Today's Apple rumor is that they're going to be abandoning the 30-pin dock connector that's been on iPods, iPhones, and iPads for years now, in favor of a smaller connector.
Personally I think it certainly makes sense, though I'm sure there will be a few people who are upset or frustrated that the accessories they've invested in might not work (though presumably there would be some kind of an adapter). Those ports have stayed the same size -- while iPods and iPhones have gotten smaller -- and at some point if they're going to make future devices any smaller and/or thinner they're going to need something that takes up less space (this is one area where phones that use micro USB have had a small -- no pun intended -- advantage).
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How do you feel about Apple possibly abandoning the 30-pin dock connector?
I'd be happy to see a new connector. The 30-pin is starting to look very large compared to something like Mini Displayport / Thunderbolt which has 20 pins.
I'd really like to see something with the magnetic function of the magsafe connector, if it could be done in a slimmer form factor that the existing magsafe connector. But as a lot of the bulk of the magsafe is due to the need for magnetic surface area, that could be asking a bit much.
I'd really like to see something with the magnetic function of the magsafe connector, if it could be done in a slimmer form factor that the existing magsafe connector. But as a lot of the bulk of the magsafe is due to the need for magnetic surface area, that could be asking a bit much.
I think it makes sense too. I would guess Apple would potentially include their Magsafe technology in the new connector too.
The 30 pin connector is pretty common at this point. There is always one or two lying around my house or office so I can charge an iPad or iPod without having to pack a cable. If Apple moves to a new system I would need to be more concerned about bringing a cable with me until the new connector gains popularity. This isn't a huge concern, but something to think about.
The 30 pin connector is pretty common at this point. There is always one or two lying around my house or office so I can charge an iPad or iPod without having to pack a cable. If Apple moves to a new system I would need to be more concerned about bringing a cable with me until the new connector gains popularity. This isn't a huge concern, but something to think about.
I certainly hope so. There was a time when the 30-pin connector made sense, and Apple have done an amazing job of keeping it around for many years and on many devices, but as the tapered iPad 2 has revealed, it's not the most practical. It's time for a smarter and smaller connector. Maybe a micro DisplayPort/Thunderbolt, with a USB3 converter for the Windows folk.
Happyschneider made the exact point I wanted to make about the fact that having that proprietary solutions are "loathesomely impractical" and having a standard connection (such as microUSB) would actually be practical on more than a couple of levels: the cost of building the device, and the cost/ease for the consumer for data transfer/charging... and microUSB transfers both video as well as audio data, which has been somewhat of a sore point for iOS devices.
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Please describe an example where you can transfer video & audio through a MicroUSB connector thus far? Add to that charging concurrently with A/V and you need a custom solution or 2-3 different connections. My buddy's Android has HDMI, MicroUSB for charging and a 3.5" for headphones. So no line out and no remote capabilities, yet more connectors than iOS devices.
With the addition of wireless transfer mechanisms such as Wifi and possibly through Bluetooth 4.0, the use of a wire for syncing is less important today than in years past. And video transfer through Airplay has addressed the other common purpose for a wired connection on an iOS device. I think proprietary ports are a thing of the past. Universal ports will reduce cost, device price and the headache of finding the right wire to charge your current and future thing-a-ma-bob.
With a modern serial interface all the signals you just described can easily be connected though 3 - 5 conductors. In Professional Broadcast TV, 24 Channels of audio, Digital video and control are sent at Ghz speed over 1 shielded wire.
"OH NO!" is what I would say if I had lots of 3rd party accessories to go with the few Apple products that I own. I really think it's about time. Apple has been using the same kind of connector for way too long. I appreciate their consistency, and I hate when a company makes products that aren't compatible with their other products. Like Motorola does with the bevy of accessories they release each time they announce a new phone. Granted some of them are compatible with a few phones at a time, but it's rare to find a Motorola dock, that work with two different Motorola phones...
I'm glad Apple is updating. Hopefully they'll move to something that has longevity and quality.
I'm glad Apple is updating. Hopefully they'll move to something that has longevity and quality.
I'm a fan of this idea, especially if it enables the ushering in of the next generation of products (i.e. thinner/lighter). It just seems like a natural evolution, considering Apple has already proposed an even smaller SIM card (and slot) than the micro one it uses currently.
If they were reducing it in size just for the sake of business (making everyone buy new accessories, etc...) I don't think I'd be such a big fan, but if it allows them to make cooler devices I'm all for it.
If they were reducing it in size just for the sake of business (making everyone buy new accessories, etc...) I don't think I'd be such a big fan, but if it allows them to make cooler devices I'm all for it.
It would be really good if they can go to some existing standard like USB or Micro USB. If they make it smaller, but go to another proprietary connector, then it is of no use.
