Intel Wants to Replace 3.5mm Headphone Jack With USB-C Audio

[MacRumors]

Intel this week announced plans to usher in the adoption of an audio USB Type-C connector that would replace the standard 3.5 millimeter analog jack and eventually be capable of digital audio transmission (via Anandtech).

The plans were announced during the Intel Developers Forum (IDF) in Shenzhen, China, where the semiconductor manufacturer set out its project to develop USB Type-C Digital Audio. Intel remained vague about the digital conversion, but set out broad aims to update the USB Audio Device 2.0 protocol specifications to include up-to-date audio features, while simplifying discovery and improving power management, with plans to release the revised specification in the second quarter this year.

Intel hopes that the improved USB-C audio specification would eventually amount to a standardized connector replacement and eliminate the traditional audio jack from laptops, smartphones and tablets, eventually ushering in a transition to fully digital audio.

From a consumer perspective, this could mean higher-quality audio output, more remote control possibilities on headsets, potential biometric health data tracking (such as in-ear heart-rate monitoring), and supplied power for features like active noise-cancelling without the need for dedicated batteries.

The news comes amid iPhone 7 rumors suggesting Apple is also looking to remove the 3.5mm headphone jack on its future mobile devices, however speculation gravitates towards Apple replacing it with a proprietary Lightning port capable of transmitting audio. With no headphone jack, wired headphones would connect to the iPhone 7 using its Lightning port and Bluetooth headphones would connect wirelessly.

Apple could theoretically implement Intel's USB-C digital audio protocol in future Macs, although details remain unknown. Either way, given that LeEco already offers smartphones with USB-C-only audio, and JBL sells noise-cancelling USB-C headphones, the 3.5mm audio jack appears to be nearing the end of its life in the consumer technology market.

Article Link: Intel Wants to Replace 3.5mm Headphone Jack With USB-C Audio

 

[SSD-GUY]

Coming soon to a MacBook 12" near you (2017).

 

[BeSweeet]

Meh. Can't charge and listen at the same time without getting adapters to carry around...

 

[Kaibelf]

Remember when Apple removed the floppy disk drive? This is no different, yet people seem to be having a much stronger reaction to companies getting rid of this jack.

 

[pedrom]

Of course they do, but only because your old computer can't use USB-C.

Apple, on the other end, might contribute a bit more, like they always do. (creating digital stores before replacing physical media, etc.)

And please, stop talking about LeEco as if it is anything more than a clown-based company.

 

[Jeremy1026]

My biggest issue with this is that the 3.5mm jack is the ADA Approved Standard for listening devices. If you take away that jack you either have to make a USB to 3.5mm adaptor or get ADA approval to not having the jack on your device.

 

[NT1440]

Remember when Apple removed the floppy disk drive? This is no different, yet people seem to be having a much stronger reaction to companies getting rid of this jack.

People love being able to buy headphones at gas stations and dollar stores. I don't know why, but they do.

 

[Red Oak]

LOL. "Coming Soon". Like everything else from Intel

 

[iRikal]

I'm just glad I chose to go wireless...

 

[BeSweeet]

Remember when Apple removed the floppy disk drive? This is no different, yet people seem to be having a much stronger reaction to companies getting rid of this jack.

Because the 3.5mm headset jack continues to be extremely useful, unlike floppy drives. Unless they add 2 USB-C (or Lightning) ports, getting rid of it isn't good IMO.

 

[Christoffee]

People love being able to buy headphones at gas stations and dollar stores. I don't know why, but they do.

Because cheap arse headphones have their place. In bed (where I get tangled and break headphones) or in the rain (where I don't want to get my £200 Bluetooth noise cancellers out). My cheap headphones are disposable. To lend to people and not worry if they are returned, to use at work and not worry if they go missing, and to take on holiday and not worry if a sheep eats them.

 

[NT1440]

Because cheap arse headphones have their place. In bed (where I get tangled and break headphones) or in the rain (where I don't want to get my £200 Bluetooth noise cancellers out). My cheap headphones are disposable. To lend to people and not worry if they are returned, to use at work and not worry if they go missing, and to take on holiday and not worry if a sheep eats them.

Maybe they should stop making high end headphones out of sheep food.

 

[Piggie]

Remember when Apple removed the floppy disk drive? This is no different, yet people seem to be having a much stronger reaction to companies getting rid of this jack.

