Apple produced 5 phones with the legacy port, 5 phones with the Lightning port, so the pattern points to a change this time around. I doubt it will happen as Apple has invested heavily in Lightning and with the headphone change on the 7, a change this year would cause all kinds of uproar. One day maybe... Besides, they want to control what is lugged into their phones for "quality" purposes and with USB-C they would loose that.
This is the type of selective misuse of data that leads to
conspiracy theories. It completely ignores that the dock connector was around
long before the first iPhone was released, so to suggest that the dock
connector only had a lifespan of 5 iPhone iterations is absurd. In fact, the
dock connector was introduced in 2003 (first iPhone was 2007) and not phased
out until the Lightning connector was released in 2012. A healthy 9-year run.
It’s bad enough to suggest a pattern based on a single data point…even worse
when that data point is not representative of the full truth.
That said, I agree with the rest of the post.
It was a generic comment with the part you liked being the more important part of the comment. Read the follow on posts around my post. Your comment is just reading too much into the post. Relax a bit there... and read the follow on posts on the subject.
THANK YOU! Only outlet to report this in this fashion. Appreciate Apple insider for not reporting these as fact. Macrumors headline (not to name names or anything), said "iPhone 8 WILL..." as if it's incontrovertible fact... agonizing.
This has been the modus operandi of Macrumors for a long, long time. The website is really complete trash, with some of the lest professional writeups and headlines I've ever seen, even for a rumor site. It doesn't even matter who the author is, headline is always stated as a fact, even if its a far-fetched rumor. Really clickbait garbage.
For a moment I speculated that if Apple were to ever switch, now would make sense because it would be better to switch before lightning headphones and earbuds became ubiquitous.
But as others have pointed out, if anything Apple is doubling down on lightning through accessories like the Pencil and Airpods. Even Mac accessories like the Magic Mouse 2, Magic Trackpad 2, and wireless keyboard all use lightning, where USB-C would make a lot more sense.
Some people are buying the USB-C to Lightning cables for their new MBP, however if they switch the charger end of the phone cable to USB-C many more people will need to buy and carry a USB-A to Lightning adapter if they want to charge from their regular computers or at the airport or on the plane, trains, automobile, aux power packs, and thousands of charging stations in retail, restaurants and universities around the world.
When Lighting is replaced it will likely be replaced by the Smart Connector from the iPad. This won't happen until most data application are wireless. The Smart Connector will be more for charging than data (though it does transmit data). Part of apple's plan to slowly remove all holes and potential water ingress points.
I'm really hoping any new iPads from here on out have the smart connector on them. From an educational standpoint the current setup with iPads and keyboard is an absolute pain in the ass! Bluetooth keyboards for iPads in a cart situation simply does not work! If Apple wants schools to implement more iPads in their districts then simple things like this needs to be standard on all new iPads, not just iPad Pros.
You do know there exist lightning equipped keyboards which are probably cheaper than their smart connector counterparts.
You know there are Acers that are cheaper than MacBooks as well.
While Im thinking of it, aren't there all kinds of 2nd tier Android phones that can be had for a bargain?
And I'm pretty sure other companies make cheap iPads, ahem, Tablets, as well.
It's not about the race to the bottom in price. We are Apple users. We want elegant design. The commenter was referring to difficulty with the design of the bluetooth keyboards and your rebuttal is to mention the lightning devices are cheaper? His complaint wasn't the price. It was the design.
He specifically said it was for education (and that he wanted non PRO i.e. cheaper iPads) and getting two for the price of one for the same functionality is not "a race to the bottom" they are all MFI, there is no major difference except maybe being a cover at the same time. I was not referring to cheaply made but less expensive for an equivalent solution.
You are putting your own editorial on what he specifically asked for. Your parenthetical statement puts words in his mouth. Fake commenting! He asked for the Smart connector VERY specifically. He said nothing about budget, that was your interjection/assumption.
I'm happy to take him at his word.
Why are you not?
What are you talking about. I did not put words in his mouth.
