microUSB hasn't become compatible with new standards, it has been hacked to allow the pinouts to be repurposed for new standards.
The implication of this article is that the Lightening port can be repurposed, without changes to the device's hardware, simply by providing a new cable and software.
If the iPhone5 doesn't have internal USB3 or HDMI or DP support, it can't magically gain it through the use of a new cable and new software. It's probable the iPhone6 will support all or most of those, but that's because they changed the device's hardware...
The implication of this article is that the Lightening port can be repurposed, without changes to the device's hardware, simply by providing a new cable and software.