USB-C only in EU from today?

My biggest complaint is that any time a government mandates any thing citizens cost go sky high. And seldom does that mandate real improve anything. But I do agree that USBC is the best choice.

TBVH, I think it’s absolutely brilliant that we now have a new “Standard” for USBC in Europe, I have absolutely dozens of different charging cables, for all manner of rechargeable gear, it makes perfectly good sense, to have the one “Standard”… The USBC, is way better than old iPhone Lightning Charger, I can charge my iPhone 16 Pro, in about 40 minutes from say, about a 2% charge, it is far more convenient, and in the foreseeable future, you don’t have to lug all manner of chargers with you on holiday, and woe betide if you forget that proprietary charger cable… Eventually, in Europe at least, one charger for everything, seems like sense to me! The other things, I’m looking forward too, not that I use rechargeable aids, but it should be interesting to see how this pans out, easy access for hearing aid users, to change rechargeable aid batteries, at the moment there is a built in obsolescence, the manufacturers know it, and so do we the hearing aid consumers! Although, this applies (I believe) to all rechargeable goods? Now, I recently upgraded, from the iPhone 12 Pro, to the iPhone 16 Pro, I have changed the battery twice on the iPhone 12, and it’s a pain in the proverbial… Had I, easy access to change that cell phone battery again, I wouldn’t even have considered an iPhone 16 Pro, the 12 was still running perfect, well apart from the battery, it was starting to deteriorate again, Apple won’t sell you a battery, so you end up buying Chinese Knockoffs, and sometimes they ain’t the best… All in all, it should be very interesting, and if they do give us easy access to change our rechargeable hearing aid batteries, we can buy a few spare batteries, charge them up, and always have some on standby, or even rotate them, no need too stick them in under warranty to have them replaced, when have a few spares… Cheers Kev

@Flyboybob said:

Because of this kind of restrictive, nonsense, no one will ever improve on the speed, or connectivity, or convenience that competition provides.

You think that some outfit with huge market share making their own proprietary cable that locks out the competition is not restrictive? Interesting perspective.

The biggest issue I have with government interference is that it kills advancements in technology.
Yes there are times that government regulations are needed, mostly safety issues. But when it is used just to show it can have a big stick then itvis over stepping its boundaries and become no better that a big bully.
I spend a number of years with in the government and walked away with major discuss of politics, politicians and government over
reach

@markoo355 said:

Before TypeC, the rule was that microUSB should be the standard, remember what it was like before microUSB?? Almost every manufacturer had its own version of the cable and it was difficult to buy a cable for an old phone.

This!

I remember well when every mobile phone seemed to have a different power connector (including different models from the same manufacturer). It was a nightmare trying to find replacements and each manufacturer charged a premium for their adaptor as there was no competition. I remember travelling (it was in Germany but could have been anywhere in the world) and I left my mobile phone charger in a rental car. Finding a replacement while on the trip was really hard and expensive.

Even now I still carry Lightning, Type B Micro USB, Type C, Type B Mini USB and Garmin Fitness Watch proprietary cables when travelling to charge the various devices I carry. Type C is well specified and future proof and can support power delivery up to 240W. Hopefully one day I can carry mainly Type-C cables (until whatever next comes along )

It really does make sense for power adapters to support a standard interface.

Someone mentioned AC power - here thankfully we do have national standards on wall sockets etc (here in the US NEMA connectors for 120/240V with standards set by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association an ANSI-accredited Standards Developing Organization). Imagine if each utility company was left to innovate their AC outlets?

@Flyboybob said:

USB-C may be the best choice right now, but unless manufacturers have an incentive to innovate then a better future solution might never be developed. Imagine if the government mandated headphones had to wired and have a physical plug. Then Bluetooth might never be developed.

A physical interface standard does not stop anyone developing an alternative medium standard (in the case of Bluetooth wireless).

As we know many devices now also support wireless charging. Here again (thankfully) manufacturers are aligned on a standard Qi developed by the Wireless Power Consortium.

Standards are normally good things that help new markets / applications develop.

Regarding MFI, Apple didn’t actually develop it on its own. Apple was part of the Bluetooth SIG group that included other manufacturers. Apple used its monopoly on the smartphone market to push its own standard, and you have to admit that Apple made the market unfair to others who also wanted to have these hearing aids. Don’t get me wrong, I think the US government should have reacted and forced Apple to sell the MFI license to other smartphone manufacturers.

@Zebras said:

The News said last night that we will be expecting USB C as manufacturers won’t want to make different devices for the UK and USB C for the rest so we will likely see the USB C as well.

Yeah Ruth, it’s been happening here for the last couple of years now, gradually everything rechargeable has switched over to USB type C… When I buy anything rechargeable, it’s the first thing I check, to make sure it’s type C…They all are, I am hoping, what applies in the EEC, will also apply in the UK, especially with regards to rechargeable hearing aid battery access, in conjunction with all mobile phones… Cheers Kev

It will be. Because of the European Union, the microUSB standard has become a standard in other parts of the world.
I expect the same for USB Type C.

Although standardized plugs seems like a good idea, but it stifles innovation and creativity. When I travel internationally, I have to carry a power adapter because not only are AC power plugs different, but the voltages are different in different parts of the world. Like you I have some devices that use lighting plugs, USB-A, and now USB-C. Until I replace my two year old iPhone 13, will still require Lighting cables from USB-A. If the EU likes USB-C, then maybe someone will create an adaptor to go from Lighting to USB-3 or in reverse.

Will be a good excuse for the HA manufacturers to re release their accessories to support Bluetooth LE Audio I expect.

The only thing that I agree with the EU standardization is that when a device has reached the end of its life, the cable can continue on and can be used for other devices. However, the charging case, for my hearing aids has a 110 V AC plug on one end and a USB-C plug on the other. Therefore, I assume that the DC converter is inside the case. Many devices have a USB-A plug on one end and a USB-plug on the other end. This signifies that the DC transformer rectifier, or what ever is inside the power adapter. So standard is not so standard after all.

Do not get me wrong I am for standardization of the cables. But I am against government regulations because it always means cost goes skyhigh because of needless paperwork and oversight. In other words government cost too much and the best form if government is the very minimal government possible.

Sure, let’s allow corporations run rampant. We’ll see how it works for you. Oh wait, you can actually observe it in realtime, healthcare being one example.