Lightning Articles on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog

Why Lightning is extra awesome

by Kelly Hodgkins (Nov 5th, 2012)

Updated for clarity & to note that 30-pin cable is also universal for iPhone and iPad. Apple's Lightning cable received a fair amount of criticism when it was introduced along with the iPhone 5. The new port replaces the 30-pin connector found on previous iPhone models and contains ...

Apple announces fourth generation iPad

by Chris Rawson (Oct 23rd, 2012)

Consumers and competitors alike apparently can't get too comfortable with the pace of iPad updates, because just six months after the "new iPad" came out, Apple has announced the fourth-generation iPad. Powered by an A6X chip, it doubles the CPU performance of its predecessor. It has a 720p ...

Study: Apple Maps not affecting iPhone 5 demand

by Kelly Hodgkins (Oct 12th, 2012)

ChangeWave Research and 451 Research surveyed 4,270 North American consumers in September 2012 and found that 32 percent were either somewhat likely (13 percent) or very likely (19 percent) to buy an iPhone 5 despite the recent negative press, says a report in AppleInsider. Most consumers are ...

30-pin to Lightning adapter: early users test compatibility

by Erica Sadun (Oct 10th, 2012)

We got a message from developer David Stanfill this morning, who's had an opportunity to start using Apple's 30-pin to Lightning connector. As early pre-orders are just now arriving, we were curious as to how things were working. "I can confirm," he writes, "That the 30-pin to Lightning cable ...

Apple's Lightning authentication chip cloned

by Steven Sande (Oct 9th, 2012)

One of the "features" of Apple's new Lightning adapter on the iPhone 5 is a special authentication chip that must be built into the adapter or third-party peripherals in order for them to work properly. Apple is reportedly doing this in order to ensure compatibility with third-party Lightning ...

Daily Update for October 8, 2012

by Steven Sande (Oct 8th, 2012)

It's the TUAW Daily Update, your source for Apple news in a convenient audio format. You'll get all the top Apple stories of the day in three to five minutes for a quick review of what's happening in the Apple world. You can listen to today's Apple stories by clicking the inline player ...

Don't like your Lightning cable? Double Helix will mod it for you

by Kelly Hodgkins (Sep 27th, 2012)

If you would rather have your Lightning cable look bold instead of bland, then you should check out this custom mod by Double Helix cables. The cable maker is offering to take your Lightning cable and turn it into something that stands out from the crowd. The customized cable is crafted from ...

A look inside Apple's Lightning cable

by Kelly Hodgkins (Sep 26th, 2012)

Apple's iPhone 5 includes a new Lightning cable that drops the number of available pins from 30 down to eight. Besides its smaller size, the new cable is also reversible and lets you insert the plug without worrying whether it's facing the right way. Apple says the cable has "an adaptive ...

Some users reporting difficulty removing Lightning cable's USB end

by Kelly Hodgkins (Sep 26th, 2012)

If you're having some problems with your new Lightning cable getting stuck in your Mac or PC, you are not alone. According to a CNET report, a growing number of iPhone 5 users are complaining that the USB part of the cable is difficult to remove from their desktop or laptop USB port. In some ...

Apple's Lightning connector suppliers struggle to meet demand

by Michael Grothaus (Sep 25th, 2012)

With the iPhone 5, Apple introduced the new Lightning connector, effectively retiring the old 30-pin dock connector to the dust pile of the past. However, Lighting cables have been in limited supply and currently have a two to three-week wait time in Apple's online store. The reason for this, ...

Daily Update for September 13, 2012

by Megan Lavey-Heaton (Sep 14th, 2012)

Lightning 30-pin adapter works with analog audio, "iPod Out" doesn't mean what you think it means (Updated)

by Michael Rose (Sep 13th, 2012)

A certain degree of confusion around not-yet-shipping products is inevitable, as hands-on information is limited and manufacturers' descriptions may be cryptic. In the case of the iPhone 5, Apple's not helping matters with its spec page for the Lightning to 30-pin dock adapters, specifically the ...

Apple accommodates European law with Lightning Micro USB adapter

by Dave Caolo (Sep 13th, 2012)

Apple's iPhone 5 introduced the Lightning connectivity port as well as adapters for older, 30-pin hardware. A Micro USB adapter was also released on Sept. 12, which Apple had to produce to comply with European law. Apple, RIM, Nokia and nearly every other major mobile phone manufacturer agreed ...

Apple unveils Lightning, its new, smaller dock connector for the iPhone (Updated)

by Kelly Hodgkins (Sep 12th, 2012)

As foretold by our own Richard Gaywood, Apple unveiled a new dock connector for the iPhone 5. Called Lightning, the new connector is 80 percent smaller than the current 30-pin version. Besides being smaller, Lightning features an 8-signal design and improved durability. Lightning's connector ...

WeatherBug Elite for iPhone adds real time lightning sensors

by Mel Martin (Aug 28th, 2012)

As I see it there are two kinds of weather programs. There are the 'pretty' weather apps with beautiful animations and graphics that are somewhat short on in-depth data, and there are the apps that dive very deeply into data like precipitation totals and trends. Then there are a lot of in-between ...