The US Needs a Common Charger, Dems Say (theverge.com) 271
A group of Senate Democrats is calling on the US Commerce Department to follow Europe's lead in forcing all smartphone manufacturers to build devices that adhere to a universal charging standard. From a report: In a Thursday letter addressed to Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) -- along with Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Bernie Sanders (I-VT) -- demanded that the department develop a strategy to require a common charging port across all mobile devices. The letter comes a week after European Union lawmakers reached a deal on new legislation forcing all smartphones and tablets to be equipped with USB-C ports by fall 2024. "The EU has wisely acted in the public interest by taking on powerful technology companies over this consumer and environmental issue," the senators wrote. "The United States should do the same."
The EU Will drive the standard (Score:5, Insightful)
The EU will drive the charger standard - device makers don't like to make multiple variants for different markets so they're likely to use something that works in the EU as it's a huge market. The US can do it, but it's a little late to the game on this one
Re: (Score:2)
This is by design. By waiting until the EU mandated this, we can make the same demand knowing full well the tech companies were already going to make the change and always want to minimize the hardware differences between markets. Radio frequencies are pretty much the only thing left, which really isn't "fixable".
This is the the equivalent of jumping up and saying "Yeah!"
Re: (Score:2)
This is by design. By waiting until the EU mandated this, we can make the same demand knowing full well the tech companies were already going to make the change and always want to minimize the hardware differences between markets. Radio frequencies are pretty much the only thing left, which really isn't "fixable".
This is the the equivalent of jumping up and saying "Yeah!"
By waiting several years until Apple had converted all but two or three of their devices over to a common standard, the EU could mandate this knowing full well that the tech companies were already going to make this change. I mean, they first proposed this in 2018 [cultofmac.com].
Re: (Score:2)
Except that so many people screamed bloody murder that Apple actually backtracked on USB-C charging for the current generation of MacBook Pros, and the Air is about to take the same step backwards as well. Mind you, I think that's a good thing. I liked MagSafe and thought dropping it in favor of USB-C was a bad idea, and I'm quite glad to see it come back.
But that's the problem here. MagSafe may not be superior in all circumstances. Though I do wonder if it would have been feasible for Apple to extend o
Re: (Score:2)
. Radio frequencies are pretty much the only thing left, which really isn't "fixable".
I do amateur radio. Radio frequencies are pretty much harmonised globally for most stuff. The services may have different names but the frequency ranges. FRS and GMRS for example operate in the same area of spectrum allocated for mobile communicatios that PMR446 does in Europe.
Re: The EU Will drive the standard (Score:2)
I should have been clear, I was referring to things like LTE channels and the like. Cell phones currently have two major chipsets for there radios. One is USA and canada, the other one is international to accommodate this.
Charles
N3DEY
Re: (Score:2)
Or the US may decide on a DIFFERENT standard, like they did on TV screen frequencies. (Yes, there were good reasons, but...).
I feel that it's great that the EU decided to standardize. I'm a lot less certain that the US should also have one. If everyone builds to the EU standard, things are fine. If the EU and the US end up with different standards...not so good.
Re: (Score:2)
Radio frequencies can be solved as well, but not until everyone signs on to the same standard. GPS proves this is possible.
The reason radio frequency use isn't standard everywhere has a lot to do with the un-even parallel invention of radio-using technologies.
Same with power. In an ideal world we would have the ultimate compromise between US, EU, and Asian power standards and standardize on a smart 240V 50A connector I will call for the sake of simplicity "USB-Appliance Power Delivery or APD" which is a thr
Re: (Score:2)
The senate passes lots of meaningless legislation - it's just the sort of thing they'll like
Re: (Score:2, Insightful)
The Senate passes very little legislation unless "Moscow Mitch" gets his stamp of approval over it.
Here's for turtle retirement so stuff can actually pass.
Re: (Score:3)
Given the way politics is headed, it's unlikely that his replacement will be better.
Re: (Score:2)
Came here to say just what you said. The EU has effectively already created a standard for the world.
Re: (Score:2)
Came here to say just what you said. The EU has effectively already created a standard for the world.
Here in the UK we are proudly opting out of the EU standard, not realising that nobody cares.
Re: (Score:2)
Here in the UK we are proudly opting out of the EU standard, not realising that nobody cares.
We're not at all. The government just don't see the point wasting time and money to bring in legislation for something that's already guaranteed to happen because of the EU's decision.
