iPhone 7 May Feature Thinner, Waterproof Body With No Headphone Jack and Wireless Charging

[dabotsonline]

Wireless charging was a fad that's died off. It's too slow. Until the tech improves, not worth while.

15W - whilst not USB Power Delivery 2.0 Profile 5 (100W: 20V @ 5A) with USB PD 3.0 under development - is a good start, equal to 5V @ 3A wired charging using the USB 2.0 Type-C port on the the Nexus 5X and 6P:

GHOST 15W Qi Fast Wireless Charging Pad

15-Watt charges three times faster than existing 5-Watt charging pads
Powerful enough to charge large devices including laptops and tablets
MSRP: $69.99

The latest Incipio Ghost Qi Wireless Charging... power solutions will be available in Q2 of 2016...

https://blog.incipio.com/home/incip...-and-offgrid-power-solutions-at-ces-2016.html

WPC Qi V1.1 Certified

SKU: PW-261

Color - Black *

http://www.incipio.com/ces2016/ces-power/ghost-15w-qi-fast-wireless-charging-pad.html

VU 2.0 Wireless Charger ($79.99)
The VU 2.0 boasts a 15W output for 3X faster charging than the pre-2015 standard; a premium aluminum base that enables users to adjust the angle of the stand to fit their needs; and a three-coil system that means you never have to worry about aligning your device to initiate charging - just drop and go.

Photos
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/q6xi60vhcfgjzql/AAA1jOESKmI4eKNiJ5SjUuXRa

Spec Sheet
https://www.dropbox.com/s/gla6kprmajfgvlf/VU2.0_ProductSheet.pdf

VU SOLO 2.0 Wireless Charger ($49.99)
Perfect for travel or wireless desktop charging, the VU SOLO 2.0 charges 3X faster than traditional Qi chargers with a 15W output. The sliding alignment feature ensures your device is always perfectly positioned on the charging coil. Use the VÜ SOLO 2.0 as a flat pad or stand it upright for easy viewing

Photos
http://www.tylt.com/vu-solo-2-wireless-charger

Spec Sheet
https://www.dropbox.com/s/txf9krfevmhpumv/VUSOLO2.0_ProductSheet.pdf

https://www.tylt.com/press-jan-5-2016

Not sure if the TYLT products are Qi 1.1 or 1.2:

November 12, 2015 02:55 AM Eastern Standard Time
TOKYO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Toshiba Corporation (TOKYO:6502) today announced the launch of “TC7766WBG”, the industry’s first[1] wireless power receiver IC with the capability to receive 15W and compliant with Qi[2] v1.2 defined by the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC). Samples will be available by the end of this year and the mass production will begin spring 2016.

Main features
WPC Qi v1.2 compliant
Maximum output power : 15W
Maximum output current : 1.7A
Output voltage settings : 5V to 14V
Various protection functions
I2C interface[6] compatible: A receiver side host controller can exchange information with a compatible transmitter and access TC7766WBG’s operation status registers via an I2C interface. This can, for example, allow users to be notified of the wireless charging status in the display of a mobile device.

http://www.businesswire.com/news/ho...aunches-Industrys-15W-Wireless-Power-Receiver

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 31, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- ConvenientPower today announced the world's first wireless charger which scales the Qi wireless charging standard up to the 15 watts...

WoW15w is the world's first scalable multi-coil wireless charging transmitter pad, meeting all requirements of the newest release Qi standard v1.2.

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-rele...-user-experience-to-new-levels-300198006.html

January 04, 2016 08:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

CAMARILLO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Semtech Corporation (Nasdaq: SMTC), a leading supplier of analog and mixed-signal semiconductors, today announced the addition of dual-mode Wireless Power Consortium (WPC) Qi 1.2 and AirFuel Alliance (PMA) SR1E medium power 15W capability to its TS80000 portfolio of wireless charging solutions.

The TS80K family of solutions can support both receiver and transmitter applications. Complete reference designs and easy-to-use evaluation kits allow customers to implement the technology into their next generation products with minimal effort.

