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back to article Apple eyes $$$ iDevice adapter bonanza

Does anyone feel umbrage that Apple will be the only supplier of adaptors to bridge its new, nine-pin and old, 30-pin dock connectors at the outset? You do? For heaven's sake why? Even iLounge, the site that made the claim that this will be the case, says it's an "initial" deal. In other words, Apple will - naturally, since …

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  1. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Other manufacturers actually support the Apple 'dock' connector - that pretty much says it all - it's not an issue for Android users as apart from basic charging docks I've not seen a Bose Sounddock for the Galaxy or a Note dock for my car - they just don't exist as it's too much of a moving target.

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  2. mad_dr
    Coat

    You only need...

    ...1 adapter and a bit of gaffer tape to attach it to the phone. Job done.

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  3. jai

    the thing is..

    ...the third party usb-to-30pin-iphone leads i've tried over the years have all been rubbish. cheaper, yes, but soon fail and require replacing. whereas the Apple branded ones i've either got with the iDevices or bought to replace the crap 3rd party ones, are all still working.

    so, yes, i'll happily pay Apple 6 quid an adapter, i'll probably buy two, because in the long run, that's cheaper than having to buy six that are made by a third party which then fall apart after a month.

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  4. IHateWearingATie
    FAIL

    They may have lost me as a customer in the future...

    ... apart from liking iOS, one of the reasons I've stayed with Apple is the ubiquity of connectors in my house (chargers, docks etc) that fit both the iPhones and iPods we have. I'll have to see how the adapter works but it may be a more open competition for my next phone - I've come to like Jellybean on my Nexus 7 tablet as much as iOS...

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    1. Dave 126 Silver badge
      Reply Icon

      Re: They may have lost me as a customer in the future...

      Jelly Bean has 'USB Audio', apparently... maybe the first step to an Android dock solution. Have you played with it / have any idea what it is? Documentation seems a little light.

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  5. RainForestGuppy

    Well at least

    Samsung can't be sued, they use a micro USB just like every sane company in the world.

    But then again if you didn't design you own propriety connector you can't patent it and charge everybody for the "privilege" of using it.

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    1. Anonymous Coward
      Reply Icon
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Well at least

      Actually the Galaxy Tab line uses a proprietary connector as well.

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      1. Charles 9
        Reply Icon

        Re: Well at least

        The Tabs use BOTH. But at least they provide explanations for the proprietary connection. First off, it allows more power than the Micro USB spec allows (over 1A @ 5V), so it charges faster. It also allows breakout functions like video out (analog or digital, your choice), USB-A sockets, etc. And like Apple, the tail end is a USB A plug, so a decent USB power supply socket (I think they recommend at least 1.5A @ 5V) can charge your Tab wherever you go.

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        1. Anonymous Coward
          Reply Icon
          Anonymous Coward

          Re: Well at least

          That's pretty much exactly like Apple's proprietary connectionthen (either current or prospective). Breakout functions and surprisingly high amperage.

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  6. mickey mouse the fith

    Meh, tech advances,connectors change. I have no problem with this as long as.....

    1: Apple didnt change it to gouge more money from customers, whilst adding no extra utility.

    2: They didnt change it to lock out 3rd partys via embedded chips.

    3: They didnt make the adaptor so awkward to use that people gravitate to new Apple made docks/acessories etc.

    Of course, they probably did all the above, there not a charity after all.

    Whats wrong with usb anyway?, seems to work for every other phone out there at the moment.

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    1. Lord Elpuss Silver badge
      Reply Icon

      What's wrong with USB...

      ...is that the charging current is too limited, at least if they want to stay within the USB spec. Charging, say, an iPad 3 over standard MicroUSB would take 11 hours.

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  7. Matt Bryant Silver badge
    Happy

    Apple said it will work, so it will work, right...?

    My colleague that brought his iPad3 over lunch (yes, the one that didn't know it had a rocker volume switch) had an amusing problem - charging it. The Apple site says you can charge from the Apple 10W adapter, any iMac, or from a PC "with a suitable USB port". We don't have any iMacs in our office so that option was out. So we started trying PC USB ports, and were amazed to find it simply refused them all, even brand new PCs with USB3 ports! At our wits end we were ROFLing when we finally fooled it with another phone's USB-3-pin adapter - a Samsung one!