Re: (Score:2)
Exactly. The EU's "suggestion" to standardize on one format about a decade ago managed to change everything worldwide. We finally got rid of the chargers with barrel connectors, 30 pin connectors, card edge connectors, and many other funky formats, where even if the physical shape of the connector is the same, the voltages and polarities may be different. No more walking up to a store display where one physically tries out a bunch of cables to find what works. Even now, you have Lightning, MicroUSB, and
Re: (Score:2, Insightful)
The EU will drive the charger standard - device makers don't like to make multiple variants for different markets so they're likely to use something that works in the EU as it's a huge market. The US can do it, but it's a little late to the game on this one
That's why Europe and the USA use the same sockets/plugs for their AC wall outlets.
Re: (Score:3)
Re: (Score:2)
The point is that the manufacturer already has to make significant deviations in design to accomodate the different plugs, so they already have to make multiple variants. At that point they might as well make the varients whatever they choose.
Re: (Score:2)
The EU will drive the charger standard - device makers don't like to make multiple variants for different markets so they're likely to use something that works in the EU as it's a huge market. The US can do it, but it's a little late to the game on this one
Perhaps we should suggest that the US join the EU. :)
Re: (Score:2)
Probably not a good idea. The EU has different warts than the US does. And large organizations are only responsive to other large organizations. (There are good reasons for that, as well as the more obvious bad results. But that's why I'm an anti-centralist who supports standards.)
Common Charger for EV (Score:3)
The US Needs a Common Charger for EVs
Europe settled already.
Needing a common charger (Score:2)
No shit, buckwheat
Please, not S.I.! (Score:2, Funny)
Please America, make it a different charger from EU, you need to be coherent in being... incoherent!
DISCLAIMER: this post contains elements of sarcasm
Not the right type of reguation (Score:3)
Re: (Score:2)
I think they can walk and chew gum at the same time.
Re: (Score:3)
Have you not heard the people D.C. talk? I beg to differ that they can do more than one thing at a time.
Re: (Score:2)
Our lawmakers? Most of them can't do one thing at a time.
Re: Not the right type of reguation (Score:2)
A fine argument when at least one of those tasks is critical and being handled with competence.
Re: (Score:2)
There are forced standards for wall sockets. Nobody ever claimed it would "fix the economy for normal people".
Re: (Score:2)
Here's one;
"U.S. Senate Republicans block bill to battle white supremacy"
https://www.reuters.com/world/... [reuters.com]
Re: Not the right type of reguation (Score:4, Informative)
What's the critical walking that's being blocked by Republicans?
Most everything else. Action on climate change, action on gun violence, action on immigration, action on student loans, action on increasing inequality, action on monopolies, action on privacy and data protection, etc. I have others, but I'm just making myself angry thinking about them.
Re: (Score:3)
Is it at all possible some of those bills were just bad bills?
Some, maybe. All? Never. And I haven't seen any reasonable and well thought out Republican plan to deal with any of those critical problems. It looks like all Republicans do is wedge issues, to rile up their constituency, and bills that blatantly favor the rich (though they do come up with garishly patriotic sounding names for those bullshit bills).
An example that clearly proves Republicans don't care a whit about good legislation, but only about obstruction is the infamous Republican vote against amendment
Coercion (Score:2, Informative)
USB Implementers Forum licensing fee: $3,500 for two years.
Apple MFi licensing fee: $100 per year.
What a great way to force people into paying your licensing fees!
Re:Coercion (Score:4)
Apple charges a fee for every cable with a lightning connector on it.
USB-C is a multivendor endeavor with no per-unit licensing fee.
From a consumer (read, citizen) perspective, there's no comparison USB-C is superior, and the numbers you cite are a rounding error
Re: (Score:2)
If it really is about reducing waste, then why not focus action on the bigger waste producers? For example, every car now has over 5,000 feet of wiring in them. I will own many cars in my lifetime but I doubt I will ever purchase 5,000 digital devices (each with one foot of various wiring).
Re: (Score:3)
Because standards are good for consumers, not necessarily for companies. Before they were standardized there were lots of connectors and even voltages making them incompatible so if your charger broke or you wanted another, you had to buy the $30 special adapter from the phone manufacturer, you couldn't just use one of the existing USB cables you have or buy a new one for $5.
It does reduce waste as well as people can keep the cables between devices and don't have to throw out the cable+transformer or cable
Re: (Score:2)
If USB-C is truly superior, then why is it necessary to force companies to use it?