Resources:

TS80000 Transmitter: www.semtech.com/power-management/wireless-charging-ics/ts80000/
TS81000 Receiver: www.semtech.com/power-management/wireless-charging-ics/ts81000/
TS31023 Linear Regulator: www.semtech.com/power-management/linear-regulators/ts31023/
TS61001 Driver: www.semtech.com/power-management/wireless-charging-ics/ts61001/
TS30011 Converter: www.semtech.com/power-management/switching-regulators/ts30011/
Wireless Charging Product Video: www.semtech.com/video/wireless-power-demo-video.html
Design Kits Page: www.semtech.com/power-management/wireless-charging-ics/evaluation-kits

http://www.businesswire.com/news/ho...ess-Charging-Platform-Offers-Dual-Mode-Medium

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 7, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- ConvenientPower today announced the world's first Rezence BSS 1.3 certified wireless charging transmitter pad "WoWme2 " which can power metal-encased mobile devices with dead or no batteries, a new feature in the recently issued BSS1.3 Rezence standard specifications.

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-rele...ature-of-metal-encased-devices-300200790.html

If they go bluetooth, I hope they add aptX support on iOS 10.

The problem with bluetooth wireless at this point in time is that it does not (to my knowledge) support any lossless codec of CD quality or higher. Apt-X has been put in place to help ameliorate this, but even still, wireless bluetooth audio is still an inferior audio connection over an analog headphone port.

aptX HD has just been announced by Qualcomm, available on the CSR8675 Bluetooth SoC, allowing wireless transmission with a 24-bit depth and unknown sample rate (hopefully 192kHz).

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-rele...esolution-audio-over-bluetooth-300199425.html

https://www.qualcomm.com/news/onq/2...-hd-meeting-need-hi-resolution-wireless-audio

Let's hope that the new Apple DAC features MQA decoding as well, given that that is now available:

http://about.7digital.com/news/7digital-premieres-master-quality-authenticated-mqa-content

http://www.whathifi.com/news/7digital-brings-mqa-hi-res-music-to-market

http://www.whathifi.com/mqa/review

http://www.ce-pro.eu/article/execut...listeners-close-to-original-audio-performance

"Down the road, expect announcements from HDTracks and more.

MQA has already signed on, in addition to 2L, labels Camerata in Japan and HQM. "Each label will want to make their own announcement," MQA creator Bob Stuart told Stereophile by Skype on December 31, 2015. "The major labels are close. Let's see what happens by the end of CES. As far as hardware, by Easter, we think there will be over 100 products on the market that can encode and decode MQA.""

http://www.stereophile.com/content/mqa-takes-big-time-2016

From 7th January 2016:

"I've just spoken with Meridian - it goes something like this :

Whilst the E2 is MQA capable it will require a firmware update to exploit this ability. This update is not expected for, at least, the next couple of months - which ( I am told ) is sort-of when we can expect to see MQA content becoming more widely available."

http://www.head-fi.org/t/747327/meridian-explorer-impressions-thread/360

On a serious note. I have gone through 4 lightning charging cords so far. Friends have asked to borrow mine for the same reason. The only really scary part for me is depending on a lighting cord for more than one thing. Charging AND headphones?

Try using a robust microUSB to USB cable such as Anker, with the former end attached to the official Apple Lightning to Micro USB Adapter (MD820AM/A in the US, but only for $17; or MD820ZM/A in the UK, sold directly by Amazon UK for under £5 / $7 USD and possibly with cheap delivery to the US: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00GUXI184?smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE ).

 

[yep-sure]

In three years, it'll be a case of choosing to live with slow devices that otherwise meet our requirements, upgrad to the latest iPhone model, that doesn't meet our feature requirements but meets our speed requirements, or find another product.

As I've said multiple times, this is just another case highlighting that Apple currently the puts the user experience way down below over priorities, which is really sad for company that used to provide us with a great user experience without needing to compromise.

It's ridiculous to think that carrying around cable adapters, chargers, and battery cases is "innovative" and "the future". Kinda like how we used to have to carry a mobile phone, a case, an iPod, etc...The original concept of iPhone was to simplify and provide a great user experience, now we're seeing the opposite. It's a bloated, over complicated experience.

If we keep following the same trajectory, there will be a legitimate gap in the market for a mid sized smart phone that has all day battery life, a headphone jack, lightning fast intuitive OS, etc... Basically someone needs to come along an give us the original iPhone again.

 

[zhenya]

aptX HD has just been announced by Qualcomm, available on the CSR8675 Bluetooth SoC, allowing wireless transmission with a 24-bit depth and unknown sample rate (hopefully 192kHz).

