苹果公司（Apple）的移动设备——iPod、iPhone和iPad——一直都采用30针接口进行充电、同步和连接附件。但几个月来，一直有传言称，苹果公司正在计划取消这个早在九年前就推出的接口模式。我们已经见过很多照片，甚至还有一段颇具说服力的视频，都显示新iPhone手机的外壳采用了更小的接口。

    然而，我们不知道是否该拿这些传言当真。因为对苹果来说，设计一个原型机、却对外界守口如瓶是它一贯的做法，也是在业界是出了名的。但在本周一，一直被视为苹果公司主要消息出口的路透社（Reuters）援引“知情人士”的话称，下一代iPhone确实采用了更小的、不兼容的19针接口设计。消息一出，分析人士纷纷开始严肃对待之前的传言。

    科技调查公司IDC的弗朗西斯科•杰罗尼莫接受路透社采访时称：“许多用户想入手新iPhone，但他们又不希望自己花大价钱购买的各种配件成为摆设，为了不让目前的苹果用户失望，苹果公司必须找到一个解决方案。我想，苹果最终会推出一款适配器，如此一来，之前的连接器也可以用于新iPhone。”

    不过，正如路透社的文章所说，这种改变可能会超出苹果的控制，即使增加一个适配器也无济于事。因为，为iPod和iPhone设计的各式各样的扬声器、充电器以及其他不知名的配件都是直接插到设备接口上。配件制造商或许对此会兴奋不已，因为这种改变意味着一个全新市场的出现。

    然而，对于广大用户来说，这个消息简直让人如坐针毡。

    译者：刘进龙/汪皓

    Rumors have been circulating for months that Apple (AAPL) was planning to replace the familiar 30-pin dock connector that has been used to charge, sync and accessorize its mobile devices -- iPods, iPhones, iPads -- since the format was introduced nine years ago.

    We've seen plenty of photos, and even a pretty convincing video, that seem to show the frame of a new iPhone with a smaller dock connector.

    But you don't know how seriously to take these rumors. Apple is famous for building prototypes that never get released.

    So when Reuters -- one Apple's chief pipelines to the trade -- reported Monday that "two sources familiar with the matter" had told it that the next iPhone has indeed been designed with a smaller, incompatible, 19-pin connector, analysts suddenly started taking those rumors more seriously.

    "Apple needs to find a solution not to disappoint their current clients who want to upgrade to the new iPhone but are tied to an expensive accessory that have bought," IDC's Franciso Jeronimo told the news service. "I believe Apple will come up with some sort of adaptor so the new iPhone can be used with previous connectors."

    But as the Reuters piece points out, the change will difficult for Apple to manage, even with an adaptor. Many of the thousands of speakers, chargers and whatnot sold for the iPod and iPhone are designed to have the device slot directly into the accessory.

    For the manufacturers of those accessories, the change represents an exciting new market for them to address.

    For users, it's a pain in the butt.