Tech Crunch has confirmed that the iPhone 5 will make the switch from the existing 30-pin connector, to a new 19-pin connector. Previous rumors and videos of possible iPhone 5 designs hinted that this change was coming, and now that it's here, righteous indignation is bubbling up within the iPhone community at the change.
While the new port will allow for space savings inside the iPhone 5, freeing up room for other components, and allowing it to remain as sleek and lightweight as possible, it will prove immensely frustrating to both consumers (who will have to purchase all new accessories for their new iPhone) and accessory manufacturers (who will their current stock of items become all but obsolete overnight).
It's rumored that the change may even be directly aimed at some of those manufacturers, specifically the ones without approval to create and sell accessories for Apple products. The iPhone 5 may now contain a new chip that prevents the use of unlicensed accessories, allowing Apple to eliminate that market completely, and ensure only approved products work with their devices (which could be used as leverage to bump up the fee they charge to license those accessories for use with the iPhone 5).
Consumers meanwhile will be forced to replace all of their accessories, from expensive speakers to docks. Those with iPhone connectors in their cars would need to upgrade them as well. Needless to say, many are shocked and none too pleased with the move.
"People are stunned by this possibility, myself included. I mean, why fix something that's not broken?" said Sirio Brozzi in a blog post over at Awesome Robo. "As much as I'd love buying a slew of artificially overpriced accessories again, I'd rather start looking for an Android phone (instead)" he added.
Unfortunately for Apple, that may be a common sentiment from disgruntled fans in the months leading up to the release of the iPhone 5.
Does this affect your decision to purchase the iPhone 5 at all? Would you be willing to purchase all new accessories, or hope that Apple eventually releases an adaptor that supports your old ones? Let us know in the comments below.
