I love XLR cables too, but not even Micro USB has this -- which you keep referring to as a standard you like.
Which is totally legit. One thing companies can do is get you into their ecosystem. Apple took a risk introducing lightning as it offered people a chance to leave their 30-pin dock (hardware) ecosystem without penalty. Before Lightning, they would've had to pay for all new cables and hardware to switch to Android -- after lightning they would've had to do that anyway. I'm sure many of the people who switched were thinking of switching or considering it and this gave them their out. And it's totally in their right to do that.
I can't disagree with this. But you can see from this why their stock price took a hit, and why so many people are switching to Android. Apple favored a gimmicky new port, with almost no demonstrable advantages besides something nobody was asking for (thinner phones) over supporting its customer base and manufacturer base.
That said these rich guys you're referring to, if they like Apple, probably aren't going to leave because they have to buy a few new cables. Many Apple customers can afford them and are aware there is a premium for Apple products.
These rich guys are people who care about making money, which is why they're rich by and large. When they see Apple making blunders they devalue the stock. When the blunder personally affects their everyday life, they will notice it a lot easier. This was an example of that.
You didn't have to explain to people about this, they'd already personally experienced it and been annoyed by it.
Did the Lightning update break your iPhone 4S? Or any of the equipment you use with the iPhone 4S? That stuff will continue to work and, as Lightning gains more market share, updated versions of that equipment you have will begin to emerge.
As I already said above, I have already upgraded my phone to an iPhone 5S. The 4S has been wiped and is on eBay already. I can't afford not to sell it. I'm just annoyed at the fact that Apple would shaft its customer base and accessory manufacturers alike. If they had stuck with 30-pin and made slightly thicker phones, and I was on here suggesting they switch to a new cable, you'd be ripping me a new one and telling me how bad an idea that would be.
The majority of people who buy an iPhone aren't going to take the time to go leave a review about a cable. I'm not saying the 1-star reviews are irrelevant, but they aren't as relevant as you imply they are.
Downplaying customer feedback is never good. The truth is you're lucky those 500 people did take that time, because very few people who have a bad experience ever stick around to leave a review. Usually they just never come back -- you just lost that customer forever.
In a market this competitive, Apple needs to NOT be losing customers. It needs to be concerned about keeping customers happy and catering to their needs. People pay a lot more to be in the Apple camp as it is. The reason why, is because we've come to expect hassle-free products and great customer service. Well, anytime there's something Apple does that deviates from this, I'll certainly let it be known, and I'd hope any of you would do the same.
Like for awhile they didn't have security guards at their stores. People were stealing stuff left and right. I wrote them a pretty scathing letter about that one. As a stockholder it did not make me happy to see people stealing product and walking out without anyone so much as asking to see a receipt!
Sounds like you had one called the iPhone 4S which they still make. I am upgrading from a 4S also and it's still a great phone. If it works better for you and for your performing and equipment, you should keep it. In a year, maybe the market for Lightning accessories will have matured further.
I know it sucks to be left out with the latest and greatest, but it sounds like you're putting your priorities on this dock connector, so you shouldn't upgrade.
I already did upgrade. I also develop apps and I need the 5S to test certain things on. So I have to live with these annoyances. That's why it ticks me off.
Not USB 3 yet, but as I mentioned above, Apple likely has an internal roadmap built into the technology that gives them more room for advancement than the dock connector had.
We all wish that we didn't have to swap out cables, but I think for most people it's a minor inconvenience. Eventually I'll build up a new stockpile of cables.
I consider myself pretty tech-savvy and I don't encounter many situations in which the dock connector is necessary. Most of the time a USB port is what is needed. Bluetooth is quickly becoming much more de facto. Between myself and my friends with iPhones, I'd say this is pretty average.
Indeed these are "first world problems". Anyway I am off to sleep. Perhaps Apple's stock price will finally recover once enough people have forgotten about the fact there used to be said hardware ecosystem. Though I think it's sad, because said hardware ecosystem was awesome. I guess we'll find out if these manufacturers felt burned or if they are willing to make future versions that are Lightning-equipped instead.
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Launch Day. Lenox Mall Atlanta, GA
That's odd because a lot of people reported online (go back and google for yourself) that these adapters did not ship until October.
Perhaps they had a small initial quantity that evaporated quickly. Kind of like the Gold iPhone 5S. Another thing that Wall Street will not reward them for having so few of.
