Welcome to our Apple Breakfast column, which includes all the Apple news you missed last week in one handy roundup. We call it Apple Breakfast because we think it goes great with a cup of coffee or tea in the morning, but it’s cool if you want to read it during lunch or dinner hours as well.
The high cost of fast charging
A strange story surfaced this week, with famed Apple expert Ming-Chi Kuo predicting that this year’s iPhone 15 accessory will be… Apple’s own 20W USB-C charger. Not a particularly exciting object, you might think, but the logic behind the prediction is positively explosive.
There are a number of good reasons why Kuo – and Apple itself if the report is to be believed – expects the 20W charger to sell like hot cakes. First, the launch of the iPhone in late 2023 should see Apple switch from Lightning to USB-C. Second, the iPhone 15 will not come with a power adapter in the box. And third, the iPhone 15, like the iPhone 14, is likely to offer fast charging, but this feature would be limited to use with accessories made by Apple itself or certified through its MFi (Made For iPhone) program. . In other words, a lot of people are going to find that they can’t use their trusty old USB-A adapters and USB-A-Lightning cables with the new iPhone, which Apple doesn’t plan to give them new charging kits. , and many cheaper third-party options won’t work well either. Hence the massive sales of the official adapter. (It will be $19, sir.)
For a discussion of mundane charging accessories, this story has generated what may seem like a surprising amount of discontent. And since we already knew there wouldn’t be a charger in the box and the switch to USB-C had been overdue for some time, this must be the third point that’s pissing people off. Not without reason, I would say. It’s kinda rich to be asked to part with the best part of a great for a smartphone, and then be told that a) it doesn’t come with a plug, and b) you can’t To use any old socket, you have to buy one from a list of approved (and naturally more expensive) retailers and manufacturers. I can understand why this might raise a few hacks.
iPhones are expensive products with a high profit margin that make Apple an ungodly sum of money, but the company has wisely recognized that it cannot rely on this long-term revenue stream alone. It’s working, for example, to move into selling subscription services to people who own iPhones as well as selling the iPhones themselves: it just makes sense. But there’s an uglier side to Apple’s attempts to diversify its revenue streams, which we see when the company uses its muscle to push customers into buying apps, getting repairs and parts, and to buy accessories from third-party companies that have agreed to give Apple a share of their revenue. The MFi program is supposed to exist to ensure the quality and reliability of accessories made by other companies, but there’s always been the suspicion that it’s really about making money. And locking down a feature of the iPhone 15 to only work with MFi chargers would only fit the latter explanation. These are not customers, but Apple’s bank balance.
This is all rather ironic since the upcoming arrival of USB-C on the iPhone – the result of external political pressure rather than internal altruism – was aimed at curbing Apple’s monopolistic inclinations rather than feed them. Using a common connection standard rather than a proprietary one should mean that customers can use the same accessories on their iPhones as on any number of other electronic devices – perhaps even including smartphones. Android – and thus save money and reduce e-waste. (If you recall, the latter was one of the purported reasons for removing power adapters from iPhone cases in 2020. Funny how those ideals get forgotten.) Apple resisted using common standards for so long precisely because proprietary ports give it leverage to pull in extra revenue from the aftermarket… so it’s no surprise it’s continuing that tradition when USB-C arrives. It wouldn’t be surprising, but it would still be disappointing.
The worst could be the myopia of it all, the smallness of thought. The money Apple is about to make by pushing these iPhone 15 customers to MFi chargers is a rounding error for a company of this magnitude – and Apple has reached these heights with the product quality and customer satisfaction. Of course, you can make a little extra cash by keeping a firm grip on the aftermarket for as long as possible. But what does this tell your customers about your priorities? And how much longer will these customers put up with a company so happy to make their lives more difficult?
Foundry
Trending: Top Stories
Why the hell is Apple ditching the physical buttons on the iPhone 15 Pro?
But Macalope thinks we should forget about glasses and buttons; the iPhone 15 best new feature will be the App Store.
MacGPT is the next must-have tool for your Mac’s menu bar.
The rumor mill
Does the release of macOS Ventura 13.3 means a new Mac Pro is finally on the way?
Hidden iOS 16.4 References hinting at a possible imminent launch of AirPods. It might even be the $99 “Lite” model.
Apple would delay major new products drastically cost-cutting maneuver.
In the world of sports, Apple is believed to be looking to expand its soccer roster with Premier League streaming rights.
SiriGPT, anybody? We explain how Apple’s AI project could bring a long-awaited Siri breakthrough.
Podcast of the week
Are you ready to explore the limitless possibilities of artificial intelligence and technological innovation? Today’s topic is ChatGPT and how Apple could take advantage of its amazing capabilities.
You can watch every igamesnews podcast episode on Spotify, Soundcloud, Podcasts app or our own site.
Software updates, bugs and issues
‘Horrible’ Apple Music bug syncs playlists with libraries from different users.
Don’t be afraid, the ‘acropalypse’ does not come to your iPhone and Mac.
Jason Cross has found three new iOS 16.4 features that will make you want upgrade right away. While Michael Simon has three more that you will love, once we tell you where to find them.
And with that, we’re done for this week. If you want to receive regular roundups, sign up for our newsletters. You can also follow us on Twitter or on Facebook to discuss the latest news from Apple. See you next Saturday, enjoy the rest of your weekend and stay Appley.
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