It's only apparently necessary to force Apple, and only because of their deliberately incompatible and protectionist cable racket where they get a cut of every credible cable (which has their chip in it)
Re: (Score:2)
Re:Coercion (Score:5, Informative)
USB Implementers Forum licensing fee: $3,500 for two years.
Which grants you the right to use their logo. The specification is public, the connector design is public, the name "USB" is considered generic (as stated in the licensing terms) by the USB-IF themselves. Want to make USB-C cables? No license required as long as you don't stamp the USB logo on the side. That's why so many USB cables don't.
Apple MFi licensing fee: $100 per year.
Which grants you the right to buy their official chips to interface to standard bus architectures like USB, plus $4 per Lightning connector. (And it used to be considerably higher than that.) The only other option is to build your hardware using knock-offs and hope that they work. The spec isn't public, so you have no guarantees about anything.
See the difference between open standards and proprietary standards now?
Next due Monitor Cabling Standards (Score:4)
Please do Monitor cabling standards next!
15+ different monitor cabling styles is becoming frustrating to keep up with.
DSUB DVI
DSUB Display Port
DSUB HDMI
DSUB USB-C
DSUB Mini-DVI
DSUB Mini-Display Port
DSUB Mini-HDMI
DSUB MicroHDMI
DSUB USB-C
DVI Display Port
DVI HDMI
DVI USB-C
DVI Mini-DVI
DVI Mini-Display Port
DVI Mini-HDMI
DVI Micro-HDMI
DVI USB-C
And the list goes on and on.
Re: (Score:2)
Kill HDMI, Displayport is the superior system. Just have the full size and USB-C varant and call it a day
Re: (Score:2)
which of the four versions of displayport do you mean?
Yet another catlytic converter (Score:2)
What happens when a better technology (interface design) comes along? I'm betting that the legislation will have no mechanism for changing and will never sunset. Never never never allow a politician dictate technology standards.
Re: (Score:2)
I personally welcome our new DB-9 charge cable overlords
Re: (Score:2)
Nah. SCSI cables.
Re:Yet another catlytic converter (Score:5, Insightful)
That's why we have things like NIST, ISO, ANSI, IEEE, SAE, etc. The government also said every car has to operate on OBD-2 and that has been a net benefit for the consumer.
Even in this case if companies have enough innovation to demand a new port it can be brought to the USB-IF and since just about every company affected is part of it they can sort it out.
If we said "no good things now because it might change in the future" what are we even doing at all?
Re: (Score:2)
Perhaps a reasonable argument in this case. Perhaps. But I'd be a lot happier if laws came with built-in sunset clauses. (With, be it admitted, a few exceptions.)
Re: (Score:2)
To be fair also this isn't actually even proposed legislation yet, just a letter. And if it's something that can be done with just the Commerce Department and not passing a real bill then a sunset clause doesn't actually apply, it can be adapted as needed. I think the act of saying "there should be a standard for these things" is most important, not that the standard is fixed in stone.
Re: (Score:2)
The government also said every car has to operate on OBD-2 and that has been a net benefit for the consumer.
True... up to the point that you need an ultra-expensive proprietary-to-each-make computer program in order to get details on what is actually wrong... instead of, you know, making this kind of thing available to car owners and leasers so they can download the information and upload it into the service request for those whose dealers and non-dealer repair shops use online service request appointment systems. Do that and it could really benefit the consumers by speeding up the entire repair process by allow
Re: (Score:2)
I totally understand that, I think that's more of a case that we are in need of an OBD-3 or other next gen standard, cars have way more computers and tech in them now than in 1996, the protocol was good but could not account for everything in the last 25 years.
However the alternative history without any OBD standards was and would be every manufacturer having a totally proprietary diagnosis protocol. One that is 100% locked behind manufacturer controlled hardware and probably also encrypted to prevent 3rd p
Uh Oh (Score:2)
About a Decade Late (Score:2)
Back in the days where literally every manufacturer used a different charging cable, and some used different charging cables for different devices, this might have made sense. But as usual, the politicians only get around to dealing with a problem long after it's already more-or-less solved itself. When was the last time anyone here bought a phone that wasn't either USB-C or Lightning? Do we really need a law to turn two cable types into one?
