Apple Puts Authentication Chip In Lightning Cable Ensures No Cheap Third-Party Option

[badb0y]

What does this have to do with cables?

Those who Apple are used to paying to play anyways. Not like a new adapter is gonna wear off the illusion of superiority to them.

Did you not read the quote he was responding to?

Also it's funny to see all these people raging who will never buy an iPhone in the first place. Yusomad?

Also since I actually have both a lightning connector and a mUSB in front of me, it's obvious which connector is more robust and easier to use. The mUSB cable at my work(i bought for my One X) is already broken and the one that came with my One X wiggles when I plug it in since day 1. In contrast to mUSb when you plug in the lightning connector it actually feels like it gets plugged in, there's like a click to it and it stays in place unlike the mUSB. As for how well it will work over time I don't know since I have had it for less than a week but I can safely say it will outlive my mUSB cables.

 

[shortylickens]

I just don't get people that think profit is a bad thing.

He did say it was a bad thing they just dont understand why such a rich company would make it EVEN more expensive to get accessories for your product. For what they charge they should include better adapters and cables and plugs.

Theres pics of the damage all over the internet, a couple in this thread.

 

[Kenmitch]

Did you not read the quote he was responding to?

Also it's funny to see all these people raging who will never buy an iPhone in the first place. Yusomad?

Also since I actually have both a lightning connector and a mUSB in front of me, it's obvious which connector is more robust and easier to use. The mUSB cable at my work(i bought for my One X) is already broken and the one that came with my One X wiggles when I plug it in since day 1. In contrast to mUSb when you plug in the lightning connector it actually feels like it gets plugged in, there's like a click to it and it stays in place unlike the mUSB. As for how well it will work over time I don't know since I have had it for less than a week but I can safely say it will outlive my mUSB cables.

Just looked at to me it looked to be on topic.

I've had no issues with mUSB so far. My daughter is the cable.killer in the house.

1 adapter should be included with each new device or at least be free on request. Not like Apple can't afford it....But then again if the loyal are willing to pay why not charge them.

 

[jpeyton]

Well we can unequivocally claim the iP5 is much more durable than the S3. Not even really a comparison

I'm happy to see that the S3 has made such a huge, lasting impression on you. Without asking, you bring it up in a discussion about Lightning vs. microUSB.

 

[jpeyton]

Should we conclude that they're obviously perfect? Without a meaningful set of data it's hard to conclude if this happens more with Apple cables or not.

Would losing a class-action lawsuit over frayed cables qualify as a "meaningful data set"?

http://www.theatlanticwire.com/technology/2011/11/frayed-knot-apples-power-cord-fix/44822/

Their MacBook power cords have the same poorly designed jacket as their iDevice cables. The courts have concluded it's a design flaw, yet even their newest Lightning cables sport the same design. Unfortunately for us, the class-action lawsuit only covered their more expensive MacBook power cables, not their iDevice accessory cables.

Here's a fun fact: Apple originally didn't design their cables with a built-in expiration date.

The old connectors could lock in place, while the newer ones simply pulled out. But that design change doesn't explain why they changed the jacket design to something far less robust.

 

[cheezy321]

Would losing a class-action lawsuit over frayed cables qualify as a "meaningful data set"?

http://www.theatlanticwire.com/technology/2011/11/frayed-knot-apples-power-cord-fix/44822/

Their MacBook power cords have the same poorly designed jacket as their iDevice cables. The courts have concluded it's a design flaw, yet even their newest Lightning cables sport the same design. Unfortunately for us, the class-action lawsuit only covered their more expensive MacBook power cables, not their iDevice accessory cables.

Here's a fun fact: Apple originally didn't design their cables with a built-in expiration date.

The old connectors could lock in place, while the newer ones simply pulled out. But that design change doesn't explain why they changed the jacket design to something far less robust.

I am happy to see that your obsession with Apple is unwavering and has a lasting impact on you. Without asking you bring up a completely different lawsuit about a completely different product in a discussion about lightning vs. microUSB.