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-rele...esolution-audio-over-bluetooth-300199425.html

https://www.qualcomm.com/news/onq/2...-hd-meeting-need-hi-resolution-wireless-audio

Let's hope that the new Apple DAC features MQA decoding as well, given that that is now available:

http://about.7digital.com/news/7digital-premieres-master-quality-authenticated-mqa-content

http://www.whathifi.com/news/7digital-brings-mqa-hi-res-music-to-market

http://www.whathifi.com/mqa/review

http://www.ce-pro.eu/article/execut...listeners-close-to-original-audio-performance

"Down the road, expect announcements from HDTracks and more.

MQA has already signed on, in addition to 2L, labels Camerata in Japan and HQM. "Each label will want to make their own announcement," MQA creator Bob Stuart told Stereophile by Skype on December 31, 2015. "The major labels are close. Let's see what happens by the end of CES. As far as hardware, by Easter, we think there will be over 100 products on the market that can encode and decode MQA.""
.

^^ Again, get back to me when wireless charging means I just need to be in the general vicinity and can continue to use my phone. Otherwise requiring a large pad to be attached to my charging cable, that the phone must sit on is a MAJOR step backwards.

If Qualcomm was actually increasing the sample rate in their Apt-xHD bluetooth protocol, they would have said so in that press release. It reads to me like a very carefully crafted statement where they are using a couple of extra bits to increase the bit depth which allows them to append the HD moniker and hope that the vast majority of people never realize that it will not change the sound quality in the slightest.
[doublepost=1452253730][/doublepost]

In three years, we'll probably have no choice. It'll be a case of choosing to live with slow devices that otherwise meet our requirements, upgraded to the latest iPhone model, that doesn't meet our feature requirements but meets our speed requirements, or find another product.

As I've said multiple times, this is just another case highlighting that Apple currently the puts the user experience way down below over priorities, which is really sad for company that used to provide us with a great user experience without needing to compromise.

In fact, Apple got to where they are today by prioritizing the user experience above all else - almost to the point of being ridiculous. It seems that today's Apple is beginning to forget that.

 

[You are the One]

I'm interested in how thin they can make it this time Will it be 5-10-15-20-25-30 % thinner?

I think it would be cool if they made it something like this:

or this:

I'd give up the 3,5 for that.

 

[tann]

Removing the 3.5mm potentially interferes with a number of the basic needs of their users. *But* Apple may have good solutions to address those needs in another way. We shall see how they handle it, I suppose... And whether what we gain is worth what we lose.

Need: To listen to iPhone audio via headphones out of the box
Good Solution: Include new lightning or bluetooth EarPods
Bad Solution: Include adapter and old 3.5mm EarPods
Ugly Solution: No longer included

Need: To charge and listen at the same time
Good Solution: Add wireless charging
Bad Solution: 2-to-1 adapter
Ugly Solution: No longer possible

Need: To use my existing wired headphones or speakers
Good Solution: Adapter, included
Bad Solution: Adapter, purchased separately
Ugly Solution: No longer possible

The only issue with the charge and listen at the same time is that wireless charging only works if the phone is placed on the charger... useless if I am sat on the couch or lying in bed on my phone! I hope they have a 2-to-1 adapter.

Wireless charging gear also adds extra costs to the already expensive device.

I think another good solution is to have quick charging, like 10 minutes of charging for 50% battery!

 

[Roller]

Wireless charging only makes sense if it means you can put a phone close to a normal socket and it will charge (Yes, I know that is not possible yet). If it still needs a dedicated puck that I need to rest it on then all the advantages are void. It would mean I would need to buy one of those for the living room, the study, work etc etc. What is exactly the difference between plugging a cable or putting a phone on a puck?

It depends on your use case. I almost always charge my phone on my nightstand, so I keep a charger and cable there and connect the phone before I go to bed. It would be a bit more convenient to just lay the phone down on a charging pad and then pick it up in the morning. Admittedly not a huge difference, but a difference nonetheless.

 

[peterdevries]

It depends on your use case. I almost always charge my phone on my nightstand, so I keep a charger and cable there and connect the phone before I go to bed. It would be a bit more convenient to just lay the phone down on a charging pad and then pick it up in the morning. Admittedly not a huge difference, but a difference nonetheless.

