Cheaper, knock-off Apple Lightning cables might not take that long to appear

Since the iPhone 5 launch it became clear the new and way expensive Lightning cable packs some sort of a security chip inside and because of that – the cheap Chinese knock-off cables won’t work.

New findings by the awesome guys at Chipworks however lead us to believe there’s hope for cheaper cables. When Chipworks carried their teardown of the Lightning cable, they discovered it contains four chips – two of them very simple with just a couple of (power) transistors, a third, the NXP NX20P3, which is responsible for charging and finally, a mysterious fourth chip – the TI BQ2025.

This tiny fella manufactured by Texas Instruments is undocumented in TI’s database but there are four others close to it already cataloged in there. They are all battery fuel gauges, three of them serial EFPROMs and the last one – a battery monitor IC. All these terms here are not really important though. What you need to know is BQ2022, BQ2023, BQ2024 and BQ2026 all have one thing in common – they all feature some kind of security. It just makes sense for BQ2025 to deliver security features as well. And this tiny fella is probably the sole reason why all cheap cables just don’t work.

The positive thing from this investigation is that according to Chipworks, the security is far from “herculean”, it’s there to be “just enough” to deter the making of the knock-off cables, but without burdening Apple’s manufacturing costs by much. Chipsworks compare the level of security to “the level of effort that cartridge manufacturers used to implement in the olden days”, which obviously has been overcome many times.

So, there you have it. Apple’s done this so you can’t buy cheap Chinese replicas, at least for now.

Those of you who don’t want to spend a pile of cash on a set of original USB cables, should probably wait just a bit longer before those tiny chips get replicated into $3 cables.

Source : blog[dot]gsmarena[dot]com

Apple will soon release compatible VGA and HDMI to Lightning cables

Since the new Apple iPhone 5 comes with a brand new connectivity port called Lightning, many users were disappointed their old accessories won’t work.

After the announcement Apple unveiled two adapters – Lightning to 30-pin and Lightning to microUSB. As it turned out, though, the Lighting to 30-pin ridiculously overpriced gadget won’t support TV-out.

That’s the reason why Apple is preparing new Lightning TV-out adapter cables for VGA and HDMI output. They should hit the Apple Stores in the next month or two. Until then the iPhone 5 users are out of luck for TV connections.

I guess all iPhone 5 users will have to buy lots of new accessories – i.e. those with compatible cars, the owners of huge hotels with iPhone docks in each room, etc. The 30-pin might have been big and ugly, but it was at least spread over all iGadgets.

Source : blog[dot]gsmarena[dot]com

Apple Lightning Adapter: iHome, Gear4 accessories covered

There are worries over Apple's new Lightning cable and adapter's backward compatibility, but is it a cause for concern?

Talk of the iPhone 5’s new Lightning cable and its associated adapter is threatening to become this year’s “antennagate.” Confusion reigns as future iPhone 5 owners question whether they’ll be able to use their already-purchased accessories with the new device, or if the adapter’s limitations will scupper that plan.

Apple hasn’t helped by saying neither video or iPod-out is supported by the adapter, along with the disclaimer that “some 30-pin accessories are not supported,” but without adding any much needed detail.

To see if audio dock manufacturers were expecting any problems, we contacted a few of the big names for comment. iHome, North America’s number one maker of iPod speaker systems, said “The Apple Lightning to 30-pin adapters will support audio and charging with iHome docking stations.”

Good news there, then.

Gear4, who along with a wide-range of regular docks, also produces the licensed Angry Birds docks, provided more detail, saying “based on our understanding of the specification of the adapter, it appears that most or all of our products should work with the new iOS devices through the adapter.” This will include speakers that are “app-enabled,” and the forthcoming Renew SleepClock, that can monitor sleep patterns.

Regarding the Gear4 docks that don’t use a 30-pin connector but Bluetooth and AirPlay instead, the USB charging port on the rear is compatible with the Lightning cable and will charge attached devices as normal.

We’ve contacted JBL and Bose for comment too, and will update with their responses.

Gizmodo claims that the lack of iPod-out compatibility will be more of an issue for those who connect their iPhones and iPods to in-car entertainment systems, where apps that previously integrated with the system may no longer do so, and standard-fit controls may not operate the device either.

As for the video out problem, Apple may have a solution, but it’ll involve buying another set of cables. The Verge reports that an Apple representative told them Lightning to HDMI and Lightning to VGA cables would arrive in “the coming months.” If AirPlay’s not an option for you, then it looks like it’ll be best to wait for the new cables rather than splash out on an adapter.

