經(jīng)過各種猜測之后,蘋果(Apple)終于在9月12日證實(shí),其下一代iPhone手機(jī)將與安卓(Android)手機(jī)和MacBook Pro筆記本一樣,使用USB-C端口和充電線。對(duì)于需要給iPhone手機(jī)充電但在附近找不到一條蘋果專有的Lightning數(shù)據(jù)線的所有人來說,這是一則好消息。從9月22日發(fā)售的iPhone 15開始,所有人可以使用同樣的充電線。
但這也意味著iPhone用戶需要更換家里、辦公室和車?yán)锏乃蠰ightning數(shù)據(jù)線。由于蘋果的Lightning數(shù)據(jù)線根據(jù)長度不同,售價(jià)在19美元至29美元之間,因此這是一筆不小的投資,卻突然就要變得毫無價(jià)值。
這是蘋果自從2007年發(fā)布初代iPhone手機(jī)以來,第二次變更其充電技術(shù)。眾所周知,每當(dāng)蘋果的產(chǎn)品設(shè)計(jì)計(jì)劃需要有創(chuàng)新時(shí),蘋果總是會(huì)毫不猶豫地放棄舊技術(shù),凡是蘋果的老客戶都能夠證明這一點(diǎn)。從軟盤到光驅(qū),蘋果總是會(huì)無情地扔掉不必要的包袱,無論用戶是否喜歡。
iPhone的用戶上一次不得不更換數(shù)據(jù)線是在2012年,當(dāng)時(shí)蘋果推出了Lightning數(shù)據(jù)線接頭。新接頭較之前的類型是一次大幅改進(jìn),這減少了被迫更換數(shù)據(jù)線的痛苦。新接頭兩面可用的外形設(shè)計(jì)不分正反面,這意味著接頭可以輕松插入手機(jī),無需考慮接頭的方向。
時(shí)過境遷
蘋果此次更換為USB-C借口,與之前的情況不同,因?yàn)榇舜胃鼡Q的原因主要是歐盟(EU)的法規(guī),而不是蘋果的產(chǎn)品計(jì)劃。
歐盟的規(guī)則要求手機(jī)、平板和耳機(jī)設(shè)備統(tǒng)一使用USB-C充電接口,其目的是解決消費(fèi)者的不滿,并減少電子垃圾。歐盟將在2024年年底開始執(zhí)行這些規(guī)則。
蘋果的全球市場營銷高級(jí)副總裁格雷格·喬斯維亞克在2022年的一次會(huì)議上承認(rèn),公司更愿意按照自己的方式行事,而不是被迫遵守監(jiān)管部門的硬件決定。但他表示,盡管如此,蘋果不能無視歐盟的新規(guī)。“顯然我們將不得不遵守規(guī)定。”
雖然有人猜測,蘋果可能徹底放棄USB-C,直接改為無線充電,但最終該公司還是遵守了歐盟的規(guī)定,并將其變成公司標(biāo)準(zhǔn)。USB-C接口除了為新iPhone手機(jī)充電外,還可以給新款MacBook和iPad充電。2022年發(fā)布的蘋果傳統(tǒng)有線耳機(jī)和AirPods Pro二代也已經(jīng)升級(jí)為新接頭。
采用這種通用技術(shù),意味著蘋果的客戶能夠在設(shè)備之間相互充電。例如,AirPods可以插到iPhone 15上進(jìn)行充電。
雖然蘋果決定更換充電端口,原因之一是遵守歐盟的規(guī)則,但USB-C還有另外一項(xiàng)優(yōu)勢,成為蘋果的賣點(diǎn)之一。對(duì)于售價(jià)更高的iPhone 15 Pro和Pro Max型號(hào),USB-C端口還支持USB-3接頭。蘋果稱,這兩款手機(jī)使用數(shù)據(jù)線傳輸照片、視頻和其他文件的速度能夠達(dá)到每秒10千兆比特,這比其他低端iPhone手機(jī)的傳輸速度快20倍。這更方便在iPhone與其他設(shè)備之間傳輸大文件。
但對(duì)于儲(chǔ)備了大量Lightning數(shù)據(jù)線的人而言,此次調(diào)整令人喜憂參半。奇怪的是,雖然蘋果在9月12日拿出大量時(shí)間夸夸其談地介紹其環(huán)境倡議,包括在Apple Watch表帶中停止使用皮革,還播放了一段有自然之母(Mother Nature)的滑稽短片,但蘋果卻并未提到消費(fèi)者應(yīng)該如何回收這些很快就要變得毫無價(jià)值的Lightning數(shù)據(jù)線。(財(cái)富中文網(wǎng))
譯者:劉進(jìn)龍
審校:汪皓
經(jīng)過各種猜測之后,蘋果(Apple)終于在9月12日證實(shí),其下一代iPhone手機(jī)將與安卓(Android)手機(jī)和MacBook Pro筆記本一樣,使用USB-C端口和充電線。對(duì)于需要給iPhone手機(jī)充電但在附近找不到一條蘋果專有的Lightning數(shù)據(jù)線的所有人來說,這是一則好消息。從9月22日發(fā)售的iPhone 15開始,所有人可以使用同樣的充電線。
但這也意味著iPhone用戶需要更換家里、辦公室和車?yán)锏乃蠰ightning數(shù)據(jù)線。由于蘋果的Lightning數(shù)據(jù)線根據(jù)長度不同,售價(jià)在19美元至29美元之間,因此這是一筆不小的投資,卻突然就要變得毫無價(jià)值。
這是蘋果自從2007年發(fā)布初代iPhone手機(jī)以來,第二次變更其充電技術(shù)。眾所周知,每當(dāng)蘋果的產(chǎn)品設(shè)計(jì)計(jì)劃需要有創(chuàng)新時(shí),蘋果總是會(huì)毫不猶豫地放棄舊技術(shù),凡是蘋果的老客戶都能夠證明這一點(diǎn)。從軟盤到光驅(qū),蘋果總是會(huì)無情地扔掉不必要的包袱,無論用戶是否喜歡。
iPhone的用戶上一次不得不更換數(shù)據(jù)線是在2012年,當(dāng)時(shí)蘋果推出了Lightning數(shù)據(jù)線接頭。新接頭較之前的類型是一次大幅改進(jìn),這減少了被迫更換數(shù)據(jù)線的痛苦。新接頭兩面可用的外形設(shè)計(jì)不分正反面,這意味著接頭可以輕松插入手機(jī),無需考慮接頭的方向。
