Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by j_jochem 2833 days ago
The point of the standard was to avoid power supplies becoming useless and going into the trash once the device they came with is no longer being used.
1 comments

Yes, that's obvious considering the PR they used about the weight and number of chargers hitting landfill welhen advocating for the spec. But the inclusion of the Micro USB plug in the standard, as well as the name, suggested they wanted a single plug.

(I should add, I think a single plug, mandated by any kind of law - voulentary or not - is an overreach of government, as the best plug will change... Micro USB was the best (Standard) at the time. USB-C, despite its issues, is that today. Hence - I'd like a standard for chargers, but one that moves with reality..

I don't think the EU ever mandated any particular kind of plug, to my knowledge all they demanded was that the vendors find a common standard and use that and micro USB A was the compromise reached, which atm is being updated to USB C and expected to last a bit longer than µUSB-A.
If a new plug becomes best, the government can be convinced to adopt that as new standard.
Convincing a company or two to use something and prove it superior in the market would be far easier than convincing the EU to adopt a new standard.
Apple still hasn't been convinced. The only way to enforce things from happening in society, is by law and by following up on that law if it isn't being adhered. That you don't like specific laws is a given; we all have that problem. A burglar doesn't like anti burglar law. A squatter doesn't like anti squatting law. A heroin user doesn't like anti heroin law. And Apple doesn't like laws demanding them to use certain connectors for chargers.