Leaked Photos May Show Upcoming MacBook Pro's Top Case With Space for OLED Touch Panel, Four USB-C Ports

[zhenya]

You bring up an interesting point. The smart connector may well replace Mag-safe. That makes a lot of sense. And it could be anywhere, even on the bottom.

That said, Apple's defacto charging solution for all of its products is becoming Lightning. If that continues, and Apple removes the headphone jack from the iPhone, then I would expect the Lightning port to be added to all of the Macs. That's what I find interesting about the missing port opposite the headphone jack. And that's traditionally where the Mag-safe connector would attach. Given that this MBP is likely to debut before the iPhone removes the headphone jack, Apple may be waiting to add the Lightning port on models released after the iPhone. So for now they're leaving it empty. And if this notebook isn't going to be released until Septemeber, then they're not ad dining it to the production prototypes until the last minute to protect their secret.

There is no way they will use lightning on their laptops when usb-c will already be there, providing more power and more bandwidth. The whole point of usb-c/Thunderbolt is that they can provide a monitor and/or docking stations where everything travels over a single cable. Adding lightning for charging would be pointless.

 

[ChinkyBob]

I know what you mean but. Are there any 5k display for 13 15 inches? I mean the lower imac has 4k. Haven't seen 5k notebook monitors -or at least haven't heard of them-

I had never heard of a 5k display either then Apple released one on the iMac 18months ago.
I don't know if a 5k exist at 15inch either, but you can get 5.5inch phones at 4k so technically it's feasible. If anyone was to launch one Apple would surely be the first. It suits the pattern of releases too, Apple 2x scaling their displays like the iMac.
I'm just spitballing here.
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I had never heard of a 5k display either then Apple released one on the iMac 18months ago.
I don't know if a 5k exist at 15inch either, but you can get 5.5inch phones at 4k so technically it's feasible. If anyone was to launch one Apple would surely be the first. It suits the pattern of releases too, Apple 2x scaling their displays like the iMac.
I'm just spitballing here.

They could do wireless charging too with a small mat or similar beneath MacBook, to replace magsafe.

 

[Mac 128]

I see the lighting port existing for a single reason. It's mechanical and here's why: Lightning happens to be slim and reversible—a modern connector you might say—but so is USB type-C. The difference is that micro-USB and USB-type C are susceptible to the center post in the port fracturing and rendering the phone un-chargeable. It's a huge negative experience on a captive-battery device.

For a premium product, Apple is OK using a more expensive connector with pure female-male interface made with solid metal to deter port damage. The new trackpad and keyboard make sense in this context too, as they're often pushed around desks with other objects and the cables are inserted form the back. On laptops the I bet Apple would love it if everyone used lighting, but it's a rich-man's connector and would ruin unit cost of cheap devices the rest of the world needs

This is how I've seen USB-C since it was introduced. It seems like a flimsy connector to me, because of that center post vulnerability, and reminds me of all the broken male PC ports requiring expensive motherboard repairs I've seen over the years -- something Apple avoided by going with female ports. Lightning is hands down the best and most resilient connector I've ever used. I've yet to see one fail, and I insert the plugs constantly throughout the day, as my phone lives in a dock at home and at work whenever I'm not using it.

While this may not be a major concern to the average user, if Apple does remove the headphone jack from the iPhone, the Lightning port is going to get a substantial workout from some people over what most anybody is doing now. And as USB-C seems poised by Intel to become the digital audio port alternative to Lightning, I can't help but wonder if it will stand up to the same wear.

Either way, it's the removal of the headphone jack from the iPhone that will drive Lightning's inclusion on the Mac. Apple is not going to sell a product that isn't natively compatible with their own Lightning audio products, requiring an adapter to use. The fact that Lightning is also the defacto Apple charging standard which gives MacBooks a way to charge without using any USB-C ports, and use the Lightning cable already in every iPhone users bag without having to carry around a separate USB-c cable just to charge the MB, are all bonus reasons why the connector will be included on the Mac. And that doesn't even touch on the ability to use iOS dongles between devices, not only freeing up USB-C ports, but also lowering Apple's manufacturing costs by making one model of lower bandwidth dongles, rather than a Lightning version for iOS and a USB-C version for Mac.

But from a mechanical perspective, I do wish Lightning had the same bandwidth. At 17 pins to 24, it's lacking, but considering Lightning is dynamically mappable, I also wonder if it can't support the same bandwidth based on application? Apple hasn't even begun to exploit its Lightning 2 connectors.

