Okay, so I'm hearing a lot of people grumbling about the EU's proposed new ruling to make devices (like phones, tablets and the like) all use USB-C. There's a lot of grumbling that it's "bad for innovation" (Thanks Apple for that one), and that maybe the UK had the right idea with Brexit, getting out from under these onerous regulations.
See, here's the thing, the EU started this crusade back in 2009. Then they had a "Memorandum of Understanding" signed by the main players in the mobile market (including Apple) that all the manufacturers would agree on a single standard for their devices, and stick to it. That way you wouldn't have to throw away chargers and cables every time you bought a new device, and as mobile devices were seen as more "disposable" than other devices (the whole "carrying around, getting used and worn every day" was what they were going with, more than "new model with new features coming out every so often") this would both reduce waste, mean consumers didn't have to buy a new charger and cable every time (even if it's included in the box, you're still paying for it), and promote innovation as third parties would only have to build for a single connector and it'd work with everything.
Back in 2009, the mobile space was vastly different, with a whole swath of connectors in use at the time, from Nokia's barrel plug and proprietary contact strip, to Sony Ericsson's clip-in connector, Apple's 30-pin dock connector and the various options (Mini-USB, Micro-USB, almost-but-not-quite Mini/Micro USB) being used by the new Android phones.
Most manufacturers quickly moved to standardize on the Micro-USB standard, as it was versatile enough through standards like OTG and MHL, could deliver enough power with USB2.0 (500mA, way up from the lowly 125mA that USB1.0 dictated), had the necessary insertion rigidity to be used for a few years. One notable exception to this was Apple, who elected to ditch their existing 30-pin dock connector, and instead make another proprietary and unlicensable "lightning" connector, with the minor fig leaf that users in the EU would get an Apple Lightning to Micro USB cable bundled with their phones and tablets.
When standards moved on, and the much more capable USB-C standard was ratified, other manufacturers quickly jumped on it, as it was much more capable with features like Power Delivery for much faster charging (and higher charging rates), massively increased bandwidth and better support for extended capabilities like DisplayPort and Thunderbolt. It's increased mechanical strength, bidirectional nature and expandability quickly overshadowed Apple's Lightning connector, and in some cases (notably their laptop line) Apple also switched to using it, but for their mobile devices Apple still held out.
So now, the EU has decided, since the manufacturers won't come together on a standard on their own, like they were supposed to, and like 90% of the manufacturers have, they'll step in and force them all to play ball, levelling the playing field and letting add-on manufacturers (for example) finally be able to innovate, rather than having to support 2 separate and disjointed systems.
Apple knew this was coming, and could have switched to USB-C at any time. They didn't, because they wanted to maintain their stranglehold (and revenue stream) on dongles and adaptors to fit their devices. Anyone who implements part of the Lightning protocol has to pay a usage fee to Apple, of course, which is also why there's no multi-function Apple dongles (unlike USB-C dongles/docks, which have a variety of configurations to suit all needs). Their claims it will "stifle innovation" pale in comparison to the locking down they've done to their own devices and ecosystem, and if they had gone along with the Memorandum of Understanding they signed to in 2009, there wouldn't need to be a codified standard. I am sure at some point in the future a better connector than USB-C will come along, and had Apple kept up their end of the agreement they signed, they would get to be a part of implementing and using that newer standard.
Apple made this bed, and now the EU is going to force them to lay in it. And I, for one, am very glad to see them getting some consequences for their actions. I'm sure the fleet of Apple masticators out there will try and cry foul, that they're just some small company that doesn't deserve to have the weight of the EU coming down on them, or some other such nonsense. Sorry, but I have absolutely no sympathy for them.
As for the whole "Maybe the UK is right with Brexit" nonsense, entirely aside from my thoughts on the matter (which are lengthy, and not at all right for this post), if you want to sell to the EU, the products you are selling have to abide by the EU's rules. As part of the EU, you get to be a part in making those rules, get to have a say in what's in them and what isn't. Outside the EU, you get absolutely no say in what they are or how they apply.
