Apple to Begin Allowing Accessory Manufacturers to Include Lightning Ports Early Next Year

[MacRumors]

While Apple's Lightning connector has become ubiquitous across the company's iOS device lineup over the past several years, third-party accessory manufacturers have so far been unable to include ports for the connector on their products. That appears set to change in the relatively near future, however, as Apple has informed members of the company's MFi program that it will begin shipping a version of the Lightning port for third-party use early next year, reports 9to5Mac.

Allowing accessory makers to build-in a Lightning port provides a number of benefits, according to manufacturers briefed during Apple's MFi Summit. One of the biggest benefits is to reduce costs for manufacturers and simplify the product experience for users by using Lightning to provide power to both an accessory and the iOS device. Dock or battery case manufacturers, for example, would previously have to provide a separate USB cable and power supply to charge an accessory.

The report indicates Apple is also developing a new "slimmed down, low profile version" of the Lightning connector itself currently used in third-party accessories. The new package will offer a simpler and smaller method for building connectors into accessories such as docks and charging cases.

Some two years after introducing the Lightning connector with the iPhone 5, Apple is clearly working to broaden the ecosystem of accessories taking advantage of the versatile space-saving connector. Earlier this year, the company announced new MFi specifications that would allow headphones to connect to devices over Lightning. While the announcement led to speculation that Apple is looking to remove the traditional headphone jack from its devices, at least for now the feature appears intended to provide additional features such as power to headphones.

Article Link: Apple to Begin Allowing Accessory Manufacturers to Include Lightning Ports Early Next Year

 

[markfc]

How much slimmer can it get??

 

[Traverse]

How much slimmer can it get??

I think the connector itself will be the same size (needed to work with the device), but the area around the connector will be slimmer to allow manufacturers to manipulate the design more.

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I wonder if this could pose any kind of security threat.

 

[Zxxv]

Some two years after introducing the Lightning connector with the iPhone 5, Apple is clearly working to broaden the ecosystem of accessories taking advantage of the versatile space-saving connector. Earlier this year, the company announced new MFi specifications that would allow headphones to connect to devices over Lightning. While the announcement led to speculation that Apple is looking to remove the traditional headphone jack from its devices, at least for now the feature appears intended to provide additional features such as power to headphones.

power to headphones .... hello 2hr battery life

 

[Sunday Ironfoot]

power to headphones .... hello 2hr battery life

How would a lightning connector powering headphones draw more power than the same headphones connected via a 3.5mm audio jack?

 

[groovyd]

How would a lightning connector powering headphones draw more power than the same headphones connected via a 3.5mm audio jack?

because one is already amplified analog and the other is non amplified digital that needs DAC and amplifier.

 

[cygy2k]

because one is already amplified analog and the other is non amplified digital that needs DAC and amplifier.

You do realize you would still have the option to use 3.5mm? It's like people think that Apple is out to get them and ruin their experience - it's just another option!

 

[surfologist87]

Sounds good.

Micro usb is terrible. I see so many broken ports, probably 50 for every one lightning port malfunction

 

[Sunday Ironfoot]

because one is already amplified analog and the other is non amplified digital that needs DAC and amplifier.

But you'd no longer be using the DAC and amplifier built into the iPhone. It seems to me you're just transferring the DAC/amplifier responsibilities from the iPhone to the headphones. Unless the headphones DAC/amp are far more power hungry than the iPhones, I can't see there being much difference in power consumption.

 

[heeloliver]

If a headphone company can make headphones that have great design and work with the lightning port to make them more amplified, I'd be all ears (hehe)

 

[SmoMo]

because one is already amplified analog and the other is non amplified digital that needs DAC and amplifier.

It is 'already' amplified analog because its already been through a DAC and amplifier in the iPhone.

Why do you think it would use more power to do this on the headphone side instead?

 

[MH01]

You do realize you would still have the option to use 3.5mm? It's like people think that Apple is out to get them and ruin their experience - it's just another option!

Guess you did not experience the fun that adding displayport brought with it. Especially if you owned a mac pro and wanted to hook up a new apple monitor

Apple has a habit of only offering one proprietary standard. I can see them not offering a 3.5 jack, they did it with display port.

