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Apple's Confusing Design Philosophy MBP/iPhone

SuprUsrStan

SuprUsrStan

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Apr 15, 2010
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I've been trying to understand Apple's design philosophy with the new headphonejackless iPhones and how it translates to macbook pro designs. I just can't understand why they would make the iPhone like that. Bear with me while I explain what I mean.

Apple removed the headphone jack and included a lightning headphone cable. What are they trying to achieve? They claimed said to save space and to move to a digital media delivery system. There is fundamentally very little difference between lightning and USB type C connector. Everything Lightning does, USB-C can do in virtually the same form factor.

The next generation macbook pro's will have a few USB-C connectors but what audio connectors will they use? Are they going be installing a single lightning connector on the mac to allow us to use the apple earbuds? Personally, I think that's unlikely. So, why are they pushing us to use lightning powered headphone cables? It would make a lot more sense for the iPhones to move to USB-C for headphone compatibility on both macbook pro's and iphones.

They chose to embrace a proprietary headphone connector standard that doesn't give much more benefit than USB-C. It's not like connector form factor was completely unique with value add like a magnetic smart connector. Imagine a magnetic smart connector headphone/accessory connection system. At least that is unique. It's just different enough to be useless on all other devices but featureless at the same time.

The design of the macbook pro is going to be largely unchanged for the next few years. With the upcoming redesign, we'll find out what apple really meant to do with the iPhone audio jack removal.

TL;DR
iPhones shouldn't use a lightning connectors for headphones if they're not adding a lightning cable on macbook pro's. If apple is forcing an digital headphone delivery system, they should have went with USB-C.
 
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syan48306 said:
TL;DR
iPhones shouldn't use a lightning connectors for headphones if they're not adding a lightning cable on macbook pro's. If apple is forcing an digital headphone delivery system, they should have went with USB-C.
Click to expand...

Why is what the Mac buyer wants be important?
That is, it is more likely that someone will buy a set of headphones to use with their computer, than with their iPhone? I believe the answer is no. This means the needs of the iPhone user trumps the needs of the Mac user.

Second question, can a computer owner easily add lightning support to their computer. Yes. A simple usb to lightning cable can be purchased. So for the price of a cable, the mac user can use the headphones. Or if the headphones have Bluetooth, the Mac user can connect that way.
 
Not the same form factor. Keep in mind that usb c port is much larger than a lightning port.

I am not worrying about the audio jack on the next map. According to the leaked photos, 13 inch would have 4 usb c plus one 3.5mm. 15 inch would have the same amount or more.
 
In Apple's mind, wired headphones are the past and wireless is the future, like how Macs are the past and iPPs' are the future :rolleyes:
 
syan48306 said:
iPhones shouldn't use a lightning connectors for headphones if they're not adding a lightning cable on macbook pro's. If apple is forcing an digital headphone delivery system, they should have went with USB-C.
Click to expand...
You're right they shouldn't but Apple has now complete control of how or who plugs into the iPhone, and those products have to pay Apple a licensing fee. Its a win-win for Apple, and imo, a lose-lose for the customer.

I expect to see the headphone jack disappear from the newer MBPs as well
 
You know, this never even occurred to me... This will effectively make it impossible to use the lightning headphones included with the new iPhones on the Mac. This is somewhat of a pain - I often do keep my Apple earpods in my bag and use them interchangeably between my iPhone and my Mac. This will no longer be an option...
 
just buy another adapter :D as if you propably didnt already have enought adapters...
 
Patcell said:
You know, this never even occurred to me... This will effectively make it impossible to use the lightning headphones included with the new iPhones on the Mac. This is somewhat of a pain - I often do keep my Apple earpods in my bag and use them interchangeably between my iPhone and my Mac. This will no longer be an option...
Click to expand...

That's exactly my point. I get that you have different space constraints on the iPhone than then macbook pro but to release a lighting only iPhone and then release a lightning-less macbook pro doesn't make sense. They're fragmenting the accessory base within a month of the iPhone launch.

The macbook pro either needs to get a lightning port or the iPhone needs to go to USB-C. This double standard is unacceptable for mac/iphone users. Two headphones for two devices when you travel. Or dongles everywhere.
 
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syan48306 said:
That's exactly my point. I get that you have different space constraints on the iPhone than then macbook pro but to release a lighting only iPhone and then release a lightning-less macbook pro doesn't make sense. They're fragmenting the accessory base within a month of the iPhone launch.

The macbook pro either needs to get a lightning port or the iPhone needs to go to USB-C. This double standard is unacceptable for mac/iphone users. Two headphones for two devices when you travel. Or dongles everywhere.
Click to expand...

I tend to agree... It would be frustrating for current users, but I do think Apple should consider moving to USB-C for the iPhone's wired connectivity. It seems that USB-C is going to be the standard for a while coming. I obviously don't know if it would be possible for Apple to make such a switch given the iPhone's slim profile. And, as I touched on, current users with a zillion lightening cables would be seriously pissed off if their existing hardware would not work with new iPhones...
 
I figure the Lightning headphone solution is a stopgap measure intended to satisfy people who still have wired headphones for a short period. In the long run, Apple wants people to move to Bluetooth audio.

