The next Apple iPhone strategic change

My friends at MobileFun.co.UK have released some images and information concerning the next generation of iPhone; rumored to be coming in early Fall. The images solidify some longstanding rumors like a larger 4″ screen, and hint at some cosmetic changes that may rankle the masses of accessory manufacturers that make a living from Apple’s ecosystem.
One change is relocating the headphone jack. All of the prior models of iPhone have the headphone jack located in the same spot- on the left top rim of the device. According to the schematics revealed by MobileFun the jack will be moved to the bottom of the iPhone, similar to the location of the iPod Nano’s headphone jack location. The movie is a curious one; the only educated guess that came to me was that the move was necessitated by internal component changes, whether it be different shaped boards or increased sizes. The change could impact some devices that only charge the device and require access to the headphone jack for audio, like a car cradle.
The other obvious change is the abandonment of the iconic 32 pin connector that has been the mainstay of all Apple mobile devices save the tiny Shuffle. The new connector appears to have a much smaller footprint; other reports have suggested that it relies on a 19 pin connection. The risk here is obvious; it makes all existing accessories that use the current 32 pin connection obsolete, forcing developers to reconfigure their products or rely on an adaptor that may not offer as much functionality (in addition to power and data the 32 pin connector can act as limited structural support, keeping the iOS device in place as it sits on the accessory).
This change like the headphone jack is likely required by changing internal components. The smaller input frees up both internal and external space, but could offer an additional competitive advantage: magsafe connectivity. The cord could stay connected in a fashion similar to Apple’s patented magsafe power cords for their MacBook lineup, offering the same protection from the device being damaged by cord pulls (with the iPhone’s much lighter weight a quick tug on the sync cable could send the device flying).
Both changes are a bit of a gambit; each has to offer some distinct value to users in order to be embraced. Both are a challenge to accessory manufacturers; while product lines would need to be altered it could spur additional sales as the new iPhone (and any other iOS devices) with the smaller connection became widespread.

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