Yes it is VERY different.

Remove a floppy drive and use say a USB key, or something else. Smaller, faster, higher capacity etc.

Remove small lightweight headphones that draw their power from the analog socket and replace them with what?
BlueTooth ones that last a hour or two?
Large ones with DAC's in them and battery packs?

If you can buy tiny headphones that are powered by this new socket then great

 

[Shirasaki]

Again, they want to ditch headphone jack.
But then? Move DAC to headphone? And what about those in-ear earphone? Integrate a sound card in the middle of earphone line? No human could understand digital sound of course.
Apple want to ditch the jack but they cannot remove their DAC from device.
Intel want to create a standard to let users using USB-C to listen to music, but what if device has only one port like MacBook 12"?
Sure, people will get used to it. But how long it will take, and when 3.5 will distinguish completely? I believe this will take quite a while to happen.
(Some random thoughts)

 

[JohnApples]

Meh. Can't charge and listen at the same time without getting adapters to carry around...

If they were smart, and the Smart Connector rumor is true (pun not intended), than they would release Lightning headphones along with a new charger that would snap into the Smart Connector port, allowing you to use both without any additional adapters.

 

[Soylent Yellow]

People love being able to buy headphones at gas stations and dollar stores. I don't know why, but they do.

Ans some – like me – buy headphones that cost several hundred dollars, last longer than an iPhone, and work on their TV set and audio installation too.

 

[Serban]

since the iphone 7 has smart connector, you always can buy the dock to charge it and listen in the same time to lightning headphones

 

[oneMadRssn]

People were so angry when Apple changed the dock connector after a decade to the lightning connector. Two connectors in 13 years and counting isn't bad.

In the same amount of time, there have been at least seven standardized mobile USB connectors. Mini-a, mini-b, mini-ab, micro-a, micro-b, micro-b superspeed, type-c. More of you count the non standardized ones.

Why would anyone trust that this newest USB connector is the one that will last? Why would anyone spend money on nice headphones in this standard? When it's likely there will be yet another mobile USB connector very soon.

 

[till213]

"Industry signaling a strong desire to..."

Well, not the consumers, they don't, not the consumers...!
[doublepost=1461846248][/doublepost]

since the iphone 7 has smart connector, you always can buy the dock to charge it and listen in the same time to lightning headphones

Only idiots would do so.
[doublepost=1461846338][/doublepost]

Remember when Apple removed the floppy disk drive? This is no different, yet people seem to be having a much stronger reaction to companies getting rid of this jack.

Remember when Apple shipped the MacBook with only one USB-C? It was a huge ****-up and everybody laughed out loud! Apple sale numbers ditched...

 

[6836838]

This is all just ridiculous. Especially if you're a HiFi or music buff.

 

[ghost187]

Guys the 3.5mm headphone jack will be replaced with a lightning port IMO next year in all Macs.

 

[till213]

People were so angry when Apple changed the dock connector after a decade to the lightning connector. Two connectors in 13 years and counting isn't bad.

In the same amount of time, there have been at least seven standardized mobile USB connectors. Mini-a, mini-b, mini-ab, micro-a, micro-b, micro-b superspeed, type-c. More of you count the non standardized ones.

Why would anyone trust that this newest USB connector is the one that will last? Why would anyone spend money on nice headphones in this standard? When it's likely there will be yet another mobile USB connector very soon.

So let's keep the 3.5mm jack and Everybody is Happy(tm), shall we?

 

[6836838]

Full Digial Audio. What a con! All it's doing is moving the DAC to the headphones! It's just a reason to charge more for headphones. Technology companies need to remember that headphones are also used in HiFi and musical instruments etc. It's going to become adapted hell in this new world.

If I want to have a nice expensive external DAC then fine. But I want the flexibility to choose my DAC separately from my head/ear-phones.

 

[69650]

I'm looking forward to the removal of the headphone jack as it might finally push Apple to add dual speakers to the iPhone and High Quality music downloads to the iTunes Store. I was pleasantly surprised how good the audio is from my iPad Pro with the dual speakers compared to my previous iPad Air.

 

[NikeSG]

Musicians do not approve. Did the powers that be ever consider how many adapters would be needed to account for all of the equipment and hardware that have headphone jacks in any given studio? I suppose we're just supposed to buy new hardware .. This is stupid.