Brazil has ordered that if Apple wants to continue business within the country, the company must supply power adaptors with all iPhones. According to PC Mag, Brazil is cracking down on the missing peripheral, and the government is also imposing a fine. According to Brazil’s Ministry of Justice and Public Security:
The sale of iPhone cell phones unaccompanied by battery chargers has been suspended throughout the national territory. The Ministry of Justice and Public Security (MJSP) also imposed a fine on the manufacturer Apple Computer Brasil in the amount of R$ 12,275,500, and ordered the cancellation of the registration with Anatel of the brand’s smartphones from the iPhone12 model. The decision was published in the Official Gazette of the Union this Tuesday (6), in a process opened by the National Consumer Secretariat (Senacon), in December last year.
For the past two years, Apple has been excluding USB wall warts from new iPhone sales. However, the cost of the phones has not changed to reflect the missing part. Apple has stated that this change was made to combat electronic waste, a real problem. However, the company has refused to move on to the nearly universally accepted USB-C cable as a standard. So instead, we’re still dealing with the more expensive Lightning Connector introduced in 2012.
It is interesting to note that Apple is concerned about the environmental impact of e-waste when the company’s charging cables are notorious for all but disintegrating within a year. I’ve yet to have a single Lightning cable last more than two years before the outer sheath was peeled away and the wires exposed. If the environment is the concern, why hasn’t Apple focused on plant-based materials for these necessary accessories?
In other news, PC Mag reports that Anker Eco Products has developed a USB-C cable that uses plant-based materials for part of the construction. The exterior housing of the cable is made from a mixture of sugarcane and corn. This mixture makes up for 40% of the cable’s outer sheath. Allegedly, Anker says that this material matches the durability of the petroleum-based plastic typically used for these cables and connectors. In reality, it probably is more durable than a charging cable from Apple because the sheath of those things usually gets stripped within the first couple of months of use. Anker claims that these cables are durable, with up to 20,000 bends.
As far as price goes, the cable is comparable to others on the market. A 3′ USB-C to Lightning Cable is $18.99, and the 6′ version is $21.99. USB-C to USB-C is $2 less expensive for both lengths. The exterior of these cables only makes up for a small portion of the overall product. The conductors, connectors, and casings are still made from not-quite-eco-friendly materials.
- Bio-Based Design: The exterior of the cable body is built using bio-based materials from plants like corn and sugar cane.
- Bio-Based and Durable: With a 20,000-bend lifespan, this cable is more than ready to handle the stresses and strains of daily use.
- Fast Charge Ready: Supports a power output of 100W when paired with a 100W wall charger. (This cable does not support media display.)
- Wide Compatibility: Meets USB-IF safety standards for flawless compatibility with virtually any USB-C device, including phones, tablets, laptops, and more.
What do you think of Brazil’s decision and the plant-based cables? Let us know below.
[Source: PC Mag] [Source: PC Mag]ClownfishTV.com strives to be an apolitical, balanced and based pop culture news outlet. However, our contributors are entitled to their individual opinions. Author opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of our video hosts, other site contributors, site editors, affiliates, sponsors or advertisers. This website contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links. We disclaim products or services we have received for review purposes, as well as sponsored posts.
