USB-C will be the standard connection in two years

[Gordon Bennett]

BBC News - EU sets date for common phone charge cable
External Link/Members Only

Makes sense. Can see why Apple are moaning but they can just suck it up - Apple users are a big minority.

[mr.bluesky]

  that's one thing the EU has got right.

[lamboman]

We're not in the EU 

[GingerNuts]

We're not in the EU 

Seems unlikely manufacturers will produce devices with a different connection just for the UK.

[contentguy]

My iPad pro has a USB C connector.

[mr.bluesky]

We're not in the EU 

Didn't say we were ,merely pointing out the EU has done something right 

[Squire Haggard]

About time too. My phone has the awful USB Type-B charger. Its like they invented a square wheel first, then after a few years deciding to shave the sharp corners off. Now everyone can enjoy a smoother ride. 



Hidden Image/Members Only

[lamboman]

Seems unlikely manufacturers will produce devices with a different connection just for the UK.

Hardware suppliers have been fighting this for years,I wouldn't count your chickens yet.

[GingerNuts]

Hardware suppliers have been fighting this for years,I wouldn't count your chickens yet.

I wasn't counting any chickens, just stating what would likely happen if the standard is approved.

[daviemac]

There's a very big world outside of the EU where manufacturers wouldn't need to be compliant and plenty of them make different variations of their products to suit the end user's location. 

[lamboman]

I wasn't counting any chickens, just stating what would likely happen if the standard is approved.

 

[Gordon Bennett]

But most recent products do have USB-C. This is not a cataclysmic change - it's merely getting dodgy tinpot manufacturers to stop using an irritating old-fashioned format and I guess mostly about forcing that tax avoiding behemoth Apple to adopt a universal standard instead of their £19 leads.

I dunno if it will be part of the change but I hope they make them all have USB-C on the charger too..... I still have chargers that have a full big rectangular slot. I'm sure my quite new Nest Cam charger came with a big slot for instance. Be nice to just have a C plug at each end of a cable that'll work over multiple devices and chargers.

I suppose it'll be necessary to still have different cables due to cars mostly having full USB slots but at least you can just leave that cable (USB to USB-C) in the glovebox and it doesn't have to cause annoyance in the house.

Only drawback will be no longer able to have the sly fun of saying "soz, ain't got an apple lead" everytime a child/nephew runs out of juice (which is all the fucking time it seems!).

[daviemac]

Apple to adopt a universal standard instead of their £19 leads.

If you are paying £19 for a lightning cable you're shopping in the wrong place. You can get 3 for £10.   

[chrishornx]

If you are paying £19 for a lightning cable you're shopping in the wrong place. You can get 3 for £10.   

crikey 3 Apple branded leads for a tenner ...please tell where I could do with some

thanks

[standardpostage]

They should do the same for petrol caps on cars also. Some are on the left, some are on the right 

Thankfully they have extra long hoses, on the pumps,  so you can fill from both sides 

But, it would still be better, if caps all on the same side !

[RedKettle]

They should do the same for petrol caps on cars also. Some are on the left, some are on the right 

Thankfully they have extra long hoses so you can fill from both sides 

But, it would still be better, if caps all on the same side !

I cannot see how that helps at all??  Every car since 1990's has a little arrow on the gauge to remind you which side the filler cap is on.

[chrishornx]

I cannot see how that helps at all??  Every car since 1990's has a little arrow on the gauge to remind you which side the filler cap is on.

agree you drive to the pump on the appropriate side If all caps weer eon the same side half the cars would have to drag the fuel pipe across their car

[daviemac]

agree you drive to the pump on the appropriate side If all caps weer eon the same side half the cars would have to drag the fuel pipe across their car

We'd all be queuing at the same side of the pumps if that was the case, or dragging the pipe over the car to avoid the queues. 

Google for the cables, may not be apple branded but work all the same, I'm using one now to charge and connect to a computer. 