 

[manhattanboy]

The fact that Lightning is also the defacto Apple charging standard which gives MacBooks a way to charge without using any USB-C ports, and use the Lightning cable already in every iPhone users bag without having to carry around a separate USB-c cable just to charge the MB, are all bonus reasons why the connector will be included on the Mac. And that doesn't even touch on the ability to use iOS dongles between devices, not only freeing up USB-C ports, but also lowering Apple's manufacturing costs by making one model of lower bandwidth dongles, rather than a Lightning version for iOS and a USB-C version for Mac.

The alternative is that Apple abandons the lightening connecter and moves EVERYTHING to USB-C. There are several phones and tablets already on that connection. I do not think they will do that, but probably they looked into their Crystal Ball and saw that most everything in the PC and business presentation market several years from now will be USB-C connections and so are (as usual) leading the charge into the future with their inclusion of USB-C on the Mac.
In regards to magsafe, there are already adapters for USB-C connections, so the technology is possible.

 

[Kusakun]

Lets wait and see what it happens. Hoping the computer gets an interesting revamp in all other components.

 

[MacModMachine]

This is how I've seen USB-C since it was introduced. It seems like a flimsy connector to me, because of that center post vulnerability, and reminds me of all the broken male PC ports requiring expensive motherboard repairs I've seen over the years -- something Apple avoided by going with female ports. Lightning is hands down the best and most resilient connector I've ever used. I've yet to see one fail, and I insert the plugs constantly throughout the day, as my phone lives in a dock at home and at work whenever I'm not using it.

While this may not be a major concern to the average user, if Apple does remove the headphone jack from the iPhone, the Lightning port is going to get a substantial workout from some people over what most anybody is doing now. And as USB-C seems poised by Intel to become the digital audio port alternative to Lightning, I can't help but wonder if it will stand up to the same wear.

Either way, it's the removal of the headphone jack from the iPhone that will drive Lightning's inclusion on the Mac. Apple is not going to sell a product that isn't natively compatible with their own Lightning audio products, requiring an adapter to use. The fact that Lightning is also the defacto Apple charging standard which gives MacBooks a way to charge without using any USB-C ports, and use the Lightning cable already in every iPhone users bag without having to carry around a separate USB-c cable just to charge the MB, are all bonus reasons why the connector will be included on the Mac. And that doesn't even touch on the ability to use iOS dongles between devices, not only freeing up USB-C ports, but also lowering Apple's manufacturing costs by making one model of lower bandwidth dongles, rather than a Lightning version for iOS and a USB-C version for Mac.

But from a mechanical perspective, I do wish Lightning had the same bandwidth. At 17 pins to 24, it's lacking, but considering Lightning is dynamically mappable, I also wonder if it can't support the same bandwidth based on application? Apple hasn't even begun to exploit its Lightning 2 connectors.

there will never be a lightning adapter on the macbook pro.

you dont need an adapter to use it on USB C. they have usb C lightning cables...much like the usb lightning cable that comes with the phone.

usb can charge 100w over a single cable. lightening cables cannot.

pretty simple.

 

[Mac 128]

there will never be a lightning adapter on the macbook pro.

you dont need an adapter to use it on USB C. they have usb C lightning cables...much like the usb lightning cable that comes with the phone.

usb can charge 100w over a single cable. lightening cables cannot.

pretty simple.

Right. So Apple will make their new iPhone customers with Lightning headphones, buy an adapter in order to use them on their new MacBook?

Think again.

 

[lowkey]

What is the benefit of lightning over USB-c?

 

[Sharewaredemon]

What is the benefit of lightning over USB-c?

So far it seems to have more drawbacks than benefits.

I think the most important aspect of lightning is its durability.

 

[Mac 128]

So far it seems to have more drawbacks than benefits.

I think the most important aspect of lightning is its durability.

And ubiquity. At least 200 million iOS customers currently use lightning and likely have a substantial investment in cables. By comparison, USB-C is not in widespread use. If Apple removes the 3.5mm Jack in September, it will likely be another year before USB-C appears on enough phones and products to make it a practical native audio connection, and at least another year before here's a volume adoption of USB-C, and probably one more year before it's a serious competitor to Lightning as an audio interface. Meanwhile, Apple has grown to over 400 million Lightning devices, with few compatibility problems with their Apple products, and by that time, likely pushed wireless audio technology to a point where few are even going to opt for a wired headphone connection of any kind -- which I believe is the goal here. Add wireless charging to the mix, and Apple customers might even be able to start ditching cables altigether -- no need to switch everything to USB-C like they did from 30-pin to Lightning.

