Each time Apple releases some amazing new gadget or technology, there are third party companies waiting in the wings, ready to reproduce the item and hopefully profit.
We know there is absolutely no match for Apple’s high quality products and accessories but sometimes people opt for cheaper knock offs to save a few dollars.
For example a 1 metre Lightning-to-USB cable is $25 in Australia, but on Amazon a similar cable that claims to do the same job costs about $2.
Here is a customer review from this product: [easyazon-link asin=”B00ATL4YNO” locale=”us”]LIFETIME WARRANTY! T & S Electronics Lightning to USB cable – 3rd gen cable. [/easyazon-link]
This is a cable that looks and feels like OEM, and I purchased four because of the great price. However, over time, I realized that the Lightning end of the cable was slightly smaller than the original. In one of two of my iPhone 5s, the plug is touchy and needs to be pulled back just a bit to make full contact with all the pins to charge; in my other phone, no problems. Then after a few weeks, one of my cables just stopped working at all, making no power or data connection. The return policy with T & S is great, super service. I’m keeping the other 3 cables since they’re so inexpensive. I’ll live with that.
Now Apple has releasing a new security feature into iOS7 where the cable has to have authentication before it will work on an Apple device. Ah sneaky but unfortunately already cracked by a Chinese company called iPhone5mod. See the video below.
Even worse, it appears that Apple’s authentication scheme is software based and the cracked cable by iPhone5mod is hardware based. This means that Apple would have to change their own Lightning hardware which could cost big dollars.
iPhone5Mod is an experienced Apple product ripper as they previously developed a case that transformed an iPhone 4S to an iPhone 5. If I was Apple, I would be hiring those innovative minds and sleeping with the enemy.
So far there are limited listings of this new cable on Amazon.com but here is an example, [easyazon-link asin=”B00CYT7ZHQ” locale=”us”] iPhone 5 Cable Lightning to USB Cable iOS 7 Compatible Apple Certified[/easyazon-link]. It does not have any reviews at the time of writing this post. It will be interesting to see if this can in fact compete with Apple’s superior quality.
hii….Mitz…nice article..Well I am a big fan of Apple and an old time iphone user too so as on behalf of my personal experience you can enjoy apple apps only with its genuine accessories because if you are carrying an iPhone and you are using some other brands accessories then its not a justice with your iPhone..and about the statement of hiring those innovative minds…..:) I would say they are nothing without the initiative of Apple guys…anyways nice article…got to know about some interesting facts too like the cost difference and all
keep sharing
Thanks
Yes they probably would not have come up with these ideas without Apples ideas first. 🙂