iPhone 15’s shift to USB-C(techcrunch.com)
techcrunch.com
iPhone 15’s shift to USB-C
https://techcrunch.com/2023/09/11/iphone-15-desktop-mode/
116 comments
Apple would cannibalize their computer and iPad sales if they were supporting the thin client model like Samsung DeX. See how they already avoid cannibalization of the iPhone business by preventing the iPad to make phone calls. They protect their product lines from each other.
As much as I like to see such a feature, I don’t think Apple will ever give it to us.
As much as I like to see such a feature, I don’t think Apple will ever give it to us.
Seriously? Your claim is that Apple is afraid being able to make calls on an iPad would cannibalize iPhone sales? You think this is what's preventing people from walking around talking on iPads? Apple prevented calls on iPads so that AT&T would offer a cheaper cellular plan for iPads. Apple completely cannibalized their iPod business with the iPhone. They have proven over and over that they will cannibalize their own product lines.
Network operators could offer cheap data plans without allowing voice over them. Works for the Samsung S-Series tablets. Data is cheap, phone calls are disabled or charged separately.
For some users (e.g. elderly) an iPad with its large screen would make a better phone. They don't walk around talking (anymore). Also when wearing headphones, there is no need to lift the phone to the ear. Same goes talking to the watch.
For some users (e.g. elderly) an iPad with its large screen would make a better phone. They don't walk around talking (anymore). Also when wearing headphones, there is no need to lift the phone to the ear. Same goes talking to the watch.
>Apple completely cannibalized their iPod business with the iPhone
no, it's not cannibalization to upsell existing customers to higher margin items
no, it's not cannibalization to upsell existing customers to higher margin items
> They protect their product lines from each other.
Is that the case, though.
Their product lines overlap significantly in several areas. Yes, you cannot use the Phone app in an iPad, but you can do many of the things a Macbook does, and I would argue that many people would be sufficiently served with an iPad and a keyboard, rather than a Macbook.
Pretty much the only other app that you can use with an iPhone but not with an iPad (and neither a Macbook), for technical reasons, is Wallet.
I think that Apple does not offer either of those apps in iPads because they are not believed to be practical, given the form factor.
Is that the case, though.
Their product lines overlap significantly in several areas. Yes, you cannot use the Phone app in an iPad, but you can do many of the things a Macbook does, and I would argue that many people would be sufficiently served with an iPad and a keyboard, rather than a Macbook.
Pretty much the only other app that you can use with an iPhone but not with an iPad (and neither a Macbook), for technical reasons, is Wallet.
I think that Apple does not offer either of those apps in iPads because they are not believed to be practical, given the form factor.
For this reason I've been, naively, patiently waiting for the first "m1 ipad" to run full mac os trough jailbreaking or something
Native Apple support of the MacOS on the iPad would be really cool, though I suppose it'd never happen considering just how awful the mouse on iPad experience is. It's astonishing compared to how just about everyone loves the trackpad feel on MacOS.
It just makes me sad that I have so much computing power in such a small form factor, and software just gimps it, both in capability and experience.
It just makes me sad that I have so much computing power in such a small form factor, and software just gimps it, both in capability and experience.
I agree with you, I used to be a fan of Apple, somehow, at least of the macbook and ipad lines, even if I used linux since I was 12, but then the idea of being dictated what I can or can't do with my stuff, and being used as a mere commercial strategy just made me avoid them, would have loved an ipad used as a flying dev station, even with power limitations, but with at least the ability. I think the HP EliteBook https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c04553487 is a great tool with Linux on it, and since apart from the hardware, the software is free, I can do whatever I want with it
I don't know what DeX is, but if by thin client you mean the computer is somewhere else then I would say that doesn't sound like Apple at all. Apple is the last company that seems to still believe in personal computers on the desk.
I think they're using the term thin client incorrectly in the article. While it obviously means a low power terminal that connects to a remote server, they're using it to mean compute that you carry around and connect it to any monitor and input devices that you happen across. Dex is samsung's implementation of this and it works very well indeed.
Yes, I was using the term thin client as they did in the article. DeX actually tries to make the phone the only computer one needs. Just connect a screen and either use the phone as keyboard/mouse or connect a physical device.
This might be even more interesting with Samsung TVs which allow wireless DeX. Have not seen this in action though.
This might be even more interesting with Samsung TVs which allow wireless DeX. Have not seen this in action though.
DeX lets you connect your phone to a docking station. You get a fairly basic windowed desktop experience.