Clearly USB-C has the most advantages over Ligthning for high power desktop applications, which is why they are rumored to be moving 100% to it on the new MacBooks, and not pushing Lightning, which is clearly a mobile standard. But in that space, I don't necessarily see the advantage of using USB-C over Lightning. What benefit do I gain by switching the iPhone to USB-C now? For Apple users, it will just be a big headache of switching out cable again. Adding a Lightning port to a MacBook is much easier, and as I've outlined, adds a few benefits for the Apple user as well.

 

[ChinkyBob]

And ubiquity. At least 200 million iOS customers currently use lightning and likely have a substantial investment in cables. By comparison, USB-C is not in widespread use. If Apple removes the 3.5mm Jack in September, it will likely be another year before USB-C appears on enough phones and products to make it a practical native audio connection, and at least another year before here's a volume adoption of USB-C, and probably one more year before it's a serious competitor to Lightning as an audio interface. Meanwhile, Apple has grown to over 400 million Lightning devices, with few compatibility problems with their Apple products, and by that time, likely pushed wireless audio technology to a point where few are even going to opt for a wired headphone connection of any kind -- which I believe is the goal here. Add wireless charging to the mix, and Apple customers might even be able to start ditching cables altigether -- no need to switch everything to USB-C like they did from 30-pin to Lightning.

Clearly USB-C has the most advantages over Ligthning for high power desktop applications, which is why they are rumored to be moving 100% to it on the new MacBooks, and not pushing Lightning, which is clearly a mobile standard. But in that space, I don't necessarily see the advantage of using USB-C over Lightning. What benefit do I gain by switching the iPhone to USB-C now? For Apple users, it will just be a big headache of switching out cable again. Adding a Lightning port to a MacBook is much easier, and as I've outlined, adds a few benefits for the Apple user as well.

Hi. Just a question but what is the advantage a lightening port on a macbook??
Surely just connect your iPhone with the USB-C to Lightening cable to the macbook pro.
Is there a Lightening to Lightening cable? Im behind the times a little.

BTW I would never use lightening headphones.
As the socket is no smaller than regular 3.5mm headphones I don't see the point.
Anyway all my Home Audio gear is all standard headphone sockets.
If they can fit a regular headphone socket on my 7mm thick phone I don't see the need.

I read apple is not announcing any new hardware this WWDC. WTF. How long do we have to wait fss.

 

[Queen6]

I read apple is not announcing any new hardware this WWDC. WTF. How long do we have to wait fss.

No surprise here, Mac sales are falling, Apple needs to react, for that they need time, equally what we have seen so far (if accurate) won't make any difference unless Apple seriously revises it`s pricing strategy...

Q-6

 

[theluggage]

If Apple removes the 3.5mm Jack in September, it will likely be another year before USB-C appears on enough phones and products

...if Apple were going to switch to USB-C on phones, the best time to do it would be at the point where they drop the 3.5mm jack. If they drop the jack this year, lots of people buy lightning headphones, then they drop lightning next year, a lot of people will be understandingly annoyed. At the moment, although there are a couple of lightning headsets on the market, I don't think many customers are hugely invested in Lightning headphones.

Hi. Just a question but what is the advantage a lightening port on a macbook??

Beyond being able to plug in the Lightning headphones that you may need to buy to go with your 3,5mm-jack-less iPhone 7? Not much, apart from potentially being able to use things like lightning-to-SD card adapters and A/V adapters with the Mac, assuming that those things are Mac compatible and don't have tablet-centric restrictions on e.g. speed and video resolution.

Lightning can't replace USB-C (which has more data lanes, and has been adopted by Intel as the official Thunderbolt 3 connector and by VESA as a supported connector for DisplayPort). There are already third-party USB-C products out there, USB-C displays (similar advantages to Thunderbolt displays but cheaper) and in the slightly longer term there should be a ton of 3rd party products as USB-C takes of in the PC world.

 

[Mac 128]

Hi. Just a question but what is the advantage a lightening port on a macbook??
Surely just connect your iPhone with the USB-C to Lightening cable to the macbook pro.
Is there a Lightening to Lightening cable? Im behind the times a little.

