According to iMore, Apple may possibly introduce a reworked dock connector for iOS devices in the nearest future, switching to a smaller port. The report claimed it would be a strictly technology-driven change to provide some extra room in the iPhone and other cases where space was at a priority.
The source didn’t elaborate when and how exactly the port would be reduced. Though the upcoming iPhone update was referred to as possible target, the report mentioned it more as the device most likely to profit from a smaller connector than out of any certain knowledge. The iPad doesn’t require the change so urgently considering its size.
The rumor is far from corroborated, but it comes from a website that may have accurately pinpointed the iPad 3 launch on March 7th based on confirming reports. The Cupertino device maker is also known to have filed for a patent on a faster, smaller dock port that is said to enable additional features with the extra bandwidth as well as improve sync speeds. Though unlikely to resort to exotic technology such as Thunderbolt to sync, but Apple could design it counting on USB 3.0 on Macs.
Now that Wi-Fi and cloud syncing have reduced the necessity to physically connect to a computer, the dock has become less significant to the company than in previous years. However, accessories would still require it, and it may cause confusion if computer firms need to redesign accessories or make adapters.
If they’re going to change the port, why not just use MicroUSB? Everyone who currently makes dock connector devices will have to change anyway, and using microUSB would get the round the EU rule that all mobile devices should be able to charge via a MicroUSB connection (which is why they had to produce the microUSB to dock connector adapter that appeared with the iPhone 4S).
Great time to throw out all my cables, iHome and other iAccessories.
I hope its magsafe. A combined power/data magsafe connector would be great. Then they can do the same for Macs. Imagine one connector to connect your MacBook to a display and have access to all your peripherals.
Induction? …might offer connector free, perhaps with other changes a waterproof iSportphone option…?
The problem is MicroUSB is a poor solution for what the Dock can do. Besides connecting for data and power to the computer the Dock connector also allows video out, as well as control for devices (think health monitors).
And change every acessories you have…
They would need an adapter so my iPhone integrated car will still work and my $525 dock will still work.
Wasnt there a recent development where a number of cell phone companies (including Apple) were going to join together to standardize the charging and connection ports on phones to reduce the “waste” of having different chargers/connectors?
Apple, RIM and Sony refused to agree.
That is not true.
In Europe, everyone has signed on to it, including Apple, RIM and Sony – i.e. the ability to use microUSB for charging.
One caveat though, the agreement is only for charging , but not syncing.
And Apply complies by selling a microUSB to iPhone connector adapter in UK…..
[face palm]
Apple will always be different. Perhaps every other phone will make a standardized port but if I know apple they will not change their port.
Yup. Apple doesn’t like the word ‘universal’. They like to keep things proprietary so that they can capitalize on expensive adapters and exclusive products.
If they made it compatible with SD cards – the Apple connectors to one side of the slot, the SD card connections to the other side – that would simplify a lot of things and make a lot of folks happy
that will make the investors unhappy. Apple makes the most money from the memory upgrades. An upgrade from 16gb to 32gb costs Apple about $15 but they charge $100 for it.
Agreed that they don’t do the memory card to make money, but investors isn’t the reason why. Apple just wants profit. If Apple’s stocks weren’t publicly traded, it would be doing exactly as well as it’s doing now.
The thing is, you can’t get a memory upgrade for an iDevice after the purchase – you’re stuck with what you buy.
Having an SD compatible slot would make it a decent picture / home movie viewer, and allow it to keep up with other tablets that have that feature.
But having the opportunity to increase storage provides a tangible reason for an owner to decide to SKIP the next upgrade cycle. Based on Apple’s past business model, that’s something they DON’T want to encourage.
I think Apple has to be VERY careful going away from the 30-pin iPod adapter connection because so many third-party devices use that connection, especially docks for tabletop alarm clocks.
Mind you, this would make it easier for the iPhone, iPod touch and iPod nano designs, though.
you’ll see long lines in front of Apple stores … just to buy … $40 adapters.
