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The more I see that Lightning port, I can't help but wonder why they didn't just do the obvious and go for micro USB. I'm wholly confident Apple could design th

The more I see that Lightning port, I can't help but wonder why they didn't just do the obvious and go for micro USB. I'm wholly confident Apple could design the highest of quality micro USB connector to satisfy even the biggest of haters that claim its too flimsy while silencing the constant gripe of obsolescence.

macrael 14y ago
Another reason might be that they pipe analog audio out of it? 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
- inportb 14y ago
  With an adapter, sure. My G1 has a small adapter that accepts a 3.5mm jack and plugs into the phone's micro-usb port.
- wahnfrieden 14y ago
  They don't. They no longer pipe audio out through the dock connector, you have to plug in a headphone cable, or the external device has to have its own DAC (ala the giant adapter they have now).
mtgx 14y ago
Yeah, and they could've waited a year longer to switch directly to micro-USB 3.0, especially considering their new laptops are also supporting USB 3.0, and it would've improved the transfer speed for iTunes files anyway. http://www.pcworld.com/article/247507/usb_30_to_reach_smartphones_tablets_by_year_end.html#tk.rss_news 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).
kyleslattery 14y ago
This post explains that a little bit: http://brockerhoff.net/blog/2012/09/13/boom-2/ http://brockerhoff.net/blog/2012/09/13/boom-2/ Essentially, his conclusion is that micro USB can't support everything Apple wants the connector to do.
- zobzu 14y ago
  I disagree with all the points of the article you linked. I guess most android users with a micro usb port can disagree just the same. 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.
  - dakrisht 14y ago
    Lightning is another scam product from Apple to sell more accessories and fatten their margins. Just like MagSafe 2. Garbage.
  - zdw 14y ago
    For USB3 support on Micro USB, you need an extra connector off to the side for the extra pins, so it's not a plug and play, reuse all your cables panacea: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Connector_USB_3_IMGP6033_wp_.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Connector_USB_3_IMGP6033_w...
    - FireBeyond 14y ago
      Whereas Lightning just requires me to replace several of my accessories, not the cables - much better. 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.
quesera 14y ago
Micro-USB is not reversible. 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.
- bryanlarsen 14y ago
  Most microUSB cables have an engraved USB logo on the top of the cable. Once you realize that it quickly becomes a habit to ensure that your thumb is on the logo when plugging it in and you get it right every time, even in the dark. Throw out any cables that don't do this.
  - quesera 14y ago
    Sure. And I used to have a phone with a hateful connector that had a glow in the dark arrow on one side of the plastic housing. Treo maybe? 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.
  - halostatue 14y ago
    Even with the engraving, I still miss with microUSB upwards of 60% of the time in the dark, and upwards of 30% of the time in the light (I also miss with regular USB connectors). See also this proof that USB connectors/cables exist in 4D space: http://www.smbc-comics.com/?id=2388 http://www.smbc-comics.com/?id=2388 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.
inportb 14y ago
I like how the Lightning jack has its contacts exposed, making it prone to shorts and other mishaps. The name is appropriate! (with most other connectors, the powered side is recessed or the contacts are protected somehow)
- hack_edu 14y ago
  Not to mention the need to tweezer-clean the pocket lint on a weekly basis.

macrael 14y ago

Another reason might be that they pipe analog audio out of it? 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

inportb 14y ago
With an adapter, sure. My G1 has a small adapter that accepts a 3.5mm jack and plugs into the phone's micro-usb port.
wahnfrieden 14y ago
They don't. They no longer pipe audio out through the dock connector, you have to plug in a headphone cable, or the external device has to have its own DAC (ala the giant adapter they have now).

mtgx 14y ago

Yeah, and they could've waited a year longer to switch directly to micro-USB 3.0, especially considering their new laptops are also supporting USB 3.0, and it would've improved the transfer speed for iTunes files anyway. http://www.pcworld.com/article/247507/usb_30_to_reach_smartphones_tablets_by_year_end.html#tk.rss_news 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).

kyleslattery 14y ago

This post explains that a little bit: http://brockerhoff.net/blog/2012/09/13/boom-2/ http://brockerhoff.net/blog/2012/09/13/boom-2/ Essentially, his conclusion is that micro USB can't support everything Apple wants the connector to do.

zobzu 14y ago
I disagree with all the points of the article you linked. I guess most android users with a micro usb port can disagree just the same. 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.
- dakrisht 14y ago
  Lightning is another scam product from Apple to sell more accessories and fatten their margins. Just like MagSafe 2. Garbage.
- zdw 14y ago
  For USB3 support on Micro USB, you need an extra connector off to the side for the extra pins, so it's not a plug and play, reuse all your cables panacea: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Connector_USB_3_IMGP6033_wp_.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Connector_USB_3_IMGP6033_w...
  - FireBeyond 14y ago
    Whereas Lightning just requires me to replace several of my accessories, not the cables - much better. 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.

quesera 14y ago

Micro-USB is not reversible. 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.

bryanlarsen 14y ago
Most microUSB cables have an engraved USB logo on the top of the cable. Once you realize that it quickly becomes a habit to ensure that your thumb is on the logo when plugging it in and you get it right every time, even in the dark. Throw out any cables that don't do this.
- quesera 14y ago
  Sure. And I used to have a phone with a hateful connector that had a glow in the dark arrow on one side of the plastic housing. Treo maybe? 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.
- halostatue 14y ago
  Even with the engraving, I still miss with microUSB upwards of 60% of the time in the dark, and upwards of 30% of the time in the light (I also miss with regular USB connectors). See also this proof that USB connectors/cables exist in 4D space: http://www.smbc-comics.com/?id=2388 http://www.smbc-comics.com/?id=2388 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.

inportb 14y ago

I like how the Lightning jack has its contacts exposed, making it prone to shorts and other mishaps. The name is appropriate! (with most other connectors, the powered side is recessed or the contacts are protected somehow)

hack_edu 14y ago
Not to mention the need to tweezer-clean the pocket lint on a weekly basis.