BTW I would never use lightening headphones.
As the socket is no smaller than regular 3.5mm headphones I don't see the point.
Anyway all my Home Audio gear is all standard headphone sockets.
If they can fit a regular headphone socket on my 7mm thick phone I don't see the need.

I read apple is not announcing any new hardware this WWDC. WTF. How long do we have to wait fss.

The main advantage is that Apple can offer a native Lightning headphone jack for its customers. Apple is certainly not going to remove the 3.5mm jack on its iPhones, and require their Lightning headphone customers to use an adapter with their Macs.

The second advantage is charging. Anyone who is already using an iPhone and iPad already has multiple Lightning cables. This means if someone is traveling and forgets their USB-C charging cable, they can just use their iPhone cable -- moreover, they only have to carry their lightning cable. Also, for a power user, it allows them to charge their MacBook with a Lightning cable keeping all of their USB-C ports open for data. Additionally, it will most likely accommodate any Lightning adapters they already own, which instantly gives them ports for HDMI, USB A, and SD cards, without having to buy new USB-C adapters. All of this will be huge for customers buying new USB-C only MacBooks.

The third advantage is that if all USB-C ports are in use, and someone needs one more data port, Lightning will be there as an option to provide up to USB 3 speeds. This will be especially valuable on the Retina MacBook which only has 1 USB-C port required for data, & charging. Adding USB audio will not only require an adapter to use a Lightning or 3.5mm headphone, but also a hub to allow more than the headphones to be plugged in.

The fourth advantage is durability. The Lightning connector is a much more resilient connector, and much more protected by Apple than USB-C currently is. As a mobile connector, I prefer it to any other connector I have ever used on a portable device.

Overall, Lightning is a much more useful port than the current 3.5mm jack which does one thing -- pass analogue audio signals.

Your interest in 3.5mm equipped headphones and current equipment is a personal preference which I don't share. However, all new headphones will likely be hybrid digital products, which will have removable cables for attaching to analogue or digital inputs, or optionally -- wireless. Just because you don't see the need to remove it doesn't really affect whether it will happen. It seems pretty clear at this point Apple will not be the only manufacturer to drop the 3.5mm jack, whether you understand why or not. So if you refuse to use digital headphones, then you will need adapters to use most modern equipment after next year. The exception will be devices like desktop Macs, and probably even the larger MacBooks, for a while; in which if theres room, then they will likely maintain the headphone jack for several more years during the transition to wireless. But eventually, all mobile devices are likely to drop the headphone jack (and eventually ports altogether), to make them as small and as light as possible, yet with the maximum of features.

 

[Queen6]

The main advantage is that Apple can offer a native Lightning headphone jack for its customers. Apple is certainly not going to remove the 3.5mm jack on its iPhones, and require their Lightning headphone customers to use an adapter with their Macs.

The second advantage is charging. Anyone who is already using an iPhone and iPad already has multiple Lightning cables. This means if someone is traveling and forgets their USB-C charging cable, they can just use their iPhone cable -- moreover, they only have to carry their lightning cable. Also, for a power user, it allows them to charge their MacBook with a Lightning cable keeping all of their USB-C ports open for data. Additionally, it will most likely accommodate any Lightning adapters they already own, which instantly gives them ports for HDMI, USB A, and SD cards, without having to buy new USB-C adapters. All of this will be huge for customers buying new USB-C only MacBooks.

The third advantage is that if all USB-C ports are in use, and someone needs one more data port, Lightning will be there as an option to provide up to USB 3 speeds. This will be especially valuable on the Retina MacBook which only has 1 USB-C port required for data, & charging. Adding USB audio will not only require an adapter to use a Lightning or 3.5mm headphone, but also a hub to allow more than the headphones to be plugged in.

The fourth advantage is durability. The Lightning connector is a much more resilient connector, and much more protected by Apple than USB-C currently is. As a mobile connector, I prefer it to any other connector I have ever used on a portable device.

Overall, Lightning is a much more useful port than the current 3.5mm jack which does one thing -- pass analogue audio signals.

