DailyTech - Former Apple "Evangelist" Calls iPhone 5's Lightning Connector a Product of Arrogance

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Gadgets Former Apple "Evangelist" Calls iPhone 5's Lightning Connector a Product of Arrogance
Brandon Hill (Blog) - September 24, 2012 11:48 AM

72 comment(s) - last by vailr.. on Oct 1 at 2:23 AM

Guy Kawasaki (Source: guykawasaki.com)

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

Apple's Lightning dock connector has been catching a lot of static since it was officially announced alongside the iPhone 5. On the plus side, the Lightning connector is much smaller than the older 30-pin connector, which allows Apple to cram more components inside the iPhone 5 while making it smaller and lighter. And unlike the older 30-pin connector, the connector is reversible, making it easier to plug in the cable on the first try.

However, there are plenty of negatives associated with the move to Lightning. Older dock-based accessories and cables won't work without a $29 adapter and some in-car infotainment systems won't function properly even with an adapter.

Now, Guy Kawasaki, who worked as Apple’s software/hardware “evangelist” from 1983 to 1987, is calling out the company on its decision to go forward with Lightning. Kawasaki doesn't take issue with the elimination of the 30-pin dock connector, but he does take object to Apple not going with the industry standard micro USB connector that all other smartphone makers use.

"This connector thing, I think it's pure arrogance," said Kawasaki. "Well, if the goal was really to save space why didn't you just go to a micro USB like everybody else in the world, and we could all get a cable at 7-11 for $5.

^{Apple's $29 Lightning adapter}

"But no, you had to have a proprietary one. It fries my brain, I don't understand it. It's just arrogance and I'm disappointed very much in that."

To add insult to injury, the former Apple evangelist doesn't even own an iPhone anymore. "I got rid of my iPhone about a year ago - I prefer Android," Kawasaki added.

Source: The Daily Telegraph

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RE: 1983-1987?

By XZerg on 9/24/2012 12:45:41 PM , Rating: 3

ahhh... bash one product and praise another, and yet provide no real comparison for either. is that the way to do give a proper objective opinion?

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RE: 1983-1987?

By hartleyb on 9/24/2012 2:46:49 PM , Rating: 1

Micro-USB, poor reliability, breaks often, lacks bandwith capacity for good two way data comunications, doesn't support true HD capability...should I go on!!!!! Not agreeing with Apple's position, but micro-usb isn't the answer either.

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RE: 1983-1987?

By Cheesew1z69 on 9/24/2012 3:04:21 PM , Rating: 2

Yes...please do go on. Poor reliability? Breaks often? LOLOLOL

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RE: 1983-1987?

By theapparition on 9/24/2012 4:05:33 PM , Rating: 1

quote:
doesn't support true HD capability

Seriously? Why didn't anyone tell me I couldn't watch those HD movies through my MHL adapter. Why did I spend hours watching HD movies output from my phone to the HDTV without anyone enlightening me that I wasn't really watching HD.

Now I know that the HD movies I watched didn't really support HD capability.

Thankfully, you're around to let me know. Or to throw around BS. Guess I'll have to pick the second choice.

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RE: 1983-1987?

By testerguy on 9/25/2012 2:32:25 AM , Rating: 2

HD is relative.

Which specific resolution are you talking about?

In many cases people are actually sending compressed video and compressed audio - so watching the movie doesn't prove the bandwidth argument wrong.

Try transferring Full HD with HD audio whilst charging your device and allowing the device to control the dock / vice versa, over microUSB.

It wont work, which is why Samsung created a proprietary 11 pin MHL connector.

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RE: 1983-1987?

By vailr on 10/1/2012 2:23:17 AM , Rating: 2

Shouldn't mini-USB 3.0 be capable of vastly better bandwidth than Apple's new Lightning connector? From what I understand, the Lightning connector is only comparable to USB 2.0 speeds, when simply copying a video file from an iPhone to a PC, for example.
Has anyone asked Apple why they didn't simply go with mini-USB 3.0 connecter instead? The control circuitry would be too bulky for an iPhone, or: ?

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RE: 1983-1987?

By Alexstarfire on 9/24/2012 4:40:58 PM , Rating: 2

If we're just making stuff up then I'm just going to say that Apple's new port will kill you if you touch it wrong.

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RE: 1983-1987?

By gladiatorua on 9/25/2012 3:11:05 PM , Rating: 2

Poor reliability and breaking often might true. Everything else is BS.
I don't like micro-usb. I hate proprietary connectors even more.
I would be fine with Apple proposing new good standard for the industry, but that won't happen, because it might hurt their short term bottom line.

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RE: 1983-1987?

By JackBurton on 9/24/2012 5:58:45 PM , Rating: 1

Just the fact that it is reversible is a BIG plus. I can't stand the micro-USB connector just for that fact alone.

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RE: 1983-1987?

By Camikazi on 9/24/2012 7:02:19 PM , Rating: 2

Never understood how someone can have trouble with micro-USB plugs, I can plug my phone, MP3 player, camera, camcorder in the dark with no problem what so ever. Maybe I just pay more attention than most people but I have always wondered how people can get it wrong each time.

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RE: 1983-1987?

By Cheesew1z69 on 9/25/2012 1:47:14 PM , Rating: 2

Because, it's not Apple, that's how and why..

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RE: 1983-1987?

By XZerg on 9/24/2012 7:17:33 PM , Rating: 2

that definitely is a magical feature, and definitely worth going non-standard. please make sure to buy 10 so you can have it everywhere you go.

</sarcasm-end>

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