It seems like just yesterday I got an iPhone 5 for the first time and had to say goodbye to the small army of iPhone 4 cords, with their fat connector thingies and propensity to break due to planned obsolescence, that I’d accumulated over the years. According to a recently filed patent by Apple, me, you, and everyone else with an Apple product might have to go through that whole rigmarole again soon, because Apple’s got a new connector thingy in the works.

The patent application is vague about what the cord’s going to be used with, stating it might be connected to, “portable computing devices, tablet computers, desktop computers, wearable computing devices, cell phones, smart phones, media phones, storage devices, portable media players, navigation systems, monitors, power supplies, adapters, remote control devices, chargers, and other devices.” Well then!

Apple also states that, “These connector inserts may be reliable, have an attractive appearance, and be readily manufactured.” Though this is just the rote legalese of patent documents, the use of the term “may” feels particularly ironic, given the well-documented consumer troubles with MacBook keyboards and the dreaded dongle.