Cars that have been built with an older generation iPhone in mind may not be compatible with Apple's new Lightning cable.
Drivers will also have to pay a minimum of £25 for an adaptor that makes the iPhone 5 compatible with older models. Previous generations of iPhone and iPad have had no trouble connecting to cars and laptops thanks to Apple's uniform 30-pin dock connector. That's being ditched though in favour of the company's new, smaller 8-pin Lightning connector.
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Most existing cables will be rendered incompatible, meaning people will have to invest in a new adaptor - especially for those cars that have a factory-fitted connector for previous-generation iPhones. An adaptor is available on Apple's website for an astonishing £25.
The adaptor itself led to speculation that the iPhone 5 wouldn't be compatible with older cars, as Apple's website said it couldn't convey an analogue signal. That would have meant potentially no more phone charging on the go and, perhaps more importantly, no more music.
Confusion reigned as the site said 'Video and iPod Out not supported'. That has since been amended, confirming that the iPhone 5 WILL be able to play music through the adaptor.
Current Kia and Hyundai cars designed with a port for older iPhones and older BMW models will likely need the £25 adaptor. People are already venting their fury on forums and Twitter over the price:
@danielmhawkes: "And people would want to get the iPhone 5 and pay £25 for an adaptor to use on their speakers because??"
@TylerHaskins21: "Apple have really f**** up by making the iPhone 5 dock bigger and charging £25 for an adaptor. #fail #baddescision"
@mozdt: "Apples £25 adaptor for the iPhone 5 is a bit steep, making your current gear obsolete without one. They've become Big Brother. New 1984 ad?"
iOS 6 compatibility
Manufacturers have also yet to test the release version of iOS 6. Ford, for instance has recently told Cnet that it hasn't been able to test the up-coming release version with its SYNC technology, which integrates smartphones with cars. They also haven't been able to test the phone itself as of yet, which holds true for a number of other manufacturers.
The iPhone 5 is released in the UK on 21 September, and worried motorists are taking to Twitter and forums to express their concerns about the cable, showing the confusion that still reigns over the adaptor:
@ciscovoicedude: "I'm wondering if those whole 'lightning connector' thing on the iPhone 5 is going to make it not work with my JVC head unit in the car."
@bobdonadini: "iPhone 5's lighter, but none of the things you own like charger, speakers, dock, car chargers etc will work with it....."
@LittlewoodMark: "So pretty much every iPod dock in a stereo, car or piece of cardio equipment is not going to work with iPhone 5 then..."
@PGHartford: "If this is true.. Who would ever upgrade? I have at least 3 accessories including my Car Radio that will be obsolete"
Manufacturers have made a point of integrating smartphone technology into their latest releases to attract a younger, more tech-savvy market. The upcoming Vauxhall Adam for example is targeting a younger audience, and is laden with smartphone-compatible tech and features.
Apple says it has integrated a number of features into the iPhone 5 which will be of benefit to motorists. MotorTorque has collated the info available on the iPhone 5 so far and underlined the benefits and potential hurdles it may create for motorists:
Real-time traffic navigation
The iOS 6 update lands on 19 September and will include Apple's Apple Maps app, seen by many as a direct rival to Google Maps. Apple Maps features local business directory Yelp and also has Siri integration.
Drivers will therefore get access to highly-rendered maps voiced by Siri to help them find their way. Apple Maps also features a pretty nifty real-time traffic service, which uses crowd-sourced data to alert motorists of accidents, roadworks and more in their area.
A bigger screen
The iPhone 5 boasts a larger screen than its predecessors to rival Android technology. It'll be more visible to drivers, especially those that are going to make constant use of the Apple Maps feature. In theory, it'll be able to rival a sat-nav.
Nissan, for instance, is due to show off its TeRRA concept at the Paris Motor Show. Its key feature is a detachable tablet instead of a dashboard display. A larger smartphone display though could render that technology obsolete, and give people tablet-like functionality on the move.
Expensive accessories
This one may sound like an incredibly minor gripe, but for those that have spent money customising their car around their iPhone, those small costs add up over time.
The iPhone 5 has a four-inch screen, compared against the 3.5-inch display on the current 4S. It makes the iPhone 5 thinner and slightly taller - bad news for those that have invested in expensive phone holders tailored to previous generations.
That also goes for accessories such as wired hands-free kits and headphones. The headphone jack is on the bottom of the phone instead of on the top, as in previous generations, which may prove incredibly fiddly for some.
Written by John Meadowcroft