I actually use it to run citrix receiver and connect to the corporate network. hardly ever bring my work laptop home anymore.
I actually use it to run citrix receiver and connect to the corporate network. hardly ever bring my work laptop home anymore.
Is it way different than using an iPad with an external monitor, keyboard, mouse, disk, midi controller, etc...? Is the key distinction that it's on a phone rather than a tablet?
Yes in the sense that it gives you a mouse/keyboard windowed experience instead of a touch-optimized one with a mouse cursor.
You also still get to use the phone/tablet at the same time while it's driving the desktop.
Of course you're still using Android apps, just inside of resizable, movable windows, and not all apps behave well or work as well with mouse/keyboard as you might like.
But you can install linux shells, remote desktop apps, etc, and basically just use it as a thin-client.
There's also a way you can use Dex inside of a window on Windows and it let you drive your phone without actually touching it or doing some weird remote access stuff to your phone.
Dex is kind of a hidden gem of the Samsung devices. Once you hook up a dock with some I/O it's basically just turns your Android device into a desktop computer.
https://youtu.be/0FfH51xgQDU
You also still get to use the phone/tablet at the same time while it's driving the desktop.
Of course you're still using Android apps, just inside of resizable, movable windows, and not all apps behave well or work as well with mouse/keyboard as you might like.
But you can install linux shells, remote desktop apps, etc, and basically just use it as a thin-client.
There's also a way you can use Dex inside of a window on Windows and it let you drive your phone without actually touching it or doing some weird remote access stuff to your phone.
Dex is kind of a hidden gem of the Samsung devices. Once you hook up a dock with some I/O it's basically just turns your Android device into a desktop computer.
https://youtu.be/0FfH51xgQDU
In terms of hardware, yes. In terms of software, no. Last time I tried that with an iPad you did not get a true windowed DE. It was okay if you wanted one big app and one sidebar app and a lot of context switching.
For better or worse, iPadOS is moving more in that direction for sure.
https://www.theverge.com/23787477/apple-ipados-17-stage-mana...
https://www.theverge.com/23787477/apple-ipados-17-stage-mana...
oh nice. Hopefully a few iterations from now it'll be really good. I just chose a Surface as my personal laptop last year because of this making ipad less than a perfect all-rounder.
Dex gives you a "proper" multi-window desktop with things like a start button, task bar, system bar, etc. It's very different to the iPad experience when the iPad is connected to a display and peripherals and much better.
> See how they already avoid cannibalization of the iPhone business by preventing the iPad to make phone calls.
I think you're a bit out of touch with Apple's design approach. Giving an ability to make phone calls from iPad, like taking photos from it, was already not ridiculous enough. Also, you'd need to have a bag with yourself all the time to carry that slap size device.
I think you're a bit out of touch with Apple's design approach. Giving an ability to make phone calls from iPad, like taking photos from it, was already not ridiculous enough. Also, you'd need to have a bag with yourself all the time to carry that slap size device.
Which is a very sad conclusion because Steve Jobs was very explicit that they had to cannibalize their own products or someone else would.
There are things people say and then there are things people do
Steve Jobs is dead.
What the user probably means is that just because he said this publicly doesn't mean he meant it. Steve Jobs was great at marketing and was well informed on what potential buyers wanted to hear.
I believe this is specifically not to fear making something better due to potential cannibalization.
I suspect they don't feel iPhone apps (at as they are coded by developers today) as a "KVM-style" desktop experience is 'making something better' than the Mac - or even really worth doing.
I suspect they don't feel iPhone apps (at as they are coded by developers today) as a "KVM-style" desktop experience is 'making something better' than the Mac - or even really worth doing.
SJ said a lot of things. There is nothing courageous about cannibalizing an iPod that had an average selling price of $200 and a much smaller market with a phone that is three times more expensive
That's very easy to say in hindsight.
Cannibalising a public company's most successful product and profit source is extremely risky, especially for management. There is a reason this is so rare. It goes against many of our ingrained behaviours as humans.
So I don't think it's as obvious as you make out.
Cannibalising a public company's most successful product and profit source is extremely risky, especially for management. There is a reason this is so rare. It goes against many of our ingrained behaviours as humans.
So I don't think it's as obvious as you make out.
It was very obvious even then. Apple was selling 50 million iPods per year at $200 a piece. During the iPhone introduction, SJ said he was aiming to sell 10 million phones to capture 1% of the market the first year.
