The current title, <i>Apple will no longer license aftermarket power adapters for iPhone 5</i>, is not supported by the article. The word "power" doesn't even appear in the article.<p>The article does say: <i>Apple is said to have stopped approving third-party proposals for connector-equipped accessories in recent months.</i> That is the existing 30 pin connector. An unnamed person claims they are stopping developers from designing new gear for the legacy connector.<p>The new 9 pin connector is a secret. That means Apple won't share the specifications until after launch.<p>They are plugging the gap in the interim with a $10 adapter for your boom-box-with-a-dock or whatever, and extra USB cables which let you use anyone on the planet's charger, computer, or automobile are $19, which is about as cheap as Apple can be bothered to sell a cable. Like your existing cables better? Great, stick an adapter on the end. (I'll need the three pack to cover my existing cables but retain iPad charging capability. $30. Sucks until I replace the iPad2.)<p>The physical fit between dock, adapter, and iPhone will be highly variable, but it was going to be a bit different anyway from the phone's form factor change.<p>In short: Set down the pitchforks someplace handy and get back to work. See what the third party folk say on September 19th then tweet back to the mob.
According to iLounge, Apple expects to sell $US 100 million by the end of this year. That is no small amount but it's certainly not a large one for them. This makes me think that this move is about embracing the new dock connector, fast. They are gonna force the accessory makers to build the new 9 pin connector into their products instead of building the old 30 pin connector and bundling the adapter. Given that there are more than 500 million iPod compatible devices, I say the accessory makers need a little incentive.<p>I think if they could stop licensing the old adapter for any new product they'll do it without of doubt. It's about establishing a new dock standard not about screwing third parties (which they are doing anyway, but as a side effect.)
> Apple is said to have stopped approving third-party proposals for connector-equipped accessories in recent months<p>Isn't it possible they've just stopped approving new ones as part of their big secrecy around the next iPhone? The accessory market seems to be one of the big sources of iPhone rumours (whether correct or not). If they are changing the device specs they probably don't want new accessories appearing for the old iPhone, and they will want even less to give away any information that would lead to the accessories being compatible with the new iPhone.
"generating revenues of $100 million for every 10 million Dock Connector Adapters it sells for $10"<p>What is this, I don't even... do they pay by the word at AppleInsider?
I wonder why companies like apple keep so much goodwill at stake with "get every penny from customer" moves. I can understand why BestBuy would do it (They are already dying with high cost low margin items), but apple?
Given how dreadful Apple's own cables were (or at least they were in my experience back when I had an iPod Touch 2G), this is likely to be expensive for many iOS device owners.<p>Weren't they meant to be allowing microUSB chargers in the EU though? Even if they do it with an adapter that plugs into their own connector, that provides a way to avoid their costly cables.
Now I love my iDevices, but this is just wrong. How is this legal? It's okay, there's always China!<p>I don't know why, but when I hear stores like such I wonder how in the hell is it fair for Microsoft to get sued for about $1bn by the "EU" for including Windows Media player and IE in XP (in Europe), but Apple not to be for including iTunes and Safari. And now, pretty much monopolizing the iDevice sync business.<p>Anybody have an information/insight?
I wonder when apple will start offering their own Internet and not allow Apple users to connect to the Internet that we all know and love.
They are creating non-standards to squeeze more dimes out of its very loyal users.
This is utter BS.<p>Only because Apple will wind up extorting money from users on these damn things.<p>As it stands I have MANY power adapters for my apple products. I also have many adapters for my laptops: I keep multiple chargers in my backpack, a charger in basically every room of the house and I buy the 3rd party iphone cords from deal extreme that are 7 feet long because the length of an ipad cord is retarded.<p>The fact that apple things that the crappy headset should cost 29 bucks, and the charging cords should be 20 is INFURIATING!<p>Seriously, these things, we all know, cost .50c to make.<p>If there is one thing I absolutely despise about apple, it is moves like this.
The Auto Industry lost a lot of money trying to stop aftermarket products from being sold in the USA. Good luck Apple, it's going to cost you millions to stop the aftermarket business from producing equal and less expensive alternatives.
Kevin,
Cellphoneguruman
I am worried about how well the adapter will work in cars, where the dock connector provides mechanical support as well as connectivity (I have the 2point5 specdock in my audi). I'm not sure if extra height from the adapter is going to work well.