that in store? You are a noob. Maybe learn something about how the phone works. A flip phone is more your speed gramps.

    3. Re: $1200 for an upgraded 6S plus by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      A spring loaded center punch is more my style. Here, let me see your phone for a minute, punk...

    4. Re:$1200 for an upgraded 6S plus by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      LOL, if you love the home button just get an 8 and wireless headphones.
      Or use the stupid adapter. It's a non-issue.
      I imagine you're a huge whiner in real life, too.

    5. Re:$1200 for an upgraded 6S plus by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I am not an iCustomer, but in my opinion, the 4s was the perfect form factor for a smartphone, hands down. Small enough in size, big enough screen for anything needed, and thick enough you didn't fear breaking it. The metal buttons on the side felt firm and reliable too. I had one as a work phone once. I really did like it.

    6. Re:$1200 for an upgraded 6S plus by UnAmericanPunk · · Score: 1

      I totally agree with you. I have my 3 year old 128GB iPhone 6S Plus and it's going strong. I see no need to upgrade really. I figured I'd switch when they switched to USB-C and brought back the finger print reader (in display finger print reader preferably). I'll miss the headphone jack though, as I still use it to plug into my wife's car, but I figure it's going the way of the floppy disk. Anyway, with this news, it seems that I'll be waiting longer before I upgrade (cue more poor iPhone sales until Apple figures out what people want).

      --
      Question everything that you've accepted without thinking.
    7. Re:$1200 for an upgraded 6S plus by dgatwood · · Score: 1

      Give the exact same phone as the 6S plus with a longer battery and a faster CPU and I'll buy it before it ships. But no headphone jack and no touch ID is a deal breaker. I'm simply no wasting money on a phone which removes features. iPhone 6S Plus was the best phone Apple ever made. I'll keep repairing the one I have until Apple makes a legitimate replacement.

      I'd argue that the iPhone SE was the best phone Apple ever made, and that the 6S is a little too big, but either way, we're basically talking about the same phone. I, too, will keep using a 6S for the foreseeable future.

      Lack of USB-C is a dealbreaker for me. When an iPhone model supports that, wired headphones will once again be interoperable between current iPhones and my Mac without plugging and unplugging a dongle. Until then, I'll keep using the last version of iOS hardware that meets my minimum requirements, which is the 6S.

      Face ID - nice feature, but doesn't actually add convenience.

      Much less convenient, IMO. You have to look at it to authenticate, which rules out all sorts of casual glance uses. Most of the time, by the time I actually take a look at my phone, I've already signed in with my thumb and tapped the home button, then double-tapped it to get back to the first home screen. That same action requires at least five seconds of extra staring at the device with Face ID.

      Wireless charging - useless feature since I can't charge while watching the phone.

      Not entirely useless, but very nearly so. And it is certainly not worth using a third again more electricity. My power bill is high enough as it is.

      Edge to edge screen - means I can't use a protective cover to avoid breaking the glass and still be able to reach all parts of the screen. Also, holding the phone from the sides becomes difficult as it interferes with the text.

      Strongly agreed. I wouldn't mind less top and bottom bezel, but reducing the side bezels mostly just makes the phone harder to hold.

      With that said, Apple could solve those problems in a matter of minutes. All they would have to do is add an adjustable bezel mode with a user-controllable toggle in Control Center/Settings. If the user wants to use the full screen, let the app see the full screen. If the user prefers a bezel, tell the app that the screen size is smaller, disable the outer pixels, and shrink the usable screen space.

      Even better, they could make the device be smart about it, and learn the user's bezel mode preferences on a per-app, per-orientation basis. When you're watching Netflix and holding it differently, you might disable the bezel and use the full screen (or shrunk, if desired, to avoid the notch). When you're using an app where the sides of the screen matter, enable the bezel and get slightly less screen real estate wrapped in black bars on the sides.

      That's what annoys me most about the new Apple designs. It isn't just that their design changes are problematic, but also that lately, they're completely failing to mitigate the negative impact of those changes, even when the solutions to those problems should be glaringly obvious and relatively trivial.

      Swiping gestures to replace the home - means you have to swipe either side of the phone. If I use the phone right handed, I can manage this, but left handed, I end up dropping it all the time.

