Last September, when Apple released its slim, eight-pin charging adapter for the iPhone 5 and replacing the 30-pin connector launched along with the iPod in 2003, lots of accessory makers felt that they truly had been “struck by Lightning.”
They experienced what can only be called instant obsolescence.
Forget the fact that Apple’s new Lightning dock connector for the iPhone 5—as well as for the iPad, the iPad mini, the iPod touch and iPod Nano—would reportedly enable users to host USB devices, and through those, such other nifty accessories as cameras.
Apple’s previous interface, the 30-pin connector, had serviced over 400 million iPhones and iPads during nearly a decade of availability, according to Wired magazine—and had spawned a market for accessories worth $20 billion a year.
What’s more, the new Lightning adapter contained proprietary technology that made it difficult to clone.
What was a legacy iOS developer to do? Oxnard, California-based Scosche Industries— in business since 1980 and a long-time Apple accessory provider—decided to embrace the change.
This week, Scosche announced that it has become the first accessory manufacturer to unveil both 5-Watt (W) and 12W Lightning-compatible wall and car chargers. No adaptors necessary.
iPhone 5 with Lightning Adaptor. Image via Apple.
Scosche smartly eliminated 10W chargers from its lineup, noting that they do not charge the new iPad 4 at the fastest speed possible. iPad mini users can also take advantage of the new 12W chargers from Scosche, which will fully power the smaller tablet in just three hours , compared to the 4.75 hours needed with the 5W charger included with the device.
“Smartphones and tablets are an integral part of our daily lives, but keeping them all charged can create several challenges,” said Kas Alves, executive vice president of Scosche Industries. “We designed our Lightning chargers with flexibility in mind. The new line provides power solutions for home and on the go; and addresses the varying wattage requirements of our favorite devices [and] the need to charge multiple devices simultaneously. [it also] is capable of powering multiple devices with different connections with the same charger.”
Scosche is currently offering two options: the strikeBase wall charger and the strikeDrive car charger. The strikeBASE verso ion features a three-foot-long cable and flush folding wall prongs for portability. Designed to be space-saving, it covers only one wall outlet and leaves the other open for use.
The 5W version is available for $29.99, and the 12W charger is priced at $34.99.
The strikeDRIVE Lightning car charger is the industry’s first 12 W car charger, and has a three-foot coiled cable. It sells for $29.99 and will charge the iPhone or iPad devices. A 5 W version is also available for $24.99 and is designed specifically for the iPhone.
Edited by
Braden Becker 
QUICK LINKS 
