

Guy Kawasaki  (Source:
Guy Kawasaki takes Apple to task for not going with micro USB


Apple's $29 Lightning adapter

Source: The Daily Telegraph

Comments     Threshold


RE: No excuses
By Tony Swash on 9/24/2012 7:02:36 PM , Rating: 0
If it honestly was speed, why didn't they get micro-USB 3.0?

The micro USB pins are very small, and the power-carrying connectors, pins 1 and 5, are rated to carry 1.8 amps at 5 volts DC. That means that the maximum charging power that can safely flow across the connector is 9 watts. But the iPad wants 10 watts to charge. It will charge on as little as 5 watts, the output of most USB 3 ports and the specially modified USB 2 ports on newer Apple products, but needs 10 watts for fastest charging.

Depending on the circuitry involved, there’s some danger that attempting to charge a USB iPad, if such a thing existed, would cause the connector to overheat. But the more likely result would be a 10% slowdown in the iPad’s charging rate.

Why settle for second best when your big enough to set new, and better, market standards and as a bonus ensure iOS peripheral lock in. It may be arrogant, it may annoy some (oddly it seems to really, really annoy some people who don't even own any Apple devices - go figure) but it will be a success simply because Apple is now so big it can make moves just like this and be confident that it will work.

Apple say that this new connector will be the standard for the next ten years which means it will be the final standard for physical iOS device connection. In few years nobody under twenty will know what a connector lead is - "you mean in the old days you used to have like wires connecting things!!"

RE: No excuses
By Trisped on 9/24/2012 7:24:02 PM , Rating: 5
Fantasy world again Tony. If micro-USB was not rated to handle it they could have used mini-USB like all the other stuff I have. The fact is that you can get plenty of power over a USB cable, otherwise Apple would not be able to sell their products with USB chargers.

What it actually comes down to is Apple does not want people paying $5 for a power adapter, they want people paying $15-20 and a 30% cut.
They want people to buy the $30 adapter because it is 70-99% profit.
They want people to buy new iPod alarm clocks, base stations, cars, etc. because Apple gets a cut.

The real fact is Apple cannot be like everyone else, because they charge more then everyone else.

RE: No excuses
By jimbojimbo on 9/24/2012 11:44:52 PM , Rating: 2
My micro USB adapter puts out 2.1 amps... hmm, I guess my charger, the cables I've used, and my tablets should be fried by now. Strange how they aren't.

RE: No excuses
By testerguy on 9/25/2012 2:27:18 AM , Rating: 2
At what voltage?

RE: No excuses
By Trisped on 9/27/2012 7:27:55 PM , Rating: 2
USB is 5v (well there are 4 wires, one is ground, 2 for data, and one for +5v power).
Since all USB is +5v then it is usually not mentioned.

RE: No excuses
By Strunf on 9/25/2012 8:02:26 AM , Rating: 2
2.1A is the maximum current output, if your device only needs 500mA your USB adapter will only supply 500mA.

RE: No excuses
By Alexstarfire on 9/25/2012 3:22:30 AM , Rating: 3
Where did you get that information? The only thing I can find for USB 3 is for the full version and it's speculated to supply 100w of power. I'm sure the micro-USB 3 would be less, but less than 1/11th of the power seems a bit of a stretch.

And IDK what the ratings for micro-USB 2 are but I'm assuming it's less than than micro-USB 3 and I imagine what you quoted is about right.

