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Apple rumored to extend smaller Dock Connector to iPad, other iOS devices this year

Apple may refresh all of its iOS devices to include a much smaller Dock Connector that is expected to make its debut on the new iPhone next month, according to a new report.

iMore, which was first to report on plans for the smaller connector earlier this year and similarly made what appears to be an accurate prediction of a September 12th date for an introduction of the next iPhone, cites the same source as saying Apple will refresh all of its iOS devices to use the same connector by year's end.

This would include the new iPhone 5, the the new iPod nano and iPod touch, the rumored 7-inch iPad mini, and an updated version of the current 9.7-inch iPad.

The information comes from the same sources that told iMore about the new, smaller Dock connector back in February, and about a mini Dock adapter to fit legacy accessories last month.

The report is the second in as many weeks to suggest that Apple could hold aspirations of refreshing the iPad a bit earlier than would be expected. iLounge reported last week that Apple’s plan for the fourth-generation iPad is to "release another relatively modest body tweak, which would keep the shape basically the same while introducing the new small Dock Connector, a rear-side microphone, and spec-improving/heat-reducing changes to the hardware inside."

The publication, however, hedged its bets against a 2012 release, pointing to Apple's historical product cycles for the product, which typically span about 12 months. The current iPad was released in March.