Tangent: I know that that comment is more of a need for self-deprecation than an actual opinion, but the new brazilian standard plug is not a disaster at all. It's a clever, much safer design, based on an international standard. Every product made in the last half-dozen years fits it, and by now most commercial spaces and every new residence has them. Lately I'm having more trouble with sockets/extensions that <i>aren't</i> updated than the opposite...
Anybody happen to know if the lightning port, in theory at least, can support Thunderbolt? In the future, I'd really like to be able to plug in a nice A/D audio converter to the iPad and use it as a DAW.<p>If it's not theoretically possible, then the lightning port really isn't future proof.
Would be interesting if Apple put Lightning ports on their MacBooks, and then sold Lightning to Lightning cables. Then there would be no restrictions from the protocol at the other end of the cable.
So if I understand this correctly, this system uses a male connector as a power OUTput? Does that mean every charger must be intelligent enough to properly detect shorting if someone touches the lightning tip to a steel table? Is that when the lightning happens? What about the immense market for poorly made non-intelligent third party devices without proper safety circutry.. doesn't an exposed male power output open up a huge danger door?
Maybe I was the only one in the dark, but if you've not seen it, this cable is damn cool (yes, I'm a geek).<p>It's not "hollow" like USB cables, where the "male" plug is actually a "female" plug in the sense that there is a negative space in the usb connector that is filled when it's plugged in. With the Lightning port, it's just a male nub with the pins on both sides. Meaning you don't have to worry about orienting it correctly.