“Last week at Apple’s yearly briefing for accessory makers in its Made-for-iPhone/iPad (MFi) licensing program, the company unveiled new Lightning connectors and specs for Lightning receptacles that will soon be available for implementation in MFi accessories,” Jordan Kahn reports for 9to5Mac. “The new Lightning receptacle, scheduled to start shipping next year, will allow accessory makers to build new types of accessories that include a port for Apple’s proprietary Lightning connector previously reserved for its own iOS devices.”
“Allowing accessory makers to build-in a Lightning port provides a number of benefits, according to manufacturers briefed during Apple’s MFi Summit,” Kahn reports. “One of the biggest benefits is to reduce costs for manufacturers and simplify the product experience for users by using Lightning to provide power to both an accessory and the iOS device.”
Kahn reports, “Another area the Lightning port could come in handy is for Apple’s new Lightning headphone specs.”
Read more in the full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Readers “Dan K.” and “Arline M.” for the heads up.]
Does this open the way for USB thumb drive access so we won’t have to rely on SanDisk iXpand.
I kinda doubt it.
We used to be able to use USB drives with the camera connection kit, Apple changed the voltage on the actual port so the drives couldn’t be used anymore.
I’m betting this is for stuff like lightning connections on an alarm clock, like we used to see everywhere with the old 30 pin connection.
or more docks etc.
Apparently, you haven’t heard about this new fangled thing called the network. Did you know that USB is extremely dangerous for transmitting viruses and virus attacks on devices. Did you know that you can store anything you want on the ‘Cloud’ (internet connected storage)? Are you from the 1990’s?
I can’t stand people like you who want to hold back progress because they once bought a thumb drive for $99 and now you can get the same utility for free but you want everything to be compatible with your old dinosaur tech.
So you cant stand people like SanDisk who make the SanDisk iXpand to make the iOS devices useful. Get a life kid.
Apple lost an EU court battle and will be required to use mini USB to recharge their phones like every one else. Apple was hoping giving free converters, like they do now, would be OK, but not anymore. I believe this will start next year, or 2016. I don’t think Apple will build phones just for the EU or not sell to the EU. So now Apple is looking for something else for the Lightning to do.