this post was submitted on 31 Oct 2023
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Apple

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[–] [email protected] 37 points 8 months ago (3 children)

It makes all the sense in the world to move these devices to USB-C. My bet is that they still have stock/parts to clear out, and we'll see a USB-C refresh like we did with the AirPods Pro 2. As far as the mouse design goes, they must be selling these mice like crazy to continue to sell the dumbest mouse charging design for 8 years running. Otherwise, maybe they want to completely redesign the mouse and they just aren't ready to release it yet.

[–] [email protected] 25 points 8 months ago (1 children)

The moment apple releases a mouse that can be used while charging, it will be impossible to even resell the current model.

Cook is going to let the Christmas rush flush as much of the channel out as possible and then rev the accessories in the spring.

[–] eek2121 7 points 8 months ago

The first iteration of the mouse used regular (or rechargeable ) AA (or was it AAA?) batteries. I still have that mouse, but lost the battery cover.

[–] hemmes 6 points 8 months ago (1 children)

It's a really nice mouse, sleek, super portable, and I never use mine.

I have the trackpad (general productivity, day to day use), a Logitech MX Anywhere 3S (engineering drawings and other editing that flows better with a mouse), and the MX Master 3 (all of the above, best productivity mouse I've ever used).

My preferred mouse is the MX Master which stays at the home office and flips between devices. The trackpad stays at my work office, and the MX Anywhere travels with me. The Magic Mouse simply doesn't have enough utility for anything I'm doing.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 8 months ago (1 children)

The MX Master 3 is hands down the best mouse on the market. I have a Windows laptop for work, and a MacBook for personal use and I can just flip between them so easily.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 8 months ago (1 children)

I didn’t know I was capable of liking a mouse as much as I like my MX master 3. I also highly recommend the MX Keys keyboard.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 8 months ago

I have an mx keys mini at work and an mx mechanical mini at home. Highly recommend both keyboards! The mx mechanical in particular has a 10 month battery life if you don’t use the backlight.

[–] MeanEYE 24 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (2 children)

If they are charged through those ports, they can not keep them. Period. They might think they can get away with it, but they can't. Law clearly states that anything battery operated must use type C for charging.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Didn't it say "launched"? So you can continue to sell an older design. The same reason apple are selling the iPhone 14 still without issues.

[–] MeanEYE 4 points 8 months ago

That's probably the catch. This law comes into power 2024. Things that are being sold now can still be sold.

[–] TryingToEscapeTarkov 3 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Will be funny when they don't allow them in for import anymore.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 8 months ago

Starting 2024.

Let's see in a couple of months. I'm on Apple France and the magic mouse is for sale (85 frigging Euros, are you kidding me?). With lightning.

[–] TheMusicalFruit 19 points 8 months ago (5 children)

I’m convinced people that use Apple products don’t care that much about which connector is used, it’s mostly non Apple users that have a hard on about fighting the man. People in the ecosystem already have a lightning cable, those entering it will likely get one with their device, just like you get a USB-C with a non Apple devices. I get the need to standardize, but the amount of coverage and passion it gets seems so silly.

[–] my_blackest_day 7 points 8 months ago

You are describing me. I don’t give 2 fuck about the type c changing port, I have a ton of good lighting cable. Also plug-in a lighting cable is more satisfy than a type c, it has that click-sound when I plug in.

[–] beefcat 6 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (1 children)

I like that my new phone has USB-C, but yeah, I basically have a bunch of perfectly good lightning cables, some of them more than 10 years old, that are now e-waste. We spent $100 buying new cables, because we didn't have enough to cover all the places we normally stash chargers away for convenience (cars, couch, home office, etc.)

It's definitely better in the long run, but this felt more like ripping off a bandaid. The bigger deal for me is 10gbps speeds letting me shoot pro res footage straight to an attached SSD, but this is a pretty niche use case.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 8 months ago (1 children)

We spent $100 buying new cables, because we didn't have enough to cover all the places we normally stash chargers away for convenience

Now you can join the rest of the world and pay much less for cables and chargers. The $100 was a sunk cost that Apple stole from you. It's gone. Sell the cables with your old phone.

[–] beefcat 7 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (1 children)

Now you can join the rest of the world and pay much less for cables

The USB-C cables I just bought were not any cheaper than my lightning cables. In fact, I think they were actually a bit more expensive, because I only opted for cables that are certified for 100w power delivery and some of them for USB 3.1 speeds.

and chargers

This makes no sense, lightning cables always worked with ordinary usb chargers.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 8 months ago (1 children)

You can get a 6ft USB C cable for $4:

https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=38885

You would need 25 of them to spend more than $100. Are you just buying the USB C cable from Apple? That might be the problem.

