Apple's Smaller iOS Device Dock Connector Said to Include 19 Pins

[OllyW]

I suppose EU users will get a USB adapter in the box anyway, since the EU courts slapped Apple on the connector extortion.

Plus, EU users already get the court-mandated USB adapters, so this can't really be the issue.

Or does it mean that all EU users, who use the USB adapter Apple is required to include there, are doomed to suffer in some sort of USB Hell?

What is all this EU court mandated action against Apple you keep talking about?

The EU have introduced a standardised smart phone charger which Apple signed up to along with 13 other manufacturers. They didn't have to change their charger because adaptors and non-standard plugs (on the phone) are still allowed. Apple also introduced this adaptor to allow iPhones to be charged using a Micro USB charger.

There was no court action taken against Apple.

 

[ixodes]

Change is inevitable, and when done right I eagerly embrace it.

I've waited for years, thinking sooner or later Apple would wake up & notice how absurdly large & ugly the dock connector looked plugged into their sleek iPhone.

Sadly (if rumors are true) they're about to introduce a proper connector plugged into a silly stretched out, phallic symbol of a phone. The irony is laughable. What are they feeding J Ive...

 

[Giuly]

Uhm..., why not a Micro USB?

So I can charge my camera, another phone if I need to, or anything else that uses the ubiquitous Micro USB, all with ONE cable?

I thought the EU was going to beat it out of Apple, but instead they just offered a USB adapter.

Because 1 Micro-USB 3.0 connector is wider than the 19Pin dock connector, and you'd need a separate HDMI port to archive the same functionality.

And, if you have the adapter, can't you charge it with a Micro-USB cable?

 

[Wicked1]

Deja vu, all over again.
But this time this rumor may be true.
Let the leaks begin..

Agreed, but they have been using the same connector for years, so going to a smaller one is not a surprise and it will be adopted quickly only because it free's up space inside the phone.

My son and I are keeping our 4S's so we have plenty of stuff, and my wife will have to get a new car adapter, but over time, people will adjust.

Better then the rest of the industry who switches adapters with every model phone that comes out? There are Micro USB, Mini USB, HDMI, Custom adapters, etc and everytime my kids got a new phone there was a new style of connector, pissed me off, so now we all have the same with our iPhones.

 

[RemE]

This is painful indeed, I too have a house/car full of adapters, mostly NON Apple. The 30 pin was never my fave from it's introduction when the "standard" firewire port was abandoned on iPods. It was understandable when more external features are needed like HDMI out etc.

I get, and prefer a mag type connector solution as these devices need constant sipping of power during the day and the connector gets a workout. I have a lot of mini and micro USB experience and they would not wear nearly as well not to mention be limited in I/O capability.

I'm far more concerned about this possible "chip" in the connector rumor.

If Apple literally locks out all 3rd parties unless they pay Apple some form of license fee, I hope a class action is possible 'cause that's just preditory...

I'm sure they would claim that they can't control some cheap accessory toasting peoples phones but honestly that's just lame. I know there are some crappy accys out there but there are great ones as well.

 

[twoodcc]

now i can see it becoming magnetic

 

[Skika]

So, the new iPhone (5) should be 1/2" longer, 1/2" wider, with a 5 3/4" screen (retina display), a 10MP front & back camera (capable of recording/playback in 1080p or better), it should have LTE, 2GB RAM, 2.5Ghz quad core processor, 2 speakers (not 1), bigger speakers, "push push" nano SIM port, the micro USB charging port (that shouldve been on the 1st & every iPhone), the home button should be 1/2 the size, the battery should last (at least) 2x longer, the # of recharges that can be performed before battery replacement is required should be doubled, the headphone port put on the bottom (or side) with the headphone plug "L" shaped, Siri, an 80GB model, all that for no more than $900 US.

So much crap i had to take a nap after reading it.

 

[macUser2007]

Do some research. Those competing tablets typically have proprietary power connectors as well. Either separate to or part of the data cable.

The ASUS Eee Pad Transformer is charged by USB3.

And it's battery seems to last even longer than the iPad's battery.

So, try again.

 

[lilo777]

Good start Apple. Next step - convert to MicroUSB. Even though Apple hate standards time and again they are forced to accept them.

 

[brdeveloper]

MicroUSB would solve all iStuff connectivity and charging problems. No excuses. It's a standard, it's small and now with USB3 there would be no bandwidth issues.

Any contrary argument sounds pure empty fanboyism.

 

[Rodimus Prime]

What is all this EU court mandated action against Apple you keep talking about?

The EU have introduced a standardised smart phone charger which Apple signed up to along with 13 other manufacturers. They didn't have to change their charger because adaptors and non-standard plugs (on the phone) are still allowed. Apple also introduced this adaptor to allow iPhones to be charged using a Micro USB charger.

There was no court action taken against Apple.

I still see apple as violating the spirit (if not the agreement itself) by not putting a microUSB charging port on their phone itself.

Everyone else went with that standard Apple was the only one who refused.

 

[rygamble]

please lord no dam thunderbolt
not everyone has a thunderbolt mac, or even pc

and we don't have the money laying about to just get a new iPhone and mac

mini usb, or 19pin connecter, i can live with

So you're complaining about a new iPhone that you can't buy? K.

 

[APlotdevice]

The ASUS Eee Pad Transformer is charged by USB3.

And it's battery seems to last even longer than the iPad's battery.

