[Macworld]

Post your comments for Apple agrees to produce standard phone charger in Europe here

[doglesby]

Option 4, include a USB-to-micro-USB adapter (with or without the same cable they've been using since the 4 or 5G iPod).
This is certainly good news. A little late--the iPhone 3G and 3GS chargers are so tiny now. Still, I've got the charger that came with my iPhone, the one that came with the A/V out cable, the slightly larger ones that came with my iPods, and now the teeny iPhone 3GS charger. It's a shame that Apple may actually have to include a charger longer (I think it could have gotten away with making it a separate purchase next year).

[tekkie]

Very true, it has always been split, even though the most advanced and revolutionary browser engine - WebKit - on which Google Chrome is built on as well, clearly pioneers the browser market in CSS 3.

[LowededWookie]

As soon as I first read the title I wondered how that would work based on what the Dock connector does which is really a peripheral port.
Mini-USB is not going to provide the needed abilities to replace the Dock connector so to me it seems the most likely answer is that Apple will actually produce the Dock to Mini-USB convertor and include it in all packages.

[JoxerTheMighty]

I think mini USB is small enough to add as a secondary port on the iPhone, and a converter would be rather klunky - ie. not an Apple approach.

[doglesby]

JoxerTheMighty said:

I think mini USB is small enough to add as a secondary port on the iPhone, and a converter would be rather klunky - ie. not an Apple approach.

Unless Apple puts micro-USB ports in Macs, you need an adapter or a second cable (one step forward, one step back--like I said earlier, the current charger is tiny). Even if it does, most computers in use don't have them.

[Biallystock]

The advantages to NOT being wasteful are so clear there should be no objection to a standard recharger and making it universally available everywhere, especially the USA.
Miniaturisation when it leads to needless duplication, incompatibilities and a throwaway culture is obviously counterproductive.

[EPonj]

Good news, I'm almost surprised Apple goes into this. I mean they won't sell any overpriced adaptors anymore, but it's a nice move for the custommer. What concerns the Dock, it's just not the same. The charger is just a charger with no other option. The charging capabilities can be as good as any charger, as it's only limited by the wires section. They could make a 850W charger, it will just be useless.
Anyways, long life to the EC for taking initiatives like this. (And to Apple for following ;))

[JoxerTheMighty]

What are you talking about? I have a USB-> microUSB cord now for my camera. Every Mac has a regular usb port. There's no need to change anything on your mac, although I expect that it won't replace the dock, but just function as a power source. Of course it wouldn't take much to allow for syncing as well, but for other hardware interfaces like volume control and menu navigation etc. I would expect the apple connector/dock would still be the way to go.

[doglesby]

JoxerTheMighty said:

What are you talking about? I have a USB-> microUSB cord now for my camera. Every Mac has a regular usb port.

I was under the impression that the idea is a charger that has a micro-USB port. Maybe the iPhone will gain a micro-USB port and come with a micro-USB-to-USB-A cable that you can use to connect to the millions of chargers Apple has already shipped (and every computer out there). That would suggest Dan is wrong that "while the chargers will be included with the phones at first, they will not be available on their own until later on." The chargers exist, you just need a micro-USB-to-USB-A cable (alas, my camera and universal remote came with mini-USB-to-USB-A cables, so I don't have one myself).

Everything I've read on this standard refers to a single interface; but since we all too familiar with dock/USB or USB-B/USB-A or micro-DVI/DVI interfaces, I find that confusing. If all these devices are smart devices that require syncing, shouldn't the standard be a micro-USB/USB-A interface?

BTW, in answer to Dan's questions, the dock-connector won't go away, it has pins that USB lacks (e.g., digital line-out). The question becomes: if the iPhone gains a micro-USB port, will Apple allow developers to make devices that interface with it like they can with the dock-connector or Bluetooth?