Opinion: Apple And The New Connector - Coolsmartphone

Opinion: Apple And The New Connector

Opinion: Apple And The New ConnectorAs regular readers will probably be aware I am an Android fan.  I don’t particularly dislike Apple but I have no love for them either.  For me iOS is a bland piece of software that is only bought to life by the plethora of apps that is available or by the jailbreaking community.  The iPhone is no better or worse than some near top of the range Androids – but of course that may change with the new iPhone.

One of the changes touted for the new iPhone is a brand new connector which is changing from 30 pin to 19 pin.  The general press have picked up on the story and no doubt there will be howls of anguish as people that have spent hundreds of pounds on expensive gadgets such as docks, chargers, car kits, desk stands and whatever wonderful inventions have been thought up all realise that they won’t work with their new iPhone.

The iPhone has sold millions and millions of units for Apple.  It is sold for a premium price because it is a premium product. There are some premium accessories that have been made to go with it too, made by some very hi-tech companies.  Bowers and Wilkins, Bang and Olufsen, Cambridge Audio, Sonos, even manufacturers that make Android phones such as Sony have got in on the act.

The market for iPhone and iPod accessories is immense and there are millions and millions of unsold units sitting in shops that will be incompatible with the supposed new connector.

So, A little bit of a reality check.  Apple are a company who’s shares are traded on the NASDAQ.  This means that there are shareholders who the board report to and shareholders want one thing – Profit.

In order to maintain the levels of profit that Apple have been making they need to evolve, the products that they produce need to be cutting edge at the very least, if not ground breaking.  It is something that up until now they have done very very well and something that they are not going to just stop doing.

In order to keep ahead of the competition Apple need to keep on innovating and producing market leading products.  Android manufacturers have come a long way and in some instances have overtaken Apple in the smartphone stakes, but how many “Made for Android” accessories are there?  Not many.

However, that is about to change, Klipsch have started producing special Made for Android earphones and Philips have started making Android docks.  So, the competition could be catching up – even if there is a long way to go.

Lets put another couple of questions out there.  How many iPhones less than 3 years old have been rendered obsolete by the release of a new version of iOS?  Precisely none.  Now, how many Android new devices actually have the newest version of Android?  Less than 8% of devices currently in circulation have Ice Cream Sandwich.

What this shows is that Apple hasn’t simply forgotten about legacy devices in the past so why should they in the future?  Yes they may be producing a device with a new connector but surely they would be shooting themselves in the foot to make it incompatible with EVERY accessory currently on the market that uses said connection.

In this case I feel a bit of perspective is called for.  Apple is a well oiled crowd pleasing machine who are highly aware of their markets and let’s face it, unless it was needed why would they change what is already a winning format?

At some point it is certain that there will be an official adaptor or some other method of connecting new devices to legacy ones.  It is a sure thing that the new iPhone (or whatever it is called) will be a massive hit regardless of which connector, charger or any other changes made.  So, stop the panic, don’t get worked into a frenzy for the result will be the same as it always is with Apple, the new device(s) will sell by the bucketload, the new accessories will be produced which will also sell non-stop and the shareholders and the customers will be happy!!

Do you have an accessory with the old 30 pin connector, have you just purchased a dock, charger or other accessory?  Have your say on our forums……

 

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