Snipped for brevity.
I know how heated a discussion can get, especially when you are passionate about something. But see how much better your point comes across (at least IMO)? I appreciate your toning things down.
Anyway, while there is an analog audio cable included, it's note needed. Here is a video (it's a little long, because it's an unboxing as well, but fast forward about half way and you will see what you need to see). The large issue, as I pointed out before, is how "wobbly" the phones are in the dock. Truth be told, it looks more like a dock than it actually is IMO. But anyway, when THAT is what you had to try and get around with a bazillion devices, would you care to spend the time doing it? I know I sure wouldn't.
The one thing that made me jealous of the iPhone was the litany of devices (including iHome's) that worked with it. I had this vision that I'd be able to dock my phone in, and play audio off it while charging it.
Sadly, no.
Strike 1: In order to work, the phone needs both a USB connection and a 3.5mm line in. When I think about it, it does make sense, since there's no standard for playing 2.1 channel audio out of a microUSB connection.
Strike 2: As other reviewers have alluded, the iHome can't really hold the Galaxy Nexus with any sort of stability--the phone wobbles in the dock if I touch the screen.
Strike 3: There is no integration whatsoever between the phone and the alarm clock.
However, the thing that made me ultimately return this device was that for no good reason, audio would suddenly stop playing, and I'd have to turn it back on again.
Save your money, get a speaker dock instead.
Right, well, the adapter may seem pointless today, but once companies like Logitech, Belkin, Kensington etc are producing tons of universal accessories w/ microUSB and BMW/Audi/Mercedes/VW start offering microUSB dock options on cars, it'll be a different story.Well, you did ask why we were discussing this. The adapter is being sold in the US, where there is no such law. So... that is why people are discussing it. People are discussing what the point of selling it in the US is in the first place (sans law requiring them to do so). Was only trying to politely answer your question is all.
and typical Apple par as normal goes against the spirit of the law any how. Still crap that Apple does not have a micro USB port directly on the phone for charging.
Apple could cure Cancer and someone in these forums would complain about it. If you don't like apple then simply don't buy their products. I certainly don't waste my time posting crap on the Microsoft blog sites.
the world is going to end ohh snappp, what are we going to do with out our cell phones
Can you get video over µUSB? No. = wrong answer. you CAN get video over micro USB.. you just need an adapter to convert the signal to HDMI, but it does allow for sending HDMI data..
this is just one random example: http://www.amazon.com/Menotek-Adapter-IMPROVED-Protocol-Sensation/dp/B005F9W6DU
The 'spirit' of the law was that consumers be able to mix and match chargers. With the adapter they can. The court agreed that this was enough, sorry that you don't like it
You need to get a adapter. That is key. Folks are screaming they need an adapter with the lighting plug but they need one for micro USB et as well. So what's the difference really?
It's not a law. The commission hasn't made it flat out illegal to sell phones that don't comply with the standard. I understand the confusion since a lot of US-based sources refer to it as a law, but it's not. It's simply a standards initiative that the EU commission pushes, and 90% of the mobile phone manufacturers signed an agreement to comply with it, voluntarily. The commission represents 502 million first-world consumers, so manufacturers tend to listen.and typical Apple par as normal goes against the spirit of the law any how. Still crap that Apple does not have a micro USB port directly on the phone for charging.
The video did not verify anything for me - it was not clear to me that he wasn't using the line out
I will be buying one of these and painting it black, to use along with a black micro USB charger cable for my car. I don't like having a white cable being super obvious when I leave my car parked in unknown areas.
Since this is the first generation of devices with Lightning connectors there should at least be a 30-pin adapter in the box, I think that's fair.
Remember folks:
The chip in there cost Apple nothing to develop.
Then, once developed, it costs nothing to make.
And the chip only exists because Apple wants to kill third-party accessory companies. Teardowns showing dynamic pin capabilities and other future-proofing are lies.
And USB is FULLY as high-tech and future-proof and durable and easy-to-use as Lightning is. And the old 30-pin connector is just as good too. too. Lightning has no current or future benefits, so we should still be using 10-year-old tech.
And nobody wants thinner devices or easier, reversible connections anyway. Apple just likes to ram thin and light down our throats.
And nobody but Apple marks up cables and accessories. All other companies sell at cost.
And cheap unshielded bootleg accessories are just as good as Apple-certified ones.
And third-party Lightning accessories have been late to arrive, which is just as bad as never arriving. Waiting for them is simply not possible.
And a USB cable with this little thing kept permanently on the end is not portable. Only a single bare USB cable is.
And the Lightning synch/charge cable included in the box with every iPhone and iPad somehow doesnt already do what most people need from a cable.
Have I summed up the insanity?
