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posted by Fnord666 on Friday February 05 2021, @06:34PM   Printer-friendly

Apple may finally fix its flimsy iPhone charger cables:

Every iPhone user likely has had one Lighting cable fray [on] them. It's been an annoying issue, and one that's driven third-party sellers to create braided cables that can withstand more abuse.

It seems that Apple is at the very least researching ways to make its cables more resilient. According to a patent filing first noticed by AppleInsider, Apple has been working on a "cable with variable stiffness" that gets thicker toward the ports.

Lightning cables are known for having thick connector points. It's what Apple internally refers to as the strain relief sleeve. While the ends of Apple cables are meant to keep the cable from fraying, often those areas become pressure and kink points. Apple acknowledged as much in its patent filing.

"In addition to making the cable locally stiffer, the strain relief sleeve also makes the cable thicker at the ends. In some instances, the added thickness may not be desired," the patent filing reads.

To get around this, Apple is essentially designing a cable that has denser material toward the ends that tapers off. [...]


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  • (Score: 3, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 05 2021, @06:41PM (21 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 05 2021, @06:41PM (#1109378)

    It's revolutionary!

    Enjoy your Crapple!

    Starting Score:    0  points
    Moderation   +3  
       Troll=1, Insightful=2, Funny=1, Underrated=1, Total=5
    Extra 'Insightful' Modifier   0  

    Total Score:   3  
  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 05 2021, @07:19PM (2 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 05 2021, @07:19PM (#1109386)

    USB cables are junk too.

    • (Score: 2) by NateMich on Saturday February 06 2021, @12:56AM (1 child)

      by NateMich (6662) on Saturday February 06 2021, @12:56AM (#1109468)

      USB cables are junk too.

      I've never really had any issues with USB cables. Micro-usb connectors, oh yeah, for sure, but nobody puts those on devices anymore. Because they were crap.

      • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday February 07 2021, @03:33PM

        by Anonymous Coward on Sunday February 07 2021, @03:33PM (#1109952)

        They're not crap, I've never had any issues with the connectors. I have had issues with the wires inside breaking on poorly engineered cables, but the actual connectors have yet to cause me any problems. There's nothing fundamentally bad about the design that isn't the case with other connectors.

  • (Score: 2, Informative) by crm114 on Friday February 05 2021, @07:23PM (2 children)

    by crm114 (8238) Subscriber Badge on Friday February 05 2021, @07:23PM (#1109389)

    Actually, the problem is their existing "strain relief" causes the fraying. The connector to the existing "strain relief" connector holds up just fine.

    see an example.: https://photos5.appleinsider.com/gallery/40148-77246-000-lead-frayed-cable-xl.jpg [appleinsider.com]

    • (Score: 3, Informative) by krishnoid on Friday February 05 2021, @09:07PM (1 child)

      by krishnoid (1156) on Friday February 05 2021, @09:07PM (#1109419)

      Why not use this one weird trick [youtu.be] to keep your lightning cable end from fraying? I mean, I presume it works.

      • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday February 07 2021, @03:36PM

        by Anonymous Coward on Sunday February 07 2021, @03:36PM (#1109954)

        The correct answer is for Apple to just design the cable with stress relief in the first place. They've got an ungodly sum of money in the bank, it's bit like they can't afford stress relief on their overpriced cables.

  • (Score: 2) by Tork on Friday February 05 2021, @07:26PM (13 children)

    by Tork (3914) Subscriber Badge on Friday February 05 2021, @07:26PM (#1109390)
    Your impression of Android Fans incessant blathering about Apple products is spot on.
    --
    🏳️‍🌈 Proud Ally 🏳️‍🌈
    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 05 2021, @08:46PM (9 children)

      by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 05 2021, @08:46PM (#1109406)

      ... Android Fans...

      LOL!

      Apple fanboys' distorted perception of reality is always hilarious!

