MFI

iOS 7 now prevents some non-certified Lightning cables from charging your device

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 19, 2013

Back in June, we discovered Apple implemented a warning in iOS 7 Beta builds to caution people against using non-certified Lightning cables, many of which contain cracked authentication chips.

Specifically, connecting an accessory to an iOS 7 Beta device through a non-certified Lightning cable produced a prompt saying “This cable or accessory is not certified and may not work reliably with this iPhone”.

It seems the company has thrown down the gauntlet to unauthorized accessory makers over the use of unapproved Lightning cables because folks have confirmed that the shipping version of iOS 7 now in fact blocks such cables, preventing them from actually charging your iPhone...

Accessory vendor bypasses iOS 7 Lightning check

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

One of the little-known features of iOS 7 that not many people will like is its background check of whether or not a third-party accessory is hooked up to the your iPhone, iPod touch or iPad using a non-certified Lightning cable.

We've know Apple has tightened its MFi program rules (MFi stands for 'Made for iDevice') and iOS 7 seems to be stepping up a cat and mouse game between Apple and non-MFi vendors....

New in iOS 7: support for third party game controllers

Cody Lee ∙ June 11, 2013

As with any major Apple event, where numerous announcements are made, I feel like some of what was talked about yesterday flew under the radar. Specifically, there were several cool features in iOS 7 that didn't get enough attention.

One of those features is support for third party gamepads. Physical controllers for iPhones and iPads have long been left to the ThinkGeeks and the Kickstarter projects, due to the lack of support. But that's going to change with iOS 7...

Mophie offers insight on Apple’s strict Lightning accessory program

Cody Lee ∙ February 14, 2013

When Apple introduced the iPhone 5 last fall, it turned the iOS accessory market upside down. In addition to the new handset, the company unveiled its new Lightning dock connector—a 9 pin port that instantly made millions of add-ons obsolete.

But Apple didn't just change the connector, it also tightened up the requirements for its third-party MFi accessory program. And today, Mophie, who just announced the Helium battery case for the iPhone 5, offers some insight on the changes...

Apple’s strict MFi terms force Kickstarter project to shut down

Cody Lee ∙ December 21, 2012

Back in September, things were going pretty good for the folks at Edison Junior. Their Kickstarter project POP, a portable power station, was a huge success, raising more than $100,000. And they were hoping to start shipping the accessory by early December.

But unfortunately, instead of mailing out POPs to their backers this month, Edison Junior is trying to figure out how to not go broke returning everyone's money. It seems that Apple has rejected their application for a Lightning certificate, forcing them to shut down...

Apple to convene Lightning developer pow-wow in November

Ed Sutherland ∙ October 17, 2012

Apple is expected in early November to lay down the law to its developers on producing Lightning connectors. Among the Apple edicts: Lightning pins will be strictly controlled by the iPhone maker, which will provide them to "approved [developers] with production quantities of the pin once their product is determined to have met its standards and specifications," according to TechCrunch.

As for potential knock-offs, the blog cites a source who warns lawsuits and import confiscations could be in their future. Without providing details, the source described as being "close to the program," suggests the Cupertino, Calif. company will provide "additional security against low-quality copies" of the new iDevice connector...