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Jun 29, 09 - 09:11 am Comment from: DreamTheEndless

I don't get it -
The dock connector offers more than USB... (audio out, control interface, video out, etc...) I can't imagine apple switching to this. The other options would be to add an additional plug to the iPhone adding cost with no benefit or including some sort adapter/dongle that would defeat the purpose of the whole thing anyway...

My assumption is that Apple will go the adapter route.

Jun 29, 09 - 09:17 am Comment from: HMCIV

I'm picturing a new dock connector plug that can also fit a micro usb charger.

Jun 29, 09 - 09:27 am Comment from: Mr. Reeee

WOW! A cellphone charging standard!
It's only 15 years too late.

I've been using USB charging cables for years. There are third party adaptors that require only a swap out of the charging connector for each phone. Annoying, but workable.

It's simple. Apple can include a Dock Connector to microUSB adaptor. I'll stick with standard USB.

DreamTheEndless, this is a good development for the consumer, as it will help drive down cost tremendously.
Not only will the consumer be able to charge any brand/type of mobile phone (and eventually other mobile devices).
It will also help airline, automobile, train, and accessory makers to let the consumer charge everywhere, any device.

This will reduce the clutter of cables and adaptors / chargers in every person's bag or drawer. Handsomely it will also help the environment a bit.

Of course there will be a host of companies making adaptors for the short-term, but next-gen models will have better integration.

I have way too many chargers! And, none of them work with my present phones, etc. Right, this is many years too late. Where have the environmentalists been on this issue?

Jun 29, 09 - 09:58 am Comment from: qka

But will the US carriers, who control the phone designs in this country, go with this? Well the hardware manufacturers give them no option. Or will the carriers, in their greed, demand proprietary connectors, in an effort to chisel more money out of customers?

Apple will include small white adapter, 1" x.5" x .25", that will convert miniUSB to iPhone connector.
Case closed.

Jun 29, 09 - 10:17 am Comment from: _Bill_

If they could only standardize the case, we'd be in business... One size fits all!

Jun 29, 09 - 10:25 am Comment from: KingMel

This is a very important issue. The current situation has led to the proliferation of cheap and inefficient power adapters that are wasting energy and polluting our environment. This is environmental stupidity.

If everyone settles on a standard interface and DC output voltage characteristics, then manufacturers won't need to provide a new adapter with every device. In addition, it might now make economic sense to produce a most costly, but also more efficient adapter that won't waste as many kWh (even when there is no device attached, or when the attached device is fully charged).

Or Apple could simply include both connector on the iPhone... a dock connector and a micro-USB connector. The micro-USB would be small enough to fit and handle charging if you're not using the dock connector for charging/syncing. That might be cheaper than including an adaptor you'd have to carry around.

It's not that big a deal for apple, their phone already uses USB to charge it. All Apple has to do is have a adapter, which already exists by third party suppliers, to take the existing Large USB connector to a Micro one.

Jun 29, 09 - 10:51 am Comment from: anypats

I see something similar to the cable that charges the Apple Bluetooth headset. It's a standard dock connector with a spot next to the cable that you can insert the headset. Take that out and put a micro USB and you're good.

Jun 29, 09 - 11:10 am Comment from: critic

"Or will the carriers, in their greed, demand proprietary connectors, in an effort to chisel more money out of customers?"

Why would the carriers have a problem giving up the ability to sell you a $1 charger for $35? (Yes, I am being sarcastic)

Jun 29, 09 - 11:25 am Comment from: almux

This should have been a standart from the start!

Blackberry are looking a bit cheesy tonight!

Jun 29, 09 - 12:47 pm Comment from: The Other Steve

@Orenokotodazo
"this is many years too late. Where have the environmentalists been on this issue?"

They weren't interested,
couldn't use it to slam Apple.

Apple should've gone with Mini-USB ages ago. The Dock connector is big, ugly and takes up more space. A small elegant micro-USB is more Apple-like.

ApplePi: Apple should've gone with Mini-USB ages ago. The Dock connector is big, ugly and takes up more space. A small elegant micro-USB is more Apple-like.

The Dock Connector does a lot more than just providing a (device, not host!) USB port like the other phones. It is actually a rather elegant solution the way Apple handle it (for the most part).

I suspect that Apple will adopt the adapter approach rather than add another socket because they seem to want to maintain physical compatibility. This makes a big difference to the multitude of case manufactures and retail stores.

Jun 29, 09 - 10:37 pm Comment from: John

I have a juicepack air battery/case for my 3G and it uses micro-USB (a pain to find cables for it around here!). The good news is it charges _and_ synchs to my computer using that cable, so they've obviously got enough contacts for it to work. Obviously the dock allows things like digital music out and such, but I'd expect some clever adapter designers could deal with this too, and our future cars could be made with a standard micro-USB connector/charger/audio-out plug that would keep the iPhone (or whatnot) charged up and ready for music or hands-free talk.

Good news if they can pull it off!