      Yeah. Anybody who has ever tried to do an edge swipe on a phone in a protective case knows why that design change was a really, really bad idea. Edge swipes are a hopelessly clumsy gesture, and a very poor substitute for a physical button. But that, too, would also be improved greatly if you could make the bezel bigger in software. It still won't be eyes-free like the physical home button is, and thus it will always be inferior, but a software-adjustable bezel would at least make it usable.

      --

      Check out my sci-fi/humor trilogy at PatriotsBooks.

  41. Eco-friendly? by sjbe · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The site explains that Lightning port is not going anywhere and Apple is resistant to changing the included accessories to maintain production costs.

    Just remember Apple is claiming to be eco-friendly while producing hundreds of millions of unnecessary, proprietary, and redundant connectors instead of using an industry standard USB-C cable that would accomplish exactly the same purpose AND waste less in the process. Not to mention that USB-C can transfer data faster (480Mbps vs 10Gbps), transfer more power (12W vs 100W), be double ended, and work with other devices.

    When Lightning was introduced it was an improvement over the truly awful microUSB connectors. USB-C has eliminated any reason for Lightning to continue to exist other than profit seeking and vendor lock in.

    1. Re:Eco-friendly? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      USB C also has its problem, such as very poor contacts, a small wiggle and you get disconnects. If you look at it sideways a USB C cable just falls out of the connector.

      Lightning has about 10 times more sturdy connection.

    2. Re:Eco-friendly? by Kohath · · Score: 1

      Because "industry standard" wires don't use natural resources.

    3. Re:Eco-friendly? by UnknowingFool · · Score: 1

      Just remember Apple is claiming to be eco-friendly [apple.com] while producing hundreds of millions of unnecessary, proprietary, and redundant connectors instead of using an industry standard USB-C cable that would accomplish exactly the same purpose AND waste less in the process.

      And what would you have done bearing in mind, Apple released Lightning in products 2 years before USB-C was finalized as a spec. From this point, Lightning was necessary to move away from 30-pin. My estimation is that the energy required for time travel might be more than the waste you are complaining about.

      --
      Well, there's spam egg sausage and spam, that's not got much spam in it.
  42. You say that like it's a bad thing by Uberbah · · Score: 1

    Of course, if Apple had announced a change to USB-C, then they be getting shit for making their users change cables again. Samsung would probably run some ads mocking the move, despite transitioning to USB-C themselves.

    1. Re:You say that like it's a bad thing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      And you don't think they deserve some mocking for going with ligthning in the first place, considering there was the deal, that manufacturers would make an effort to unify the ports on phones?

    2. Re:You say that like it's a bad thing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      We've long since learned to ignore the one guy who complained about Apple ditching NuBus, SCSI, PowerPC, etc. Actually, I'm pretty sure he got committed after bemoaning the loss of the Apple Display Connector, so there shouldn't be any problem. Apple switching to an industry standard is the opposite of what is expected from them and as such usually takes people off guard.

  43. Jewelry by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Since iPhones are more jewelry than device this is probably fine.

  44. Fast charging on iPhones by sjbe · · Score: 1

    I consider all people willing to pay $1000 for a new phone without fast charging to be dumb, frankly.

    To be fair you can get fast(er) charging with the iPhone if you buy their (expensive) USB-C to Lightning cable and one of their (expensive) higher voltage USB-C power adapters. I have this setup at home and it works substantially faster. I haven't timed it but it gets me most if not all of a charge in less than an hour.

    Honestly though my complaint about the iPhone charging is that they continue to use Lightning connectors when USB-C has eliminated any technical reason for Apple to continue to use them. USB-C is faster, can deliver more power, is double ended, ships on all their laptops, and is an industry standard. Continuing to use Lightning at this point on the iPhone is just a dick move.

  45. Not all customers are worth the trouble by sjbe · · Score: 1

    No, he's a potential new customer, which actually makes him more valuable.

    Not necessarily. Not all customers are equal and sometimes the cost of winning a new customer exceeds the value that customer brings.

    Getting people off competitors' products and onto yours is a higher priority for businesses

    Definitely not in Apple's case. Apple has never tried to chase market share at any cost. They have always been happy having a smaller but more profitable and stable portion of the market. In the case of the iPhone they get the vast majority of the profits in the industry so it's unclear what point there would be to them in chasing low margin customers unless their market starts eroding under them. Apple exists to make money, not to get the largest possible market share.

    do you think it's just an odd accident people switching from one broadband provider to another get discounts and loyal customers get nothing?

    Different markets with different dynamics.

