The Verge - Apple's Lightning connector: a bumpy ride to a new accessory standard

Why does Apple's Lightning to HDMI adapter have an ARM computer inside?

2013-03-02T04:58:37Z

Panic Software, purveyor of Mac OS X applications, was curious why Apple's $49 Lightning Digital AV adapter wasn't performing very well. The picture quality was lacking, displaying odd video artifacts and failing to output full 1080p video. So Panic cracked open the case, and what should it find... but a tiny ARM computer chip inside. It's got an Apple logo on top, and markings indicate it might have 256MB of memory within.

Why does the adapter need a processor, though? Panic Software's theory is that the device actually delivers video via AirPlay streaming. Your iOS device would compress the video, then the adapter would decompress it and deliver it to an HDMI-equipped TV. The video artifacting, a common issue with video processed that...

Harman announces $399 JBL Rumble speaker as support for Apple's Lightning standard grows

2013-01-04T16:50:03Z

It's been a long time coming, but CES 2013 looks destined to be the biggest showcase yet for iOS speaker docks and other accessories that support Apple's Lightning connector. Take Harman for example, which today announced another two JBL speakers to complement those it introduced in November. The $149 OnBeat Mini slots in between its existing Venue LT ($199) and OnBeat Micro ($99). Like the Micro, the Mini is being touted more for its portability than any revelations in sound. For that, the company is announcing its high-end JBL Rumble at $399.95, and as the name implies, strong bass performance is the clear focus here. Harman claims the Rumble offers "thunderous performance" and will include unspecified streaming capabilities for...

First third-party Lightning cables come in multiple lengths from Griffin

2012-11-30T00:03:34Z

Griffin has announced the first third-party Lightning cables. While we've started to see accessories trickle out for Apple products that use the new connector, such as the iPhone 5 and iPad mini, until now you haven't been able to buy an actual charge & sync cable from anyone but Cupertino itself. Griffin is offering the cables in four different lengths: 2-foot, 3-foot, 4-foot (coiled), and 3-meter (9.7-foot), priced at $16.99, $18.99, $24.99, and $29.99 respectively. For comparison, Apple sells a 3.5-foot cable for $19, so Griffin isn't really undercutting on price here. Still, with more flexibility in length and a black color scheme, we're sure these products will find their audience. They'll be shipping in the first week of December.

Weeks after Lightning connector debut, Belkin unveils first third-party accessories

2012-11-05T17:37:04Z

54 days after Apple unveiled its new Lightning connector to the world, the first third-party accessories have arrived. Belkin today announced that both a car charger and dock compatible with the latest line of iOS hardware will be available in mid-November, each priced at $29.99. We're somewhat perplexed by the car charger: Belkin has taken the bizarre step of replacing the USB port found on previous iterations with a hardwired Lightning cable. Whether this change was orchestrated by Apple as part of new Lightning certification policies or merely Belkin's own doing isn't clear and we've reached out for comment. It makes for a significant reduction in device compatibility however, a shame considering the 10-watt, 2.1-amp charger would...

Apple woos accessory manufacturers with Lightning summit in China

2012-10-18T02:59:36Z

We reported earlier this month that part of the reason iPhone 5 owners haven't seen any third-party Lightning accessories just yet is because of new restrictions Apple put into place for its accessory licensing program. It appears that logjam will start moving in just a few weeks, with 9to5Mac reporting that Cupertino's next summit for accessory makers will be happening between November 7th and 9th in Shenzhen, China.

The MFi Technology Summit — MFi stands for Made for iPod / iPhone / iPad — is an opportunity for Apple to discuss the specifications and technologies needed for licensees building iOS and iPod accessories. This year presents an interesting quandary, however. Apple has put into place several new limitations on the...

Mystery chip in Apple Lightning connector exposed

2012-10-16T17:11:41Z

When Apple unveiled its new Lightning connector, there was a bit of sticker shock surrounding the adapters that offer compatibility with older 30-pin dock accessories. The company is charging $29 for the basic adapter and $39 for one that integrates a small cable. Some had hoped that third parties would be able to produce alternatives on the cheap, but it was soon discovered that Apple had incorporated a chip widely believed to prevent any type of unauthorized or knockoff Lightning-based accessories.

An in-depth look at the connector by Chipworks seems to bear that theory out. The silicon expert discovered an unannounced Texas Instruments chip it believes is intended for security purposes. Advanced imaging of the chip in question...

Apple's new third-party certification rules may delay the launch of Lightning-compatible accessories

2012-10-03T21:43:02Z

We've been wondering what Apple's new Lightning connector for the iPhone 5 would mean for the iPhone accessory market, and now it's looking like the company is tightening up manufacturing of its new connector and imposing new restrictions on participants in its Made for iPod / iPhone / iPad (MFi) program. iLounge is reporting that third-party manufacturing facilities will need to be certified before it can produce any Lightning accessories, and we've confirmed this change with our own sources. From Apple's own documentation, the new rule says that "Only MFi Manufacturing Licensees will be able to procure mass-production quantities of Lightning connectors." Additionally, no third-party facilities have been approved yet, even though the...

Apple's new Lightning connector sends shockwaves through the accessory market

2012-09-17T18:01:05Z

The Blue Danube. Fragments suspended in air. An iPod speaker dock spontaneously explodes in slow motion, capacitors, speaker drivers and chunks of plastic slowly spinning away from the wreckage. Philips, Sony and Logitech creations, ripped to shreds. Jawbone proclaims: "The dock is dead."

The video is a self-serving jab at rivals, but the wireless audio vendor has a point. Last week, Apple did away with the nine-year-old Dock Connector, replacing the ubiquitous 30-pin jack with a new "Lightning" design. It’s far from the first time Apple has tossed out an old technology in favor of a new one (remember FireWire, and floppy drives?) but Apple’s popularity has grown so much over the last half-decade that a tremendous number of...