Apple ends Kickstarter project over Lightning licensing rules (updated)

Update: Ars Technica reports that Apple has reversed course on its decision and is allowing 30-pin and Lightning dock connectors to be on the same device for charging.

The team behind the Kickstarter-funded POP power station must refund all the money it collected after it failed to get approval from Apple to use the Lightning cable in its device. The POP portable power station is a high-capacity charger with four built-in retractable cords that charge an iPhone, iPad or Android device. Launched with the slogan "Power where you need it," the POP could charge multiple devices at once using either power from an outlet or from an integrated 26,000 mAh battery.

The project stumbled when it failed to get approval from Apple to use the company's Lightning connector. Apple has a strict program that governs the use of its Lightning connector and the POP power station didn't meet the company's requirements that the connector be used alone in a product. A device with a Lightning connector cannot be paired with an Android-compatible microUSB cable or even a 30-pin cable for older Apple devices.

Edison Junior, the company behind the Kickstarter program, is disappointed with this decision and has decided to abandon further work on the project. The company is refunding all the funds collected from supporters and absorbing any credit card fees as well as a whopping 5 percent Kickstarter fee totaling US$11,000.

Edison Junior CEO Jamie Siminoff told Wired that the company would consider releasing the power station in an all-Android version or with Apple's older 30-pin connector, if there was enough demand from customers or retailers.

[Via Wired]Apple ends Kickstarter project over Lightning licensing rules (updated) originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 21 Dec 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments

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