Comments on: Apple to stop Micro-USB from becoming standard?

Cell phones are moving to standardize on Micro-USB, but it would be nice if more devices, including MP3 players, digital cameras, camcorders, and game consoles made the shift.

[umbrae]

How long before they switch to the next smaller cord. Honestly, I can understand need the real-estate on shrinking devices, but this kind of stuff makes the idea of a "universal/standard cable" unreachable. Until I bought a new digital camera, I was proudly able to use 1 cable for all my device. I was very upset having to run out to the store late at night just to get pictures off the thing because it did not come with a cable.

Companies need to remember that if people have a hassle using a device they will probably not buy the same brand if it is too confusing or complicated.

[IgnatiusTheKing]

I'm sure someone could make a Micro-USB adapter for the iPhone's plug.

[abundantsnotbob]

But it would be rather inconvenient to carry around. Building it in would be better.

[efalconer]

I think part of the reason that apple would be unwilling to switch (beyond all the devices that currently support a dock connector) is that the dock connector supports a bit more than power / data. The connector also supports their video / audio out. Switching to straight USB would mean having to offload that processing to external devices, which would make them more costly / complicated.

The alternative would be to add the mico-usb port and keep the dock connector, but they're probably loathe to do such a thing as it may confuse people as to which port is for which purpose and for aesthetic reasons as well.

[abundantsnotbob]

Apple would rather be pretty than useful.

[pcfish]

Agree. the dock connector allows way more functionality than usb offers. I am enjoying the single cable (in-car) solution that charges my iPhone and output audio (aux) at the same time. It will be a lot messier to go with two cables.

[reneirwolf878]

how could anybody in their right mind mistake an itybity mini usb port for a big standard ipod port?

[b_baggins]

Pretty is a part of useful. Or did you marry your wife just because she was useful?

[abundantsnotbob]

Well Mr. Baggins I am not married yet as I am only 16, but I wouldn't like to marry someone who is completely dependent and useless just because they were pretty. I don't see how making the iPhone pretty makes it more useful. Please explain that to me.

[Someone-else]

In another news:

"Apple tries to patent Mini and Micro USB ports"

/sarcasm

[shootthecops]

this is when consumers learn to vote with their dollars. overall, one less reason to buy the iphone, but i have a feeling apple will make up the missed sales in accessories. good little islaves :)

[b_baggins]

You know, people with healthy self-esteem aren't threatened when someone makes a choice different than the one they would make.

[Seaspray0]

Or, everyone else will still move to the micro-usb and it will end up as the standard anyway.

[kcotham]

Micro-USB is too fragile. I'm even concerned about the durability of miniUSB ports on my GPS. But as fragile as micro-USB is, it's nowhere nearly as bad as the interface on my Sony Ericsson W580i phone. It has to be one of the worst plug-in designs EVER!

The real question here is whether microUSB is the best port for the job. There will always be some devices that will be better suited by an alternative interface. As "efalconer" stated, the dock connector that Apple i using has more duties than a simple USB interface is usually used for.

[viper396]

There are several devices that have USB for charging and PC communications and still manage to support other functions thru that same USB connector. The Verizon xv6900, for example, has what at first glace is a single mini-USB style port. Standard USB charging and communication cables all work with that port but if you look closly there are extra pins on the to the side of the USB pins that support normal audio out and special functions. Adaptors are even available for it. There are few technical reasons why Apple couldn't do similiar.

[random truth]

@viper396
I have a phone that supports that. However I will be surprised when you get a mini usb port to duplicate, l/r audio, vga, component, svideo, rca video, data, device control/communication, power out for certain accessories (Nike + is one) and firewire on supported models.

[Mark_Anderson]

@random truth

Micro USB can do that and more.

[JorgeS18]

Actually micro USB is far more durable than mini USB and standard USB since they are rated for 10,000 plug/unplug cycles compared to standard and mini USB 500 cycles.

[random truth]

@mark
no micro usb cant.

[random truth]

@Mark Anderson,
No mini-usb can not do that. That comment right their shows what you know about usb. You must be one of the people who thinks that usb is bidirectional, like firewire. Just because the male and female ends of the usb cord look alike does not mean they are the same. You are probably in the camp of people who think that you can cut 2 usb cords open, hook the two male sides together (the not mini/micro part) and hook two computers together. If you did that you would likely blow out your usb ports. An example is you can hook two computers together with firewire but you can not do that with usb inless an active converter box is in use. Also mini/micro usb can not support the same profiles a full usb port. The reason being that the miniusb port specification was made for communication from computer to device, not device to peripheral, or device to device.

[Mark_Anderson]

Actually it can which is why OMTP have stated that it should be the standard connector. Obviously v3.0 will improve this further.

As long as you don't overload it you'll be fine.

[viper396]

@random. Maybe I'm not describing it right but not everything has to be done directly thru the Micro-USB port itself. Another example would be some of the Sony Clie PDA's. Their cables have one physical plug but if you look at the port it's split, half USB/half proprietary. A USB cable can still be plugged into the USB half of the port to charge the unit without affecting the proprietary portion. As I said, there are few technical reasons why Apple couldn't do the same.

