By Chris Chang, posted Oct 24, 2012 at 4:02 PM, 1,239 views,

Chinese Firm Offers Half-Price Lightning Cable and a Lightning 3-in-1 Starter Kit Set (video)

Looks like Apple’s Lightning accessories do not have any secret Apple security built in. Today, iPhone5mod, a Chinese company specializing in cracking the authorization chip inside Apple’s Lightning cable, has introduced their own version of Lightning to USB cable, and it’s available for purchase at a much cheaper price point of US$9.90 compared with Apple’s retail pricing of US$19. See the video demo after the break to see how the 3rd party Lightning cable do everything the official cable do. Oh, be sure to check out their one more thing: Lightning 3-in-1 Starter Kit Set.

iPhone5mod’s Lightning to USB cable shown in the video above fully supports iTunes, data sync and battery charging, just like the original one.

Here’s a quick recap: Apple’s new Lightning connector, currently utilized on the iPhone 5, the new iPod touch and iPod nano, the 4th gen iPad, and the iPad mini, features an authentication chip that allows Apple to retain strict control over Lightning connector accessories. Shady third-party manufacturers need to crack the microchip inside Apple’s Lightning cable to sell their own cheap Lightning accessories. And iPhone5mod, is the first Chinese company to crack the authentication chip, and sell Lightning accessories which include a iPhone 5 Flash Lightning Dock that features an illuminated Lightning cable.

Today, the Chinese firm made a new breakthrough by introducing a new Lightning to USB cable, and a Lightning to 30-pin adapter (0.2 m).

While Apple is offering Lightning to USB cable and Lightning to 30-Pin Adapter (0.2 m) for $19 and $39 respectively, iPhone5mod are offering their low-cost versions for nearly half the price. And if you are worrying about the quality, MacRumors reports that iPhone5mod have said that they are “currently using original Lightning controller chips from Apple’s supplier,” which ensures the correct functionality, and enables support for iTunes, data sync, battery charging for the iPhone 5 and future iOS upgrades. Video below demonstrates the 3rd party Lightning to 30-pin adapter.

And here’s another deal: If you’ve been wanting an extra lightning cable, a dock, and maybe a 30-pin adapter for using older, 30-pin accessories on your iPhone 5, but haven’t wanted to pay so much for Apple’s official ones, iPhone5mod offers a brilliant solution: a Lightning 3-in-1 Starter Kit Set.

Alright, the launch of these 3rd party Lightning accessories is going to give Apple and “Made for iPhone/iPad/iPod” partners more headaches. We previously reported Apple is scheduled to discuss Lightning’s terms of use with MFi manufacturers in Shenzhen between November 7th and 9th, and the discussion will mainly focus on how Apple will license the Lightning technology for third party manufacturers. Right now, however, iPhone5mod’s unauthorized authentication chip has posed a serious threat to Apple’s own MFi partners, as their unlicensed accessories are now available on the market before official MFi products go on sale.

Source: iPhone5mod via MacRumors