Apple's Phil Schiller Recommends Lightning Dock for Charging an iPhone 7 While Listening to Music

[shaunp]

the real tragic thing is i'm locked into the ecosystem so i'm stuck with the 6 for a while.
Also, i'm frowning to much

do it bit by bit, one app at a time, one device at a time. Using an XPS 15 as my main laptop now. the nMP will be gone next, and I'm just waiting for the new Nexus phones to emerge. Google is looking more and more attractive - still wouldn't touch a Windows phone though.

 

[Arbuthnott]

Apple's new iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus ship without a headphone jack, requiring customers to use either Bluetooth or Lightning-equipped headphones. Many customers who routinely charge their iPhones while also listening to music have been questioning whether that usage scenario will possible sans headphone jack, and as it turns out, Apple has a solution.

In an email to a customer, Apple SVP of marketing Phil Schiller says that while he prefers to use the wireless AirPods to listen to music, customers who want to listen to wired headphones while charging an iPhone 7 can use the Apple Lightning Dock, which has a built-in headphone jack.

Priced at $49 and available in colors to match each of the iPhones, the Lightning dock has both a USB input and a 3.5mm headphone jack built in, making it perfect for customers who want to charge and listen to music at the same time. Unfortunately, it's an expensive solution compared to former method of using 3.5mm EarPods and a Lightning cable, which came free with the iPhone. Belkin also just announced a $40 Lightning Audio + Charge RockStar adapter designed to let users listen to Lightning headphones while charging, but it's both bulky and pricy.

To ease the transition away from the 3.5mm headphone jack, Apple is providing customers with both a Lightning to 3.5mm adapter and a set of EarPods with a Lightning connector. Of course, when using these accessories, charging is not possible at the same time.

Apple's ultimate goal seems to be to transition customers to wireless headphones like its recently announced AirPods. While on stage at yesterday's event, Schiller explained that one of the reasons why Apple moved away from the headphone jack was to push wireless technology forward. The AirPods, which have been in development since the Apple Watch was conceived, feature a proprietary wireless W1 chip and up to 24 hours of battery life implemented through a charging case.

AirPods, priced at $159 and similar in design to EarPods, are entirely wireless with no cord connecting the two earpieces and feature technology like gesture recognition, voice isolation, and more. AirPods have been receiving largely favorable reviews, but $159 is a lot to pay for the ideal iPhone 7 music experience.

Apple executives have explained that the removal of the headphone jack took a lot of "courage," but was necessary to free up valuable space and improve technology in the iPhone 7 and future iPhones.

(Thanks, Zaheen!)

Article Link: Apple's Phil Schiller Recommends Lightning Dock for Charging an iPhone 7 While Listening to Music

 

[Max Portakabin]

So you fell in love with a corporate entity and you want people to feel sorry for you? Once you learn that technology is a tool and not part of who you are, I'm sure you'll be able to smile again. Good luck.

I never said that but it's not the first point you've failed to grasp today.

 

[thefarang]

I find it mind blowing nobody at Apple has ever walked into the coach section or boarding area and notice most people with their phones plugged in charging on USB outlets and their headphones plugged in listening to music or the sound track on their movie. This will become more important as airlines shift away from the problematic back of seat screens and just stream entertainment to peoples devices on wifi. iP7 should ship with dual lightning and headphone connector if they wanted to go this way.

Or, you could just buy an iPad. I can think of nothing sadder than sitting on a cross country or international flight with an iPhone watching inflight entertainment.

 

[sciutand]

But I don't understand Phil !?!?! If I buy a new iPhone7 AND the dock which headphones can I plug in the dock? The ones that came with my new iPhone7 have a Lightning connection and the dock only has one Lightning port. So still stuck with listening or charging.

 

[Arbuthnott]

Apple's new iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus ship without a headphone jack, requiring customers to use either Bluetooth or Lightning-equipped headphones. Many customers who routinely charge their iPhones while also listening to music have been questioning whether that usage scenario will possible sans headphone jack, and as it turns out, Apple has a solution.