Warning for thread crapping
I judge that a discussion about Apple-made cables fraying is on-topic to a discussion as to whether third party guys can make a Lightning cable because they may or may not have authentication chips in them. In the future, if you have concerns that a post might be off-topic, please report the post.

Moderator PM

 

[khha4113]

My guess is that because the 30-pin dock connector locks into the device it's more susceptible to such wear and tear. The USB cable will likely get pulled out of the device if too much force is put on it. Any cable that gets bent a lot without the ability to give will wear out over time.

Also, you're data set is based entirely on your own personal experience. I still have the cable from my first generation iPad and it hasn't had any problems. Should we conclude that they're obviously perfect? Without a meaningful set of data it's hard to conclude if this happens more with Apple cables or not.

Also, does Apple's new connector lock in place like the old 30-pin connector or will it naturally pull out more easily?

This is common problem than you think. I also had to replace my daughter's Ipod Touch (3rd gen) cable after few months because of this exact problem as in the picture. My brother's Iphone cable had to be replaced as well too.

 

[badb0y]

He did say it was a bad thing they just dont understand why such a rich company would make it EVEN more expensive to get accessories for your product. For what they charge they should include better adapters and cables and plugs.

Theres pics of the damage all over the internet, a couple in this thread.

From what I have been reading if your iPhone comes out of the box with a scuff they will replace it for free.

As for the adapter, I agree the lightning to 30 pin adapter should be included for free at least until they launch the next iPhone.

 

[MrX8503]

The cables are fragile, luckily I don't have any problems with it. People that I've seen with frayed cables are the ones that wrap their cables as tight as they can. I'm always dumbfounded why people are so rough.

 

[Kenmitch]

I am happy to see that your obsession with Apple is unwavering and has a lasting impact on you. Without asking you bring up a completely different lawsuit about a completely different product in a discussion about lightning vs. microUSB.

What's up with the thread crapping?

His post is on topic as it looks to be Apple cables none the less.

The images in his post clearly show how Apple down graded them. Guess they weren't selling enough of them. The new design looks to be more for the look than durability.

Cables most of time are damaged by the user unless cheaply made.

 

[WelshBloke]

In my use of 1000s of musb cables and dozens of devices I have never ever broken a cable or a device. On the other hand, my limited apple stuff I have broken numerous 30pin cables, adapters, aux lines, earbuds. They make those cables like shit. And charge you a shit load of money to get a replacement.

The only micro USB stuff I've killed was a batch of cheap ebay cables.

 

[WelshBloke]

The cables are fragile, luckily I don't have any problems with it. People that I've seen with frayed cables are the ones that wrap their cables as tight as they can. I'm always dumbfounded why people are so rough.

They are wrapping them wrong?

Sorry couldn't resist.

 

[jpeyton]

I am happy to see that your obsession with Apple is unwavering and has a lasting impact on you. Without asking you bring up a completely different lawsuit about a completely different product in a discussion about lightning vs. microUSB.

TLDR, but I think you were asking for more examples of Apple's cheaply-made, premium-price cables. Here you go:

Why Apple's cables keep breaking (according to an Apple employee): http://www.theatlanticwire.com/technology/2012/07/why-apples-power-cords-keep-breaking/55202/

Now it just so happens that the Industrial Design department hate how a strain relief looks on a power adapter. They would much prefer to have a nice clean transition between the cable and the plug. Aesthetically, this does look nicer, but from an engineering point of view, it's pretty much committing reliability suicide. Because there is no strain relief, the cables fail at a very high rate because they get bent at very harsh angles. I'm sure that the Engineering division gave every reason in the world why a strain relief should be on an adapter cable, and Customer Service said how bad the customer experience would be if tons of adapters failed, but if industrial design doesn't like a strain relief, guess what, it gets removed.

 

[annomander]

As a mod are you not supposed to set an example and not constantly stir trouble as you are seen to always be doing?

 

[khha4113]

As a mod are you not supposed to set an example and not constantly stir trouble as you are seen to always be doing?

How do you think he "constantly stir trouble"?

