Apple Senior Vice President Phil Schiller on NFC, Wireless Charging and the Lightning Connector

[MacRumors]

AllThingsD's Ina Fried caught up with Apple's Phil Schiller after the introduction of the iPhone 5 this afternoon. She asked him about a number of new technologies that did -- and didn't -- make it into the company's new flagship phone.

It's not clear that NFC is the solution to any current problem, Schiller said. "Passbook does the kinds of things customers need today."

As for wireless charging, Schiller notes that the wireless charging systems still have to be plugged into the wall, so it's not clear how much convenience they add. The widely-adopted USB cord, meanwhile, can charge in wall outlets, computers and even on airplanes, he said.

"Having to create another device you have to plug into the wall is actually, for most situations, more complicated," Schiller said.

Fried also spoke to Schiller about the new Lightning connector. He noted that it wasn't possible to make devices any thinner with the existing 30-pin Dock Connector, though the company doesn't take changing the plug -- which had been around for 9 years -- lightly. "This is the new connector for many years to come," Schiller explained.

Article Link: Apple Senior Vice President Phil Schiller on NFC, Wireless Charging and the Lightning Connector

 

[Cougarcat]

"This is the new connector for many years to come," Schiller explained.

So, why not USB 3?

 

[Dewroo]

What are your opinions on the change? considering that Phil Shiller said they could have made the device thinner using the same 30Pin connecter, do you think it was actually necessary to change it? Why, or why not?

 

[jav6454]

Obviously considering the amount of devices and ecosystem around the 30-pin dock connector. It is like starting form scratch.

 

[Sixtafoua]

NFC is awesome, I don't care what the haterz say

 

[Eduardo1971]

I'm frankly surprised that they didn't go with USB 3.

 

[charlieegan3]

Kind of agree about the wireless charging, but would have liked to see apple make NFC work well, so well that we do need it.

 

[goobot]

So are we stuck with usb 2.0 for another 9 years?

 

[chrmjenkins]

I think Phil has good points, but he also doesn't point out how these additions would hurt. It's not as if wireless charging gets rid of regular cable charging, for example.

 

[BigJohno]

Got to save something for iphone 5s.

 

[Carlanga]

So, why not USB 3?

he means on the iPhone (& other iOS devices) side

 

[Sixtafoua]

I'm frankly surprised that they didn't go with USB 3.

I'm not. Apple is very comfortable in their proprietary ecosystem.

 

[Mad Mac Maniac]

I agree with everything he said.

So are we stuck with usb 2.0 for another 9 years?

I am highly confident that Apple could update it to usb 3/thunderbold without changing the "lighting" connector.

Plus I also forsee people using the cable to sync to a computer less and less over the next 9 years. I personally haven't plugged my iPhone into my Mac since iOS 5 hit nearly a year ago.

meh

 

[pandamonia]

Yeh cus Apple know whats best for their customers?

 

[Reaktor5]

So, why not USB 3?

I'm sure Apple will gladly sell you a USB 3 Lightning cable next year for $29.

 

[jav6454]

So are we stuck with usb 2.0 for another 9 years?

God no! However, I do think since it is 8-pins back and forth, the upgrade route for it must be easy.

 

[kayloh20]

What are your opinions on the change? considering that Phil Shiller said they could have made the device thinner using the same 30Pin connecter, do you think it was actually necessary to change it? Why, or why not?

Thankfully, I don't have any peripherals that I use with my iPhone other than the cables themselves, so it doesn't affect me too much (though getting new cables will be annoying).

He said that it wasn't possible to make them thinner.

He noted that it wasn't possible to make devices any thinner with the existing 30-pin Dock Connector...

 

[Zunjine]

I think Phil has good points, but he also doesn't point out how these additions would hurt. It's not as if wireless charging gets rid of regular cable charging, for example.

If it adds no appreciable value then including it only adds cost and complexity. I'm glad they didn't bother with it. It's gimmicky.

 

[Reach9]

main feature for the 5S.. NFC is my guess.

So what's in it for the iPhone 6?

 

[Skika]

I'm not. Apple is very comfortable in their proprietary ecosystem.

This post makes no sense.

 

[Stetrain]

So, why not USB 3?

Who says they can't make a Lightning to USB 3 or even Lighting to Thunderbolt cable?

 

[Battlefield Fan]

Why didn't they name it Lighting Bolt? Lighting sounds lameee.

 

[MythicFrost]

USB 3 isn't capable of doing all the things the dock connector can, such as passing through audio and video, and other things, etc.

 

[Mr Fusion]

I am highly confident that Apple could update it to usb 3/thunderbold without changing the "lighting" connector.

If it's possible, and their laptop and desktop product lines support Thunderbolt and/or USB 3.0 already, why not do it now?

 

[cvaldes]

So, why not USB 3?

USB 3 only carries digital data and power. It doesn't offer things like simple iPod signalling, analog audio and video signals (for relatively simple connection to other A/V devices).

In future iOS devices, USB 3 could be implemented for the data portion of the interface, but a connector with more pins is needed for the additional functionality.

Note that various docks and cable adapters from the old 30-pin connector have offered line-out audio, composite video, S-Video, component video, HDMI, etc.

I wouldn't be surprised if there isn't a USB 3 compatible iPhone 5 prototype sitting in a lab somewhere in Cupertino.

My guess is that current USB 3 chip solutions for mobile devices were evaluated and rejected as relatively power hungry (plus only a few computers actually have USB 3 interfaces) but as the standard becomes more prevalent and more power-thrifty chips are available, that this technology will eventually make it into an iOS device.