Apple Reverses Stance On Lighting Rules To Allow POP Kickstarter Project

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POP is back in business!
POP is back in business!

Last week, we told you about how Apple’s ridiculous Lightning rules forced a Kickstarter project to shut down after raising $140,000. The POP Station was intended to provide charging for multiple kinds of connectors, including Lightning and the older 30-pin. For users who own newer Apple devices and legacy 30-pin devices, the POP solved the problem of constantly switching out cables.

After raising the money, the makers of POP were informed that Apple’s new licensing rules wouldn’t allow Lightning and 30-pin connectors to be packaged together. There was such an outcry from backers and the online media that Apple has since reversed its stance.

CNET got an official comment from Apple on the matter:

“Our technical specifications provide clear guidelines for developing accessories and they are available to MFi licensees for free. We support accessories that integrate USB and Lightning connectors, but there were technical issues that prevented accessories from integrating 30-pin and Lightning connectors so our guidelines did not allow this.”

Notice the “were.” Whatever “technical issues” there may have been, Apple has now made it possible for the POP to exist again.

The guy behind POP, Jamie Siminoff, told CNET that he plans to start selling his product instead of issuing refunds to Kickstarter backers.

You can find out more about POP on its Kickstarter page and the product website. Preorders are available and pricing ranges from $99 to $179.

Source: CNET

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