Unfortunately, concrete answers to questions regarding the Lightning adapter may have to wait until the iPhone 5 and new iPods go on sale, and owners get to test it out when the adapter is released in October. Judging by what we’ve heard from manufacturers so far, it may not be as much of a problem as many feared.

Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

Apple launches Lightning to microUSB adapter for EU

The newly announced iPhone 5 introduced a smaller but still proprietary Lightning USB port. It’s different from the microUSB standard required by the EU Commission, so Apple once again had to come up with a workaround.

Yes, I am talking another adapter – Lightning to microUSB.

The adapter is small, unlike the 30pin-to-Lightning one available in the USA for $30.

The Lightning to microUSB gadget costs £15 or €19 in the EU Apple Stores and is compatible with the iPhone 5, iPod Touch 5th gen and iPod nano 7th gen. We were hoping that this will come included in the EU retail packages, but based on current evidence, it appears that this is not going to happen.

Source : blog[dot]gsmarena[dot]com

Apple’s new Lightning cable and its many expensive adaptors

Apple's new iPhone 5 uses the equally new Lightning connector, but what does that mean for your old accessories?

One of the key changes on the new iPhone 5 is the introduction of the Lightning, a new cable replacement for the old 30-pin connector, introduced nearly ten years ago, that we all know and (sometimes) love.

Despite its name going hand-in-hand with Apple’s Thunderbolt connection, it still connects to a USB port, and the changes come at the business end. It’s 80-percent smaller than the old connector, apparently less likely to break and it’s reversible too, so you can plug it into your phone or new iPod without checking its orientation first.

Apple also says its 8-pin, all-digital cable is faster too, but there’s no mention of by how much, or in what respect. We’ll find out more when we get our hands on one.

A lot of adapters

All this sounds good, but it’s not all positive, as anyone with an accessory for an older iPhone that relies on the 30-pin connector, won’t be able to instantly use it with the new iPhone 5.

Not to worry, as Apple has a plan, and it involves buying an expensive adapter. The first, and most basic, is at least 80-percent larger than the Lightning and a full 100-percent uglier too. The Lightning to 30-pin adapter costs $29/£25, and is ideally suited to use with audio docks, where the iPhone has to sit on a base. It’s overall steadiness in this situation though, remains to be seen.

If you’d prefer not to precariously balance your new phone on a series of ever-smaller connectors, the Lightning to 30-pin adapter with a cable maybe preferable. It’s as it sounds — splitting the two ends between a 20cm long piece of cable — but will cost you $39/£30 instead. Apple will also sell standard USB to Lightning cables, priced at $19/£15.

No audio and video out

Apple has warned that not every piece of equipment will function even with an adapter, so don’t be surprised if you end up having to buy a new accessory anyway, and the adapters don’t support audio or video out either.

Heading over to Europe, we find another Lightning adapter, and it’s one that Apple has to provide whether it likes it or not. In 2009, a piece of EU legislation was introduced for manufacturers to adopt a common standard for mobile phone chargers, which turned out to be the micro-USB.

Neither the 30-pin connector, nor the new Lightning comply with this, but it’s acceptable to offer an adapter instead, thus we have the Lightning to micro-USB Adapter, which costs £15, or 19 Euros.

If you’re ready to order your new iPhone 5, and want a new dock to go with it, Apple told GigaOm.com that JBL, Bose, Bowers & Wilkins and Bang & Olufsen will be among the first to offer Lightning-equipped docks, and we should look out for them as we get closer to Christmas.

Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

Apple’s new dock connector to be called Lightning, will be fast as one too

The new 9-pin dock connector that Apple is rumored to announce today is going to be called “Lightning”, according to 9to5mac sources.

If the naming rumor turns out to be true, it would fit perfectly in Apple’s naming scheme, as the company is already utilizing Thunderbolt in its latest Macbooks models. Rumor has it, the new 9-pin connector is going to cost $20.

Another Apple accessory has also got its name leaked. The new earphones that are going to ship with the new iPhone 5 will be reportedly called “Earpod headphones”. They’ll retail for the same price as the current ones – $29 (at least in the US).

In less than an hour we’ll know for a fact how the new cable and earphones will be called, so stay tuned.

Source : blog[dot]gsmarena[dot]com