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Apple's Lightning Authentication Reportedly Cracked

By - Source: MacRumors

iPhone5mod is first to claim a crack of Apple's Lightning cable and dock used in the iPhone 5.

The Chinese company is already offering an illuminated cable and dock as an unauthorized accessory for Apple latest phone. Apple has yet to approve any third-party products using the Lightning technology.

iPhone5mod said it is using original USB translation chips supplied by an Apple supplier. In theory, this would mean that third-party vendors will not only be able to circumvent Apple's authorization, but also offer cheaper products than Apple down the road. At this time, Apple is selling its Lightning to USB cable for $20, while an 8-pin Lightning to 30-pin adapter sells for $29.

iPhone5mod is offering the iPhone 5 Flash Lightning Dock for $19.90.

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There are 27 Comments. B
Top Comments
  • 27
    Skippy27 , October 11, 2012 10:28 PM
    Wait, what?

    Apple encrypts their product to prevent 3rd party peripheral products from being made and sold for cheaper than them!

    Tell me it isnt so!

    #1 reason to not buy their products in my book.
  • 27
    eternalkp , October 11, 2012 10:26 PM
    micro usb cable costs $2.99
    why apple goes with this route is beyond comprehension...well making $$ is obvious
    why is it lightning when it's not even usb3 speed
  • 23
    p05esto , October 11, 2012 10:28 PM
    People buying Apple products are looking more and more stupid these days. $20 for a cable, lol. Blind iSheep! Think for yourselves, don't buy every stupid aluminum trinket Apple pushes out, there are better adn more affordable options out there.
Other Comments
  • 27
    eternalkp , October 11, 2012 10:26 PM
    micro usb cable costs $2.99
    why apple goes with this route is beyond comprehension...well making $$ is obvious
    why is it lightning when it's not even usb3 speed
  • 23
    p05esto , October 11, 2012 10:28 PM
    People buying Apple products are looking more and more stupid these days. $20 for a cable, lol. Blind iSheep! Think for yourselves, don't buy every stupid aluminum trinket Apple pushes out, there are better adn more affordable options out there.
  • 27
    Skippy27 , October 11, 2012 10:28 PM
    Wait, what?

    Apple encrypts their product to prevent 3rd party peripheral products from being made and sold for cheaper than them!

    Tell me it isnt so!

    #1 reason to not buy their products in my book.
  • 5
    tripledouce , October 11, 2012 11:15 PM
    So according to the article they didn't really crack the code. looks like the chinese company went down the road to foxconn and bought thier USB Translator chips. Should have paid them more Apple.
  • 5
    ohim , October 11, 2012 11:16 PM
    eternalkpmicro usb cable costs $2.99why apple goes with this route is beyond comprehension...well making $$ is obviouswhy is it lightning when it's not even usb3 speed

    It goes because of the dumb people that buy their products, they are willingly ready to spend 20-30$ for a cable that should cost 2-3$ just to own an apple product. I hope this is not the future of our world.
  • 7
    ankaj , October 11, 2012 11:32 PM
    p05estoPeople buying Apple products are looking more and more stupid these days. $20 for a cable, lol. Blind iSheep! Think for yourselves, don't buy every stupid aluminum trinket Apple pushes out, there are better adn more affordable options out there.

    This is not strictly an Apple issue. Go to best buy and look at the price of htmi cables to start, they are way more expensive than they should be as well. Look at Monster Cables, they are probably 10x what they should be. But people buy them.
  • 1
    syrious1 , October 11, 2012 11:44 PM
    I thinks its pretty cool it illuminates, Apple would never do something like that.
  • 1
    wiyosaya , October 11, 2012 11:58 PM
    Skippy27Wait, what?Apple encrypts their product to prevent 3rd party peripheral products from being made and sold for cheaper than them!Tell me it isnt so!#1 reason to not buy their products in my book.

    +1 crApple wants to license everything. It is their SOP. I am willing to bet that that policy drives more people away than it attracts. However, crApple has not figured this out yet, and if asked, I bet crApple would simply say that it helps them ensure "quality." :sarcastic: 
  • 7
    blurr91 , October 12, 2012 12:08 AM
    I used to NOT believe in the "greedy" corporation myth hyped by the anti-capitalists and hippies.

    Apple shows me how wrong I was...
  • 0
    AndrewMD , October 12, 2012 12:15 AM
    eternalkpmicro usb cable costs $2.99why apple goes with this route is beyond comprehension...well making $$ is obviouswhy is it lightning when it's not even usb3 speed


    Let's make a fair comparison. Most consumers tend to purchase usb cables when they need it at the place they are at. In a normal everyday department store the MicroUSB cable retails for $14.99 and up.

    To compare two different marketing prices to prove a terrible point is naturally going to be picked apart.


