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That price is for each in a lot of 20. I would think buying a thousand would yield a nice discount.

That looks like the innards of the connector. Sign me up for a black MFI USB-C/Lightning cable. Hope to get some use out of it before the phones go all USB-C.

And no, I'm not complaining. I don't believe this is a case of planned obsolescence at all. Apple made a call with Lightning cables – which I find more convenient than micro-USB but that's water under the bridge now – and they may now recognize that USB-C is actually a globally recognized, more flexible connector on the phone. USB-C as we know it was nothing when the Lightning connector was introduced in 2012.

One can definitely argue whether Apple will go to USB-C on the phones at all or go straight to wireless. I think they will before cables are cut because I don't think wireless will happen for at least a couple more years, but you never know.
 
MFI (iPhone & iPod) programs are 15 years old programs now and they involve

1. Apple sells the Lightning / 30-Pin connector
2. Manufacture pays apple 10% of the sales price for every thing they sell (can't remember if it's gross or net)
3. Apple considers Apple Store placement only for accessory makers in the MFI program so that's incentive for some to participate

Here's a searchable list of MFI companies - https://mfi.apple.com/MFiWeb/getAPS

There are a lot of non-MFI cables out there but buy at your own risk. I have no issue buying cables off Amazon but I always search the list first to make sure they're MFI certified.

Thank you for this link, now I can keep buying stuff from Ugreen on Aliexpress knowing they are infact MFi certified.
 
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So, let me get this straight...
MacBook Pros have solely used USB-C ports for the last 2 years and you still need a dongle for these new $1000 iPhones because they ship with the old USB cable?
Apple makes me want to turn everything off and go to a beach.
You don't NEED a dongle, you just have to buy another $30 cable to replace the brand new one that you just got with your $1000 iPhone.
 
I've had a TB MBP for over 2 years, Apple didn't give me a free cord, so basically on top of my $2.5k+laptop they needed to steal $29 from me

Edit: (CAD $)
Steal? Apple are thieves? Seriously, were you held at gunpoint and forced to buy a 2016 TB MBP?

For all the self-professed tech nerds and such that come to this site, never have I heard more whining about losing USB-A ports and having to shell out some money for a cable.

Use Wi-Fi to sync with iTunes on your MacBook Pro, buy a USB-C—>USB-A dongle or buy a USB-C—>Lightning cable. You have three options. Free, not free and a little more expensive and not free.
 
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I'm a big Apple fan but I too have to call out these strange decisions. If Apple is killing off USB-A in favor of USB-C, they need to start including USB-C cables with their new products, and certifying third-party cables.

Since I don't own a Mac with a USB-C connector, I'd complain if a new iPhone didn't come with a USB-A cable.

Of course, the topic of this article is that Apple is now certifying third-party cables, so they are doing what you believe they ought. If you had posted, "Why didn't they do this sooner," you'd be more on target.

This happens any time there's a change of connector/interface. There will be a time when most users need the old connector, and eventually there will be a time when most users need the new connector. Today, people with new gear are complaining. Eventually, people with older gear will be complaining. The only way to please everyone is to include both cable types (or a cable and dongle) with every product. Of course, even doing that would not please everyone; there would be plenty of people complaining, "Why did they give me this stupid thing I don't need? The price would have been lower/the environment would have been cleaner without it. What a waste!"


And as to "Apple is killing off USB-A..." The entire industry is killing off USB-A. You'll find countless posts here from people complaining that Apple was either ignoring USB-C or dragging its feet in embracing this new "industry standard," and that it's just another example of Apple intentionally disregarding standards.
 
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I never realized that Apple sold its own parts to the Made for iPhone manufacturers. So evidently the only thing that the Mfi companies make is the cable itself.

Apple-certified Lightning to USB-C cables should be available from select third-party accessory makers starting early next year.
The biggest advantage to third-party Lightning to USB-C cables is that many will likely be significantly less expensive than Apple's own, while still meeting Apple performance standards under the Made for iPhone program. Many third-party options will likely have more durable designs too, such as a braided.

Any MFI-certified cable make is preferred over Apple's own cable. Apple has made for 20+ years crappy cables, charged too much for them and they last about a month:mad:!

