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iPhone 5: What if the new dock connector is a Thunderbolt connector?

M

mossme89

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Jul 2, 2009
596
131
I just had an idea that maybe this might be a possibility. The new smaller dock connector will actually be maybe a slightly modified thunderbolt connector. It would be kind of a win-win situation because it would drive up interest in thunderbolt accessories while bringing the interface to other devices. And the extra speed certainly wouldn't hurt.

What do you think? Could this be a possibility?
 
Doubtful. Not saying they won't, but I suspect it'll be a USB, and revamped connector; possibly like magsafe. Not all systems have TB ports, and that would isolate some users, and more specifically...SALES.
 
basesloaded190 said:
Considering a TB cable is $50 right now, I really doubt it.
Click to expand...

It's only $50 because the manufacturers choose to jack up the price by an obscene amount. Bundling a TB cable with every iphone wouldn't jack up the cost that much.

So no one is enamoured by the idea of being able to plug your iphone to an external display and use it as a makeshift CPU? Throw in a bluetooth keyboard and you have the next generation of IOS transformers. :D
 
They say the price of the cables is supposed to go down soon. It is interesting that the dock connector is supposed to be a 19 pin connector, and thunderbolt is a 20 pin connector. It isn't out of the realm of possibility, but I doubt it.
 
Abazigal said:
It's only $50 because the manufacturers choose to jack up the price by an obscene amount. Bundling a TB cable with every iphone wouldn't jack up the cost that much.

So no one is enamoured by the idea of being able to plug your iphone to an external display and use it as a makeshift CPU? Throw in a bluetooth keyboard and you have the next generation of IOS transformers. :D
Click to expand...

You have seen the inside of a TB cable before right? There is a lot of new technology built into that cable. Manufacturers aren't purposely jacking up the price.
 
Thunderbolt on the iPhone is an interesting idea, but has some flaws.

The current implementation (copper) of Thunderbolt CAN carry power to the remote device. The next implementation (optical) may NOT be able to carry power to the remote device.

Thunderbolt is an extension of PCI-E. Since the iPhone does not work on that architecture, it would have to be a stripped-down implementation.

The added speed of Thunderbolt transfers would not be significantly faster than USB 2.0 for the iPhone because of the speed of its flash memory.

Thunderbolt means that you would only be able to sync your iPhone to a Thunderbolt-equipped computer. Since there is one PC that supports it and only current-gen Macs, that would alienate a lot of customers, including myself.
 
Abazigal said:
It's only $50 because the manufacturers choose to jack up the price by an obscene amount.
Click to expand...

Nice guess, but no, that's incorrect. There's a fair amount of computer inside those cables. They're not just wires.

I don't think this iPhone has Thunderbolt but I strongly suspect this dock connector has been designed with space reserved to add TB to this size connector in the future.
 
To be honest, I was hoping for a TB cable to iphone connection. Obviously it wouldnt be the main cable, thats just not feasible. I was hoping it would be an optional "upgrade" is you will.

What about the odds of making it USB 3 compatible? That seems like it would make more sense. The cable would still work with all charging devices and older computers. All of Apples new hardware contains USB 3, so it would seem like the more logical progression... unfortunately.
 
It'll likely be USB 3 but no chance it will be TB by default. Windows is still far and away the most popular platform and to say TB is rare on the Windows side is an understatement at best. I'm hoping for a TB cable option but am not really optimistic on that happening either.
 
nefan65 said:
Doubtful. Not saying they won't, but I suspect it'll be a USB, and revamped connector; possibly like magsafe. Not all systems have TB ports, and that would isolate some users, and more specifically...SALES.
Click to expand...

I agree. My MBP is just pre TB. It would be nice if it progressed there in the future though. Synching & backing up takes forever anymore. :eek:
 
If I remember correctly Apple got a patent for a combined usb 2.0, 3.0, and thunderbolt port and cable.
 
mlmwalt said:
I agree. My MBP is just pre TB. It would be nice if it progressed there in the future though. Synching & backing up takes forever anymore. :eek:
Click to expand...

Yes, in time I think it will. I agree, it can be slow. Painful at times; at least initially.
 
There are more reasons NOT to go thunderbolt, some of which have already been mentioned:

1. Most people don't have thunderbolt ports. For one, I am not even sure Thunderbolt is available on PCs yet. You stand to alienate a LOT of users.
2. Cost
3. Speed increase (would it make much of a difference over, say USB 3.0?)
 
boomhower said:
It'll likely be USB 3 but no chance it will be TB by default. Windows is still far and away the most popular platform and to say TB is rare on the Windows side is an understatement at best.
Click to expand...
Windows users alone is big enough of a reason why TB is not a good option. Even among Mac users, not everyone has upgraded to a computer with TB. I also think USB 3 that is backwards compatible with USB 2 would make a lot more sense.

The faster speed of TB would be very nice to have, but USB 3 would also be a lot faster too while still having more ownership by the major of users.
 
Abazigal said:
So no one is enamoured by the idea of being able to plug your iphone to an external display and use it as a makeshift CPU? Throw in a bluetooth keyboard and you have the next generation of IOS transformers. :D
Click to expand...

I could get excited about this in maybe five years. Right now far too few displays have a thunderbolt port. Hell, far too few COMPUTERS have a thunderbolt port, and I am sure those outnumber the displays by a great deal.
 
I'll tell you what I think: What the hell is Thunderbolt? That answer your question?
 
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