      • (Score: 2) by Tork on Friday February 05 2021, @09:26PM (8 children)

        by Tork (3914) Subscriber Badge on Friday February 05 2021, @09:26PM (#1109423)
        Ooo that one's good, too. Sounds like you've been practicin', nicely done!
        --
        🏳️‍🌈 Proud Ally 🏳️‍🌈
        • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday February 06 2021, @12:16AM (7 children)

          by Anonymous Coward on Saturday February 06 2021, @12:16AM (#1109457)

          LOL!!!

          Devastaing Apple fanboy response!!!

          • (Score: 2) by Tork on Saturday February 06 2021, @12:44AM (6 children)

            by Tork (3914) Subscriber Badge on Saturday February 06 2021, @12:44AM (#1109465)
            Hmm... ehhh... meh. Yeah now you're gettin' lazy. BUT... the good news is your impression of an Android Fanboy is still good enough to be believed, but now you're at the general, lazier fringe of the club and I'm not sure you were aiming for that.
            --
            🏳️‍🌈 Proud Ally 🏳️‍🌈
            • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday February 06 2021, @01:53AM (5 children)

              by Anonymous Coward on Saturday February 06 2021, @01:53AM (#1109480)

              ... Android Fanboy...

              Hilarious!

              Always funny when an Apple fanboy reveals their delusion -- even for a second time!

              • (Score: 2) by Tork on Saturday February 06 2021, @02:03AM (4 children)

                by Tork (3914) Subscriber Badge on Saturday February 06 2021, @02:03AM (#1109482)
                Hmmm... Mm.. I'm having a bit of a dilemma. I'm starting to realize that when I say 'Android Fanboy' I realize I may be generalizing some. Upon reflection I hope you'll accept my clarification: I mean Slashdot Android Fanboy. The difference is... well it's actually fairly distinct. You're not as likely to use your competently-portrayed "No u" maneuver on a site like ... say... Youtube. There it's usually a disparaging remark using a derogatory term that this century would like to forget and the dictionary would like to correct.

                In short, I'd rate your imitation of a Android Fanboy is a C+ but as a Slashdot Android Fanboy you're a solid B! So congrats on pulling up some ... but you're slippin'... that first one was A+! C'mon man. you've got it in you... do better!
                --
                🏳️‍🌈 Proud Ally 🏳️‍🌈
                • (Score: 3, Funny) by c0lo on Saturday February 06 2021, @02:25AM (1 child)

                  by c0lo (156) Subscriber Badge on Saturday February 06 2021, @02:25AM (#1109485) Journal

                  I'm starting to realize that when I say 'Android Fanboy' I realize...

                  And it was that very moment in which the meta-realization hit Tork like Thor's hammer. His life won't be the same ever again. (grin)

                  --
                  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
                  • (Score: 2) by Tork on Saturday February 06 2021, @02:36AM

                    by Tork (3914) Subscriber Badge on Saturday February 06 2021, @02:36AM (#1109488)
                    I just realized... I should move out of my mom's!

                    🤡
                    --
                    🏳️‍🌈 Proud Ally 🏳️‍🌈
                • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday February 06 2021, @04:53AM (1 child)

                  by Anonymous Coward on Saturday February 06 2021, @04:53AM (#1109520)

                  I'm having a bit of a dilemma. I'm starting to realize that when I say 'Android Fanboy' I realize I may be generalizing some. Upon reflection I hope you'll accept my clarification: I mean Slashdot Android Fanboy.

                  ... but you're slippin'

                  Moving goalposts -- true Apple fanboy move!

                  ... talk about "slippin'..."

                  HA, HA!

                  • (Score: 2) by Tork on Saturday February 06 2021, @05:05AM

                    by Tork (3914) Subscriber Badge on Saturday February 06 2021, @05:05AM (#1109527)

                    Oooo you totally brought it back... with a little heat on it. Bravo! I think you're ready to go pro!! You know, I mighta hung around the green site if the bar was at your level. Well done, man.

