Apple blocks unauthorized Lightning cables with iOS 7

Posted: , by Alan F.

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Apple blocks unauthorized Lightning cables with iOS 7
In a move possibly triggered by stories of deadly electrical shocks coming from Apple iPhone and Apple iPad units, the Cupertino based tech giant is blocking the use of unauthorized third party Lightning cables with iOS 7. Those cables authorized for use with an iPhone or iPad, contain a chip that authenticates the cable allowing it to be used with the device. There is word going around that some unauthorized cables with cracked chips have been working with iOS 7. Apple will probably shut the door on the usage of the latter in a future update.

If you use an unauthorized charger with iOS 7, you should see this warning

If you use an unauthorized charger with iOS 7, you should see this warning

Additionally, there is allegedly a workaround that will allow the unauthorized cables to work with iOS 7. The process is said to be long enough to get those using a hazardous cable to switch to an official Apple produced cable. Back in July, Apple's website in China displayed the characteristics of an official Apple charger. This came after an incident that killed 23 year old flight attendant Ma Ai Lun. Lun was allegedly killed from an electrical charge that came out of her Apple iPhone 5 while she was answering a call. The phone was plugged into an outlet at the time, using an unauthorized charger.

Other situations took place afterward, including a man shocked into a coma by his Apple iPhone 4, and another man who allegedly went flying across the room when he touched his daughter's Apple iPad. In order to get unauthorized chargers out of commission, Apple started a trade-in offer where it would sell an Apple authorized charger for $10 to anyone bringing in a knock-off or unauthorized third party charger. The offer is available in the U.S., China, and other countries such as Australia ($14 AUD), Canada ($11 CAD), France (€10), Germany (€10), Japan (￥1,000), and the United Kingdom (10 GBP).

source: GSMArena

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posted on 20 Sep 2013, 03:51 25
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1. darkskoliro (Posts: 1076; Member since: 07 May 2012)


The only company I know where there is such thing as "unauthorised cables"

posted on 20 Sep 2013, 04:13 11
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3. HeWhoDoesNothing (Posts: 157; Member since: 15 Jul 2013)


But it's probably for the better. No more 'shocking' deaths...

posted on 20 Sep 2013, 05:07 1
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6. dsDoan (Posts: 229; Member since: 28 Dec 2011)


These stories will not stop. People will either fake them for publicity, or do dumb things with their devices, legitimately injuring themselves in ways that could have, and should have, been avoided.

posted on 20 Sep 2013, 05:13 13
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7. reckless562 (banned) (Posts: 1153; Member since: 09 Sep 2013)


just the 'shocking' amount of $money$ ppl had to pay for a pfhucking charger.... freakin robbing the sheep blind

posted on 20 Sep 2013, 05:48 3
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12. Napalm_3nema (Posts: 2157; Member since: 14 Jun 2013)


I advise you not to buy a Note 3, because you are going tohave to buy a new cable for it . Change happens, and the Lightning cable was a huge upgrade from the 30-pin connector cables.

posted on 20 Sep 2013, 06:32 17
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15. adrianzka (Posts: 57; Member since: 25 Apr 2013)


The note 3 is using micro usb v3.0 . It is backwards compatible with the old micro usb.

posted on 20 Sep 2013, 12:31 5
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36. InspectorGadget80 (unregistered)


MICRO USB FTW

posted on 20 Sep 2013, 07:37 6
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24. Shatter (Posts: 2036; Member since: 29 May 2013)


The Note 3 comes with a micro USB cable which is one of the most common/cheapest cables in the world.

posted on 20 Sep 2013, 09:44 3
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30. rallyguy (Posts: 620; Member since: 13 Mar 2012)


What info have you seen that says you need a new cable? Yes it can use USB 3.0 but it is backwards compatible meaning you can use all the micro USB cables you have now.

posted on 20 Sep 2013, 06:05 6
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13. darkskoliro (Posts: 1076; Member since: 07 May 2012)


All puns aside, it is a serious case if a charger for such a popular product is to cause death. But seriously, I have been using 3rd party cables for ALL my phones I have ever used, and there have been no problem. How come it happens to Apple?

posted on 20 Sep 2013, 06:31
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14. PhoneArenaUser (Posts: 5498; Member since: 05 Aug 2011)


My opinion comment #10.

posted on 27 Sep 2013, 02:07
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47. imparanoic (Posts: 88; Member since: 15 Oct 2012)