    No one is in arguing that Apple product command a premium price. Just like their 30 pin cables can now be purchased at dollar stores for $5.00
  • -4
    KelvinTy , October 12, 2012 12:20 AM
    "At this time, Apple is selling its Lightning to USB cable for $20, while an 8-pin Lightning to 30-pin adapter sells for $29."
    Then why would anyone even consider the adapter? = =" Even if you don't want to toss away your trusty peripheral, surely they would have a "lighting" port version coming out... So that you just need the Lighting cable either way.
  • 0
    UVB076 , October 12, 2012 1:20 AM
    Someone should make a 30-pin to Lightning adaptor and permanently attach it to their iPhone 5.
  • 3
    bustapr , October 12, 2012 1:31 AM
    KelvinTy"At this time, Apple is selling its Lightning to USB cable for $20, while an 8-pin Lightning to 30-pin adapter sells for $29."Then why would anyone even consider the adapter? = =" Even if you don't want to toss away your trusty peripheral, surely they would have a "lighting" port version coming out... So that you just need the Lighting cable either way.

    because that lightning version will cost money. why would anyone want to pay more for something they already have? theres a shitload of peripherals like speaker docks, 3rd party chargers, car docks, and even some guitar pedals just to name a few that use the older 30pin connector. noone should want to rebuy all these peripherals just for a fancy connector.

    and thats why apple is screwing over these older customers with the new connector and charging $30 for it instead of kindly including a free adapter in box for the sake of loyal customers.
  • 2
    bllue , October 12, 2012 2:19 AM
    bustaprbecause that lightning version will cost money. why would anyone want to pay more for something they already have? theres a shitload of peripherals like speaker docks, 3rd party chargers, car docks, and even some guitar pedals just to name a few that use the older 30pin connector. noone should want to rebuy all these peripherals just for a fancy connector. and thats why apple is screwing over these older customers with the new connector and charging $30 for it instead of kindly including a free adapter in box for the sake of loyal customers.

    And these people are dumb enough to fall for it and buy them when they could easily switch to a new company that isn't screwing them every chance they get but the iSheep don't care so I'm happy they're willingly letting Apple rip them off
  • 0
    eijiyuki , October 12, 2012 2:28 AM
    It's simple. Let's say a USB cable cost consumers $2.00, but only $0.50 to manufacture. Apple can sell an Apple USB cable for $5.00 but cost $0.60 to manufacture also. Nonetheless, customers will opt to go buy the $2.00 cable so Apple makes $0.00 profit. So Apple will spend $25 in development and manufacturing cost to make their proprietary adapter make customers pay $30 for it, and still come back in getting $5.00 profit and secure that we don't have a $2.00 Chinese alternative.
  • 4
    memadmax , October 12, 2012 3:26 AM
    Apple LoveAs an Apple shareholder with well over 3500 shares invested since 1987 I say GO APPLE! However, sometimes their management leaves alot to be desired. It will take a while to unravel what Steve Jobs did -- for better or worse. However, I do not feel that Cook is the man to head up this fabulous organization.I have seen my shares dwindle over 75.00 in the last few weeks. That's alot of doe folks...And yes I am an avid user of Apple products though I am guilty of NOT buying strictly iApple products -- I will purchase a clone cable if it works.


    Troll Alert... Troll Alert... Troll Alert...
  • 1
    anonymous@guest , October 12, 2012 3:32 AM
    Don;t you guys know that? Apple are making us for their market slaves. When we put songs to apple stuffs, we always use iTune and also we should buy songs in iTunes. Don't be slave anymore. Apple gonna rip us off. I hate Apple.
  • -1
    anonymous@guest , October 12, 2012 6:47 AM
    Eternalkp and the rest of you complaining about the cable price due to being proprietary...... Have you guys never heard of learning from history? Or hell the present. How much did the apple usb to 30pin cable cost when it first replaced the USB to FireWire they were using? How much are they charging for that same cable today? Most likely the same price, $19 which is way way too expensive right? Well guess what you can get $2-8 after market cables easily but that wasn't the case when the cables were new. So guess what? We will be buying cheap lightening to USB cables soon too and eventually will also be $2-8 a cable while still $19 in apples store or web store.
    The problem is those cables aren't available yet. Once prices drop what will you guys complain about then?

    I am anti apple, despised Steve jobs, huge PC fan, but I do have an iphone5 because for MY needs it is the best available smart phone. But I will say this despite price or speed, just talking about the design and use, the lightening cable IS THE BEST CONNECTION CABLE I HAVE EVER USED ON ANY ELECTRONIC PRODUCT EVER!!!!!!!! And I mean EVER!!! So easy to use, connects securely, safely, the pins can't come out of place and destroy your devices power port, small, and the end is crush proof UNLIKE ANY iteration of USB and especially unlike the 30pin dock that could bend easily. Ere will be no jiggling of the port like with micro usb after months to years of wearing out just to charge the device. I wish every device would use the lightening port! I can only imagine a world where my PC's keyboard, mouse, monitor, Hdmi, displayport, USB, were ALL lightening..... If the I/O panal on the back of a motherboard was all listening it would look so clean easy to plug in (blindly I might add), take up less space, etc! Would love if the power port inside PC's to power hdds, cd drives, video cards all used lightening rather than Molex connectors.

    It will never happen but we would all be better off if it did.
  • 2
    zander1983 , October 12, 2012 7:19 AM
    JoonDon;t you guys know that? Apple are making us for their market slaves. When we put songs to apple stuffs, we always use iTune and also we should buy songs in iTunes. Don't be slave anymore. Apple gonna rip us off. I hate Apple.


    If you hate Apple then don't use their stuff, stick with the stuff you like / prefer

    I'm actually surprised how many iHaters there are here on Toms, actually funny to see so many iHaters swarming any article about Apple :p 
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