Last Updated on June 19, 2022 by srinivas
Welcome to our weekly roundup of all the Apple news you missed this week, in a handy bite-sized summary. We call it Apple Breakfast because we love it with a cup of coffee or tea in the morning, but it’s also cool if you want to read it over lunch or dinner.
Welcoming the End of Lightning
The end seems really near for Apple’s Lightning port. Earlier this month, the EU approved a ruling to make USB-C the common charging port for all mobile phones. Utilities. US lawmakers gave the move their full support. The UK government has said it won’t follow the same strategy, but you can’t make one phone for Britons and another for everyone else. Barring legal or political miracles, Apple will have to make the switch, most likely from the iPhone 15 in 2023.
In reality, this isn’t such a hefty requirement, as Apple is already halfway through the transition: its Macs and nearly all of its iPads are USB-C based, and the latest slowdown is expected to reverse later this year. The iPhone would be the last piece of the puzzle, albeit the largest and most valuable piece.
There are many benefits if the industry can unite around a single charging standard. It makes sense for consumers, who can more easily reuse chargers from old devices and not have to worry about packing a compatible charger. It makes sense for the environment as e-waste needs to be reduced. And it makes sense even for politicians, who can crack down on corporate giants and stand up for the little guy.
But the way this struggle has been presented would lead us to suspect that someone has to pay the price for these benefits. Most obviously, we would expect Apple to be the loser, which, by specifying devices with its own charging standard, gains control and profit from the accessory market and wins customers. But is it really a zero sum game?
Accessories are certainly a lucrative afterthought that Apple isn’t happy to jeopardize, but as far as lock-in goes, it’s worth bearing in mind that standardization means customers can also leave your rivals and come to you. Given that there are significantly more Android than iPhone users in the world, and Apple prides itself on its customer loyalty and user experience, you’d think the company would lick its lips at the prospect of easier platform switching.
More generally, Apple has made a lot of money by following the guiding principle of simplicity and making purchasing decisions as easy as possible. A world where every mobile phone (and tablet, laptop and e-reader) uses the same charging port is a world where newbies to technology feel more comfortable making a purchase. That’s good news for any manufacturer, but especially for Apple, which offers the most beginner-friendly devices and software platforms.
No, the main fly in the ointment is simply this: legislation moves slowly and it is difficult to trust political bodies to keep up with the advancement of technological innovation. Campaigners have been lobbying for a common charging standard since 2014, and this ruling won’t take effect until 2024. If USB-C becomes obsolete, will it take another decade to agree on the next standard? We hope not.
Trending: Top Stories of the Week
apples upcoming updates should keep you wary of buying your next device.
Dan Moren explains how to make different Apple devices more alike than ever†
WWDC was awesomeexcept for the stuff we didn’t get. Indeed, it gave us plenty of reasons to get mad at Apple.
There are 5 reasons to skip the 13-inch M2 MacBook Pro (and 1 big reason not to do it†
When the newest chip is not the best: Jason Cross compares the M2 to the M1 Pro, Max and Ultra.
Apple has a hidden classic Mac OS Easter egg in Ventura. It’s Clarus the Dog Cow!
why the 13-inch M2 MacBook Pro actually makes sense…in theory.
A UK lawsuit seeks to cash in on the iPhone ‘Batterygate’ cover†
The rumor mill
Apple’s rumored 15-inch MacBook could have an M2 Pro chip, as more details emerge about Apple’s next generation laptops†
macOS Ventura Requirements hint at an imminent 12-inch MacBook update – or not?
Adobe may bring a free version of Photoshop to your Mac. The free web version is missing several functions but the core functions are accessible.
Podcast of the week
On episode 797 of the Macworld Podcast, we talk about the things Apple didn’t bring up at WWDC: Apple TV, HomePod, Apple Arcade, and more.
You can watch every episode of the Macworld Podcast on Spotify, Soundcloud, the Podcasts app or our own site.
Software updates, bugs and other issues
iOS 15.6 beta 3 is now available. Just like the third beta version of macOS Monterey 12.5.
Having a hard time find files of certain types on your Mac? Glenn Fleishman is here to help.
Does your Mac’s pointer mysteriously disappear? It could be Universal control†
And with that, we’re done for this week. If you would like to receive regular round-ups, sign up for our newsletters. You can also follow us on Twitter for breaking news stories. See you next Saturday, enjoy your weekend and stay Appley.