1. Has Scoble ever been right? That guy is pretty much a professional troll. He had the press reporting that Apple would put solar panels on the back of the phone (or maybe MacBooks, I forget).
2. The dock connector is already proprietary and patented. You need a license from Apple to create cables.

I think a lot of the speculation about Apple moving to the micro-usb port is because of EU requirements involving the chargers. However, the move would make a lot of accessories immediately worthless. It is not past Apple to do such a thing, but they could also just create an adapter to allow charging with micro-usb while still requiring the dock cable for syncing.

Honestly, you don't really need the cable to sync anymore, maybe they are just getting rid of the whole concept of connecting to a computer?

Man, everything I've been reading about the new iPhone just sounds like a bunch of terrible ideas.

This new dock connector. Really? You're going to drop the connector that's been around since the first iPod and make everyone buy all new accessories? And no, an adapter is not good enough. I'm not carrying that around with my phone, nor am I buying one for each of my accessories.

A 16:9 ratio 4" screen is retarded too. Just stretch the current screen uniformly to 4" diagonal. Changing the aspect ratio is stupid. The 16:9 shape is good for watching HDTV and horrible for anything else. This will just make it more difficult on developers for no benefit to users.

farkeruk: one question... if they're changing the port size, what happens to existing accessories? In that regard, this is suicide, isn't it?

You buy all new ones! They want to license the connector to all the third parties, then have you buy new accessories (bet you a new-type to old-type adapter won't be allowed under the license). What's that? You liked having your classic iPod dock with the same stuff as you phone? Too bad, but a new iPod too! And maybe a new iPad while you're at it.

Apple's the leading manufacturer of disposable electronics.

/A pity
//iPhone owes a lot to accessory manufacturers

slayer199: Well Apple, you just made my decision to go to Android easier for me. I've always purchased what I felt was the best device at the time I was looking. I've owned 2 iPhones and 1 iPad. I put up with your proprietary bs by jailbreaking my iPhone, and changing the root password, and other tricks just to have the flexibility I want in a device. Unless the 5 is totally amazing, I'm going to switch to an Android phone and I've been eying the Asus Transformer as my new tablet solution.

I'm not really a tech guy, but what do you get by jailbreaking that you don't get with it just the way it is?

ZAZ: I got an iPod adapter for my car with the long, thin connector. Changing the connector would be an annoying task without the lockout logic making it impossible. If the next iThingy has a different connector it won't work in my car and will be less valuable to me.

Oh, just wait until they really get going! Soon enough Apple will be forming license agreements with car manufacturers. Hypothetical scenario: Chryslers will come with Apple interfaces, Fords and GMs will come with Microsoft interfaces. You want to use your iPhone in a car, you better have a Chrysler.

Is that really all that far-fetched a thought? I don't think that Apple thinks it is.

slayer199: Well Apple, you just made my decision to go to Android easier for me. I've always purchased what I felt was the best device at the time I was looking. I've owned 2 iPhones and 1 iPad. I put up with your proprietary bs by jailbreaking my iPhone, and changing the root password, and other tricks just to have the flexibility I want in a device. Unless the 5 is totally amazing, I'm going to switch to an Android phone and I've been eying the Asus Transformer as my new tablet solution.

I agree. I own a bunch of proprietary Apple products and accessories, but this rumor of a change that might mean I need an adapter, if true, has convinced me to discard all of that and re-purchase all of my products and accessories in a new, differently-compatible format.

Shostie: vernonFL: I bought an expensive, pimpy ipod / iphone speaker, which I use a lot to play music, and the dock built into the speaker system is the current (soon to be old) dock.

: (

I can't imagine that Apple wouldn't produce some kind of adapter, available online or at the Apple Store for only $19.99. $49.99

/FTFY

LasersHurt: You have to use an Apple cable or Apple approved third party device with the new style connector. If you get the new model, that is. Also if this actually happens, since it's a rumor.

I'm quite convinced by Robert Scoble's comment on it, and I'm generally very sceptical about Apple rumours. It's not so much "Apple might do this", more "I've spoke to an engineer, and they're doing it", and the reasons sound very plausible and consistent with Apple:

1. To control device manufacturers much more completely. It will be nearly impossible to make unlicensed devices, if Apple wants it, and totally impossible to make replacement power supplies that Apple hasn't approved (there is a chip in both ends of the new power supply that ensure that it is an official device).

2. To make thinner devices possible.

3. To make water damage less of a possibility on new devices.

4. To bring us a magnetic connector that's more durable and easier to dock than the existing one. Especially important as more car manufacturers add docks for iPhones into cars (yet another way to encourage people to buy Apple devices rather than devices from other manufacturers).

tallguywithglasseson: uld be a way of enforcing licensing. I doubt Apple intends to get rid of third party vendors.

Now, it would have been nice if they'd switched to an existing, standard, non-proprietary cable such as micro USB, but we're talking about Apple here.

Micro USB sucks. It's flimsy with an easily dented shell, can't carry much power, and doesn't have extra pins for audio or video.

I really like my Droid 3. The physical keypad is great, as I email and text a lot for work. I'll probably stick with Droids.

