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I think I'll wait for the iFixit review ;)

As someone said at Gizmodo, the guy who tore this apart isn't very good at tearing things apart. Dispite the name, there should be no "tearing."
 
re: micro USB

I *so* disagree with the below statement! Why? I've had multiple occasions where those micro USB ports or connectors broke off, destroying cables or in 2 situations, devices themselves.

The micro USB port is an inherently bad design, from the standpoint of durability. You've got a small, hollow connector on the cable side which can easily get crushed or bent if the connector is pulled on at an angle. It also acts like a lever or pry-bar on the port itself in these situations, often ripping the port free from its circuit board or deforming it so micro USB connectors no longer fit in it tightly.

I try to be really careful with all of my electronic devices, but I've still had two of those extended battery cases rendered useless when their micro USB ports broke loose inside them. I've also had more than one micro USB cable ruined when it was plugged into my car stereo's USB input jack and someone accidentally tugged on the cord (stepping on it while it was hanging down by the floor of the passenger area, for example).

The solid tab design of the Lightning connector looks like it'd be a lot more durable to me ... at least equal to the standard USB connector and port.


These are benefits of a smaller connector, not specifically the Lightning connector. Apple could have used micro USB and every consumer would be better off.
 
I *so* disagree with the below statement! Why? I've had multiple occasions where those micro USB ports or connectors broke off, destroying cables or in 2 situations, devices themselves.

The micro USB port is an inherently bad design, from the standpoint of durability. You've got a small, hollow connector on the cable side which can easily get crushed or bent if the connector is pulled on at an angle. It also acts like a lever or pry-bar on the port itself in these situations, often ripping the port free from its circuit board or deforming it so micro USB connectors no longer fit in it tightly.

I try to be really careful with all of my electronic devices, but I've still had two of those extended battery cases rendered useless when their micro USB ports broke loose inside them. I've also had more than one micro USB cable ruined when it was plugged into my car stereo's USB input jack and someone accidentally tugged on the cord (stepping on it while it was hanging down by the floor of the passenger area, for example).

The solid tab design of the Lightning connector looks like it'd be a lot more durable to me ... at least equal to the standard USB connector and port.

I'm pretty sure they could have gone with the new connector and yet not needed all the gadgetry (chips) in the cable/adapter. No?
 
Waaaa!

I want my SCSI drive back!

How Windows screwed up: they were perpetually backwards compatible, leaving behind things that were useless and only served as bait for hackers.
 
The problem Apple has is that they are charging $29 for an adapter that likely costs them a $1 to make. It's annoying when you know that your 2800% markup is being split up between cash reserves and litigation with your competitors. Why not put the adapter price in the $10 range. That would slow down the 3rd party adapters coming to the market.

The $29 and $39 price tags are insulting to those that value their money.
 
These are benefits of a smaller connector, not specifically the Lightning connector. Apple could have used micro USB and every consumer would be better off.

No they wouldn't. MicroUSB is an awful physical connector and fails at three of the things that the Lightning connector set out to address: 1) sturdy construction, 2) orientation-independent insertion, and 3) the ability to expand beyond 5 volts at 2 amps (already way, way over the official maximum spec for USB) for faster charging. Although right now they are simply using 5V,2A since the other end of the cable is a USB port. That will change in the future with docks and other connectors and so on, especially once the iPad gets the connector.
 
??? No, which is exactly my point. I slip it into my pocket, right side up. The top of the phone, as well as the jack, are faced towards me where I can easily plug in the headphones, or hit the button to mute the ringing.

Do you also put your hands in your pocket right side up?? While holding the phone in your hand, slip it into your pocket as you would just your hand. The phone now sits upside down for easy removal with the screen right side up in your hand. You can mute calls using the volume keys as well.
 
OMG. This thread is a prove of how far fanboys can be taken by sipping a little bit of the Kool-aid.

No. The headphone jack doesn't belong in the bottom. This was a mistake.
No. Micro-usb is not a disaster and would have been perfect if Apple was not thinking on another way to get our money by introducing another proprietary format.

Now, I am heading to Apple to get my adapter. Bye.
 
They made a better device that simply would not have been possible with the 30-pin connector. Quit your whining. There are other options for people like you.

Couldn't agreed with you more. If you don't like Apple, go buy something else.
 
Until APple demonstrates that Lightning provides any benefit to the consumer, the criticism is justified. Upgrading from an iPhone 4 to 5 would cost me something like $100-150 in connectors and cables (car charger, adapter, extra cable for the office, etc.) on top of the phone cost. For that additional cost I expect something other than having the headphone jack on the bottom.

Thinner? Who cares? The iPhone 4 was a nearly perfect size. If they'd left the 5 at the same thickness, they could have included more battery life.

Symmetrical? Again, who cares? Was this really an issue for anybody?

Functionality? Right now it's a negative. Where's the HDMI output for Lightning? Supposedly it will be possible, but it's not there now, unlike the 30-pin connector.
.

Then why bother upgrading to Iphone 5. Stay with your Iphone 4 with the nearly perfect size and all the functions that MATTER to you and save a few hundred bucks
 
My question is, with the introduction of Thunderbolt (which I dont have on my MBPu, but still), where is the thunderbolt to lightning cable? All I see is usb-lightning
 
The problem Apple has is that they are charging $29 for an adapter that likely costs them a $1 to make. It's annoying when you know that your 2800% markup is being split up between cash reserves and litigation with your competitors. Why not put the adapter price in the $10 range. That would slow down the 3rd party adapters coming to the market.

