Apple Proposes Using Pogo Pins to Shrink Headphone Jacks

[alectheking]

Would you trust a bungee jump without a rope?

That doesn't make sense, sounds dumb and doesn't even relate to this situation at all.

 

[TallManNY]

Yes, the real problem with the nano and shuffle is that they aren't thin enough. My God I can barely fit more than a dozen of each in my front pocket, how have I put up with this for so long.

 

[bobob]

make a slim headset with the ipod built in. no more clips or wires necessary.

Sony made a music player in this design...

 

[Ubuntu]

Being a regular member on these forums I have to say thickness/thinness doesn't seem to be one of the major concerns for most members here. I really think the devices are fine, size-wise and I don't like this idea really. Apple has pushed so hard to create the thinnest, most stylish products out there but it feels like they're at the peak in terms of thinness and the style is ever-more holding back the function with most Apple products it seems.

I really think the size is fine for all iPods.

 

[bobob]

These arguments are more than a little silly. Apple, like everyone else in the world, has no perfect idea of what customers want. They think of what they want, they ask focus groups, they do their best to project forward. And sometimes they succeed, and sometimes they fail. Some non-obvious ideas (make the iPad a lot thicker and heavier than necessary by giving it a ginormous battery) actually work out very very well, and really tap into what people want.

But to claim that they are blindly making thing smaller regardless of people's desires is stupid. People appeared not to like the square 3rd gen iPod nano (though I did) so they reverted to the old shape. People didn't like the buttons-free shuffle, so they brought the buttons back. If the new nano does not sell well, or generates lots of complaints about the touch screen, I expect next year's version will have physical buttons on the back or something.
And, as I said, the iPad is an obvious counter-example to the claim that Apple pursues thinness at the expense of functionality.

Good points.

Remember when 1/4" jacks were the standard?

I'm glad to see that Apple is putting some thought into improving the design, whether or not it pans out is another question.

2.5 mm mono (TS), 3.5 mm mono (TRS), 3.5 mm stereo (TRS), and 1/4″ (6.35 mm) stereo (TRS) jack plugs.

 

[ranReloaded]

Good points.

Remember when 1/4" jacks were the standard?

I'm glad to see that Apple is putting some thought into improving the design, whether or not it pans out is another question.

2.5 mm mono (TS), 3.5 mm mono (TRS), 3.5 mm stereo (TRS), and 1/4″ (6.35 mm) stereo (TRS) jack plugs.

I remember the mid nineties when those MD players came out and their horribly incompatible micro-plugs!!!

 

[Fiddler70]

iPad, iPhone 4 and iPhone 3GS have this

Just checked, and all three already use this technology.

Might actually make it safe and easy to clean the contacts?

 

[NT1440]

Or better: replace it with some sort of micro/mini-USB and get rid of that huge connector.

Sure, who needs functions like video out amongst others?

 

[Pivot77]

-

I dont think we can lose the wire any time soon. traditional headphones are cost effective, and sound great. you can already move to the wireless world if you wanted to, nokia has this amazing bluetooth headset, Its light weight, sounds very good, and the battery lasts just as long as an ipod touch's battery will last on playing music. but I think the ipod touch 4g for example is already as thin as it needs to be, any thinner and It'll crack when I hold it lol. But anyways yeah I still like headphones their fine and work good. by the way, has anyone ever thought of headphones that go through the front of the device? more like a hole of some sort that can reach the pins.

 

[Malithion]

Be cool to make the pins in there touch/push sensitive so that if you move the Headphone Jack it would register. that way you could use it as a joystick or something.

 

[rufwork]

At the same time we have several different connectors in a computer witch is stupid.

Why USB, Firewire, DVI Firewire 800 (to name a few) have to be different? at the end all of them transmit data and power.

I believe Apple could help humanity better by developing a single kind of cable so I can go to Radioshack and buy just one kind of cable and being able to storage just a few cables instead several different.

Yep, this is just an example of Apple wanting a cut off of anyone wanting to sell headphones, a car stereo, or a means of attaching an iPod to your home theater or stereo. All your interface ports are belong to Apple. Can't have an open standard in Apple's closed-ville.

