[alt_f4]

Every time you are buying a charger, wired headphones or any other iPhone accessory, Apple collects a hefty license fee and you, indirectly, are paying it.

Originally, the lightning port was a big improvement over existing tech. Currently though, the only reason the lightning port still exists is because it is a good way for Apple to use their market dominant position to milk consumers. It is not good for consumers, it is also not good for the environment. It is good just for Apple.

It is generally the job of the govt to prevent these types of abuses. Is this particular law worded the right way for that? Maybe, maybe not, but it will do the job for this particular case.

[crooked-v]

I suspect a major factor in keeping the Lightning stuff is also because of how intense the complaining would be if they switched it to USB-C. The introduction of Lightning got endless negative PR over all the old 30-pin accessories, and this would be that plus the extra complaining about how they keep "constantly" changing it.

For similar reasons, I suspect there's at least some factions in Apple that would be secretly pleased with a mandated switch to USB-C, because then they'd be able to get past it by redirecting any complaints to the government involved.

[alt_f4]

It's not quite an apt comparison because the vast majority of people already own USB-C chargers and accessories, whereas lightning was a brand new thing.

Also if Apple were that bothered by complaining, it would not have taken them 5 years and 3+ years of service programs to replace their laptops' butterfly keyboards with regular scissors switch keyboards.

[uxp100]

The vast majority? I suspect that is very very wrong. I own a single device that has a USB C port, and no peripherals that connect to it without an adapter, and I post on HN. It is very early for USBC yet.

[ksec]

Thank You. Apart from my "returned" MacBook Pro, I dont own a single USB-C cable or devices that supports it.

[scarface74]

The vast majority have USB C cables? Why would I own any USB C chargers as an iPhone user? Not even most Android phones support USB C.

[thomasahle]

> Why would I own any USB C chargers as an iPhone user?

Maybe you own a USB-C laptop or tablet? Maybe even from the same company?

[kortilla]

No? iPad Pro and MacBook sales are a drop in the bucket compared to iPhone.

[alt_f4]

And iPhone sales a drop in the bucket compared to Android phone sales. And they all have USB-C.

[tridentlead]

Trust me, the vast majority of people do not own USB-C accessories.

[scarface74]

How “hefty” can the license fee be when you can buy a pack of five lightning cables for $14?

https://www.amazon.com/Charger-AYNGWRNB-Certified-Lightning-...

But if Apple is being “abusive” by having proprietary hardware, does that mean they should also force Nintendo to use standard media for the Switch? Should they also force Apple to allow iPhones to run a more standard operating system?

[mthoms]

Fully 40% of those reviews are 1-star reviews (mostly due to the cables not working out of the box, or failing after a short time).

I get the feeling these aren't legitimately certified.

[scarface74]

The average rating is 2.8. They do data transfer and they charge the phone. I use them now.

[FireBeyond]

I guarantee you that those cables are faking the MFi authentication chip. Counterfeit cables aren't really an apt comparison.

[scarface74]

We can argue about how many pins are on the head of a needle or we can be more practical and admit that anyone can get a cheap lightning cable from anywhere and that you don’t need the government to insinuate itself in every area of our life unnecessarily.

[eigen]

for comparison, the same company offers a 5 pack of USB-C cables for $12.99.

https://www.amazon.com/Braided-Charger-Charging-Compatible-S...

Also, the lightening cables now show $9.99 for me.

[philwelch]

> Originally, the lightning port was a big improvement over existing tech.

One that wouldn't have been invented if this regulation existed at that time, incidentally.

[_bxg1]

That makes sense, but usually they aren't so blatant about that sort of thing; usually there's some sort of pretense at least. Especially given how "brave" they've been about pushing USB-C on their laptops; I'd have more sympathy for that if they were at least self-consistent.

But still, despite all of this salt I don't think it warrants legislation.

[alt_f4]

I do somewhat agree that it is govt overreach.

I think a more appropriate tool would be launching an investigation into why they've stuck with lightning when everyone else (including their other products!) use USB-C. That should essentially prove there is no good reason, other than making money off licensing, without regard to damaging the environment or exploiting the consumer. So they should get a giant fine for it and stop doing it.

But I don't believe there is the legal framework for the EU to do that, so they're trying to get the outcome they want using the tools that they have.