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

[AxiomaticRubric]

For them (Apple) $40-$50 is pocket change.

That pocket change heaps up fast when you have millions of customers though

 

[darkgoob]

But all that can be done with a single data port and a hub. One 2 port hub is already announced, and if the need you have is actually profitable someone is going to make a hub case that you can slip your phone in and have 2 or more ports, maybe even a couple analog ports. Its just a specialized hub - someone will make one that gives you better than a single faux analog plus one data/power, especially if the music industry is asking for it.

If you can’t use the current configuration now then use the iPhone 6s/+ until the specific hub options come along that fit your needs, the 7 is most certainly not a mandatory upgrade for anyone - it is a measured performance increase that isn’t essential for your business right? Rather than fretting now, think about what kind of access to the phone you’d rather have - e.g. more than 1 faux analog port, multiple lightning ports, extra power storage built in.

Something will be made to simulate the old way of doing things but during this change over do think about ways that a simple hub case could make things even better for you and ask for them - shoot some sort of customizable case for music industry that has all the ports and power than the individual needs could make someone a pretty penny if they are looking forward instead of back.

You do not understand. I wear the iPhone on my wrist in a tight neoprene sports case. I need the audio and data cables to be long enough to wrap around my wrist and back through the case's strap so that when I am in the crowd, they cannot get caught on something and yank out of the iPhone or damage something.

I realize that some accessory may come. But the problem is that having to rely on the dependability of a cheaply-made, expensive-to-purchase, hard-to-find, made-in-China dongle or adapter just for the simple act of getting SOUND out of my device... well, it's just a pain.

There have been many times where I was able to impromptu DJ at a wedding, pool hall tournament, beer garden, road trip, etc. when all I had was my phone on me. Because everything uses 3.5mm jacks. Everything.

But now I am supposed to remember to bring that little adapter everywhere I go (and put my name on it so I know it's mine). I'll have to keep it in my jeans pocket, which means it will inevitably end up going through the washer and dryer and getting ruined like my bluetooth Jawbone earpiece has.

There are just so many reasons why this is lame. Please name one single musical instrument or computer or phone that has shipped without analog audio outputs, ever. I cannot think of one.

Now if they had an external receiver device that works with the W1 chip and has zero latency, which I could attach to anything with a 3.5mm jack and get uncompressed, latency free wireless audio... then I would be on board. Because that is the only thing they could do that would honestly be enough of an upgrade or improvement to make it worth it to have to remember to bring around an expensive adapter that might get lost or broken.

 

[AxiomaticRubric]

"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."

It didn't take that much courage when you price the air pods at $159.00

They shouldn't cost any more than $49.99 in fact they really should be free for the first year now that's a way in increase sales of iPhone 7.

Can't agree more. Not sure these cost THAT much more to produce than the EarPods, especially once the economy of scale is reached.

 

[RedOrchestra]

Next thing we'll hear is that the new Bluetooth 5 standard, likely in the next iteration of iPhones, won't support existing Ear Pods - but hey, it's just money right.

 

[BobVB]

You do not understand. I wear the iPhone on my wrist in a tight neoprene sports case. I need the audio and data cables to be long enough to wrap around my wrist and back through the case's strap so that when I am in the crowd, they cannot get caught on something and yank out of the iPhone or damage something.

And so instead of 2 cables coming off your iPhone you will have one that you can snake up your arm inside your shirt to the powered hub mounted on your belt or some even better protected area.

We are talking configuration here and obviously the very best configuration is the one with the least cables - you’re currently using 2, in the future you could use one and have more than 2 of whatever types you needed available in a portable package.

Again, until these peripherals appear the 6s/+ is still available and probably will be for 2 more years I would guess. But look at the potential of your doing what you do now but having 2 faux audio ports, multiple lightning ports, shoot, MIDI and USB-C, all in form factor that keeps the iPhone connected by a single cable? This change is one of opportunity, not a punishment. Figure out a way that every musician has exactly what they want rather than one data/power and one faux audio jack in a clean and elegant manner and you just might be rich.

 

[2010mini]

One buy the fact that so few people are here talking about it. Yes, there are many new accounts and ones like you ‘talking’ about it but relatively few actual Apple users on a Apple forum.

Its an antique analog port with 2 out/1 in + primitive controls. The lightning port is a true digital data port with relative limitless in/out data channel passage plus power in and out. Anyone who needs to use that port for more than one device or purpose at once can get a hub that allows it, two options have already appeared, more will.

