Apple's switch to a 19-pin connector will have you shelling out the bucks to replace all your docking peripher …
If you're a current iPhone owner, you're no doubt excited about this year's impending release of the iPhone 5. But here's something we can guarantee you won't be excited about: According to third-party accessory manufacturers (via TechCrunch's John Biggs), the next-generation iPhone will ditch the current 30-pin connector standard that Apple has used for its iPhone, iPads, and iPods since 2003 in favor of a new 19-pin design.
For Apple, the change makes a lot of sense. The current 30-pin connector uses up a lot of valuable gadget real estate that could easily be served with a more compact 19-pin connector. For you, the consumer, the change may be expensive indeed. Any expensive speaker dock you've bought over the last few years, spare cables you've dropped $20 on, or special connections to your car stereo — all could be totally useless with the new generation of iPhones coming out later this year.
It's important to keep in mind that this hasn't been yet confirmed by Apple, so it should be treated as a rumor for now. That said, we wouldn't advise going out to buy an expensive new iPhone dock or other home iPhone accessory — you might not be able to use it with that new phone you're planning on buying in a few months.
[Image credit: Cog Log Lab]
This article was written by Fox Van Allen and originally appeared on Tecca
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