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Iphone Cellphones Power Technology

New iPhones To Stick With Lightning Over USB-C, Include Slow-Charging 5W USB-A Charger In Box (9to5mac.com) 248

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

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  • Rolling Eyes (Score:2, Interesting)

    by pudge ( 3605 ) *

    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.

    • by SeaFox ( 739806 )

      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.

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

        • by pudge ( 3605 ) *

          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.

      • by pudge ( 3605 ) *

        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 ye

    • by e3m4n ( 947977 )

      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

      • Re: (Score:2, Interesting)

        by _merlin ( 160982 )

        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?

        • 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.

          • 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 cabl

            • 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.

        • 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.

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

      • by pudge ( 3605 ) *

        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.

  • but it seems people who want to buy an iPhone don't care enough, to the point they'd switch to android.
    • Why would anyone want OS updates for 5 years and no Google watching your every move?

      • Re: (Score:2, Troll)

        by war4peace ( 1628283 )

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

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

        • 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.
      • Re: (Score:3, 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?

      • by e3m4n ( 947977 )

        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 ;-)

      • 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.

      • 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 de

      • by Kohath ( 38547 )

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

    • by mentil ( 1748130 )

      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 switc

    • 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.

  • by LordHighExecutioner ( 4245243 ) on Tuesday February 12, 2019 @02:42AM (#58108272)
    ...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.
  • 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.

  • Passed On (Score:2, Insightful)

    by mentil ( 1748130 )

    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!

  • 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"

  • 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

  • But is slow charge not still better for the battery?

    • No, it is not.
      • by Ormy ( 1430821 )

        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

  • by cardpuncher ( 713057 ) on Tuesday February 12, 2019 @03:56AM (#58108416)
    ... Apple truly understands.
  • by sad_ ( 7868 ) on Tuesday February 12, 2019 @06:54AM (#58108778) Homepage

    "...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.

  • I'm resistant to changing to Apple.

    It is actually that simple.

  • by LostMyBeaver ( 1226054 ) on Tuesday February 12, 2019 @07:40AM (#58108886)
    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.
    • 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 1
  • Eco-friendly? (Score:5, Insightful)

    by sjbe ( 173966 ) on Tuesday February 12, 2019 @08:06AM (#58108968)

    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 [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. 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.

    • by Kohath ( 38547 )

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

      • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.
    • 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...

  • 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 tha

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