Apple Updates Made For iPhone Licensing Program With USB-C Ports, Lightning to 3.5mm Output Cable

[hotdwag]

Moving to USB-C on the iPhone would be the most realistic way to standardize connectors... I mean it was their argument for the MacBook / Pro line.

It is a little strange that you can use an Android with a USB-C straight cable with macOS but need to buy a “special” cable or usb-c to a adapter for an iPhone...

It’s a propriatary thing that gets the company money. They aren’t keeping lightning for the benefit of the customer or industry standards, though it might make sense for their bottom line.

 

[Michael Goff]

How so? USB-C shares most of Lightning's characteristics.

Sarcasm? If not, what are the advantages of the lightning connector over USB-C?

USB C has a plethora of problems. One of the main ones is not knowing if something is going to happen with accessories when you plug it in and not knowing what’s going to happen with others.

You go, you buy a USB C charging cable. How fast will it charge your device? Who knows! It might be able to to PD or it might not. It might fast charge and it might not. Grab a lightning cable and an iPad plug and it just works.

Then we have headphones. Oh boy is that a mess. Go grab one of the few pairs of headphones that go by C and ... it might not work with your phone. Weird. How can such a universal plug be so fragmented?

That’s not even talking about the adapters that are just bad in the market right now.

You grab a lightning cable, a pair of lightning headphones, or any adapters and they’ll just work.

No one's denying that. But it's not just about the connector- it's about usability. Why can't the iPhone have the same charger as the Macbook? Why can't it take the same accessories as the rest of the computer industry? What about the iPad?

Why doesn't Apple include a Lightning port on their Macbooks?

The fact is, the industry is on USB C, as is Apple for all their non-iOS devices. No we have to carry 2 chargers with us instead of one.

And technologically, USB 3.1 and Thunderbolt 3 blow Lightning out of the water. But you know what, keep the lightning standard... just change the connector to USB-C (like they did with Thunderbolt 3),and use USB-PD.

Let’s talk about USB PD and how it’s a mess too with the lack of universal accessibility through all USB C cables.

What are you missing by Apple not going to USB C beyond not wanting multiple cables?
[doublepost=1520885840][/doublepost]

Moving to USB-C on the iPhone would be the most realistic way to standardize connectors... I mean it was their argument for the MacBook / Pro line.

It is a little strange that you can use an Android with a USB-C straight cable with macOS but need to buy a “special” cable or usb-c to a adapter for an iPhone...

It’s a propriatary thing that gets the company money. They aren’t keeping lightning for the benefit of the customer or industry standards, though it might make sense for their bottom line.

The amount of money they make from lightning licensing is a rounding error.

 

[H3LL5P4WN]

Anker charge cables are often cheaper than official Apple ones.

They also aren't as high quality/fully in-spec. Don't get me wrong, I buy Anker everything, but after Mobile Reviews Eh did his review of lightning cables, I'll never buy a non-Apple lightning cable again.

 

[heov]

USB C has a plethora of problems. One of the main ones is not knowing if something is going to happen with accessories when you plug it in and not knowing what’s going to happen with others.

You go, you buy a USB C charging cable. How fast will it charge your device? Who knows! It might be able to to PD or it might not. It might fast charge and it might not. Grab a lightning cable and an iPad plug and it just works.

Then we have headphones. Oh boy is that a mess. Go grab one of the few pairs of headphones that go by C and ... it might not work with your phone. Weird. How can such a universal plug be so fragmented?

That’s not even talking about the adapters that are just bad in the market right now.

You grab a lightning cable, a pair of lightning headphones, or any adapters and they’ll just work.



Let’s talk about USB PD and how it’s a mess too with the lack of universal accessibility through all USB C cables.

What are you missing by Apple not going to USB C beyond not wanting multiple cables?
[doublepost=1520885840][/doublepost]

The amount of money they make from lightning licensing is a rounding error.

Thats it. I don't want multiple cables. I want one cable. I want to buy wired headphones with 1 jack. 1 charger. 1 video adapter dongle.

What does lightning give me? a slightly smaller cable head? The cost is double the adapters/cables.

 

[H3LL5P4WN]

USB C has a plethora of problems. One of the main ones is not knowing if something is going to happen with accessories when you plug it in and not knowing what’s going to happen with others.

You go, you buy a USB C charging cable. How fast will it charge your device? Who knows! It might be able to to PD or it might not. It might fast charge and it might not. Grab a lightning cable and an iPad plug and it just works.

Then we have headphones. Oh boy is that a mess. Go grab one of the few pairs of headphones that go by C and ... it might not work with your phone. Weird. How can such a universal plug be so fragmented?

That’s not even talking about the adapters that are just bad in the market right now.

