New Lightning dock connector capable of hosting USB devices - report
Apple's new Lightning dock connector for the iPhone 5 will reportedly allow for new types of accessories, as the updated port supports the ability to host USB devices.
According to Japanese blog Macotakara, the ability of Lightning to host USB devices will allow third-party accessory makers to create new kinds of products that were not previously possible with the legacy 30-pin connector. Apple's new iPhone 5, iPod touch and iPod nano all feature the smaller Lightning dock connector.
Previously, only the iPad had the ability to host USB devices through Apple's Camera Connection Kit. The Apple-made, accessory USB port allows users to connect devices such as cameras and wired keyboards to their iPad, but not the iPhone.
But with the switch to Lightning, Apple will reportedly offer built-in support for USB hosting. That means accessories like cameras, keyboards and other devices could potentially be connectable to the iPhone with third-party accessories.
Apple's new Lightning cable and port are 80 percent smaller than the previous 30-pin iOS device connector that had been around for 9 years. The new cable is also orientation independent, allowing it to be plugged into a device from either side.
The new dock connector helped allow Apple to make the new iPhone 5 the thinnest smartphone on the market. Apple said Lightning ports will be quickly supported by a number of third-party accessory makers, including Bose, JBL and B&W.
45 Comments
I am REALLY hoping that since the new connector is all digital, we can hook the iPhone up to our own DAC/Amps and bypass the phone's equipment. Not that the iPhone puts out bad sound. But for an audiophile, this may be a dream come true!!!!!! I am REALLY looking forward to what the accessory market brings!!!!!
If true, these are about to get a lot more popular: http://store.apple.com/uk/product/MD820/lightning-to-micro-usb-adapter
iOS powered DSLR camera? I like it.
As usual, all the whiners who were complaining about Apple switching to a new connector for no good reason were wrong. Obviously, Apple had a reason to switch - and it offers new capabilities.
[quote name="SWS" url="/t/152594/new-lightning-dock-connector-capable-of-hosting-usb-devices-report#post_2189603"]I am REALLY hoping that since the new connector is all digital, we can hook the iPhone up to our own DAC/Amps and bypass the phone's equipment. Not that the iPhone puts out bad sound. But for an audiophile, this may be a dream come true!!!!!! I am REALLY looking forward to what the accessory market brings!!!!! [/quote] Off topic, but Apple both said that it's all digital and dynamic. Then we heard that an HDMI (digital) and VGA (analog) cables are coming which means that internally the port HW is more sophisticated and complex than we've already seen, unless there will be HW in the cable that will convert it.