That means even then, the phone market was 1 billion devices a year. That was a much larger market than the stand alone music player market.
It was also clear that’s where the market was headed. Phone makers were already starting to sell music capable phones
That means even then, the phone market was 1 billion devices a year. That was a much larger market than the stand alone music player market.
It was also clear that’s where the market was headed. Phone makers were already starting to sell music capable phones
The context I was thinking of was the iPad. At the time it was really thought it was completely going to kneecap the portable Mac line (even Apple believed it and invested more in iPad development than Mac development). It was only after Jobs left our mortal coil that the iPad really stagnated in comparison to what the hardware itself was capable of.
The iPhone literally destroyed their most important product at the time, the iPod.
Weird take.
Weird take.
I've always seen it as a morphing into an iPod that accepts phone calls.
I would love a tablet that could work as a phone and do calls and texts. Do any good ones exist?
Nobody really wants that feature. It’s too niche, even among enterprise customers.
See also: cellular Apple Watch unable to make calls/texts without being tethered (over an Internet connection, remotely!) to an iPhone.
Cellular Apple Watches can make phone calls even if your iPhone is turned off.
You do, however, need an iPhone to initially setup an Apple Watch, even the cellular version.
You do, however, need an iPhone to initially setup an Apple Watch, even the cellular version.
This isn’t true. I just made a call two days ago from my Watch with ny iPhone being completely dead.
No kid has an Apple Watch, no phone (set up on my phone as a Family watch). Texts and calls me daily.
Are you certain? I'm fairly sure I've made calls with my Series 4 cellular when I know the linked iPhone is powered off.
I think the missing part from the person's post is not realizing there are variations of the watch. Some watches, like your, yea have cellular. I've got the 2nd gen Apple watch SE and I can't make calls off of it.
Although, interesting to know you had it on the series 4. I thought it was only on the newer series 8 and ultra, but I also just got my first apple watch about 4 months ago.
Although, interesting to know you had it on the series 4. I thought it was only on the newer series 8 and ultra, but I also just got my first apple watch about 4 months ago.
This doesn't match my experience using Apple Watch.
How does the author make the logical leap from "it'll use Type C" to "it'll have Samsung DeX equivalent"?
I think it's too much of a gimmick for Apple to even try, plus Apple is really not known for giving a damn about making their products work well with third-party peripherals.
I think it's too much of a gimmick for Apple to even try, plus Apple is really not known for giving a damn about making their products work well with third-party peripherals.
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As much as I want to like things like dex, I always find myself thinking that the real world application isn't really any better than carrying around a laptop.
Yeah. In a normal work day on a brand new i7 w/ 32 gigs of ram, I would say I get frustrated by the computer not doing what I tell it to in a decent timeframe more than a few times a day.
Now we’re saying “hey, let’s take a slower device with even slower pieces of shit applications on a foundation that worse at multi-window multitasking and make it what people use”
I’d probably blow my own brains out if this actually happened.
The technology is there for this to be usable. The dogshit development practice of “well, the hardware will catch up to my dogshit eventually” is meaning that “the technology isn’t there”.
Edit:
Case in point. This very laptop just spent 15 MINUTES cold boot till it allowed me to join my Teams meeting.
Granted the phone will stay on, so wouldn’t run in to cold boot issues. But also, I don’t want my work phone on all the time. That’s just letting work invade my personal time.
Now we’re saying “hey, let’s take a slower device with even slower pieces of shit applications on a foundation that worse at multi-window multitasking and make it what people use”
I’d probably blow my own brains out if this actually happened.
The technology is there for this to be usable. The dogshit development practice of “well, the hardware will catch up to my dogshit eventually” is meaning that “the technology isn’t there”.
Edit:
Case in point. This very laptop just spent 15 MINUTES cold boot till it allowed me to join my Teams meeting.
Granted the phone will stay on, so wouldn’t run in to cold boot issues. But also, I don’t want my work phone on all the time. That’s just letting work invade my personal time.
Honestly, I played around with a desktop environment with Termux on a Pixel 5. I was shocked at how decent it was. I could see a new iPhone performing pretty well. With enough RAM, it'd be decent for a lot of people.
But it'd always have the unavoidable downside of meaning that your phone was effectively tethered (even if just wirelessly) to your desktop. And at that point, why not just have a decent CPU in the desktop?
I guess it'd work well in a world where you constantly traveled between workstations and also couldn't bring your laptop. I've never lived in that world.
