[macrael]

Another reason might be that they pipe analog audio out of it?

I don't know much about hardware, would it have been possible to use the standard micro USB connector and still provide those features?

From the article:

> the adapter will provide the power and analog audio that the vast majority of docks and accessories (and cars) in the world need

[wahnfrieden]

They don't. They no longer pipe audio out through the dock connector, you have to plug in a headphone cable, or the external device has to have its own DAC (ala the giant adapter they have now).

[inportb]

With an adapter, sure. My G1 has a small adapter that accepts a 3.5mm jack and plugs into the phone's micro-usb port.