3rd party cables are mostly not responsible for electrocution ( don't forget it's 5 to 5.25 volts and at most 3a) it's very cheaply built chargers that is responsible thus there is no reason why apple is enforce this than to fatten their wallets

the fact that 3rd party lightning cable plugged to a reputable charger, ie, could be apple original, sony, iluv, belkin, capdase or Samsung is just as safe

the enforcement of ios7 on 3rd party cable is nothing but an apple tax

posted on 20 Sep 2013, 12:28
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35. InspectorGadget80 (unregistered)


Looks like Apple is forcing everyone that have a cheap universal lighting adapter to force them to buy their over price brand lighting cable. how greedy can Apple get

posted on 30 Sep 2013, 18:04 1
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48. almostdone (Posts: 231; Member since: 25 Sep 2012)


Only with Apple can you get electrocuted without official cables. It's probably their chip inside causing short circuit should you not use official cables.

Ripping people blind.

I've never heard of MicroUSB cables killing people.

posted on 20 Sep 2013, 03:58 16
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2. D.Aceveda (Posts: 396; Member since: 30 Jun 2012)


Lol. I knew Apple was greedy but wow.... they are taking greed to a whole new level

posted on 20 Sep 2013, 04:42 9
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4. PhoneArenaUser (Posts: 5498; Member since: 05 Aug 2011)


I'm pretty sure that there is a lot of people in whole world who in one or another way has lost original Lightning cables and now using unauthorized cables. Does that mean that after updating to iOS 7 they suddenly will be unable to use their iPhones because they will be unable to charge battery and so on? One day you wake up, update your iPhone to iOS 7, battery is empty and you can't charge it because you don't have original Lightning cable, you need go to work, do business call and so on, but you can't... "AWESOME!!!"

posted on 20 Sep 2013, 04:49 1
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5. sharks (Posts: 233; Member since: 16 Feb 2013)


What if one day you wake up, update your iPhone to iOS 7, battery is empty and you charge it with your unauthorised Lightning cable, pick up the phone and fry on the spot. "AWESOME???"

posted on 20 Sep 2013, 05:17
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9. reckless562 (banned) (Posts: 1153; Member since: 09 Sep 2013)


yes, AWESOME!!! with a name like sharks you think youd move (swim) over to android to avoid the threat of death (Sinking) like a top of the food chain preadator would.

posted on 20 Sep 2013, 05:27 6
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10. PhoneArenaUser (Posts: 5498; Member since: 05 Aug 2011)


There was iPhone, iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S and a lot of people who were using unauthorized cables with these devices and all this time there was no big hype about electrocuted people and Apple felt comfortable with all that. But suddenly Apple is very concerned about safety. All this is just a excuses and way to earn more money. Of course there is greater risk to be electrocuted by using poor quality cables and chargers, but such problem existed all the time and Apple felt comfortable with all that till now. So I think that it is just another way for Apple how to exploit this problem and gain more money. There is a lot of different smartphone manufacturers and many users who are using unauthorized cables, but non of these manufacturers are surrounded with such big hype about electrocuted people. Even with older iPhone models there was no such big hype about electrocuted people. So I think that Apple somehow prompted all this hype as an excuse before blocking unauthorized Lightning cables.

posted on 20 Sep 2013, 07:11 1
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20. joey_sfb (Posts: 5492; Member since: 29 Mar 2012)


great conspiracy theory, I almost believed you. lol...

posted on 20 Sep 2013, 07:19
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22. PhoneArenaUser (Posts: 5498; Member since: 05 Aug 2011)


If you want, you can call it my assumption.

posted on 20 Sep 2013, 05:14
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8. reckless562 (banned) (Posts: 1153; Member since: 09 Sep 2013)


Natural Selection at its finest baby!!!!!

posted on 20 Sep 2013, 09:51 2
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31. rallyguy (Posts: 620; Member since: 13 Mar 2012)


I would applaud this move if they sold their cables for $10 and not just a trade in. Many people have more than one cable since many phones need multiple charges a day depending on usage. This sounds like they have a monopoly on cables now and are forced to buy Apple's $40 cable with no other option. Sounds like a money maker in the "name of safety".

posted on 20 Sep 2013, 16:58
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41. PhoneArenaUser (Posts: 5498; Member since: 05 Aug 2011)


Agree.

posted on 20 Sep 2013, 05:44 1
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11. mottykels (Posts: 379; Member since: 15 May 2013)


This is the only features of ios7 that sounds good ;)

posted on 20 Sep 2013, 06:39 6
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16. Spikes9s (Posts: 52; Member since: 09 Aug 2013)


