“A mini Dock Connector expected to make its debut on Apple’s new iPhone next month sports 9 official points of contact and takes design cues from the company’s patented and ‘idiot proof’ MagSafe adapters,” Kasper Jade reports for AppleInsider.
“The introduction of the new connector alongside Apple’s so-called iPhone 5 next month is expected to jumpstart a transition to retire the legacy 30-pin connector that has been a staple of the company’s handheld devices since making its debut on the third-generation iPod classic nearly 10 years ago,” Jade reports. “In addition to comprising roughly 60% less real estate, the new mini Dock Connector will deliver enhancements in I/O connectivity and transfer rates with just a fraction of the number of electrical contacts as its predecessor, according to people familiar with the matter.”
“They say the 8 gold contacts seen on one side of the male plug in recently leaked photos of the connector are simply repeated on the flip side,” Jade reports. “‘The beauty of this connector is that it no longer matters which side is up when you insert it into the phone,’ one of those people explained. ‘It’s like MagSafe on the [MacBook] – every orientation is the correct one.'”
More info and photos in the full article here.
Related articles:
Apple’s new micro Dock Connector even smaller than originally thought – August 8, 2012
Apple to bring new micro Dock connector to all iOS devices this autumn, says source – August 6, 2012
Apple’s new micro Dock Connector to feature only 8-pins, sources say – August 1, 2012
Apple to provide an adapter for new micro Dock connector, sources say – July 23, 2012
What will they think of next! 😛
Actually, I haven’t been a huge proponent of a new plug, but that would be positive change. If I had a nickel for every time I tried to insert a charger cabe in upside down….
Now if Apple could convince Intel to update the USB plugs so those were bidirectional as well we would really be making some progress.
So it would be a symmetrical shape, with the contact points in the middle.
Yay adapters from apple. I love how they design adapters for everything. At least they do it, and charge double the price for always working. Except those exceptions when their adapters don’t work. Idiot proof cables are the best change they could do. Oh it would be great if apple made and adapter to adapt thirty pin products to use the new cable so the new phone users don’t have to carry around two different cables for their products.
Hmmm… The article says, “the new mini Dock Connector will deliver enhancements in I/O connectivity and transfer rates…”
I’m not buying that aspect. It’s not Thunderbolt, and I can’t see USB 3.
Weird.
They only have to be faster than USB2 to be “enhanced”. Also, most all the portable devices are Flash now. Why couldn’t they have it so that it talks faster to USB3 ports?
Synching your entire library in seconds. Nice!
Cable based syncing, how quaint!!
I’im sure you’ll still be able to sync wirelessly should you choose that option.
I believe the cable jack will have 9 pins, and the socket will have 18 pins. This way you can plug it in either way.
This explains the early rumors that claimed 18 contacts on the socket.