It's a stupid idea anyway: By insisting on one standard for chargi
From a devoted free marketeer: Yes! (Score:5, Informative)
I rarely favor government intervention into markets. Free markets are the most powerful engine we've yet found for producing goods and services that lift all of humanity, and nearly all government interference amounts to harmful market distortion. But establishing common standards is something that markets don't always do on their own, and yet benefit greatly from, much as they benefit from government-standardized weights and measures
Europe did the right thing in the 90s when they mandated GSM as the single cellular telephone communication standard, they did the right thing when they mandated CCS for electric vehicle charging (even though I think Tesla's connector is better in many ways), and they're doing the right thing now by mandating USB-C for mobile devices. The US should follow suit and mandate both USB-C and CCS. Both consumers and technology companies will be better off.
The one potentially-legitimate concern of mandating these kinds of standards is that it may block innovation. What if someone wants to build a new charging interface that can provide 200W, rather than USB-C's 100W limit? I think the GSM experience shows that's not really a problem. The GSM we use today (including in the US, because it won) has almost nothing in common with the original standard mandated decades ago. Cellular modem companies still innovated, and got their innovations into succeeding generations of the standard, relying on patent licensing to profit from their R&D rather than consumer lock-in. So I'm not concerned that any limitations of our current USB charging interfaces will be problematic; USB charging will continue to evolve, and this can and will be done in a way that is consistent with standardization.
Hey, look over here! (Score:2)
This sounds like a wonderful solution to something that I don't believe was ever actually a problem for anyone.
Sure, it's a fantastically fun thing to complain about twice a year -- like a lot of things. But as a set of easily-complained, zero consequence "problems", none of them is worth solving.
It's a great way to distract people from all sorts of other things. "Your problems in life are your phone chargers! We'll fix it for you, and then your life will be amazing -- you'll be rich!"
And honestly, is th
Maybe for Cars, not Phones (Score:3, Insightful)
How about a common standard for all cars to charge from the same ports? That might actually be useful.
Re:Maybe for Cars, not Phones (Score:5, Informative)
The common car charger issue has already been resolved. IIRC, it's going to be CCS Type 2.
Why are you against a standard for phones? Seriously, do you want to go the old bad days of every phone having a proprietary charger?!
Re: (Score:3)
You mean CCS, of which all new plug in cars use it *except* Tesla?
O god the micromanagement (Score:2)
It's not like they have anything more important to do, eh? And, I guess that it's simply too much to expect our population to manage 3 different lengths of wire.
No need (Score:3)
Europe already will make it happen. The US can ride along.
No we don't need a charging standard (Score:2)
Regulation will stifle innovation and increase costs. Let the manufactures decide.
I don't get it (Score:2, Funny)
...liberals have this weird fixation with trying to make the US be Europe.
You know our ancestors left them for a reason?*
*(I mean, those who came voluntarily, not those who were sold into slavery by African native tribes.)
USB-C is not good for laptops (Score:3)
I do IT support, and have seen an excess of hardware failures on USB-C laptop charging ports due to stress on the connector; this was very rare with the proprietary connectors as they were larger and sturdier. It's more noticeable on a small device ie a smartphone if there's tension at right angles to the USB-C charging cable, but on a larger and heavier device such as a laptop this can be easily overlooked.
It's very similar to HDMI-Mini which I consider a failure as I don't see it on modern cards anymore; the weight of thicker HDMI cables could bend the connector. Never saw this with regular HDMI.
Smartphones and actual tablets (no folding or keyboard) only please.
Re: (Score:3)
This is more a side effect of cheaping out on the design than the connector itself.
The usual failure mode I've seen in USB-C laptop is the USB-C receptacle delaminating from the board, because they went cheap and surface mounted the port to a board without any other reinforcement. They could have the port physically reinforced by the chassis or at *least* do through-hole mounting.
I suppose you could say a 2 pin power port is easier to repair than a 24 pin connector however, if one were inclined to actually
Not so "wise" ..... (Score:2)
I'm so tired of many Americans deciding our solutions lie in just copying what the EU or other nations have done. (Honestly, if you like their government so much, why don't you consider moving there and giving up your U.S. citizenship? It seems like that would make you happier than constantly fighting to change the way things are done in the USA.)
Mandating one standard for phone chargers is obviously a really small issue, and not in itself worthy of relocating to a new country! But it's an idea that's not
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
Honestly, if you like their government so much, why don't you consider moving there and giving up your U.S. citizenship?
Because the USA is a slave nation. Not only have we officially not abolished slavery (it is explicitly still legal to enslave felons) but the USA makes it very difficult to give up your citizenship, and the process is expensive.
The USA considers every one of us to be its property. It's like if the law let you sue your kids for the money you spent raising them.
