On Fri, 06 Sep 2013 16:19:07 -0700, sms
wrote:

On 9/6/2013 2:43 PM, wrote:

Apple is notorious for thumbing it's nose at standards - but even
apple uses the data lines as data lines and the power lines as power
lines.

A charger with a USB socket doesn't send data back and forth. The Apple
chargers (and aftermarket chargers for Apple devices) follow Apple's
"standard" for telling the iOS device the available current by setting
the voltage levels of the data pins. Plug the same Apple cable into the
USB port of a computer and the computer communicates with the iDevice to
set the charge rate at 500mA.

The "smart charge" feature would only work on apple spec
chargers.

That's true, but all the aftermarket chargers just copy what Apple dows
since it's not difficult.

The aftermarket can only copy Apple after Apple ships their stuff.
Apple will change their "standard" without telling anyone. There are
now manufacturers who supply charge controllers with programmable
charging profiles to cover future Apple (and others') products.

The "standard" works on computers, using them to charge
apple devices because the computer power supply meets the "standard"

No, the standard works on computers because the computer communicates
with the Apple device and negotiates a charging rate.

Only within the USB standard. Few, if any, computers know about the
Apple "enhancements" to USB. Again, Apple isn't alone, here.