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Apple's Lightning Authentication Reportedly Cracked, Unauthorized Third-Party Cables Coming

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MacRumors

macrumors bot
Original poster
Apr 12, 2001
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Chinese firm iPhone5mod has introduced (via M.I.C. gadget) a new iPhone 5 Flash Lightning Dock, marking one of the first claimed efforts to implement Apple's Lightning connector standard on a mass production basis. The move comes as Apple has been maintaining tight control over the standard and has yet to authorize any third-party manufacturing facilities to produce Lightning-equipped products.

iphone5mod_lightning_cable.jpg
iPhone5mod is actually offering the dock in two parts: a lighted USB-to-Lightning cable and a white dock similar to Apple's previous-generation docks but which accepts a Lightning cable in the rear and offers a Lightning connector for interfacing with the device. Each part is offered individually for $19.90, or together for $39.90.

We spoke with representatives of iPhone5mod, who informed us that they are currently using original Lightning controller chips from Apple's supplier, ensuring proper functionality. The chips serve to assist with dynamic assignment of pin functionalities in the connector and converting signals received through the connector for output at the other end of the cable.

iPhone5mod did, however, inform us that they have also obtained cracked chips that bypass Apple's authentication functions and that the cracked chips are working just as well as the original chips, suggesting that we may soon see a significant increase in unauthorized third-party Lightning accessories.

iphone5mod_lightning_dock.jpg


Article Link: Apple's Lightning Authentication Reportedly Cracked, Unauthorized Third-Party Cables Coming
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2012/10/09/apples-lightning-authentication-reportedly-cracked-unauthorized-third-party-cables-coming/
iEnvy

iEnvy

macrumors 65816
Jun 25, 2010
1,211
313
DFW
Interesting, might look more into this. Wonder how it will fair with cases.
 
KnightWRX

KnightWRX

macrumors Pentium
Jan 28, 2009
15,046
4
Quebec, Canada
Interconnection specifications should never be priopietary. Talk about locking you into a single vendor for accessories, and in this case, one that can't even sell the spare cables/adapters since they don't have any stock.
 
I

ihonda

Suspended
Sep 17, 2009
1,848
195
sounds sketch, ill stick to my 6 lighting cables i already have, the connector is way to small to hold up the phone on the dock, your just asking for something to snap off.
 
Nightarchaon

Nightarchaon

macrumors 65816
Sep 1, 2010
1,393
30
Apple wants to hold off device makers from incorporating this into devices so they can sell a load of $25 "adpaters" that cost 2 cents to make
 
K

Kenrik

macrumors 6502
Dec 21, 2004
332
49
Awesome, we need some $3 - $5 knockoff cables on Amazon/Ebay considering most people need to buy a lot of them to keep in various places (car, laptop case, next to the bed etc..)
 
Oberhorst

Oberhorst

macrumors regular
Nov 4, 2010
186
193
Stockholm
Alright! Now the same in black please and without those ridiculous lights! I wouldn't mind if the USB connector was a little smaller, too.
 
Akarin

Akarin

macrumors 6502
Oct 16, 2011
290
17
Nyon, Switzerland
The connector on the dock is really small... I wonder if the phone stays in place on it and is stable enough or if there are risks of damaging the connector on the iPhone.
 
I

iRCL

macrumors 6502
Nov 2, 2011
284
0
Don't see why you would need the chip just to make the dock, since the cable would already have the chip and you could just pass-through all the wiring.

I would consider buying the dock except they don't even show the underneath.. I expect it to be cheap unfortunately (unlike the iPhone 4 dock from Apple that I really loved)

Might as well wait for a few more to hit the market
 
I

iRCL

macrumors 6502
Nov 2, 2011
284
0
ihonda said:
sounds sketch, ill stick to my 6 lighting cables i already have, the connector is way to small to hold up the phone on the dock, your just asking for something to snap off.
Click to expand...

Sounds like someone's mad that they bought 6 lightning cables from Apple
 
U

unplugme71

macrumors 68030
May 20, 2011
2,827
754
Earth
apple is not making a dock probably because it would have to sit in the dock more in order for it to remain stable and not break the connector
 
zorinlynx

zorinlynx

macrumors G3
May 31, 2007
8,168
17,687
Florida, USA
I trusted third party cables with the 30 pin standard because the 30 pin standard didn't have any smarts in the cable. The 30 pin connector had pins such as GND, +5V, USB + and -, analog audio L and R, etc. Even the most incompetent company in the world would have a hard time ****ing up a cable.

But with the new Lightning standard I'm going to have a hard time trusting third party cables. An implementation error could mean a fried phone or unreliable operation. It'll be interesting to hear reports from those braver than I trying this stuff on their phones.

Maybe in a year or so when third party accessories are perfected I'll consider it. But definitely not now.
 
JaySoul

JaySoul

macrumors 68030
Jan 30, 2008
2,629
2,865
Hope this is real. If not, "they" will crack the code properly soon enough.

It can't be that difficult.
 
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