[chrishornx]

We'd all be queuing at the same side of the pumps if that was the case, or dragging the pipe over the car to avoid the queues. 

Google for the cables, may not be apple branded but work all the same, I'm using one now to charge and connect to a computer.

we agree!!!

[timsussex]

we've already had USB A, B, mini, micro and now C - which admittedly is the best so far

but how long before we have USB-D ?

[WelshMichael]

UK not ready to adopt this, for now at least (though this government changes direction like the wind):

External Link/Members Only

[mr.bluesky]

I cannot see how that helps at all??  Every car since 1990's has a little arrow on the gauge to remind you which side the filler cap is on.

Mine doesn't and its a two year old car  I use an old fashioned method called memory 

[RedKettle]

Mine doesn't and its a two year old car  I use an old fashioned method called memory 

Are you sure? Pretty much every car now has it, a small triangle on the fuel indicator on the side your filler cap is. That is not as condescending a comment as it sounds, I did not realise it was there until someone mentioned it about a year ago. I was very surprised when I then looked and saw it.

[daviemac]

Are you sure? Pretty much every car now has it, a small triangle on the fuel indicator on the side your filler cap is. That is not as condescending a comment as it sounds, I did not realise it was there until someone mentioned it about a year ago. I was very surprised when I then looked and saw it.

On Fords it's normally a picture of a fuel pump with a little triangle on the side the filler cap's on.

[mr.bluesky]

Are you sure? Pretty much every car now has it, a small triangle on the fuel indicator on the side your filler cap is. That is not as condescending a comment as it sounds, I did not realise it was there until someone mentioned it about a year ago. I was very surprised when I then looked and saw it.

I was intrigued by this so had to google it. Apparently it is a feature on most cars not all. Here is the image of the instrument panel from exactly the same model that I drive which clearly doesn't show any indication to which side the fuel filler cap is. Always handy to know if you are driving a hire car though 

Hidden Image/Members Only

[Strawberry]

I was intrigued by this so had to google it. Apparently it is a feature on most cars not all. Here is the image of the instrument panel from exactly the same model that I drive which clearly doesn't show any indication to which side the fuel filler cap is. Always handy to know if you are driving a hire car though 

Hidden Image/Members Only

I'd heard it's the side the handle is on the pump symbol, but I have not tested that out.

[DastardlyDick]

UK not ready to adopt this, for now at least (though this government changes direction like the wind):

External Link/Members Only

Typical of the current moronic Government - like there's going to be a choice, no manufacturers are going to do a different cable for the tiny UK market - they probably want to announce it as something Boris has "won" at some point in the future!🙄

[The_Don]

They should do the same for petrol caps on cars also. Some are on the left, some are on the right 

Thankfully they have extra long hoses, on the pumps,  so you can fill from both sides 

But, it would still be better, if caps all on the same side !

Most filling stations have longer hoses and even though I know which side I fill up on (current car).  Having a marker on the dash, for the side does help some people: 

Hidden Image/Members Only


I tend to use a pump that free and not wait around, unless I want a break short break from driving.  Unlike fully electric cars (that may replace ICE cars), which we have to wait around for, if charging during a trip. Or hydrogen (powered fuel cell) cars if production, storage, delivery systems (piped  ). Are feasible and at a cost for the every day driver.

[daviemac]

Typical of the current moronic Government - like there's going to be a choice, no manufacturers are going to do a different cable for the tiny UK market - they probably want to announce it as something Boris has "won" at some point in the future!🙄

Don't know why you are brining politics into it as that get's you a ban, but you do realise that the whole of North America, South America, Australia, Asia and Russia aren't in the EU so the manufacturers won't need to make a different cable for them either.

In effect the European market is tiny compared to the rest of the world.

[lillythesavage]

Don't know why you are brining politics into it as that get's you a ban, but you do realise that the whole of North America, South America, Australia, Asia and Russia aren't in the EU so the manufacturers won't need to make a different cable for them either.