時(shí)過境遷
蘋果此次更換為USB-C借口,與之前的情況不同,因?yàn)榇舜胃鼡Q的原因主要是歐盟(EU)的法規(guī),而不是蘋果的產(chǎn)品計(jì)劃。
歐盟的規(guī)則要求手機(jī)、平板和耳機(jī)設(shè)備統(tǒng)一使用USB-C充電接口,其目的是解決消費(fèi)者的不滿,并減少電子垃圾。歐盟將在2024年年底開始執(zhí)行這些規(guī)則。
蘋果的全球市場營銷高級(jí)副總裁格雷格·喬斯維亞克在2022年的一次會(huì)議上承認(rèn),公司更愿意按照自己的方式行事,而不是被迫遵守監(jiān)管部門的硬件決定。但他表示,盡管如此,蘋果不能無視歐盟的新規(guī)。“顯然我們將不得不遵守規(guī)定?!?/p>
雖然有人猜測,蘋果可能徹底放棄USB-C,直接改為無線充電,但最終該公司還是遵守了歐盟的規(guī)定,并將其變成公司標(biāo)準(zhǔn)。USB-C接口除了為新iPhone手機(jī)充電外,還可以給新款MacBook和iPad充電。2022年發(fā)布的蘋果傳統(tǒng)有線耳機(jī)和AirPods Pro二代也已經(jīng)升級(jí)為新接頭。
采用這種通用技術(shù),意味著蘋果的客戶能夠在設(shè)備之間相互充電。例如,AirPods可以插到iPhone 15上進(jìn)行充電。
雖然蘋果決定更換充電端口,原因之一是遵守歐盟的規(guī)則,但USB-C還有另外一項(xiàng)優(yōu)勢,成為蘋果的賣點(diǎn)之一。對(duì)于售價(jià)更高的iPhone 15 Pro和Pro Max型號(hào),USB-C端口還支持USB-3接頭。蘋果稱,這兩款手機(jī)使用數(shù)據(jù)線傳輸照片、視頻和其他文件的速度能夠達(dá)到每秒10千兆比特,這比其他低端iPhone手機(jī)的傳輸速度快20倍。這更方便在iPhone與其他設(shè)備之間傳輸大文件。
但對(duì)于儲(chǔ)備了大量Lightning數(shù)據(jù)線的人而言,此次調(diào)整令人喜憂參半。奇怪的是,雖然蘋果在9月12日拿出大量時(shí)間夸夸其談地介紹其環(huán)境倡議,包括在Apple Watch表帶中停止使用皮革,還播放了一段有自然之母(Mother Nature)的滑稽短片,但蘋果卻并未提到消費(fèi)者應(yīng)該如何回收這些很快就要變得毫無價(jià)值的Lightning數(shù)據(jù)線。(財(cái)富中文網(wǎng))
譯者:劉進(jìn)龍
審校:汪皓
After much speculation, Apple confirmed on September 12 that its next iPhone will charge using a USB-C port and cable—the same type of connector used by Android phones and MacBook Pros. That’s welcome news for everyone who’s ever needed to recharge their iPhone but couldn’t find anyone nearby with one of Apple’s proprietary Lightning connector cables. Starting with the iPhone 15, which will be available Sept 22, everyone will have the same connectors.
But it also means that iPhone owners will need to replace all those Lightning connector cables in their homes, offices, and cars. Given that Apple sells Lightning cables for between $19 and $29, depending on length, that’s a not inconsiderable investment that will suddenly become worthless.
The change marks the second time Apple has changed the iPhone’s charging technology since it launched the original iPhone in 2007. And as any longtime Apple customer can attest, the company is famously unsentimental about abandoning old technology when its product design plans call for something new. From floppy disks to optical drives, Apple has a history of ruthlessly eliminating unwanted baggage, whether users like it or not.
