Manufacturers feared that Apple would use licensing rules to restrain the availability of non-Apple Lightning accessories. Now, those fears appear to have been valid. Sources for iLounge have confirmed that Apple has significantly altered its MFi Program rules, limiting the manufacture of Lightning connector accessories to Apple-approved factories. Since no such factories have been approved thus far, accessory makers don't expect to have any accessories available before the busy holiday shopping season.

According to one source for iLounge, Apple will hold an MFi program seminar in China in November, spelling out all the changes. However, that will be "after the point at which third-party Lightning accessories could be manufactured in time for holiday sale," iLounge reported. Notably, one manufacturer had promised a Lightning-to-30-pin adapter in September and already cancelled planned sales via Amazon.

Manufacturing sources also said the Lightning connector and its authentication chip have "proved difficult to copy," suggesting that "unauthorized" Lightning cables and adapters won't be appearing anytime soon. Those hoping for a $4 Lightning cable from the likes of Monoprice.com will likely be sorely disappointed, as Apple's $19 cable and pricier adaptors will be the only options until early 2013.