What Smart Connector charging could mean for the 'iPhone 7' and beyond
Now that we know Apple will let its Smart Connector do more than just clip on a keyboard, rumors that it will make its way from the iPad Pro lineup to the iPhone make much more sense. AppleInsider takes a look at the changes that might bring.
Accessory maker Logitech let the cat out of the bag on Tuesday with the unveiling of its new Logi Base. The Logi Base is an iPad Pro charging dock that delivers power through the Smart Connector, rather than through the iPad's Lightning port.
When it was announced, the Smart Connector was touted as a way for the iPad Pro to provide low-bandwidth bidirectional data transfer and feed power to accessories.
In that context, rumors that Apple would tack a Smart Connector onto the next-gen iPhone seemed unlikely. Unlikelier still were "leaked" parts that showed a Smart Connector right next to the iPhone's Lightning port, a duplication of functionality if ever there was one.
We thought there was no way this would ever happen.
There's a growing cloud of smoke surrounding the possibility of an "iPhone 7" that lacks a traditional headphone jack. For Apple to pull this off without a consumer revolt, it would need to provide an easy and low-cost method to plug a pair of headphones into the Lightning port.
This means a dongle.
The dongle would almost surely have to be included in the box with the "iPhone 7," and it would have to be more than a simple passthrough -- it would need to support simultaneous charging as well. The latter requirement eliminates a simple male-to-female solution similar to the current Lightning-to-Micro USB adapter.
Instead, we'd be stuck with something closer to the MacBook's USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter -- or "giant dongle," for short.
The Smart Connector-bearing "iPhone" bears a striking resemblance to Futurama's Bender.
If there's a secondary way to charge the iPhone, however, the giant dongle requirement is lessened. Apple can sell it as an add-on accessory and the revolt might be reduced to a mere rabble.
Even more convincingly, adding a Smart Connector would allow companies like Mophie to eliminate the Lightning passthrough connectors on battery cases and wireless charging adapters. This would enable new form factors and could make them more consumer-friendly.
Imagine a battery case without the "chin" at the bottom, or a Qi adapter that quickly snaps on and off.
No matter how well-justified, putting both a Smart Connector and a Lightning port next to each other on a palm-sized device just feels wrong.
Then again, so does sticking the tail end of our Apple Pencil into an iPad to charge -- good thing they included a dongle.
Accessory maker Logitech let the cat out of the bag on Tuesday with the unveiling of its new Logi Base. The Logi Base is an iPad Pro charging dock that delivers power through the Smart Connector, rather than through the iPad's Lightning port.
When it was announced, the Smart Connector was touted as a way for the iPad Pro to provide low-bandwidth bidirectional data transfer and feed power to accessories.
In that context, rumors that Apple would tack a Smart Connector onto the next-gen iPhone seemed unlikely. Unlikelier still were "leaked" parts that showed a Smart Connector right next to the iPhone's Lightning port, a duplication of functionality if ever there was one.
We thought there was no way this would ever happen.
Why we might've been wrong
There's a growing cloud of smoke surrounding the possibility of an "iPhone 7" that lacks a traditional headphone jack. For Apple to pull this off without a consumer revolt, it would need to provide an easy and low-cost method to plug a pair of headphones into the Lightning port.
This means a dongle.
The dongle would almost surely have to be included in the box with the "iPhone 7," and it would have to be more than a simple passthrough -- it would need to support simultaneous charging as well. The latter requirement eliminates a simple male-to-female solution similar to the current Lightning-to-Micro USB adapter.
Instead, we'd be stuck with something closer to the MacBook's USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter -- or "giant dongle," for short.
The Smart Connector-bearing "iPhone" bears a striking resemblance to Futurama's Bender.
If there's a secondary way to charge the iPhone, however, the giant dongle requirement is lessened. Apple can sell it as an add-on accessory and the revolt might be reduced to a mere rabble.
Even more convincingly, adding a Smart Connector would allow companies like Mophie to eliminate the Lightning passthrough connectors on battery cases and wireless charging adapters. This would enable new form factors and could make them more consumer-friendly.
Imagine a battery case without the "chin" at the bottom, or a Qi adapter that quickly snaps on and off.
Why we might've been right
No matter how well-justified, putting both a Smart Connector and a Lightning port next to each other on a palm-sized device just feels wrong.
Then again, so does sticking the tail end of our Apple Pencil into an iPad to charge -- good thing they included a dongle.
Comments
2) If Apple includes their own wired headphones that include a Lightning port, I would _also_ expect Apple to include a dongle. If, there are no headphones, then I can see the dongle being included for a couple years.
3) When was the last time Apple included a dongle with any primary device?
4) My interest in the Smart Connector is the ability to place and remove from a charger without having to hold the docking unit in any way. This Shiism also less for less exact placement and less force when resting and picking up, which should add to a slightly better user experience (at least for me).
already available, I have one... search for the Kuner Kuke case. They even have a newer model with built in storage in addition to the battery.
The dongle would almost surely have to be included in the box with the "iPhone 7," and it would have to be more than a simple passthrough -- it would need to support simultaneous charging as well. The latter requirement eliminates a simple male-to-female solution similar to the current Lightning-to-Micro USB adapter.
Really? Opinion is now news?
Apple is unlikely to include an adapter, since they will likely include a pair of Lightning earbuds. Including an adapter only encourages customers to keep using their existing 3.5mm equipment, rather than a wireless option, or even a Lightning option. Buying the adapter forces them to make a conscious choice.
This idea of being able to charge and listen to headphones at the same time is ridiculous. The solution has been around since electricity was invented, and can be found at the end of most Christmas tree light s -- a pass through port. No cumbersome dongles, just the existing plug with both a male and female connector and the wire coming out of the side.
This "article" has no objective reporting at all, and has bias written all over it.
Although the thought of them doing away with the lightening port after a few years of use is a bit strange. Why go to all the hassle of creating a new port, new standard, new connectors for handful of years to do away with it again in newer devices?
Lightening port was introduce in the iPhone 5(or 5S) thats at most 4yrs of use and cost to develop something new and then to do away with it. We'll just have to wait and see.
contrary to what this argument says I'm quite sure Apple previously said it allows "sharing" power. That implied power could go either way.
the iPhone should have a new perfectly waterproof female MagSafe connector (as in patent descriptions). A variety of adapters can snap into it and finish flush with the phone's casing, providing Lightning, Smart, USB etc. the solution is elegant, versatile, waterproof and backwards/forwards compatible.