EU Proposes Common Charger for Electronic Devices, and USB-C

[engine]

The European Union is calling for electronic devices to have a common charger and based upon USB-C.

As you can imagine, this hasn't gone down too well over at Apple.

With today's proposal for a revised Radio Equipment Directive, the charging port and fast charging technology will be harmonised: USB-C will become the standard port for all smartphones, tablets, cameras, headphones, portable speakers and handheld videogame consoles. In addition, the Commission proposes to unbundle the sale of chargers from the sale of electronic devices. This will improve consumers' convenience and reduce the environmental footprint associated with the production and disposal of chargers, thereby supporting the green and digital transitions.

[ec.europa.eu...]

[blend27]

Dog Madit, Finally! Now throw the universal plug into it and we could call it a win!

Now here is my kicker:

We have phones one of each uses ultra fast charging, one fast charging, both Type-C. 2 backup phones that are mini ports, one IPhone 5c as a backup(3G which will be discontinued shortly as announced recently).

As one of my Best friends say things are tricky: There was 2-3G, 4G, and now 5G, but there was always Mama G and Papa G. :)

3 tablets: 2 mini charging ports, one has Type-C.

4 laptops, all top of the line 4 years ago, all maxed out on Ram and processors. those will work until shine hits the fan.

and lots, lots of wires.... chargers with white USB-2 ports, laptops with blue USB3 ports, chargers and wires with orange colors for ports/

Don't even get me started on head phones/pods charging thingy....

[engine]

The Apple issue is not just charging as they could move to wireless charging. But wait, how will it interface for data? It'd have to be transfer through Bluetooth or wifi, which can be slow.

In part, this move is aimed at reducing electronic waste. I really don't know why I keep them, but I have charging bricks going back more than 10-years. They are totally useless for anything other than the device they were designed.
I know, cut the plug off and put a more up-to-date plug on there! Oh, wait, the charger specifications aren't suitable. I guess it'll have to go onto the electronic waste after all.

[thecoalman]

Back in the 90's I bought my old GF a Sony digital camera, first thing I noticed out of the box was some proprietary power cord connection. If I recall correctly you could just use the USB but back then it wasn't common to have USB ports everywhere if for example you wanted to view images on a TV.

Oh, wait, the charger specifications aren't suitable.

As long as it's the same voltage and the amps are the same or higher you are good to go.

If you have some kids around you can use them for cool experiment cleaning coins or other metal objects using electrolysis. Other than those rare occasions where all the stars aligned where it was suitable for the device that is about the only use I have found for them.

[engine]

As long as it's the same voltage and the amps are the same or higher you are good to go.

That's often the problem. Besides the connector being proprietary, most cheap power bricks are made to a price and are pretty low current, unsuitable for the demands of modern tablets and smartphones, etc.

The vast majority of people don't know how to repurpose older chargers.