Yeah cause we have nothing else to worry about now (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
USB-C pretty much already has happened. Every single portable device I can think of these days charges off USB. Some of them still charge off the old USB-B micro port, but most charge off USB-C.
There are two major exceptions: Laptops, and iPhones. A lot of laptops still use their own barrel charger, mainly because until recently, USB-C didn't provide enough power. The latest USB-PD standards fix that.
Of course, who knows if this proposed law would target laptops, because the article just says "mobile device
Re: No, no, please don't... (Score:2)
Apple's latest laptops use USB-C charging in addition to magsafe. In addition, the new magsafe cable is USB-C on one end and uses USB PD for negotiation.
Its unlikely USB-C charging will be removed as Apple uses it for docked power in their own products. They've simply added another, better charging port, which would be allowed under any regulation that wants common standards.
Re: (Score:2)
I looked this up. The latest MacBook Air, the new one with the M2, has three ports listed: 1 charging, 2 ThunderBolt. Nothing in the specs says it supports charging off USB-PD. Instead it says it comes with its own proprietary charger and cable in the box.
Re: No, no, please don't... (Score:5, Informative)
MacBook Pro I am using right now has one MagSafe and 3 USBC ports. I can charge the machine off of any of them. (I am in fact charging the machine off of one of them RIGHT NOW, because I leave my MagSafe cable at home.) System report states the 3 USBC ports are "Thunderbolt/USB4". Don't let the name confuse you.
The "proprietary charger" is a USBC brick. Can you charge the computer with it? Yes. You can also charge anything else that uses USBC, like the Chromebook my kid used for school. Which we have done multiple times.
Re: (Score:2)
Not sure where you looked, but Apple's Tech Specs for the new M2 MacBook Air says the USB ports support charging, independently of the MagSafe 3 port
That's how it works with my 2021 14-Inch MacBook Pro, too.
https://www.apple.com/macbook-air-m2/specs/
Charging and Expansion
MagSafe 3 charging port
3.5 mm headphone jack
Two Thunderbolt / USB 4 ports with support for:
Charging
DisplayPort
Thunderbolt 3 (up to 40Gb/s)
USB 4 (up to 40Gb/s)
USB 3.1 Gen 2 (up to 10Gb/s)
Re: (Score:2)
Apple is backtracking away from USB-C not just on charging, but video output as well... because when they did go all-in on USB-C as the future connector for things, you people screamed bloody murder and declared that to be the worst generation of MacBooks ever. And now they're evil for doing exactly what you've been demanding they do for several years now? Hypocrisy is not a good look.
Re: (Score:2)
> propose solutions to problems that do not need solutions
Not exactly. They mandate what is already happening and then take credit for it.
Which fucks the edge cases (like when you might actually need a magnetic latch, not just Apple being a proprietary whore).
Re: (Score:2)
I consider this a law which really, really only targets a single company.
you mentioned it.
Do i agree that having everything USB C would be nice? definitely! Anyway that is not the only shit apple pulls, so it does not affect me personally and people who can afford > 1000 Euro for a phone don't deserve my pity.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2, Troll)
Re: (Score:2, Troll)
"I don't understand how the US legislature operates but ignorance has never stopped me making blanket statements before"
If Apple's cable is so great they have been free to license it or even submit it to the USB working group for years now. They did it with mini-displayport so they know it's possible.
Re:I dare say the US has more pressing matters. (Score:4, Insightful)
This is bullshit. We're falling apart, a country divided, and the best they can come up with is force a single charger standard?
Wait... you want these wishy-washy Congresscritters to actually take a stand for something that could put them in jeopardy of losing reelection? You'll never see that, and it doesn't matter what side of the aisle they choose to occupy.
Re: (Score:2)
Amen, sister!
Re: (Score:2)
This is bullshit. We're falling apart, a country divided, and the best they can come up with is force a single charger standard?
Well they've sent it off to US Commerce Department [commerce.gov]. So that's it. That's usually the full extent of what Congress will do on these kinds of low priority things. So that was the full amount of time that they are spending on the topic. There's literally thousands of things that come out of Congress to the different departments, every month. Main stream media picked up one and you're going ape shit over it. Who really has the problem here?
Additionally, if you're pretty adamant about hating on any regulat
Re: (Score:2)
Asking someone to understand how the government works is like asking them to program in Brainfuck, but a high level overview is feasible. What you've been describing is a part of that high level overview. Just don't take too seriously that it really *does* work that way. A lot of things get decided in meeting between "friends" that aren't recorded. (This is not *necessarily* a criticism. I've got the strong suspicion that the government wouldn't work at all if you took out that part.)
