Apple Keeping Tight Control Over Lightning Connector, Requiring Approval of Third-Party Factories

[MacRumors]

iLounge reports that Apple is continuing to keep strict control over its new Lightning connector found on the iPhone 5, moving to tighten its Made For iPad/iPhone/iPod (MFi) program policies for accessory manufacturers relative to the previous 30-pin dock connector design. According to the report, Apple is demanding that all MFi vendors seeking to launch Lightning-related accessories manufacture the products in Apple-approved facilities, but the company has yet to approve any such plants.

One source notes that Apple is planning an MFi "seminar," where it will discuss changes to the program and the rules for Lightning accessory development going forward. The seminar will be held in November in China, notes the source, after the point at which third-party Lightning accessories could be manufactured in time for holiday sale. Sources have further noted that the Lightning connector has proved difficult to copy, reducing the near-term likelihood of unauthorized third-party connector cables.

Apple's Lightning connector uses adaptive technology to permit a significant range of functionality with only eight contact pins, sensing what kinds of devices are being connected and dynamically assigning the pin functionalities needed for a given pairing. This dynamic assignment requires controller chips embedded in the Lightning connector cable, chips that have stymied third-party companies seeking to get a jump on the Lightning accessory market.

Article Link: Apple Keeping Tight Control Over Lightning Connector, Requiring Approval of Third-Party Factories

[GizmoDVD]

So where's the damn dock connector?

[blackhand1001]

All this nonsense and they could have just used microusb with MHL support and had all the functions this new dock connector has.

[bushido]

of course they do, $29 sounds better than 99 cent ...

[napabar]

Originally Posted by blackhand1001

All this nonsense and they could have just used microusb with MHL support and had all the functions this new dock connector has.

Absolutely wrong. Thank you for playing anyway.....

[Nozuka]

Originally Posted by blackhand1001

All this nonsense and they could have just used microusb with MHL support and had all the functions this new dock connector has.

Except using it both ways. Which is my biggest and only reason to like this new connector.

[adildacoolset]

Originally Posted by blackhand1001

All this nonsense and they could have just used microusb with MHL support and had all the functions this new dock connector has.

MicroUSB only has two pins for data. The dock connector has many more. Understand that.

[troop231]

Glad I made my own 6 and 10 foot Lightning cables the other day, seeing as third party options won't be available for awhile.

[dlastmango]

I just want a cheap recharge/power only cable!

[kas23]

This is getting ridiculous. Just let the manufacturers start making the accessories so we can use our phones in our cars. Or, better yet, how about releasing the adaptor already? Maybe Apple itself needs a seminar on how to successfully accomplish transitions because they are failing miserably in this regard.

[napabar]

Originally Posted by dlastmango

I just want a cheap recharge/power only cable!

If only the iPhone 5 came with one......

[Tastic Bycrom]

They better get on it quick. A lack of available accessories is a reason not to upgrade. And for crap's sake, Apple, lower the price on these. I know there's more interesting technology going on in the cable itself, but the mark up is still crazy.

[napabar]

Originally Posted by troop231

Glad I made my own 6 and 10 foot Lightning cables the other day, seeing as third party options won't be available for awhile.

Sure you did......

[840quadra]

Originally Posted by blackhand1001

All this nonsense and they could have just used microusb with MHL support and had all the functions this new dock connector has.

I suggest reading from this post on within a separate thread.

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthre...1#post15870851

MHL is not a good answer, and the standard is actually quite loose. PDMI would be a better fit for an "open" standard, however, that connector is too similar to the old Dock connecter so would not meet the smaller size requirement that Apple has put upon itself.

[Dwalls90]

Give us the DAMN 30 pin adapter!

[blackhand1001]

Originally Posted by adildacoolset

MicroUSB only has two pins for data. The dock connector has many more. Understand that.

Hence why I said MHL support. Also the galaxy nexus, nexus 7, galaxy s3 also have usb otg support and can function both ways.


11-pin MHL-USB Connector
The Samsung Galaxy S III uses a connector that is similar to the original 5-pin MHL-USB connector, but it uses 11-pins in order to achieve a few functional improvements over the 5-pin design.
It supports the use of USB and MHL simultaneously. (Note that the new Samsung 11-pin MHL-HDMI adapter also has a USB On-The-Go port).
Samsung’s Galaxy S III can power the MHL-HDMI adapter. Although this can theoretically also be done with the standard 5-pin micro-USB connector, the Galaxy S III's 11-pin connector is believed to be the first smartphone that supports this functionality.

[bluesloth]

Originally Posted by dlastmango

I just want a cheap recharge/power only cable!

Amen.

Seems like this would be a lot cheaper and easier to make.

[topmounter]

I'll start caring when I no longer need to care.

For now I'll stick with my iP4 and stay off the bleeding-edge bandwagon.

[troop231]

Originally Posted by napabar

Sure you did......

Actually I did Have you not heard of the process of soldering?

[napabar]

Originally Posted by blackhand1001

Hence why I said MHL support. Also the galaxy nexus, nexus 7, galaxy s3 also have usb otg support and can function both ways.


11-pin MHL-USB Connector
The Samsung Galaxy S III uses a connector that is similar to the original 5-pin MHL-USB connector, but it uses 11-pins in order to achieve a few functional improvements over the 5-pin design.
It supports the use of USB and MHL simultaneously. (Note that the new Samsung 11-pin MHL-HDMI adapter also has a USB On-The-Go port).
Samsung’s Galaxy S III can power the MHL-HDMI adapter. Although this can theoretically also be done with the standard 5-pin micro-USB connector, the Galaxy S III's 11-pin connector is believed to be the first smartphone that supports this functionality.

But then Samsung would sue Apple over "copying" them.......

[lockerc18]

Apple should have had Lightning accessories like car chargers ready at the launch of the iPhone5. It's bad enough that they made this connector change to begin with, the technical rationale for doing so notwithstanding. They were irresponsible in not having appropriate Lightning connector accessories to replace the old style accessories at launch.

5 demerits for Apple on this one.

[Tastic Bycrom]

Originally Posted by napabar

Sure you did......

He might not be kidding, assuming he chopped an existing cable and extended it - shouldn't be too hard to do.

[Fusion79]

Originally Posted by napabar

If only the iPhone 5 came with one......

Some of us would like an extra for the car and office but not at the prices Apple is charging for them.

[napabar]

Originally Posted by troop231

Actually I did Have you not heard of the process of soldering?

And reversed-engineered there lockout chip, huh?

[wlossw]

I just bought a second cable, and plugged it into the 12-volt USB adapter I already owned. Presto car charger.