Third-party USB-C Lightning cables made official at CES by Griffin

I don’t quite get why releasing 3rd party lightning - usb c cables was an issue. 3rd party lightning-USB A cables have obviously been around forever, and USB C is just a different form factor for usb 3. 

That said, they’re really of limited use. Peter Schiller’s hallucinations aside, the world runs on USB A. The only benefit is to be able to directly plug into a MacBook Pro, but since the first accessory most people buy is a usb C-A dongle, even that isn’t much of a benefit

MplsP said:

I don’t quite get why releasing 3rd party lightning - usb c cables was an issue. 3rd party lightning-USB A cables have obviously been around forever, and USB C is just a different form factor for usb 3. 

That said, they’re really of limited use. Peter Schiller’s hallucinations aside, the world runs on USB A. The only benefit is to be able to directly plug into a MacBook Pro, but since the first accessory most people buy is a usb C-A dongle, even that isn’t much of a benefit

I suppose then you can use the USB-C wall charger that you're already carrying for charging the MacBook or Nintendo Switch or whatever else, and additionally use it for charging your phone without the need for another charger.

MplsP said:

I don’t quite get why releasing 3rd party lightning - usb c cables was an issue. 3rd party lightning-USB A cables have obviously been around forever, and USB C is just a different form factor for usb 3. 

That said, they’re really of limited use. Peter Schiller’s hallucinations aside, the world runs on USB A. The only benefit is to be able to directly plug into a MacBook Pro, but since the first accessory most people buy is a usb C-A dongle, even that isn’t much of a benefit

Huh.  I'm looking at the Dell notebook that I was assigned at work as a replacement for my desktop PC (as were the hundreds of other employees at my company).  There is no USB-A port, just 3 USB-C ports.  The tipping point has been reached.  USB-A will be around for a long time, but it's losing its dominance.

(Having said that, I agree with the first point.  What took so long to have an "official" third-party option?)

Good that consumers have more choices at price point. But, 2020/21, Apple might move to USB-C on iPhone and than all Apple devices are on the same port interface. I will miss reliability of Lightening port but who am I to say ?

randominternetperson said:

MplsP said:

I don’t quite get why releasing 3rd party lightning - usb c cables was an issue. 3rd party lightning-USB A cables have obviously been around forever, and USB C is just a different form factor for usb 3. 

That said, they’re really of limited use. Peter Schiller’s hallucinations aside, the world runs on USB A. The only benefit is to be able to directly plug into a MacBook Pro, but since the first accessory most people buy is a usb C-A dongle, even that isn’t much of a benefit

Huh.  I'm looking at the Dell notebook that I was assigned at work as a replacement for my desktop PC (as were the hundreds of other employees at my company).  There is no USB-A port, just 3 USB-C ports.  The tipping point has been reached.  USB-A will be around for a long time, but it's losing its dominance.

(Having said that, I agree with the first point.  What took so long to have an "official" third-party option?)

I believe a large part of the delay was getting the new MFi spec for USB-C out of Apple. Then they have to assure compliance with the spec and get Apple to certify it. I seem to recall there was a delay in Apple releasing the updated MFi spec, much longer than it should have been when they were shipping products with USB-C 2 years ago.