I think it's fine. It'll be a tough bump to get over. I like the ubiquity of 30pin connections available to me. with 3 iphones, 2 ipads and 4 ipods in the house, I always have a charge handy, car or home or office.
All the pundits say it wont be Thunderbolt as that needs PCI express.
I doubt it'll be anything from the USB standards body.
I also don't expect magsafe. I think that would still add bulk. Unfortunately so will induction charging like the Palm devices...
I bet it'll just be an UberMicro 30pin connection :)
I expect the change will come sooner or later, there's no avoiding it, so lets just jump in and do it :)
All the pundits say it wont be Thunderbolt as that needs PCI express.
I doubt it'll be anything from the USB standards body.
I also don't expect magsafe. I think that would still add bulk. Unfortunately so will induction charging like the Palm devices...
I bet it'll just be an UberMicro 30pin connection :)
I expect the change will come sooner or later, there's no avoiding it, so lets just jump in and do it :)
As long as they just reduce the size of the connector and not the functionality I think it is a necessary move. If you look at the bottom of the iPod nano it is mostly the dock connector so size is eventually going limit the devices.
However, I do think that going to something like micro usb would be a huge mistake. The 30 pin connector has much more functionality than a micro usb port. If they were to go to micro usb then they would end up adding another port to the device just to have video out.
However, I do think that going to something like micro usb would be a huge mistake. The 30 pin connector has much more functionality than a micro usb port. If they were to go to micro usb then they would end up adding another port to the device just to have video out.
It's 100% inevitable. Therefore, the sooner, the better.
I do hope it contains some innovation over microUSB, such as a magnetic connecter, although I could see that causing problems with the compass component. Making everything wireless (inductive) would be wonderful, but there are technical and size issues with that approach, too. I'm sure they're prefer something they can scale down to the iPod Nano.
An innovative adaptor system between old and new connectors would be nice.
I do hope it contains some innovation over microUSB, such as a magnetic connecter, although I could see that causing problems with the compass component. Making everything wireless (inductive) would be wonderful, but there are technical and size issues with that approach, too. I'm sure they're prefer something they can scale down to the iPod Nano.
An innovative adaptor system between old and new connectors would be nice.
if it has a magnetic connector component - i am for it
if it has some sort of a mechanism to keep dirt and sand out of the iPhone - i WAY for it
lD
if it has some sort of a mechanism to keep dirt and sand out of the iPhone - i WAY for it
lD
Is it possible to go all wireless? Inductive charging, bluetooth, NFC, AirPlay, WiFi, iCloud, etc.
In anycase, I'm all for it. Time to go smaller. The rest of the world will catch up and we will all be happy again. I wonder if the other end of 30-pin cords will be USB still? Maybe a switch to Thunderbolt?
In anycase, I'm all for it. Time to go smaller. The rest of the world will catch up and we will all be happy again. I wonder if the other end of 30-pin cords will be USB still? Maybe a switch to Thunderbolt?
I'd be happy to get rid of the sync cable if they ditched the wireless syncing requirement that the iPod/iPhone be charging in order is use the functionality. I am concerned about how well wireless syncing would work when I'm at a hotel and have no choice but to reply on the WiFi provided.
Going forward cable connections are likely to matter less. Increasingly connections that previously would have used cables are now connecting wirelessly. Apple is syncing and streaming content to and from devices wirelessly and it figures that will only increase.
Unfortunately, a transition is going to be unpleasant for those with an infrastructure of an existing wired devices. When Apple went from 12v to 5v third parties filled the gap with adapters and that is likely to happen again.
Unfortunately, a transition is going to be unpleasant for those with an infrastructure of an existing wired devices. When Apple went from 12v to 5v third parties filled the gap with adapters and that is likely to happen again.
Incompatible change is de regueur for Apple… part of their planned-obsolescence plan :-) It is amazing that they have stuck with the same connector for so long!
If they switch to the world standard micro-USB, then I would be a huge fan—not to mention shocked and amazed. Will they (would they need to) support video out, full USB control, Firewire access, iPod navigation/access? Don't forget the ever-increasing power charging requirements of each new device.
But, most likely it'll be a new proprietary, incompatible plug. Just think of all those expensive (if you bought from Apple) cables and docks… or stereos and speakers… or automobiles that people will need to replace (oh well, I needed to get a new BMW anyway).
If they switch to the world standard micro-USB, then I would be a huge fan—not to mention shocked and amazed. Will they (would they need to) support video out, full USB control, Firewire access, iPod navigation/access? Don't forget the ever-increasing power charging requirements of each new device.
