With Apple’s keynote minutes away, last minute rumors and news keep popping up. Various reports have confirmed the new nine-pin dock connector that will ship with all new iOS devices. New reports are also now suggesting that this connector could be compatible with a USB 3.0 connector, like those found on new Mac laptop models from 2012, which could mean faster syncing speeds.
In theory, USB 3.0 is capable of data speeds up to 5Gbps, a little more than ten times faster than USB 2.0, which is capable of speeds up to 480Mbps. MacNN decided to experiment a little by transferring a 20GB batch of MP3 and AAC files across USB 3.0, comparing it with USB 2.0 speeds. Although it didn’t reach the maximum potential speed, the USB 3.0 connection took 11 minutes and 57 seconds to transfer the files, and the USB 2.0 connection took 41 minutes and 8 seconds, which is obviously a pretty big difference.
The nine-pin dock connector probably won’t be compatible with Thunderbolt or FireWire 800. Thunderbolt specifications require a 20-pin connector for both power and data transmission. Almost all Apple laptops and desktops have a FireWire connector, but iOS devices left the FireWire behind with the third generation iPod.
The biggest problem with the change in connector size is accessories. There are rumors floating around of Apple-supplied adapters, but whether or not the devices will be compatible with peripheral accessories is still unclear. But not for long, as Apple’s keynote is just around the corner. And in case you haven’t heard, Macgasm will have complete coverage of the event with a Macgasm TV live stream, normal article coverage, and on Twitter.
Source and Image Credit: iPodNN