The $29 and $39 price tags are insulting to those that value their money.

Good grief, here we go again. Made-up costs followed by a bunch of statistics based on the made-up cost. Macboy obviously has no idea what goes into developing, manufacturing, and distributing products.

What is the cost to you of materials you put into what you create each day compared to what you get paid? Think about it! Very likely it's far more than a 2800% markup.
 
So, is Lightning so complex that accessories will be scarce (or expensive)?

Accessories will not need to convert Lightning to 30-pin, so I'd say no.

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It's just a frickin' adapter. If this was priced at say, $15, no-one would give a rats ass, never mind have entire threads and breakdowns devoted to its internals. Insane.

It'll go even more crazy when they bring out the HDMI version and add another $20 on top of the $39.

I would imagine the HDMI connector would be far simpler to implement since it only has one function.
 
Micro USB is not a good solution. Every Micro USB device I've had is finicky as can be. I don;t know if the cable connectors aren't made well or what but I've never had one that was 100% reliable.

Plus Apples dynamically switches pin assignments making much more versatile.


I've never had any issues with any of the micro USB cables or devices I have ever had, with the exception of one that had a run in with a dog. Something the almighty new Lightning Connector wouldn't be able to handle either.

They aren't that fragile.

Anywho... the whole dynamically switching thing. Do you even know what that means to you, like what features you get out of it? Outside of the orientation independence (Which I still find cool Bee Tee Dubs!) please explain it to me. I hear everyone spouting this and it just sounds like that Samsung ad with the girl going on about some technical feature while she is waiting in line for the iPhone 5 only to add "What does that even mean?" Yet she was still highly impressed. Apple could tell you they added new luminance shift sensing technology into their display that is 150% more accurate than existing tech. Even though they are only talking about the screen dimming during periods of low light you would still run around saying how Apple has such awesome luminance shift technology and it makes the phone so much faster.

Also all the people saying micro USB and the old 30 pin were so hard to plug in... who are you honestly fooling? Hell my iPads connector has this nice little icon inscribed on one side and if that is always facing up it plugs in! MAGIC! The same thing with my micro USB cable for my S3... the side with markings is the upside! "Leik OMGAWD that was so hard!" INB4 people saying its hard to do in the dark, how many cables are you honestly fooling around with in pitch black conditions?

PS - Wireless Charging plate on my night stand for my S3, so even after I get a page call from my Hospital in the middle of the night I just lay my phone right back on the plate. No cables to deal with in the first place in the big bad scary cable fumbling darkness of the night!
 
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#3 - Really? Why should it be on the bottom? When I have my phone in my pocket, I want to be able to plug in my headphones from the top - not at the bottom where the cable would have tension and eventually break or ruin the connector. It also interferes with most car cradles and general mp3 accessories that use a phone plug instead of the dock connector.

The headphone jack placement is one of the many reasons why I am not upgrading my phone this cycle.

Put it in your pocket upside down - you'll find that when you pull it out of your pocket, it's "right side up".

This certainly helps with dashboard mounts that have wires hanging down across the screen...and car cradles are designed for you to not use the headphone jack since the dock does audio out.
 
The problem Apple has is that they are charging $29 for an adapter that likely costs them a $1 to make. It's annoying when you know that your 2800% markup is being split up between cash reserves and litigation with your competitors. Why not put the adapter price in the $10 range. That would slow down the 3rd party adapters coming to the market.

The $29 and $39 price tags are insulting to those that value their money.

Not everybody can afford to buy the best. That is why so many people buy Android junk. Apple products are like Ferraris - they set the owners apart from the commoners.
 
Not everybody can afford to buy the best. That is why so many people buy Android junk. Apple products are like Ferraris - they set the owners apart from the commoners.

I would honestly say a Honda Civic a safe car that has not changed much over the years and everyone including your mother own one.

How does the infallible Jobs Koolaid taste by the way? Does a Ferrari come off the lot with scratches, easy to scuff paint and a half working transmission too?
 
Made the device smaller and lighter, added a possibility of future inputs/outputs and quicker charging.

Which MicroUSB already does.

1) sturdy construction, 2) orientation-independent insertion, and 3) the ability to expand beyond 5 volts at 2 amps (already way, way over the official maximum spec for USB) for faster charging.

1. MicroUSB is not that fragile.
2. I'll give you that - but any idiot can use a MicroUSB connector
3. There are already 2 amp chargers, while over spec, it can be done and is being done.

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Which MicroUSB already does.



1. MicroUSB is not that fragile.
2. I'll give you that - but any idiot can use a MicroUSB connector
3. There are already 2 amp chargers, while over spec, it can be done and is being done.




Not everybody can afford to buy the best. That is why so many people buy Android junk. Apple products are like Ferraris - they set the owners apart from the commoners.

After using iOS devices and OSX for the past couple of years ... I have to say Apple products are not vastly superior to Android/Windows. In many cases they are in fact lacking.

What they do have is nice design, fit and finish and a couple of unique features (i.e. AirPlay), otherwise they aren't much better... definitely over priced.
 
These are benefits of a smaller connector, not specifically the Lightning connector. Apple could have used micro USB and every consumer would be better off.

Micro USB sucks because it's fragile and not reversible.
 
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