Comments on: Apple reveals Lightning to microUSB adapter to pacify Europe

By: David Granmadave Schein

David Granmadave Schein — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 17:02:00 +0000

It’s the same gamble Sony made in the 70s with Beta- except Apple’s been pretty successful so far. I agree with you, though; if they would just work on improving the next standard then everyone wins.

By: David Granmadave Schein

David Granmadave Schein — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 17:00:00 +0000

…aaaaaaaand this is why Adobe and others are done sucking up to Apple.

By: Scott Thompson

Scott Thompson — Sat, 22 Sep 2012 23:38:00 +0000

Then the EU doesn’t have to buy the phone.

By: Samuel

Samuel — Sun, 16 Sep 2012 14:42:00 +0000

If what you had said were true, then it would have been good, provided the specifications were open and unencumbered by patents and restrictions. But, unfortunately, you are mistaken.

Lightning and Thunderbolt, as of now, are non-interoperable and are incompatible standards. The so called Lightning connection is in fact the same 12 year old USB 2.0 connection (with a USB 2.0 controller), but with a redesigned connector and port. Besides, TV mirroring is runs perfectly on today’s standards with MHL (the 5 pin connector which looks and behaves exactly the same way as a microUSB 2.0 port). You can mirror videos of full HD resolution with up to 8 channels of uncompressed audio (7.1 surround audio) on to a HDTV using MHL. Plus, with MHL and microUSB being the industry standards, you can always find inexpensive yet high quality cables from various manufacturers.

Furthermore, microUSB offers better mechanical construction. The data connectors are placed within a rigid metal cover. This ensures that abrasion does not damage the contact pins (which would result in the decrease of thickness and subsequent increase in electrical resistance). Since the contact pins on Lightning are exposed, the efficiency of data transfer is bound to drop in the long run, making you want to purchase a new replacement cable.

If Apple did indeed require higher speeds, they could have opted for microUSB 3.0 in conjunction with a USB 3.0 controller. Instead, they went the proprietary way to ensure that they reap more benefits from the sale of accessories. The only perceivable advantage I see to this is the connector fitting in both ways.

It would have been much better if Apple had used an industry standard rather than their own design. I’d still say that the Lightning connector is quite pointless when better and widely accepted alternatives are present.

By: Samuel

Samuel — Sun, 16 Sep 2012 11:16:00 +0000

~ accidental double post ~

By: Matthieu Walraet

Matthieu Walraet — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 21:23:00 +0000

I doubt such an adapter is enough to pretend complying to the EU standard. Apple takes a huge risk here.

By: Rurik Bradbury

Rurik Bradbury — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 13:53:00 +0000

“It’s time Apple started acting in its competitors’ interests, and not its own” – foolish commenters

Apple’s new Lightning connector is and will be better than a microUSB connector that has to cater to the lowest common denominator.

By: Bruce

Bruce — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 12:55:00 +0000

Apple should help developing industry wide standards instead of doing everything on their on and secretly wishing the entire consumer electronics industry would go bankrupt so they can rule the world.

By: wokkel

wokkel — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 11:52:00 +0000

Afaik the previous connectie could also not be turned around. As to there being other /better connectors available: sure that’s the great thing about standards: so many to choose from. The industry couldn’t choose and having a specific 5v adapter per device in the name of vendor independence is also not very consumer friendly I aplaud the idea and think less of apple for their “we know what you need mentallity” by the minute.

By: Sam

Sam — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 11:38:00 +0000

They didn’t use microUSB because their own connector is better. Whoever made something as tiny as micro only fit one way is an idiot, my mum wouldn’t stand a chance, so the lightening is easier to use. Also the USB standard isnt fast enough for tv mirroring, that’s the standards fault. There are better cabling protocols that can handle it, it ties in with thunderbolt technology, superior to USB.

So using their own port makes a lot of sense.

By: Samuel

Samuel — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 11:05:00 +0000

The idiocy of this approach of having a microUSB adapter is astounding.

Why not use the industry standard microUSB/MHL connector over the proprietary connector on the device in the first place? Is it because Apple is afraid that they might lose their grip over accessory development (by means of patents and licenses) to other hardware interface manufacturers?

Additionally, this micoUSB adapter can only be used for syncing and charging. You’re out of luck if you want to get a TV out.

By: Deuteronomy Wildebeest III

Deuteronomy Wildebeest III — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 10:35:00 +0000

Would be interested to know the average cost of staying on a 4s contract as opposed to moving to a 5 and making everything compatible.

By: adrianoconnor

adrianoconnor — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 10:27:00 +0000

Wonder if it’ll work like the USB adapter in the camera kit, letting you import photos over USB (and connect audio gear). If so, that’d actually be awesome :)

I bet it doesn’t do that though :(