    1. Re:Not all customers are worth the trouble by Tough+Love · · Score: 1

      Apple has never tried to chase market share at any cost

      Right, they seem more inclined to chase away market share with high prices.

      --
      When all you have is a hammer, every problem starts to look like a thumb.
  46. Apple is just being Apple by DrXym · · Score: 1

    Why support a non-proprietary connector when you can use a proprietary one and charge an arm and a leg for peripherals that work with it? And screw customers and the inconveniences they may suffer, profits matter more.

    1. Re:Apple is just being Apple by iggymanz · · Score: 1

      you'd think with all their month Apple could afford people who innovate and actually invent things. Can't remember the last time they did either...

  47. Naive fool by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You're the naive fool. Apple doesn't "sell your data." However, the walled garden is a zoo, and you're the main attraction. Selling access to you is not meaningfully different than selling your data, except for the "you stay in the walled garden" part.

  48. The Macbooks are no different. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Granted they have USB-C/thunderbolt ports, but the cable you receive is limited to usb 2 speeds.

  49. Fire saving and battery lifetime extension? by goombah99 · · Score: 2

    There may be a rationale for 5W versus 20W chargers that has to do with making the phone batteries degrade slower and reduce the risk of fire.

    But I do know that my phone gets pretty warm when it is charging and though heat flux does not scale perfectly linearly with temperature, for small differences it's linear enough to say that if you double the charging rate you will double the temperature rise.

    Since I'd not want a phone that was 3 times hotter than room temperature rise than it gets now I think this battery charge rate is fixed by this. The only way to do better would be to make the charging heat loss closer to the thermodynamic limit. it's possible different batteries can have different charging heat losses but I'd guess that every phone maker uses the most efficient one currently possible.

    Some fixed fraction of every watt that fluxes into storage goes into heat. I'm not quite sure what that amount is, certainly the laws of thermodynamics put a lower bound on that but if it's like most things it's way more than that, probably in double digit percentages.

    So that goes to heat. The battery has a fixed surface area to volume ratio. So the rate at which is can dissipate this heat to it's surroundings is fixed by that, which apple can control, and the surroundings which apple cannot control. e.g. is it in the foam padded (insulating) pocket of your back or jacket? Is it under a pillow or a sheaf of papers. Is it standing up in the air or flat in on a table?

    If you plan for a reasonable first case, and then build in thermal protection for the rest, then one can figure out how much the temperature inside the battery can get up to for any given charge rate.

    At some point the battery is harmed by this temperature. It might just degrade its lifetime but in some cases that degradation also increases the chance of fire or battery swelling.

    In any case there is some maximum advisable charge rate for a given size battery.
    if this is the limit, then It would seem reasonable that an ipad with many times the surfaces area (and volume) could sustain a higher charge rate than an iphone.

    I cant say that apple is bumping into this limit because it's too hard to guess without knowing what the battery limits are. But given how warm the phone gets now I'd say they can't charge much faster without making it a lot hotter.

    Finally I'll note that this is slightly different than short term fast charging. Since the phone and batter also have a heat capacity, it's possible to temporarily charge the phone up to some total energy without appreciable temperature rise. SO you may be able to partially charge the battery quite fast. But at some point you would have to fall back to the thermodynamic limit described above.

    --
    Some drink at the fountain of knowledge. Others just gargle.
    1. Re:Fire saving and battery lifetime extension? by LynnwoodRooster · · Score: 1, Insightful

      There may be a rationale for 5W versus 20W chargers that has to do with making the phone batteries degrade slower and reduce the risk of fire.

      So then why does Apple sell a 12W charger that charges the iPhone at 12W, rather than just 5W? Is it because the degradation of the batteries and risk of fire are lower with a 12W Apple charger?

      --
      Browsing at +1 - no ACs, I ignore their posts. So refreshing!
    2. Re:Fire saving and battery lifetime extension? by goombah99 · · Score: 1

      The comeback is, well then how come apple doesn' sell a 50 watt charger?
      Evidently there is some limit and I discussed what the sources of the limits are.

      I would strongly speculate that the 12 watts charger only really runs at 12 watts under optimal cooling conditions or for part of the cylce. It's may possibly be more of a fast-charger as I noted at the end.