EDIT: Oops. Not if "(b) This patent has to do with what is INSIDE the iPod/iPhone. It has NOTHING to do with proprietary headphone jacks" is right.

 

[Meldar]

C'mon, you must be making that up. He didn't say that. (... did he?)

No, he did...perhaps in jest, but then again, I have had to show him how to make folders on the desktop at least four times.

That doesn't make sense, sounds dumb and doesn't even relate to this situation at all.

Try reading my comments in context - that is, read the post or series of posts to which I responded, generate a concept of the topic at hand (in that particular conversation) and re-think your silly trolling.

To save you the trouble, I was referring to the idea of Bluetooth and/or wireless-sync connections in iPods, iPhones, and other such devices - specifically, their lack of feasible, cost-effective application. Think a little harder, and one starts to realize that having everything wireless would mean that if there was a failure somewhere along the lines, it would be nearly impossible to pinpoint and cost a lot more to fix (as wireless components are inside the device, which only Apple can open). Factor in the inevitable glut of interference with either proposed solution...and it seems that a 3.5mm headphone jack is a reliable old standby.

I mean...I got my 1st gen. Nano when I was 13 and kinda beat it around a bit...today, the case is bent in three places, the screen is scratched to the point of illegibility, and the battery lasts a full 30 minutes - but fully intact are the 3.5mm audio out and the 30-pin dock connector.

 

[Timeraner]

Wirelessly posted (Opera/9.50 (Nintendo DSi; Opera/507; U; en-US))

1. Get rid of docking altogether - iDevices should be able to sync wirelessly, via WiFi or Bluetooth - and use a magsafe power plug

2. Ditch the headphone port altogether and include bluetooth earbuds.

Totally wireless!

Use that new-ish tech where you set your device on a pad and it charges, but expand the range to a few feet.

 

[ilfn143]

Sure, who needs functions like video out amongst others?

didn't know usb can't do video out amongst others...

 

[SeattleMoose]

name99 = Jonny?

Why else the extremely defensive diatribes?

 

[kockgunner]

Right, the confusion is coming from the article saying this will allow for thinner devices, when really it's just allowing the headphone module to be no deeper and barely any wider than the headphone port itself, saving internal volume. The diameter of the headphone jack is still going to be a limiting factor on the thinness of the device.

You're probably right saying it's for internal volume savings. They will probably keep 3.5 mm headphone jacks for backward compatibility. They could make the headphone plugs smaller if they wanted to but no one wants to handle pin like connectors. I've heard the cables for electric guitars and amps carry the same amount of data as a regular headphone jack, but they're much bigger so they're better suited to the durability requirements needed on a stage.

 

[SeaFox]

I really don't think any mobile Apple device needs to get thinner from its current state (except notebooks maybe). Can someone explain the benefit of a thinner iPod touch or iPhone at this point? Aside from the reaction of "cool! that is an impossibly thin phone!" I don't get it. I want to be able to pick my phone off a desk and not have to pry it with my fingernail.

Exactly. Any thinner and having the device snap in half will become as much an issue for Nanos and Shuffles as it is for iPhone/iPod Touches now.

All a thinner device means for me at this point is less battery life.

Or better: replace [the dock connector] with some sort of micro/mini-USB and get rid of that huge connector.

Apple would never do that. They wouldn't be able to get their kickba^H^H^H^H^H^H licensing fees from third-party accessory makers then.

Heck, just make the Shuffle into an ear piece.

2009 called. It wants its innovation back.

 

[zengod]

Oh great - an other proprietary jack plug that will probably mean having to use an adapter to use decent headphones - Did Apple not learn from the mistake of the original iPhone socket ?

Also not sure what the drive is to make these devices even smaller - Is it so we can insert them into cavities to make them easier to carry ?

 

[bobob]

Any thinner and having the device snap in half will become as much an issue for Nanos and Shuffles as it is for iPhone/iPod Touches now.

I hate when that happens - - I just snapped my eighth iPhone in half last night!

 

[newb16]

Curious to see how well the connections last after a headphone is plugged in, and unplugged repeatedly over the corse of 2 years!

If it happens after warranty expires, no one cares. And if these pins got stuck after one touches the jack with dirty fingers, too.

