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Apple will soon let third-party products use its Lightning port, opening up new possibilities for accessories

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Last week at Apple’s yearly briefing for accessory makers in its Made-for-iPhone/iPad (MFi) licensing program, the company unveiled new Lightning connectors and specs for Lightning receptacles that will soon be available for implementation in MFi accessories. The new Lightning receptacle, scheduled to start shipping next year, will allow accessory makers to build new types of accessories that include a port for Apple’s proprietary Lightning connector previously reserved for its own iOS devices (pictured above).

The announcement was made during Apple’s MFi Summit in China that took place last week over the course of three days in Shenzhen, China. We previously reported that Apple planned to brief accessory manufacturers on HomeKit hardware, iBeacon, Apple’s new Lightning headphones spec, game controllers, and more.

Allowing accessory makers to build-in a Lightning port provides a number of benefits, according to manufacturers briefed during Apple’s MFi Summit. One of the biggest benefits is to reduce costs for manufacturers and simplify the product experience for users by using Lightning to provide power to both an accessory and the iOS device. Dock or battery case manufacturers, for example, would previously have to provide a separate USB cable and power supply to charge an accessory. Mophie’s battery pack iPhone case with integrated Lightning connector, for instance, currently comes with a micro USB cable for charging. With a built-in Lightning port, users could use an existing Lightning cable (the one that came with their iOS device) to charge the accessory.

Beats-lightningAnother area the Lightning port could come in handy is for Apple’s new Lightning headphone specs. We previously detailed the MFi specs that will allow accessory makers to build headphones using a Lightning connector opposed to the traditional 3.5mm headphone jack. In theory, a Lightning receptacle could allow for a pass through device for charging and listening with Lightning headphones simultaneously entirely over Lightning. It would also make for easy charging and cut down on costs for Bluetooth headphones rather than requiring USB and separate power supply.

The Lightning receptacle will arrive alongside a new Lightning connector (C68) that accessory makers say is a slimmed down, low profile version of previous implementations that can be used in a wide range of accessories from docks to form fitting cases. Apple has several variations of its Lightning connectors for use in accessories. The only one consumers ever see is the C48 connector (pictured right), which is only available for use in cables. For other accessories, however, Apple previously required a much bulkier solution than the C48 that paired with other components to provide more than just power to an accessory. The new connector will provide features other than just power in a much tighter package (around the same size as C48) than previous solutions. The result will be an easier implementation of Lightning connectors into accessories with a slimmer overall design, but no change for consumers in terms of compatibility since it’s just the housing and not the actual tip of the connector that is changing.

Apple plans to begin shipping the new Lightning connector and receptacle to accessory makers in early 2015. 

Back in September we reported that several accessory manufactures were meeting delays in the production of Lightning accessories due to a shortage of Lightning components coinciding with the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus launch.

Other news out of Apple’s MFi Summit last week in China: The company has now started accepting product plans for HomeKit, the new Siri-controlled home automation platform

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Comments

  1. luckydcxx - 9 years ago

    But will the standard lightning cable work with these new connectors/receptacles? There will be some backlash if they change the cable again just for accessories. No one wants to carry around all these different types of cables.

    • Jordan Kahn - 9 years ago

      So the tip of the Lightning connector isn’t changing. Apple has several connectors and the ones used for accessories used to be much bigger (again, just the housing not the actual tip/pin that inserts into a device). The result is easier implementation for companies and more possibilities for accessories that do more than just power. Hope that clears it up.

  2. hargakosmetikmurah - 9 years ago

    please follow me back,thanks

  3. TechPeeve (@TechPeeve) - 9 years ago

    like maybe a decent charging cable that doesn’t fall apart and doesn’t cost $30!!!??

  4. Greg Kaplan (@kaplag) - 9 years ago

    At first I was very skeptical of Apple ever releasing an iPhone without a headphone jack. Now it doesn’t seem crazy if you imagine a gradual transition to wireless headphones. The headphone jack is double the depth of the lightning connector head. Removing it would free up a surprising amount of space on a phone’s scale.

    The Apple watch isn’t going to have headphone jack so Apple is definitely going back development of wireless headphones. I think the Beats model is just the beginning. I’m really excited to see if Apple manages to make wireless headphones mainstream and not just be a niche thing for fitness and luxury goods.

    I don’t think Apple would remove it from a main line (yet) but rather to make a new line that doesn’t have it. Think like how the macbook pro kept the cd drive, while macbook air dropped it in exchange for a drastically new form factor.

    The iPhone has been moving in a direction where it’s constantly getting better but a small size is no longer feasible. Apple would have make a cut in specks to make a smaller phone which would be a marketing fail if it is perceived as a small, less good iPhone. But if Apple did something where the form factor was the selling point (like the air) and differentiated it enough from the standard iPhone line, it wouldn’t be perceived as bad.

    Of course I’m just fantasizing about my dream, thin iPhone 4s sized device with a 4″ screen. If I could combine that with ultra portable wireless ear buds I’d give up the headphone jack in a heartbeat. Fantasies aside, I do think there is a realistic chance the headphone jack will be slowly fazed out.