Your interest in 3.5mm equipped headphones and current equipment is a personal preference which I don't share. However, all new headphones will likely be hybrid digital products, which will have removable cables for attaching to analogue or digital inputs, or optionally -- wireless. Just because you don't see the need to remove it doesn't really affect whether it will happen. It seems pretty clear at this point Apple will not be the only manufacturer to drop the 3.5mm jack, whether you understand why or not. So if you refuse to use digital headphones, then you will need adapters to use most modern equipment after next year. The exception will be devices like desktop Macs, and probably even the larger MacBooks, for a while; in which if theres room, then they will likely maintain the headphone jack for several more years during the transition to wireless. But eventually, all mobile devices are likely to drop the headphone jack (and eventually ports altogether), to make them as small and as light as possible, yet with the maximum of features.

Is done and dusted USB C is the future, Lightning will soon be in the past tense...

Q-6

 

[Mac 128]

Is done and dusted USB C is the future, Lightning will soon be in the past tense...

Q-6

You say that like it's a fact, and Apple didn't just release a bunch of new products which incorporated Lightning into them.

So, I disagree. USB-C is the future for desktop computers, but wireless is the future for mobile devices. Lightning will never replace USB-C, it's merely designed to transition the mobile devices as efficiently as possible into a small, lightweight, portliness future. And for that task it's far superior.

 

[Queen6]

You say that like it's a fact, and Apple didn't just release a bunch of new products which incorporated Lightning into them.

So, I disagree. USB-C is the future for desktop computers, but wireless is the future for mobile devices. Lightning will never replace USB-C, it's merely designed to transition the mobile devices as efficiently as possible into a small, lightweight, portliness future. And for that task it's far superior.

USB C will become ubiquitous for desktops, notebooks and mobile that it the purpose of the standard and Apple is deeply involved as it should be, enjoy the past...

The transitional phase will be difficult to manage, equally the benefits will far outweigh the negative by multitudes.

Q-6

 

[Mac 128]

USB C will become ubiquitous for desktops, notebooks and mobile that it the purpose of the standard and Apple is deeply involved as it should be, enjoy the past...

The transitional phase will be difficult to manage, equally the benefits will far outweigh the negative by multitudes.

Q-6

Sorry I don't understand your terse quips ... are you saying that the next iPhone will drop Lightning and replace it with USB-C? And over the next year replace Lightning with USB-C on all of its products, and never make another new Lightning connected device again?

If so I don't agree, and have supported my argument.

 

[Queen6]

Sorry I don't understand your terse quips ... are you saying that the next iPhone will drop Lightning and replace it with USB-C? And over the next year replace Lightning with USB-C on all of its products, and never make another new Lightning connected device again?

If so I don't agree, and have supported my argument.

Truthfully who knows outside of Apple, equally running USB C and Lightning side by side makes little sense, as one overlaps the other significantly and is a recognised standard, the other limited and proprietary.

Q-6

 

[Mac 128]

Truthfully who knows outside of Apple, equally running USB C and Lightning side by side makes little sense, as one overlaps the other significantly and is a recognised standard, the other limited and proprietary.

Q-6

Well I suppose the same thing could be said of my 2012 MacBook Pro with Thunderbolt, USB 3 and Firewire800.

 

[Queen6]

Well I suppose the same thing could be said of my 2012 MacBook Pro with Thunderbolt, USB 3 and Firewire800.

The nature of tech is that it continuously evolves, personally I feel that open standards are the way ahead as proprietary implies monopoly by default.

Q-6

 

[ChinkyBob]

Right. So Apple will make their new iPhone customers with Lightning headphones, buy an adapter in order to use them on their new MacBook?

Think again.

Of course they will, the same way they will make Mac users use adapters for their redundant expensive Thunderbolt cables.
[doublepost=1465632008][/doublepost]

The main advantage is that Apple can offer a native Lightning headphone jack for its customers. Apple is certainly not going to remove the 3.5mm jack on its iPhones, and require their Lightning headphone customers to use an adapter with their Macs.
Makes no sense to me.
Apple won't put a lightening port on the Mac, its crazy. 3.5mm Headphones are everywhere and higher quality. If people want wireless headphones, and I have 2 pairs for convenience at the gym, but not for quality, then bluetooth is fine. I do not believe a lightening or USB-C takes up less space than a 3.5mm socket.

