[asynchronous13]

> I am mad at Apple for not making Lightning an open standard.

Lightning is just Apple's marketing term for Intel's Thunderbolt interface. The standard is available from Intel, and if it were not it would be more appropriate to direct your anger at Intel.

[ttflee]

You must have mistaken Light Peak for Lightening or Thunderbolt for Lightening. Light Peak = Thunderbolt, which competes with USB 3. Lightening is completely different.

[mikeash]

Thunderbolt is Intel's external, hotswappable PCI-e interface found on many Apple laptops. Lightning is Apple's proprietary interface found on iOS devices. Aside from being named after different aspects of the same natural phenomenon, they have nothing in common.

[asynchronous13]

Not sure how I got those so thoroughly mixed up, thanks for the clarification.

[mikeash]

Well, being named after the same natural phenomenon is confusing enough. I often have to stop and think which is which. It's an understandable mistake.

[spiritplumber]

Thunderbolt and lightning? Very very frightening.

[nwh]

No, that's Thunderbolt.

Thunderbolt is the PCI interface, Lightning is the alternate USB connector.

[sneak]

Lightning is not simply an alternate USB connector, or they never would have done it.

[protomyth]

No, Lightning is a separate port used on iPod / iOS devices which is slower than the Thunderbolt interface.