On a sad side note, my Zune 30 gig finally bit the dust after 4 solid years of heavy use. Farewell, friend. I'm discovering that I hate burning phone battery life listening to music.

Nice. Now you have to replace all your iPhone compatible devices. All those music docks... lol.

LasersHurt: Seriously, doesn't this seem like an overreaction? The company is changing the port on their product... Once. The old one has been on products for generations, and the new one probably will be too. They are far from the first company to ever change part of a product line.

What do you mean my Firewire iPod doesn't work on this:


That's it, Apple has lost my business forever!

LasersHurt: rickythepenguin: ok, what does it mean in non-Nerdspeak? i can't dock my iphone to a PC? i have to have a Mac? I have to use their cable to dock my iphone?

You have to use an Apple cable or Apple approved third party device with the new style connector. If you get the new model, that is. Also if this actually happens, since it's a rumor.

Apple always made third party vendors license the port, now they're just requiring proof via a chip. In theory.

So this only really affects people who buy their accessories from the mall kiosks full of cheap knockoff crap that breaks in a month. Belkin, Griffin and the like will continue to pay their license and make decent third-party options. I'm not some Apple fanboy, but I don't see this being some awful deal for the end-user.

Felgraf: IF they do this, how is it not a monopolistic act?


Because Android devices have a bigger sales share than iOS devices?

Abe Vigoda's Ghost: If you have a few accessories that are dependent upon the current connector, then it becomes a big deal, or at least annoying enough for people to start looking to other options.

pretty much - if i'm going to replace everything around the gizmo, and i had to do it all over again....something using a standard mini-usb would make a lot more sense.

it isn't that they're changing their proprietary connection, it's that they're changing it to *another* proprietary connector. the market for gizmos like iphone/itouch/ipad isn't what it was just a few years ago, there are other options out there that meet or exceed what apple is doing - that has to factor in as well.

if everything else is equal, yet one device uses proprietary connections while the other uses an industry standard...that's kinda important.

LasersHurt: Seriously, doesn't this seem like an overreaction? The company is changing the port on their product... Once. The old one has been on products for generations, and the new one probably will be too. They are far from the first company to ever change part of a product line.

The question is, how does whatever advantage the new connector brings stack up against the tradeoff of now-incompatible accessories.

It might not seem like much, but keep in mind that some of those "accessories" are cars.

LasersHurt: ProfessorOhki: farkeruk: one question... if they're changing the port size, what happens to existing accessories? In that regard, this is suicide, isn't it?

You buy all new ones! They want to license the connector to all the third parties, then have you buy new accessories (bet you a new-type to old-type adapter won't be allowed under the license). What's that? You liked having your classic iPod dock with the same stuff as you phone? Too bad, but a new iPod too! And maybe a new iPad while you're at it.

Apple's the leading manufacturer of disposable electronics.

/A pity
//iPhone owes a lot to accessory manufacturers

Seriously, doesn't this seem like an overreaction? The company is changing the port on their product... Once. The old one has been on products for generations, and the new one probably will be too. They are far from the first company to ever change part of a product line.

In some ways I agree with you but the ubiquity of dock stations designed for an iphone/ipad/ipod means that some people would need to replace their clock radio, car adapter, beach stereo, toothbrush ect. when they upgrade. There is probably a non zero number of customers who were resistant to changing devices because they owned all that stuff. Now that all of that stuff is essentially garbage anyway they might explore other options.

So?

heap: it isn't that they're changing their proprietary connection, it's that they're changing it to *another* proprietary connector. the market for gizmos like iphone/itouch/ipad isn't what it was just a few years ago, there are other options out there that meet or exceed what apple is doing - that has to factor in as well.

if everything else is equal, yet one device uses proprietary connections while the other uses an industry standard...that's kinda important.

It's also that it means that they remove some advantages of staying with Apple. I've got a few docking things for my iPod - my car player, dock for the garden. Replacing them would cost like £100 minimum. There's things like AV receivers out there for iPod/iPhone. Anyone think people are going to be keen to spend £200 on a new AV receiver?

LasersHurt: ProfessorOhki: farkeruk: one question... if they're changing the port size, what happens to existing accessories? In that regard, this is suicide, isn't it?

You buy all new ones! They want to license the connector to all the third parties, then have you buy new accessories (bet you a new-type to old-type adapter won't be allowed under the license). What's that? You liked having your classic iPod dock with the same stuff as you phone? Too bad, but a new iPod too! And maybe a new iPad while you're at it.

Apple's the leading manufacturer of disposable electronics.

/A pity
//iPhone owes a lot to accessory manufacturers

Seriously, doesn't this seem like an overreaction? The company is changing the port on their product... Once. The old one has been on products for generations, and the new one probably will be too. They are far from the first company to ever change part of a product line.

Fair; it is a bit embellished. The thing is, in the modern technology world, most manufacturers use these things called "standards" so that there's a good deal of interoperability between products. I thought everyone had learned their lessons from when every computer company had their own idea of networking.

Also, they'll be forced to ship some sort of microUSB adapter in Europe (again) as there's requirement (for the last 3 years) on cell phone charging connectors.

