Question:
Is there a point of diminishing returns with "thinner and smaller"??
No sarcasm...serious question.
Just depends how easily broken the new connector is.
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Apple Readying Miniaturized Dock Connector for Future iPhones?
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Just depends how easily broken the new connector is.
If apple goes to thunderbolt, the iPhone/iPad popularity will be enough to drive TB forward.
Also, this will (hopefully) put thunderbolt cables out in the wild - a move that would help reduce the cost of adapting TB devices.
Also, this will (hopefully) put thunderbolt cables out in the wild - a move that would help reduce the cost of adapting TB devices.
I absolutely love the idea of a “mag” type connector (it’s one of my favorite design details of my MBP).
If apple goes to thunderbolt, the iPhone/iPad popularity will be enough to drive TB forward.
Also, this will (hopefully) put thunderbolt cables out in the wild - a move that would help reduce the cost of adapting TB devices.
Yeah, like the top quote mentioned, mag > TB (or mag > USB) would be outstanding.
Also like someone else mentioned ... either make the connections symmetric or have obvious orientation (looking your way USB ... every time I have to connect something behind our server ...)
A magnetic port would help somewhat with the support issue, as well, by exerting some force to keep it in place without as much metal physically holding it up. As long as devices keep getting lighter, that will help too.
What exactly is wrong with the way hdmi connects, Sata can bee kinda annoying but hdmi is pretty easier to plug and unplug?
Apple really just needs to get on the microusb train. I like that I can charge/sync my phone to a computer at just about at anyone's house since almost everyone has something with a microusb cable. Even most feature phones are using them today.
and most people you know don't own some type of apple device? I have an easier time finding an iPhone charger when I need one than my friends with wp7 or android do...
and people complaining about plugging in USB cables...
1. it only goes two ways, so you have a 50% chance of getting it right the first time, and if that doesn't work, spin it 180* and it plugs right in.
2. if you constantly plug devices in, why don't you just remember which way it goes?
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I don't recall saying ever having trouble remembering which way things go. Only on a Mac forum would people argue that a propriety connector that is badly designed is better than the industry standard micro usb.
Please let it not be micro or even mini USB, that would diluted the clean iPhone brand. USB is a dead and dated standard, we need to move away from it. Thunderbolt would be great, but its marred by certain things(unless the next gen iPhone cpu is sufficient enough without the need for an outdated x86 based cpu).
How thin to we want our devices?? Paper thin? Should I be able to see through my iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad or even Macbook Pro or Air? The iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad is thin enough as it is. Same with the MBA. I don't want the thing to shatter in my pocket. I've heard this kind of thing discussed before with the headphone jack. I do admit I would love wireless headphones they still seem to cost a lot. As for the dock connector there is still the issue of charging the device. Wireless sync is cool though. Can that be done on the current iPhone 4S?
I didn't say you were the one having trouble, i was just asking you a question (first part of post) and then edited my post and said "to the people complaining....." don't know why you get all butt hurt about it, don't remember saying "why are YOU complaining about usb" Sorry, next time I'll add 4-5 quotes when i edit my post...
i also didn't say that apples cable was better... but how is micro usb better? 6 in one, half a dozen in the other.
but let's not forget, the "proprietary" cable has been around since 2001, while micro usb has only been around since 2007. There were already a lot of cables out and accessories for ipods, so it made more sense for apple to keep the dock connector IMO. I mean, i'd rather be able to use all of the cables i've been getting over the years, still able to plug into all of my home docks, still able to plug into my cars, and still able to use my accessories than have micro usb, but that's just how i feel. Personally hope they don't get rid of the current dock connector.
My battery lasts two days and still has about 30% when I charge it. I can go 3 days most times.
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Apple aren't even supplying a mini USB adaptor, at least not in the UK. They do sell one for about £9 in the apple store.
zachkolk said:
Apple aren't even supplying a mini USB adaptor, at least not in the UK. They do sell one for about £9 in the apple store.
I didn't get a dock to micro USB adapter with my 4S, and I live in the EU...
I think there is a lot of misunderstanding going on around what this legislation actually means and requires...
Wow. I don't know where you got your engineering degree, but you should definitely ask for your money back.
"Simple" as in, "would require a software layer on the hundreds of devices that use the strictly physical/electrical pin layout". Yup. Easy-peasy.
Very much misunderstanding, indeed. Apple needs to change nothing. The current USB-A -> 30-pin dock cable is 100% in compliance with the EU agreement.
If they do adopt adopt a new connector, I hope it will be designed so that sliding your device in and out of a dock can be more easily done one-handed.
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As has been said several times already, microUSB does not have the same level of functionality as the dock connector.
Here's my guess: same pinouts as the current 30-pin dock connector, but at a smaller physical size (maybe 30% smaller). It'll be introduced in September 2012 with the next-generation iPhone, iPod touch and iPod nano.
Can you give me a real functionality that can't be performed over usb that the current dock connector can do?
10w in. (USB was only designed to supply 2.5w, with 5w being the highest I've ever seen it pushed to)
VGA out.
Line out.
iPod controls.
The latter two could technically be handled through USB, but increases the complexity of components within the accessory.
Also the dock connector attaches more securely. Which is important when you have an accessory dangling under your device.
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They offer similar functionality. The iPhone connects to the PC/Mac via a dock connector to USB cable. Apple could only use the connector and change whatever specs are needed like higher voltage specifically for the iPhone and its charging cable.
What micro USB would offer is compatibility with hundred of peripherals already made. Developers would only need to make apps with drivers.
MicroUSB alone isn't compatible with many peripherals at all. You have to first convert it to a regular USB port using an adapter. Now the thing is that the dock connector can also be converted to a regular USB port through an adapter. In fact Apple supplies one with the camera connection kit. The only problem is that Apple strictly controls which peripherals can be attached. App developers cannot add hardware support without their approval. Having microUSB instead of a dock connector wouldn't necessarily change that.
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I believe that Apple doesn't want to switch to Micro USB connection for three reasons:
1. The data transfer rate over Micro USB is quite slow compared to the 30-pin iPod dock connection.
2. Apple uses the 30-pin connector for way more than just charging and basic data transfers--for example, video output is also done through this connector.
3. Apple would have to re-write some the code in OS X and iOS to strictly support Micro USB.
In short, for compatibility reasons, the new connector, as I said earlier, will essentially be a reduced physical size version of the current iPod connection.
1. The data transfer rate over Micro USB is quite slow compared to the 30-pin iPod dock connection.
2. Apple uses the 30-pin connector for way more than just charging and basic data transfers--for example, video output is also done through this connector.
3. Apple would have to re-write some the code in OS X and iOS to strictly support Micro USB.
In short, for compatibility reasons, the new connector, as I said earlier, will essentially be a reduced physical size version of the current iPod connection.