Apple Kills A Successful Kickstarter Project As CEO Makes His Unhappiness Crystal Clear

A successfully funded Kickstarter project was effectively killed by Apple. The POP is a portable power station that connects to any mobile device, even those that are Android-based. Funded in September, the project is now doomed since Apple wouldn't approve its use of a Lightning charger. As a result, the folks behind the project are refunding the $139,170 raised, and looking to release something that doesn't work with Apple products, according to Venture Beat. Created by Edison Jr, the POP was called the “intersection of charging and design.” As such, it used four retractable cord reels that would charge anything using micro-USB charging connectors. Making his unhappiness over Apple's decision very clear, CEO Jamie Siminoff said:

We are pissed. I think they are being a bunch of assholes, and I think they’re hurting their customers.

The problem, according to Siminoff, has been ongoing since the Lightning connector was first announced by Apple in September. He states:

We didn’t get a yes or a no up front. But as we kept going back and forth it was clear that it was getting harder. Then, when we saw that they weren’t even going to allow a Lightning connector and a 30-pin connector together, we knew it was over.

Although Kickstarters are being refunded their money, the POP may yet see a future. Except in this case, the accessory will be revamped to not work with Apple devices. Earlier this year it was reported that it was providing difficult for third-party manufacturers to get Apple's approval for Lightning connector products. However, some have been approved including Lightning accessories from Griffin and Bose, among others. Introduced with the iPhone 5, the Lightning connector comes standard with the iPad mini, iPad with Retina display, fifth-generation iPod touch, and seventh-generation iPod nano. Source: Venture Beat

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