Griffin Launching Official Lightning Connector Cables Next Week

[MacRumors]

Griffin today announced the upcoming release of Apple-certified Lightning charge and sync cables for the iPhone 5, 5th generation iPod touch, fourth generation iPad and iPad mini.

Though there have been several unofficial third party Lightning accessories, Griffin's accessories will be the first official third-party standalone Lightning connector cables on the market when they launch next week.

Griffin's new cables with Lightning Connector are affordable charging solutions that are built to resist kinks and tangles. The cables work perfectly with Griffin's family of PowerBlocks and PowerJolts as well as Apple's USB power adapters, or plug into a computer's USB to sync with iTunes.

The company is offering several different cable configurations:

- 2' straight USB-to-Lightning cable ($16.99)
- 3' straight USB-to-Lightning cable ($18.99)
- 4' coiled USB-to-Lightning cable ($24.99)
- 9.8' (3 meter) straight USB-to-Lightning cable ($29.99)

Earlier this month, Belkin introduced two official Lightning accessories, including a car charger and the Charge + Sync Dock. Scosche has also announced car and home chargers, although its products have yet to begin shipping.

Apple has been maintaining strict control over its Lightning connectors, which has made it difficult for third party manufacturers to introduce new accessories.

Vendors that launch Lightning-related accessories must produce them in Apple-approved facilities. The Lightning connector also requires controller chips to take advantage of adaptive technology, which has delayed the release of third party Lightning accessories.

Article Link: Griffin Launching Official Lightning Connector Cables Next Week

[portishead]

Glad someone is releasing these, but not a fan of family guy.

[spb3]

not too bad in terms of pricing.

[Sandstorm]

I think I'll buy the coiled one for use in my car.

[likemyorbs]

Got one for $3 on eBay. Works great

[Dionte]

Originally Posted by Sandstorm

I think I'll buy the coiled one for use in my car.

I was thinking the same thing.

[Doctor Q]

I'm looking forward to the increased competition. Apple's strict requirements and the Lightning technology itself put upward pressure on prices, so a little downward price pressure is a good counterbalance.

[chrisbru]

The 3 meter one will be nice.

[justperry]

Prices are reasonable but charging $13 more for 8' (2.40 Meter) more is steep, cable is cheap per meter, should only be $5 more.

[fredf]

What am I missing here? The OEM Apple cable is $19. The 3' Griffin is $18.99.

[coolbreeze]

Originally Posted by fredf

What am I missing here? The OEM Apple cable is $19. The 3' Griffin is $18.99.

Options and cheap Amazon pricing on the Griffins? Also, they will be on clearance in a few months while the Apple ones are full blast price forever.

Did you expect quality $1.99 cables already or something?

Competition is good and will eventually drive down prices. That's a good thing.

[TouchMint.com]

Yea not much of a discount at all but hopefully it will help drive down prices a bit?

[zorinlynx]

Finally a black cable! I can use that in my car, instead of the white Apple ones which are equivalent to putting a sign on the car that says "Break into me, there might be expensive iDevices in me!"

Apple should sell black charge cables for this reason!

[TeachMeiOS.com]

The lightning connector is such a great new feature of Apple's latest gadgets. My favorite part about it is that it is reversible.

[ok.Eric]

Originally Posted by zorinlynx

Finally a black cable! I can use that in my car, instead of the white Apple ones which are equivalent to putting a sign on the car that says "Break into me, there might be expensive iDevices in me!"

Apple should sell black charge cables for this reason!

Very good point, but you should put the cables away when you get out of the car anyway. Stupid criminals will see cables and be like $-)

[mrsir2009]

Originally Posted by justperry

Prices are reasonable but charging $13 more for 8' (2.40 Meter) more is steep, cable is cheap per meter, should only be $5 more.

Indeed - It's probably that chip that Apple puts in them that costs 90% of the manufacturing of the cable.

[ajones46]

Originally Posted by TeachMeiOS.com

The lightning connector is such a great new feature of Apple's latest gadgets. My favorite part about it is that it is reversible.

You srs, bro?

Edit: oh. My bad. Spam post is spam.

[mrsir2009]

Originally Posted by zorinlynx

Finally a black cable! I can use that in my car, instead of the white Apple ones which are equivalent to putting a sign on the car that says "Break into me, there might be expensive iDevices in me!"

Apple should sell black charge cables for this reason!

And they'd look slick with the black iPhone

[efktd]

coiled cables, WOOF!

[briankwest77]

I'm going to laugh when apple changes something to render these cables worthless.

/b

[Corrode]

Originally Posted by briankwest77

I'm going to laugh when apple changes something to render these cables worthless.

/b

Liiiike, a new connector in another 7 years? Yeah, so hilarious.

Or are you suggesting that Apple will implement something to make "official" 3rd party cables useless?

Either way, this post is silly.

[Paclypse71]

I just want a Lightning Phonesuit Elite!!!

[justperry]

Originally Posted by mrsir2009

Indeed - It's probably that chip that Apple puts in them that costs 90% of the manufacturing of the cable.

I know the cable business a bit, those 8 feet of cable would probably cost an extra 20 cents and for the manufacturing process it takes maybe a few seconds more to make, whether it's 1 foot or several, total cost makes it only 20-30 cents more expensive.

[arn]

Originally Posted by briankwest77

I'm going to laugh when apple changes something to render these cables worthless.

/b

It's an officially licensed cable.

arn

[Boatboy24]

Great. Another overpriced cable option.

(sorry, I just can't get excited about another opportunity to be ripped off)