But, most likely it'll be a new proprietary, incompatible plug. Just think of all those expensive (if you bought from Apple) cables and docks… or stereos and speakers… or automobiles that people will need to replace (oh well, I needed to get a new BMW anyway).
I'd be thrilled, but only if they adopted the micro USB standard. I just haven't heard of a good reason for Apple's proprietary connector yet, beyond the fact that it means more money for Apple.
At some point people were saying that micro USB wouldn't have enough throughput for things like HD video. Well, my Galaxy Nexus can do it just fine with an MHL adapter, and you need an adapter for the 30-pin connector to convert the signal anyway.
So if they moved to an actual standard, instead of an Apple standard, I'd be thrilled. If not, I hate the idea.
At some point people were saying that micro USB wouldn't have enough throughput for things like HD video. Well, my Galaxy Nexus can do it just fine with an MHL adapter, and you need an adapter for the 30-pin connector to convert the signal anyway.
So if they moved to an actual standard, instead of an Apple standard, I'd be thrilled. If not, I hate the idea.
I wouldn't mind getting away from the 30 pin connector but I have little faith that they would go in the correct direction from it to a standard micro-usb connection. Instead I see them going with another interface that while smaller is not a current standard or if they were to go to the micro-usb it would not be a standard micro-usb and there would be some aspect of it that would require you buy Apple authorized cables and devices.
It'll simply delay my adoption of any Apple product that uses the standard. While at some level I don't care, I like being able to travel and just take my iPad charger. It charges the iPhone as well (which is tied to a contract). I have a legacy nano it can charge as well but that's really only for on the gym or airplane so less of a worry.
Another potential question is it just going to change the pin-outs or the voltages as well? The only 3rd party dock item I have is a car charger for the phone. It has a USB-ish plug which a cable plugs into. Presumably I could just get a new cable. Of course I think this charger + cable cost $20 and I'm sure Apple will want at least $30 for a new cable. Unless it is Thunderbolt in which case it'll be $50 a cable. I don't put much stock in Apple rumors anyway. Nothing to worry about one way or the other until it is announced.
Another potential question is it just going to change the pin-outs or the voltages as well? The only 3rd party dock item I have is a car charger for the phone. It has a USB-ish plug which a cable plugs into. Presumably I could just get a new cable. Of course I think this charger + cable cost $20 and I'm sure Apple will want at least $30 for a new cable. Unless it is Thunderbolt in which case it'll be $50 a cable. I don't put much stock in Apple rumors anyway. Nothing to worry about one way or the other until it is announced.
I wrote about this earlier today:
www.macfilos.com/home/2012/2/24/apple-dock-connect...
Michael
www.macfilos.com/home/2012/2/24/apple-dock-connect...
Michael
This would be a mistake on Apple's part as there are a world of accessories out there than now depend on a 30 pin connector and would not work with an adapter. I'm thinking of clock radios/stereos where the iDevice is held in place by the connector.
They should have gone to micro USB years ago.
They should have gone to micro USB years ago.
If they were going to USB, then I would be excited. Going to another proprietary connector, I hate the idea. This just causes issues with the billion accessories out there.
But then, they know better (and sometimes do) - so I guess we are stuck with it. Whatever happened to the EU directive to standardize on phone chargers?
But then, they know better (and sometimes do) - so I guess we are stuck with it. Whatever happened to the EU directive to standardize on phone chargers?
If they can figure out a different connector that does everything the 30-pin does. Many people don't understand that the 30-pin pushes video, audio, power and remote capabilities thru that all encompassing connector; so for that reason I like the 30-pin. Is there a way to push all that thru USB? I like the idea of USB for standardization, but not to lose capabilities.
technology marches on. Bus and tag cables on the mainframe gave way to fiber optic connectors. No platform can stand still.
I actually suprised that it hasn't happened sooner. These devices are getting smaller and thinner with each generation so it's inevitable that the dock connector will have to get smaller too. Having said that, I'm sure accessory makers will be thrilled if this proves to be true.
I've had problems with the small usb connector for android and blackberry phones. I hope that if Apple makes a smaller dock connector that they won't be as easily broken as they are with those two other phones. There is nothing like having a perfectly good phone that won't charge because the connector is broken.
The bandwidth of a connector can only be an argument in the iOS world. I have not plugged my devices in for data connection for years. The only reason for it is charging and that should be as universal as possible. There is absolutely no reason for a proprietary solution what so ever.
Was there not a point at which the Europeans wanted to force cell phone manufacturers to use a common standard for chargers?
Was there not a point at which the Europeans wanted to force cell phone manufacturers to use a common standard for chargers?
It's definitely something they have to consider but with all the accessories in the Apple ecosystem it'd be unfortunate for the tons of things people use currently with their iDevices.
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