Apple may be getting ready to ditch the current dock connector used in iPods, iPhones, and iPads in favor of a smaller version, meaning you’ll possibly have to keep up with yet another adapter to use all the latest accessories for iOS devices.
Annoyances aside, Apple could have a very practical reason for making the change, according to an iMore report that cites an anonymous source. A smaller “micro” docking port would give the company more room for other important components within the iPhone 5, which could be the first device to receive the new dock treatment. And since the iPhone 4S has a much shorter power lifespan than all the models preceding it, the most likely use for that additional space would be to include a bigger battery.
The new docking port is said to be a new design rather than the microUSB standard used by the rest of the mobile phone industry.
It’s also worth noting that Apple is moving away from its reliance of transferring information to its mobile devices through a power cord. As part of Apple’s iCloud push, the company is now enabling more operating system software, application and digital media updates over the air. That said, the dock connector will be little more than a way to charge the device as well as connect to third-party accessories.
The latest rumours suggest the iPhone 5 will arrive sometime before the end of 2012, and will feature a larger screen as well as a more curvy design. — Tom Cheredar, VentureBeat
- Subscribe to our free daily newsletter
- Follow us on Twitter or on Google+ or on Facebook
- Visit our sister website, SportsCentral (still in beta)