This is actually something that concerns me as well. I don't like buying white cables for my car. It's not like I go anywhere questionable every time nor do I live in a questionable area, it's just me. I'm odd. Haha.
And, I also I have a cable that splits apart into either micro USB, mini USB or 30-pin connector to satisfy the friends that ride with me. I'd rather keep that than putting a new lightning cable in my car.
Actually, it can, just maybe in different ways than what apple implemented. It can do video. It can do music. It can sync data. Again, all it can't do is be plugged in any way because it can't assign different tasks to different pins on the fly. Show me where that is actually necessary and I will eat my words. Otherwise, it is a wonderfully cool party trick that the average end user could care less about.
Everyone in the UK.When I, and many others, placed their orders for the iP5, the Apple web site stated that a connector WAS included in the box. This was later deemed to have been a mistake and Apple relied on their web site terms and conditions to say that they were not responsible for errors.
With too much time on my hands, I challenged this, and initially got the usual brush off. However when I wrote them a letter stating that I was about to take them through the UK Small Claims Court, I received a telephone call and a nice £40 credit to my account - 'to cover my unsatisfactory Apple experience'
Anyone else who ordered the iP5 in the first few hours before Apple changed their site should demand a connector or the value back as a refund.
With too much time on my hands, I challenged this, and initially got the usual brush off. However when I wrote them a letter stating that I was about to take them through the UK Small Claims Court, I received a telephone call and a nice £40 credit to my account - 'to cover my unsatisfactory Apple experience'
It is foolish to buy one if these. In the long-run, it is more cost effective to just buy a lightening cable.
I have devices and docking station but still happy with the Lightning connector. It feels solid. As does everything tech changes.I'm happy with what was included. I know I'm not the norm, but I don't have any devices right now that use a micro-usb cable.
The "spirit" of the silly European law is clearly not in the interest of innovation or improvement- something you would realize if you have ever invented anything.
Stupid laws are stupid.
USB does not support outputs like: HDMI, VGA, Analoge Audio, Digital Audio Streaming. Or Inputs like SD card reader or USB in interface as it is not reversible.
Ok, its not quite in the shops yet, but I think this sinks most of those points:
http://www.clove.co.uk/samsung-galaxy-note-ii-smart-dock
...all via a MicroUSB connector.
Maybe Apple should prove how wonderful Lightning is by bringing out something better.
Meanwhile, stuff that is available:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Genuine-Samsung-Galaxy-i9300-Adapter/dp/B008FBQ9MY
(...and if you can do HDMI you can do digital audio).
http://www.amazon.co.uk/T-Flash-Adapter-Samsung-GT-i9100-GT-N7000/dp/B005FUNQXS/ref=pd_bxgy_ce_img_b
Remember folks:
The chip in there cost Apple nothing to develop.
Then, once developed, it costs nothing to make.
And the chip only exists because Apple wants to kill third-party accessory companies. Teardowns showing dynamic pin capabilities and other future-proofing are lies.
And USB is FULLY as high-tech and future-proof and durable and easy-to-use as Lightning is. And the old 30-pin connector is just as good too. too. Lightning has no current or future benefits, so we should still be using 10-year-old tech.
And nobody wants thinner devices or easier, reversible connections anyway. Apple just likes to ram thin and light down our throats.
And nobody but Apple marks up cables and accessories. All other companies sell at cost.
And cheap unshielded bootleg accessories are just as good as Apple-certified ones.
And third-party Lightning accessories have been late to arrive, which is just as bad as never arriving. Waiting for them is simply not possible.
And a USB cable with this little thing kept permanently on the end is not portable. Only a single bare USB cable is.
And the Lightning synch/charge cable included in the box with every iPhone and iPad somehow doesnt already do what most people need from a cable.
Have I summed up the insanity?
nagromme, I know I've been gone a long time, but it's amusing to me to see that sarcasm still isn't picked up on by so many people, no matter how blatant one tries to make it.
Your post was brilliant, by the way.
No, it is a standard chip.
Well, not much anyway.
No, it is in there to identify different kinds of adapters, and in applicable cases switch pins. Don't spread stupid ideas that you don't understand.
No, USB can only do a subset of what Lightning can. USB is only one of the things Lightning can carry. Don't spread stupid ideas that you don't understand.
I think reversible connectors are brilliant, and many others too. You are just running out of arguments (not even half way through).
Oh, really? How come they are typically as expensive for all higher status brands then?
No, a lot of them aren't.
What?
People had to wait quite a while for 30-pin accessories. It seems they have been selling quote good anyway, and still do.
What? Are you for real?
It doesn't? It does USB, that you says can do it all. How come it doesn't?
Yours? No, but we have got a feeling...