Apple has a press event on September 12th and it is there that Tim Cook will presumably reveal both the new iPhone 5 and the oft-rumored iPad mini to the world. It may not be called the iPhone 5, since it is technically the sixth-generation iPhone, but we’ll keep calling that until they tell us otherwise. In any case, here’s further proof of the mini dock connector.

Apple has been using its “standard” 30-pin dock connector for years on its iDevices, starting with the iPod family and quickly expanding to the iPhone and iPad. When the rest of the mobile world congregated around the microUSB standard, Apple held steadfast with its 30-pin dock connector. It’s just fat and wide by comparison. We didn’t really expect Apple to do microUSB too, but it had to do something to miniaturize the connection.

And so, here we are what a mini dock connector that is rumored to have nine pins. There are also rumors that it contains a MagSafe-like technology so that it magnetically locks into place, just like the power adapter on your MacBook. This lets it pop out easily if you trip over the cable too, preventing your iPhone from crashing onto the floor. The assumption is that this same mini dock connector will be utilized in the iPad mini, as well as all other iDevices moving forward.

We shouldn’t give too much weight to this random leaked photo on the Internet, but all signs are pointing in that mini direction. Yes, the new iPhone is coming and it’s coming with a smaller dock connector.

Via TechEBlog