But it'd always have the unavoidable downside of meaning that your phone was effectively tethered (even if just wirelessly) to your desktop. And at that point, why not just have a decent CPU in the desktop?
I guess it'd work well in a world where you constantly traveled between workstations and also couldn't bring your laptop. I've never lived in that world.
I also have been using XFCE on Debian on my S23 and using it for VS Code and some dev work. It runs node and python just fine and is quick. It's nice because it is minimal. Having a 4K screen and only my phone and some peripherals is a dream. We are close.
Some apps are not available, or reduced functionality on desktop/laptop/web, though.
For instance, I'm forced to use CapCut on mobile device because the grown-up version is missing half the features.
For instance, I'm forced to use CapCut on mobile device because the grown-up version is missing half the features.
The article mentions that iPhone Pro and Pro Max will have a Thunderbolt port. A Thunderbolt 4 port means double the speed of USB-C, 40Gbps instead of 20Gbps. There's plenty of powerful and legacy hardware that runs on Thunderbolt, like dual 4k monitors, so basically it's about hooking up an assortment of peripherals to an iPhone via docking stations, hubs or bare Thunderbolt. The only limitation is what you can do with iOS as a desktop OS today, but if/whenever macOS and iOS merge (with the help of Apple silicon I infer), we could see a new shift in portable workstation paradigms from laptop to phone. Even though some of it is possible today it's not there yet. Just like with cameras, books, tv sets, the iPhone won't replace "computers" per-se but has the potential to carve a nice niche in portable workstations.
I don't disagree with you that they have the necessary bits and pieces if they wanted to go down that road, but based on their past behavior I just don't see that happening.
They've removed Type A while Type C peripherals were basically non-existent, I still can't have reverse scroll direction on my mouse and my touchpad (without using a third-party app), I can't create workspaces with a four finger swipe on an external monitor (but I can on the internal monitor)... My point being that they do the barest of the minimums on a Macbook, so I find the idea of them going all-in on supporting peripherals on an iPhone rather silly.
They've removed Type A while Type C peripherals were basically non-existent, I still can't have reverse scroll direction on my mouse and my touchpad (without using a third-party app), I can't create workspaces with a four finger swipe on an external monitor (but I can on the internal monitor)... My point being that they do the barest of the minimums on a Macbook, so I find the idea of them going all-in on supporting peripherals on an iPhone rather silly.
Some iPads already have thunderbolt ports. I think any advancement in hardware integration would happen there before it happens in iPhones.
If the EU requires additional app stores to be supported, that door could open whether Apple likes it or not.
If Apple wanted to make the iPhone a computer replacement, and all that was holding them back was USB-C, they would have added it in a long time ago.
They didn’t. They waited until the EU made them switch to USB-C.
They didn’t. They waited until the EU made them switch to USB-C.
They don't even want to make iPad a computer replacement. Half of the models have a M-class chip powering them.
I would argue their main motivation for keeping iOS separate from MacOS is that it's much more locked down. If they were to try to merge the two, they would either have to give up a sizeable portion of revenue from their app store and advertising monopolies on iOS, or handicap MacOS making it much less competitive with laptops that actually treat you like the owner of your own hardware. But if the EU is successful at tearing down a few more of the iOS garden walls, Apple may start to think convergence is a good idea.
It also has the potential to be quite confusing.
There will almost certainly be some laptops that attempt to charge themselves from the iPhone battery depending on which of the 10 versions of USB-C are being implemented.
Will all the counterfeit usb-c cables also cause a bunch of confusion when features don’t work?
Will plugging in your phone at the airport be less of a risk?
There will almost certainly be some laptops that attempt to charge themselves from the iPhone battery depending on which of the 10 versions of USB-C are being implemented.
Will all the counterfeit usb-c cables also cause a bunch of confusion when features don’t work?
Will plugging in your phone at the airport be less of a risk?
> There will almost certainly be some laptops that attempt to charge themselves from the iPhone battery depending on which of the 10 versions of USB-C are being implemented.
It’s not like there are 100s of phones out there with a USB-C connector we can try this on already? ;)
It’s not like there are 100s of phones out there with a USB-C connector we can try this on already? ;)
Apple will gladly sell you a 100% compatible cable for $20, just like they do with lightning.
Which is a fair offer if you don't have to research USB-C for 2 days just to then order the wrong cable anyway.
I'm a Google Pixel user that's been using USB C to charge my phone, laptops and other devices/accessories for years now and I've never run into this issue before. It just works.