The last time iPhone owners had to repurchase all their cables was in 2012, when Apple introduced the Lightning connector. The sting of the forced switch was lessened by the fact that the connector was a big improvement over its predecessor—its ambidextrous shape meant it could be plugged into a phone regardless of orientation; there was no up or down side.
This time it’s different
Apple’s move to USB-C is different from previous changes in that it appears to be driven by EU regulations rather than Apple’s product plans.
The rules were intended to address consumer frustrations and reduce electronic waste, by requiring that mobile phones, tablets and headphones have one common charger, USB-C. The EU will begin enforcing the rules at the end of 2024.
Greg Joswiak, Apple’s senior vice president of worldwide marketing, acknowledged at a conference last year that the company prefers to go its own way rather than being forced to follow hardware decisions made by regulators. That said, Apple could not ignore the rule, he noted. “Obviously we’ll have to comply.”
While there had been speculation that Apple might opt to skip USB-C altogether and move straight to wireless charging, the company ultimately complied with the EU rules and made it the company-wide standard. In addition to charging the new iPhone, the USB-C will be able to power newer MacBooks and iPads. Apple’s traditional wired headphones and the AirPods Pro 2nd Generation, which launched in 2022, have also been updated with the new connector.
The shared technology means Apple customers will be able to charge their devices by plugging them into each other. For example, AirPods can recharge by being plugged into the iPhone 15.
While compliance with EU rules may be a factor in the company’s decision to switch charging ports, the USB-C offers another advantage that Apple is selling to its customers. For the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max models, the more expensive of the roster, the port also supports a USB-3 connector. Using that cable, the phones can transfer photos, videos and other files at 10 gigabits per second, which is 20-times faster than transfer speeds on lower-grade iPhones, Apple said. The offering makes it easier to move large files to and from an iPhone.
Still for those with a large stockpile of Lightning port cables it’s a bittersweet change. And oddly, while Apple spent a good deal of time bragging about its environmental initiatives on September 12, including its decision to stop using leather in its Apple Watch bands and a goofy skit involving Mother Nature, it never once mentioned how consumers can recycle all those soon-to-be-worthless Lightning cables.