What is the point of new dock connector?

[NT1440]

Exactly! Today that iPod and Video data gets pumped out to the 30-pin connector and travels down the wire to the... Oops, that's a USB plug, isn't it.

Well, let's just say it's Apple Magic from that point on!

....forgetting about the multibillion dollar accessories market?

 

[Meanee]

Is that why so many phones with microUSB have another port as well? A lot have some sort of micro/mini HDMI, and some have their own docking connector to provide things like video and audio output.

Earlier phones did, but they are doing away with it. Newer phones have MHL connector. It's identical to MicroUSB but can also support voice, video and even 2 way communication for remote control. For example, connect MHL-equipped TV to a cell phone. It will charge the phone, and you can use TV remote to play/pause video.

And if you do not have MHL in your TV, MHL to HDMI adapters are available.

But, Apple wants to keep their connector proprietary. Accessory manufacturers then would have to pay license fee to develop hardware.

 

[MEJHarrison]

....forgetting about the multibillion dollar accessories market?

I'm not forgetting anything. You made a dumb claim that micro USB wasn't an option because of their 30-pin connector. I'm telling you you don't know what you're talking about. It's ALREADY a USB cable. One end is USB, the other happens to be a 30-pin connector. But there's absolutely no reason that couldn't be micro USB. If there was something magical about the 30-pin connector, the other end of the cable couldn't be USB!