• iPhone 5 will use a 19-pin connector instead of 30-pin, according to reports
  • Change means that all current iPhone accessories must be replaced
  • New connector could allow phone to be thinner and enable magnetic cable

By Daily Mail Reporter

PUBLISHED: 17:13 EST, 21 June 2012 | UPDATED: 06:09 EST, 22 June 2012

Apple was accused of ripping off consumers today as it emerged the next version of the iPhone could render all current accessories obsolete.

Outraged iPhone owners flocked online to complain about the reports that Apple has decided to radically alter the size of the connector in the next iPhone, which is expected to be launched in October.

Speakers, docks and other expensive accessories costing hundreds of dollars would be rendered useless by the move, along with cheaper add-ons such as chargers. Even cars with the current connector built in would need to be upgraded.

Change: This picture is believed to show a prototype case for the new iPhone (right), with its new connector design which is set to make every existing accessory completely obsolete

Change: This picture is believed to show a prototype case for the new iPhone (right), with its new connector design which is set to make every existing accessory completely obsolete

Old and new: The current iPhone is shown with the prototype of the iPhone 5's outer casing

Old and new: The current iPhone is shown with the prototype of the iPhone 5's outer casing

Technology blog TechCrunch said it confirmed the change by speaking with three separate manufacturers, although Apple has not commented on the plan.

Current iPhones, and all previous models, have used a 30-pin connector for power and to plug in accessories.

However, reports claim the next iPhone will use a smaller 19-pin version, rendering all current accessories useless. Leaked pictures claiming to be the new handset also show a smaller, rounder connector.

Some reports claim the new connector will allow a smaller, thinner iPhone to be made, while others claim it could lead to a cable attached by magnets.

Popular: But iPhone users could found themselves seriously out of pocket if they want to upgrade their device

Popular: But iPhone users could found themselves seriously out of pocket if they want to upgrade their device

According to blogger Robert Scoble, the move will also allow Apple tighter control over accessory makers.

Apple charges firms to create accessories as part of its ‘made for iPhone’ scheme which approves add-ons, although the firm has never revealed how much it charges to join the scheme.

THE IPHONE ACCESSORIES WHICH COULD BECOME OBSOLETE

Bang & Olufsen BeoSound 8 - $850

Bose Sounddock 10 - $600

B&W Zeppelin mini speaker - $300

Manufacturers must also buy a special ‘authentication chip’ for some of their accessories, a move by Apple to cut down on unapproved accessories, and it is believed the chip is even found in some iPhone headphones.

'It will be nearly impossible to make unlicensed devices,' said Mr Scoble. 'Unfortunately these design goals mean making obsolete the something like 10 power chargers in my home. Sigh.'

Sirio Brozzi of the website Awesome Robo hit out at the move, and blogged: 'People are stunned by this possibility, myself included. I mean, why fix something that's not broken?'

Mr Brozzi believes the move is planned to give both Apple and accessory makers a huge new market.'

Have you guys ever heard of "planned obsolescence"?' he added. 'It's a practice which encourages planning and designing a product so it's only useful for a limited time, before becoming obsolete.'

Useless: The $850 Bang & Olufsen BeoSound 8 is designed to work with the current iPhone's design

Useless: The $850 Bang & Olufsen BeoSound 8 is designed to work with the current iPhone's design

Obsolete: The B&W Zeppelin speaker, left, and the Bose Sounddock 10, right, are other pricey gadgets which will have to be upgraded before they will work with the iPhone 5

Apple also advertised for staff to work the new connector earlier this year, advertising for a Lead Engineer, who the firm said will be 'responsible for identifying appropriate connection technology requirements for new products and follow through with selection and development of suitable interconnect products. This will often involve adaptation of existing connectors or complete new designs.'

Along with a change in its dock connector, the iPhone 5 has also been rumoured to be receiving a newly designed speaker grill, a different back cover and antenna that are molded into one piece, and most notably, a larger screen.

Apple did not respond to calls from MailOnline about the new connector design.

However, some believe the firm could - at a price - supply adapters to allow older accessories to work with the new handsets.

The new iPhone is also expected to have a larger 4" screen using Apple’s retina display, which uses individual pixels so small the human eye cannot see them, making on-screen text appear like a printed page, and allowing graphics and video to be shown at resolutions higher than a high definition TV.

It will also include Apple's own maps software, which the company revealed a few weeks ago. In a bid to compete with Google's maps, Apple even revealed it has a fleet of planes and helicopters photographing the world to build up a 3D map.