I was simply showing him an actual solution to his problem (which could be cheaper as a side effect), he's complaining about APPLE not yet having the smart connector on all their non PRO iPads and having major problems on his trolleys with bluetooth keyboards when there is a simple current solution
Why are you being so aggressive for someone else. Your cheaper comments seem to be putting your own editorial on my comments.
Who are you to talk about fake commenting ? What does the even mean ?
If you read back you might notice that you brought up cheaper in your first response to MacXpress's comment. How am I editorializing? You mentioned cheap. I discussed cheapness.
Anyway, back to design: I imagine the commenter has reasons for wanting the Smart Connector over the Lightning plug. I am with him. I think the Smart Connector could handle most of the things I ask the Lightning connector to do in my daily usage as well. The Smart Connector is a sleeper design feature that I, too, hope is brought out into the forefront of all iOS devices soon.
edit: Oh yeah, and Fake Commenting…Fake News? It's a joke based on pop culture of today.
I think this is credible given the European ruling on phone chargers in 2014 which is coming into effect in 2017. Hence Apple's move to all USB-C in all it's laptops, and soon to release desktops. Wouldn't be surprised if everything starts using USB-C. It carries everything, Apple is on the Standards committee, and Apple likes simplicity.
Some people are buying the USB-C to Lightning cables for their new MBP, however if they switch the charger end of the phone cable to USB-C many more people will need to buy and carry a USB-A to Lightning adapter if they want to charge from their regular computers or at the airport or on the plane, trains, automobile, aux power packs, and thousands of charging stations in retail, restaurants and universities around the world.
Not really. You simply purchase a $5 USB A Lightning cable and leave the USB C Lightning cable that came with the phone at home. Then you are in the exact same situation as you have today.
USB A Lightning cables are dirt cheap and easy to come by, and most people already have several laying around the house anyway. Yes, the change would likely impact a larger number of people (until USB C becomes more common place), but the magnitude of that impact is practically negligible. I bought my wife a new iPad for her birthday last Fall, and it was only just last week that she took the USB A Lightning cable that came with it out of the box. And that was just so she could throw the box away.
That makes even less sense. USB-A charging is ubiquitous. There is ZERO incentive for Apple to change USB-A to USB-C on the iPhone until USB-C starts to take over USB-A in the real world.
The Mac is a completely different story, that shouldn't even require explanation.
What do you mean it doesn't make sense? The other end of the iPhone cable is the old USB that is not even supported on the new MacBooks. It's cleaning the Apple ecosystem of the old USB connection.
Not to mention that one could probably argue that there are enough USB A to Lightning cables on the planet already to fulfill the need until the last USB A port is banished. And they are readily available at the corner drug store. So if Apple switched to USB C on the computer/charger end of the cable, then if anyone still needed a USB A version they likely either already have several of those cables in a drawer someplace or can very easily obtain one for only a few bucks.
I am glad you mentioned that there are probably already enough of the USB A connector cables for, well... forever.
I myself kind of like the SCSI connector. Talk about a solid cable, never had one of them fray away on me -- you couldn't insert it the wrong way, and the nubus design was so elegant: can you imagine being able to hook up a printer and a scanner to your iPhone/iPad as well as a couple HDs and maybe even a slide scanner. All of it hooked together in one neat chain... with a terminator at the end of course ¡
That makes even less sense. USB-A charging is ubiquitous. There is ZERO incentive for Apple to change USB-A to USB-C on the iPhone until USB-C starts to take over USB-A in the real world.
The Mac is a completely different story, that shouldn't even require explanation.
What do you mean it doesn't make sense? The other end of the iPhone cable is the old USB that is not even supported on the new MacBooks. It's cleaning the Apple ecosystem of the old USB connection.
Not to mention that one could probably argue that there are enough USB A to Lightning cables on the planet already to fulfill the need until the last USB A port is banished. And they are readily available at the corner drug store. So if Apple switched to USB C on the computer/charger end of the cable, then if anyone still needed a USB A version they likely either already have several of those cables in a drawer someplace or can very easily obtain one for only a few bucks.