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    1. Lord Elpuss Silver badge
      Reply Icon
      Boffin

      Re: Apple said it will work, so it will work, right...?

      Standard PC (non-Apple) USB ports are typically limited to less than 1A, in many cases 500mA. This is sufficient to charge an iPad 3 (albeit slowly), as long as the iPad is turned off. On, it consumes more power than it gets from the adapter and won't charge.

      You didn't 'fool' it with the Samsung adapter, it was simply able to supply enough current to charge the iPad whilst turned on.

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      1. Matt Bryant Silver badge
        Reply Icon
        FAIL

        Re: Re: Apple said it will work, so it will work, right...?

        "Standard PC (non-Apple) USB ports are typically limited to less than 1A, in many cases 500mA......" We did try with the iPad switched off. Don't tell me, USB ports on Apple iMacs are somehow exceeding 900mA, or they have magic electrons 'cos they're coming out of an APple port? Yeah, right! More likely it's some shameful Apple control freakery - "you will only use an Apple device to charge another Apple device!" Some of the ports tried are USB3 ports giving 900mA, if they don't work then why does Apple say they will on their site?

        PS: My colleague says he's since found it also works with an old HTC 3pin-USB adapter.

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        1. Lord Elpuss Silver badge
          Reply Icon
          Thumb Down

          Re: Apple said it will work, so it will work, right...?

          Yes, USB ports on MacBooks and iMacs manufactured since 2007 will provide up to 1100mA when an Apple device is connected and specifically requests it.

          If your colleague's iPad 3 is not charging at all from a standard (900mA) USB port when the iPad is turned off, then it is either broken, or the USB port is broken/switched off, or the cable is broken, or (more likely) you're telling porkies in an effort to shovel FUD.

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          1. Matt Bryant Silver badge
            Reply Icon

            Re: Re: Apple said it will work, so it will work, right...?

            "....If your colleague's iPad 3 is not charging at all from a standard (900mA) USB port when the iPad is turned off, then it is either broken....or the cable is broken..." Duh! If it charges off the 3-pin adapters with the same cable how can it be broken, genius?

            "....or the USB port is broken/switched off...." yeah, ports that work fine with external drives, printers, scanners, USB keys, and can be used to charge other phones (Blackberrys, Samsung or HTC) and tablets, just happens to switch off for an Apple device.... You a bit paranoid or just getting desperate?

            "....or (more likely) you're telling porkies in an effort to shovel FUD." So anyone that doesn't echo your blinkered view of life in the Apple walled garden is a liar? Get over yourself.

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            1. Lord Elpuss Silver badge
              Reply Icon
              FAIL

              Re: Apple said it will work, so it will work, right...?

              Matt, I fail to see what's so difficult to understand about USB ports under Windows not being able to supply the current required to charge an iPad 3 with the screen turned on. Is it really that complicated?

              There's no magic electrons and no conspiracy theory. The simple fact is that USB ports on MacBooks or iMacs manufactured since 2007 are capable of supplying 1100mA to devices that request it; USB ports under Windows or Linux are rated at max 900mA.

              The simple fact is that the more you argue, dispute or create strawmen about the above, the more you show you either can't understand, or won't understand. You're also making yourself look like an idiot. My advice? Stop now before you need a shovel to dig yourself back out again.

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              2. Matt Bryant Silver badge
                Reply Icon
                FAIL

                Re: Apple said it will work, so it will work, right...?

                "......I fail to see what's so difficult to understand about USB ports under Windows not being able to supply the current required to charge an iPad 3 with the screen turned on...." I fail to see what is so difficult in not being able to read above where I plainly said the iPad was off! Complete fail, obviously due to shiny white blinkers.

                ".....The simple fact is that USB ports on MacBooks or iMacs manufactured since 2007 are capable of supplying 1100mA to devices that request it; USB ports under Windows or Linux are rated at max 900mA....." So what you're saying is not only do Apple not use a standard implementation of USB2, they also put incorrect advice on their website - http://www.apple.com/ipad/specs/, http://manuals.info.apple.com/en_US/ipad_user_guide.pdf page 22 - no mention of Apple computers only and no warning that the Ipad3 is such a powerhog it can't charge from a running PC. Thanks for clearing that up.