[random truth]

@viper
The problem is to use all the functions of the dock connector the usb port would have to be the same width. If you look at a dock connector you will see that the pins are already very close together. It needs so many so it can support usb, firewire, svideo out, powerout, powerin, audio out, audio in, composite out, component out, and device extension/control. It would have to cram all the pins so close together their would be a high failure rate.

[houltmac]

I have to agree with efalconer, it makes no sense form Apple's perspective to change to USB. Their better integrated, more useful Dock connector is already a standard with the public and does too much to complicate things or worse still, move backwards.

I think micro-USB standardisation is great for companies who don't have products which work like Apple's, but for those who create a full, rich experience and have room to spare in their designs it makes no sense.

[m.meister]

Nice misleading headline.

[SeanDuffy]

the headline is not misleading, it will not be standard if a major company chooses not to use it.

[nojava]

Much ado about nothing. I switched to a USB charger years ago. It accepts a standard USB connector. type A. The same one thats on my computer. Whos cares what connector the use on the phone/device as long as I get a data cable that connects to my computer and my USB charger I'm fine.

[websterphreaky]

Oh will this be like Apple's long term commitment to THEIR most wonderlous Firewire 400 / 800 / 1600 (never appeared pipe dream) / 3200 (another PR BS fantasy)???

Apple goes where ever there is money in it for them and NOT where better Technology is. Firewire (which Apple DIDN'T INVENT, it was the video camera dev group headed by Sony that DID) WAS better than USB and USB 2.0, but Apple in another GREEDY Monopoly move traded away Firewire to another Big Bully Intel for USB 2.0 so that Apple could get 100% of Intel's Flash NAND production (it's well documented, ********).

So all of you who put so much into Firewire got screwed as usual by Apple, who now RARELY puts Firewre on any Portable and fewer and fewer desktops. You watch as time goes by .... and I'll be saying, I told you so.

But maybe "in the tank for Apple" CNut will censor this truth away again.

[Perry_Clease]

"But maybe "in the tank for Apple" CNut will censor this truth away again."

You only have yourself to blame when you get censored. Happened today again, didn't it.

[MaggieRed]

Let the cable manufacturer's or Apple make a cable that converts Apple's connector to this Micro-USB format.

It would follow along the same lines as the DMI interface cable.

Too many iPods and iPhones are on the market and in people's hands to make a costly redesign.

Just non-sense.

[dpetrosky]

If you are going to hate on apple at least be right!

Apple did the initial design and submitted it to the IEEE, where other companies contributed to the standard. TI is one of the biggest but Sony did help as did IBM and others. But Apple "CREATED" firewire, and others helped complete the open standards based specification. Apple ditched firewire in it's iPods to save money and work with a larger number of non apple computers. It was simple economics. (but I wish they could have held out)

To be accurate Apple has removed firewire from ZERO desktops and only the 13" macbook and macbook air so far. It stall comes on the entrylevel macbook white, the macbook pro 15" and the macbook pro 17". Not exactly RARELY or "fewer and fewer".

More to the actual point of the article. If companies standardize on USB for power and data it will just mean there will be additional ports for digital video, which is the main reason Apple can't yet ditch the dock connector. Maybe they could get everyone else to license the doc connector insteat?

[pcfish]

They only removed firewire 400 from the low end Macbook line. Who uses Macbook to edit video anyway?

[b_baggins]

@pcfish

Actually, the low-end Macbook (white plastic) still has FW 400. It's the high-end Macbook that lost it. And FW has one other great use besides video.

Firewire Target Disk mode. It totally rocks.

[Seaspray0]

@perry clease. No, it didn't happen. And just exactly what rules did he violate for you to report it as offensive content? Is this how you handle criticism of apple these days? By reporting it as offensive content? Ohhh, it blashpheme's against the all glorious brotherhood of mac so it must be destroyed!

Does it hurt, perry clease?

[Idyot]

It matters little what Apple will or will not do with regard to a micro-USB standard. After the standard is finalized, someone will open an on-line store to sell custom micro-USB pigtail adapters for all manner of devices - even for the iPhone.

[aka_tripleB]

To all those who think Apple would benefit from not moving to micro-USB, you might want to think again. The EU will likely prohibit Apple from selling future iPhones in Europe if they don't move to micro-USB. The EU will likely also hit them with a large (albeit arbitrary) lawsuit that comes standard with not blindly following the EU's orders before being told about them. Losing such a large market and the possibility of a lawsuit is likely to hurt them more than moving to micro-USB, so I wouldn't be surprised if Apple didn't comply, even if it means making a special iPhone solely for Europe.

[ace10134]

I don't think the Zune would more to mini-USB, and neither will the iPod.

It only benifits the consumer, not the company.

Too bad though.

[t8]

The Zune gets a mention. Why?

[WebBuddha]

ummmmm, the Zune gets a mention cuz we're not all iSlaves! Duh!