[–] beefcat 5 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (2 children)

Those are 58% off right now, their regular price is $10. The regular price for the lightning version of these Monoprice cables is also $10. Right now i can see a three pack of 6 foot lightning cables on Amazon for $8.40, or $2.80 per cable. The benefit to switching is solely because of convenience and standardization, it is not saving me any money.

I also spent a lot more on some of my USB-C cables because i wanted them to support 3.1 speeds. That costs more if you go for USB-IF certified cables, which you probably should if you’re plugging them in to anything expensive.

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[–] BURN 5 points 8 months ago (1 children)

You’re entirely right

I have to do more work to switch from lightning to USB-C because very little to none of my devices use it. More use lightning because I’m already in the Apple ecosystem.

The people I see complaining about it are almost, but not always, android users

[–] my_blackest_day 1 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Honestly, why can Android user just leave iPhone alone? I get it, you don’t like Apple and iPhone is general, just go back and use your fking droid phone? It’s not like Apple hold a gun and force you to use an iPhone, you have a freedom to buy whatever tf device you want, your money your choice?

[–] Devcatdan 3 points 8 months ago

Mac(work)/Windows(play)/Android user here. I think folks get vocal about it because for a time, it actually affected everyone negatively since other companies wanted to follow apple's choice to make special cables. But it's is a predatory practice that only hurts you and creates waste for everyone. Some people go about it the wrong way, but they are trying to help you/everyone

My Mac 2019 has 4 USBC ports, I really like that I can use the same charger and cable for my Mac, Surface, Pixel, Logitech mouse and Xbox controllers - It feels like I'm finally in the future

[–] [email protected] 2 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Honestly. And the same people complaining about e-waste are the same people who want an accessory to switch cables.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 8 months ago

Over the long term, unifying cables reduces e-waste. In the short term it does not.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 8 months ago

Someone who uses Apple products chiming in, you're right on. I have a magic keyboard which I occasionally use with my iMac (although I've been using Logitech's peripherals more recently and been extremely happy) and if I put the politics of it all beside me, I don't care. I'll just grab my lightning cable to charge up my keyboard once a month.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 8 months ago (1 children)

That EU ruling saved the world they don’t even know. Because if left to companies, well waves broadly at Silicon Valley

Kill Lightning. Kill USBA. Kill DC plugs once and for all.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 8 months ago (1 children)

I was gobsmacked last week to see my colleague open a brand new Amazon Dot thing ($20AUD smart speaker) and see it with a barrel jack. Really?

[–] [email protected] 5 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (1 children)

Making record profits, gotta trim those “expensive” parts.

Literally nothing a single USBC port can’t replace. One world, one port ffs. Can we just get that done as a species at least? flips water bottle

[–] [email protected] 4 points 8 months ago (1 children)

We need cable standards to go with the ports too

[–] [email protected] 1 points 8 months ago

Yeah that’s a shit show too

[–] [email protected] 12 points 8 months ago (1 children)

That’s so upsetting. I’d love to replace my Magic Trackpad for one without a lightning port but for some reason they don’t refresh their peripherals.

[–] hibsen 9 points 8 months ago (2 children)

Why, though? If you already have it and it’s already hooked up to a lightning cable you already have, what would a refresh get you?

There’s a bit of comfort in only ever needing one type of cable, I guess, but I’m not sure it outweighs the hassle for me.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (3 children)

The battery in the Trackpad is also slowly dying and it appears to be a glue sandwich, so there’s no easy way to replace it. So whenever I gotta charge it every few weeks, I need to dig up my lightning cable just for that. I’d prefer to replace the Trackpad entirely, especially if a new generation offers more features or other hardware advantages.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Maybe I’m a caveman but I have never minded cables on stationary peripherals.

Mice and gamepads for sure are wireless. But nearly everything else is wired for me and I have no issues.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 8 months ago

I think it depends on your setup. I prefer to have no cables on the desk. There’s already a switch and a gaming PC, so the risk of cable clutter is high. Whatever I can eliminate, I do.

[–] coffeebiscuit 1 points 8 months ago

You liar! Is right behind your screen and it’s already hogging a usb port! /assumption

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[–] [email protected] 4 points 8 months ago

It wasn't just about comfort; it was for standardisation. Having a proprietary interface opens up the threat for gouging the customer. If everyone uses the same cable then you can buy it anywhere.

[–] hemmes 8 points 8 months ago

I love that this article is three sentences and says it all. The damned charging port on the mouse {SMH}, Apple...good grief.

[–] beefcat 7 points 8 months ago

The bigger problem with the trackpad is the low polling rate. It's fine with a 60hz display but it feels choppy at 120hz (i.e. the native refresh rate of 14" and 16" MBPs). Hopefully the inevitable USB-C version brings this up to par.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 8 months ago

Yea, I’m very disappointed that no one has come round yet to convert my devices. Do we have a timeline when this will happen?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 8 months ago

It’s gonna be a mix of Lightning and USB-C for a while. Don’t throw out those cables just yet!

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