Charging is rarely an issue. At worse you will charge at 5V/1A=5W as it’s the common minimum that any USB cable with basically just 2 wires connected will provide.
So any crappy USB cable will ´work’ for charging, and it’s transparent enough that you won’t really notice in most case.
So any crappy USB cable will ´work’ for charging, and it’s transparent enough that you won’t really notice in most case.
> which of the 10 versions of USB-C are being implemented
The only charging differences between cables are raising the current limit above the default 3 amps (which is only relevant at 60+ watts). Those differences won't confuse any devices.
The only charging differences between cables are raising the current limit above the default 3 amps (which is only relevant at 60+ watts). Those differences won't confuse any devices.
> Will all the counterfeit usb-c cables also cause a bunch of confusion when features don’t work?
Only if Apple adds MFi-style DRM like they did with Lightning. Otherwise, the only real "features" that could possibly break is data/charging, which is a problem on most serial cables (including Lightning).
Only if Apple adds MFi-style DRM like they did with Lightning. Otherwise, the only real "features" that could possibly break is data/charging, which is a problem on most serial cables (including Lightning).
Legit concerns. But for what % of Apple iPhone owners do they apply?
For the majority of uses a majority of the time a standard connector is better than non-standard one. Let's just pop the champagne, toast the win, and move on.
For the majority of uses a majority of the time a standard connector is better than non-standard one. Let's just pop the champagne, toast the win, and move on.
I wish USB C has a way of determining charging direction. This is often annoying when you try to use phones as power banks. Would be nice if some type C cables can be directional, i.e. preferentially charging in one direction if at all possible.
B.S. If this was going to happen, why didn't it already happen a decade+ ago on the overwhelming-dominant mobile platform, Android? Especially given that the technology existed in a complete, commercially-available consumer platform no later than 2011? https://www.cnet.com/reviews/motorola-laptop-dock-review/
Illogical association of ideas. It will be an iPhone with the USB-C connector to charge it. Stop.
The forced shift to USB-C is indisputably a win for consumers. Well done EU.
The strangest thing has been all the people whining and claiming this stifles innovation. It doesn't.
The strangest thing has been all the people whining and claiming this stifles innovation. It doesn't.
Seeing that when the EU first wanted this they wanted to force everyone to use micro USB, what happens when someone wants to invent a better standard?
The technical-specification part of the law is placed in an annex for easy modification. Big-tech lobbyism will have no difficulty to effect an update when they can present genuine improvements.
Will a solo player be able to use their own tech instead of USB-C? No, but that’s the price to pay for interoperability. It’s a trade-off.
Will a solo player be able to use their own tech instead of USB-C? No, but that’s the price to pay for interoperability. It’s a trade-off.
so if Apple comes up with a better interface that might have a BOM of $1 instead of 20 cents, I as an Apple user will be held back because the Android OEM that is selling $50 unsubsidized phones doesn’t want it?
Do you think that's likely?
I don't.
I don't.
They came up with lightning when Android phones were using micro USB…
Yes, and? The usb forum knew at the time that they needed a replacement for micro USB, even if they were being slow about it.
Do you think it is likely now, based on the current state of connectors?
Do you think it is likely now, based on the current state of connectors?
The EU wanted to force Apple to include micro USB. But you kind oh made my point, the regulators were going to force a substandard port on iPhone users
If they had forced micro USB, it sure seems like it would have been updated to USB C.
But they didn't force it.
And I thought you were arguing about the current law, not complaining about something that was ten years ago and didn't happen.
And you still didn't answer my question.
But they didn't force it.
And I thought you were arguing about the current law, not complaining about something that was ten years ago and didn't happen.
And you still didn't answer my question.
How long would it have taken them? Could Apple just unilaterally changed without waiting years for the committee to decide?
If the USB committee also didn't release a port for more years? This is getting too abstracted from reality to answer easily. That's not the world we live in, but perhaps Apple could have offered their new better port as an open standard in that situation.
If you mean the EU rulemakers being slow, no I don't think there would have been a multiple year delay to implement the new USB port.
But now I'm done with your questions about a situation that never existed, if you don't think my question is worth acknowledging.
If you mean the EU rulemakers being slow, no I don't think there would have been a multiple year delay to implement the new USB port.
But now I'm done with your questions about a situation that never existed, if you don't think my question is worth acknowledging.
The legislation gets amended. Simple.
Ideally, the legislation gets amended to that there can be a review process every X amount of years.