So, try again.

This is the connector used on the Asus Transformers. Quite clearly not a standard microUSB plug. Whats more is that the wall charger these tablets come with outputs 1.2a @ 15v. That voltage being three times what the USB standard specifies.

 

[yanki01]

bring back the look of the original iPhone (like in my avy), thinner and a tad bigger screen. I'd also love the magnetic power cord like my MacBook Pro.

 

[charlituna]

It won't be an iPhone 5. Ever.

Indeed. With Apple did with the iPad it will be the iPhone (6th Gen)

----------

Why the EFF are they moving the headphone jack to the bottom?!

It's not confirmed that they are.

As for why perhaps they might, one possible reason is to have the cable out of the way when you are holding the phone. That is an annoyance for some folks.

 

[kiwiboi87]

So you're complaining about a new iPhone that you can't buy? K.

yeah i am,
as do lots of other people?
nothing wrong with voicing my concern about thunderbolt maybe coming to the iPhone.

I'm sure it will be great for syncing and charging,
but not everyone has a thunderbolt mac or pc.


i would be happy with a micro usb.

 

[modelbehaviour]

If they change the connector would they (or a 3rd party) bring out an adaptor so it can work with old accessories? I, like I'm sure many other people, will not be buying a new phone if it means I have to replace all the speaker docs in my house as well.

 

[sennekuyl]

(Its micro USB actually - although a lot of older phones used mini USB)

1. Because the dock connector carries audio and video signals as well as data and power, so micro USB won't cut it.

2. Because there were already huge numbers of accessories with the iPod connector, third party cables, chargers etc. OK that argument is weakened if they are really going to change the connector, but sofar that is just a rumour and anyway it doesn't alter (1)

3. Because (typically) the EC's heart is in the right place, but the reality is a stupid solution, which legitimizes adaptors with captive micro USB cables that will go down the drain when manufacturers start making phones or other devices that are too small to house a micro-USB or (more likely) too small to house the fugly double connector needed to provide a microUSB socket alongside the extra pins needed for USB 3.

Apple already has a better universal AC adapter solution for iDevices, that meets the objectives of the EC scheme: put a full sized USB socket in the charger.

I already use my iPad adapter to charge my Kindle, my old miniUSB phone, my bluetooth keyboard, my wireless mouse... and even if the new iPhone did have a different connector I wouldn't need any more chargers - just the appropriate USB cable that I need to carry anyway to plug the phone into a laptop, my car, usb sockets at hotels... Third party adapters with USB sockets are widely available.

The problem that the EC set out to solve was that every mobile phone model (let alone make) came with its own unique AC brick that was expensive to replace and went on the landfill alongside the phone. Apple had already solved that problem.

While I agree with most of your points; is there a reason a micro-usb with extensions further up wouldn't work? That way any micro usb can plug in to charge yet the video & audio out for docking stations would be available too.

 

[Fatboy71]

If the addition of a smaller connector then allows for additions, improvements that would otherwise not have been possible, then this surely a good thing in the long term.

While I agree, its going to be a hassle for people with docking stations etc, these issues are bound to be addressed by way of a 30 pin to 19? pin adapter.

 

[duction]

apple take my money already!!

 

[theluggage]

While I agree with most of your points; is there a reason a micro-usb with extensions further up wouldn't work?

Well, since that's exactly what they did with the regular USB 3 'A" connector, presumably there's a reason why they didn't do the same with the USB3 'B' connectors and went for those odd double sockets instead.

 

[TheNextBigThing]

I welcome a brand new connector.

But please get rid of the whole concept of "pins". They suck!!!

How about a magsafe connector that simply connects just like the magsafe on the laptops but also does data as well as power? I never want to have to squeeze another set of pins on an iOS device ever again! It's lame. Let the magnets line up and connect the device. It's so slick for laptops, I don't see why you couldn't use it for the iPhone/iPad.

Your idea is nice. I'm sure Apple Geniuses already thought of this.

 

[adder7712]

While I agree with most of your points; is there a reason a micro-usb with extensions further up wouldn't work? That way any micro usb can plug in to charge yet the video & audio out for docking stations would be available too.

Video and audio out through microUSB is possible through MHL. Has anyone even brought that up in this thread?

 

[MacAgnostic]

Video and audio out through microUSB is possible through MHL. Has anyone even brought that up in this thread?

Yes, Mobile High-Definition Link is designed to address these issues by multipurposing the micro USB port.
It appears that Apple is not an MHL adpoter (at least not publicly listed).

I believe consumers would benefit from a switch to an MHL port in the long-term.
I am not convinced that adopting smaller proprietary connector is in the consumer's best interest.

I suspect Apple will sell a form-fitting 19-pin (or whatever) to 30-pin adaptor block to address the accessory issues.

 

[Mal]

I welcome a brand new connector.

But please get rid of the whole concept of "pins". They suck!!!

How about a magsafe connector that simply connects just like the magsafe on the laptops but also does data as well as power? I never want to have to squeeze another set of pins on an iOS device ever again! It's lame. Let the magnets line up and connect the device. It's so slick for laptops, I don't see why you couldn't use it for the iPhone/iPad.

I was going to post the protest that you don't want a data connection to simply pull off in the middle of a transfer, but since system software is intended to go over the air and anything else should be able to resume (or start over) without damage, that's actually very doable. Only concern would be if the magnets required would add weight or size constraints.

jW