Apple's Lightning Authentication Reportedly Cracked

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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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Wolfgang Gruener
27 Comments Comment from the forums
  • eternalkp
    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
    Reply
  • p05esto
    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.
    Reply
  • Skippy27
    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.
    Reply
  • tripledouce
    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.
    Reply
  • ohim
    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 speedIt 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.
    Reply
  • ankaj
    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.
    Reply
  • syrious1
    I thinks its pretty cool it illuminates, Apple would never do something like that.
    Reply
  • wiyosaya
    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:
    Reply
  • blurr91
    I used to NOT believe in the "greedy" corporation myth hyped by the anti-capitalists and hippies.

    Apple shows me how wrong I was...
    Reply
  • AndrewMD
    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
    Reply