Cost is not the real issue - finally cables that can last a year or more:rolleyes:.
 
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I wonder if this means future iPhones will still use Lightning. I was really hoping for an all USB-C setup.
Never happening as long as the iPhone is... an iPhone, and their main seller

iPad Pros changed because if Apple wants to market them as "computers" without being entirely misleading (okay, I am exaggerating here), then they need to at least have a more universal port
 
MFi Cables = Last a long time
Non MFi Cables = Last a couple of months at most

Definitely worth while spending an extra couple of dollars on MFi cables.
My first lightning to USB-c cable didn’t even last a month. Paid the $20 for Apple’s cable, so far so good.
 
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A USB-C connected device going in and out of linty pockets is a disaster waiting to happen.

Apple will solve that issue by selling users a 3 pack of rubber USB-C port covers/plugs for $14.99.

USB-C port won't be used that often since we'll all be using our AirPower for wireless charging. ;)
 
You don't NEED a dongle, you just have to buy another $30 cable to replace the brand new one that you just got with your $1000 iPhone.

I suppose to make “everyone” happy Apple could include very type of cable that a user might need for their particular setup. Then people would complain that the box is a lot bigger, and they are having to pay part if that premium for the phone to a bunch of cables they don’t need.
 
I’ve never found the cable itself to be a problem with any cables, from anyone. It’s almost always where the connector attaches to the cable that the problem exists. Tight bends there cause a failure. So braided or not, that’s not normally a problem.
 
Why not just go all USB-C? Oh right, no money to be made there on top of the $1000-$1500 phone.
 
The Apple cable is only $19. How much cheaper can a 3rd party be to take a risk of shoddy parts / construction?

If the Apple cable were $69, I could see a market for 3rd party, but not at $19.
I would rather pay the same $19 and get a more durable Anker braided nylon cable, Apple-made cables are the only ones I’ve ever had consistently tear and fray.
 
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So, let me get this straight...
MacBook Pros have solely used USB-C ports for the last 2 years and you still need a dongle for these new $1000 iPhones because they ship with the old USB cable?
Apple makes me want to turn everything off and go to a beach.
Not EVERYTHING is a "Dongle".

This is simply an adapter cable. Until now, only Apple made CERTIFIED Lightning <-> USB-C Cables. Now that is changing, so that others can also make CERTIFIED Lightning <-> USB-C Cables.

You could ALWAYS purchase Non-Certified Lightning <-> USB-C Cables.

This is what happens when multi-year product development cycles happen asynchronously.

Usually, nothing untoward happens. But when one product changes from one connector standard to a newer one, there is a much greater potential to be a period of "mis-match" between the most recently-designed product and product(s) that haven't "caught up" to the new connection-scheme yet.

But since everyone expects Apple to somehow plan farther ahead than anyone else, what is a minor inconvenience to most, requiring the use of a particular cable or adapter, becomes the most egregious sin, as expressed by a vocal few.
 
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Apple is a master at planned obsolescence, this provides them a continuous income stream. If you want to use Apple products you pay the price or you move on.

Actually, they’re not. They don’t discontinue something unless there’s a very good reason. But the entire industry waits to see what Apple is doing, and then, a year or two later, they do it.
 
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I assume they control that one part because it has circuitry that identifies the cable as an authorized Apple part?
Yes.
[doublepost=1543954009][/doublepost]
Sometimes this helps me deal with Apple:

Old MacDONGLE had a farm
E-I-E-I-O

And on his farm he had a dongle
E-I-E-I-O

With a dongle here
And a dongle there

Here a dongle, there a dongle
Everywhere a freaking dongle

Old MacDonGLE had a farm
E-I-E-I-O

Try it, it's good therapy, but if you cannot get the song out of your head, don't blame me, blame the (Mac)dongles.
Doesn't even follow the original meter of the song.
 
Apple is a master at planned obsolescence, this provides them a continuous income stream. If you want to use Apple products you pay the price or you move on.

I'll take that over the "unplanned obsolescence" most of their competitors provide- e.g. never release updates after a couple years.
 
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