Even better, feels like Samsung is gearing up toget rid of the charger in its phone boxes too.
40% off TNW Conference!
At first, I was gently amused by this.
Hell, I had a great time speculating aboutother things the company could remove to make money.
How about the inserts?
The SIM ejector tool?
Or, actually, on reflection, why dont we just scrap the box altogether?
Simply protect our valuable phones with our disposable flesh?
Takethis piece from The Vergepiece as an example.
Therefore, Apple getting rid of included chargers is a positive step for the environment.
Something, of course, Apple isfighting tooth-and-nail against.
Now, on the surface, its hard to disagree with this, right?
Oh, whats that?
Whos paying for it?
As per fucking usual.
You see it everywhere: Requests for donations at check-outs.
Reports saying people are flying too much.
Personal carbon offsetting schemes.
I mean, what sort of planet is absolutely fine with a third ofall emissionsbeingproduced by only 20 companies?
Now, whats happening with the e-waste argument over chargers is the same sort of mental gymnastics.
Some even presented this as Applesway of prepping us for the future.
If they did, even just a tiny bit,their devices would be easily repairable and upgradeable.
No, getting rid of chargers coming with phones is about profit.
Nothing more, nothing less.
I could partially excuse this if I couldopt-outof the charger when buying a phone.
But theres no way thats how its going to work.
Id love to be proved wrong, but will that happen?
In fact, the current rumor is that the charger-less iPhone 12 will bemore expensive than previous models.
Once again, its the consumer getting fucked.
And whats the tech media doing?
Well, its on all fours in front of its corporate overlords, barking in agreement.
Do you care about an included charger?
Whatever your thoughts, let me know by tweeting@CallumBooth.
