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THE QUESTION IS:

How well/quickly would a micro usb connector charge an iPad 3 sized battery?
 
I would have been happier if they included a dock adapter in the box or at least ship it in time with the iPhone. I'm bummed not being able to use it in my car and other accessories I've invested in this eco system.
 
What's that?

Cloud based File sharing app. You could upload your photos there from your phone and have accessed Dropbox on your computer to download it.

That's not the only option, there are other ways you could've gotten your pics from your iPhone to your computer like emailing the photos to your self. You didn't have to sit and be stuck there just because you didn't have a cable:)
 
THE QUESTION IS:

How well/quickly would a micro usb connector charge an iPad 3 sized battery?

The same speed as the current adapter.

The only thing that bothers me is that my 1 year old $400NZD car headunit might not be compatible with the new connector. Even with an adapter in place. Fingers crossed it does. It's great driving and having my headunit control the iPod function and also keep my phone charged.

For me, most of my friends have the old 30 pin connector, so I'd have to take the new one with me if I go to LANs or stay with the Mrs.
 
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Every mobile device maker in the world is committed to using MicroUSB, because it reduces number of adaptors hanging off the walls in every home, hence minimizes unnecessary power. For folks who travel it is very convenient to carry one adaptor, same goes in the car.

Now one has to carry Micro USB, 30 Pin connector and lightning connector cable.

Having said that, MagSafe connector is innovation and lightning connector is not. It is just another form factor. Every time I deal with a laptop power connector, I wish every manufacturer in the world would license MagSafe connector from Apple.
 
Cloud based File sharing app. You could upload your photos there from your phone and have accessed Dropbox on your computer to download it.

That's not the only option, there are other ways you could've gotten your pics from your iPhone to your computer like emailing the photos to your self. You didn't have to sit and be stuck there just because you didn't have a cable:)

Cheers. Signed up for Dropbox now and downloaded the app.

Also didn't know you could attach things when emailing from the iPhone. Is it new in iOS 6? I know I've tried before and couldn't work out how to do it.
 
Cheers. Signed up for Dropbox now and downloaded the app.

Also didn't know you could attach things when emailing from the iPhone. Is it new in iOS 6? I know I've tried before and couldn't work out how to do it.

No worries

I don't know with iOS 6 because I haven't upgraded yet. But how I do it is I go to Photos app, tap the bottom left icon, select the photos you want (max 3 for mailing; at least in iOS 5), tap share and choose Email.
 
Apple have a large enough cash pile to buy the soverienge debts from Spain and Greece. Once done, make Cook the Chairman of the EU commission. And then mandate that every cellphone sold in EU must carry the lightning connector.

Then no body from Europe will be complaining anymore.

:D
 
Loving the new cable ;)

Hating the fact that will have to wait a month for cheap alternatives :(
 
Because Micro USB is fine and is accepted as a universal standard that everything outside of the Apple prison is compatible with?
 
I hate the idea of the new connector.

1. Every 30 pin gizmo in the universe no longer docks properly (even with adapter). That means every car, Hotel room, clock radio, bose gizmo etc no longer works as designed.

2. If they were going to change, I'd have preferred if they'd made the new connector compatible in form factor with the USB standard... at least for charging. Like others have said, I have 800,000 standard connectors already here.

3. Why not make it a "magsafe" type connector like on the macbooks. THAT would have been cool and well worth the change IMO.
 
Been using Micro USB for years. Never failed me. While 30 pin is already wobbly on my iPad 2, and girlfriend's touch.

So, the only real advantage of Lightning vs MicroUSB is that it's reversible. I wish Apple would finally start using standard connectors. But hey, someone must charge licensing fees for those iPhone docks, right?
 
Samsung is responsible for most of the illuionary complaints. Most people are happy because:

1. it's backwards compatible with 99% of stuff
2. there are already $5 adaptors and $5 cables available from china, there is no need to buy the $30 ones.
3. It is much better than micro USB in that it is:

1. more secure
2. reversible
3. easier to plug in
4. smaller

Ipod out and video aren't a big deal as those were only used on the iPhone 4 on a select few cars that also supported ipod control. Perhapse some docks stopped working.

The lack of video is unfortunate but I think apple's idea is that apple TV and airplay make up for these two features.
 
Yeah, you guys need to read those articles above. The viewpoint for an engineer's point of view.
“People keep asking why Apple didn’t opt for the micro-USB connector. The answer is simple: that connector isn’t smart enough. It has only 5 pins: +5V, Ground, 2 digital data pins, and a sense pin, so most of the dock connector functions wouldn’t work – only charging and syncing would. Also, the pins are so small that no current plug/connector manufacturer allows the 2A needed for iPad charging.”
They'll need to deliver high current to future devices. Thus the requirement for their the new dock interface.

When Apple came out with the iPad and it's need to quickly charged it's "huge" battery, many Laptop USB chargers did not output the full USB's spec. However, I had an Apple laptop that was produced before the iPad and it had no problem. Apple had already engineer their USB ports to fully output the max current according to the standard. Which is still low compared to the 2A charge rate the iPad's dedicated AC adapter can deliver.

Nowadays, all laptop comes with the ability to charge at the max current via their USB ports.

