The much rumored overhaul to the dock connector has been made official, and yes, it’s called Lightning! It’s digital, 80% smaller, can be plugged in either orientation, and is a major overhaul to the 9-year old version we’re used to using. It’s 8-signal (so assumedly 8-pin), and apparently has improved durability.
Major manufacturers are already at work on stereos to use the new system, but adapters will be available for older gear.
The iPhone 5 is the first officially announced device to use the new cable, but today’s newly announced iPod Touch and iPod Nano will too.
Here’s how Apple describes them:
A new way to get connected.
Making iPhone 5 thinner and lighter required a pivotal change: replacing the 30-pin connector with something newer, smaller, and better. Introducing the Lightning connector. It features an all-digital, eight-signal design that’s significantly more durable than the 30-pin connector. Another brilliant feature of Lightning: It’s reversible. Which means there’s no wrong way to plug in the cable.Lightning to 30-pin Adapter.
Soon many iPhone accessories will be Lightning compatible. But if you have one that depends on the 30-pin connector, you can still connect it to your iPhone 5. Simply use a Lightning to 30-pin Adapter (sold separately).
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