Ideally, the legislation gets amended to that there can be a review process every X amount of years.
First there will be a committee to look into the change which will cost millions of tax-payer dollars and several years of meetings. And then nothing will come of it.
Wow, now we have to wait on legislators to set standards, in the hypothetical scenario, how long would it have taken them to move from Micro USB to USB C.
I am so surprised that people are okay with letting slow moving legislators set technological directions.
I am so surprised that people are okay with letting slow moving legislators set technological directions.
Always a worst case scenario with you people. If the legislation denoted a review board then it could be as fast moving as need be.
Why would we ever think that the government moves slower than tech companies and is down right ignorant when it comes to technology and the trade offs and unintended consequences when it comes to technology?
> The idea of a pocketable thin client model of computing where you basically take your PC with you wherever you go, and plug it into accessories including displays and input devices that can work with any wherever you need, has been around for a long time. But an iPhone 15 sporting a full-featured USB-C port with the capabilities of the latest Thunderbolt spec has no technical barriers toward making it actually happen.
So in theory someone can make an iPad sized touchscreen that connects to your iPhone via USB-C and you'd have no need for an iPad? Or course such a screen could be shared within a household, etc.
Desktop in my pocket would be fan-fn-tastic, obviously. But even a simple larger (than my phone) touchscreen would be a handy step forward.
So in theory someone can make an iPad sized touchscreen that connects to your iPhone via USB-C and you'd have no need for an iPad? Or course such a screen could be shared within a household, etc.
Desktop in my pocket would be fan-fn-tastic, obviously. But even a simple larger (than my phone) touchscreen would be a handy step forward.
> So in theory someone can make an iPad sized touchscreen that connects to your iPhone via USB-C and you'd have no need for an iPad? Or course such a screen could be shared within a household, etc.
I have a non touch screen monitor similar to this - power and video over a single USB C port. It works with both my personal Macbook and my work Windows computer.
It should work with an iPad Pro with USB C.
https://a.co/d/2D0bbh5
I have a non touch screen monitor similar to this - power and video over a single USB C port. It works with both my personal Macbook and my work Windows computer.
It should work with an iPad Pro with USB C.
https://a.co/d/2D0bbh5
Yeah I have a small backpackable external screen as well. But if it could do touch then my phone can act as tablet. My use case would be reading ebooks.
I have been covering similar features for 10 years now.
While everyone somehow cheers hard about them on paper, in practice their usage is non-existent.
Convergence is not gonna happen, users do not seem interested at all in this type of crossover use-case.
Samsung and Motorola’s solution have been around for a while and they’re a testament to that.
Lenovo now has even a feature that lets you have access to a Windows 11 Cloud PC via ThinkPhone if you’re a business or corporate user.
The use case scenario is there, but apparently it’s just not as compelling to actual users as it seems made out to be.
That’s why Apple is not gonna allow anything like that to happen on an iPhone.
Odd, because Apples already implemented a thin client on iPhones, it’s called CarPlay. It can work over usb or Wi-Fi.
Otherwise I don’t see apple ever allowing a device to be a one stop. If they were going for that then it obsoletes stuff like handoff and universal control.
But really, why do people actually want this? If you’re using your phone for work then it’ll probably have to be domain joined. Then at that point your employer has eyes into the one device you use for everything
Otherwise I don’t see apple ever allowing a device to be a one stop. If they were going for that then it obsoletes stuff like handoff and universal control.
But really, why do people actually want this? If you’re using your phone for work then it’ll probably have to be domain joined. Then at that point your employer has eyes into the one device you use for everything
Apple will take the approach theorized here when it can be done wirelessly. Bring your phone close to a "Magic Monitor" and the desktop experience starts instantly.
The change of plug shape is irrelevant to whether this paradigm shift happens inside Apple, but Apple is better positioned than any other device maker to accomplish it if they focused on it.
The change of plug shape is irrelevant to whether this paradigm shift happens inside Apple, but Apple is better positioned than any other device maker to accomplish it if they focused on it.
>An iPhone that’s able to project something more like iPadOS (or, ideally, but not definitely wishful thinking on my part — macOS) when connected to a screen could easily replace a laptop for probably a significant portion of the population, including for casual computing, and for the work tasks of the bulk of the knowledge workforce.
No, it wouldn't, because you'd need a display and input device(s) at your destination. So then we ended up with these laptop-style shells for Android and Windows Phone devices that supported this model and suddenly you can't use your phone separately while you're in laptop mode. It's easier to just bring a laptop/Chromebook with you.