      --
      Some drink at the fountain of knowledge. Others just gargle.
    3. Re:Fire saving and battery lifetime extension? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Because a small part of their audience would trade shorter lifetime for faster charging? Apple learned the hard way that people can get quite unreasonable about battery life tapering off at the end of a battery life. Sell the default battery life extender and let people buy the more egressive one. It might be the 12 watt won't damage it. But by making sure most people use the 5 W that reduce the chance, that way if something does go wrong the number of people they have to compensate is less.

    4. Re: Fire saving and battery lifetime extension? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      5W because i) it's cheaper and ii) they can use cheaper batteries that only last just long enough to usually expire the warranty.

    5. Re: Fire saving and battery lifetime extension? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Other considerations include physical size, volume of phone packaging, environmental impact, and the complexity of manufacturing and shipping a hundred million+ units per year.

      I wish Apple and the other vendors would stop bundling all these pieces with a new smartphone. There are enough USB chargers, earbuds, and usb/lightning cables in the world already.

    6. Re: Fire saving and battery lifetime extension? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Of course all of this being an artificial problem created by Apple glueing in their batteries.

  50. 'Just Works' is no longer Apple's mantra by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ' More for less' Tim Cook's mantra sells iPhones feature full of useless integrations in each new model like a greasy soled car salesman pushing new financing where you get so much more for less than you're paying on your current model.

  51. USB-C against the world by sjbe · · Score: 1

    I've only ever seen one USB-C cable and the person who uses it finds it annoying

    Oh well clearly then your single data point proves that nobody uses USB-C despite it being on nearly every new computer and smartphone sold these days, including all the computers sold by Apple.

    I don't know why someone would have a "ton" of those cables, maybe two if they have a new iphone.

    Because even if you aren't trying you end up with a bunch over time. I've used iPhones for several product generations and so has my wife. I'm sure we have at least a dozen Lightning cables between us. I have 40+ USB-A/B cables, dozens of micro and mini USB cables, and probably 5 USB-C cables with more undoubtedly coming. They come with devices and it's pretty easy to end up with a lot after a while. And that's even if you don't buy any extras. This is why I wish lightning and USB-A/B and microUSB would die in a fire so we can standardize on USB-C and I can get rid of a lot of unnecessary cables.

    Fast charge doesn't matter if you're able to actually let go of the phone and put it down, charging overnight should last all day.

    It doesn't matter until it does. I generally only charge at night but I've had days where I've needed a quick charge. Not everyone has the same schedule. It's particularly problematic for people traveling a lot.

    1. Re:USB-C against the world by drinkypoo · · Score: 2

      Ye olde USB 1 isn't going away anytime soon, because it is cheap to implement. That makes it ideal for low-cost, low-bandwidth devices, especially input devices. And USB 2 has to stick around for another decade or so because of legacy flash drives and cameras. Consequently we will have all forms of USB for the foreseeable future.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    2. Re:USB-C against the world by Darinbob · · Score: 1

      My single data point was made to counter the single data point of someone with the other position :-)

  52. Fragile vs not so fragile by WoodstockJeff · · Score: 1

    When I first saw information on USB-C ports, I thought, "Hopefully they've made them more sturdy than the crappy micro-USB!"

    My hopes were dashed by reality - USB-C incorporates the same weak design as micro-USB, just altered to so that the cable can be plugged in without regard to "up or down".

    The problem with both ports is that the device-side contacts are on a thin plastic strip, prone to being broken if the cable is flexed. And since the first-to-break part is embedded in the expensive device, rather than the cheap cable, a lot of hardware becomes trash "before its time". Headphones, phones, tablets, etc., needing to be replaced because the only charging port broke while charging.

    The Lightning connector, despite its other shortcomings, is less likely to break than either micro-USB or USB-C.

  53. Lightning made sense... at first by sjbe · · Score: 1

    And you don't think they deserve some mocking for going with ligthning in the first place, considering there was the deal, that manufacturers would make an effort to unify the ports on phones?

    No because microUSB sucks sour frog ass. Seriously, it's a terrible physical connector. If USB-C had been available when Lightning was introduced then yes introducing Lightining would have been a terrible decision. But at the time of its introduction Lightning as a big improvement over the alternatives even in the face of being expensive and proprietary. Now however USB-C has pretty much eliminated any meaningful advantages Lightning once had, hugely outperforms it, and is standard. Apple sticking with Lightning at this point is nothing but a pathetic cash grab and lock in attempt.

    1. Re:Lightning made sense... at first by Uberbah · · Score: 1

      Apple sticking with Lightning at this point is nothing but a pathetic cash grab and lock in attempt.