In effect the European market is tiny compared to the rest of the world.

I have several small gadgets, that my Samsung charger fits just fine, seems to me that in these times of excess waste, of money and refuse, the anger should be directed at those fighting this simple idea to maintain profit. 

[daviemac]

I have several small gadgets, that my Samsung charger fits just fine, seems to me that in these times of excess waste, of money and refuse, the anger should be directed at those fighting this simple idea to maintain profit. 

Manufacturers of electrical goods already vary production according to the destination, different plugs on the end of leads, different operating voltages, different tv signals, you can't standardise the whole world.

You talk about wasting money yet you want manufacturers to set up a new production line to provide the EU with a different cable to the rest of the world, that plus all the cables we already own become redundant. I have 3 or 4 lightning cables and when I upgrade my phone they all still work, with this plan I would have to throw them away and buy 3 or 4 new ones.   

[RedKettle]

I was intrigued by this so had to google it. Apparently it is a feature on most cars not all. Here is the image of the instrument panel from exactly the same model that I drive which clearly doesn't show any indication to which side the fuel filler cap is. Always handy to know if you are driving a hire car though 

Hidden Image/Members Only

Is it the small red triangle on the car diagram upper right side of the display?

[mr.bluesky]

I'd heard it's the side the handle is on the pump symbol, but I have not tested that out.

Looking at the image The_Don has posted it looks like the symbol of the petrol pump is the same on all cars with the hose shown on the right as you look at it  I blame Red kettle for this as he has opened up a can of worms  and we have strayed off topic

Hidden Image/Members Only

[mr.bluesky]

Is it the small red triangle on the car diagram upper right side of the display?

Aaah could well be  the digital display on my car can be altered to suit  , so that image shown is not always on display but the small red triangle does indeed point to the drivers side where the filler cap is
 Perhaps I should pay more attention to the manual that came with the car  it would be a lot clearer if they had just put an arrow by the pump like everyone else has done.( bloody French have to be different)

[chrishornx]

Looking at the image The_Don has posted it looks like the symbol of the petrol pump is the same on all cars with the hose shown on the right as you look at it  I blame Red kettle for this as he has opened up a can of worms  and we have strayed off topic

Hidden Image/Members Only

the pump symbol is standard  - I think you will find that it is the direction of the white arrow next to the pump which indicates which side of the car the cap is, as indicate day Don's images

[lillythesavage]

Aaah could well be  the digital display on my car can be altered to suit  , so that image shown is not always on display but the small red triangle does indeed point to the drivers side where the filler cap is
 Perhaps I should pay more attention to the manual that came with the car  it would be a lot clearer if they had just put an arrow by the pump like everyone else has done.( bloody French have to be different)

I think you will find if you set the dash a specific way, it will show when there is a low fuel warning.

Personally I do not like these digital dashboards and hated the lack of switches on my Golf 

[chrishornx]

Is it the small red triangle on the car diagram upper right side of the display?

on this panel could it be the three little white dots next to the petrol pump symbol ?

or a you say the red triangle

[Blackpool Rock]

Are you sure? Pretty much every car now has it, a small triangle on the fuel indicator on the side your filler cap is. That is not as condescending a comment as it sounds, I did not realise it was there until someone mentioned it about a year ago. I was very surprised when I then looked and saw it.

Never knew that until you posted it, just checked and yes I have an arrow (triangle) pointing left, never even knew there was an a arrow 

I think the side the filler is on depends on where the car is made or rather where the parent company originates from and was originally dictated by the side of road that country drove on.
The theory being that in the UK and Japan for instance we drive on the left so the filler is on the left as stopping while still on the road or very close to the carriageway (as original petrol stations often were due to not having large modern forecourts) means the person has the vehicle between themselves and the traffic 

Wouldn't it be easier if we all drove on the same side  We drove on the left so some other country had to do the opposite, fucking French again   

[The_Don]

the direction of the white arrow next to the pump which indicates which side of the car the cap is

External Link/Members Only

[Squire Haggard]

My next phone will have the easy to use USB-C charging port. I've got USB-B at the moment. 

