Apple's Smaller Dock Connector Reportedly Coming to Entire iOS Device Lineup Including iPad This Fall

[MrXiro]

Not that I even remotely suspect to happen. But it would be awesome if the new port can also fit a micro USB charger into the slot for charging and to fit in with the MicroUSB Standard that was approved by the UN a few years back.

http://gizmodo.com/5389063/united-nations-approves-microusb-universal-phone-charger-standard

Again. I highly doubt they would do this. But it would make life a little simpler if it did.

 

[Rocketman]

I bet we see a dock connector on the next Macs too, to take advantage of some of the ecosystem of accessories. A simple "compatibility app" on the Mac would do it.

 

[dampfnudel]

This might come off as being childish but I just shelled out ~$900 in a 64GB iPad 3 (with accessories), they update the iPad 3 already I won't buy another.

If they update it, it's only the connector and maybe changing to a IGZO display/smaller battery to reduce heat/weight/charging time. That's all.

Even if you think that's a big update, do you really think Apple should be forced to wait a full year to make modifications to their product line when they could start saving money on production and improve the user experience much earlier.

 

[doelcm82]

After how long does the "new iPad" just become the "iPad" ?

I don't see it happening either - unless the industrial production needs demand it (e.g. too high a return rate or too high a production cost).

It has happened already. The box the new iPad comes in says "iPad". On the back, it says "iPad".

The word "new" was never part of the name. Not even for an instant.

 

[lannisters4life]

I bet we see a dock connector on the next Macs too, to take advantage of some of the ecosystem of accessories. A simple "compatibility app" on the Mac would do it.

What are you talking about?

 

[dampfnudel]

It has happened already. The box the new iPad comes in says "iPad". On the back, it says "iPad".

The word "new" was never part of the name. Not even for an instant.

Yeah, just like the MacBook Air is just the MacBook Air, not the MacBook Air 2,3..

 

[gadget123]

We heard last year Apple would release a retina HD Ipad 2 at the new Iphone launch..

This never happened.

So yes, if indeed there is a smaller dock connector it will most likely be the Ipad 4 in March. By all means roll out the new connector on any new production Ipad 3's but I would imagine this would be costly and it would have came in March if Apple were serious about changing the design.

It's definitely possible they launch the Ipad mini, Ipod touch with the smaller connector. Obviously if they put the new one on the Ipad 3 it won't make anybody buy it for this anyway.

These rumours will look really silly if Apple release a new Iphone and it still has the same connector.

 

[pokerplayer73]

Ipad has always been released with a new processor
Ipad1 had A4, also used in iPhone 4
Ipad2 had A5, also used in iPhone 4S.
Ipad3(new Ipad) had A5X?? I don't see 6th Gen iPhone using A5X.
The strange thing about this release was that it looked rushed/forced. It was thicker than previous gen, using technology that did not jive with the progressive evolution they bring about in their products. Use of A5X in iPad3 indicates that a new iPad will be launched with A6 processor and IGZO display alongside new connector. It will be thinner than iPad2, and iPads will be released in Fall from now on.

 

[v0lume4]

After how long does the "new iPad" just become the "iPad" ?

Yeah, I'd like to know what Apple calls it by April of next year. If you look closely in the iPod pages, they refer to it as iPod Touch (4th Generation), so that's what I'd assume.

I agree about the dock connector. If they did it to the current 3rd gen iPad, then one wonders, "Well, I guess they'll do it to the iPhone 4S too! And the 4. And the 3GS. And the iPad 2."

Nahh. I don't see it being across the line.

 

[Jimeny]

micro-usb

someone just said this, but it does kinda look similar in size to the micro-usb.

I can't see why on earth apple would do this, they're not naturally generous when it comes to standardized adapters or leads (especially in the cheap price bracket), but it would be a cool way to go.

Fingers crossed, there's hope in the old dog yet...!

 

[Kwill]

This might come off as being childish but I just shelled out ~$900 in a 64GB iPad 3 (with accessories), they update the iPad 3 already I won't buy another.

Won't buy another what? iPad? Accessory? Why? Will the accessories you've purchased stop fitting your new iPad?

For years, Apple has had a MFi Program that provides hardware support to manufacturers who pay royalties for the privilege of labeling their products: "Made for iPod." There is no doubt that an adaptor will be made similar, perhaps, to the one that enables newer USB connectors to recharge using older FireWire iPod connector cables. See in-depth article on iLounge.

 

[HangmanSwingset]

but now they have a reason to update it. I think this makes a lot of sense (especially with apple removing the naming convention entirely). Apple can simply say "now we have updated our iPad to use this new dock connector.... and we have also managed to get improved battery life!"

It's a perfect excuse for a mini-update. From now on we will refer to the products as iPad (early 2012), iPad (late 2012), the same as we do for the Mac lineup. Makes sense. ALSO, I predict the iPad mini will simple be called "iPad" but will be a difference size variant. Same as how the Macbook Air comes in 11" and 13", but you don't call one the "Macbook Air Mini" or any other such nonsense.