 

[Koodauw]

This would be nice for charging cases like Mophie. No more having to use a different cable for your case.

 

[Jessica Lares]

This will be nice for keyboard cases then. I'm running out of USB ports though.

I hope they make an adapter for microUSB.

 

[marclondon]

Great. More ports for one of the worst connectors ever made. Think I'll send Apple a picture of our 20+ broken Lightning leads, including at least five Apple ones.

M.

 

[MH01]

It is 'already' amplified analog because its already been through a DAC and amplifier in the iPhone.

Why do you think it would use more power to do this on the headphone side instead?

Cause the DAC/amp is in the headphone.

Lightning cable will not draw more power, you are right, but the amp/dac in the headphones will.

 

[Zxxv]

How would a lightning connector powering headphones draw more power than the same headphones connected via a 3.5mm audio jack?

most headphones with battery in use 2xAAA (noise cancelling ones)

but read my signature

 

[MrXiro]

Cause the DAC/amp is in the headphone.

Lightning cable will not draw more power, you are right, but the amp/dac in the headphones will.

And even so you think that amp will draw more power than the one built into the phone? Or even as much as Bluetooth streaming?

2 hour battery life... You people are ridiculous.

 

[adamneer]

Great. More ports for one of the best connectors ever made. Think I'll send Apple a photoshopped picture of our 20+ broken Lightning leads, including at least five Apple ones.

M.

there, I fixed it for you

 

[MH01]

And even so you think that amp will draw more power than the one built into the phone? Or even as much as Bluetooth streaming?

2 hour battery life... You people are ridiculous.

The 2 hour statement was sarcasm.... come on!

I am not worried about the power drawn, the idea on an amp/dac in the headphones makes them useless unless you can bypass. Reason people buy difference amps/dacs for good headphones is to change the sound signature.

 

[Zxxv]

And even so you think that amp will draw more power than the one built into the phone? Or even as much as Bluetooth streaming?

2 hour battery life... You people are ridiculous.

Cause the DAC/amp is in the headphone.

Lightning cable will not draw more power, you are right, but the amp/dac in the headphones will.

It is 'already' amplified analog because its already been through a DAC and amplifier in the iPhone.

Why do you think it would use more power to do this on the headphone side instead?

But you'd no longer be using the DAC and amplifier built into the iPhone. It seems to me you're just transferring the DAC/amplifier responsibilities from the iPhone to the headphones. Unless the headphones DAC/amp are far more power hungry than the iPhones, I can't see there being much difference in power consumption.

because one is already amplified analog and the other is non amplified digital that needs DAC and amplifier.

How would a lightning connector powering headphones draw more power than the same headphones connected via a 3.5mm audio jack?

Most off board dacs use a 9v square battery

*ignore my signature for this post

 

[JHankwitz]

Great. More ports for one of the worst connectors ever made. Think I'll send Apple a picture of our 20+ broken Lightning leads, including at least five Apple ones.

M.

What do you do with your cables? I've been using a single connector since they came out to charge my two iPhones and iPads without any problems. One needs to learn how to properly treat delicate electronic equipment.

Oh, and by the way, you should always unplug your lightning cable from your iPhone 6+ before you put it in your back pocket and sit on it.

 

[D.T.]

This would be nice for charging cases like Mophie. No more having to use a different cable for your case.

Yep! That’s +exactly+ what prevents me from even considering a charging case (i.e., not being able to use a Lighting cable).

 

[BruiserB]

most headphones with battery in use 2xAAA (noise cancelling ones)

but read my signature

That's what I was thinking as well. And the battery in mine lasts forever. I've accidentally left them on for a couple of days and they are still working. So if someone could create noise cancelling headphones that only needed a tiny amount of power from the iPhone, that would be great!

 

[redmac]

Cause the DAC/amp is in the headphone.

Lightning cable will not draw more power, you are right, but the amp/dac in the headphones will.

You know that those headphones with amp/dac have batteries, right? Why would anyone want these tasks be powered by the cellphone battery?