                "....You're also making yourself look like an idiot...." Your inability to read simple posts, plus your obvious fanboism, suggests are mentally unequipped to comment. You are well beyond the point of looking stupid what with your rabid denial of a simple user observation. What are you going to suggest next, that we were holding it wrong? Epic fail of the true fanboi. I suggest you just stay at home and continue fondling your iDevices and leave the conversation to the adults.

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                1. Gerrit van Amerongen
                  Reply Icon
                  FAIL

                  Re: Apple said it will work, so it will work, right...?

                  @Matt Bryant: you're giving us Android users a bad name; stop being such a dick. Try listening instead of mouthing off, you might learn something.

                  Sheesh.

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                  1. Matt Bryant Silver badge
                    Reply Icon
                    FAIL

                    Re: Re: Apple said it will work, so it will work, right...?

                    "Gerrit van Amerongen" - a one post account created just before the post defending fanbois. Yes, I'm so sure you're a real and staunch supporter of Android.

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                    1. Gerrit van Amerongen
                      Reply Icon
                      Thumb Down

                      Re: Apple said it will work, so it will work, right...?

                      I don't see myself as a 'supporter' of an platform; it's not a football team. I use Android on my Empire Nova S tablet (writing this now on it), my friend has a Galaxy Note which he loves, and I would buy if I could afford it. Just to prove I'm not biassed I also like how the Ipad looks, but don't like the idea of only ever being able to use my apps on Apple stuff.

                      For my work I have a ThinkPad T410 which is nice hardware, crippled by a useless corporate software image.

                      So I consider myself a user, not a fan or supporter of anything in particular. Each has it's advantages and disadvantages.

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                2. JP Cavendish
                  Reply Icon
                  Boffin

                  @Matt Bryant

                  Lord Elpuss is right.

                  http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4060

                  "The fastest way to charge your iPad is with the included 10W USB Power Adapter. iPad will also charge, although more slowly, when attached to a computer with a high-power USB port (many recent Mac computers) or with an iPhone Power Adapter. When attached to a computer via a standard USB port (most PCs or older Mac computers) iPad will charge, but only when it's in sleep mode. Make sure your computer is on while charging iPad via USB. If iPad is connected to a computer that’s turned off or is in sleep or standby mode, the iPad battery will continue to drain."

                  If your colleagues ipad isn't charging *at all* over USB, even when asleep, it's probably broken and your colleague should take it back to the Apple store.

                  A little research works wonders...

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                  1. Matt Bryant Silver badge
                    Reply Icon
                    FAIL

                    Re: @Matt Bryant

                    I see that you must have got the other half of the brain cells allocated to Lord Elpuss. Unfortunately, you don't seem to have got any of your own.

                    ".....If your colleagues ipad isn't charging *at all* over USB, even when asleep, it's probably broken...." If it charges off an HTC and a Samsung charger it can't be broken! DUH! You might also have noticed that the Apple article does not specify USB2.0 or USB3.0, only "high-power USB". Maybe asking fanbois to know the difference was too much for Apple to ask.

                    "....A little research works wonders..." A little reading before frothing might have helped you not look as stupid as Elpuss.

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      2. Dave 126 Silver badge
        Reply Icon

        Re: Apple said it will work, so it will work, right...?

        The Samsung Tab's wall charger with USB socket is rated at 2A

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    2. Anonymous Coward
      Reply Icon
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Apple said it will work, so it will work, right...?

      The iPad didn't "refuse" any USB ports. It charges when the screen is off. When the screen is on, it says it isn't charging because it isn't getting enough power to run the screen AND charge the battery.

      This was a big, widely-reported point of confusion when the first iPad was released a couple of years ago. I thought everybody was aware of it by now. Apparently not.

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      1. Matt Bryant Silver badge
        Reply Icon
        FAIL

        Re: Re: Apple said it will work, so it will work, right...?

        We did try it witht eh screen off.

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  8. Craigness

    Whilst Nokia makes the future, Apple sells the past

    Yesterday Nokia outed a phone which connects to a speaker simply by being placed on top of it, and it charges whilst it's playing (homage to Palm 2008?). Meanwhile apple is still using a port (homage to Palm 1998?). When they finally catch up to the Google/Nokia way the itards will happily update all their peripherals and still crow about how magical and revolutionary their ecosystem is.

