Taiwanese Site Sued by Supplier After Leaking Claimed iPad 3 Dock Connector

Last July, Taiwanese site Apple.pro posted photos of what was claimed to be the dock connector and ribbon cable for the iPad 3. While the connector doesn't reveal much of anything about the full iPad 3 device other than some speculation about the connector itself being white as opposed to black on the iPad 2, it was one of the first reported leaks of iPad 3 parts.

ipad 3 dock connector 1
Claimed iPad 3 dock connector leaked in July 2011

Apple's suppliers seem to have taken the leak seriously, however, as Apple.pro now seems to report [Google translation] that it has been sued by the supplier responsible for the part leaked in last year's report.

Apple's security demands are of course well-known, but parts for the company's devices have regularly leaked well before their public release. Most of the leaked parts have been basic ribbon cables and other internal components that have revealed little about the complete devices despite significant amounts of analysis and speculation.

Clearly Apple and its suppliers prefer that even these components not make their way into public view, although given the massive size of Apple's supply chain it may continue to have difficulty plugging leaks. Parts continue to leak on a regular basis, with some online vendors already offering some of the iPad 3 parts for sale.

Related Roundup: iPad
Buyer's Guide: iPad (Caution)
Related Forum: iPad

Popular Stories

iPhone SE 4 Vertical Camera Feature

iPhone SE 4 Production Will Reportedly Begin Ramping Up in October

Tuesday July 23, 2024 2:00 pm PDT by
Following nearly two years of rumors about a fourth-generation iPhone SE, The Information today reported that Apple suppliers are finally planning to begin ramping up mass production of the device in October of this year. If accurate, that timeframe would mean that the next iPhone SE would not be announced alongside the iPhone 16 series in September, as expected. Instead, the report...
iPhone 17 Plus Feature

iPhone 17 Lineup Specs Detail Display Upgrade and New High-End Model

Monday July 22, 2024 4:33 am PDT by
Key details about the overall specifications of the iPhone 17 lineup have been shared by the leaker known as "Ice Universe," clarifying several important aspects of next year's devices. Reports in recent months have converged in agreement that Apple will discontinue the "Plus" iPhone model in 2025 while introducing an all-new iPhone 17 "Slim" model as an even more high-end option sitting...
Generic iPhone 17 Feature With Full Width Dynamic Island

Kuo: Ultra-Thin iPhone 17 to Feature A19 Chip, Single Rear Camera, Semi-Titanium Frame, and More

Wednesday July 24, 2024 9:06 am PDT by
Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo today shared alleged specifications for a new ultra-thin iPhone 17 model rumored to launch next year. Kuo expects the device to be equipped with a 6.6-inch display with a current-size Dynamic Island, a standard A19 chip rather than an A19 Pro chip, a single rear camera, and an Apple-designed 5G chip. He also expects the device to have a...
iPhone 16 Pro Sizes Feature

iPhone 16 Series Is Less Than Two Months Away: Everything We Know

Thursday July 25, 2024 5:43 am PDT by
Apple typically releases its new iPhone series around mid-September, which means we are about two months out from the launch of the iPhone 16. Like the iPhone 15 series, this year's lineup is expected to stick with four models – iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max – although there are plenty of design differences and new features to take into account. To bring ...
icloud private relay outage

iCloud Private Relay Experiencing Outage

Thursday July 25, 2024 3:18 pm PDT by
Apple’s iCloud Private Relay service is down for some users, according to Apple’s System Status page. Apple says that the iCloud Private Relay service may be slow or unavailable. The outage started at 2:34 p.m. Eastern Time, but it does not appear to be affecting all iCloud users. Some impacted users are unable to browse the web without turning iCloud Private Relay off, while others are...

Top Rated Comments

praetorian909 Avatar
163 months ago
Ah ha! So this must be the new dock connector then!

Now if I could only somehow use this to figure out what the iPad 3 will look like. Hmm, it's not working...
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Consultant Avatar
163 months ago
Come on, it's not even transparent aluminum.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
amarcus Avatar
163 months ago
Should MacRumors be worried?

Not while SOPA hasn't passed ;)
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Trauma1 Avatar
163 months ago
But did Liv have a nice birthday?
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Thunderhawks Avatar
163 months ago
Ah ha! So this must be the new dock connector then!

Now if I could only somehow use this to figure out what the iPad 3 will look like. Hmm, it's not working...

We also know the home button.

I think from that we can figure it out.

Going to be a rectangle picture frame shape with a front and a back and a good chance that it has a screen.

When I leak something it looks like glass although ..........
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Gasu E. Avatar
163 months ago
Legal documents submitted to the Cupertino city council show that they intend to plant hundreds of fruit trees. Pictures on several recent iProduct boxes show fruit outlines. Reports are that fruit can be purchased on company premises (Infinite Loop cafeteria and others). They had tables covered with fruit at WWDC. Sounds like things a fruit company would do.

But if so, so secretive that no orchard or grower currently seems to report any relationship whatsoever. But that's just standard business when dealing with them.

Infinite Fruit Loop.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)