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Apple May Replace 3.5mm Headphone Jack on iPhone 7 With All-in-One Lightning Connector

farewelwilliams said:
do you wanna charge? or do you wanna listen to Apple Music?
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While your point is valid and that would be a genuine issue (wireless listening devices excluded of course) I just took a minute to try to think back to a time where I was charging my iPhone and plugged in listening to music at the same time, and couldn't think of one. Meaning it's either so rare for me I couldn't remember a specific time where that happened, or it's never happened. Probably the latter :)
 
I'm sure this will annoy a huge percent of users, for myself though, I have never actually used earphones or buds, I just don't see the upside to ditching such a universal port???
 
japanime said:
Not according to the article, which states the new connector "have a DAC, or digital-to-audio converter, for backwards compatibility with wired headphones using standard 3.5mm stereo jacks."
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But, reading further, " A 3.5mm to Lightning adapter would be required."

RIDICULOUS!

As silly as putting the charging jack on the same end as the headphone jack.
 
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SILen(e said:
Isn't it obvious?

We have so many clues that the iPhone 7 will be waterproof and while Apple seems to know how to make the Lightning port waterproof, they want to get rid of as many holes and buttons in the phones as possible.

What makes me think so?

Clue 1: The gasket in the iPhone 6s that makes the phone at bit more waterproof -> Apple is experimenting and checking if such a gasket will work in the iPhone 7.
Clue 2: TouchID integrated into the display -> no more Home button.
Clue 3: Apple wants to get rid of the mute-switch -> One opening less to worry about, especially as the switch would probably be much more difficult to waterproof than the volume- and power-buttons.
Clue 4: No more headphone jack -> Only the Lightning port to worry about left and they designed it themselves, to they will have thought about how to make waterproof Lightning ports when they developed it.

The iPhone 7 will be waterproof and it all makes sense when you combine the rumors.
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I took underwater shots with my Sony Z3 (exposed 3.5 mm audio port) with no issues whatsoever.

Personally instead of seeing this hole gone, I would love to see Apple making some additional ones: the ones required for forward stereo speakers (just like my really great Z3 before) to make use of the big bazels of my iP6s+.
 
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Lol, yes Apple I love the Idea that my headphones connector break every ***** month! The lightning connector will break often in jackets and all other pockets. With that break it also takes away charging, now I have a thin but useless thing in my pocket. :confused:
 
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McGiord said:
So no connection to the car stereo because driving a car is so last decade... o_O
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Yes, I'd say driving a car where the only form of audio input is the 3.5mm jack is pretty last decade. Even that isn't a very good reason, my 19 year old vehicle with aftermarket head unit has usb input, so I connect my phone for power and audio through the lightening port already.

Personally I rarely use the 3.5mm jack anymore, I recently bought a pair of bluetooth headphones and don't know how I ever lived with wired headphones.
 
tmanto02 said:
This is going to infuriate many loyal customers. One of the reasons I first bought an iPhone was its music capabilities. I don't mind using adapters for other connectors but Apple needs to protect the standard 3.5mm jack. I want the option to be able to buy any headphones/earphones I want and be able to plug them in.
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You will - with an adaptor.
 
You know, for a designer who is so obsessed with anorexic thinness of his designs, he should take a look at his own body mass and work on that first, and let the iPhones and MacBooks gain a little bit of bulk.
 
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mj1108 said:
Not to worry, Apple will be happy to sell you that adapter for an additional $49.99.
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Not to worry, you'll have 3 wonderful options:

1. $49.99 dongle
2. $149.99 apple bluetooth headphones
3. $299.99 beats wireless headphones

$$$ delicious accessories profits
 
Glassed Silver said:
Don't worry, in any case you'd have lost as you can't shoot faster than your own shadow.

clip-art-lucky-luke-584415.jpg


Glassed Silver:mac
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Not heard that saying before. Quite like it.
 
driceman said:
Okay... There are times to remove outdated technology. Yeah, they needed to remove floppy drives with the iMac, and the MacBook Air was overall the right direction in regards to removing the disc drive. But this seems like a cash grab to make the "thinnest iPhone yet," which I'm sure will be a whopping millimeter thinner. I mean, who cares? There was a time when thinner mattered. It's just not that big a deal anymore.

In fairness, I use Bluetooth earphones for running anyway so this doesn't really impact me. And I guess in the long run we MAY see a bigger turn toward Bluetooth (probably when audiophiles consider Bluetooth sound quality acceptable). But this seems unnecessary.

How about a phone a millimeter thicker with a camera that's flush to the back of the phone (better design, if you ask me) that has twice the battery life?
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People have invested a lot of money in studio quality/noise reduction headphones. This would wipe out that investment and replace those headphones with bluetooth ones that will be considered inferior to audiophiles. Considering that a lot of people have now replaced their iPod with their iPhone, there are going to be a lot of unhappy customers.
 
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Frosties said:
Lol, yes Apple I love the Idea that my headphones connector break every ***** month! The lightning connector will break often in jackets and all other pockets. With that break it also takes away charging, now I have a thin but useless thing in my pocket. :confused:
Click to expand...

That's why wireless headphones could be the future, personally I hate having to charge them. it's just too annoying. If they go this route, I think it will be either:

1) keep the jack like the ipod but make the headphones wireless with lightening connecting.. Path of least resistance (and all those people can use their super expensive headphones they bought)
2) remove jack, wireless headphones with wireless charging (at some distance). And include an adapter for 39.99 (another adapter to lose).



I think the worse thing they could do is keep the jack but reduced it and put a proprietary one that was patented a while back.
 
What's next? Getting rid of the DVD drive on desktop and laptop computers?

Swear to god, if Apple dumps the DVD drive I'm going to hold my breath till I turn blue, stomp my little feet, and let people know on forums how angry I am. Apple is doomed!
 
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Hang the obsession with thickness. You've gone beyond diminishing returns. Time to start listening to your customer base. Increase the thickness to 7.5mm and give us better battery life! Innovate something else before Jobs comes back from the dead and slaps some sense into you.
 
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I don't think having to use an adapter is a huge deal what scares me is what battery life will be like. Thinner phone means smaller battery. On top of that you won't be able to charge while listening to music though headphones so it's really going to be rough.
 
PBRsg said:
People have invested a lot of money in studio quality/noise reduction headphones. This would wipe out that investment and replace those headphones with bluetooth ones that will be considered inferior to audiophiles. Considering that a lot of people have now replaced their iPod with their iPhone, there are going to be a lot of unhappy customers.
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The article does state that with a 3.5mm to Lightning adaptor, older headphones will be compatible.
 
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So my amazing Sennheiser headphones that should last me another decade and s**t on any "Beats" products are now rendered useless without an adapter!!!!! Great!!!
Soon I'm gona need adapters for my adapters to adapt my existing adapters.
Stupid move Apple!
 
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