Lightning Adapters A Jackpot For Apple; Bad News For Legacy Peripherals Users

HardMac’s Lionel notes that in order to connect the iPhone 5 (and the new iPods equipped with the same new Lightning connector) Apple also unveiled 4 new Lightning products.

A simple USB Lightning cable will cost $19 and for the adapters it will be even more expensive. The simple short adapter will cost $29 and it will be an extra $10 for 20 cm of cable at $39. The fourth item, a micro-USB port, is not available everywhere and is specific to the European Union as all phones sold in that market by law are required allow charging through micro-USB. However, the law allows manufacturers to use an adapter for that and doesn’t require them to include it for free, so users will have to spend another $19 or equivalent for that little adapter.

The French-language Website Casualtek notes that Apple’s new iPhone 5, iPod, (and soon iPad) connector called Lightning mocks the need for the consumer to change accessories previously acquired to accommodate the new connector format.

And even if you cough up the 29 euros for an optional adapter, you may still be unable to connect your new Apple device to your existing peripherals. As the U.S. Apple Store notes: “This adapter lets you connect devices with a Lightning connector to many of your 30-pin accessories. Video and iPod Out not supported.”

Casualtek observes that the previous 30-pin dock connector’s video output and audio output are clearly not reproduced by this adapter, so you’re out of luck in that context, which could be fatal to many accessories, though labeled “Made for iPhone” and “Made for iPod” and using the analog audio output dock connector.

They also cite a CNET report that some cars compatible with the iPod/iPhone original 30-pin connector, could be orphaned: including Kia, Hyundai, and BMW who need an analog audio signal.

For the full report (French) visit here:
http://bit.ly/QSfuEi