New Apple = the Old Tandy

Let's see how that works out for Apple once the iCrush of its buyers starts to wear off.

Theaetetus: Micro USB sucks. It's flimsy with an easily dented shell, can't carry much power, and doesn't have extra pins for audio or video.

Most of the new connectors suck. MiniUSB isn't too bad, but microUSB cables seriously piss me off. About the only thing worse is the USB+HDMI port on my camera. I have to fidget with it for some time before the thing slides in.

Also, wasn't there supposed to be some EU mandate that required mobile phones to include a microUSB port? I'm curious what the details of the requirement are and how Apple will be bypassing them.

Theaetetus: LasersHurt: Seriously, doesn't this seem like an overreaction? The company is changing the port on their product... Once. The old one has been on products for generations, and the new one probably will be too. They are far from the first company to ever change part of a product line.

What do you mean my Firewire iPod doesn't work on this:
[www.ces-show.com image 466x301]

That's it, Apple has lost my business forever!

I have an iHome speaker set that my wife bought when she got her Gen.1 iPhone. We have 3GS ones now. It'll play music through the thing, but charging is not supported.

They obviously don't thin their profits by doing these things since they've been doing it all along. Apple lovers will buy Apple products. The others will go elsewhere. Keeps the competition alive.

/use Apple
//don't hate Droid users
///will bite if approached

It has its limitations but I loves me some micro usb - car chargers in both cars work for my wife's phone, my phone, the kindle, and tablet. Same with home chargers and my little portable power thingy.

Dinjiin: Theaetetus: Micro USB sucks. It's flimsy with an easily dented shell, can't carry much power, and doesn't have extra pins for audio or video.

Most of the new connectors suck. MiniUSB isn't too bad, but microUSB cables seriously piss me off. About the only thing worse is the USB+HDMI port on my camera. I have to fidget with it for some time before the thing slides in.

Also, wasn't there supposed to be some EU mandate that required mobile phones to include a microUSB port? I'm curious what the details of the requirement are and how Apple will be bypassing them.

Same way they did before. IIRC the actual regulation is something along the lines of "cable assembly terminating in a microUSB-B connector"

i have the option of airplay already, but choose docking as i need to charge the gizmo anyway.

unless there's an iTesla aircharging ap i haven't discovered yet, of course.

LasersHurt: Well just MicroUSB isn't an option for Apple. That port has direct audio lines, multiple power lines (I think), a bunch of stuff. USB, remember, has 4 pins. The old Apple one was 30, though I don't they used them all, and the new is 19. It's not just for charging and simple data, it's for a complex array of I/O lines - which is why it was such a great universal docking mechanism for so many things.

Obviously. They still have to provide one for charging if they want to sell the product as a cell phone in Europe. My real question is if this will actually be Thunderbolt based or if they're inventing a totally new connector just for their mobile stuff and then going to sell a few dozen types of converter cable.

LasersHurt: Oh, duh, and also Airplay, which they're pushing hard. Don't forget airplay. Most devices were audio docks anyway, so just Airplay that shiat. At least, I'll bet that's what they're banking on.

That's a good point. Apple has been pushing wireless options hard lately and there are plenty of third-party airplay compatible players out there already. I wouldn't be surprised if they kill the whole idea of needing to dock your phone for any reason but charging come next iPhone.

LasersHurt: Well just MicroUSB isn't an option for Apple.

It could be an option, but they'd have to update the USB specification. You'd need either a "USB attached Audio" or a "USB attached A/V" protocol. Your docking station would have to become a host since USB isn't a point-to-point system like Firewire or Thunderbolt.

If it weren't for the chipsets being so expensive, I'd wonder why Apple wouldn't go with Thunderbolt for the new iPhone.

LasersHurt: ProfessorOhki: LasersHurt: Well just MicroUSB isn't an option for Apple. That port has direct audio lines, multiple power lines (I think), a bunch of stuff. USB, remember, has 4 pins. The old Apple one was 30, though I don't they used them all, and the new is 19. It's not just for charging and simple data, it's for a complex array of I/O lines - which is why it was such a great universal docking mechanism for so many things.

Obviously. They still have to provide one for charging if they want to sell the product as a cell phone in Europe. My real question is if this will actually be Thunderbolt based or if they're inventing a totally new connector just for their mobile stuff and then going to sell a few dozen types of converter cable.

Given their recent enthusiasm for it, Thunderbolt is a good choice. I'm sure it charges faster than USB.

It also shares some design with MiniDisplayPort which means that there could be some nice interoperability if they do it right.

Dinjiin: It could be an option, but they'd have to update the USB specification. You'd need either a "USB attached Audio" or a "USB attached A/V" protocol. Your docking station would have to become a host since USB isn't a point-to-point system like Firewire or Thunderbolt.

USB OTG. Don't think the USB spec would need an update:
01h - Interface - Audio
0Eh - Interface - Video
10h - Interface - Audio/Video Devices (AVControl and A/V Streaming subclassed)

I mean, standardizing around Mass Storage has worked pretty well, hasn't it?