iLounge

Apple has denied approval to POP, a popular Kickstarter portable charger that aimed to power multiple devices, including the iPhone 5. According to an update from project creator James Siminoff of Edison Junior Design Laboratory, Apple is “no longer willing to approve a product that uses the Lightning charger alongside any other charger (including their own 30-pin – seriously).” More than $139,000 has been pledged to the project, which started with a funding goal of $50,000, and Siminoff has promised to provide full refunds to all backers. He notes that Edison Junior will be required to absorb more than $11,000 in credit card and Kickstarter fees, however.

Though not entirely surprising, this denial reveals a heretofore unknown rule regarding the Lightning connector being used alongside any other charging connectors, and shows Apple drawing a clear line in the sand regarding Lightning licensing. Companies require Apple approval to license the Lightning connector, allowing the company to apply its tightened rules to reject projects such as POP.

Updated: Apple now says it will allow its Lightning cable to co-exist with the Dock Connector within the same accessory. “We support accessories that integrate USB and Lightning connectors, but there were technical issues that prevented accessories from integrating 30-pin and Lightning connectors so our guidelines did not allow this,” Apple spokesman Tom Neumayr said. [via CNET]