And now this gives Apple the liberty to update products according to their own timeline... not some abitrary "1 year" timeline. It's all coming together now... There is a method to their maddness.

Also, to me the new iPad seemed like a mid-generation update, kinda like the 4 to the 4S. More like the iPad 2.5...

And the new iPad didn't even get a CPU bump. Just a GPU bump. Could very well be an "A6" update, since iPads typically get the new SoC before the iPhone does... Could be getting it at the same time this go around.

 

[pear21]

I agree with you completely. Whenever you, Pear21, personally buys an Apple product, Apple should wait at least 3 years before updating it.

I got the iPad the day it came out so it's not like anyone else's is older than that. I guarantee other people will be upset that they released an updated product in the same year......

 

[juannacho]

That's not what I am says. I'm saying it's weak that Apple didn't implement this in March. Else, they should have waited until March.

For current third-gen iPad owners, this means that their resale value will go down and that most NEW accessories will be focused on a smaller dock connector.

So yes, I think it is weak that they might update the iPad 3 so soon. It's especially unfair for the Chinese (and some others), where the iPad 3 launched just 2.5 weeks ago.

I'm a third gen iPad owner and I'm thrilled! It basically means that rather than my iPad becoming genuinely outdated, it will to all intents & purposes be exactly the same as the next one, just minus a newer connector.

I can live with that.

Fortunately, as a game developer I never sell any old iOS goods as they're handy for testing backwards compatibility.

 

[rotax]

I hope the interface supports standard USB latest version and Thunderbolt, depending on the other end of the cable, and yes magsafe would be fantastic.

Imagine how fast a restore would be with Thunderbolt!

 

[pcharles]

All I want is a decent camera and (maybe) gps on the next iPod Touch. . . . If there is a next iPod Touch!

 

[akf2000]

I hope the new connector will work whichever way around you plug it in - does anyone know if this is possible?

 

[Navdakilla]

I still don't believe they will have another update for the iPad this year.

Agreed, however this ipad mini that they possibly release could use the new connector. And then the regular Ipad be updated as usual come March

 

[Disgrace]

This all but spells death for the iPod classic and perhaps the shuffle too.

All of this (predicted/actual) discontinuing: iPod Classic, 17" MacBook Pro, Shuffle. Will Apple be making anything else in its place? I suppose they don't need to with runaway success with the iPad and iPhone.

 

[Fatboy71]

I really cannot see the current iPad getting updated in September for the smaller dock.

I can see however that devices coming out from September onwards will have the smaller dock.

 

[Macintosh-HD]

They should of just switched to a standard USB Micro-B and called it a day...lol

 

[tbrinkma]

I also disagree with your conclusion that "do it" "as soon as" means that's when they'll start. To me, that's a statement of completion within that timeframe.

So, if "as soon as" means "no later than", what does "as late as" mean?
If someone says they'll get you something "as soon as" next Tuesday, they're telling you not to expect it *before* then, but it may come later.

And yes, the headline gives that outside of that timeframe. So the claim is that the whole lineup is moving sometime between September 12 and the end of fall.

Headlines are *rarely* created by the person who wrote the article, and are (sadly) almost *never* fact-checked. Relying on a headline as if it were part of the article is pretty much never a sound idea.

I'm just pointing out to you that you've read into the article something that it doesn't *actually* say. Yes, by the way it's written, they *could* do a complete refresh of the entire iOS product line this fall, but even if this were a direct, official Apple statement (which it's not), the way it is written wouldn't mean that they were 'late' if they kept to the normal release schedule.

 

[topper24hours]

Wow, weak move Apple. Weak move. Updating a product that was, well, just updated (I'm talking about the third-generation iPad here).

The third-generation iPad was introduced and released in March, but there are still countries out there where it has only been released just recently (see China for example, the third-gen iPad launch was just a few weeks ago: July 20).

If you believe Apple will rapidly ramp down its production of the new iPad, which is selling VERY well, to add something as trivial as a new dock connector, then restart & ramp up production again..
Well... actually, that's all I got. This rumor is incredulous..

 

[Born Again]

if they update the ipad then i'll have to bring it in for some made up issues i've been having recently

 

[tbrinkma]

You can break down the wordage they used all you want, but the intent of the person that wrote the original iMore article was that all of those products would be updated this fall. because if you actually DID read the article (as you claim to) you would have seen



Unlikely or not, the information that iMore is trying to convey (from a supposed inside source) is that the 9.7" iPad will be refreshed this fall. You need to work on your reading comprehension.

And those wonderful quotes are *completely* without any supporting evidence. Not to mention the one about shortening the release cycle attempts to justify itself by using *rumors*, which *DIDN'T* pan out. (That is, they're not only unsupported, they're *contraindicated* by the available evidence.)

The author is trying to get page views. The author of the article has unnamed sources, and no supporting evidence. Surely you don't take something as fact just because you read it on the Internet?

The article doesn't say Apple *WILL* update the entire line this fall. At most, it says Apple *MIGHT* update the entire line this fall, but can't provide any evidence to support that supposition.