But, you say, Bluetooth audio just isn't good at the moment. It's lossy, bad audio with lag when watching videos.

Exactly.

Apple is giving Bluetooth audio a major kick in the pants because it's been languishing for years. Lightning audio was never the final intended solution.
 
Exile714 said:
I figure the Lightning headphone solution is a stopgap measure intended to satisfy people who still have wired headphones for a short period. In the long run, Apple wants people to move to Bluetooth audio.

But, you say, Bluetooth audio just isn't good at the moment. It's lossy, bad audio with lag when watching videos.

Exactly.

Apple is giving Bluetooth audio a major kick in the pants because it's been languishing for years. Lightning audio was never the final intended solution.
Click to expand...

Thats the other thing. If bluetooth is no ready, then don't remove the 3.5mm. Just because they want to move to bluetooth doesn't mean you HAVE to use this stopgap lightning solution. They could have just upgraded or released their airpods. They could have eased us in instead of this knee jerk reaction and cutting us completely.
 
syan48306 said:
So, why are they pushing us to use lightning powered headphone cables? It would make a lot more sense for the iPhones to move to USB-C for headphone compatibility on both macbook pro's and iPhones.
Click to expand...
Apple isn't pushing the world to Lightning audio. They are pushing the world to wireless audio.
 
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chabig said:
Apple isn't pushing the world to Lightning audio. They are pushing the world to wireless audio.
Click to expand...

Then Apple should be doing that instead of yanking the 3.5mm jack. You can push wireless without removing the jack.
 
syan48306 said:
Then Apple should be doing that instead of yanking the 3.5mm jack. You can push wireless without removing the jack.
Click to expand...
People don't drop obsolete tech until they are forced to. Remember how long it took PC makers to drop parallel, serial, and VGA ports?
 
syan48306 said:
Then Apple should be doing that instead of yanking the 3.5mm jack. You can push wireless without removing the jack.
Click to expand...

Why should Apple make anything other than exactly what they want??

They make products that they believe in, buy them or don't that's your option, removing the 3.5 port from their phone will make no difference to anyone using the phone they can still use any headphones with it straight out of the box. There are good engineering reasons for getting the space that port took back and waterproofing is easier with less ports of course.

It's a fairly poor analogue piece of tech from over 50 years ago it's time to change, Apple aren't the first, Motorola removed them from both their flagship phones in June and Lenovo has also dropped them amongst other Chinese vendors. For once it's not Apple initiating a much needed change in technology but the fact that they have done so paves the way for many others.
 
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This reflects my problem with Apple today. There doesn't seem to be any cohesive plan that they are sticking to. Ok, they want to move everyone to wireless? Why are they bothering with this massively awkward interim step of building lightning headphones that are only compatible with a few of their devices? You want us to use wireless headphones? Include them in the box. Make them charge-able via usb-c. Now they are compatible with either my Macbook or my iOS devices including for charging.
 
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Samuelsan2001 said:
Why should Apple make anything other than exactly what they want??

They make products that they believe in, buy them or don't that's your option, removing the 3.5 port from their phone will make no difference to anyone using the phone they can still use any headphones with it straight out of the box. There are good engineering reasons for getting the space that port took back and waterproofing is easier with less ports of course.

It's a fairly poor analogue piece of tech from over 50 years ago it's time to change, Apple aren't the first, Motorola removed them from both their flagship phones in June and Lenovo has also dropped them amongst other Chinese vendors. For once it's not Apple initiating a much needed change in technology but the fact that they have done so paves the way for many others.
Click to expand...



Poor analogue tech? You do realize we can't listen to digital since we as human beings can read, hear and etc analog. The music or sound will need to convert somewhere and now you're asking headphone manufacturers to add DAC's in their headphones since we all know Apple would love to not add one on the cpu eventually. Bluetooth headphones do that already but wired ones will now need them and thus more expensive for a good quality pair of headphones.
 
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Closingracer said:
Yes and I will choose to never buy wired headphones again....nor will I ever buy another apple branded headphone like those pods.
Click to expand...

Apple is many things, first and foremost delivering on financials. Apple is super smart in this game, removing features at the same time launching more branded ancillaries, Apple & Beats.

BT audio has come a long way since it`s inception, equally even with Apt-X (which I believe Apple don't do) it`s not comparable to a wired solution. I certainly won't be throwing my $500+ IEM`s for a set of AirPods. Anyway is moot to me as I don't purchase Apple`s mobile solutions for many reasons, with Tim & Co reinforcing it further.

I Get that you can use an adapter, and the DAC is likely still onboard the phone, equally It`s just another hassle if you want to change your headphones, especially on the go. If Apple was serious about this they would have opted for USB C, not their own proprietary interface. To me it`s more about keeping their margin in a receding market.


Q-6
 
The misconception from OP and many others about removing the headphone jack is that Lightning Port is Apple's future port for audio.

I don't understand why they think this when Apple has explicitly said that Wireless is the future interface for audio.

The lightning-to-audio adapter and lightning headphones are simply transitional solutions.
 
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