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Cable not Apple certified? Give me a break

You guys spend how much on a iPhone and cry about a $20 cable? They you cry when the $5 cable doesn't work right, then buy 5 more and you're out $25. There is a link to refurbished ones too for less that someone posted. I never had to replaced an official Apple cable on any device and I have the cable from my iPod Classic also. I have bought extras so I can have one for work that I keep in my office so I don't forget to bring one with me.

I'll buy the Apple ones to avoid the headaches, that alone to me is worth the $20, and not my phone starting on fire (as someone posted above).
 
There's a lot of technology in Lightning. It's the result of years of R&D and is really quite the impressive hack. It's not just a cable-- it's a whole new format that's bi-directional and future-proof and incorporates flexible, function-definining logic that also helps safeguard your device.

3rd party cables with certified (as in, licensed) functionality need not be costly. Monoprice and AmazonBasics both offer well-priced examples, though Monoprice's current cables are too stiff for my personal taste. I'm waiting to receive an Amazon cable right now; they're reportedly more flexible.

But no-name junk without certification? No thanks.
 
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taedouni said:
The cable's outer cover (that goes over the sheath) on the lightning cables is crap. When you use the cable bent at an angle the outer layer tends to rip over time exposing the cable's sheath. And don't get me started on the cable's sheath. Compared to an HDMI cable , the lightning cable is over priced for no reason.
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I had this happen on my original Mini. On my Retina Mini, the cable seems to be much stiffer so it is harder to bend. I haven't used the cord that came with my 5S yet because I use the same cord for my Mini and 5S.
 
Remember lighting cables have chips in them so if the chip isn't perfect you'll get errors.

For those who won't pay 19 - do you also get cheap gas and complain your car doesn't run well?
 
CTHarrryH said:
Remember lighting cables have chips in them so if the chip isn't perfect you'll get errors.

For those who won't pay 19 - do you also get cheap gas and complain your car doesn't run well?
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Well, a little off topic, I know, but there is really not much difference with the three types of gasoline. In fact, Premium doesnt make your car run better. But that is beside the fact you stated...:)
 
IpadSC400 said:
Well, a little off topic, I know, but there is really not much difference with the three types of gasoline. In fact, Premium doesnt make your car run better. But that is beside the fact you stated...:)
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He's talking buying crap gas at a crap gas station over something better.
I was one of those people who did this and then I got better gas quality and I get better mileage and my truck runs better. I only put regular gas in also, and that is the point I think he/she was trying to make.
 
Mrbobb said:
This is what I would do if I need a lightening cable.

I WILL not pay Apple.

I WILL try the $2 Chinese. If it doesn't work, am out $2, is OK.

If I don't have time trying things out, I will look for a cheaper off brand, maybe belkin, etc probly from a brick&mortar so if it doesn't work I just return it.

Sorry, $20 for a cable is insane.
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Made me laugh out loud because it somehow makes so much sense... If your battery doesn't explode or catch on fire while you sleep next to it...
 
The lightning cable was made to make Apple more money. They added an authentication chip into the cable. Lol.

You either pay Apple for a cable or pay a 3rd party manufacturer that is paying Apple for the rights to make the cable. It's a solution to a problem that should never existed.

When you plug a camera or other accessories into your computer do you run around looking for special USB cables? That's all it is! Look at the other end. Lol

I'm still using the 1 dollar Chinese knock off 30 pin cables on my 4S that I bought for my 1st gen iPod. Guess what? No problems.

The only cables I've had problems with were Apple cables. Aside for being only 3 ft long, the insulation wears off exposing the metal braided shielding.
 
cynics said:
The lightning cable was made to make Apple more money. They added an authentication chip into the cable. Lol.

You either pay Apple for a cable or pay a 3rd party manufacturer that is paying Apple for the rights to make the cable. It's a solution to a problem that should never existed.

When you plug a camera or other accessories into your computer do you run around looking for special USB cables? That's all it is! Look at the other end. Lol

I'm still using the 1 dollar Chinese knock off 30 pin cables on my 4S that I bought for my 1st gen iPod. Guess what? No problems.

The only cables I've had problems with were Apple cables. Aside for being only 3 ft long, the insulation wears off exposing the metal braided shielding.
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Me as well. The iPhone 4's arent as picky as the 5's. You can go cheap with 4, but not with 5. You payed 500 or so for the phone anyways, make sense..
 
IpadSC400 said:
Me as well. The iPhone 4's arent as picky as the 5's. You can go cheap with 4, but not with 5. You payed 500 or so for the phone anyways, make sense..
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You can find them free on contract in certain countries. 5/5C.