Apple is back to his old tricks, making it really hard for end users to even try to spare some money by buying alternative cables. First they screw the user base with the "Lightning" socket (came last year with the iP5) so users were forced to buy overpriced accesories all over again since not all of them worked with their adapters and now they even going to control what cables people use, so no more cheap chinese hacked cables and chargers, you forced to pay the price tag Apple wants, coz they designed by Cupertino's "Spaceship Campus" (hell someone have to pay for it, isn't it....) muahahahaha

posted on 20 Sep 2013, 06:45 9
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17. amiaq (Posts: 509; Member since: 30 Jun 2012)


Ha ha.. Apple is pissing on their loyal customers again.

posted on 20 Sep 2013, 07:13 3
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21. joey_sfb (Posts: 5492; Member since: 29 Mar 2012)


it's a fetish...

posted on 20 Sep 2013, 07:00 3
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18. AfterShock (Posts: 3698; Member since: 02 Nov 2012)


Quite simply, the lords of nickel and dime.

No wonder they're the richest.

posted on 20 Sep 2013, 07:10 2
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19. Shinydesert (Posts: 62; Member since: 17 Nov 2011)


I get that little pop-up on my Mini, I just dismiss it and it works just fine, in fact it is charging right now with one of those cords.
What I find "shocking" is the lag and the battery drain on this mega super duper iOS7(sarcastic mode on)

posted on 20 Sep 2013, 07:27
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23. PhoneArenaUser (Posts: 5498; Member since: 05 Aug 2011)


Are you not afraid to be electrocuted while charging Apple products with unauthorized cables? Because I have heard that at the moment it is very popular and trendy to be electrocuted while charging Apple products with unauthorized cables. It wasn't so popular in iPhone, iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S days, but now with iPhone 5, 5S and 5C it is very trendy. :D

posted on 20 Sep 2013, 07:43 1
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25. Shinydesert (Posts: 62; Member since: 17 Nov 2011)


Not at all. In fact I don't even care, I just enjoy the toys and technology. When the devices are charging I never stare at them while they are plugged in, I just leave them alone.
I am not afraid of the "blast" Lolololol.

posted on 20 Sep 2013, 08:44
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28. PhoneArenaUser (Posts: 5498; Member since: 05 Aug 2011)


"I get that little pop-up on my Mini, I just dismiss it and it works just fine, in fact it is charging right now with one of those cords."

What about OS updating through iTunes with such cord, no problems?

posted on 20 Sep 2013, 10:00
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32. Shinydesert (Posts: 62; Member since: 17 Nov 2011)


No, that's the cord I used to download the update. Previous version was iOS6.

posted on 20 Sep 2013, 11:45
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34. PhoneArenaUser (Posts: 5498; Member since: 05 Aug 2011)


So with this cord you updated from iOS 6 to iOS 7, right?

posted on 20 Sep 2013, 13:11
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37. Shinydesert (Posts: 62; Member since: 17 Nov 2011)


Correct, I also sync,charge the battery etc....

posted on 20 Sep 2013, 17:04
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42. PhoneArenaUser (Posts: 5498; Member since: 05 Aug 2011)


Thank you for info, I were asking you questions because I need Lightning cable and not sure which to buy unauthorized or authorized. :)

posted on 20 Sep 2013, 08:08 2
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26. good2great (Posts: 1042; Member since: 22 Feb 2012)


The unauthorized cables still charge the phone this is just a warning apple gives. I know because both my iPhone and iPad are charging from off brand cables.

You android guys that have never used an iPhone are so damn stupid I swear.

posted on 20 Sep 2013, 08:27 1
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27. Ninetysix (Posts: 2340; Member since: 08 Oct 2012)


No bro. They use android so they must be smart. I have faith in them and I know they know that you can just hit "dismiss" and the message will go away. The phone will still charge.

Actually..N/M. Post #4 is an example of their intelligence.

posted on 20 Sep 2013, 09:11 2
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29. JunkCreek (Posts: 407; Member since: 13 Jul 2012)


Even cheap android with cheap unauthorised charger that "bite" you when you touch the tip won't even electrocute you. Once again, plastic is great and aluminum is very very dangerous.

It is happen on motorola oldies L7 and L6 models. It "bites" your ear as you make/take a call while charging, except you use sandals/shoes on your foot or using a carpet on the floor. And we are in Asia, usually wears nothing on the foot while in the house and the floor is just plain ceramics.

So, wake-up, it is dangerous to use metal as the body of the phone, it is better to make plastic inner layer then covered by metal body to use as aesthetics thing.

posted on 20 Sep 2013, 10:33
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33. McLTE (Posts: 809; Member since: 18 Oct 2011)


OK PA.. this article is confusing.