“I think Apple has to be VERY careful going away from parallel and serial ports because so many third-party devices use those connections, especially printers, scanners, and mice.”
I’m sure something along those lines was stated oh, about 10,000+ times when the first iMac was announced.
It would be nice if they went with a micro-USB connection, like every single other electrical device out there (MP3 players, phones, Bluetooth headsets, etc). I don’t carry an iPod traveling anymore because I have to carry a special power adapter for it, when the other 10 gadgets I carry all can use the same wall charger.
I have a Samsung Galaxy Tab and a Samsung phone that not only don’t use micro-USB, they don’t use the same connector as the other. Yes, most devices have micro-USB, but Apple isn’t as big an offender as Samsung.
The TAB lack of micro-USB is a huge mistake. But I have two current Samsung smart phones, one is eighteen months old, the other is two months old, and they both have micro USB. Other than Apple, I haven’t seen a phone in the last two years that didn’t have micro USB.
They use the 30 pin connector as apart of their fast charging charger. They have a patent where you can charge your iOS device to like 80% in 40 mins or so. I have a charging case for my iphone and when I use the micro usb cable to charge the case which charges my phone it takes a significantly amount of time. Mind you, power is surging to the case then my phone though. But they both have the same battery. But yeah carrying an extra cable isn’t that big of problem in these troubling times..sheesh.
Why not just use the micro USB connector like almost every other phone on the market?!?
That’s Apple as always, making you pay for proprietary connectors. Plus they can still charge a license fee to third party accessory makers for using those proprietary connectors…
Wireless charging would be great, then they could develop an iDevice with no holes or open ports at all (provided that head phones will then also being used over wireless) hence… making it absolutely water proof and therefore more stable since it would be less damageable by rain, water and most of all dust under the display
Well, to answer your rhetorical question, it would kill the accessory support because manufacturers would have to support two models and people would have to buy two models of the same product (or, get a new one).
I would make the assessories market blossem. One standard to rule them all…That would be nice for us consumers.
micro USB is horrendously slow.
Larger plugs with more physical connectors will be more reliable than smaller ones with few connectors. USB has only 5 pins, Apple’s dock connector has 30 pins. Problem is that Apple is on path to removing the large connectors and replacing them with smaller ones, but they’ll be non-compatible. So you get the short end of the stick regarding compatibility AND reliability.
slow at what exactly?
There currently is one standard to “rule them all”. The Apple dock connector. And lets not forget how successful the accessory market for MP3 players was before the iPod and the dock connector (ie next to non-existent).
Wow. I have never had a micro USB connector fail, device or cable. Eighteen months of use on my old Samsung, daily in the car for streaming Pandora on the commute, plus nightly charging at home. That is the most heavily used device I have. No problems. Apple had durability on their early 30 pins, one of the reasons they removed the ‘locks’.
I guess they want to sell new adapter plug to 30pin plug adapters now. How else is everyone going to continue to use their existing accessories. Typical Apple.
There’s a reason to NOT just use a micro USB connector! The 30 pin adapter by Apple is a better design. I had one car charger after another after another malfunction that were micro USB’s when I was on Android. I had home chargers that became looser and no longer worked for no apparent reason.
Apple designs their own connectors for a reason. They are durable and they work. I trust Apple to design another connector that will be better than micro USB. I’m hopeful it will be magnetic and more similar to my MacBook Pro connector which is also durable and effective.
thats funny i have literally more than a dozen micro usb connection devices and more chargers than ill ever need and i have yet to have any of them fail. probably user error…
They wouldn’t come defunct for quite some time if at all given that iDevices that utilize the 30 pin connector will be selling for years to come. I suspect that this will have no affect on the accessory market and aside, I’m sure Apple will supply adapters…
Why don’t Android device makers invest some cash and create a phone that isn’t made of plastic?