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Comment by scarface74

3 years ago

Thought experiment: grab a random “standard USB C” cable.

Now answer a few questions just by looking at it:

- what wattage does is supper?

- what data speed does it support?

- will it support video over USB C?

Why didn’t the EU in all of its technical brilliance at least attempt to come up with a minimum “standard”?

What wattage, enough to charge my phone. What speed, don't really care but it's at least the same as Lightning. Video, never used it.

EU wanted to break up Apple's proprietary control over the iPhone ports and create a charging standard, cause charging is the important part. Anyone can make a higher-spec USB-C cable without going to Apple, and chargers are uniform for all phones.

Worth repeating that I don't agree with the EU's law, just saying why they did it. Nobody in this thread has brought up the real con, which is that tech regulation hinders innovation, and the minor frustration with chargers wasn't a big enough problem to warrant that.

  • > What wattage, enough to charge my phone

    Maybe or maybe not. There are plenty of really low watt capable USB C cords that come with headphones for instance.

    > What speed, don't really care but it's at least the same as Lightning

    That’s not true either. There are plenty of “power only” USB C cables.