 

[nuvolino]

this could help apple slim down products, but headphone makers are not going to make headphones, making you stuck with apple earbuds. If they made smaller jacks, I would request that they also make an adapter to adapt whatever size jack they are thinking of making, so it will accept the standard 3.5mm headphones...

they arent shrinking the size of a headphone plug just the socket.... so how about try reading before posting

 

[mroddjob]

Just checked, and all three already use this technology.

Might actually make it safe and easy to clean the contacts?

Has anyone checked this?
Looks like the new nano might already be using it, can't quite tell but this ifixit photo looks like the jack socket is tiny.
http://guide-images.ifixit.net/igi/OqLcFuMv6YD1DDi3.huge

 

[Apple-NoEscape]

Sometimes apple has to accept that a product is pretty much perfect. The headphone jack is one of them.

 

[Cleverboy]

That's what I was thinking.
Why are they still looking into ways to shrink wires?
Really, if you insist on getting smaller, lets get rid of them all together. Stream it to my brain, if you don't mind. Or at least to my ears.

NEWS BULLETIN

September 6th, 2011

Cupertino, CA -- There was mass panic at an Apple special music event today, where CEO Steve Jobs unveiled what has turned out to be a controversial feature for its new iPod line of music players. Last week, media outlets began receiving invitations to Apple's yearly showcase for its fall line-up of music devices. This year, however, during Jobs trademark "one more thing" segment, he revealed that the new iPods could transmit music directly into the human brain. Before describing the feature in detail, Jobs seemed to make uncharacteristic comments about Apple's patents for the feature and how it would "change everything". He then proceeded to give a short presentation reviewing basic technical details of how it works, before his slide ended in the word, "Demo".

At this point, Steve Jobs then announced that there was nothing in fact, to demo and that the small auditorium did not actually have a speaker system of any type. For the last hour, all of the attendees were being subjected to the new technology and had simply assumed there was nothing out of the ordinary. The panic did not however begin until Jobs answered the murmurs in the audience by saying, "You don't believe me? Try to cover your ears." After waiting for everyone to comply, the CEO reportedly smiled wrly and said, "Can you hear me now?"

At first there was a pause, but it became obvious something was wrong as Jobs' smile turned to concern, as looks of horror broke out of the faces of the attendees. A number of attendees began screaming and swaring, while others began to cry. A small group of attendees immediately threw up, causing still others to react in the same manner. As Jobs called for calm, it became clear he was only exacerbating the issue, as one angry reporter allegedly screamed back, "Get out of my god**** head, mother******!" Apple immediately turned off the feature following the outburst.

In the aftermath of a rapidly cleared event, Apple issued a public apology for its bad planning and mishandling of the unveiling. As the device has yet to clear FCC approval, a number of those who attended have sent in complaints and have sought out medical help for perceptions that they were still hearing Steve Jobs voice in their heads. Reporter Ezekiel Brenton, staff writer for Laptop Magazine commented, "I always knew they'd try some crap like this someday! I sware, I haven't been able to sleep since Tuesday. Sometimes I think I can hear his voice again, but its like he's not even saying the same stuff he said that day."

When asked to comment, Apple has repeated its public apology, and has directed people to a page on its website where it has published copious research on the technology, insisting that it is NOT, despite suspicions to the contrary, able to cause damage to the brain. They have realized however, that different brains react differently to the technology and that a negative psychological reaction may cause more problems than they'd initially accounted for.

The Federal government has launched an official inquiry into the episode at the request of Senator Charles Schummer (D). Commenting on the incident, Schummer said, "Apparently Apple has instituted a new policy of pissing off American consumers once every year."

~ CB

 

[My name is Alex]

It's nearly 2011 people........

Lets get rid of wires altogether.

40, 50, 60, 70 years ago, when people had crystal radio sets, then transistor radios, then cassette walkmans yeah a wire was ok.

But it's almost 2011

get rid of the wire !!!!!!

yeah it'll be great in a couple of years when we have flying cars and pepsi perfects and nostalgic 80's bars and pink Hoverboards. Back to the Future sure let us dream though. But yes, why continue to make ports smaller and thinner when you could just get rid of them completely?