There's no need for the device's local storage when you're already syncing important documents to the cloud anyway. This is a "cool" solution in search of a problem.
No, it wouldn't, because you'd need a display and input device(s) at your destination. So then we ended up with these laptop-style shells for Android and Windows Phone devices that supported this model and suddenly you can't use your phone separately while you're in laptop mode. It's easier to just bring a laptop/Chromebook with you.
There's no need for the device's local storage when you're already syncing important documents to the cloud anyway. This is a "cool" solution in search of a problem.
> No, it wouldn't, because you'd need a display and input device(s) at your destination. So then we ended up with these laptop-style shells for Android and Windows Phone devices that supported this model and suddenly you can't use your phone separately while you're in laptop mode. It's easier to just bring a laptop/Chromebook with you.
Maybe for you. For me, I rarely actually use my Macbook Pro in a laptop mode - it's docked at one location or another (but different locations and different Macs, including ones owned by different people). Being able to do that with a phone and not carting around an extra screen and extra keyboard would be pretty nice, as it happens!
Maybe for you. For me, I rarely actually use my Macbook Pro in a laptop mode - it's docked at one location or another (but different locations and different Macs, including ones owned by different people). Being able to do that with a phone and not carting around an extra screen and extra keyboard would be pretty nice, as it happens!
> There's no need for the device's local storage when you're already syncing important documents to the cloud anyway
Syncing to the cloud is a pain, requires an internet connection, etc. If I could just carry everything around on a personal device and leave the cloud as backup only I would love that.
Syncing to the cloud is a pain, requires an internet connection, etc. If I could just carry everything around on a personal device and leave the cloud as backup only I would love that.
It is possible to sync documents over the local network. Both Apple and Google have ways to connect devices without the Internet.
The fact that they haven’t done is good argument that it isn’t wanted. Partly cause the subset of people who work on planes and don’t pay for Internet is pretty small.
The fact that they haven’t done is good argument that it isn’t wanted. Partly cause the subset of people who work on planes and don’t pay for Internet is pretty small.
And you’re in a minority. It’s 2023. At least two of the major airlines have free wifi. Delta being one and i don’t know the other.
The problem is having too many devices. Most people should just need a phone that can also serve as a personal computer. A personal laptop is a hassle, remember we already have a work computer provided by our employers
I rarely open my personal laptop anymore. Maybe once a month? I don’t really do computer-tinkering as a hobby, these days. I have a windows desktop for games, but zero important things happen on it (I mean—it’s Windows). Just games. It’s not logged into any non-gaming accounts at all.
Important personal stuff’s all on my phone. Hell, I basically bought my last house entirely from my phone, including the paperwork, and that was a few years ago. Adding a laptop to the mix wouldn’t have helped. House projects? Phone is several tools for those, laptop’s useless. Banking? Family photos and videos? Notes, alarms, shopping lists, timers, calendar, email, messaging? Document scanning, sending stuff to the printer? Shopping? Ride hailing? Reservations and tickets? Phone. There’s little room or need for a laptop. And I grew up pre-smartphone (hell, didn’t have the Internet at all until I was like 12) so I was well-accustomed to using desktop computers in the before-time.
Important personal stuff’s all on my phone. Hell, I basically bought my last house entirely from my phone, including the paperwork, and that was a few years ago. Adding a laptop to the mix wouldn’t have helped. House projects? Phone is several tools for those, laptop’s useless. Banking? Family photos and videos? Notes, alarms, shopping lists, timers, calendar, email, messaging? Document scanning, sending stuff to the printer? Shopping? Ride hailing? Reservations and tickets? Phone. There’s little room or need for a laptop. And I grew up pre-smartphone (hell, didn’t have the Internet at all until I was like 12) so I was well-accustomed to using desktop computers in the before-time.
> remember we already have a work computer provided by our employers
What a ridiculous and privileged thing to say. Most people do not, in fact, have a computer provided by their employer.
What a ridiculous and privileged thing to say. Most people do not, in fact, have a computer provided by their employer.
Even if they don't they shouldn't be forced to choose between buying yet another computer they rarely use and doing personal things on a laptop where they also do important works.
As a computer enthusiast I don’t want a desktop in my pocket. I want big heavy rigs, that simply have to be big to do the kind of computing I want to do. I’m not looking for a thin client.
