Conversation

Notices

1. Embed this notice
   European Commission (eucommission@ec.social-network.europa.eu)'s status on Saturday, 28-Dec-2024 15:43:13 JST European Commission

   Today is the day. Welcome to THE charger!

   USB-C is officially the common standard for charging electronic devices in the EU.

   This means:

   🔌The same charger for all new phones, tablets and cameras
   ⚡ Harmonised fast-charging technology
   🔄 Reduced e-waste
   🛑 No more “Sorry, I don’t have the right cable”

   One charger to rule them all.

   #SingleMarket #DigitalEU 

   • snacks likes this.
   • Embed this notice
     Liam Roche (liamtroche@mastodon.social)'s status on Saturday, 28-Dec-2024 15:43:11 JST Liam Roche

     in reply to

     @EUCommission

     Thank you for this and forcing certain fruit-like companies to use RCS! Digital life is getting better but by bit.

     kaia likes this.
   • Embed this notice
     Leah Rowe is not a Rowebot (libreleah@mas.to)'s status on Saturday, 28-Dec-2024 22:29:09 JST Leah Rowe is not a Rowebot

     in reply to

     @EUCommission USB-PD spec is so extremely bloated and complicated that it's difficult to get right; dodgy Chinese companies that already cut corners will make many more mistakes with this.

     USB-C can power anything up to 48v DC on such tiny, thin connector pins, spaced so closely together. Arcing is quite common.

     And it's just a mechanically unsound connector. Putting data/video on the same cable as power is also quite daft IMO.

     We can't have a better, because USB-C is mandatory. Totally daft.

   • Embed this notice
     Leah Rowe is not a Rowebot (libreleah@mas.to)'s status on Saturday, 28-Dec-2024 22:32:27 JST Leah Rowe is not a Rowebot

     in reply to

     @EUCommission Whatever happened to good old fashioned competition?

     By requiring all companies to use the same connector, innovation is no longer legally practical.

     Now every portable computer I buy has a mechanically and electically inferior power connector; inferior to much of what came before.

     Harmonisation is all well and good. Why not harmonise something actually good? A bigger, thicker power connector with more copper and data/video on a separate cable.

     Oh wait. It's the EU. Nevermind.

   • Embed this notice
     Leah Rowe is not a Rowebot (libreleah@mas.to)'s status on Saturday, 28-Dec-2024 22:36:29 JST Leah Rowe is not a Rowebot

     in reply to

     @EUCommission If it were up to me I would have harmonised the MagSafe connector. Absolutely brilliant power connector.

     I'm not an Apple fanatic by any means, but it's one of the only good things Apple products had. Electrically quite sound, and mechanically very good; it's in the very design that tension on the cable causes it to come off, with no mechanical stress.

     I'm told the patent for MagSafe expires next year. Lost opportunity.

     That style of connector is perfect, for low-power delivery.

     Haelwenn /элвэн/ :triskell: likes this.
   • Embed this notice
     Kowalski Dragon (kowalski7cc@mastodon.social)'s status on Saturday, 28-Dec-2024 22:45:15 JST Kowalski Dragon

     in reply to

     • Leah Rowe is not a Rowebot

     @libreleah @EUCommission
     Personally, I would never go back to the mess of chargers that was before

     Leah Rowe is not a Rowebot repeated this.
   • Embed this notice
     Leah Rowe is not a Rowebot (libreleah@mas.to)'s status on Saturday, 28-Dec-2024 22:45:15 JST Leah Rowe is not a Rowebot

     in reply to

     • Kowalski Dragon

     @kowalski7cc @EUCommission I will gladly buy 8 different charger cables, because almost all of them are electrically and mechanically superior to USB-C connectors.

   • Embed this notice
     j (jonasgraphie@mastodon.social)'s status on Sunday, 29-Dec-2024 00:50:48 JST j

     in reply to

     • FranckRaisch

     @franckraisch @EUCommission
     And all of them work with the Euro-Plug (on the shown wall connector). So for low-power devices, the problem is solved.

   • Embed this notice
     Leah Rowe is not a Rowebot (libreleah@mas.to)'s status on Sunday, 29-Dec-2024 00:50:48 JST Leah Rowe is not a Rowebot

     in reply to

     • FranckRaisch
     • j

     @jonasgraphie @franckraisch @EUCommission The 2-wire europlug can also be inserted into a UK outlet without an adapter; simply insert a prong into the hole for earth/ground and then the shutters open for live/neutral. You can then shove your europlug into it. I've attached the relevant photo showing which cable i mean.

     Obviously, doing this is not recommended in practise, but it does work.

     UK outlets are designed that way. The live/neutral shutters only open when a prong is insert into ground.

   • Embed this notice
     FranckRaisch (franckraisch@ruhr.social)'s status on Sunday, 29-Dec-2024 00:50:49 JST FranckRaisch

     in reply to

     @EUCommission you could aim to do this for normal power cables. Italy, France, Germany…. all have different sockets.

   • Embed this notice
     Leah Rowe is not a Rowebot (libreleah@mas.to)'s status on Monday, 30-Dec-2024 00:19:10 JST Leah Rowe is not a Rowebot

     in reply to

     • citc

     @citc @FourOh-LLC@pkteerium.xyz which is why i specifically stated that it is "not recommended in practise"

     but if you're in a pinch and need to quickly test something, it totally works

   • Embed this notice
     citc (citc@zotum.net)'s status on Monday, 30-Dec-2024 00:19:14 JST citc

     in reply to

     • FourOh-LLC
     • Leah Rowe is not a Rowebot
     @Leah Rowe is not a Rowebot
     
     > The 2-wire europlug can also be inserted into a UK outlet without an adapter; simply insert a prong into the hole for earth/ground
     
     Please correct if wrong, but the UK plug is considered safer because in the scenario of short circuit, the earth output prevents injury. In comparison, the "euro"plug is double insulated, without the earth output. If the double insulation fails, injury will occur.
     
     @FourOh-LLC
     In the US we love the fact that proprietary solutions to fully optimize, and fit the technology to the purpose is still alive.
     
     Proprietary commercialisation will not solve problems such as environmental pollution.
   • Embed this notice
     FourOh-LLC (fouroh-llc@pkteerium.xyz)'s status on Monday, 30-Dec-2024 00:19:16 JST FourOh-LLC

     in reply to
     The EU is being itself, one more one-size-fits-all "solution" and one more sweeping regulations.
     
     In the US we love the fact that proprietary solutions to fully optimize, and fit the technology to the purpose is still alive.
     
     Manufacturers are welcome to install or add USB-C, and consumers are still welcome to "vote" with their wallets.
     
     USB-C still have the problem with receptors wearing out and the connection becomes too lose. Barrel connectors better deal with that issue, not to mention they can surpass power ALLOWED by the USB-C standard. Bluetooth and inductive power is also a competitive combination. Etc...
     
     Just my 2c
   • Embed this notice
     eal (eal@post.ebin.club)'s status on Tuesday, 31-Dec-2024 04:22:10 JST eal

     in reply to
     @EUCommission One Union, One Charger, One Leader!
     lainy and narcolepsy and alcoholism :flag: like this.