The second advantage is charging. Anyone who is already using an iPhone and iPad already has multiple Lightning cables. This means if someone is traveling and forgets their USB-C charging cable, they can just use their iPhone cable -- moreover, they only have to carry their lightning cable. Also, for a power user, it allows them to charge their MacBook with a Lightning cable keeping all of their USB-C ports open for data. Additionally, it will most likely accommodate any Lightning adapters they already own, which instantly gives them ports for HDMI, USB A, and SD cards, without having to buy new USB-C adapters. All of this will be huge for customers buying new USB-C only MacBooks.
I will concede there is a slight truth to that, but if apple are to be all usb-c moving forward - USB-C Cables will soon be everywhere and all new laptops will start using it, and in fact many already have for over 6 months.
Also, my next new phone (LG G5 or new Note 6) will have USB-C, not lightening. Not all mac users use iPhones.


The third advantage is that if all USB-C ports are in use, and someone needs one more data port, Lightning will be there as an option to provide up to USB 3 speeds. This will be especially valuable on the Retina MacBook which only has 1 USB-C port required for data, & charging. Adding USB audio will not only require an adapter to use a Lightning or 3.5mm headphone, but also a hub to allow more than the headphones to be plugged in.
Why put in a lightening when they could just use another usb-c in it place as its the same size? Doesn't make sense.
They're not going to add a lightening socket on a Macbook.

The fourth advantage is durability. The Lightning connector is a much more resilient connector, and much more protected by Apple than USB-C currently is. As a mobile connector, I prefer it to any other connector I have ever used on a portable device.
While its seems more durable than a usb micro b, I see no strength advantage over usb-c, or thunderbolt, or usb-A.

Overall, Lightning is a much more useful port than the current 3.5mm jack which does one thing -- pass analogue audio signals.
Usb-c even more flexible, but it is not a good audiophile solution nor compatible with 99% of current and future headphones.

Your interest in 3.5mm equipped headphones and current equipment is a personal preference which I don't share. However, all new headphones will likely be hybrid digital products, which will have removable cables for attaching to analogue or digital inputs, or optionally -- wireless - this is pure BS based on nothing. Just because you don't see the need to remove it doesn't really affect whether it will happen. It seems pretty clear at this point Apple will not be the only manufacturer to drop the 3.5mm jack, whether you understand why or not.
Do you just make this BS up as you go? Where is your evidence of anyone dropping the 3.5mm socket on other phones or laptops?
So if you refuse to use digital headphones, then you will need adapters to use most modern equipment after next year. Based on what evidence??
The exception will be devices like desktop Macs, and probably even the larger MacBooks, for a while; in which if theres room, then they will likely maintain the headphone jack for several more years during the transition to wireless. But eventually, all mobile devices are likely to drop the headphone jack (and eventually ports altogether), to make them as small and as light as possible, yet with the maximum of features.

While the thin and light mobile laptops may go this way, the Pro versions will likely but a lot more flexible for many years. But the lightening socket is dead imho.

My reply is not meant to antagonise despite the tone, but I just plainly don't agree with anything written here.

 

[Mac 128]

Of course they will, the same way they will make Mac users use adapters for their redundant expensive Thunderbolt cables.
[doublepost=1465632008][/doublepost] While the thin and light mobile laptops may go this way, the Pro versions will likely but a lot more flexible for many years. But the lightening socket is dead imho.

My reply is not meant to antagonise despite the tone, but I just plainly don't agree with anything written here.

You can agree or disagree. But you haven't really made any compelling arguments against.

What Thunderbolt adapters are you talking about? And what does 500 million Lightning iOS users worldwide have to do with a few million Thunderbolt users?

 

[ChinkyBob]

You can agree or disagree. But you haven't really made any compelling arguments against.

What Thunderbolt adapters are you talking about? And what does 500 million Lightning iOS users worldwide have to do with a few million Thunderbolt users?

Re adapters, like thunderbolt to displayport / hdmi / vga / network, take your pick of soon to be redundant and need to replaced or plug adapter into adapter if Apple go fully usb-c.
Re lightening cable, why add a new lightening socket to a.laptop when it takes up the same space as a usb-c socket which is superior. Apple will just give a usb-c to lightening cable in newer phones and expect older iPhone 6 / iPad users to get a new cable if the need one.
Lightening cable would take far too long to charge a laptop anyway.

 

[jujufreeze]

Lastly, quite a few folks have also hinted at a lack of innovation here. If you think that, then what do you want to see that would signal innovation??? Everyone complains when Apple makes changes to their machines, but yet they want innovation. News flash...generally speaking, innovation = change. You can't have it both ways. Besides, this rumor shows a ton of possible innovation, IMHO.

Stripping out useful features is change, sure, definitely not innovation.