Am I the only one happy that they will remove the headphone jack in iPhone 7? (possibly, just rumor)

[Le Big Mac]

Headphones are always analog. The iPhone is always digital. Somewhere inbetween there is a DAC (digital to analog converter). Currently there's one in the iPhone or you can choose to use an external DAC plugged into the lightning port.

If they remove the DAC and 3.5mm hp jack the customer loses vast functionality and connectivity and gains nothing.

+1. I would rather the DAC be internal so I don't have to have an external one for my wired headphones, or face the more limited choices of headphones that have a proprietary lighting plug instead of an industry standard 3.5mm plug.

 

[easheer]

Makes no difference to me whatsoever.

 

[Le Big Mac]

2) Dropping CD/DVD drives - lots of people still want these drives and also those that handle Blue Ray. This was less about moving forward unless moving forward means creating more reason for the masses to connect and use iTunes buy/rentals. It was strictly to advance Apple's profits and nothing to do with advancement of technology. I call total B.S. here. Let's be clear, Apple never support properly Blue Ray from the get go ...you know "a bag of hurt" that somehow both Microsoft and Linux seem to have no ill effects in the offering.

Makes me think about other motives . . . .what are the effects of removing the jack on companies like Square, that have a card reader that plugs into the headphone jack.
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I meant removing the headphone jack. Other companies will follow Apple's lead eventually

Perhaps, and they'll do audio out through a standardized jack like MicroUSB, and you'll be able to buy every type of headphone with a MicroUSB plug, but very few with Lightening.

 

[phrehdd]

Makes me think about other motives . . . .what are the effects of removing the jack on companies like Square, that have a card reader that plugs into the headphone jack.
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Perhaps, and they'll do audio out through a standardized jack like MicroUSB, and you'll be able to buy every type of headphone with a MicroUSB plug, but very few with Lightening.

Le Big Mac, your thoughts are royale. A good catch there! I'll be waiting for a phone case that builds into it 'ports' so you have a choice once Apple does its self serving deed.

 

[Older bird]

I for one use Bluetooth head phones. If it goes away, no big deal

 

[joeblow7777]

Well, the benefit is the surprise Apple would demo on stage, it's a secret obviously. Nobody knows for certain. But here is the possible list of the advantage:
1. Less port
2. Water submerge capability
3. direct digital connection
4. power components in the headphone, which could include an internal DAC (digital to analog converter) and amplifier that bypass the internal DAC of the iPhone and/or active noise-cancellation circuitry
5. means: clearer sound
6. headphones with health-related sensors (heart rate monitor) get their juice via the Lightning port
7. built-in DAC and amplifier and can play high resolution 24-bit audio
8. battery-free
9. also path the way for more BT headphones: hassle free, wire free
10. open up the possibility for better BT headphones: innovation

And the list is go on, but as I said, they are mostly possibilities until Apple demo it on stage and show us what the Apple innovation.

I'm not sold on all those possibilities, but thank you for at least trying to list some advantages.