      Uh huh. Except if Apple had switched to USB-C, the story would still be that they're doing a "pathetic cash grab" by making their users replace their existing lightning accessories with USB-C. No matter what Apple does, it's aways the wrong thing.

  54. All connectors are imperfect by sjbe · · Score: 1

    USB C also has its problem

    All connectors have their problems. USB-C isn't perfect but it's definitely Good Enough. The physical connector is a big upgrade over Micro-USB (keyed connectors suck) in pretty much every meaningful way. It's very fast, can carry all the power a smartphone will ever need, is double ended, it's cheaper, and has more advantages besides.

    Lightning has about 10 times more sturdy connection.

    Not really true but even if it were that is not sufficient justification for its continued existence or use. USB-C is durable enough to get the job done in most cases and it is far more capable as an interface. Lightning was a good idea at the time of its introduction but not it's an idea which has run its course. Time to let it die.

  55. No no no no no by Actually,+I+do+RTFA · · Score: 3, Interesting

    No, he's a potential new customer, which actually makes him more valuable

    Business schools teach a "potential new consumer" is worth about 10% of an existing consumer. Because he is likely to have many reasons not to switch. (You think a new cord is a bigger deal than his entire app library?) You want to keep your customers happy first.

    The Ford example is very wrong because it's not a potential new customer. It's a new customer.

    And frankly, I don't see anyone switching to an iPhone who is going to care about the cables. If you're willing to pay a premium for the hardware/OS/store, then you're willing to pay a premium for a new cable. Meanwhile, if you think getting rid of the headphone jack made people not want to upgrade, get rid of their new lightning headphones, and all their other accessories. Getting rid of the lightning port hurts their best customers the most.

    Also, the lightning cable is better than USB-C. It's more solid (can support the weight of the phone), and it's more wear resistant and it's designed so the wear goes more on the cable, not the phone.

    --
    Your ad here. Ask me how!
  56. Re: No new iphones in Federal prison by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The plot is in the dictionary. Try it and stop being so needy.

  57. Standard products = less waste by sjbe · · Score: 2

    Because "industry standard" wires don't use natural resources.

    Using a standard cable means you need less of them in total. It means that nobody has to create tooling or waste energy or transport a second type of cable. This costs real money, uses real energy and is easily shown to be wasteful.

    1. Re:Standard products = less waste by UnknowingFool · · Score: 1

      That relies on the assumption that you only have 1 standard that no older standards are ever used. When USB-C became the standard, people didn’t stop using mini-B, micro-B etc and threw away all their devices that used them. That would actually been a lot more waste. Over time, consumers would have to get new cables regardless. I still have a box of different USB cables depending which device I need to connect.

      --
      Well, there's spam egg sausage and spam, that's not got much spam in it.
  58. found the fanboy karma dump by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    >waterproof
    >declare warranty void because you sneezed near it

  59. Why not address it in software? by pavon · · Score: 1

    You have a good point about battery longevity. We have a slow charger in the bedroom, and a fast one in the car (which is only used when needed), for that same reason. But this seems like something that Apple could address in software. It might need tighter integration between the USB controller and the OS, but Apple controls all of that.

    I'm not too familiar with how Apple lighting chargers work, but with USB the device negotiates the voltage and current with the charger. It seems possible that iOS could notice that you plugged in the phone, and set an alarm for X hours from now, and negotiate a charging speed that will have the phone ready to go at that time.

    Electric cars do just that, charge up to y% right away to give you a quick boost when you need it, then slowly charge the rest of the way targeting a (user configurable) completion time the next morning.

  60. Lightning is a better connector than USB-C by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    All of the USB connectors have a "tongue" on the device surrounded by the rest of the connector. The wire-side connection has a slot for the tongue. Lightning is the reverse - the wire has a tongue and the device has a slot.

    The problem with the USB approach is that the tongue is a weak point, especially on USB-C and micro USB. When it breaks, that connection on the device is useless.

    I've had to replace several devices because the USB tongue broke, leaving me with no way to connect the device to anything (such as for charging, data transfer, etc.)

    If the Lightning tongue breaks, no big deal - I just buy another cable. Yes, Apple or clone cables are more expensive than USB cables but they're much less expensive than a new cell phone.

