The Blog Subscribe
Is the Apple Connector a DoDo?
Two weeks ago without a huge fanfare, the European Commission announced that a 2009 resolution on the Standardisation of Cell Phone Chargers was to be enforced. They also said that the standard would be 'Micro USB'.
Did Uncle Steve immediately get frustrated in his Cupertino Offices and reach for the notepaper in order to pen a letter of complaint to the EU Heads of State or did he ask...Where's Europe?
Let's face it, the 30 pin Apple Connector isn't nice. I mean it fits well into the iDevices but it's pretty big and I mean unnecessarily big and then of course...Ugly. The voltage & data transfer limitations aren't what they were in 2001 and the devices are far smaller in both scale terms and actual terms, so why didn't the connector shrink to match, I mean, last weekend, this was officially a 10 year old technology?
Why hasn't Apple embraced another format? Why isn't there an optional charge point on devices, because hell knows when I've opened my bag and found nothing but mini USB cables, I cursed the day I bought an Apple Device.
The answer is MONEY! - Apple Sells them, Apple gets to license them (3rd party devices wouldn't exist without the lucrative license) and finally Uncle Steve doesn't care. If you complained that you forgot your charger and hadn't got another one, he'd call you a stupid ass and laugh because he knows the minute he turns his back and the minute you've finished showing him your middle finger, you'll be looking for the nearest electrical store or Apple store to buy one and get your precious device back online. He doesn't care.
But watch out Uncle Steve. You like the money from Europe I'm sure...kinda got used to it I'll bet. Well the EU ain't toothless (ask Microsoft). Not only will your iPhone have a prohibition on sales but your likely to get a fine and a letter on your file for failing to comply to the resolution. Just give them 10 years to sort out who's going to make the tea and buy the biscuits at the meeting
Nokia is still King with 32% of the Smart Phone Market in Europe, but Apple improved its standing in just 6 months from 18% to 24% at the expense of Blackberry and Nokia thanks to the release of iPhone 4.
I smell a fight but Stevie come on, the 30 pin connector is a dinosaur in high heels, wearing lipstick!
Ewen
Follow me on Twitter @BritishTechNews
Author
Ewen Rankin