In an email to a customer, Apple SVP of marketing Phil Schiller says that while he prefers to use the wireless AirPods to listen to music, customers who want to listen to wired headphones while charging an iPhone 7 can use the Apple Lightning Dock, which has a built-in headphone jack.

Priced at $49 and available in colors to match each of the iPhones, the Lightning dock has both a USB input and a 3.5mm headphone jack built in, making it perfect for customers who want to charge and listen to music at the same time. Unfortunately, it's an expensive solution compared to former method of using 3.5mm EarPods and a Lightning cable, which came free with the iPhone. Belkin also just announced a $40 Lightning Audio + Charge RockStar adapter designed to let users listen to Lightning headphones while charging, but it's both bulky and pricy.

To ease the transition away from the 3.5mm headphone jack, Apple is providing customers with both a Lightning to 3.5mm adapter and a set of EarPods with a Lightning connector. Of course, when using these accessories, charging is not possible at the same time.

Apple's ultimate goal seems to be to transition customers to wireless headphones like its recently announced AirPods. While on stage at yesterday's event, Schiller explained that one of the reasons why Apple moved away from the headphone jack was to push wireless technology forward. The AirPods, which have been in development since the Apple Watch was conceived, feature a proprietary wireless W1 chip and up to 24 hours of battery life implemented through a charging case.

AirPods, priced at $159 and similar in design to EarPods, are entirely wireless with no cord connecting the two earpieces and feature technology like gesture recognition, voice isolation, and more. AirPods have been receiving largely favorable reviews, but $159 is a lot to pay for the ideal iPhone 7 music experience.

Apple executives have explained that the removal of the headphone jack took a lot of "courage," but was necessary to free up valuable space and improve technology in the iPhone 7 and future iPhones.

(Thanks, Zaheen!)

Article Link: Apple's Phil Schiller Recommends Lightning Dock for Charging an iPhone 7 While Listening to Music

For goodness sake when will people stop whinging about this change? Personally I would advocate witless charging and wireless earphones and no connectors at all. Let's just move on.

 

[sziehr]

I would like to thank him (Phill Schiller) for single handedly convincing me to not buy an iPhone 7 plus. I was so close to the oh well they have a plan for this no headphone jack and power issues. This clearly shows how out of touch apple is with the use case of the product they are selling. I feel that me wanting to listen to spotify while my iPhone charged with wired headphones is not some sort of crazy loony bin request. This to me is a typical normal use case. This use case might be declining and to that i will not deny. The issue is though it is not dead. The act of removing the jack and not 100% mirroring all possible prior uses cases is a recipe for a disaster for your users. Apple trades on user good will and the fact they do right by you even when it hurts AKA cd-rom drive in the retina MacBooks. That will evaporate in an instant when people go to plug up cause they played mario run and want to have a conference call with the supplied headset poof no can do.

I fell like this idea was ok when wireless charging was on the table but got scrapped or cough cough differed to the new super re-deisnged iPhone next year. The iPhone next year will let you listen and charge wirelessly. I see apple so create a massive problem for your users offer no real viable solution to latter go we added wireless charging so that I can go back to listening to spotify while i charge and the circle of planned obsolesce is complete.

So how about that Nexus new phone coming out. I hear it will be (insert platitude here) and I also hear it will have a headphone jack and a charge port. The new android exclusive phones that let you do what you have to do since our batteries don't last days on end.

La grand sigh. I am a die hard apple user and iPhone guy. I also listen to a lot of music with nice headphones. This move really broke my heart. The sheer lack of for-sight is simply staggering.

 

[typonaut]

Surely these phones aren't compliant with EU standards anyway, because they are not (directly) chargeable via USB?

 

[thefarang]

I never said that but it's not the first point you've failed to grasp today.

No, I grasp your point just fine. You don't seem to grasp the point that Apple doesn't owe you anything.

They are a company that makes a product. They have very effective marketing that makes you think that they care about you but they are and always have been a company tasked with serving shareholders. Just like buying Nike shoes do not make you run faster, smoking Camel cigarettes don't make you cooler, and you don't suddenly develop cool friends if you drink the right vodka.

It's a tool. A product.

Instead of thinking different, think for yourself.

