Soon, One Cable Can Charge All Your Tech Stuff!

If you've got a cell phone, a tablet, a digital camera and a laptop that all use different wires to charge... get ready for a reprieve. A new law will likely have all of your new electronics using one standard cable to charge: USB-C.

The European Union (basically most of the countries in Europe) Parliament voted in a new law that will require all new phones, tablets and cameras to use USB-C cables to charge their devices by 2024. Laptops will be in on the action too. They'll need to be powered via USB-C by 2026.

Kind of like California, where the EU goes so too does the world. So this could very likely change iPhones and other devices stateside.

If you've ever been an Android user with a low battery, and you ask your iPhone friend if they have a charger (or vice versa), you know the pain. iPhones use their proprietary Lightning cable, even though Macbooks are now entirely USB-C. Many Androids have hopped on to USB-C but some cheaper phones will still use Micro USB. Then cameras and laptops, forget about it! A ton of proprietary connectors that cost a fortune to buy from the manufacturer, or you chance it with an off-brand charger which could kill your device.

The goal is to lower the amount of marketplace confusion and e-waste. Many phone manufacturers including Apple and Google have stopped shipping their phones with chargers altogether. Sure, it's a money grab, but many people already have chargers that can charge those devices. By getting all electronics onto one platform, the number of chargers necessary drops significantly. That means fewer wires and charging bricks being needlessly thrown in landfills. Which is a good thing.

You know what else it gets rid of? That one ridiculous drawer you have with a bunch of charging cables you forget which device they pair with! I'm convinced I have a wire for an old Gateway 2000 PC I had 20 years ago.

So, long live USB-C.

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Ah, the iPhone. Some would think (especially Andriod Users) that the iPhone is an overrated piece of equipment - but an iPhone is actually a staple in Pop Culture. Between iPods, iPads, and more, the iPhone bridged the gap into a reality of smartphones, making some technological advances easier than ever for average people. View the gallery and all of the iPhones that have come and gone throughout the years.

SAN FRANCISCO - JUNE 29: A customer holds the new Apple iPhone June 29, 2007 in San Francisco, California. Hype for the iPhone, which will cost $499 or $599, has driven demand into overdrive as people have been lining up for days in front of Apple and AT&Tstores. The phone was released nationawide tonight. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

SAN FRANCISCO - JUNE 19: The new iPhone 3Gs is displayed at an Apple store June 19, 2009 in San Francisco, California. Hundreds of people lined up at the Apple Store in San Francisco to be the first to purchase Apple's new iPhone 3Gs which is faster than the previous iPhone 3G and has several new features. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

SAN FRANCISCO - JULY 21: An Apple Store sales associate prepares to sell two iPhone 3GS at an Apple Store July 21, 2009 in San Francisco, California. Apple Inc. reported a better than expected third-quarter profit of $1.23 billion, or $1.35 a share comapred to $1.07 billion, or $1.19 one year ago. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

BERLIN - FEBRUARY 23: The photographer holds an iPhone at a shop of German telecommunications provider Deutsche Telekom on February 23, 2010 in Berlin, Germany. Deutsche Telekom is to present its financial results for 2009 on February 25. (Photo Illustration by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 23: The white iPhone 4 is held inside an Apple Store May 23, 2011 in New York City. The first Apple Store opened 10 years ago, and looking ahead, Apple has added several new experiences for customers in their retail locations. (Photo by Daniel Barry/Getty Images)

NEW YORK - OCTOBER 14: An Apple customer displays his newly purchased iPhone 4s outside of the Apple Store on Broadway and 67th Street on October 14, 2011 in New York City. The new phone, which went on sale at 8 am local time in the U.S., Canada, U.K., Japan, Australia, France and Germany, features a faster dual-core A5 chip, an 8MP camera that shoots 1080p HD video, and a voice assistant program. (Photo by Michael Nagle/Getty Images)

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - OCTOBER 14: A pedestrian walks by a display of the new Apple iPhone 4Gs at an Apple Store on October 14, 2011 in San Francisco, United States. The new iPhone 4Gs went on sale today and features a faster dual-core A5 chip, an 8MP camera that shoots 1080p HD video, and a voice assistant program. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - SEPTEMBER 12: The new iPhone 5 is displayed during an Apple special event at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts on September 12, 2012 in San Francisco, California. Apple announced the iPhone 5, the latest version of the popular smart phone as well as new updated versions of the iPod Nano, Shuffle and Touch. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