Same design philosophy as on the new Apple laptops - minimize ports by putting in ones that can handle as much data as anyone can need and those with specialized needs can still do what they want because the port is multichannel.

Saw the same ‘angst’ with the loss of the serial ports, SCSI ports, 3.5” floppies, CD Drives, removable batteries, etc. There is a minority (and yes each time it was just a vocal minority) saying this is ‘intolerable’ and that they are going to leave. Some do, most don’t, most adapt to the new situation and find they don’t miss it at all or even come to love it and Apple goes on.

The ‘one size fits all’ DAC that the old faux ‘analog’ port did - it is just digital data that has been put in a simulated analog mode output - is a restriction. Now any device can use the data stream to their audio device in the way that is best for their usage like the new AirPods with their customized DAC. Look for more audio products that do just that with higher quality analog simulation because they are no longer tied to the single Apple implementation.

its the future of Apple and a better one, you’ll see that eventually I hope. If not, there are lots of Android phones out there because there won’t be an analog port in the next phone, but the time it is out this kerfuffle will have settled.

Didn't read all your posts. But one thing you should take into consideration: people on forums are not a reflection of the general public.

Most of the general public has been migrating to wireless headphones thanks to the likes of Beats who have heavily promoted it.

 

[forerunnerg34]

 

[2010mini]

Clearly you need to clean out your earwax and expand on your earphone listening experience

Clearly you are a hifi snob. I am a mucisian. And the sound from some higher end wireless headphones sound good. The general public doesn't care about your snobby, high fidelity "tastes"

Sound is subjective.

 

[RedOrchestra]

Most of the general public has been migrating to wireless headphones

Yeah, no ... I just don't see that with daily commuters - the overwhelming majority are still hard-wired to their devices.

 

[jmgregory1]

Nice at home, not so nice at the airport or on a train or wherever there no tables around...

Obviously it's only going to work for at home / work use. But this goes back to the question of how many times are you going to need to be both charging and listening to music at the same time? It's only an inconvenience if it's all the time, but that would suggest you are never on the go with a charged iPhone. I get that there will be times that you need to charge and that it will keep you from listening to music or hearing a video (using a wired headset), but you can of course listen on the speakers or do what is going to be the norm going forward and get a BT headset, so it's not a zero sum game here.

And with the longer purported battery life the new 7's offer, those times you're needing to charge will be reduced.

 

[mantan]

Invoking your "Who said..."...

Who said people here need to be in "lockstep?"

Who said "shut up and like it?"

Who said "any discourse is an insult to Apple?"

Not me. Nice straw man, though.

What I said was, "My attitude is that if the companies that make your phone/TV/stereo/car/printer/computer/clothing/appliances/etc aren't providing what you need, vote with your wallet and jump ship. There are plenty of competing vendors out there."

My above post was neither pro or anti Apple. It's about if some manufacturer isn't making products that work for you or cause you unhappiness, simple change manufacturers. Vote with your wallet. Stop supporting companies that aren't meeting your needs. There are a ton of choices and options out there. Is that really that difficult to understand?

I totally agree with your point about voting with your wallet. Completely.

But I still think it's fine for folks to post their opinions about changes to the product...even if they aren't supportive.

 

[BobVB]

Didn't read all your posts. But one thing you should take into consideration: people on forums are not a reflection of the general public.

Most of the general public has been migrating to wireless headphones thanks to the likes of Beats who have heavily promoted it.

Yes, I don’t even own a pair of wired headphones anymore since the dog chewed through the cord of mine. I can understand the desire for a legacy port, I get that - I’ve been through it when Apple changed things myself. But you’re right, for most of us wireless audio is the way to go and the loss of the faux audio port doesn’t effect us much. I will be using the dongle with my Square reader occasionally but will be getting the BT connected one that does Apple Pay when I get tired of attaching it.

Might be because I’ve been through these ‘growing pains’ many times before that it so annoying but thinking back I might have been just as ‘excited’ the first time I got ‘legasized’. We will all adapt and the future will be one of better audio options than the ‘one size fits all’ faux audio port they defend, not because its the best solution, but merely because its the familiar one.

(don’t even get me started on switching from LaserDiscs to DVDs - how could anyone go to a format with so much lossy compression - )
[doublepost=1473440679][/doublepost]

Yeah, no ... I just don't see that with daily commuters - the overwhelming majority are still hard-wired to their devices.