  61. Cable hell by guacamole · · Score: 1

    In my household we got several Apple iPads, lots of Android USB-c phones, and also a number of devices (like BT earbuds and speakers) that will stick with micro-USB for a long long time. Any place where I need to charge the mobile devices, whether car, kitchen, or bedroom, I need to have at least three cables around. These cables are like black spaghetti or copulating worms, always follow me and stare around with their sad sad eyes. How did we end up here?

  62. Easy to fix, don't buy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    EU law requires USBC on new phones so if they ship Lightning in the US it costs more but helps their lock in.

  63. The agonizingly slow conversion by sjbe · · Score: 1

    Ye olde USB 1 isn't going away anytime soon, because it is cheap to implement.

    Sadly this is undoubtedly true, at least the first bit. USB-C isn't hugely more expensive to implement but there is a large installed base of USB-A/B cables and ports out there already and that matters. I still haven't seen a printer with an USB-C port though I'm sure some exist. I've never seen a USB-C keyboard or mouse in person though again I'm sure they exist.

    That makes it ideal for low-cost, low-bandwidth devices, especially input devices.

    The cost argument isn't as significant as many people think. I make cables for a living so I'm more familiar than most with the costs involved. It actually costs more in a lot of cases to use multiple cables optimized for individual tasks than to just use a common cable that works for all, even if it is overkill for some of the tasks. USB-C is being produced at sufficient scale that the cost of it is not (or doesn't need to be) substantially higher than legacy USB connections. Once you include the engineering, tooling, support, warranty, supply chain, etc costs all in, the cost argument for legacy USB tends to be a poor one.

    And USB 2 has to stick around for another decade or so because of legacy flash drives and cameras.

    Older USB ports will stick around for quite a while but for more general reasons than just those items. Those items could be adapted to USB-C easily enough. It's more general network effects in play. The PC sitting behind me as I type this doesn't have a single USB-C port on it and it's not that old. Even unpopular legacy ports tend to die a hard death, particularly when they are as common as the older USB ports are. Hell we still see PCs with PS/2 ports even today for some mind blowing reason.

    I make wire harnesses for a living and you would not believe how many tens of thousands of unnecessary, obsolete, redundant, and superseded connection components are still in use today. I have a bookshelf literally full of catalogs 20 feet from my desk 90+% full of legacy components that still get used here and there, mostly by idiot engineers who make perfect the enemy of good. The big problem in converting is that a lot of existing equipment including a lot of charging infrastructure already has the ports. I think you are about right that it's going to take another 10-15 years to migrate the majority of equipment over to USB-C and to gradually clear out the older ports. They'll never completely go away but it's going to take a while to get to the tipping point where most vanish.

    1. Re:The agonizingly slow conversion by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      It's really not about the cables, but about the interface itself. USB2 is cooked right into the cheapest SoCs, USB1 is in cheap microcontrollers, keyboard interfaces, etc. The designs for those chips have been traded around, shared, transferred in fire sales etc. and as a result they are essentially free. The same thing will happen to the other forms of USB eventually, of course, but people will keep deploying the older forms at least up until that happens.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
  64. Sunk cost fallacy by sjbe · · Score: 1

    That relies on the assumption that you only have 1 standard that no older standards are ever used.

    Not at all. I'm well aware of the existing legacy equipment and I understand that people will continue to use it for some time. But you are only thinking of it (understandably) from one perspective. Continuing to sell it going forward is demonstrably wasteful. 9 pin D-sub connectors used to be common and still exist but they aren't sold as standard equipment on most PCs anymore. Those who need them for old equipment either buy an interface card or an adapter. New equipment comes with new ports and you adapt old equipment to it. To continue to sell a variety of legacy ports in new equipment is wasteful. There is some waste and conversion cost to the new standard but in the long run having a single physical connection standard will demonstrably be less wasteful than trying to maintain numerous legacy connectors with physically different connections.

    When USB-C became the standard, people didn’t stop using mini-B, micro-B etc and threw away all their devices that used them.

    This is a sunk cost fallacy. Nobody is asking them to stop using devices they already have. Those items are already paid for so it doesn't make sense to keep throwing money at multiple legacy ports on the devices they connect to in perpetuity.

    That would actually been a lot more waste.

    Not at all if you think through the entire scope of the problem. It might be more waste for that individual but overall it ends up being less. You have fewer components to manufacture so the supply chain costs go down significantly. People give Apple a lot of shit for going whole hog into USB-C (perhaps too aggressively) but a big part of the reason they are pushing it is because it saves a LOT of money in the long run. Every legacy port Apple has to support creates a substantial and measurable cost to them and ultimately to their customers. Every PC maker will eventually have to follow suit to maintain profit margins because legacy ports and support are expensive.