                    --
                    🏳️‍🌈 Proud Ally 🏳️‍🌈
    • (Score: 4, Insightful) by fakefuck39 on Saturday February 06 2021, @05:52AM (2 children)

      by fakefuck39 (6620) on Saturday February 06 2021, @05:52AM (#1109543)

      They're not android fans. They're simply not apple fans. Making fun of a shitty product is not blathering - it's entertainment.

      I get my wife iphones every couple of years. She's not tech literate, the iphone does everything she needs, and while overpriced is perfect, and the fact that it's locked the hell down is also perfect. I don't have to do shit to fix or maintain it, because she's locked out of screwing it up.

      Now, we have people that use their phone for more than controlling netflix, looking at webpages, playing games, and texting - people like me. I need storage - as in leave the office for a presentation, dump a VM image file on my phone, put an iso on there, a few powerpoints. Show up at the customer site - plug the phone into the projector and show my slides, plug it into a server and load the VM for a demo. No, no one has a mac or itunes at the office. I need a filesystem - why would I carry a usb stick when I have storage in my pocket.

      Then there's things like not tossing your old hardware. iphones don't last if you want the latest patches or ios version. With android, you can put the latest android on a 10yo phone, and there's a version out there w/o the eyecandy so it'll still run fast. 10yo iphone? hello mms virus, old browser without the plugins I want, oh, and by the time it draws the "pick up" slider that call is done ringing.

      apple phones aren't as useful outside of what apple wants you to do. apple phones don't last since you can't load your own ROM. apple phones are made of slippery glass - stupid for a thing that gets dropped a lot. oh look, I'm typing this on my tv screen. because I chromecast my phone screen.

      it's not android fanboys, just like it's not biden voters. we just think apple, for us, is a joke. it's a perfect product for gramma. just a joke for a tech person.

      you know what's convenient? putting two big ass buttons on the home screen to toggle wifi and data. using the same cable to charge my vape, my laptop, my phone. hear a coworker play a cool song? plug that cable into his laptop and have him drag the file to it. I also only have one launcher screen for my apps. they all fit. I disabled the text under the icon, made the icons smaller and put less space in between.

      of course my favorite is using cracked overpriced software I don't want to pay for.

      not I'm not ranting about the glory of android. that's what an android fanboy would do. but what you call 'android fanboy' usually just keeps pointing out how shitty the iphone is. if there was something else that's not android with the features we want, we'd jump ship in a minute. we don't give a crap about android itself. we care about productivity, longevity, price.

      the iphone, like a child's toy, doesn't do most of the things I want a smartphone to do. but for people who just want to talk to bigbird - it is the perfect solution.

      • (Score: 2) by Tork on Saturday February 06 2021, @05:57AM (1 child)

        by Tork (3914) Subscriber Badge on Saturday February 06 2021, @05:57AM (#1109546)
        Now that's just over-acting, Calculon. 🙄
        --
        🏳️‍🌈 Proud Ally 🏳️‍🌈
        • (Score: 2) by fakefuck39 on Saturday February 06 2021, @06:52AM

          by fakefuck39 (6620) on Saturday February 06 2021, @06:52AM (#1109560)

          classic Apple Fan blathering about Apple. Any features blocked and unavailable is over the top anywise, amirite? Who in their right mind would want to put a file on the storage they got in their pocket? It's a phone, not a usb stick. Those crazy super-users over-acting like they need files lol. You pay for your music install itunes on every computer you encounter, spend an hour inputting id3 tags, then you sync the whole phone. How else are you going to give a huge company a thousand bucks for a glass piece of crap you're going to throw out in 5 years - they need your cash.

  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 05 2021, @11:15PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 05 2021, @11:15PM (#1109447)

    Will Apple charge an arm-and-a-leg for these less frayable cables? Like how they charge ~$400 for a matte screen on the iMacs. They'll probably give it a catchy & marketable name like the Infinity-cable or Krypton-cable?

    Apple regular lightning cable:$9.99
    Apple fray-resistant cable: $49.99 ??