https://www.thenational.scot/politics/24824883.can-dumb-smart-tvs-eus-next-target-please/ * Newsletters * Puzzles * Reader Rewards * Donate * Shop * Contact us * More + + + o Newsletters o Puzzles o Reader Rewards o Donate o Shop o Contact us The National Subscribe * Digital Edition * Puzzles Close Stay ahead with a digital subscription Subscribe EXTRA BEST OF THE NATIONAL SEVEN DAYS THE NATIONAL GRASSROOTS NEWSLETTERS YESSAYS RESOURCES --------------------------------------------------------------------- Search [ ] News Scottish Independence General Election 2024 World News Europe Fact Check Economy Transport Politics SNP Scottish Greens Alba Labour Conservatives The Jouker FMQs Holyrood Culture Arts Best of Scotland Film & TV Food and Drink Music History Travel Essays Sport Football Comment Rugby Tennis Golf Other Sports Community Letters The National Grassroots Best of Resources Business Renewables Oil & Gas Whisky Food and Drink Comment Columnists Gaidhlig Scots National Extra Podcasts Journalists All Journalists Seven Days Puzzles Shop * Subscribe * Digital Edition * Puzzles * Newsletters * Puzzles * Reader Rewards * Donate * Shop * Contact us News Politics Culture Sport Community Business Comment Journalists Seven Days Puzzles Shop Politics SNP Scottish Greens Alba Labour Conservatives The Jouker FMQs Holyrood The National Shona Craven: Can dumb 'smart' TVs be the EU's next target, please? comment Can dumb 'smart' TVs be the EU's next target, please? Brexit European Union TELEVISION UK Government Politics Technology Scotland [5538255] By Shona Craven @shonacraven Columnist & Community Editor Share "One charger to rule them all" declared the perky announcement, alongside an illustration of a USB-C charger branded in EU flag colours underneath a Christmas tree (Image: Martini) IT was packaged by the European Commission as a belated Christmas gift - new regulations that mean all new small and medium-sized electronic devices sold in the EU will use the same charging cable. No more faffing about with different cables for your phone, tablet or camera - just USB-C ports on everything. "One charger to rule them all" declared the perky announcement, alongside an illustration of a USB-C charger branded in EU flag colours underneath a Christmas tree. Of course, this new rule for the single market does not apply to Brexited Britain but it does highlight one of the many ways in which decisions made in the European Parliament will continue to affect us, despite the fact that we no longer have any representatives there. READ MORE: Scots to elect large pro-independence majority in 2026 Holyrood vote, poll finds Would UK MEPs have opposed this common-sense measure, designed to make life easier for consumers while reducing electronic waste? Surely not. But it's a good example of how we cannot, in practice, stubbornly keep doing whatever we like now that we have "taken back control". In October, the UK Government launched a call for evidence to consider whether it should follow suit with its own standardised charger but it's hard to imagine many people will have bothered to respond, since the likelihood of a contrary UK influencing the production lines of global tech giants is zero. The passing of the EU's Common Charger Directive in 2022 inspired Apple to ditch its proprietary Lightning cable worldwide, as the alternative would have been producing different devices for different markets in order to comply with the new EU standard. At best, the UK might briefly become Europe's bargain bin, where surplus stocks of old phones, tablets and headphones with non-USB-C charging ports come to die. By the time any standard is officially introduced, it's hard to imagine there will be anything non-compliant left to sell. (Image: Unsplash) Predictably, news of the EU's move was met with indignation from many tech-bro types who saw it as placing limits on innovation, and others who felt the institution should have "better things to do" than effectively tell Apple how to make its smartphones. But the EU has a strong record on targeting wasteful practices by manufacturers, including the planned obsolescence of printers that forces consumers to buy new models rather than simply refilling old ones. If I may, as a non-EU citizen, issue a request, I'd like to see it target smart TVs next. The very phrase "smart TV" is a bit of a misnomer. TVs are not "smart" in the same way phones are, despite the fact they are much, much bigger and we would expect them to last much longer. After all, we generally aren't using them to make phone calls, send messages or order pizzas - most of us just want to watch TV on them. [18841710] It's maybe telling that the lazy benchmark for luxury electronics - so often used to pass judgment on the consumer habits of the poorest - remains the "flat-screen TV", despite cathode-ray tube TVs having now been obsolete for about 15 years. No-one ever seems to suggest that having a smart TV is the new height of profligacy, and of course to do so would be silly since a 24-inch model can be bought for a little more than PS100. But what might seem like a good deal at the time can prove frustrating further down the line. The evolution of streaming services means users of many of the first smart TVs - large, expensive models - have seen their favourite apps disappear from menus, as updated versions prove incompatible with their operating systems. According to Which?, this is either because "the hardware can't really handle the newer versions of the app, or so few people are still using a particular model of TV that's it's not worth the expense to update it". Zero-waste groups are rightly perturbed by the number of spare cables and obsolete chargers cluttering up our homes (some slightly confusing research suggests there are 627 million "unused or binned" cables in the UK alone), but it's surely more painful to think of TVs with outdated software going to landfill. (Image: Public) Descriptions for sets on sale today make promises such as "easy access to all your must-have apps", but the manufacturer can't possibly know what any customer's must-have apps are, let alone whether the TV they are selling will be able to support them in one, two or five years' time. There are solutions to this problem that don't involve ditching a working TV - such as "casting" from other devices or using plug-in streaming devices such as fire sticks - but it's not exactly in the interests of smart TV manufacturers to suggest these workarounds when they have their own shiny new products to promote. It can increasingly feel like everyone is expected to have access to a personal tech support department just to participate in society at a fairly basic level. [18773032] As one poster on a TV forum put it, on a thread about disappearing apps: "I'd class myself as a bit of a techie, but even I reach the point of bewilderment with the choice and compatibility issues and begin saying, 'Why is nothing straightforward any more?'" The adoption of USB-C as a new global standard is a step forward, which should lead to slightly less bewilderment. But when it comes to large, bulky electronic items, there is a need to ensure they are straightforwardly future-proof, and that manufacturers are not making promises they cannot keep. Brexit European Union TELEVISION UK Government Politics Technology Scotland Share Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers? We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We've got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country. Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren't really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse. So that's why we've decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate - and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with. The conversation will go back to what it should be about - people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let's get that debate started! Callum Baird, Editor of The National Comments: Our rules We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused. Please report any comments that break our rules. Read the rules here Please sign in or register to comment. Sort by [Oldest first ] loading Suspend Last Updated: Reply Quote Edit Delete Report 0 Report this comment Cancel [ ] [ ] [ ] I am not a robot * [] Enter the above word in the box below [ ] Report Cancel [ ] Post reply Edit comment Cancel [ ] Save edit Are you sure you want to delete this comment? Yes delete Cancel Get involved with the news Send your news & photos Loading... 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