I realize that and do that much of the time too. But many people tend to carry around a charger in their work bags or hand bags because they use their phone a lot during the day (that's me too). I also use my iPhone as a navigation unit in my car and plug it in. It seems senseless to me to have wireless charging when I would need to have pucks all over the place.

A mixed solution would make more sense (wireless charging and also a plug in option), but that would make the iphone thicker or leave less room for the battery.

It would be great if they (hardware manufacturers) could agree on some kind of standard and implement it (I know there is a standard, but I fail to see any traction it is making). Then it would take a few years, but we could have charging pads integrated in homes and offices and cars and make our lives easier. But it took 20 years for USB sockets to become available, so I'm not holding my breath.
[doublepost=1452255209][/doublepost]

Aaah, Danielle from Whippany.... (Sopranos fans will get this)

 

[unobtainium]

Lol yeah right.
Th th this is the last strahhh. The 3.5 was mah breaking point.

See you in line for the iPhone 7. Save me a spot.

Yeah I'm totally serious. It would mean that Apple was no longer doing what's best for consumers and it would be time to move on. There are already lots of worrying signs (dumb products like iPad pro, undercooked products like Apple Music and the new Apple TV) but removing the headphone jack would be a new level of stupid.

 

[1Zach1]

This is a few years old, but remember that Apple has a few wireless charging patents, this being the most detailed, with up to 1m charging ability.

http://www.patentlyapple.com/patent...ster-details-of-wireless-charging-system.html

 

[TroyBoy30]

havent plugged in headphones since the iphone 4 so i'm good

 

[Swordylove]

 

[nelmat]

As long as it is wireless charging, and not having to drop the phone onto a stupid matt while charging, then I'm sold. However, not sure there is any tech' out there or announced which would achieve this yet - if apple have done it, and announce it with the iPhone 7 launch, it will transform technology. Seems too early, maybe for the 9?

Water resistant is also good - of course nothing is ever advertised as 'waterproof' as there is no such thing in electronics - given enough depth and pressure, everything leaks. But water resistant to say 4 metres would be incredible and cover most people's everyday accidents.

Nice pair of wireless earbuds bundled to replace the current 3.5mm connected ones and this would be great.

Ah yes - the audiophiles will be complaining of course...

Audiophiles should be happier to use the lightning connector with some ridiculously overpriced DAC built in to some over-priced headphones or a nice valve amplifier - gives them the opportunity to bypass the current internal DAC that drives the 3.5mm socket and achieve the potential for better audio quality.

But do remember, this is a phone - a multi-function device - it's never been advertised as a 'high end audio' playback device - just a device that carries your media for playback on the go. So as long as we can hear our music and calls, most people aren't that bothered if it's not 64-bit lossless (or whatever the current fad is - FLAC, ALAC, AIFF, WAV - whatever )

Make the battery last longer, stronger case/shatterproof, better water resistance, better camera (with no bump), would also be nice to lose the fugly antennae breaks from the reverse. Do that (no need for thinner thank you!) and the 7 will be a great/must have upgrade.

 

[Popeye206]

Here's how it goes...

Rumors: many complain and say they'll never buy an Apple product again.

Launch... many complain and proclaim disappointment and "fail".

3 Months later... iPhone sells at record numbers and Samsung announces their version of the same.

2 years later... everything people complained about 2 years prior they now accept as the "norm" and claim Apple stole the idea from someone else.

This is how it works... accept it.

 

[LovingTeddy]

Like so many others here, you don't seem to understand that it is weight, not thinness, that Apple is driving down.

Do you really want a phone that weighs substantially more in order to have a two day battery? I don't, nor do I suspect most other people. For those that really need a two day battery there a plenty of third party cases that will provide that.

This makes zero sense at all. iPhone 6S with the hump case is heavier than iPhone 6S Plus. I think the general consensus is that people want longer battery life with their iPhone. And make phone thiner then sell you a battery case which adds bulk to the phone is counterproductive... Makes zero sense.

 

[nelmat]

Here's how it goes...

Rumors: many complain and say they'll never buy an Apple product again.

Launch... many complain and proclaim disappointment and "fail".

3 Months later... iPhone sells at record numbers and Samsung announces their version of the same.

2 years later... everything people complained about 2 years prior they now accept as the "norm" and claim Apple stole the idea from someone else.

This is how it works... accept it.

