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Is Apple killing off the Lightning connector? (The 3:59, Ep. 186)

USB-C ya later! Plus we chat about a trio of possible new BlackBerry phones and SpaceX's plans to send two tourists around the moon.

Alfred Ng Senior Reporter / CNET News
Alfred Ng was a senior reporter for CNET News. He was raised in Brooklyn and previously worked on the New York Daily News's social media and breaking news teams.
Alfred Ng
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Today's iPhone rumors include Apple will replace the Lightning connector with a USB-C connection.

Óscar Gutiérrez/CNET

Apple's Lightning connector could be history with the next iPhone, if you believe the rumors.

A new Wall Street Journal report speculates that Apple's upcoming iPhone will trade the tech giant's proprietary Lightning cable for a USB-C connection. The article quotes anonymous sources and also claims the next iPhone could have a curved OLED screen.

The iPhone ditching the Lightning connector for a USB-C connection -- the mobile industry standard -- would come out of left field for Apple. Consider how much the company's invested in the connector. After all, Apple recently abandoned the headphone jack in favor of new earbuds with a Lightning connector with the iPhone 7.

Also on the podcast, we chat about a trio of possible new BlackBerry phones coming in 2017, and if it'll be enough to return the name to prominence. We close the show with a look at whether a multimillion dollar trip to the moon is really worth it.

The 3:59 gives you bite-size news and analysis about the top stories of the day, brought to you by the CNET News team in New York and producer Bryan VanGelder.

Check out the extended shows on YouTube.

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