Spend any time with an iPad or iPhone, try plugging it in in a dark room, and you'll curse Apple for having such a lame 30-pin connector.
Problem solved, finally. In fairness, it's hard to make a 30-pin connector reversible. And Apple probably didn't want to annoy legions of customers by switching until they had something that was incontrovertibly better, and that they could hang their hat on for a good long time.
The real question is: why does micro-USB suck so badly? The standards committee could have gotten it right all those years ago. They just didn't bother.
Apple bothers. I appreciate this, so I send them some money every few years.
It worked. I was happy that it was there, and I thought it was clever-ish at the time. But it was more clever than smart. Smart is designing a connector that is easy to plug in, aligns itself, and can be done in either polarity.
That's what Apple did -- the obviously right thing that no one else had bothered to do.
Also, consider that micro-USB sucks for auto-insertion (docks, etc). It wasn't designed for it. Apple has never been shy abut breaking with common practice if they see a benefit for the product, and a few ruffled feathers won't stop them.
Strong reversible or universal connections are the way to go—and none of the USB standards are it. By universal, I mean like the nearly-ubiquitous circular plugs, but not the circular plugs—as I have yet to find one that is quality on both sides of the equation. I had a laptop die because of one of those plugs, and it wasn't the male part of the plug, but the female part. The female receptacle was slowly but surely pushed off the motherboard.
I think it'd be far better to completely remove the opportunity for doing it wrong in the first place.
If you'll permit me to rant a bit here, why is it that IT people seem to so frequently respond to some non-optimum feature of software or hardware with a response that comes down to "but it's possible to work around it" as if that was the only legitimate option? Does this also happen in other fields?
Essentially, his conclusion is that micro USB can't support everything Apple wants the connector to do.
I charge at 2A and it's not burning. Yes you read right. Many modify their chargers to charge at 2A. Also most computers charge them at 0.5A as it's the standard (yes, some charge at 1A).
There no function micro USB cannot do due to less pins, because its 100% digital.
But then, those are just nitpicking and lightning is just fine here.
There's however actual advantages to micro-usb:
- it supports USB3, which is faster than lightning
- everyone and their dog have micro usb cables
- every phone with micro usb works on every device, dock, what not, that has a micro usb and uses usb standards for storage, audio, etc.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Connector_USB_3_IMGP6033_w...
No, I can't just use an adapter - I have a head unit in my car that gives me some fantastic functionality, integration with the GPS, Pandora, iPod, iTunes. I thought "Great, I can upgrade, use the adapter..." - sorry, no can do. The adapter doesn't support "iPod Out" which means no remote control of devices.
Same for my bedside alarm clock, and it having the ability to wake me with my playlist, or control tracks from the console, no more 'remote control' for it.
So so so frustrated.
According to the article, and it's probably true, the limitation is on phone's end, not the port.
>every phone with micro usb works on every device, dock
Lighting is cleary better for docks, it's two side, slide-in design with lock. I hate using micro-usb every time when I charge my kindle.
http://www.pcworld.com/article/247507/usb_30_to_reach_smartp...
Apple didn't use Lightning for the users, they did it for the lock-in with the accessories (in the future).
I don't know much about hardware, would it have been possible to use the standard micro USB connector and still provide those features?
From the article:
> the adapter will provide the power and analog audio that the vast majority of docks and accessories (and cars) in the world need
(with most other connectors, the powered side is recessed or the contacts are protected somehow)