iLoungeiLounge
  • News
    • Apple
      • AirPods Pro
      • AirPlay
      • Apps
        • Apple Music
      • iCloud
      • iTunes
      • HealthKit
      • HomeKit
      • HomePod
      • iOS 13
      • Apple Pay
      • Apple TV
      • Siri
    • Rumors
    • Humor
    • Technology
      • CES
    • Daily Deals
    • Articles
    • Web Stories
  • iPhone
    • iPhone Accessories
  • iPad
  • iPod
    • iPod Accessories
  • Apple Watch
    • Apple Watch Accessories
  • Mac
    • MacBook Air
    • MacBook Pro
  • Reviews
    • App Reviews
  • How-to
    • Ask iLounge
Font ResizerAa
iLoungeiLounge
Font ResizerAa
Search
  • News
    • Apple
    • Rumors
    • Humor
    • Technology
    • Daily Deals
    • Articles
    • Web Stories
  • iPhone
    • iPhone Accessories
  • iPad
  • iPod
    • iPod Accessories
  • Apple Watch
    • Apple Watch Accessories
  • Mac
    • MacBook Air
    • MacBook Pro
  • Reviews
    • App Reviews
  • How-to
    • Ask iLounge
Follow US

News

News

Eight-Pin Dock Connector + iOS 6 / Bluetooth 4 Link Details? (Updated)

Last updated: May 14, 2021 5:13 pm UTC
By Jeremy Horwitz

As Apple’s next-generation iOS devices and software come closer to release, new details continue to flow in from our sources, and a previously reliable one has chimed in with two really interesting things we hadn’t heard before. Since the first directly conflicts with rumors that have made the rounds for months, we waited to publish it until we had additional confirmation, which we received this morning.

Advertisements

1. New 8-Pin Dock Connector. According to two sources, Apple’s new Dock Connector features only 8 pins, seemingly contradicting claims of “16-pin” and “19-pin” connectors. Although the original Dock Connector contained 30 pins, reports of 16- or 19-pin connectors seemed hard to square with the port’s small size and Apple’s actual need for additional pins beyond what USB/Micro-USB offer.

No images or parts for the connector have leaked out, either. Both of our sources concur that there are eight pins in a line within the new Dock Connector, which may well receive a different name going forward.

Advertisements

It’s worth noting that Apple recently received a patent on what appeared to be a 16- or 19-pin Dock Connector. It’s possible that this is for the seemingly inevitable “old Dock Connector to new Dock Connector” adapter, specifically the female side that connects to and adapts the prior 30 pins, and obviously the other side will look entirely different.

One source claims that the new connector will feature other design innovations, potentially including the ability to be connected to docks and cables in either orientation (like MagSafe),* but the other source could not confirm this or additional changes we’ve heard about; consequently, we consider other changes “quite possible” but uncertain.

Advertisements

Given the possibility of grumbling from users regarding accessory incompatibility, it’s safe to say that Apple will attempt to pitch the new connector as superior to its predecessor in a variety of ways, and the smaller size will only be one of them.

Update: A source chimes in to confirm and explain the second detail: the male connector has 8 pins on each side, while the female connector has only 8 pins on one side. This enables the iPhone/iPod/iPad (with female port) to connect to either side of a male cable or docking plug.

2. iOS 6 + Bluetooth 4 Link. Our source also claimed that Apple is working on an as-yet-undisclosed iOS 6 feature that will act as a bridge between its Bluetooth 4-capable devices.

Advertisements

Latest News
Apple Pencil Pro
The Apple Pencil Pro is $29 Off
1 Min Read
Apple Maps
Apple Maps updated with ‘Expert Sources’ information
1 Min Read
Android 16
Android 16 ‘Live Updates’ launch
1 Min Read
visionOS 3
visionOS 3 to have eye scrolling function
1 Min Read
Apple AirTag 4 Pack
The Apple AirTag 4-Pack is $19 Off
1 Min Read
Apple
Apple launches new music transfer tool
1 Min Read
HBO Max
Max to be renamed ‘HBO Max’
1 Min Read
Safari
Safari Technology Preview 219 now live
1 Min Read
Beats Solo 4
The Beats Solo 4 is $70 Off
1 Min Read
C1 Modem
The C1 modem gets a security update through iOS 18.5
1 Min Read
watchOS 11.5
New watchOS 11.5 debuts
1 Min Read
visionOS 2.5
visionOS 2.5 comes with Apple TV Vision Tab feature
1 Min Read

iLounge logo

iLounge is an independent resource for all things iPod, iPhone, iPad, and beyond. iPod, iPhone, iPad, iTunes, Apple TV, and the Apple logo are trademarks of Apple Inc.

This website is not affiliated with Apple Inc.
iLounge © 2001 - 2025. All Rights Reserved.
  • Contact Us
  • Submit News
  • About Us
  • Forums
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?