A new patent discovered by those from Patently Apple does it reveal that Apple is working on a new adapter that will allow us to use an iDevice with a Mac that includes USB 3.0 technology, has a DisplayPot port and even Thunderbolt? The 30-pin connector of the iPhone terminal allows the connection of any kind of accessory specially made for iDevices, but to connect to a normal USB port or to connect a device via USB technology, an adapter is needed. Apple wants to build such an adapter compatible with technologies 2.0 and 3.0 but also with DisplayPort, which has the same shape as Thunderbolt. Apple preferred to make the DisplayPort and Thunderbolt ports the same size, probably to allow easier development of accessories for them.
Apple has been granted a powerful patent that packs quite the wallop. Somehow they snuck a secret patent application through the system for an all-new high speed connector that will combine at least USB 3.0 and DisplayPort. Although the patent illustrates an iPod as being one of the first to adopt this, the patent clarifies that it's for all future Mac hardware as well.
When this adapter will see the light of day is hard to say, it is certain that Apple is working on it and it would be extremely welcome.
