- iPhone 5 will use a 19-pin connector instead of 30-pin, according to reports
- Change means that all current iPhone accessories must be replaced
- New connector could allow phone to be thinner and enable magnetic cable
By Daily Mail Reporter
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Apple has been accused of ripping off its millions of customers after it emerged the next version of the iPhone could render all current accessories obsolete.
The company has risked incurring the wrath of ripping off its loyal fanbase after reports that Apple has decided to radically alter the size of the connector in the next version of the phone
Outraged iPhone owners flocked online to complain about the development for the iPhone 5, which is expected to be launched in October.
Speakers, docks and other expensive accessories costing hundreds of dollars would be rendered useless by the move, along with cheaper add-ons such as chargers. Even cars with the current connector built in would need to be upgraded.
Change: This picture is believed to show a prototype case for the new iPhone (right), with its new connector design which is set to make every existing accessory completely obsolete
Old and new: The current iPhone is shown with the prototype of the iPhone 5's outer casing
Technology blog TechCrunch said it confirmed the change by speaking with three separate manufacturers, although Apple has not commented on the plan.
Current iPhones, and all previous models, have used a 30-pin connector for power and to plug in accessories.
However, reports claim the next iPhone will use a smaller 19-pin version, rendering all current accessories useless. Leaked pictures claiming to be the new handset also show a smaller, rounder connector.
Some reports claim the new connector will allow a smaller, thinner iPhone to be made, while others claim it could lead to a cable attached by magnets.
Popular: But iPhone users could found themselves seriously out of pocket if they want to upgrade their device
According to blogger Robert Scoble, the move will also allow Apple tighter control over accessory makers.
Apple charges firms to create accessories as part of its ‘made for iPhone’ scheme which approves add-ons, although the firm has never revealed how much it charges to join the scheme.
THE IPHONE ACCESSORIES WHICH COULD BECOME OBSOLETE
Bang Olufsen BeoSound 8 - $850
Bose Sounddock 10 - $600
BW Zeppelin mini speaker - $300
Manufacturers must also buy a special ‘authentication chip’ for some of their accessories, a move by Apple to cut down on unapproved accessories, and it is believed the chip is even found in some iPhone headphones.
'It will be nearly impossible to make unlicensed devices,' said Mr Scoble. 'Unfortunately these design goals mean making obsolete the something like 10 power chargers in my home. Sigh.'
Sirio Brozzi of the website Awesome Robo hit out at the move, and blogged: 'People are stunned by this possibility, myself included. I mean, why fix something that's not broken?'
Mr Brozzi believes the move is planned to give both Apple and accessory makers a huge new market.'
Have you guys ever heard of "planned obsolescence"?' he added. 'It's a practice which encourages planning and designing a product so it's only useful for a limited time, before becoming obsolete.'
Useless: The $850 Bang Olufsen BeoSound 8 is designed to work with the current iPhone's design
Obsolete: The BW Zeppelin speaker, left, and the Bose Sounddock 10, right, are other pricey gadgets which will have to be upgraded before they will work with the iPhone 5
Apple also advertised for staff to work the new connector earlier this year, advertising for a Lead Engineer, who the firm said will be 'responsible for identifying appropriate connection technology requirements for new products and follow through with selection and development of suitable interconnect products. This will often involve adaptation of existing connectors or complete new designs.'
Along with a change in its dock connector, the iPhone 5 has also been rumoured to be receiving a newly designed speaker grill, a different back cover and antenna that are molded into one piece, and most notably, a larger screen.
Apple did not respond to calls from MailOnline about the new connector design.
However, some believe the firm could - at a price - supply adapters to allow older accessories to work with the new handsets.
The new iPhone is also expected to have a larger 4" screen using Apple’s retina display, which uses individual pixels so small the human eye cannot see them, making on-screen text appear like a printed page, and allowing graphics and video to be shown at resolutions higher than a high definition TV.
It will also include Apple's own maps software, which the company revealed a few weeks ago. In a bid to compete with Google's maps, Apple even revealed it has a fleet of planes and helicopters photographing the world to build up a 3D map.
PLANNED OBSOLESCENCE: HOW YOUR GADGETS ARE BUILT TO BREAK
Throughout history electronics manufacturers have sold products with built-in obsolescence, or introduced new formats forcing consumers to rebut accessories and even music, films and TV shows.
Recent examples include the evolution of music, from records to tapes, CDs and downloads, each format requiring users to buy the music they already own again with the promise of better quality.
Film buffs have also seen huge changes, from VHS to laserdisc to DVD, Blu Ray and, finally, downloads.
Many gadget makers, including Apple, also sell electronics with batteries that cannot easily be replaced, forcing users to either upgrade or pay for expensive repairs.
Apple and others have also often changed the design of power supplies and other accessories with each new model, forcing consumers to buy new versions.
TV makers also warn that even the latest TVs have a limited lifespan, with on average around 100,000 hours of use before they must be replaced.
However, manufacturers hope that consumers will upgrade to the latest technology far before this happens.
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19/30 pin adapter...typo
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Utter rubbish, nothing will be obsolete. 18/30 pin adapters will most definitely be manufactured by someone.
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Greed, greed, greed. Apple are typical big company who want to bleed evry cent from you. Hate I tunes and hate apple.
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One 7 letter word: ANDROID
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Apple haters. Its not about Apple products its about those companies who jumped in the bandwagon looking for a piece of the action so blame them not Apple. - PB, Planet Earth, 22/06/2012 06:05 I'm not an 'Apple Hater'. As a matter of fact, I'm typing this comment on my iPod right now, but this is just greedy. Profit, profit, profit, as with most companies! If Apple think they're still the only big fish in the pond they're very much mistaken.
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Don't buy the new phone it's as simple as that. They would soon regret tying to rip us all off. But if course that won't happen as the same people moaning about it will be the first in line when it released.
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Surely a company will design some kind of adaptor so u can use the new phone on old accessories. Don't panic!
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Makes me glad I've got an Android smartphone.
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The simple answer is to STOP buying Apple products, owning anyone of them is not a matter of life or death, so lets show them we are not at their mercy. When they have warehouses of unsold stock, hopefully they will learn that the buyer is king and NOT the seller
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Why is anyone surprised? The world of electronics is driven by the "next generation" product. There is always something newer, bigger, better coming out. And everyone wants to buy it/has to have it. And that is not something that is exclusive to Apple.
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