One one hand, you say that Apple is BLOCKING 3rd party charging cables, then go on to say that some may work. Then.. if you look at the warning that pops up on your screen, it says nothing about it not working, and that the cable may be unreliable.

I see NOTHING that says cables are BLOCKED.

Commenters are stating that their 3rd party cables are working, but with shown message.

How about getting your story straight before posting and inciting more comment wars...

Having said that, what a stupid thing for Apple to do - prevent the use of aftermarket chargers. Every other phone on the planet seems to use Micro USB just fine, and ANY cable at that. What horrible design decision did Apple make when creating this connector, that it shocks if an aftermarket connector is used?

That Apple thinks they should be the only one to make a freaking cable is bad enough.. but to charge what they do for them is an outrage. Oh, and why the F are they so short? My kids have iPad 4 (I didn't buy them) and they often sit right next to the outlet to use them because the cables are so short. WTF.

posted on 20 Sep 2013, 13:18 1
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38. xfire99 (Posts: 806; Member since: 14 Mar 2012)


1. The problem is not unauthorized third party Lightning cables and its more the iphone itself having aluminum body. All metal do conduct electricity, risk is high, since u need to charge the phone daily.
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Can_aluminum_conduct_electricity
2. If Apple just use micro usb, same as others companys and the risk will be lower. Since USB is a normal common cable and not as lightning cable, with all these security chips, to block 3d party cheap cables. But of course is money talks. Lightning cables bring in more cash. The high price for the cable also forcing peoples to buy 3d party cables.
Lower the price for official lightning cable and minimize the risk for peoples is the right way to do.

posted on 21 Sep 2013, 08:16
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43. PhoneArenaUser (Posts: 5498; Member since: 05 Aug 2011)


There is no risk due metal phone body since voltage inside phone or voltage which reach phone through Lightning cables is too low to kill or do any other serious damage to your health.

posted on 20 Sep 2013, 15:46
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39. PK1983 (Posts: 215; Member since: 08 Aug 2012)


1.) Any smartphone other than Apple, you can buy a third party charger and have no problem.
2.) Any smartphone other than Apple you can buy a cheap USB to MicroUSB cable and connect to your computer with no problem.
3.) The problem is not with the cheap charger, it is with the expensive to buy/cheap to manufacture phone that can't regulated the voltage going into the phone. Seriously when do you hear of a cheap LG or Nokia combusting?

posted on 20 Sep 2013, 16:16
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40. Ninetysix (Posts: 2340; Member since: 08 Oct 2012)


Here you go. Is your search engine broken?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jpBF83R0UA

http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2007-11-30/news/28460967_1_faulty-batteries-nokia-phone-japan-s-matsushita-battery-industrial

http://www.foxnews.com/tech/2010/08/18/man-killed-exploding-nokia-mobile-phone/

http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/03/non-recalled-nokia-phone-battery-explodes-injures-woman/

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/03/14/nokia_thailand_handset/

posted on 21 Sep 2013, 22:45
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44. 9thWonderful (Posts: 232; Member since: 24 Jan 2013)


nothing new...i have come across basic phones having displayed the "this cable is not recommended" message when plugging in cables that fit but aren't the same manufacturer. so have android counterparts when trying to use an LG micro cable w/a Motorola phone. why does this make the headlines? the senseless articles related to anything Apple are getting tiresome. what's next? "Apple iPhone 5S/5C turns on by pressing the power button". who cares.

posted on 22 Sep 2013, 16:34
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45. NormanMcFarlane (Posts: 3; Member since: 22 Sep 2013)


I bought a tiny MicroUSB to Lightning adaptor in France in April. Cost me E11, and it is genuine Apple. Allows me to use any MicroUSB cable to charge my iPhone, or connect it to my notebook. iOS7 is perfectly happy with it.

posted on 23 Sep 2013, 03:39 1
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46. NormanMcFarlane (Posts: 3; Member since: 22 Sep 2013)


Interestingly, I received this message just now when I plugged my iPad Mini in to charge using the charger and Lightning cable that was supplied with my iPod Nano 7th gen which I bought last November while in San Francisco from the iStore near Union Square.
So much for iOS7 being able to tell the difference between a third party and a genuine Apple Lightning cable......

posted on 03 Feb 2014, 21:33
Reply

49. LITTLEBROAL (Posts: 1; Member since: 03 Feb 2014)


I can't charge my ipad mini ??? The cable has been plugged in all day and the thing keeps popping up saying unable to connect because you are not certified or don't have a certified cable and is unrealiable? And this is really making me mad bad use I can't charge my ipad and I just got the thing anybody got any suggestions????????

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