有「iPod 之父」之稱的蘋果前 iPod 部門資深副總 Tony Fadell,離開蘋果後時常對前東家所作所為發表意見;近期他也對歐盟強制蘋果 iPhone 換成 USB-C 充電埠發表意見。他認為歐盟作法正確,因蘋果現在處於壟斷地位。
這項討論始於一位 Twitter 用戶,想了解如果當初蘋果被迫使用 USB 1.0 而非傳輸更快的 FireWire 技術,當時的 iPod 產品是否會成功?
Tony Fadell 回應,其實整個世界已「融合」至 USB-C,達物理與用戶限制,接下來是無線連接戰場,而不是繼續差異化物理連接。他不擔心歐盟強制規定,因只是在強迫蘋果做正確的事。
I can’t see a problem. The world has converged on USB-C. The physical & user limits have been hit. Next up is wireless per, not a diff physical connection.
So I’m not too worried about this regulation. They’re simply forcing Apple to do the right thing… it’s overdue frankly. https://t.co/COtiZNCtmn— Tony Fadell (@tfadell) October 6, 2022
Tony Fadell 另一則推文表示,歐盟會出手監管就是因蘋果處於壟斷地位;有利消費者的監管、標準化動作很有必要,畢竟企業並不總是對「社會最佳利益」這件事感興趣。
Tony Fadell 也認為,利用基於環境保護論強迫 iPhone 換成 USB-C,遠比進入壟斷法律審判容易,因蘋果不喜歡第三者決定他們應該做什麼。
I get it. Frankly forcing Apple to make this brain dead change for the planet through regulation is a much lot easier than a monopolistic legal trial. Again, Apple is abusing their market position & this is coming from the guy who made the 30 pin connector happen! https://t.co/mrVqOpHXJ3
— Tony Fadell (@tfadell) October 6, 2022
有趣的是,某追蹤 Tony Fadell 的用戶指出,蘋果起初反對 USB-C 是因過去透過 MFi 計畫(認證 iPhone / iPad 配件)賺了很多錢。身為計畫推手的 Tony Fadell 同意這觀點。
And guess who was leading the team that invented the Mfi program?!? It’s time to do the right thing… period! https://t.co/p7beOHNzqE
— Tony Fadell (@tfadell) October 6, 2022
(首圖來源:Flickr/OFFICIAL LEWEB PHOTOS CC BY 2.0)