 

[bbplayer5]

Music hardly drains my battery. So little that I couldn't care less about plugging it in. The only issue I see is in the car running GPS since my head unit doesnt support bluetooth music.

 

[javco]

Is that the one that bolts onto the roof of your car?

Get this griffin iTrip Clip Bluetooth Headphone Adapter and get rid of the 3.5 mm in your car. My car does not have Bluetooth and I hate having to connect my phone every time I get into the car. I will order it when it goes on sale.

 

[ghost187]

Fellas if you don't like it don't buy it. More jet black iPhones for me and my family.

 

[MistrSynistr]

I've never tried to listen to music while my iPhone is charging, never thought that was so common up until now of course.

Honestly, I personally prefer to keep my iPhone out of hands and out of use while it's charging.
Thought that was the best way to keep the wires from breaking and prevent overheating.

Edit - I cannot think of the restrictiveness knowing that the iPhone is connected to the charger on a wall/port somewhere and having earphones on, it'd require one to just sit around relentlessly and not even move the head too much.

But everyone certainly does have their own preferences so perhaps the future iPhones aren't for those? I mean if it ain't working for you, its best to switch to another no? If not then the alternatives are adapters or embracing the wireless sets and not just the AirPods but others too.

I will be honest, this is not "common", but people who literally have no hobbies of note and sit on their phones all day and night do this and I have witnessed it first hand. Their phone is their home computer, music station, activities, literally everything they do after work.

 

[Arbuthnott]

I would like to thank him (Phill Schiller) for single handedly convincing me to not buy an iPhone 7 plus. I was so close to the oh well they have a plan for this no headphone jack and power issues. This clearly shows how out of touch apple is with the use case of the product they are selling. I feel that me wanting to listen to spotify while my iPhone charged with wired headphones is not some sort of crazy loony bin request. This to me is a typical normal use case. This use case might be declining and to that i will not deny. The issue is though it is not dead. The act of removing the jack and not 100% mirroring all possible prior uses cases is a recipe for a disaster for your users. Apple trades on user good will and the fact they do right by you even when it hurts AKA cd-rom drive in the retina MacBooks. That will evaporate in an instant when people go to plug up cause they played mario run and want to have a conference call with the supplied headset poof no can do.

I fell like this idea was ok when wireless charging was on the table but got scrapped or cough cough differed to the new super re-deisnged iPhone next year. The iPhone next year will let you listen and charge wirelessly. I see apple so create a massive problem for your users offer no real viable solution to latter go we added wireless charging so that I can go back to listening to spotify while i charge and the circle of planned obsolesce is complete.

So how about that Nexus new phone coming out. I hear it will be (insert platitude here) and I also hear it will have a headphone jack and a charge port. The new android exclusive phones that let you do what you have to do since our batteries don't last days on end.

La grand sigh. I am a die hard apple user and iPhone guy. I also listen to a lot of music with nice headphones. This move really broke my heart. The sheer lack of for-sight is simply staggering.

Really!? A die-hard ...

Wired earphones are crap. I haven't used any for perhaps 6 years, and before then only rarely. Most of the people I know don't use them. But for you their availability (and the ability to charge at the same time) is the key factor in your buying choice.

And you are a die hard.

 

[2010mini]

Was this sarcasm? At an airport/on a long flight? On a long drive if your vehicle lacks bluetooth or you want better sound quality? In my case, there are many scenarios.

Your phone's battery can't last long enough to play music on your flight? How long is your flight?

 

[s1m]

When I travel I typically bring 1 or 2 AC plugs (two if I'm traveling with my wife), a USB-USB mini adaptor (for my mini-USB devices like DSLR chargers, GoPros, etc), two or three USB to lightening cables, my laptop, my phone, a power brick, sometimes an iPad or iPad mini (for reading books or watching my own movies), and my laptop charger cable. If I bring headphones (I don't always bring them) I also throw that stupid two prong adaptor thingy.

I've never had a problem keeping all my stuff charged up. Sometimes my transit time will be over 30 hours.

