Users are always seeking more control over their social networking experience to make it better, whether to improve privacy or enhance flexibility. Interoperability between social networking platforms like Facebook and TikTok has so many benefits that solve those issues. Say you’re on multiple...
How did it generate more ewaste?
Because you had to buy a charger! Duh!
/s
We essentially already jad a de facto universal charging standard in USB-A. Whether the end that plugged into the device with USB-C, lightning, micro-USB, mini-USB they all had the venerable USB-A connector at the other end. So regardless of what device you were charging you could hook it into any old USB-A charger and be on your way.
Then “everything must be USB-C” gets half-arsed into being. Suddenly anyone who hadn’t already stopped packing chargers with their devices used the “reduce ewaste!” rhetoric of the ruling to justify only supplying a cable. Greenwashing but OK. Problem was then Apple and everyone else immediately jumped to packing USB-C to USB-C cables. Now there’s a bunch of USB-A chargers needlessy defunct and a lot of people had to actually but more chargers so they had something that worked with a C to C cable. Or but an A to C cable but still waste that was utterly needless and entirely predictable.
You’re right for low-power devices up to 5V/2.4A, to a point. All those USB-A to C chargers/cables didn’t stop working; they should be replaced through normal attrition to the new standard rather than replaced wholesale. I know I still have a bunch I’m using and will continue to until they’re kaput.
But PD capability via USB-C is a game changer. I’ve been in day-long meetings with people who just swapped one charger between at least three different brands of laptops/tablets. Now you don’t need think anymore about which I adapter you have, you just plug it in and it charges.