Home » Because the universal charger is a lesser revolution than it seems

Because the universal charger is a lesser revolution than it seems

by admin
Because the universal charger is a lesser revolution than it seems

All electronic gadgets will have to adopt Usb-C connectors for charging. Behind the decision of the EU there is the desire to reduce economic waste (approx 250 million euros a year for new battery chargers) and the ecological impact (a thousand tons of electronic waste less). The single charger, however, will be a revolution more in words than in deeds. Already today, in fact, most gadgets, smartphones, computers are equipped with USB-C ports: born in 2014, it is an established standard, and using it is convenient for everyone, also due to the economies of scale that can be implemented ( for instance for chargers and cableswhere it is sufficient to rebrand any OEM product).

The only notable exception is Apple, but on closer inspection a Cupertino they will not have to be so concerned about the decisions in Brussels. For various reasons, and first of all for the timing of implementation of the EU legislation: by autumn 2024, a date that seems to have been chosen specifically for the iPhone, traditionally presented at the beginning of September. The next model, the 14, will arrive in 2022, and will certainly still have the proprietary Lightning connector the one after it may already be equipped with USB-C, and so Tim Cook will be able to say that he arrived at this solution before it was imposed on him by the new rules. And even if this is not the case, there are two years to implement all the required changes.

The expert’s opinion

Is super fast charging really bad for smartphone batteries?

by Emanuele Capone


Ten years

On the other hand, when Phil Schiller, senior vice president of Apple, first introduced the Lightning connector in September 2012, explained that it would be Apple’s charging standard “for the next decade”. And so it is time to abandon it.

See also  Orange dark circles corrector, when to use it and what it is for

The rumors have been circulating for a while, but in recent weeks they have multiplied and are starting to arrive from increasingly reliable sources. The last two, in chronological order, are market analyst Ming-Chi Kuo and the Bloomberg website. They both agree on the fact that the USB-C will arrive on the iPhoneBut not the next one: the 2023 model is slated to debut. Kuo, however, adds another important element, suggesting that other Lightning products, including AirPods, will also switch to USB-C in a reasonably short time. It is not impossible, at least for two reasons: first, it is mostly accessories, where the Lightning connector is only used for charging, second, the move would give Apple the possibility to use a single connector for all its products, excluding the MagSafe used on laptops, which can still be charged using the Usb ports.

Not just iPhone

Apple introduced the Lightning connector with the iPhone 5, which first replaced the bulky 30-pin dock connector with a smaller plug, which could be plugged into the unit without worrying about finding the right way. It then arrived on iPad, AirPods in all versions, Magic Keyboard, Magic Trackpad, and even on the iPhone case with battery. In some cases, as in the first version of the Apple Pencil or the Magic Mousethe position of the connector is uncomfortable beyond imaginable, the result of winning design choices but completely crazy as regards practical use.

However, it must be said that the importance of the Lighting connector for accessories was not comparable to that of its predecessor, because in the meantime many manufacturers have adopted wireless connections. So iPhone compatible docks and speakers, for example, are far less than those for iPods (which also used the 30-pin connector). Another hit to the market came with the MagSafe in the iPhone version, which allows you to charge the phone and keep it in place, thanks to the powerful magnets on the back. Apple hasn’t pushed this feature as hard as it could have, and the ecosystem of MagSafe compatible accessories is pretty limited here too. It hardly needs to be remembered that none of these standards are freely usable from third parties: to do this you have to pay a license, as well as comply with precise hardware and software indications.

See also  Zhang Benmei and the World Youth Championships won four gold medals in ten years, may become the country's table tennis rivals

Already in order

Meanwhile, Apple has included USB-C ports on several products, starting with the iPad Pro, even in the version with the additional Thunderbolt standard for a faster data transfer. All the chargers currently in the catalog have a Usb-C socket, where a different cable must be inserted from time to time: for the Watch, for the iPad, for the iPhone, for the MacBook. On the other hand, the EU will hardly be able to force smartwatch manufacturers to insert a USB-C port on the devices, for reasons of size and resistance to wear, water, dust. For comply with the new rules will it be enough to have a base or a cable that has a Usb-C connector at one end? If this were to be the case, all smartwatches on the market would already be in order today.

Yet: the newly unveiled MacBook Air, which will arrive in July, adopts a charger with two Usb-C ports, usable at the same time, to recharge the computer and products of any brand. Like all the other laptops of the Cupertino company, the Air can be recharged using a Usb-C port, or with the dedicated MagSafe connector. Included in the package is a special cable, which on one side has a magnetic connector that easily detaches if you trip over it, and on the other ends in a regular USB-C connector. For computers, however, the EU gives a further deadline to adapt: 40 months after the entry into force of the new rules. Apple and many other manufacturers would already be in good standing today. It would be different, however, if Brussels also imposed electrical standards for charging, in addition to the physical presence of a USB-C port: the work to be done would be much more complex, and in some cases it would involve a radical rethinking of the circuitry. Yet, even here Apple would have an advantage, thanks to the reduced consumption of the new homemade processors, first the M1 now the brand new M2.

See also  The first TV subscription system, easy to have super high video quality: OVO QLED Quantum TV | T Kebang

Announcements

Apple launches the M2 chip, here’s what changes

by Andrea Nepori



Jobs’s dream

Data transfer speeds could be another push to move away from Lightning, which is not competitive today from a performance standpoint with iPads using Usb-C. Here too, however, wi-fi and 5G fill the gap very well. Always waiting for the elusive iPhone without physical connections, which Apple has been testing for some time and is not ready yet. No power cable, no headphone jack (abandoned as early as 2016), no Sim card slot: perfectly smooth and impenetrable, as Steve imagined it Jobs.

You may also like

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Accept Read More

Privacy & Cookies Policy