The picture above is purported to show third party non-approved authentication chips for Apple’s new Lightning USB cables. They’re pretty much a huge deal for anyone who plans to make iPhone 5 accessories or cables, because now that the Lightning authentication chip has been cracked, manufacturers can create cheaper accessories because they won’t have to pay Apple a fee to use the official Lightning chip.
Apple included authentication chips in the design of the Lightning connector to keep un-safe third-party manufacturers from making accessories. Chinese hackers have been quick to clone the authentication chip though as it’s only been on the market for one month.
According to BGR there are multiple versions of these unofficial Lightning authentication chips and connectors floating around China. That’s great for anyone trying to make cheaper Lightning accessories, but a huge bummer for Apple’s MFI partners who have already paid the licensing fees to make legitimate accessories.
Apple is expected to finalize guidelines with their MFI partners by November 7th in order to get legitimate Lightning accessories into consumers hands before the Holiday season.
Source: BGR
Buster Hein is a freelance writer who lives in Phoenix, Arizona. Twitter: @bst3r.
