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Apple Announces New Dock Connector Called 'Lightning'
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".
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.
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.
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.
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.
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93 months ago
Changing $29 for a phone adapter is indeed revolutionary. No company has ever tried to extort that much money from their customers before.
93 months ago
Video/iPod Out?
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?
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?
93 months ago
The adapters do not support "iPod Out"
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.
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.
93 months ago
Usb3?
Doubt it, they would've said.
Kind of strange to go to all that trouble and not make it faster.
93 months ago
$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
93 months ago
You'd think with a name like lightning, they planned for it to work with thunderbolt...
93 months ago
By the way, is it me, or does the smaller pin looks woefully fragile as well?
A lot less fragile than the old connector, what with its paper-thin shell and sand-jamming narrow slot and itty bitty wires therein. A LOT less fragile.
And a lot less "dang, stuck it in the wrong way again".
93 months ago
The adapters do not support "iPod Out"
Does this mean that line-level audio outputs are no longer supported?
That's what I initially thought too, but googling it, it looks like "iPod out" is a specific feature where the iPod's screen display is output to other devices (cars etc). But they should still clarify that.
Now, with the inability to listen to music in my car...
Don't jump to conclusions.
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