I am glad you mentioned that there are probably already enough of the USB A connector cables for, well... forever.
I myself kind of like the SCSI connector. Talk about a solid cable, never had one of them fray away on me -- you couldn't insert it the wrong way, and the nubus design was so elegant: can you imagine being able to hook up a printer and a scanner to your iPhone/iPad as well as a couple HDs and maybe even a slide scanner. All of it hooked together in one neat chain... with a terminator at the end of course ¡
And it a pinch, you can use the metal housing to scrape barnacles from a sailboat, which is probably a consideration when they designed it.
So, this rumour is "questionable", but the ones about features that may or may not be included in a hypothetical phone model that has not been confirmed are all absolutely reliable.
While I agree with most everybody here that it's unlikely that Apple would replace the Lightning Port with USB-C, the thought occurred to me that if they're planning to do so eventually, why not now. There would be massive disruption and commentary whenever they replace the Lightning Port with whatever replacement they may choose, whether it's in a month, six months, a year, or a decade from now. If they're planning on replacing it with USB-C eventually anyway, why not do it now, and get the pain out of the way, so they're ready and moving into the future.
As I said at the beginning, I'm not really expecting them to switch over anymore than anybody else here is. The closest comment I saw that could convince me otherwise, was the one with links about the EU Rulings, and I freely admit I didn't click through or read the articles.
No Smart Connector for the phones unless they're in addition to Lightning or USBC. So no Smart Connector for the phones.
I prefer the Lighting connector just because it's easier to plug in under all conditions, especially at night, then USBC.
Apple has enough money that their 'investment' in Lightning can easily be dropped the moment they thing they have a better answer. But they won't be able to make the phones as thin using it as they can with Lightning. I see that as a plus, really.
Whatever Apple does, it will hit the fan as soon as they do it. I'm hoping some of the rumors are true. Otherwise it's an SE for me.
Comments
But as others have pointed out, if anything Apple is doubling down on lightning through accessories like the Pencil and Airpods. Even Mac accessories like the Magic Mouse 2, Magic Trackpad 2, and wireless keyboard all use lightning, where USB-C would make a lot more sense.
So no, this is nonsense.
Anyway, back to design: I imagine the commenter has reasons for wanting the Smart Connector over the Lightning plug. I am with him. I think the Smart Connector could handle most of the things I ask the Lightning connector to do in my daily usage as well. The Smart Connector is a sleeper design feature that I, too, hope is brought out into the forefront of all iOS devices soon.
edit: Oh yeah, and Fake Commenting…Fake News? It's a joke based on pop culture of today.
USB A Lightning cables are dirt cheap and easy to come by, and most people already have several laying around the house anyway. Yes, the change would likely impact a larger number of people (until USB C becomes more common place), but the magnitude of that impact is practically negligible. I bought my wife a new iPad for her birthday last Fall, and it was only just last week that she took the USB A Lightning cable that came with it out of the box. And that was just so she could throw the box away.
I myself kind of like the SCSI connector. Talk about a solid cable, never had one of them fray away on me -- you couldn't insert it the wrong way, and the nubus design was so elegant: can you imagine being able to hook up a printer and a scanner to your iPhone/iPad as well as a couple HDs and maybe even a slide scanner. All of it hooked together in one neat chain... with a terminator at the end of course ¡
As I said at the beginning, I'm not really expecting them to switch over anymore than anybody else here is. The closest comment I saw that could convince me otherwise, was the one with links about the EU Rulings, and I freely admit I didn't click through or read the articles.
I prefer the Lighting connector just because it's easier to plug in under all conditions, especially at night, then USBC.
Apple has enough money that their 'investment' in Lightning can easily be dropped the moment they thing they have a better answer. But they won't be able to make the phones as thin using it as they can with Lightning. I see that as a plus, really.
Whatever Apple does, it will hit the fan as soon as they do it. I'm hoping some of the rumors are true. Otherwise it's an SE for me.