You grab a lightning cable, a pair of lightning headphones, or any adapters and they’ll just work.



Let’s talk about USB PD and how it’s a mess too with the lack of universal accessibility through all USB C cables.

What are you missing by Apple not going to USB C beyond not wanting multiple cables?

USB-PD is actually a good standard. It's Android OEMs colluding with Qualcomm for Quick Charge, or making their own garbage like One Plus with Dash Charge, that has made a mess of the USB-C landscape.

It's taken me forever to sort that mess out... and at this point, the only USB-C cables I can spot-recommend to someone are Apple's and Google's. (That's when USB-PD devices are concerned. I haven't owned a QC device in about 2 years.)

 

[thejadedmonkey]

Why would Apple invest in such obsolete technology like the 3.5mm jack?

/s

 

[Michael Goff]

Thats it. I don't want multiple cables. I want one cable. I want to buy wired headphones with 1 jack. 1 charger. 1 video adapter dongle.

What does lightning give me? a slightly smaller cable head? The cost is double the adapters/cables.

The ability to know what things you plug into your phone will do.

USB-PD is actually a good standard. It's Android OEMs colluding with Qualcomm for Quick Charge, or making their own garbage like One Plus with Dash Charge, that has made a mess of the USB-C landscape.

It's taken me forever to sort that mess out... and at this point, the only USB-C cables I can spot-recommend to someone are Apple's and Google's. (That's when USB-PD devices are concerned. I haven't owned a QC device in about 2 years.)

Oh, PD is great. I’d never say otherwise. The cable situation, though...

 

[mkldev]

Lightning is a better cable for mobile devices like the iPhone.

In what fantasy universe is Lightning superior to USB-C? The contacts are on the outside of the plug. This means you have a ridiculous amount of negotiation that has to happen just so you don't have hot wires exposed to shorting out all the time, and even then, you have to really wonder about the safety of leaving those exposed contacts lying around.

And it's a connector that is used exclusively by a single line of devices. You can't buy Lightning headphones unless you don't want to be able to use them with your Mac, because it doesn't have a Lightning port. Nor can you buy USB-C headphones, because you can't use them with your phone. So you end up carrying around an adapter for your mobile device — the one situation where adapters are least convenient — because there's no way to do the reverse. It's a train wreck of usability fail.

I agree with the other poster. Let Lightning die already. USB-C is a broadly supported standard, in spite of USB PD teething pains, and therefore is inherently a far better choice for mobile devices regardless of any minor technical details that might otherwise theoretically make Lightning better.

 

[se1000]

USB C has a plethora of problems. One of the main ones is not knowing if something is going to happen with accessories when you plug it in and not knowing what’s going to happen with others.

You go, you buy a USB C charging cable. How fast will it charge your device? Who knows! It might be able to to PD or it might not. It might fast charge and it might not. Grab a lightning cable and an iPad plug and it just works.

What does USB-PD have anything to do with iPhones and iPads, some of the few devices that still are on lightning? USB-PD is not required to "fast charge" at all. The lowest spec of USB-C will support fast charging on these devices, so from a connectivity standpoint it's no different than today with lightning and 5w, 10w, and 12w charging bricks. Am I missing something?

 

[9081094]

Lightning is a better cable for mobile devices like the iPhone.

You’re possibly right about that. But it is really getting a mess with all those proprietary hardware cables where Apple is only using it to sell extraordinary expensive cables from mediocre quality. Apple should embrace the de facto standards in phone land or open source lightning cables.

If Apple really cares more about the environment than profits they should make this statement. Another hypocrite behavior from a company who says it cares about the environment and equality

 

[IGI2]

Sarcasm? If not, what are the advantages of the lightning connector over USB-C?

It's smaller.

Smaller inner blueprint as well.

Other manufactures will get to that wall. Apple is covered.

 

[tzm41]

Finally! Looking forward to getting more affordable USB-C cables. (Get to work, Anker!)

Anker might be one of the few Chinese brands that don't get mocked here on MR

 

[ipponrg]

Well it's included with all iPhones that do not have a headphone jack. I think it's nice they offer a way for all those who still need this connection.

Yes it's nice that they are forcing you to go with a lightning to 3.5 mm adapter because they removed the 3.5mm plug. I often forget on a flight that I cannot charge my phone and listen to music via the adapter at the same time. It pays to play.

They also aren't as high quality/fully in-spec. Don't get me wrong, I buy Anker everything, but after Mobile Reviews Eh did his review of lightning cables, I'll never buy a non-Apple lightning cable again.

I have a pair of Amazon ones a year ago, and that still cost less than 1 Apple branded cable. They work great still. A few of my anker cables stopped working because Apple mysteriously decided the cables should all stop working at the same time. The Anker cables were about 3-4 years old.

