Before D-Day Sept. 12, when Apple unveils its iPhone 5 at a news conference, more leaks and rumors are gathering steam.
A French blog, nowhereelse.fr, posted an image of the new mini dock connector along with the current dock connector, confirming past rumors. Last month, Nowhereelse leaked images of a smaller dock connector of the iPhone 5. This connector will ultimately replace Apple's 30-pin dock connector.
Rumors surrounding the iPhone 5 first started emerging in October and picked up steam by February. Apple wanted to make more room for other components in the new iPhone. This will be the first change in dock technology since 2005, when the company switched from Firewire to USB, CNET said.
As AppleInsider mentions, the alleged 9-pin format is similar to a Micro USB plug, though the rumored parts are thinner and longer.
Usually, USB connectors are housed with contact pins arranged in a linear manner, giving space for counterpart component to interface. AppleInsider said that the new design avoids the earlier design, which exists in the 30-pin connector for a more "robust male/female system."
"The supposed new plug will feature a layout with eight pins exposed on either side of a metal shell which serves as a ninth contact, thus allowing for orientation-independent use. With the new design, users will no longer have to make sure that the connector is right side up when inserting it into an iDevice," AppleInsider said.
The iPhone 5, the sixth generation of iPhones, will be unveiled by Apple Sept. 12.