CUPERTINO, CA - SEPTEMBER 10: Apple Senior Vice President of Worldwide Marketing at Phil Schiller speaks about pricing for the new iPhone during an Apple product announcement at the Apple campus on September 10, 2013 in Cupertino, California. The company launched two new iPhone models that will run iOS 7. The 5C is made from a hard-coated polycarbonate and comes in five colors. The 5S comes in three colors, features a fingerprint sensor, has an upgraded camera, and contains an A7 chip. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

BERLIN, GERMANY - SEPTEMBER 20: A customer tries out the new Apple iPhone 5C smartphone at the Berlin Apple Store on the first day of sales on September 20, 2013 in Berlin, Germany. The new iPhone 5S and 5C phones went on sale all over the world today and hundreds of customers waited outside the Berlin store in the rain to be among the first to buy the new phones starting at 8am. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

PALO ALTO, CA - SEPTEMBER 20: The new Apple iPhone 5C is displayed at an Apple Store on September 20, 2013 in Palo Alto, California. Apple launched two new models of iPhone: the iPhone 5S, which is preceded by the iPhone 5, and a cheaper, paired down version, the iPhone 5C. The phones come with a new operating system. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

CUPERTINO, CA - SEPTEMBER 09: Apple CEO Tim Cook speaks about the iPhone 6 during an Apple special event at the Flint Center for the Performing Arts on September 9, 2014 in Cupertino, California. Apple is expected to unveil the new iPhone 6 and wearble tech. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

CUPERTINO, CA - MARCH 21: Apple VP Greg Joswiak announces the new iPhone SE during an Apple special event at the Apple headquarters on March 21, 2016 in Cupertino, California. The company is expected to update its iPhone and iPad lines, and introduce new bands for the Apple Watch. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

TOKYO, JAPAN - MARCH 31: An Apple Inc. iPhone SE is displayed at the company's Omotesando store on March 31, 2016 in Tokyo, Japan. Apple Inc. launched its iPhone SE and iPad Pro 9.7 inch on March 31, 2016 in Japan. (Photo by Tomohiro Ohsumi/Getty Images)

TOKYO, JAPAN - MARCH 31: An Apple Inc. iPhone SE is displayed at the company's Omotesando store on March 31, 2016 in Tokyo, Japan. Apple Inc. launched its iPhone SE and iPad Pro 9.7 inch on March 31, 2016 in Japan. (Photo by Tomohiro Ohsumi/Getty Images)

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 03: The Apple logo is displayed on the back of an iPhone on August 3, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Carl Court/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 16: The new iPhone 7 is displayed on a table at an Apple store in Manhattan on September 16, 2016 in New York City. People around the globe waited in long lines to be among the first to purchase both the iPhone 7 and the iPhone 7 Plus. The phones offer longer battery life, faster browsing, a better camera and do not have a traditional headphone jack. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 25: A close-up view of the Telegram messaging app is seen on a smart phone on May 25, 2017 in London, England. Telegram, an encrypted messaging app, has been used as a secure communications tool by Islamic State. (Photo by Carl Court/Getty Images)

CUPERTINO, CA - SEPTEMBER 12: (L-R) The new iPhone 8, iPhone X and iPhone 8S are displayed during an Apple special event at the Steve Jobs Theatre on the Apple Park campus on September 12, 2017 in Cupertino, California. Apple held their first special event at the new Apple Park campus where they announced the new iPhone 8, iPhone X and the Apple Watch Series 3. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - SEPTEMBER 22: A customer inspects the new Apple iPhone 8 at an Apple Store on September 22, 2017 in San Francisco, California. The new Apple iPhone 8 and 8 Plus, as well as the updated Apple Watch and Apple TV, went on sale today. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - SEPTEMBER 22: The new Apple iPhone 8 is displayed at an Apple Store on September 22, 2017 in San Francisco, California. The new Apple iPhone 8 and 8 Plus, as well as the updated Apple Watch and Apple TV, went on sale today. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

PALO ALTO, CA - NOVEMBER 03: The new iPhone X is displayed at an Apple Store on November 3, 2017 in Palo Alto, California. The highly anticipated iPhone X went on sale around the world today. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

LAS VEGAS, NV - JANUARY 11: DJI's Osmo Mobile 2 handheld smartphone gimbal is displayed at the DJI booth during CES 2018 at the Las Vegas Convention Center on January 11, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Osmo Mobile 2 uses built-in sensors and a brushless motor to stabilize a user's smartphone to allow for time-lapse video, dolly zoom effects and panoramic shots. CES, the world's largest annual consumer technology trade show, runs through January 12 and features about 3,900 exhibitors showing off their latest products and services to more than 170,000 attendees. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

CORTE MADERA, CA - FEBRUARY 01: An iPhone is displayed at an Apple Store on February 1, 2018 in Corte Madera, California. Apple will report quarterly earnings after the closing bell. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)