But for me, real worlds day to day usage...the reversibility factor is high up there. I've always thought many of the new standards overlook the need to be able to plug a connector in without having to see how it's keyed. You'd think it's only a 50/50 chance, but there's been some frustrating moments where neither side seem to go in when plugging in a USB cable. Then out of frustration, have to look at it to see how the pins are keyed. It gets worst when having to plug into the back of a desktop computer underneath your desk.

So for me, the reversibility of it is very important. It's the 1 thing that I encounter many times a day as I get in and out of the car, plugging in that charge cable each time. :)

Lastly, one tidbit that possibly only a designer or Apple fans can appreciate. It's the symmetry of the design. Function and form. Nice.

The Chinese manufacturers will soon create knock offs and it'll flood the market just like the original 30pin. And despite it's proprietary nature, every family member's house or friends I know usually have one laying around. :)

All that said, it would have been nice for Apple to ease the transition with a free adapter in all their latest devices. And it would have been good if it was USB 3.0 from the get go.
 
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I took some photos on my phone today on a site visit for work.

Returned to the office, and realised there wasn't a compatible lead in the whole office to download the photos to my work PC.

We couldn't find one anywhere in the city. So the photos were stuck on my phone until I got home and used the cable supplied in the box.

iOS6 allows you to share your photostream on the web. You could have created an album on your photostream, shared it, then downloaded the photos to the PC.
 
A lot of people are mad about the change to lightning but I've been loving it - quite frankly the old 30 pin is quite old, ugly, and large. We needed to go smaller but I never wanted apple to go with micro or mini USB because I've seen (and broke) quite a few micro usb plugs on phones and speakers, drives, etc. [....]

Is there a real reason why so many people including tech site are so mad over this?

I completely agree with you but I can see why people are mad that they need to buy the adapters. I don't think you need to buy one for every accessory but probably just one for your car and one for your house because you can still charge your older accessories with the old plug.

I for one like it because as I was plugging my iPad into charge last night and I had to make sure it was facing the right way and that it was in enough and it wasn't going to fall out I realized how much they really needed to change that.
 
Yeah, you guys need to read those articles above. The viewpoint for an engineer's point of view.

They'll need to deliver high current to future devices. Thus the requirement for their the new dock interface.

When Apple came out with the iPad and it's need to quickly charged it's "huge" battery, many Laptop USB chargers did not output the full USB's spec. However, I had an Apple laptop that was produced before the iPad and it had no problem. Apple had already engineer their USB ports to fully output the max current according to the standard. Which is still low compared to the 2A charge rate the iPad's dedicated AC adapter can deliver.

Nowadays, all laptop comes with the ability to charge at the max current via their USB ports.

But for me, real worlds day to day usage...the reversibility factor is high up there. I've always thought many of the new standards overlook the need to be able to plug a connector in without having to see how it's keyed. You'd think it's only a 50/50 chance, but there's been some frustrating moments where neither side seem to go in when plugging in a USB cable. Then out of frustration, have to look at it to see how the pins are keyed. It gets worst when having to plug into the back of a desktop computer underneath your desk.

So for me, the reversibility of it is very important. It's the 1 thing that I encounter many times a day as I get in and out of the car, plugging in that charge cable each time. :)

Lastly, one tidbit that possibly only a designer or Apple fans can appreciate. It's the symmetry of the design. Function and form. Nice.

The Chinese manufacturers will soon create knock offs and it'll flood the market just like the original 30pin. And despite it's proprietary nature, every family member's house or friends I know usually have one laying around. :)

All that said, it would have been nice for Apple to ease the transition with a free adapter in all their latest devices. And it would have been good if it was USB 3.0 from the get go.

So... use MHL. MHL actually has a two way communication.

Also, if you are struggling plugging in Micro USB, and require reversible because you cannot manage it, you probably shouldn't be out in public without supervision.
 
The micro and mini USB is very flimsy. I broke at least 2 phone charging port and everything else is super fragile compared to the lightning plug. That plus the reversible is a pretty darn sweet and makes it better than micro/mini USB in my mind.

Personally I've never broken a micro USB - my Galaxy S2 and S3 were very solid (so much so I'd often leave the phone dangling on the USB).

Odd you're comparing the apparent lack of robustness of micro USB with a connector that's been on the iPhone for all of a few days. How do you know the iPhone connector won't break after a couple of months of use?

Whilst I admit the reversible nature of the new connector is super, its complete lack of compatibility is, in my view, a big black mark.
 
I hate the idea of the new connector.

3. Why not make it a "magsafe" type connector like on the macbooks. THAT would have been cool and well worth the change IMO.

A "Magsafe" connector would be nice in theory. I wanted this at first as well, but now I realize that would have been a problem for docking stations that hold the phone up.

I can hold the grip (plastic part) of the lightning cable only... and it will support the iPhone's weight and it holds the iPhone securely as well. It is stronger and more stable than microUSB.
 
My Opinion:

Lightning > 30pin Dock Connector
Lightning < MicroUSB

I don't use any accessories that require plugging in so I strongly prefer a standard plug. That said, Lightining is okay but ill like it a lot more when 3rd party cables come out.
 
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