(No, just keep on. These kinds of regulations were long overdue)
Apple isn’t losing here. Eu is forcing them to make better phones.
These changes go against Apple’s business model and practices. Forcing USB C will mean they will probably try to add some bullshit software check to their plug in devices so 3rd party hardware makers will once again be shut out. These practices allow Apple to tell their current consumers “don’t buy 3rd party stuff. It isn’t made well and won’t work on our incredible phones”. Will that get struck down in the EU again? Probably. Will they make a few billion dollars before it does? Absolutely.
Apple has purposefully avoided moving towards industry standards so they can keep everything in their control. For better or worse, it’s actually one if the biggest strengths of Apple products. I know if I buy an iPhone, it’s going to work great (until the battery goes), and any of their add on parts are also going to work great because they don’t have to design drivers for the 400 different options out there. But that same practice inherently leads to these sort of anti-consumer decisions. Where a decision goes from keeping-in-their-wheelhouse to have-them-by-the-balls.
I will never forgive them for killing the headphone jack—but I at least understand the business model behind it. Samsung’s decision to follow suit likewise makes sense.
As for the other manufacturers who jumped on the bandwagon for no reason other than that they saw the big kids do it—handicapping their devices with what is to many a dealbreaker issue, without offering their own line of wireless earbuds / headphones to capitalize off of—I can feel only pity and disdain.
I will never understand 1/8” jack wanters. Why not just get a dongle? If you want to listen and charge at the same time get one with passthrough. If you’re using a $500 pair of headphones use a good dac.
As the owner of probably a dozen pairs of nice corded headphones, what’s the big deal?
Um, what? Apple makes shitty design decisions to manipulate their consumer base. These regulations prevent them from doing that. These regulations mean the consumers win. Apple still has branded braindead consumers, but at least they went be able to scam them on batteries headphones and chargers as easily.
