As predicted, Apple today announced that it is replacing the familiar 30-pin dock connector for its mobile devices with a new smaller one. The new connector bears the name "Lightning".
/article-new/2012/09/iphone_5_lightning.jpg?lossy)
The new cable is described as an all-digital, 8-signal design with an adaptive interface, and improved durability. Users can use it in either orientation (reversible) and it's 80% smaller than the old dock connector.
Making iPhone 5 thinner and lighter required a pivotal change: replacing the 30-pin connector with something newer, smaller, and better. Introducing the Lightning connector. It features an all-digital, eight-signal design that’s significantly more durable than the 30-pin connector. Another brilliant feature of Lightning: It’s reversible. Which means there’s no wrong way to plug in the cable.
/article-new/2012/09/lightning_cable-e1347476331309.jpg?lossy)
Apple will be providing an adapter for existing accessories and companies like Bose, JBL, B&W, and B&O are already working on the new connector. Apple's adapters include a direct plug adapter priced at $29 and one incorporating a short cable for $39.
/article-new/2012/09/lightning_adapters.jpg?lossy)
Top Rated Comments
Thunderbolt and Lightning, very, very frightening ...
Nuff said.
On the Apple Store pages for the two adapters, they both have a warning about "Video and iPod Out not supported."
I get the video part, but does that mean I won't be able to use the adapter with the 30-pin cable in my car to play music?
Does this mean that line-level audio outputs are no longer supported?
If so this SUCKS! All the devices out there that let you dock an iPhone to play music will no longer work.
Nice going, Apple.
$29 price tag? Yikes. Not horrible, but more than what I was hoping for.
http://store.apple.com/us/product/MD823ZM/A/lightning-to-30-pin-adapter
Changing $29 for a phone adapter is indeed revolutionary. No company has ever tried to extort that much money from their customers before.
$29?!?!?!?!?!
And I need at least two of these. That is insane