Apple plans Lightning cable MFi headphones

  Apple has added a specification to its Made For iPhone/iPad/iPod program allowing manufacturers to create headphones with Lightning connectors, rather than traditional 3.5mm headphone plugs, according to a new report from 9to5Mac. While not currently supported by iOS devices, Lightning headphone support will be enabled in a future software update. According to the report, the Lightning standard will allow for stereo 48 kHz digital audio output from iOS devices, and mono 48 kHz input for integrated microphone support, though the actual sound quality will depend considerably on superior headphone and microphone components. It will also allow power to transfer between the headphones and the iOS device in both directions, which could eliminate batteries in noise-cancelling headphones, and enable other headphones to add backup power to the connected device.

  The report also states there will be two configurations: Standard Lightning Headphones, and Advanced Lightning Headphones. The former “are described by Apple as using minimum components when paired with a digital-to-analog converter supported by the Lightning Headphone Module,” while the latter use a digital signal processor and digital/analog converter, and allow for “digital audio processing features like active noise cancellation.” Lightning headphones would likely be physically incompatible with non-Apple devices, as well as Mac computers, unless Apple adds Lightning ports to Macs.

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More iPhone Rumors of a rounded design

More iPhone Rumors

 of a rounded design

The next iPhone may look significantly different from the 5S and 5C, shown here.
 While it's unlikely Apple could have gone with a curved display for its upcoming smartphone, there were plenty of curved-related rumors circulating as early as as last year.
Noted leaker Sonny Dickson made a similar claim in May, showing off a dummy unit with a curved screen. However, the unit looked like a rough draft.
The latest leak from Dickson, which 9to5Mac published Monday, shows off glass covers with tapering edges for the rumored 4.7-inch iPhone (though nothing was revealed about the supposed phablet-sized 5.5-inch version).
Unlike the curved displays of the LG G Flex and the Samsung Galaxy Round, it appears that the next iPhone may be sticking with a flat display, but with rounded edges that taper down to meet the rumored rounded metal rear.
This image showcases the rumored new look of the iPad and iPhone
Given Apple's penchant for refining its design process, it's unlikely that the company will suddenly introduce a bombshell change with a curved display. And Samsung and LG's recent flagships -- the S5 and the G3, respectively -- both had flat screens, so there may not be that big of an interest in curved screens from consumers.