 

[MrX8503]

Wow those are bad. Looks like my friends power cable and he treated his cables like a lasso.

Take care of your cables people, it's not that hard.

 

[khha4113]

Because there is no strain relief, the cables fail at a very high rate because they get bent at very harsh angles

I totally agreed. There is a reason why it's called "strain relief", to relieve the strain on the cable! Most of microUSB cables have strain relief to protect the cable itself when being bended,

 

[Kenmitch]

As a mod are you not supposed to set an example and not constantly stir trouble as you are seen to always be doing?

???

Showing Apples cable failures in a Apple cable related thread isn't allowed?

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

You can build all the strain relief you want but even in the image above, there's a point where your cable will be at the standard thickness, where it borders the strain relief. You will still have stress concentrations there. Apple's cables DO have strain reliefs. Strain reliefs do not mean you get zero cable failures. It's the design of the strain reliefs that matter. There's thousands of microUSBs with crappy strain reliefs.

 

[khha4113]

You can build all the strain relief you want but even in the image above, there's a point where your cable will be at the standard thickness, where it borders the strain relief. You will still have stress concentrations there. Apple's cables DO have strain reliefs. Strain reliefs do not mean you get zero cable failures. It's the design of the strain reliefs that matter. There's thousands of microUSBs with crappy strain reliefs.

I agreed. So you're telling me "Apple-design" strain relief is crappy?

 

[zerocool84]

Only problem I've had with micro-usb cables is that the micro connector part on the cable keeps bending to the point of being unusable. That's because I drop my phone a lot while charging and it bends the connector but luckily you can get super cheap ones from monoprice and I always keep spares on hand just in case. It's happened to 2 cables to me in a couple years.

 

[WelshBloke]

You can build all the strain relief you want but even in the image above, there's a point where your cable will be at the standard thickness, where it borders the strain relief. You will still have stress concentrations there...

The strain relief is supposed to be flexible enough that it minimizes the stress concentration, that's what it's for.

The idea is that the stress is spread out over a greater area. Those pictures of the apple cables looked like the stresses were being focused in one area not spread out.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

I agreed. So you're telling me "Apple-design" strain relief is crappy?

Perhaps it can be better, but in the end even with a strain relief you have concentrated stress where the cable borders the strain relief.

The fact the strain relief is thicker means that there's less flexibility and thus the cable will look somewhere else to flex. I haven't done a stress analysis, and maybe certain strain reliefs will successfully absorb additional stress, but I'm positive that there will always be a concentration where your cable borders the relief.

Here's my Ultimate Ears Super.Fi 5 Pro audio cable and the HP Touchpad charger. Both have mini strain reliefs, kinda like what Apple has. The SuperFi one has a tendency to flex AFTER the strain relief, and so all the stress is concentrated there. It's already broken. I have to wiggle it ot get audio out of both earbuds.

Strain relief isn't really the golden ticket out of the problem. You're essentially just pushing the flex point further out. Your true option is to have a very thick cable.

 

[WelshBloke]

... but in the end even with a strain relief you have concentrated stress where the cable borders the strain relief...

Eh? No you don't. The whole point is that you don't get concentrated stress there.

 

[Mopetar]

Would losing a class-action lawsuit over frayed cables qualify as a "meaningful data set"

Thanks for the link. I wasn't aware of that suit.

Here's a fun fact: Apple originally didn't design their cables with a built-in expiration date.

That's being hyperbolic. Without more information we have no idea if the problem is one of design or if it was merely due to a bad batch of cables from a particular manufacturer. Without any actual data on how many users were affected it's impossible to tell how pervasive the issue actually is.

I am happy to see that your obsession with Apple is unwavering and has a lasting impact on you. Without asking you bring up a completely different lawsuit about a completely different product in a discussion about lightning vs. microUSB.

It's a thread about Apple's new connector and this is related to Apple's connectors. Furthermore it's a factually based argument. Apple has had issues in the past with their connectors and it's fair to speculate if such problems will exist with the new connector as well.