    • 1sugomac - 9 years ago

      Apple’s new wireless headsets will look less like technology and more like jewelry. I’m sure Marc Newson is working on this.

      • Greg Kaplan (@kaplag) - 9 years ago

        Yea, I’m sure that’s apart of it and important but jewelry is expensive.

        The gold Apple watch is estimated to cost thousands of dollars. That isn’t something that reaches mass market. I don’t want expensive fashion items. I want well designed, practical technology at reasonable prices. I think that’s what has drawn many people to Apple products. Yes it’s expensive, but worth it.

        There has been a segment of Apple buyers who where fashion oriented and would by the maxed out pro Apple products, not because they needed it, but because they looked good and they could afford it. It seems like Apple is now planning product lines that appeal specifically to these luxury good buyers – “edition edition” Apple watch and to some extent anything with a beats logo.

        If the apple watch is any indication, Apple will continue to make a line for “the rest of us”. My hope is that the profit margins on the luxury goods drives down prices for the basics and drives other innovations.

        I think we are a ways off from where you’ll see everyone walking around wireless headphones and an Apple watch on but hopefully we’ll get there sooner with them tapping into the wallets of those who can afford it.

    • Apple dropping things like a headphone jack for wireless headphones may be great for aesthetics, but it makes things more difficult for the end user. Those headphones will need to be charged. As does the watch, phone, laptop etc.

      When Apple reduce the thickness of things like laptops and iMacs they don’t do it out of the goodness of their hearts.They made the current range of iMacs etc thinner by getting rid of the Superdrive. The price barely changed. They financially won on two points here. Thinner = less material = cheaper to manufacture, and to make an iMac more usable you have to go out and buy a Superdrive anyway.

      • Greg Kaplan (@kaplag) - 9 years ago

        I bet you are right with it saving money in the iMac but they didn’t pull all of the cd drives from every mac all at once. They did it to a new product where the value proposition was high enough to make that tradeoff worth while.. Then they removed the component from other devices when it was no longer socially needed as new technologies replaced the use of the old. Very few people need a disk for anything. Software and media is mostly purchased digitally now. Apple was on the edge of that wave.

        Right now there are inconvenient parts of losing the headphone jack and using wireless headphones – but that’s not always going to be the case. I think Apple is a company that can plan and execute that change.

        Make the lack of a technology desirable by highlighting the positives of the tradeoff in a new product. Built better technologies to replace the old one and then slowly transition out.

        “thinner, lighter, waterproof iPhone with more battery life. No cord jabbing into your leg, no need to reach into your bag or pocket to plug in, or cables that snag or tangle.”

        That right there seems like enough value ( admittedly the waterproof part is pie-in-the-sky but the headphone jack is a source of water damage ) but having a headphone jack is still a little inconvenient since you can’t plugin with other speakers, and they to be charged separately.

        This is where the supporting technologies come in. You can airplay to more and more now and this article goes over how you maybe just plugged into iPhone’s thunderbolt and can be used wired. These things will get better as the supporting technologies get better and pick up. It’s not for everyone just yet but you need to start somewhere. Apple is often on the bleeding edge of these transitions.

        I guess my point is that I’m aware Apple is out to make money and not all decision are for everyone’s best interests. But they are clearly still making products that people love and making tradeoffs and driving innovation in the places where the “please everyone” companies can’t.

  5. How about a Lightning connector on Apple’s own wireless keyboard, Magic Trackpad and Apple TV remote??? I’m sick of forever changing and recharging batteries.

    • PMZanetti - 9 years ago

      That is an interesting thought. Building in a non-removable rechargeable battery, that charges via lightning port/lightning cable/USB or power adapter.

      I like that idea a lot.

  6. scottwilkins - 9 years ago

    Took long enough!

  7. James Leseke - 9 years ago

    God, I hope Camera MFG see this. This would be a great way to get high end DSLRs and ILC spooled up to USB3 speeds

  8. Thank you so much Apple for stop being a dick.

  9. Ben Wilson - 9 years ago

    yeh they need to get more products to use it as soon (3-4 years) the EU law comes in stating that all mobile phones need to have the same charging ports, so if apple wants their lightening port to win then they need to be able to say they already have some many products that use it and its also better, if they don’t get this then they miss out on the ability to own a patent and charge companies for every mobile device in the EU essentially. Personally I want them to lose and USB to win though

  10. Forget the cable, why not a plate that you lay the new ear buds and watch on and they are charged wirelessly.

  11. Computer_Whiz123 - 9 years ago

    This could be an opportunity to have lightning-powered headphones

  12. I think Apple realizes that there are companies that want to use the Lightning port for two purposes:

    1. Decode digital audio stored on the iOS device externally with an portable headphone amp.

    2. Allow very fast network connections (up to the 280 megabits/second practical speed limit of USB 2.0) through the Lightning port, which would allow airlines to ditch the heavy audio/video on demand (AVOD) screens in favor of USB network connectors so your iPad becomes the AVOD screen without the limitations of Wi-Fi.

Author

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Jordan Kahn

Jordan writes about all things Apple as Senior Editor of 9to5Mac, & contributes to 9to5Google, 9to5Toys, & Electrek.co. He also co-authors 9to5Mac’s Logic Pros series.