Regardless of the cost of the phone it's just a glorified USB cable. Is it cool cause it's reversible? Yes. Can it do other functions the 30 pin can't? Don't know, probably.

That's besides the point though. All of the upgrades too it don't add any real expense too it. The extra functionality and reversibility are a function of the port in the itself in the phone (obviously the connector is different too).

Adding an authentication chip too it is the issue. Aside from that it's just a wire.

Can a wire be bad? Yes. A undersized wire or bad connection can cause a higher amp draw. In excess the circuit will fail at the weakest point, wire or in the phone. So that is a concern, especially if the weakest point is the 500 dollar phone, not the 1 dollar wire.
 
murano said:
I hope you know the difference between a charger and the cable. Right?
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Do you know anything about human beings?

Do you understand that if there's a report about rotten sausage at one grocery store people will stop buying it at a totally different store too?

I never said that people shouldn't buy any of this stuff. I said that news reports about 3rd party items catching on fire make people fearful of 3rd party items.

And if you think that's not true I suggest you start talking to people. That's really the way things work with the public.
 
To me it's insane to buy a $20 charging/data cable. I use the cheap ones and live with the little message, no biggie. Yeah they wear out faster but at $1.50 a pop it's not a big deal.
 
sjinsjca said:
There's a lot of technology in Lightning. It's the result of years of R&D and is really quite the impressive hack. It's not just a cable-- it's a whole new format that's bi-directional and future-proof and incorporates flexible, function-definining logic that also helps safeguard your device.

3rd party cables with certified (as in, licensed) functionality need not be costly. Monoprice and AmazonBasics both offer well-priced examples, though Monoprice's current cables are too stiff for my personal taste. I'm waiting to receive an Amazon cable right now; they're reportedly more flexible.

But no-name junk without certification? No thanks.
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apple should have worked on the quality of their cables first
they're crap and tear up too fast
 
taedouni said:
$19 for a cable is a rip off. Especially since it's very prone to wear.
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My wife's original cable only last 13 months. So my vote is not to waste money on another Apple cable because their thin and fragile. But at the same time don't get a non-MFi cable. I was able to pick up 2 Cygnett cables for $10 apiece at Fry's electronics 3 months ago. The cables are more robust and twice as long. Below is the link to Amazon but remember I paid only $10.

http://www.amazon.com/Cygnett-CY110...=1387857466&sr=8-9&keywords=cygnett+usb+cable
 
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
The difference is that Apple will warranty exchange your cables with relatively little fuss, assuming they're genuine.

Also, the chip in the cable doesn't just handle authentication, it also manages the orientation switching, so it's not just a USB cable, there's a bit more smarts in there.

I personally like the coiled griffin cable for the car. I have a belkin cable at work, but that one had to be modified to work with the case I have.

I also I picked up a couple of genuine apple lightning cables for $10. I've already had to RMA the griffin cable for fraying at the strain relief, and I had the same problem with the belkin. So far the apple cables have held up better, and getting them replaced under warranty is a heck of a lot easier at an apple store than mailing and waiting with 3rd party cables.
 
Few bucks more? It costs me like $2 to get a knock off but $20 for a real one. That's almost $20 more for the real thing.
 
boomhower said:
To me it's insane to buy a $20 charging/data cable. I use the cheap ones and live with the little message, no biggie. Yeah they wear out faster but at $1.50 a pop it's not a big deal.
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Like aformentioned, you can get away with buying the crappy iphone 4 china cables, but not the iphone 5/5c/5s cables. The iphone wont let anything happen with a cable thats isnt apple certified. It will not work one bit.
 
I've used cheap ebay cables for every phone I've ever had with no issue.

Why spend 19 for a cable I can get for 3?
 
IpadSC400 said:
Like aformentioned, you can get away with buying the crappy iphone 4 china cables, but not the iphone 5/5c/5s cables. The iphone wont let anything happen with a cable thats isnt apple certified. It will not work one bit.
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My iPhone 5 works just fine with them. A little message pops up that says it isn't an Apple cable but it charges/syns/plays just fine.
 
Partridge said:
Also, the chip in the cable doesn't just handle authentication, it also manages the orientation switching, so it's not just a USB cable, there's a bit more smarts in there.
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"Dynamic pin assignment".

It's done purely by the lightning cable PORT not the cable itself.

The authentication chip does only that and nothing more.
 
Apple charging $20 or more for cables is a cynical money grab. I have probably 10 knockoff cables that cost usd $3 here in Hong Kong and they are reliable and work fine.
 
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