Even if so they are using a single port on their phone which could just as easily be the lightning port. And it might be regional, you sell lots of wireless earbuds here in Seattle even with the teenagers. And for transit you sure don’t need the high fidelity ones - the $15 ones I got at the Staples close out endcap work great for commuting purposes.

 

[EdT]

General thoughts on comments:

• Lots of people have expensive wired headphones and want to use them with all their devices. Whether you do or not.
• Not everyone has an all Apple ecosystem.
• Even with those that do, Apple computers and iPads -as of right now- have 3.5 mm jacks.
• I haven't seen any reputable source that says high end Bluetooth headphones match high end wired headphones, when everything else in the system is equal.
• Sometimes you didn't charge a component when you had the chance. That could be the phone or the wireless headphones/EarPods. You now have 2 devices that need to be charged to listen to music instead of one.
• Telling people that they are foolish or stuck in the past probably isn't included in the "How to win friends and influence people" course.
• An included 'Y' cable with a Ligtning port and a 3.5mm jack removes 80% of people's complaints. Is this technically impossible?

 

[Count Blah]

I'm so annoyed at how some people can be mad that Apple doesn't innovate and yet them, as the consumer, resists change so much!!

Because it's not innovation, it's just change which brings a lot of inconveniences for a lot of people. You could alreay do EVERYTHING you can do with the iPhone 4,5,6, that you can now MAGICALLY do with the 7 - Bluetooth, lightening headphones, crappy/misplaced 3.5mm to lightening adapter, etc... But one thing you can't do - plug a ubiquitous 3.5mm headphone or plug the iPhone 7 into any one of a billion devices built to use 3.5mm plug, without an adapter. We have only LOST functionality.

Innovation comes with the wireless charging, better batteries, better bluetooth audio streaming, etc... We don't have those yet. Until we do, we simply get LESS functionality with this move.

There is ZERO innovation with this move, when it comes to the removal of 3.5mm - What DON'T you understand about this?

 

[darkgoob]

If you can’t use the current configuration now then use the iPhone 6s/+ until the specific hub options come along that fit your needs, the 7 is most certainly not a mandatory upgrade for anyone - it is a measured performance increase that isn’t essential for your business right?

Sorry for the double reply but I'd also like to say that as an iPhone Upgrade Plan customer, I was expecting to get more functionality and a better phone. It costed a bit extra per month but I was willing to do it specifically so I could get the new device immediately.

So for the new device to feature 50% fewer ports and require a bulky & expensive proprietary case or adapter to get the same functionality for latency free, uncompressed analog output, is a slap in the face.

No one who signed up for the "upgrade" program was expecting them to reduce the number of ports on the device from two down to one, and remove the most common standard connector on the planet that we use everyday while we are using the other port.

Nobody wants to have to carry around any dongles or adapters etc. or buy them.

What indeed is the point of "thinner" if I constantly need a thing that measures at least 2" x 1" x .25"?

What is the point of mobile if I need a big dock that requires a flat surface to set the phone on? Might as well be using an iPad or laptop at that point.

At least they should have had two Lightning ports on the 7 Plus.

 

[BobVB]

General thoughts on comments:

• Lots of people have expensive wired headphones and want to use them with all their devices. Whether you do or not.
• Not everyone has an all Apple ecosystem.
• Even with those that do, Apple computers and iPads -as of right now- have 3.5 mm jacks.
• I haven't seen any reputable source that says high end Bluetooth headphones match high end wired headphones, when everything else in the system is equal.
• Sometimes you didn't charge a component when you had the chance. That could be the phone or the wireless headphones/EarPods. You now have 2 devices that need to be charged to listen to music instead of one.
• Telling people that they are foolish or stuck in the past probably isn't included in the "How to win friends and influence people" course.
• An included 'Y' cable with a Ligtning port and a 3.5mm jack removes 80% of people's complaints. Is this technically impossible?

Well for 1,2,3 are why they have a DAC 3.5mm legacy dongle cheaply available and an included one to start with.
4 is taste but if you need wired then use a dongle 3.5mm or a lightning wired one.
5 is not a new situation, I have a battery pack I carry with a universal cable right now in my pocket and have for years - earbuds recharge to hours of use very quickly.
6 Again, if I needed 7 billion friends I’d worry about it, more interested in facts rather than cajoling people - hard to respect people that need to be cajoled anyway.
and 7, the vast majority of people don’t need that ‘Y’ cable, those that do will buy one like the Belkin that was announced or some less blocky alternative that crops up. Apple will eventually have one of their own if the past is any indication but they often let 3rd parties take the lead on these things if there isn’t some best solution they think they need to establish.

