Apple wants to improve ways to connect a media player with an external device
An Apple patent (number 7751853) for a female receptacle data pin connector for a media player system at the US Patent & Trademark Office. It indicates that Apple wants to improve ways to connect a media player (such as the iPhone, iPod and iPad) to external devices.
http://www.macsimumnews.com/index.php/archive/apple_wants_to_improve_ways_to_connect_a_media_player_with_an_external_devi/