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Comment by shmerl | Hacker News Reader

Apple surprisingly remained in its mindset from the 90s. Such backwards things like using proprietary ports in the age of ubiquitous USB really explains Apple's way of thinking. I.e. complete lock-in, no interest in system portability and etc. While it served them well in the past, it can also be their downfall in the future.

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Apple made a connector that they hope might last for 10 years like the 30 pin connector. During that time, USB has gone through mini, micro a/b and now the micro USB 3 connector, and the USB forum recently announced that they are working on a new connector that should be reversible like the lightning connector. Meanwhile, Apple can choose to implement any standard they like in Lightning, just like the 30 pin connector has supported analog and digital audio, composite and component video and HDMI, all while keeping the connector backwards compatible for the main features (charging, USB and audio).

Of course there can be a benefit in making their own connector. The downsides of lack of interoperability are however way stronger and part of the intention there is clearly to prevent such interoperability, which normal user should find insulting.

Don't overlook the fact that Macs do have USB ports.

Some argue the elimination of the ADB and other ports with the iMac helped popularise USB.

Apple has held onto many proprietary interfaces in the face of much more widely adopted standards, but usually the products have been better off for it. Sure, the one-button mouse is horrendous, but FireWire was better than USB, the Lightning charging port is miles ahead of Micro-USB and other alternatives, and iOS development is not good, but not as bad as Android.

Many things could be better than USB. But U in its name made it the preferred choice. It's like e-mail. Way not perfect, but ubiquitous. Apple not adopting it is clearly anti user in this case.

Hmm, I don't think of Apple as anti-user when I plug in my iPad in the dark without having to look at it.

Any port you use daily where you have a 50% chance of plugging it in upside-down is a pain in the ass and broken by design.

which USB? USB, mini-USB, micro-USB, USB 3.0 Micro-B, USB Type C?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USB#Connectors_types

ubiquitous, indeed.

Any of them. The main point they are all standard, so you can use convertors, cables, chargers and so on. USB has U in it for a reason. Using proprietary ports in this day and age is so backwards and user unfriendly, that it's not even funny.

I'm more of an Apple(/Jobs)-hater than most on this site, but even I have to admit the Lightning port is so much prettier and more user-friendly. You can put it in upside down or downside up -- it works both ways!

Though, I vaguely recall reading that some future iteration of USB is going to go that way, it'll be nice to get that finally.

Lack of interoperability defeats the purpose. What use is there from such port if you can't use a commonly available charger or USB cable when you forgot your Apple proprietary one at home?

iOS is popular enough that its often easier to find another lightning cable than a micro USB

Not in my experience.

The average user wouldn't care much about proprietary ports. What's exactly mindset from 90s when it was the first to bring smart phone to the mass market? Every company has its pros and cons. If Apple won't come out with anything new and come out with lacklustre updates, I might short it. But back in 2009, it was a laughable decision by Wilson. Investing is much irrational. One shouldn't be so emotionally invested in or against any company regarding money.

> The average user wouldn't care much about proprietary ports.

I think the opposite. More than once I've heard people asking me for a charger or phone cable. When those people happen to be not with Apple devices everything works just fine (microUSB, you know). When they happen to be with Apple devices they can't use them and need to look further.

They do care, since in such scenarios it's clear for them that Apple cripples usability of their devices for no reason by preventing basic ports interoperability. I often point it out for them in a sense "so stop using Apple". They say "yeah, I know it's stupid, but what can you do".

I've had the exact opposite experience: when I need a microUSB cable or can't plug into a friend's proprietary car stereo, I'm told "just get an iPhone!"

With iPhone marketshare still above 40% in the US (and holding steady), I think it just depends on which phone-demographic bubble you're in.

Outside of the US, I'm sure things are quite different. Aren't iPhones in the EU required to come with a MicroUSB adapter now, though?

I'm actually in US, but in my experience Apple devices are a minority. I agree it can depend on population and area you are in. I wouldn't expect it to hold steady. Apple aren't interested much in innovating in the OS itself. Neither is Google for that matter - Android is pretty stale too. It means that next coming innovative contender can disrupt the market.

Not sure whether EU dictates such thing as common ports, but I wouldn't be surprised if they do.

He sold his Apple shares because he doesn't own shares in companies where the BOD / PR team are obviously lying to investors -- specifically in regards to Steve Jobs' declining health.

Funny you mention USB. When the iMac came out, it was roundly criticized for offering USB (then rather new) as the only connectivity, and eschewing the then-ubiquitous floppy drive. Such backwards thinking!

Heck, some of Apple's "proprietary connectors" even become the standard, such as Mini DisplayPort.

the brilliant proprietary lock-in is actually iMessage. once you've been using it for a while with others in the apple ecosystem, getting out is amazingly painful since your contact information is cached as iMessage capable for weeks on your contacts' devices. you can call apple support to remove the number from your icloud account but it still needs to time out in your network.

I fixed it for my mom by connecting her old iPhone to WiFi, and then deactivating iMessages. Not sure how well that would have worked in the case that she had multiple iDevices.

The other great part of the lock-in is that it works seemlessly, doesn't send your text messages to the wrong people, nor makes you sign up for Google+, nor outs you to your coworkers.

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