Apple has started selling an adapter to add micro-USB support its iOS devices.
Yesterday was all about iOS, the iPod and the brand new iPhone 4S, however, Apple also launched another product, which is set to go on sale in the United Kingdom on 14 October.
You might remember a couple of years ago when major phone manufacturers agreed to standardise European mobile phone chargers and go with micro-USB as a universal charger for the continent.
"People will not have to throw away their charger whenever they buy a new phone," EU Industry Commissioner Guenter Verheugen said at the time, going on to blame unwanted phone accessories for thousands of tons of waste in Europe each year.
Well, this month, Apple is doing its part to cut down on electronic waste by bringing the micro-USB standard to the iPhone. Engadget reports that this £8 adapter yesterday crept into the UK Apple store unnoticed amid all the iPhone 4S hoopla. Given its ship date of 14 October, it's not clear if this will be bundled with new iPhone 4S orders (a device also launching 14 October) and that £8 price-tag only applies to customers who want the adapter for their old handset, or if everyone will be expected to pay £8 to be a part of the new EU standard.
I suppose we'll find out next week.
If you lead Tom's down this road people will take a step back before trusting your reviews when anything Apple is remotely involved (such as other "Tech" sites that fawn over anything Apple).
Don't go down that road, and become one site in the sea of Apple brown-nosing sites.
All hail the great iAdaptor and it's contribution to reducing waste(?).
Money is one thing, Apple probably paid under the table to be allowed to keep the proprietary connector and use a silly converter instead.
As for this item.. I'm not sure why anybody should have the need for a USB adapter? It's suppose to be UNIVERSAL. Does the new Iphone have micro-USB built in? It should.
Wut.