I never use my iPhone on planes. That is a critical communications tool that I will need as soon as I hit the ground. As soon as I board the plane, I switch the phone off to save the battery. Once I'm settled somewhere where I know I have easy access to charging, I'll use it for music and books and games and such but not when I could find myself stranded in the Hong Kong airport with no juice in my phone.

If you're travelling that much don't you have lounge access at transits? Just interested

For travel, I do not bring wireless headphones regardless of what phone I'm bringing simply because they don't interface with the onboard entertainment systems on planes. Maybe that will change with the iPhone7 (due to me getting used to Airbuds) and I'll have to bring the Airbuds case as my "on the ground" headphones. But that's on me. That's a choice. I'm not forced to. They're totally optional if I bring my wired headphones.

When I travelled (prior roles I flew 400 flights dom/int in six years) I neevr used teh on board IFE - it was generally rubbish. I now take my wireless headphones and connect those to my media on my ipad.

When I arrive, between the two USB ports on my laptop and the AC plugs I've brought with me I can charge everything that I've brought with me.

Every night when I get back to the hotel, everything gets hooked up to chargers so it's ready to go for the next day.

I don't know why people make this out like it's a huge burden. It's not. Especially if you're already used to traveling efficiently.

Do you use a grid it to simplify the carrying of cables etc? I have found that to be a life saver (metaphorical) to keep everything organised.

 

[Patriot24]

Phil just comes off as an unpleasant human being

Why?

I get that people disagree with decisions and messaging, but that doesn't make him a bad guy. Every interview I've ever heard with him indicates that he's actually super-nice and not all that different from your or I.

People need to relax a bit.

 

[krause734]

OMG all you Apple haters are completely ruining my life! Go buy an Android phone and then go skydiving without a parachute!

 

[Lapine Rider]

Sorry if someone has already replied to you, but there's actually a realistic and much more elegant solution for your car.

I use an old 30-pin to Bluetooth adapter, but there are plenty of 3.5mm to Bluetooth adapters too. I much prefer it, since my phone doesn't necessarily have to be tied down somewhere in my car.

They're pretty cheap too

Thanks, and I thought of that too after posting. Still... It's something else to malfunction and require a power cable/frequent recharge. With two cars, for convenience I'd also need two of the things. Besides, with multiple other gadgets that need to be plugged in I'm about out of easily-accessed power solutions. The right answer was for Apple not to delete the plug when the alternate solutions are still so clunky, in my book at least. Within the next few days I'll own either a Samsung or a 6+S-- I was about to replace my current phone anyway for unrelated reasons. If it's a 6+S, I plan to make it last at least as long as my current, non-bluetooth cars. Which will be a long, long time.

I'm fresh out of _good_ answers, and in my book it's purely Apple's fault.

 

[wozmatic]

So let me get this straight - we now have to carry around an adaptor AND a dock with us, just in case we might want to charge and listen to our iPhone at the same time. What about in car use?

That's correct, but if you have the desperate need to charge and listen to headphones at the same time you're not going anywhere as you'll be stuck beside a power outlet while you charge...

 

[smacrumon]

It's my view, with some thought and clever engineering, wrapping all the connectors around, the 3.5mm jack has enough space to have incorporated all standard 3.5mm functions AND Lightning functions, making the 3.5mm the port to transmit audio and charge the device as well.

 

[organisum]

delete

 

[thefarang]

The first time someone's cat head bunts the iPhone in this ridiculous dock, broken dock and lightning connector stuck in the iPhone?

Yes, and thank you for making the point why nobody should own a cat.

 

[MisterAndrew]

Reviewers of the Lightning Dock claim it destroys the lightning port on your phone... Bad solution Apple...

 

[MistrSynistr]

How is it irrelevant? Flagship phones now have quad HD displays.

As for the note 7 catching fire, Samsung were very quick to respond, unlike say Apple with bend gate, touch disease etc etc.

Removing the headphone jack is a money making ploy. To get any reasonable use out of the phone requires purchasing more docks and cables.

Apple took the common sense route and decided not to respond to jabronis who SIT ON THEIR PHONE in their back pocket or who purposely tried to bend the phone in their front pocket by wearing skinny jeans and leaning into it. lol.