Its a simulated analog port with DAC limited by it being done in tight proximity to other electronic processes. Passing the data out to the peripheral that can handle without such restrictions is going to lead to better audio for everyone and the port is still available for those that insist on it.

Mountain. Molehill. They’ll get over it and thank Apple in the morning.

 

[Count Blah]

In order to do that they would need to come and remove the 3.5mm jack from your current phone?

Did they do that?

Giving incentive for people to remain on their existing device, and forgo upgrading as long as possible.

Marketing GENIUS!!!
[doublepost=1473443339][/doublepost]

Didn't read all your posts. But one thing you should take into consideration: people on forums are not a reflection of the general public.

Most of the general public has been migrating to wireless headphones thanks to the likes of Beats who have heavily promoted it.

So you are saying that most of the people in the world, well most of the people using smartphones, have purchased wireless headphones?

 

[duffman9000]

This would have been the smart way to handle this. It would have cut into their profit with the i7, though I really doubt it would have made them sell at a loss, but it would have removed a lot, but not all, of the criticisms you are seeing on this board and in general articles. And if their goal was to hasten a transition to wireless headphones this would do more than any amount of advertising and explaining is doing now.

If Apple cared about sound quality why not support AptX? Some Android phones support AptX but Apple is either too cheap or stubborn to support high quality audio over BT.

Apple went on and on about the Airpods but didn't get into details about sound quality.

 

[deany]

That dock is an offical MFI - Made For Idiots endorsed by the condescending Schiller.
Not pockatable. This is the adapter (should be all white) they missed from including in the box to save 35 cents.
Should be no more than $15 or £15.
No cable pocketable adapter.

 

[Wolfpup]

In order to do that they would need to come and remove the 3.5mm jack from your current phone?

Did they do that?

I am informing you that your comment is not relevant.

One of the biggest advantages I'm sure we can all relate with is the wires. And I'll prove it right here, right now. We've done away with ethernet for wireless internet, we've done away with optical drives and even usb storage for cloud storage, we print wirelessly now, we stream music wirelessly from the cloud, we play music wireless in our cars, we don't use DVDs and Blu Ray players because we can wirelessly stream content to our TVs

I haven't done any of those things. I never use Wifi unless I'm forced to, as in the case of a phone or tablet. (And then if I were using the tablet as a PC, I'd do it through Ethernet.) Wifi's not appropriate for a more permanent setup.

I use optical drives less on PCs, but still use them frequently.

DVD and Blu Ray haven't remotely been replaced. They're the only way to own content if you want to actually own stuff, and I do buy stuff from time to time. There's far less selection on rental services with streaming stuff than with Blu Ray/DVD. And Blu Ray's much higher quality than streaming, plus has extras, etc. PLUS of course can be used anywhere, not just places with fast/unlimited internet connections. First gen Blu Ray is higher quality than 4K streaming, to say nothing of 4K Blu Ray...

And storing files on someone else's servers is very handy for some stuff, but also obviously not secure in the same way, and provides incredibly small storage-both reasons they can't replace having your own storage, only add new possibilities.

All in all, technology will advance, consumers will stop whining and probably start enjoying the new change, 5-10 years down the road people will begin to wonder "Phones had 3.5mm jacks? But why?"

Only if there's some replacement. Considering standard jacks have been around for DECADES that sounds dubious. Bluetooth is something else, and not always a replacement. Lightning is a terrible connector, and proprietary, so ti's not a replacement either.

So you can either keep thinking the world is round and not wanting to accept that change IS inevitable

This change is pointless. It's just change for the sake of change...or for the sake of Apple getting to make a slightly cheaper device, and try to market you new headphones.

People who want to find a solution to make it worth it or better don't like people like you, always being negative and paranoid and unwilling to see a brighter future or any kind of future for that matter.

This is such hilarious hyperbole.

 

[BobVB]

Sorry for the double reply but I'd also like to say that as an iPhone Upgrade Plan customer, I was expecting to get more functionality and a better phone. It costed a bit extra per month but I was willing to do it specifically so I could get the new device immediately.

So for the new device to feature 50% fewer ports and require a bulky & expensive proprietary case or adapter to get the same functionality for latency free, uncompressed analog output, is a slap in the face.

No one who signed up for the "upgrade" program was expecting them to reduce the number of ports on the device from two down to one, and remove the most common standard connector on the planet that we use everyday while we are using the other port.

Nobody wants to have to carry around any dongles or adapters etc. or buy them.

