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Availability of Apple's Lightning Adapters and Cables Slipping [Updated]

RemE said:
Why the hell isn't the micro USB adapter not available in the US?
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The only reason it's available in Europe is because a couple of years ago there was an EU commission report looking to standardise mobile phone charging ports on Micro USB to cut down on electronic waste from incompatible chargers and for a while it looked like it may be get pushed through to become law...

In the end it stayed as a recommendation rather than a mandate and the wording was vague enough to allow for a MicroUSB adapter rather than having to have a physical micro usb port on the phone so Apple is basically covering themselves in the EU just in case...

My guess is that demand outside the EU isn't enough to justify selling it as apple would far rather you use the native dock / lightning cables
 
LaredoHK said:
Tell me this isn't a photoshop, and your not a troll.
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It's true... I think!? And if you look at the layout / image used, it's rather tricksy too. Fascinating story ensues...

I ordered mine in the UK this morning, and being a typical man I got to that bit, thought "TLDR" but saw the picture of the standard non-cable based adapter and thought "Oh yeah, I'll need one of those" and selected it.

I didn't even notice the (0.2m) next to the text description.

Only after the order went through did I realise that it was actually the cabled version that I'd bought an extra one of.

So yeah, certainly in the UK it was implied that there would be one bundled with the phone.

That said, when I bought my 4S (I'm a game developer, not an Apple freak, hence the rapid upgrade!) it was also claimed that in Europe, LAW no less dictated they'd have to throw in a mini USB adapter.

They didn't...
 
doelcm82 said:
They don't have enough cables yet for the people who are willing to pay the Monster-ous prices. There's no way for them to make it up in volume when the volume isn't there.
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But even if there was volume, "they" would still charge $19-$39 for cables and adapters... that because they have always charged that much ... I remember complaining about Nokia and Motorola accessories (cables/chargers/cases) being priced too high... then Sony & RIM accessories priced too high...etc.

I'd just wait for the knock-off cables to come out.

.
 
mp0890 said:
They were never available immediately, even after the keynote it said October.
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Glad someone stated so early in the thread.

The only thing slipping is the actual cable people! And that is only with Apple. People should try Best Buy and other locations.
 
i dont understand... why would anyone buy an adapter for $29 when you can just get a brand new cable for $19?
 
So is *anyone* selling an iPhone 5 car charger yet?

(I know I can get a generic USB car charger and the USB-Lightning cable, but I tend to lose cables so a charger with integrated Lightning connector would work better for me.)
 
Waitaminute

Am I reading all this right? Are they not shipping a lightning to USB cable at all with new iPhones or iPods? That can't be right. They HAVE to include a way to power up your device when you get it.

And $29 for that adapter is bull. I was hearing $10 rumors and thought "hmm, ok" $30? F that and I'm a huge Apple fan since 1995.
 
RIPOFF ARTISTS !!!!

It'd be one thing if they WEREN'T the most valuable company in the world (financially). It'd be one thing if they DIDN'T have hundreds of billions in cash reserves. It'd be one thing if their stock price WASN'T trading at over $620 a share......

But they ARE, and they DO, and it IS. That makes their adapter pricing that more offensive.
 
iReality85 said:
I think this is completely unreasonable. $29 for a compact adapter, and $39 for the wired version? I understand that Apple wanted to update the ten year old connector, but to not even include a compact adapter along with the iPhone 5? This is borderline gouging, and to make it worse its forced gouging. There's going to be a lot of unhappy customers. Keep in mind- most Apple users aren't geeks; they don't post on these forums and don't watch the events. They are literally going to buy the iPhone 5, open it, and go, "it has a new connector? I can't plug it into all my accessories? I can't use my sound dock anymore at work? Not in my car?" The right thing for Apple to do would be to include a compact adapter with the iPhone 5 (at the very least, or even just for the first few months). I mean, it's bad enough that Lightning doesn't support video-out, or even guaranteed to work with some sound docks, so customers will need an adapter for that too.
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It's oddly brilliant from a business perspective. They know people will line up to buy the iPhone 5 not caring or even noticing they have to fork over more cash to make sure their new phones work with all their docks, adapters, accessories.

It is a bit wrong though and cheap of Apple to not include a free adapter in box. I mean the same thing has happened with the laptops. They used to include the Apple Remotes free, than they stopped including them (and that was while front row still existed) and charging 29 bucks for one.

I'm glad I got rid of my iPhone. I like my Macbook Pro and think they do laptops quite well, but it's clear the phone is just a way to sell more apps and sell more adapters to make $$$.
 
Sorry Apple, but it smells like ripoff all over... :mad:
The prices are unreasonably high, considering that the 30-Pin adaptor is only for charging, and does not support existing 30-pin video accessories.

Also, it may be less expensive to buy a whole charger instead of an adaptor or cable.
 
As Android phone owner

I am not affected by this rip-off. The most I would have to pay would be about $10 for MHL to HDMI adapter like this one:

86751.jpg


Cost - $10.

All other cables are about $2 a piece (at monoprice.com or elsewhere)

Apple ecosystem has its flaws, don't you think?
 
Getting awfully tired of Apple jerking everyone around like this. Every device you have with a dock connector is now obsolete. Well, this connector will also be obsolete in due course.
But the Galaxy S III is looking good enough for Apple to have it banned. Must be something to it then...
 
lilo777 said:
I am not affected by this rip-off. The most I would have to pay would be about $10 for MHL to HDMI adapter like this one:

Image

Cost - $10.

All other cables are about $2 a piece (at monoprice.com or elsewhere)

Apple ecosystem has its flaws, don't you think?
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It does, for sure, but MHL to HDMI adapters were NOT cheap when they first came out. I think I paid something like $40 for my first one.

Once third parties catch up, lightning adapters will be cheap as well. Not as cheap as the current $0.50 dock connector -> USB cables given that for audio use a Lightning -> 30-pin adapter needs a DAC, but probably in the neighborhood of that $10 adapter you linked.
 
zorinlynx said:
These are going to be in high demand for a while. Think about it; EVERYONE who's been an Apple fan for a few years has at least 2-3 dock cables laying around. No one buying a new iPhone wants to be inconvenienced and is going to want their charging locations to stick around, so they'll be ordering a few cables.

I'm not going to bother, and just keep the one that comes with my phone on me until the crazy demand abates. It's not like it's big and heavy and bulky.

To those buying extra cables and adapters, don't leave them in your car. If they're this hard to find, people might be willing to break into cars to steal them!
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LOL, demand so high for an adapter the break into your car and steal them. Wow. Apple must be living the corporate dream right now, make a crappy adapter that costs almost nothing and sell to desperate people who want it.

Could charge it at $49 and it would be sold out. Jesus Christ. No wonder they aren't bother to innovate.
 
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