“We Don’t Need Your Stinkin’ 19-Pin!” New Rumors Of An 8-Pin iPhone 5 Dock Connector
Posted by Michael Nace on Thursday Aug 2, 2012 Under iPhone 5 RumorIf the unbridled joy and fervor of the 30-pin dock connector being reduced to the newfangled 19-pin variety, then get ready for an even tinier, 8-pin dock connector for the iPhone 5. Or so the rumor mill tells us.
For the remainder of this rumor cycle, I’m going to have to write about the dock connector with a little bit of mirth, since it seems like we’ve already spent far too much time discerning about the iPhone 5′s dock connector. Sure, a new dock connector will have implications, but fretting over butt-end of the iPhone 5 seems like an exercise in futility.
Of course, exercises in futility are the iPhone 5 rumor mill’s specialty.
The report originated by Jeremy Horwitz over at iLounge, who said:
“According to two sources, Apple’s new Dock Connector features only 8 pins, seemingly contradicting claims of “16-pin” and “19-pin” connectors. Although the original Dock Connector contained 30 pins, reports of 16- or 19-pin connectors seemed hard to square with the port’s small size and Apple’s actual need for additional pins beyond what USB/Micro-USB offer.”
If you’re looking for photos or schematics that corroborate Horwitz’s sources’ claims, I’m sorry to say that none are forthcoming. It seems that Horwitz has substantiated what he has heard with the photos of the purported iPhone 5 we’ve seen sprouting up across the rumor mill (which, by the way, my consumer electronics accessory executive source has confirmed is the iPhone 5 — they are already tooling cases for it). Looking at the photo of the dock connector, indeed it looks more like the size of a micro USB port, and could very well support the notion of a smaller dock connector.
Horwitz did update his post by adding: “Update: A source chimes in to confirm and explain the second detail: the male connector has 8 pins on each side, while the female connector has only 8 pins on one side. This enables the iPhone/iPod/iPad (with female port) to connect to either side of a male cable or docking plug.”
What I like about the iLounge rumor is that it makes some logical sense. If the current connector has 30 pins, then a 19-pin connector wouldn’t be nearly as small as the recent photos have suggested; the 8-pin design would fit the mold. Also, we’ve been told that one of the reason for Apple retooling the dock connector is so that they can slim down their mobile devices. If this is the case, then a dramatically smaller dock connector would fit the bill.
We’re also hearing rumors that the connector will be a MagSafe-style connector. To me, this is a no-brainer for the iPhone 5 and future iPads — anyone who has a MacBook has had the MagSafe save them from drop page disaster at least once. At the very least, it’s just a quicker, more secure way of making a connection. In the past, the application of MagSafe n the iPhone and iPad may have been limited by the necessity of transferring both power and data.
But with Apple utilizing OTA updates, maybe we’re moving in the direction of no hardware connections at all for charging and data transfer (particularly with 4G LTE coming to the iPhone 5). We’ve already heard that the iPhone 5 could have wireless, inductive charging. Could the iPhone 6 have wireless charging and data transfer?
Possibly.
In the meantime, it looks like we’re getting a smaller dock connector. Ok, rumor mill — we got it. What’s it going to be next week — 4-pin?
(I can’t believe I just tried to crack a “pin” joke.”)
By Michael Nace
Michael Nace is the Publisher of the iPhone 5 News Blog and iPhone 6 News Blog. He has published articles about the iPhone since 2010.
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August 2nd, 2012 at 10:41 am
I think I’d still prefer a cable for my data transfer. Over the air is too slow. I don’t know why Apple don’t just stick in a Micro USB and be done with it. Maybe a USB 3 compatible Micro USB if such a thing exists?
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August 2nd, 2012 at 10:58 am
The next generation of iPhone will be paper thin, but incredibly sturdy, that will never need to be charged. The entire internet and all possible data will live on the phone to circumvent immediate data transfers, but will update nightly over the air. It will cost nothing because monthly data charges will be covered all by the government’s “a cell phone in every pocket” social program. We’re almost there, folks!!
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August 2nd, 2012 at 11:18 am
Wow, security breach from Apple if i read the insider sources claim. We are actually looking at the next iPhone via the leaked photos. i’m please with the new design and hope for some great features inside.
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August 2nd, 2012 at 1:11 pm
Michael, what happened to the dislike buttons? I haven’t been with a phone for 2 weeks and I come back and I can’t catch up? Anyone care to sum up what’s happening?
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August 2nd, 2012 at 1:19 pm
I dislike the removal of the dislike…
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August 2nd, 2012 at 1:24 pm
@Darren, I agree. I thought the EU mandated that all cell phones needed to standardize on microUSB. Does anyone know if there are there Apple specific reasons why microUSB will not work.
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August 2nd, 2012 at 2:12 pm
@DudeAbides…micro USB for Apple = less revenue. Peripherals have HUGE margins. Any way that Apple can capitalize on that, they will. Of course they will tell everyone that there are other “quality” reasons for not doing otherwise and maybe there is a sliver of truth in it, but it really comes down to being different and making larger profits from it.
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August 2nd, 2012 at 2:13 pm
@Undfeatable same here. I was away for a month or two just busy with work and vacation and I come back and I am forced to like someone’s comment or nothing at all lol
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August 2nd, 2012 at 3:20 pm
GetSwole must have lobbied to have the dislike removed LOL
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August 2nd, 2012 at 3:20 pm
Is the September 12 event just a cloak and dagger for an Apple television set announcement? Apple loves to sneak up on its competition!
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August 2nd, 2012 at 3:37 pm
I think Michael is employing the old saying “If you don’t have anything good to say then don’t say it at all” as it pertains to the dislike button. lol maybe that will encourage more ppl to comment without fear of being grossly disliked.
