Apple Stalls Lightning Accessories With New Rules for Manufacturers

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Posted October 3, 2012 at 3:06pm by iClarified

Apple has reportedly stalled the production of third party accessories that use the new Lightning connector by introducing significant changes to its MFi policies, reports iLounge.

Multiple reliable sources have confirmed to iLounge that Apple has made significant changes to its Made For iPad/iPhone/iPod (MFi) policies, tightening control over the manufacturing of Lightning accessories. According to the sources, only Apple-approved manufacturing facilities will be allowed to produce Lightning connector accessories, even including third-party accessories. Moreover, Apple hasn't approved any factories yet, which the sources say will limit the number of Lightning accessories available in the near future.

In addition, the site has learned that Apple plans to hold a MFi "seminar" in November in China where it will discuss changes to the program. The late timing of this seminar likely means manufacturers will not have time to produce any products until after the holiday season.

Finally, its said the the Lightning connector has proved very difficult to copy and companies that were originally offering cable pre-orders have been forced to cancel those orders.

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Apple Stalls Lightning Accessories With New Rules for Manufacturers

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Jimmy Kenneth - October 5, 2012 at 1:30am

Lame for us as customers and for businesses who want to make cool products to support iPhone customers, like music docking products, car chargers etc.

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unklbyl - October 4, 2012 at 9:00am

Seems sort of convienient (sp?) that apple will be the only ones able to sell ALL the new stuff untill AFTER the holidays. Sort of sorry, don't ya think? At least we can get replacement screens online for about $10.00 I know these will be breaking BEFORE the holidays. unklbyl

AppleGuy299 - October 4, 2012 at 3:46am

Come on, I hate the Lighning connector

justabrake - October 3, 2012 at 10:24pm

All those preorders on eBay going to be canceled

Manuel - October 3, 2012 at 8:05pm

I hope they improve those headphones. They should have a better fit and better sound as well as more noise insulation. The ones they sell that are non apple sound great but are not the best for talking from them. These new ones aren't a great improvement either.

odedoo1 - October 3, 2012 at 6:40pm

I couldn't believe it when I seen one that was taken apart, there is actually a micro chip in there and all it's reason of being there is so nobody will copy a $1 charging wire Apple are losing their mind and I started with the first iPhone, I'm using the 4S and the iPad 3 and there is no way in hell that I'm ordering the iPhone 5, never seen a phone with so much problems, I'll even bet that people that are getting the 5 now are getting a slightly different phone with some of the hardware problems gone like white lines on the screen or antenna problems ( disconnecting calls or dropping from LTE to 3G and WiFi problems) I can keep going on and on like scratches but paying $30 for connector is just crazy!

DT - October 4, 2012 at 7:25am

rubbish...you only saying that coz you cant afford one...

matrixmaniac - October 3, 2012 at 5:24pm

If they insist on approving factories to enforce fair labor conditions that would be a good thing and actually the consequence of all the bad press they got before.... And btw. the lightning connector is better than all these mini-A and mini-B and micro and God knows what USB connectors out there... And of course its wayyyyyyy better than the 30-pin connector. THAT thing was & is a pain that you should be bashing Apple for! But yeah... not getting any accessories any time soon really sucks...!

Hyxal - October 3, 2012 at 4:51pm

Theyre really starting to saw the branch theyre sitting on. Im about to buy the iPhone 5 and will definately do it, but I wouldnt be so sure bout the next model.

dib - October 3, 2012 at 4:31pm

this sucks man I need that damn adapter to use on my car integration kit with the i5 come on Apple

Leggoman - October 3, 2012 at 3:27pm

Hard to make? Its only hard to make as in what it costs as to how much they can sell it and make money. Most things can be copied when all said and done its a lead. If it has a small micro circuit broad then that make it more costly but could be copied.

iCrunch - October 3, 2012 at 3:19pm

Makes sense that it is "hard to copy" since it's so tiny. It really looks like a toy-like miniaturized version of a "real connector", so to speak.