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October 03, 2012

Apple Lets You Use Your Cheap MP3 Player Again

By Julie Griffin, Contributing Writer

While checking out at the supermarket, you might notice a portable little MP3 player for $12 and think, why not? It’s cheap, it’s small, and it comes with a little clip you can attach to your shirt while you jog. So you take it home and begin transferring music from your iPhone (News - Alert) 5 – only you can’t. The portals don’t match up.



Accuse yourself of being cheap, blame the manufactures of the MP3 for their oversight, or point to Apple (News - Alert) for not foreseeing this scenario before releasing their new smartphone.

Would you believe that Apple is accepting responsibility for this problem and is currently working on resolving it?

Anticipation over the launch of the iPhone 5 was destined to end in disappointment, but Apple is addressing one of its most common complaints by patenting a resolution. It seems that the public’s dissatisfaction over Apple’s latest mobile device is attributed to its new Lightening connector. Even though Lightening’s technology is likely more progressive than its predecessors or anything else the market, that could be a problem in itself.

Lightening is incompatible with products substandard to Apple’s. But instead of spending even more money, or trading your phone in for a competitor’s product, a brilliant solution is underway.

According to a report, the patent for this new adaptor is the continuation of work that’s been in progress since 2008. During this time, there was a burgeoning of MP3 players on the market from various electronic manufacturers. These MP3 players are cheap, portable, and ideal for gym use. However, many of these devices have portals that do not fit into Mac and Apple devices.

This situation is one of the two compatibility issues that the new adaptor will resolve.

In addition to physical incompatibility issues is another issue with electronic incompatibility. Lightening has specific power requirements that other devices do not often meet. And although the assistance of an additional accessory or two could do the trick, it should come as no surprise that many consumers are less than thrilled about having to make any additional purchases.

According to CNet, the cost of these additional “special adaptors” range from about 30 to 40 dollars, and these adaptors are still insufficient for connecting the iPhone 5 with a TV or computer monitor.

Those extra cables don’t just your environment; they’re expensive.

Apple’s patent for the new adaptor demonstrates how the adaptor will resolve issues of physical and electronic comparability using wireless technology. Wireless transmitters will enable the communication between devices and accessories.

Want to learn more about today’s powerful mobile ecosystem? Don't miss the Mobility Tech Conference & Expo, collocated with ITEXPO Austin 2012 happening now in Austin, TX. Stay in touch with everything happening at Mobility Tech Conference & Expo. Follow us on Twitter.




Edited by Braden Becker
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