 

[4jasontv]

So... to be clear, this means Anker can make USB-C to Lightning chargers better than Apple at 1/3rd the price?

 

[Apple_Robert]

Affordable certified cables. Good news for the consumer.

 

[9081094]

Anker might be one of the few Chinese brands that don't get mocked here on MR

All Apple makes is made in china too... so what’s the difference?

 

[Michael Goff]

In what fantasy universe is Lightning superior to USB-C? The contacts are on the outside of the plug. This means you have a ridiculous amount of negotiation that has to happen just so you don't have hot wires exposed to shorting out all the time, and even then, you have to really wonder about the safety of leaving those exposed contacts lying around.

And it's a connector that is used exclusively by a single line of devices. You can't buy Lightning headphones unless you don't want to be able to use them with your Mac, because it doesn't have a Lightning port. Nor can you buy USB-C headphones, because you can't use them with your phone. So you end up carrying around an adapter for your mobile device — the one situation where adapters are least convenient — because there's no way to do the reverse. It's a train wreck of usability fail.

I agree with the other poster. Let Lightning die already. USB-C is a broadly supported standard, in spite of USB PD teething pains, and therefore is inherently a far better choice for mobile devices regardless of any minor technical details that might otherwise theoretically make Lightning better.

Read my other posts about the problems of C in this very topic. I’ve already said it.

What does USB-PD have anything to do with iPhones and iPads, some of the few devices that still are on lightning? USB-PD is not required to "fast charge" at all. The lowest spec of USB-C will support fast charging on these devices, so from a connectivity standpoint it's no different than today with lightning and 5w, 10w, and 12w charging bricks. Am I missing something?

Not all USB C cords fast charge every phone.

You’re possibly right about that. But it is really getting a mess with all those proprietary hardware cables where Apple is only using it to sell extraordinary expensive cables from mediocre quality. Apple should embrace the de facto standards in phone land or open source lightning cables.

If Apple really cares more about the environment than profits they should make this statement. Another hypocrite behavior from a company who says it cares about the environment and equality

They also care about user experience. Lightning provides a better experience for mobiles. Also, I believe you’re overstating what they make from MFi licensing. They probably make a few hundred million dollars a year. That’s a rounding error to Apple.

 

[se1000]

Not all USB C cords fast charge every phone.

Do you have an example where a to-spec USB-C cable does not deliver a non-proprietary fast charge (<15W, 5v@3A)?

 

[Michael Goff]

Do you have an example where a to-spec USB-C cable does not deliver a non-proprietary fast charge (<15W, 5v@3A)?

That’s the problem. Not all USB C cables that are sold are to spec.

 

[4jasontv]

They also aren't as high quality/fully in-spec. Don't get me wrong, I buy Anker everything, but after Mobile Reviews Eh did his review of lightning cables, I'll never buy a non-Apple lightning cable again.

What? LOL. Apple cables fray when you unplug them.

 

[se1000]

That’s the problem. Not all USB C cables that are sold are to spec.

I could also make the same statement about lightning.

 

[obiwan]

"Lightning to 3.5mm stereo output plug."? LOL. Can't believe I'm reading this. What's next? Lightning to 1/4 inch headphone jack? I thought Apple had (finally) abandoned these vintage connectors. (And if they didn't, why even remove the 3.5 mm headphone jack in the first place?). As it is now, they're actually keeping that damn thing alive instead of (finally) killing it.

3.5mm headphone jack will out live lightning. I've still not had a 3.5mm headphone port, break on me or the wire spontaneously combust just by plugging it in. Lightning ports and cables are flimsy at the best of times, yet all my vintage 3.5mm connections are still going strong. Apple might have abandoned 3.5mm jacks, but they are not going anywhere anytime soon.

 

[Michael Goff]

I could also make the same statement about lightning.

That’s what the MFi program is for?

 

[se1000]

That’s what the MFi program is for?

That's what USB-C standards are for as well. Your original statement made it sound like a to-standard USB-C cable may not be able to support a iPhone or iPad at fast charging current loads.

For example, if Apple were to release an iPhone with a USB-C port that follows USB-C spec, a consumer could have almost a near certain expectation that a USB-C compliant cable would fast charge that phone as long as it was coupled with an appropriate charger.

This situation is no different than the situation with lightning today.

 

[subjonas]

I am still waiting for W1 chips to be supplied to third party manufacturers. I have Beats Solo 3 and AirPods, but I would love a high quality pair of noise cancelling, W1 equipped B&W or Sennheiser headphones.

If you would settle for an Apple brand...
https://www.macrumors.com/2018/03/05/apples-headphones-target-noise-cancelling-market/