Apple Announces New Dock Connector Called 'Lightning'

[MacRumors]

As predicted, Apple today announced that it is replacing the familiar 30-pin dock connector for its mobile devices with a new smaller one. The new connector bears the name "Lightning".

The new cable is described as an all-digital, 8-signal design with an adaptive interface, and improved durability. Users can use it in either orientation (reversible) and it's 80% smaller than the old dock connector.

Making iPhone 5 thinner and lighter required a pivotal change: replacing the 30-pin connector with something newer, smaller, and better. Introducing the Lightning connector. It features an all-digital, eight-signal design that's significantly more durable than the 30-pin connector. Another brilliant feature of Lightning: It's reversible. Which means there's no wrong way to plug in the cable.

Apple will be providing an adapter for existing accessories and companies like Bose, JBL, B&W, and B&O are already working on the new connector. Apple's adapters include a direct plug adapter priced at $29 and one incorporating a short cable for $39.

Article Link: Apple Announces New Dock Connector Called 'Lightning'

 

[charlieegan3]

don't normally wait till the end for a summary article?

 

[ollyb]

Usb3?

 

[Codyak]

Usb 3.0?

 

[Cougarcat]

Usb3?

Doubt it, they would've said.

Kind of strange to go to all that trouble and not make it faster.

 

[george-brooks]

Usb 3.0???

 

[GodWhomIsMike]

Doubt it, they would've said.

Kind of strange to go to all that trouble and not make it faster.

Money!!!!

People were recycling their old cables for the last 8 or so years... moving forward they will need to either replace them all or buy an adapter. Guaranteed income for Apple and companies that make these cables and adapters as well.

By the way, is it me, or does the smaller pin looks woefully fragile as well?

 

[Porco]

Use enough of them together at once to provide 1.21 gigawatts of power, and the new iPhone shall travel in time. Great Scott!

 

[parish]

Cue Bohemian Rhapsody...

Thunderbolt and Lightning, very, very frightening ...

 

[416049]

Doubt it, they would've said.

Kind of strange to go to all that trouble and not make it faster.

no i don't think it is either... would be great though.

 

[thejadedmonkey]

USB? Thunderbolt? It seems odd to introduce a new cable and leave out one end.

 

[davidwarren]

I read "adaptive interface" as possibly releasing USB and thunderbolt versions.

 

[tonyr6]

Lightning sounds like a lawsuit is coming as I am sure someone will think that word is copyrighted.

Anyway I do like the new dock connector. I like the fact that I can plug it in either way so it is great to plug in and not have to worry about it not fitting unlike USB which only plugs in one way.

 

[nippyjun]

Usb3?

thunderbolt version would be great.

 

[milo]

I'm not crazy about having to worry about adapters (although I guess I only need one for one piece of gear), but I have to say I think it's pretty cool the connector is reversible. I wonder how many new connectors will be that way in the future.

 

[appleguy123]

Why on earth didn't they make it compatible with thunderbolt? Not only would it be great marketing, thunder meets lightning, but it would make the syncing required with a phone upgrade much less of a headache.

Plus, I won't lie, I've been waiting to test that port on my MacBook Air out!

 

[coolspot18]

"All digital connector"... So why not USB?!

All the old arguments of analog video/sound output are now null and void...

 

[appleguy123]

Money!!!!

People were recycling their old cables for the last 8 or so years... moving forward they will need to either replace them all or buy an adapter. Guaranteed income for Apple and companies that make these cables and adapters as well.

By the way, is it me, or does the smaller pin looks woefully fragile as well?

Apple said that it was more durable, but I'll be waiting for real-world tests.

 

[jav6454]

Has to be USB 3 or Thunderbolt backed... potherwise, why name it Lightning?

 

[farleysmaster]

And why can't it be generic micro-usb?

 

[milo]

So will there be a cable for video out? I assume the adapter won't work to go to current ipod video out cables?

 

[BmoreDrumGuy]

$29 price tag? Yikes. Not horrible, but more than what I was hoping for.

http://store.apple.com/us/product/MD823ZM/A/lightning-to-30-pin-adapter

 

[Theclamshell]

Not going to lie, this made me lol

 

[nickn]

Changing $29 for a phone adapter is indeed revolutionary. No company has ever tried to extort that much money from their customers before.

 

[alexgowers]

So disappointed at the black version, looks like a black brick!

Why oh why go with anodised black metal as the band!

I would have preferred polished silver so so so so so much more.

The white one it will be for me considering.