''The UK will not join the EU in making USB-C charging ports mandatory on all phones and other electronic devices, the government has confirmed.''

External Link/Members Only

PS. This has already been posted further up the thread. Ooops.

External Link/Members Only

[chrishornx]

Never knew that until you posted it, just checked and yes I have an arrow (triangle) pointing left, never even knew there was an a arrow 

I think the side the filler is on depends on where the car is made or rather where the parent company originates from and was originally dictated by the side of road that country drove on.
The theory being that in the UK and Japan for instance we drive on the left so the filler is on the left as stopping while still on the road or very close to the carriageway (as original petrol stations often were due to not having large modern forecourts) means the person has the vehicle between themselves and the traffic 

Wouldn't it be easier if we all drove on the same side  We drove on the left so some other country had to do the opposite, fucking French again   

goes back further than car manufacturers BR ..think of Knights in armour...

[lillythesavage]

Never knew that until you posted it, just checked and yes I have an arrow (triangle) pointing left, never even knew there was an a arrow 

I think the side the filler is on depends on where the car is made or rather where the parent company originates from and was originally dictated by the side of road that country drove on.
The theory being that in the UK and Japan for instance we drive on the left so the filler is on the left as stopping while still on the road or very close to the carriageway (as original petrol stations often were due to not having large modern forecourts) means the person has the vehicle between themselves and the traffic 

Wouldn't it be easier if we all drove on the same side  We drove on the left so some other country had to do the opposite, fucking French again   

Most cars in Europe are made in both RHD and LHD,  where the filler sits is where the design allows for it at the cheapest price with safety also in mind.

[Squire Haggard]

We need more longer hoses, as the actress said to the Bishop. 

[Blackpool Rock]

goes back further than car manufacturers BR ..think of Knights in armour...

Yes I didn't go any further back but as I understand it we chose to drive on the left as when people rode on horseback and had to pass it meant the majority of people being right handed had better access to their sword to either attack or defend against the other rider.

So many things have a history based on the military

[The_Don]

As for standards a few videos at mite (or not be useful) as USB is over all the place (in more ways than 1)

External Link/Members Only (short watch and some detail)

External Link/Members Only (longer watch with more detail)

[mr.bluesky]

Yes I didn't go any further back but as I understand it we chose to drive on the left as when people rode on horseback and had to pass it meant the majority of people being right handed had better access to their sword to either attack or defend against the other rider.

So many things have a history based on the military

And that's where the salute came from when knights of old would flip up their helmet visor with their right hand to show they were friendly.   

[lostandfound]

Wouldn't it be easier if we all drove on the same side  We drove on the left so some other country had to do the opposite, fucking French again   

UK driving on the right and WLTP is why, compared to the rest of Europe and the US we now have such shitty UK specs on EU made vehicles like Audi / BMW / Mercedes.

Even minor spec changes have to be certified separately under WLTP, and it's not worth their bother for the RHD UK market.

[king tarzan]

BBC News - EU sets date for common phone charge cable
External Link/Members Only

Makes sense. Can see why Apple are moaning but they can just suck it up - Apple users are a big minority.

I hate them all.. expensive rubbish..

I stick with non Chinese made old skool brands!!!

[webpunter]

They usually wont work for long
You need to look for Apple MFI [made for iphone / ipad]
Should be OK in reliability
Pricing wont be 3 for a tenner but not 19 each either

crikey 3 Apple branded leads for a tenner ...please tell where I could do with some

thanks

[king tarzan]

They usually wont work for long
You need to look for Apple MFI [made for iphone / ipad]
Should be OK in reliability
Pricing wont be 3 for a tenner but not 19 each either

Japanese and Scandinavian the best..
Costly yes but supreme quality