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    1. Anonymous Coward
      Reply Icon
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Whilst Nokia makes the future, Apple sells the past

      A single, unreleased product doesn't make an "ecosystem."

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    2. JP Cavendish
      Reply Icon

      Re: Whilst Nokia makes the future, Apple sells the past

      Have to say I've never in my life heard an Apple fan crowing. Apple Marketing dept certainly, but the users are a quiet lot for the most part.

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      1. Matt Bryant Silver badge
        Reply Icon
        Facepalm

        Re: Whilst Nokia makes the future, Apple sells the past

        "Have to say I've never in my life heard an Apple fan crowing..." Lucky you is all I can offer! You obviously haven't heard the joke doing the rounds in London:

        Q: How do you know if there's an iPad owner in the room?

        A: Don't worry, they'll soon tell you. Repeatedly.

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        1. JP Cavendish
          Reply Icon

          Re: Whilst Nokia makes the future, Apple sells the past

          Hilarious. Again, not my experience; YMMV.

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  9. Wang N Staines
    Happy

    Fragmentation

    All the fanbois shout altogether now ... FRAGMENTATION!!!

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    1. Steve Todd
      Reply Icon
      Stop

      Re: Fragmentation

      Er, how is a different dock connector going to effect what software it will run? Fragmentation is about that and the many Android versions that developers have to worry about, and to a lesser extent variations in CPU and GPU hardware, not whether said device has a 30 pin connector, mini or micro USB.

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  10. Infernoz Bronze badge
    Meh

    Why not gratis with the 1st devices which use the new connector?

    Apple should be the only supplier initially, gratis with the 1st device to use this connector, given it is they who broke their own 'standard'.

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  11. Nick De Plume
    Headmaster

    go proprietary!

    Anything and everything this pin layout can do, can be done using standards based connectors and protocols.

    (mhl microusb, wifi-direct instead of airplay etc)

    Maybe it won't be as neat and tidy though.

    Apple can go for proprietary, because of the vast userbase. It is easier and way more profitable for them.

    Me? I like microUSB. It is cheap and very durable - the male end of a cable can break, but important female connector at the device end is very durable. And cables are cheap and plentiful. I like HDMI, because it too is everywhere. I also have an expensive minidisplayport-DVI adapter languishing in my drawer, just because Apple didn't see fit to add a regular HDMI out to its now older generation notebooks, and subsequently took away minidisplayport too. And no, still no HDMI.

    Anyway. If you are buying into the Apple Ecosystem, you are tacitly agreeing to pay more - that's the way the cookie crumbles. No two sides to it. It doesn't make you an iTard or fanboy, it just is what it is.

    (A note to Lord Elpuss: microUSB is way more robust than miniUSB. It wasn't simply space saving)

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    1. JP Cavendish
      Reply Icon

      Re: go proprietary!

      @Nick de Plume; interesting about the robustness of Micro vs MiniUSB; I've always assumed that because micro is that much more 'precise' in terms of tolerances, that it is less forgiving when abused. It's also a pain in the ass if you get dust in either plug or socket, especially if you don't notice and just ram it home.

      In terms of whether microUSB would do the job just as well as the proprietary connector, I can think of two possible reasons of the top of my head why they might not want to use it; 1. Related to dust getting in, maybe they had issues with putting 2.1A through a dusty connector hence their own 'magical and revolutionary dust-rejection mechanism' in their own connector, and 2. Given that they are already butchering the USB spec by delivering massively higher current than the spec allows, maybe the USB Working Group wouldn't let them use it.

      Just my $0.02

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  12. admiraljkb

    Most everyone else has moved on to using Bluetooth anyway haven't they?

    Wires are so 20th century. :)

    I moved to Bluetooth Audio in 2006 (on the much maligned WinMobe no less and a couple of years ahead of Apple getting it), and getting rid of the wires and still being able to listen to music is awesome. Particularly when you are in an environment where if a wire catches on something, its bad news. Truthfully the whole hardwired dock thing is pretty antiquated concept when Bluetooth and DLNA are now well established. Apple should go to Micro-USB to satisify EU legislation, and drop the proprietary nonsense.

    (with the above said and my personal opinion known, Apple IS making money on the proprietary dock nonsense, sooooo, the shareholders would be most cross if Apple dropped it and joined industry standards, at least until sales drop. Normally by that point though, its too late... Ala Mac in the 80's)

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