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

[SactoGuy18]

By the way, is it very possible that Apple "leaked" this story to the Macotakara weblog to gauge public reaction on the possibility the iPhone 7 may ditch the 3.5 mm headphone jack? Given the very negative response so far, Apple may just abandon the idea and keep the 3.5 mm headphone jack on the iPhone 7, especially when the iPod touch and iPod nano--both thinner than the iPhone 6/6+--still sport the 3.5 mm headphone jack.

 

[caseyfriday]

By the way, is it very possible that Apple "leaked" this story to the Macotakara weblog to gauge public reaction on the possibility the iPhone 7 may ditch the 3.5 mm headphone jack? Given the very negative response so far, Apple may just abandon the idea and keep the 3.5 mm headphone jack on the iPhone 7, especially when the iPod touch and iPod nano--both thinner than the iPhone 6/6+--still sport the 3.5 mm headphone jack.

Not too likely, as the "audio over lightning" story came out well over a year ago:

http://9to5mac.com/2014/06/03/apple...phones-support-arriving-in-future-ios-update/

 

[Mac 128]

By the way, is it very possible that Apple "leaked" this story to the Macotakara weblog to gauge public reaction on the possibility the iPhone 7 may ditch the 3.5 mm headphone jack? Given the very negative response so far, Apple may just abandon the idea and keep the 3.5 mm headphone jack on the iPhone 7, especially when the iPod touch and iPod nano--both thinner than the iPhone 6/6+--still sport the 3.5 mm headphone jack.

Yes, because Apple gives into consumer pressure so frequently when making design decisions about their products. /s

 

[Mac 128]

The great thing is that since the 6S and 6S Plus are thicker than the 6 and 6 Plus, Apple can claim that the 7 is thinner than the 6S variant, and just make them the same thickness as the 6 series.

I really don't understand why phones keep getting thinner and thinner. It just seems like they'll be easier to break or slip out of your hand. I think the LG G2 is a great example of perfect thickness/contours on a phone. Oh well, that's what consumer choice is for, right??

The thinner the phone, the thinner the case, the thinner the overall package to carry. Thinness makes perfect sense. I've never used a case with my iPhone, because they add bulk and resistance to carrying my phone in my front jeans pocket. And I've paid the price for it. If a Lightning connector thick phone slipped into a case no thicker than my current iPhone, then I'd use a case ... or not.

 

[Denmac1]

By the way, is it very possible that Apple "leaked" this story to the Macotakara weblog to gauge public reaction on the possibility the iPhone 7 may ditch the 3.5 mm headphone jack? Given the very negative response so far, Apple may just abandon the idea and keep the 3.5 mm headphone jack on the iPhone 7, especially when the iPod touch and iPod nano--both thinner than the iPhone 6/6+--still sport the 3.5 mm headphone jack.

Wouldn't you think that Apple has already begun the manufacturing process for the new 7? Engineering has, more than likely, already taken place. The only 'public' reaction is from these forums and websites. The general public really doesn't know or care until there is an official announcement about the release date. My SWAG (Scientific Wild A$$ Guess) is that we won't see this change, if at all, until iPhone 8.

 

[Batman89]

Here's what everyone is overlooking:

If you don't like it, don't buy it.

[/thread]

 

[Mr. Buzzcut]

Therefore every step along the chain must be analog too.

Complete non sequitur. Speaker output to speaker (headphone) is what's being discussed. You already have lightning and Bluetooth. If you need to pass digital you already can. Folks are just saying it's silly to eliminate the headphone out to then have to immediately D/A convert and amplify it outside the phone. Understand? The phone already has a D/A converter and amp, and always will. Being unable to leverage that for headphones is beyond asinine.

 

[Mr. Buzzcut]

Bollocks. Audiophiles rarely use wireless connections but hey....just alienate a chunk of people.

Forget audiophiles. Wireless headphones aren't sufficiently loud for many. Being battery powered, it's a necessary compromise.

 

[_Refurbished_]

"Apple's ultimate goal is for you to use Bluetooth headphones."

We don't know that for sure. That's speculation for now.

Even if it's only speculation for the iPhone 7, there's no way Apple doesn't get rid of the headphone jack in the near future. Judging by their history, not much speculation about their desire to remove ports from their devices

 

[ssmed]

Please don't do this Apple. I nearly always charge and listen in the evenings and don't want a $60+ dongle to be able to do this!

 

[Michael Goff]

Forget audiophiles. Wireless headphones aren't sufficiently loud for many. Being battery powered, it's a necessary compromise.

Perfect time for somebody to fix wireless earbuds.

 

[Mr. Buzzcut]

Perfect time for somebody to fix wireless earbuds.

Maybe they should fix the battery in the Apple Watch before moving on to a new challenge? Batteries add size and weight, the enemy of any ear bud. Battery technology being where it is, there is nothing that can be fixed right now.

 

[Michael Goff]

Maybe they should fix the battery in the Apple Watch before moving on to a new challenge? Batteries add size and weight, the enemy of any ear bud. Battery technology being where it is, there is nothing that can be fixed right now.

Maybe they could hire enough people to do both.

 

[draugminaion]

Until humans advance to the point they can decode a digital stream directly, comments like this will remain ridiculous.

