Submitted by bk27465 t3_xw3zdw in UpliftingNews
LiosIsHere t1_ir4zesq wrote
Reply to comment by Agreeable_Win7642 in Great news for everyone by bk27465
When a new and better connection is developed, the law will change to that connection instead of USB-C. That will likely take a while. Wireless is obviously also an option, but data transfer is still too slow.
This law is for all handheld mobile phones, tablets, digital cameras, headphones, headsets, portable speakers, handheld videogame consoles, e-readers, earbuds, keyboards, mice and portable navigation systems.
I'm sure it's pretty clear what a (smart)phone is, or any of the other things on this list. If something is invented that really doesn't fit any of these categories, the producers will likely already choose USB-C themselves (because having 1 different cable for 1 product is not very smart) or the law will be adjusted.
sleepytoday t1_ir6aj0w wrote
How will a new and better connection get developed? And what is the motivation to develop one if you can’t be better than your competitors?
MoustachedCat t1_ir6boab wrote
So you can license it.
sleepytoday t1_ir6fgdp wrote
Fair point. That works for me!
LiosIsHere t1_ir6ivoy wrote
Do we need a new and better connection? If yes, it will be made. If no, then it won't. Doesn't matter whether everyone uses the same connection or not.
Agreeable_Win7642 t1_ir5a7tq wrote
Well legislation is notoriously slow. And that is one issue that might halt progress. Do we have to wait for the law to change to release a new products with new connections? This law for example has been debated for more than a year now. How long will it take to add new acceptable connectors to the list? And at that point if apple develops one that is ground Breaking, and a smaller entity another, which one has the resources to lobby for this new standard to be adopted?
I also don't know that I agree with the statement that that we know what a smartphone is. I think intuitively we do, but to argue in court about such matters is more complicated. Is it a phone with a touch screen? If so when does a phone become a tablet? What about new possible voice UIs? Ok, if it's not the input method maybe it is functionality. What's the threshold to call a phone "smart"? Is it internet connectivity? Is it a camera? Does it have to have either? What if it has none?
I know it sounds easy in theory, but in practice it is not. In court it's a different story and only the big guys will have the resources to argue such matters. This means that small start-ups might not be able to disrupt the market with new products. Remember that a Mac computer is not a PC. Why would an iPhone be a smartphone?
An item that is not in that list and uses a different connector: a smartwatch. Sport smart watches from Garmin for example would never be as waterproof with a type C connector. There's no need for faster data connections for some of these devices, like the ones for diving. Why would a niche manufacturer invest in building new devices with such connectors that are more expensive?
I'm just saying it's complicated. This seems like a good idea but it might not be.
KanoeKnight t1_ir5buj1 wrote
Why don’t you go read the law yourself to find out how they define a smartphone?
Agreeable_Win7642 t1_ir5ezts wrote
I read the provisional agreement form June. It doesn't include the word smartphone anywhere in it: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/meetdocs/2014_2019/plmrep/COMMITTEES/IMCO/AG/2022/07-11/1259528EN.pdf
Neither does this: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A52020IP0024&qid=1664977809509 But uses the term "radio devices" which is even worse as anything with a Bluetooth connector, wifi connector etc. is a "radio device"
Would you be so kind to tell me where you read it?
KanoeKnight t1_ir734cd wrote
I didn’t because I don’t care enough about those little details because it doesn’t matter
LiosIsHere t1_ir5fh2x wrote
What we read in the news is just an easy to understand excerpt, I'm sure they thought of all those things you mention (which is why it took so long). I mean, they even have a whole paragraph detailing the label that needs to be displayed when a device does or doesn't include the charger (down to the dimensions and everything).
Also, the text mentions mobile phones, not smartphones, so anything that is mobile and can be used to call would be a mobile phone. It doesn't matter when it becomes a tablet, because those need to have USB-C as well.
And, as with any law, exceptions or challenges will most likely arise and be taken to court to be sorted out.
It's better to have this and maybe be a bit more sluggish with innovations than letting the current situation continu.
Agreeable_Win7642 t1_ir5gz7e wrote
Ok, we were going off the article with those examples. The law (at least the June proposal that was up for debate) does say this:
Apply to the following categories or classes
of radio equipment:
a) handheld mobile phones,
b) tablets,
c) digital cameras,
d) headphones,
e) headsets,
f) handheld videogame consoles,
g) portable speakers,
h) e-readers,
i) keyboards,
j) mice,
k) portable navigation systems,
l) earbuds,
m) laptops,
We can have similar debates about any of the items on the list, with examples that go in the same direction.
The part where I generally disagree is this: > I'm sure they thought of all those things you mention I don't think so. And I believe it is up to us to scrutinize any and all laws that get adopted to ensure that they do think about it and that others do so too.
>It's better to have this and maybe be a bit more sluggish with innovations than let ting the current situation continu.
Actually I don't see why. The e waste generated off of this will be huge and detrimental to the environment. I don't see the added value here. A bit of convenience because I don't have to carry 2 cables? Not worth it for me.
LiosIsHere t1_ir61uja wrote
It’s less waste, that’s the whole point. Yes, one time you might have a bunch of obsolete cables (although you can also use converters), but for the rest of time you only need one charger and cable for all your stuff and just need to replace those when they break.
hopingforabetterpast t1_ir5uaox wrote
what e-waste?
xSilverMC t1_ir5zg2j wrote
The billions upon billions of lightning cables that will be thrown out immediately, strangling all turtles into extinction in a matter of weeks /s
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