PLANNED OBSOLESCENCE: HOW YOUR GADGETS ARE BUILT TO BREAK

Throughout history electronics manufacturers have sold products with built-in obsolescence, or introduced new formats forcing consumers to rebut accessories and even music, films and TV shows.

Recent examples include the evolution of music, from records to tapes, CDs and downloads, each format requiring users to buy the music they already own again with the promise of better quality.

Film buffs have also seen huge changes, from VHS to laserdisc to DVD, Blu Ray and, finally, downloads.

Many gadget makers, including Apple, also sell electronics with batteries that cannot easily be replaced, forcing users to either upgrade or pay for expensive repairs.

Apple and others have also often changed the design of power supplies and other accessories with each new model, forcing consumers to buy new versions.

TV makers also warn that even the latest TVs have a limited lifespan, with on average around 100,000 hours of use before they must be replaced.

However, manufacturers hope that consumers will upgrade to the latest technology far before this happens.

Here's what other readers have said. Why not add your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards.

The comments below have not been moderated.

Erm, has anyone not thought that Apple is complying with the agreement amongst hardware manufacturers to standardise the charger/data connection, so that any charger can be used with any device regardless of manufacturer - a supposedly green initiative.

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This also means the "New" iPad already has an outdated connector that's being phased out by Apple. Don't buy an iPhone 5 or iPad unless you're willing to ditch your accessories.

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This is far from a scoop as it was reported some time ago that all the major phone manufacturers, including Apple, will be moving to a standard micro USB adapter, which is pretty much standard on most digital cameras already as well as other electronic devices (eg the Raspberry Pi). This will mean that all future phones and most other electronic devices will all use the same adaptor, something that I for one will really appreciate as I currently have a mass of different adaptors. It will be absolutely brilliant not to have to take three or four different adaptors on vacation with me! Or to be able to borrow someone's adaptor to charge your phone and know it will be the right type. Yes, there will be a change over period and so devices will need to be retrofitted with one-off converters, and Apple may make some money from that. But, the article is completely wrong about motives as Apple is actually giving up a revenue stream here, not gaining a new one.

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It is a changing world folks we will complain but do nothing, 25 years ago this would not happen. Back In the day we used to worry if next week we would work 2, 3 or perhaps 4 days, rolling power cuts, fuel shortages etc that is what we used to worry about if we had enough money to put food on the table for the Kids, if not we would work 2 jobs, yes in some cases both parents. Now the younger generation complain about not having the latest tasty training shoes that cost over £100 (Freely available in China for US$10) smart phones & complain they have no WIFI connection - getting screwed over by greed is nothing new for us older folk, the younger generation think its part & parcel of life which will lead to more innovative ways for Joe public to part with his money & its the same younger generation who will come up with these so called innovative ideas and not think twice about it. What is the difference between right and wrong well the answer is money in today's world. Sad is it not.

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Ermm so don't buy it then - simples

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Apple dropped the floppy disk drive while everyone else included one long past its obsolescence. They added USB ports when there were hardly any third party devices using USB. They've just dropped the optical drive from their new laptop. Technology moves on and it's better to be ahead of the pack. There will doubtless be an adapter for legacy hardware, so non-story.

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DM, I think you will find this is all part of an agreement between Phone and many other things that need a power supply to charge them up, This was put forward a few years ago to stop the mountain of useless chargers made. I may be wrong and Apple as it has done in the past has gone their own way, but all Hype on your part,as many companies will produce a converter withing days of it being on Sale.

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Its the customers choice to buy apple products, if you don't like the new design stick with your old one. Its only a phone after all.

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Meh, so what? I'm sure some third party companies will produce adapters. But in my personal experience, apple owners always seem to be fanatically hankering after latest versions of hardware & accessories anyway, without a care for the old. The obsolete just gets handed down or tucked away in a draw. Something else I've noticed about apple fans is that they're commonly mainstream users who appreciate simpler formats. They only use up to around 50% of their gadgets potential anyway, half the features are lost on them. More about desiring style / fashion than practicality or actual usage.

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All data transfer can be carried over standard USB ports (just look at the other end of your apple connector), so there is no technical reason why it should not move to USB (micro,mini or standard). I thought we had a new Euro directive to state that all new phones should use micro USB? They must be struggling for new ideas if they are scraping the barrell with this old money-making, greedy scheme.

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