    Eventually old equipment gets replaced by new on the new standards and saves money in the long run. Trying to stick with legacy ports actually increases cost and waste globally even if it saves it for individuals in many cases.

    1. Re:Sunk cost fallacy by UnknowingFool · · Score: 1

      Not at all. I'm well aware of the existing legacy equipment and I understand that people will continue to use it for some time. But you are only thinking of it (understandably) from one perspective. Continuing to sell it going forward is demonstrably wasteful. 9 pin D-sub connectors used to be common and still exist but they aren't sold as standard equipment on most PCs anymore. Those who need them for old equipment either buy an interface card or an adapter. New equipment comes with new ports and you adapt old equipment to it. To continue to sell a variety of legacy ports in new equipment is wasteful.

      That's not my argument. I have multiple devices in which the only interface is a legacy cable. I can either replace it all so that I can use a new cable or keep using them as long as they work. Replacing the equipment generates far more waste than using the cables and equipment that I already have.

      There is some waste and conversion cost to the new standard but in the long run having a single physical connection standard will demonstrably be less wasteful than trying to maintain numerous legacy connectors with physically different connections.

      No one is trying to "maintain numerous legacy connectors". They are dealing with reality. When that equipment was made it came with brand new connectors. In the intervening years, those connectors became legacy. Also, you've assumed that the USB-C will be the only standard going forever and ever. If USB-D comes out in a few years, then you will have legacy USB-C cables and the exact same situation as now.

      This is a sunk cost fallacy [wikipedia.org]. Nobody is asking them to stop using devices they already have. Those items are already paid for so it doesn't make sense to keep throwing money at multiple legacy ports on the devices they connect to in perpetuity.

      Your claim is that a standard cable would have been less waste. The reality is that whenever anyone gets a new device (with the old or new cable), they will get another cable in the box. For example if Apple waited for USB-C and didn't switch to Lightning, how many cables would that have saved for the iPhone customer. Zero. When an iPhone customer gets a new iPhone, they will get a new cable regardless if it is Lightning or USB-C. When someone gets a USB-C Android like a Samsung Galaxy S9 they will get a new USB-C cable in the box. The only reduction in is if someone has both an iPhone and a Samsung AND they are looking to get additional cables, they only need to get 1 type of cable instead of 2. But how many people fit in this scenario? Very few.

      Eventually old equipment gets replaced by new on the new standards and saves money in the long run. Trying to stick with legacy ports actually increases cost and waste globally even if it saves it for individuals in many cases.

      Again, some of use are not "trying to stick with legacy ports" just to pollute the environment. It is far more waste to get rid of the device for new ones just to get rid of legacy ports.

      --
      Well, there's spam egg sausage and spam, that's not got much spam in it.
  65. Network effects by sjbe · · Score: 1

    It's really not about the cables, but about the interface itself.

    That's approximately the point I was trying to make, perhaps badly. Although to be fair the cables are part of the problem.

    USB2 is cooked right into the cheapest SoCs, USB1 is in cheap microcontrollers, keyboard interfaces, etc. The designs for those chips have been traded around, shared, transferred in fire sales etc. and as a result they are essentially free.

    Those are sunk costs and thus not really relevant to a cost analysis. The designs don't really cost much at this point but the components and assembly and supply chain do cost real money every time we build a machine that uses them. I'm fairly certain the main reason companies still include these legacy ports is because they fear (with some justification) that they will lose sales if they don't include them. It would cost them less to not have to include them and to standardize on a single port type but that doesn't matter if they cannot sell the product. People have USB devices they want to use and not many companies are confident they can convince their users to adapt them or upgrade.

    So we have sort of a Mexican standoff among device makers. None of them really want to include the legacy ports but they all think they sort of have to so their competitors don't get a leg up. This is how the 3.5" floppy drive hung around for about 10 years after it should have rightfully died. It's why we still have CD drives in so many desktop PCs that don't really need one. It's why we still see freakin' PS/2 ports even to this day. Apple has something of privileged position where they can get away from some of this since they are the only PC maker who is fully vertically integrated and controls their own operating system. But they are the exception that proves the rule.

    Networks effects can be very powerful but not always in a good way.