Darn Luddites with their analog ears. Indeed.

Not that this matters, but ears are not analog. The sound is split out into discrete frequencies in the inner ear and the intensity of each frequency is transmitted as a series of pulses over the neurons to the brain. Like a digital signal over a serial line. In a way the brain is already decoding a digital signal.
Digital signals can be transmitted without deteriorating, analog signals can not. The only loss of fidelity occurs when converting from and to analog. For the best fidelity the analog path should be as short as practical.

 

[dukeblue219]

Maybe they could hire enough people to do both.

You cannot simply throw people or money at a major scientific limitation and get a breakthrough. Bigger sound requires more power, which requires either bigger batteries or less run-time. You cannot just make a better battery. With time we'll get there, but there is MUCH bigger money being thrown at battery technology for other purposes than anyone, even Apple, would spend on improved wireless earbuds.

 

[Toltepeceno]

So I laugh at people whining about having to buy an adapter and I'm a sycophant? Mmkay! I find it hilarious that the same people who bitch about Apple updating connectors are the same people who can't wait to buy the latest iGadjet every year.

...or I'm guessing you still use an iPhone 3G?

Look in my sig, I'm not the bot. I dumped my iphone a month ago and it was a 5 and my first iphone. I never upgraded. keep telling yourself that all of us can't wait to jump on what ever apple tells us what we must have. That's Your job.

Here's what everyone is overlooking:

If you don't like it, don't buy it.

[/thread]

Not everyone, I'm not buying it. Unless someone died and left you the forum people can discuss whatever they wish within the rules.

 

[igorsky]

But what will they do when Android inevitably gets rid of it as well?

Haha well you know the answer to that one! It's a greedy, self-serving money grab when Apple does it. But when Android, "the people's OS", does it it's for everybody's benefit.

 

[Toltepeceno]

Haha well you know the answer to that one! It's a greedy, self-serving money grab when Apple does it. But when Android, "the people's OS", does it it's for everybody's benefit.

Or people are upset when any company does it and some are just butt hurt that not everyone worship's apple. (Wink, wink, nod, nod)

 

[miknos]

headphones cords sucks. Having a nice wireless option would be nice. Using the lightning connector seems like a good idea since there will be less holes and more space.

But please, make the new iPhone smaller by removing the bezels if Apple won't release a 4-inch device along the 4.7 and the Phablet Plus model.

 

[Michael Goff]

You cannot simply throw people or money at a major scientific limitation and get a breakthrough. Bigger sound requires more power, which requires either bigger batteries or less run-time. You cannot just make a better battery. With time we'll get there, but there is MUCH bigger money being thrown at battery technology for other purposes than anyone, even Apple, would spend on improved wireless earbuds.

I'm not saying throw money at it. I'm saying hire people who can solve the problem. The fact that they're on a huge hiring binge shows they know they need more people.

There is a difference between throwing money at something and hiring more people.

Haha well you know the answer to that one! It's a greedy, self-serving money grab when Apple does it. But when Android, "the people's OS", does it it's for everybody's benefit.

Sounds about right.

 

[Mr. Buzzcut]

Not that this matters, but ears are not analog. The sound is split out into discrete frequencies in the inner ear and the intensity of each frequency is transmitted as a series of pulses over the neurons to the brain. Like a digital signal over a serial line. In a way the brain is already decoding a digital signal.
Digital signals can be transmitted without deteriorating, analog signals can not. The only loss of fidelity occurs when converting from and to analog. For the best fidelity the analog path should be as short as practical.

Does that change what the cochlea is and does? Are you suggesting the next iPhone will require implants?

Why do people keep going on and on about the signal path? This is the output that connects directly to the headphone drivers. There is no further processing or amplification in the case of headphones. We already have as much of a digital signal path as possible. The short headphone cable isn't degrading your experience in any way.

And, as already mentioned, you already have multiple formats of digital out if that's what you want. Taking away the headphone jack does not add digital, it only removes analog headphone out. Why are people so desparate to see this gone when it isn't being replaced with anything? If you don't need it, just don't use it.

 

[draugminaion]

Yes, because Apple gives into consumer pressure so frequently when making design decisions about their products. /s

Indeed not. Apple knows not to ask. Like the man who made the first mass market car, who said: "If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses."

 

[Mr. Buzzcut]

headphones cords sucks. Having a nice wireless option would be nice. Using the lightning connector seems like a good idea since there will be less holes and more space.

But please, make the new iPhone smaller by removing the bezels if Apple won't release a 4-inch device along the 4.7 and the Phablet Plus model.

I'm confused. You already have wireless options with Bluetooth and AirPlay. No new wireless options are being proposed. How are you interpreting this rumor?

 

[Michael Goff]

I'm confused. You already have wireless options with Bluetooth and AirPlay. No new wireless options are being proposed. How are you interpreting this rumor?

If Apple gets rid of the 3.5mm, maybe they'll also make a wireless option that's worth something.

 

[0007776]

Here's what everyone is overlooking:

If you don't like it, don't buy it.

[/thread]

The problem is they like everything else, but then Apple goes and messes up a very important part for a lot of people.