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August 2nd, 2012 at 4:24 pm
Who lives in fear of being disliked? C’mon are we mice or men (generic comment not meant to exclude women)? Be brave people and accept the consequences if you make a statement that is not well liked. This is a free exchange of ideas.
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August 2nd, 2012 at 4:31 pm
The problem isn’t like/dislike buttons. The real problem is that several commenters on this blog have made personal sniping, and liking/disliking the crux of what they do here, and it is detracting from the overall user experience. This blog has been around since August of 2010, and for the vast majority of that time, it had neither a like or dislike button. The addition of these buttons heralded trolling and other community issues that had never come along before.
I am trying to contain and control what I see to be a growing problem on this blog of people becoming distracted with personal attacks and bickering, so I’d appreciate it if commenters didn’t further contribute to the problem by making their comments all about like and dislike buttons. If you disagree with someone’s comment, you can say, “@Michael Nace, thanks for your comment, but I have to say I respectfully disagree,” and then explain why. Heck, you can even disagree with this move of mine — let’s just not make it into a discuss that hijacks this story.
Thanks!
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August 2nd, 2012 at 4:48 pm
@Michael Nace, thanks for your comment, but I have to say the connector rumours aren’t floating my boat
I realise it carried a lot of weight for peripherals etc but it’s not exactly “glamourous” like larger displays, NFC, quad core processors etc are.
Personally (and YMMV), the connector isn’t a big deal, if it changes, I’ll have to ditch a clock-radio and a couple of other things but it won’t stop me buying the next iPhone. If the display has not changed or is just stretched, then that really would prevent me upgrading my 4S.
I would think, especially in the EU, that Apple are going to have to move to a micro USB at some point soon anyhow.
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August 2nd, 2012 at 4:56 pm
@Michael, I respectfully disagree… LOL I hear what you’re saying but my view is that you should trust the greater audience to police the responses on the blog so that you don’t have to. The dislike feature seemed to be a way to regulate the extreme comments, but hey its your blog.
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August 2nd, 2012 at 5:36 pm
So, I’m guessing the “dislike” comments stemmed from my earlier post? I’m just joking around, honestly. Just exagerating what it seems everyone wants is all. Sorry guys!
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August 2nd, 2012 at 6:28 pm
@DudeAbides, what about rats?
I’m all for the zero pin connector and wireless charging, but there is greater efficiency in having a wired connection.
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August 2nd, 2012 at 6:42 pm
@Michael Nace, it just was awkward seeing it missing for the first time. One thing that should be added though is a twitter feed also. An alert that something has been update on the blog.
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August 2nd, 2012 at 6:50 pm
@Jeff, LOL Yea there are some of those but we can handle it right.
I’d love to see a magnetic adapter but I guess that can’t transmit data.
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August 2nd, 2012 at 7:12 pm
@Nace….the sad thing is that there isn’t really much else to discuss about the dock connector. It’s an issue that has been beat to death and isn’t really big news. It seems like the bigger news is that the dislike button is gone. lol
Personally I wish that Apple would move toward a smaller connector and I hate that Apple has a different standard from everyone else. Also, the connector for Apple has always been more difficult to connect to than the micro usb. It takes 2 seconds to plug in my android but 10 seconds to plug in my ipad because of the connector and the position for it on the device. I never seem to be able to get it where it needs to go in….and if i’m doing it in the dark then forget about it…it’s next to impossible!
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August 2nd, 2012 at 7:17 pm
I hear ya. I’m trying to keep everyone abreast of the iPhone 5-specific rumors, but this one just keeps coming up like a bad penny. Hopefully the thing will come out soon just so that we don’t have to hear about the dock connector.
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August 2nd, 2012 at 7:34 pm
The smaller dock connector being related to a thinner phone goes in the face of the leaks showing a stretched 4S (4L??). If the phone is not thinner, then it doesn’t need a smaller connector. Of course it could be to move the headphone connection to the bottom – not a good idea for my use, as I generally have the phone on my belt when I’m listening to music.
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August 2nd, 2012 at 9:00 pm
@mike d, I’m confused by your inability to plug in the apple connector? I never have a problem with mine, I just put one side in partly first and it works well. I do mine in the dark all the time always.
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August 2nd, 2012 at 11:56 pm
I love the magnetic connector on my MacBook. I don’t know how many times I’ve triped over that cord and it safely popped off.
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August 3rd, 2012 at 1:14 am
I wouldn’t mind MagSafe on the iPhone
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August 3rd, 2012 at 1:43 am
@undefeatable, I don’t have an iPhone (my wife does) so I can’t speak to that, but my iPad is always really hard to get it just right to plug it in. Maybe because it’s just because of the angle or something. It’s just never gotten any easier, but the mini USB is super easy. It’s also nice to have a tiny plug instead of the apple ones. Personal preference I guess.
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August 3rd, 2012 at 6:34 am
Yes, bring the dislike option back asap, please.
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August 3rd, 2012 at 1:02 pm
Okay just so people don’t completely loose their s**t in 2013, when the 7th generation iPhone comes out it won’t be the iPhone 6. It will be the 5S. That is if apple keeps the number game going which I’m assuming they won’t. Point is, expect a slightly changed 2013 iPhone, not a completely new design. Hopefully everyone learned that lesson when the 4S came out but apparently not since this article is talking about the iPhone 6.
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August 6th, 2012 at 5:16 am
I thought it was obvious from the other case leaks video on YouTube that it’s the thunderbolt connection. But I’m surprised no one mentioned it here. Has that recently been ruled out or something? I find it difficult to believe that with the new MacBooks using thunderbolt, that the new iPhone wouldn’t.
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