As another computer enthusiast, why not both? I have a pretty beefy rig, but I’d also like to leverage the full compute on my iphone/ipad. If the software wasn’t locked down, the hardware would be more than competitive with the laptop my job provides me. And having an ipad as a full compute device would have been perfect for my university days; the small programming assignments I had would have been perfect to develop on that form factor (ipad + small bluetooth keyboard, together thinner than most laptops).
I believe that with the iPhone 15 adopting USB-C, it will pave the way for a more streamlined integration of USB-C power adapters across almost all electronic categories. The shift towards USB-C as the go-to power and data connector for a plethora of electronic devices has been on the rise in recent years.
We will have one cable for so many things. Finally....
We will have one cable for so many things. Finally....
Why on Earth would you make a phone out of Titanium?
I mean, yes, hard, shiny, expensive... but just seems so wasteful.
I mean, yes, hard, shiny, expensive... but just seems so wasteful.
Lightweight and durable. That’s why people love titanium. You wanna make a big rectangle that is super thin and costs thousands of dollars and you’re gonna have to concern yourself with frame flex. The original XL iPhones had a bending problem. Whatever structural member they eventually designed in to solve that, it’s going to be some amount of thinner, lighter, stronger when made with titanium.
As far as wasteful - sort of. Titanium metal isn’t particularly rare, it’s just bound up in ore that takes an extremely energy intensive process to convert to usable material. That’s the Kroll method, invented 80 years ago to refine titanium. There’s actually a new process called the Armstrong method which is way simpler and less capital and energy intensive. In a very real sense, Apple investing in titanium is exactly what we need to push down the cost of refining and fabricating with the metal.
Aluminum used to be more precious than gold, and then 150 years ago scientists figured out how to cheaply refine aluminum. Now we use aluminum for everything from cheap bottle openers and bike frames to disposable containers and Martian rover parts.
I learned about all of the above over the last 10 years as an engineering nerd. I’ve long been awaiting the day when the Armstrong process is the norm and titanium costs are super low. However that process creates powder, so this might also require low cost titanium 3D printers. All I know is investment can bring down these costs, and I’m glad to see apple doing it!
Bonus: these department of energy videos on the comically complex Kroll process[1] and the super simple Armstrong process[2]:
[1] https://youtu.be/oWyrzZh3We0?si=OdRTu6crob-PVkLJ
[2] https://youtu.be/73HLzYuIfx0?si=dRwfraPivcKyCA6U
As far as wasteful - sort of. Titanium metal isn’t particularly rare, it’s just bound up in ore that takes an extremely energy intensive process to convert to usable material. That’s the Kroll method, invented 80 years ago to refine titanium. There’s actually a new process called the Armstrong method which is way simpler and less capital and energy intensive. In a very real sense, Apple investing in titanium is exactly what we need to push down the cost of refining and fabricating with the metal.
Aluminum used to be more precious than gold, and then 150 years ago scientists figured out how to cheaply refine aluminum. Now we use aluminum for everything from cheap bottle openers and bike frames to disposable containers and Martian rover parts.
I learned about all of the above over the last 10 years as an engineering nerd. I’ve long been awaiting the day when the Armstrong process is the norm and titanium costs are super low. However that process creates powder, so this might also require low cost titanium 3D printers. All I know is investment can bring down these costs, and I’m glad to see apple doing it!
Bonus: these department of energy videos on the comically complex Kroll process[1] and the super simple Armstrong process[2]:
[1] https://youtu.be/oWyrzZh3We0?si=OdRTu6crob-PVkLJ
[2] https://youtu.be/73HLzYuIfx0?si=dRwfraPivcKyCA6U
This post and these videos were awesome, thanks!
I hope the EU presses Apple to adopt other standards as well. (e.g., file format. It's ridiculous that you can't just drag and drop a picture from your photos library as a Gmail attachment because the format would be HEIC).
I’m pretty sure there’s a setting in ios as to the default file format for photos? And jpeg is an option?
Just checked - it’s under “camera - formats - most compatible”.
Just checked - it’s under “camera - formats - most compatible”.
Why does this read like an Onion article?
Finally, less charging cables to carry while traveling.
just gotta replace all the old lightning cables along the way. sadly, I won't be able to stop carrying something to charge my AirPods using usb-c, yet
And help the environment!
I think the USB-C cable will make little to no difference for the majority of Apple users out there. I hate how the EU has coerced Apple to make this change.
I think the USB-C cable will make a big difference for me. I love how the EU has coerced Apple to make this change.
iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=37485290