Absolutely 100% correct. And it's always the same users on here complaining about the new, then complaining about losing the 'old'- which was the same 'new' they complained about two years ago!

 

[SMIDG3T]

Apple killed the CD, point and shoot cameras, Flash, Netbooks, etc. Next up, the 3.5mm headphone jack.

Oh yeah and it all went right didn't it?
[doublepost=1452258891][/doublepost]I don't get how some people are expecting the battery life to be the same or even worse with the iPhone 7. Removing the headphone jack frees up a lot of space inside the phone, more space for a bigger battery. Combine that with the A10 chip and the result is longer battery life. Stop moaning people, you'll buy it anyway.

 

[nelmat]

Oh yeah and it all went right didn't it?

Yup, it all went great - but not sure that Apple would take full credit for losing all of those items, they were certainly a factor though. Progress marches onwards!

There will always be a transition period, which can be awkward for consumers stuck between technologies. In a few years, the phone will have no ports at all, fully wireless charging and every other device will just feature USB-C/Thunderbolt combination ports. Other manufacturers will follow suit.

 

[nightcap965]

My needs are few and easily met. Just give me a miracle every year and I'll be happy.

What I would like is a landing zone on my nightstand - just some place to organize the confusion of power cords. I put down my iPad, iPhone, Apple Watch, and my fancy wireless headset, and they just charge, without me having to worry about what plugs into where.

I'll gladly sacrifice a millimeter or so of phone thickness for that convenience.

 

[SMIDG3T]

Apple aren't afraid of change. Personally I don't mind about having no headphone jack. If you don't agree don't buy it, simple.

 

[citysnaps]

This makes zero sense at all. iPhone 6S with the hump case is heavier than iPhone 6S Plus. I think the general consensus is that people want longer battery life with their iPhone. And make phone thiner then sell you a battery case which adds bulk to the phone is counterproductive... Makes zero sense.

No, it makes a lot of sense.

The flaw in your position is that you assume EVERYONE is just like you; i.e. wanting greater battery life, with zero consequences as a result. However, everybody is not just like you. People have different needs.

In reality, most people understand that nothing comes for free or with zero design consequences, that is, much greater phone weight for two day or more battery life.

For those that need longer battery life, people with heavy travel needs for example, third party manufacturers (and now Apple) have options to address that. With the consequence of greater weight (and bulk).

Offering greater weight/bulk longer life battery options for the few whose needs require longer battery life (at extra cost) makes a lot more sense than imposing adverse design consequences on the many who are fine with a one day battery.

 

[dec.]

I'm interested in how thin they can make it this time Will it be 5-10-15-20-25-30 % thinner?

I think it would be cool if they made it something like this:

or this:

I'd give up the 3,5 for that.

Besides looking cool and futuristic on TV, is there any advantage of a device being transparent (and subsequently displaying photos, images and content in general far worse)?

 

[nightcap965]

Apple aren't afraid of change. Personally I don't mind about having no headphone jack. If you don't agree don't buy it, simple.

Hear! Hear! On August 15, 1998, I bought a Bondi Blue iMac. It was, as I'm sure you recall, a total failure. No floppy drive? No parallel port? Not even a SCSI port? Ridiculous!

Apple's board listened to Michael Dell and liquidated the company shortly thereafter, returning the proceeds to investors. The customer, you see, is always right.

 

[mattrey87]

solotion is an adapter everyone wins

 

[Mactendo]

iPhone 7 May Feature Thinner, Waterproof Body With No Headphone Jack and Wireless Charging

​

​

...and a uglier and bulkier battery case.

 

[ctg7w6]

I don't plan on buying wired headphones anymore, Bluetooth has just been too convenient since I bought wireless headphones. So, I don't really mind if they get rid of the headphone jack (being selfish, I don't personally need it anymore).

On the other hand, I really can't see why anyone should switch to lightning port headphones. You are buying headphones that, at least without an adapter, can be used by no other devices. Headphones were always REALLY versatile because most used the 3.5mm.

So, I would advise everyone to not buy stupid lightning connector headphones, just get wireless. I know quality is degraded somewhat, but if you really care that much about the quality you probably weren't using 3.5 anyway.

The answer is not to switch to a stupid proprietary connector. Just get wireless. Why, Apple, would we want to buy expensive headphones just to use your one gadget. It's really not cool. Just go wireless, people. Or, if you really support 3.5, switch phone brands.