The standard 30-pin connector has been a longstanding staple of all Apple mobile devices since the third generation of iPods was released around 2009. Accessory companies have built their product lines upon these standardized ports, producing a plethora of iPod docks, alarm systems and chargers. Now, it seems like Apple is looking to make more room inside the iPhone, and is ready to change the port size by cutting it almost in half. This means even your regular charging cable won’t be compatible with the iPhone 5 or any later generations.
According to TechCrunch, three independent manufacturers have confirmed the new 19-pin connector as the new official iPhone 5 port. If true, this means that any existing accessories you have,iPod docks, battery charging cases, cables, etc., will not be able to connect to the latest iPhone, making millions of third-party Apple peripherals instantly outdated.
It’s a move that may upset Apple veterans who’ve invested in accessories over the last few years, not to mention third-party peripheral manufacturers, but the reasoning behind it is sound: making a smaller connector means more room inside the device. With more room to work with, engineers have space to implement more features to try and stay technologically relevant against rivals like Samsung and Microsoft. While no new iPhone 5-centric features have been confirmed, you can bet the it will feature significant improvements if Apple have truly considered changing the standard 30-pin connection.
Even without being reportedly verified by a few manufacturers, the folks over at eTradeSupply seem to have leaked a video detailing the beta iPhone 5, which shows some sizeable differences beyond the connector port:
The video also seems to confirm the larger iPhone screen rumor, which leaked when Apple reportedly contacted suppliers with a request for 4.6″ screens. For reference, iPhones currently have a 3.6″ screen, which would mean the iPhone 5 gets roughly a 25% boost to screen size if true.
There are plenty of iPhone-related rumors that flow in months before official Apple announcements, so take this news with a grain of salt. There was a time when everyone thought the iPhone 3GS would have a forward-facing camera, and that clearly didn’t happen – and this change would affect many more people in terms of their existing equipment and accessories. We’ll keep you posted as news leaks out about the potential change-up, but don’t expect official word from Apple until they’re ready to unveil the phone as a whole.
What do you think about the possibility of Apple changing the size of their connector? Do you have any accessories that would be made obsolete?
-
Follow me on Twitter @Makelevi.
Source: TechCrunch
Xbox One: Watch The Next-Gen Xbox Presentation Here! 
Electronic Arts Engineer Blasts the Wii U 
What You May Not Know About The ‘Xbox One’ [Updated] 
GR Giveaway: Win a Superhero-Sized Trip to San Diego This July! 
Loading ...
Son of a b***h, I just got the 4S a week ago and now the iPhone 5 is comming out soon. Well I guess my iPhone is already outdated.
Gee, will ANYONE be surprised by this turn of events?
Apple screwing the consumers who nonetheless worship the tree it dropped off of? Check. Much more money than is sensible spent for accessories that will soon be obsolete anyway? Check. Cool factor raised and status assured? Check.
Cue the 30 pin to 19 pin adaptors…..I’m sure it’s only a matter of time before a bunch of third party companies jump on making some sort of adaptor to prevent huge amounts of their inventory from going obsolete
Samsung’s Galaxy phones are starting to look a whole lot better…
I just wish these smart-phones would have longer battery life (what if I get lost in a forest and need to call for help?! I’m pretty sure mother nature doesn’t have an outlet to charge phones…
)
Every new bite at the Apple takes us one step further away from Eden…
“Apple veterans who’ve invested in accessories over the last few years”
You mean apple fan boys who’ve blown money on crap to hook their phones up to. Buying mass produced technology is NOT an investment. Assets feed you, liabilities eat you.
ahem…
“Dear Apple,
You have recently mentioned a new connector for the iPhone 5. At first it seemed as though you might be stepping up to the plate and would finally start using USB so people could use a normal cable. I was half expecting a USB 3.0 connector. Instead you choose proprietary yet again. And once again you have shown me why I do not buy Apple products. Rather than use the widely versatile microUSB or the new, faster (and still compact) USB 3.0, you created another “only our devices use it” connector. And the reason for this is clear. Most every Apple user now has the older connector cable, meaning your sales on those have dropped. So you change the connector under the guise of saving space, but to really sell more accessories again to fix sliding sales. Once again, Apple proves they will never stop nickel-and-dime-ing their customers whether they be casual or fanatically loyal. This is part of why Android devices are taking a larger market each year; because the other company’s don’t price gouge their customers. Most every other phone, tablet and media player on the market offers three things you do not; 1) universally common connectors, 2) Micro SD card support, and 3) software freedom (no need for jailbreaking) for the end user. If you ever want to put your competitors out of business, and reclaim your vice-like grip on the market again, you’ll need to change the nickel-and-dime, price gouging policy you’ve followed for decades now. Please, start treating your customers with some respect.”