Re: (Score:2)
Good point, we can't solve any other problems until we've held criminals accountable for their crimes - because it's definitely the Senate's job to prosecute crimes.
I guess you're be happy to see they're investigating some of the criminal groups that were working to overthrow the government while at the same time other members are pushing legislation to help consumers.
Re: (Score:2)
Discount stores sell lightning cables for $5 or less. Of course they can't be called Lightning.
Re: (Score:2)
It's not just about the cable. Device manufacturer's have to pay a royalty to put the port in their device. So your $60 earphones just became $90 earphones for a $0.30 part.
Re: (Score:2)
Do you never watch YouTube videos? They're there and they're a real thing.
No I read actual news sources. Like this one. https://apnews.com/article/vir... [apnews.com]
In thousands of pages of court documents, the only apparent mention of antifa is in a Boston case in which authorities said a FBI Gang Task Force member was investigating “suspected ANTIFA activity associated with the protests” when a man fired at him and other officers. Authorities have not claimed that the man accused of firing the shots is a member of antifa.
Re: (Score:2)
This would be the first time USA follows EU and not the other way around.
Quite wrong. RoHS. The US has it (whether it wants it or not) because of the EU.
Re: (Score:2)
I really think that should be required for *all* government regulations. Complying with government-imposed regulations should not require paying artificial costs. Whether that be paying for patent licenses, or paying for 3rd-party documentation to know what the rules even are (as is required for many civil engineering standards).
I would regard competency licenses, from driver, to contractor, to medical, to be a mostly separate question - there's real ongoing costs in testing, compliance monitoring, and ov
Re:What a great way... (Score:5, Insightful)
Re: (Score:3)
The stifling occurs when the next new idea for a charger connector comes along, but manufacturers can't even test it out in the market because the Government has forced them to use only USB-C.
Uh, there's a difference between the government requiring to use only USB-C and having support for USB-C.
Also, look at it from a different angle. Imagine a neighbor where every house has different types of electrical outlets (type B, D, G, H) and different voltages. Governments lay out construction guidelines based on standards. To me, the EU ruling seems like an overreach, but OTH, not every government mandate is an attack on innovation. In technology and in processes, sometimes constraints make you f
Re: (Score:3)
Here's the thing, though: Don't confuse USB-C with USB 3.x (or some other USB standard). USB-C only refers to the connector. You can put any protocol you want over it. You can also create a superset of it. That's what Thunderbolt is. The USB-C port on your $599 laptop can't do everything a Thunderbolt port can, but Thunderbolt ports are fully compatible with all current USB standards.
Re: (Score:3)
Nothing stopped Samsung or Apple building Fast charging into their USB 2.0 chargers.
Re: (Score:2)
Well, it does stifle innovation. But do we really need cellphones with a lot more plug designs?
FWIW, I feel that the law should come with a sunset built into it, say 10 years. Then in 10 years they can build fingernail top computers with a different charging port. (Probably near-field.)
Re: (Score:2)
I'm curious. What do you think Congress should do about inflation?
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
This and stop preventing production. Also let the energy sector work (drill baby drill and open pipelines ). Also Ukraine has nothing to do with US interests.
Re: (Score:2, Troll)
How is this a troll? If this law passed 20 years ago we would be stuck with USB 1.1 charging cables to this day.
Re: (Score:2)
Because laws like the EU one define a standard and are updated for new technologies like USB-C
Re:What a great way... (Score:5, Informative)
You may not remember the bad old days before phones all charged on USB. There were hundreds of charging specs, inconsistent between models of the same brand. Finding a charger for an older phone was difficult to impossible, and a couple times I just had to buy a new phone because I couldn't get one for my model.
It was wasteful and frustrating, and I saw no innovation, unless you consider minor changes to voltage and adapter size innovative.
Mandate a review every X years (Score:4)
I think built in to any legislation standardizing on a single charging standard should be a provision to review the best options every X years and, if there's something better available, transition to the better thing over a period of a few years. Obviously it's not as simple as just saying that, there are probably a lot of other factors to take into account to ensure the process doesn't become politicized or susceptible to moneyed interests etc., but I think intelligent minds could feasibly build this kind of provision in.
Re: (Score:2, Funny)
No. This is one Democrat Legislation I can get behind.
On the other hand, It's Democrat Legislation, so it will probably standardize mini USB.
Re: (Score:3)