I know that if you watch movies and televsions you think 90 percent of the planet uses Apple, but realistically off the mp3 player island they have what a 7% market share? Much better than before, but you... must... resist... the shiny... white... ipod... thingeee.....

good luck with that

[Seaspray0]

@t8. Well, if you flip the product to computers and not MP3 players, the market share roles are reversed. Yet that doesn't stop you from trolling apple. Better yet, I'll troll my favorite mp3 player... sansa (which has even lower on the totem pole than zune). Happy now?

[Dylan_Wisor]

I think you made a typo, Buddha. The iPod has 72% of the market, not 7%.

[ArtInvent]

What the h is so enormous about mini usb? I mean, I have a tiny little mp3 player with one, it's much smaller than a cell phone. Is the infinitesimal amount of space you save by going to micro rather than mini really significant?

It reminds be of another stupid move influenced by cell phone guys: the micro SD card. Bloody things are TOO SMALL. You need a freaking tweezer to handle the stupid things. And STILL cell phones are no smaller than many digital cameras that use full size SD, mini-USB etc. DO NOT GET IT.

[viper396]

It's not all about just saving space, it's about having a standard. Rather then having a dozen different charging plugs you can have one that works with every device. The fact that they can save a little space in the process of standardizing the power charger is a bonus.

Either way, I don't get your complaint about the size of the Micro-USB plug. The micro-USB plug is still attached to a strain relief and cord and a wall or car jack , just like every other charging plug on the planet.

micro SD...yes they are small just deal with it.

[Topspin14]

Yeah Apple would never say "Sorry guys; this is bad for business. You can be idiots, but we'll pass." Except for that whole....Display Port thing right? Where is my HDMI? I have a feeling we'll be dealing with proprietary iPod/iPhone connectors forever folks.

[Spartan_458]

I very much think that Apple will always stick to their proprietary connectors. Apple is Apple, and they'll do what they want, because they know that all the Apple sheep will come out and buy whatever they put out there anyway. What would be the point?

[SunnyGuy53]

Sure they will. Just like their SCSI, Firewire, Ethernet, DVI, and USB connectors are so non-standard, right?

Grow up and buy a vowel.

Sunny Guy

[random truth]

@SunnyGuy53
Dont forget wifi.

[Seaspray0]

Maybe, but I'll disagree. IMHO, the 3rd party vendors won't like making products for a proprietary connector if everyone else uses a standard connector. It's not just the connector, but who is willing to make something that plugs into that connector. Just look at all the 3rd party usb devices compared to firewire and then look at what apple is putting on thier newer computers. The 3rd party vendors decided the winner.

[SalHepatica]

Have any of you people seen an iPhone or iPod? All of them (except the shuffle) come with a cable that is the dock connector on one side and a regular-sized USB on the other. The USB end can then be plugged into the wall charger. If I'm not mistaken, the micro USB port is a standard-sized USB on the other end. So whether Apple uses micro USB or not, it's likely that USB-based chargers will be the state of the art soon -- and Apple's devices are already there.

[pcfish]

I think one point you are missing here is that, you still need to carry additional cable that connect the dock connector to usb port.

[ev61]

Micro USB is fragile and lame. Mini USB is better, but not perfect. How about instead of wasting time talking about this, the cell phone companies work on induction charging or something similar.

[pcfish]

Excellent point. Induction charging, wireless sync, lossless audio/video wireless transmission (no, NOT lossy A2DP, NO).

[Mark_Anderson]

Apple can do what they want. Outside the US few people care anyway.

[seven7dust]

once upon a time nobody cared about toyota outside japan too !
BTW apple is doing quite well outside the US itseems
50% of iphones r sold outside the U.S
not bad for a relatively unknown company
and Ipods r popular worldwide too

[Mark_Anderson]

Sure. Apple have sold about 7 million smartphones outside the US.

Care to guess how many Nokia, RIM, Samsung and others have sold?

No-one cares, really.

[b_baggins]

@Mark_Anderson

Riiiight. It's just an amazing coincidence that everyone and their Uncle outside the U.S. is tripping over each other to come out with touch screen phones that look like the iPhone. Because no one cares that in 18 months a computer company released a smart phone that is now the number 4 selling smart phone in the world.

Uh-huh. No one cares.

[Seaspray0]

"... that is now the number 4 selling..." I don't care.

[SeanDuffy]

@mark anderson

you are aware that the iphone wasnt the first touchscreen phone rite?

(LG: prada phone)

[Seaspray0]

@sean. You're right. I had a windows mobile phone with touch screen several years before the release of the iphone. But even before that were the PDA devices with touch screens.

--- but I don't care.

[Dylan_Wisor]

I don't care about any of this. Arguing over USB ports is stupid.

[bluemudkipz]

Mark_Anderson: Do you understand what you're talking about?
The iPhone is not a smartphone. Even Apple isn't bold enough to make that claim. If someone was to use it as a smartphone, it would have even worse battery life than my battered, 2-year-old, basic Samsung phone. Translation: the battery would die in two or three days. The iPhone is being marketed as a multimedia phone, and lo and behold, IT'S TRUE.
Oh, and by the way: "No-one cares"? Really? Please confirm, because I know I care.
Please do not make false claims.