What indeed is the point of "thinner" if I constantly need a thing that measures at least 2" x 1" x .25"?

What is the point of mobile if I need a big dock that requires a flat surface to set the phone on? Might as well be using an iPad or laptop at that point.

At least they should have had two Lightning ports on the 7 Plus.

Sounds like you should quit the upgrade program. Other than that Apple has reduced redundant legacy ports on their devices for years - Bye bye serial ports, SCSI ports, even firewire ports - it happens.- anyone who didn’t see this coming wasn’t paying attention, a pretend analog (ts just digital data that has been converted which could be done anywhere) port with only two channels out and one in was ripe for removal with a full powered data bus less than an inch away. You already admit that you connect your phone to external devices I don’t understand why doing that to a single hub and then to whatever other devices by a single cable isn’t better and cleaner solution than having two cables coming off the phone to wherever. Just the reduction of wear and tear on the phone port being transferred to the hub ports would seem to be worth it.

Again, it sounds like you really really want the legacy faux analog port on the phone itself - the iPhone 6s is for you it seems. I sincerely think that you are missing the opportunities that moving the conversion to simulate analog out of the phone does for you, or having one port that can handle all your power and data needs does but its your choice.

 

[Foremastjack]

So if Lightning is so superior, and they're as ubiquitous as the big reveal says, why didn't they ship Lightning earpods with the 6s or 6? Surely they had them. And it would let people have a choice, and hear (any) difference.

Look, I get that the interior of the phone is crowded with the new haptic engine- just *say so*. Bluetooth isn't superior to wired at all, it's unlikely to ever be due to the nature of the system- compression is compression. Why the respiratory application of visible electromagnetic radiation to individuals' upper digestive tract?

 

[Mac 128]

That's not really true in a lot of cases. USB1 -> USB2 -> USB3 -> USB 3.1 didn't require dongles.

USB-C is a new port, but judging by USB1-3.1, the next iteration will probably use the same form factor.

Advancements in analogue audio didn't ever require Dongles.
.

You really should think things through before you make statements like this. Let's start with USB:

Audio is even more complicated. But let's take a look at a few which require adapters:

 

[deany]

One of the biggest advantages I'm sure we can all relate with is the wires. And I'll prove it right here, right now. We've done away with ethernet for wireless internet, we've done away with optical drives and even usb storage for cloud storage, we print wirelessly now, we stream music wirelessly from the cloud, we play music wireless in our cars, we don't use DVDs and Blu Ray players because we can wirelessly stream content to our TVs, we're already in the transition of doing away with wired chargers and opting for inductive charging. Not being tethered to your phone is probably THE biggest factor and benefit of eliminating the jack. We don't have an ethernet cable hooked up to our phones to get the fastest, most best, and most reliable internet connection, now do we? Of course not. It's more convenient to be wireless. Secondly, audio quality at this point, as mentioned above, is completely preference-based and dependent on how much you're willing to spend. If you want high quality audio, then of course you're gonna pay more. That logically goes for everything in the world. If it's of high quality you're going to spend more. And if you're on a budget, there are plenty of options already out there. Also speaking of sound, sound is depended on the amplification. Hence a more powerful amp delivers more wattage to the speakers, the cleaner the audio. Wires may have some say in it, depending on the size and ohms but largely you're not going to tell a difference. Thus headphones with built-in powered drivers are going to sound better, wireless or not, but like I said, that's all preference at that point. Thirdly, utilizing that space where the DAC was before for something more beneficial like, oh, I dunno, battery life? I'm totally fine with that idea. More battery life means not needing to be tethered to a wall to charge it throughout the day. I'm sure you'd be happier with more battery life than having a dead phone with an audio jack. But I dunno, maybe you prefer that.

All in all, technology will advance, consumers will stop whining and probably start enjoying the new change, 5-10 years down the road people will begin to wonder "Phones had 3.5mm jacks? But why?" So you can either keep thinking the world is round and not wanting to accept that change IS inevitable OR you could maybe have a little faith in the tech world and find out for yourself whether no audio jack is a good thing or a bad thing. It seems right now you're just a Johnny Raincloud. People who want to find a solution to make it worth it or better don't like people like you, always being negative and paranoid and unwilling to see a brighter future or any kind of future for that matter. Companies are already rolling out phones with no headphones jacks even before Apple. So I just want to leave one last note - I, for one, have wireless headphones - the Bose Soundsport Wireless headphones. And I can testify that it was the best decision in the world. Seamless connection, no wires tethered to my phone, I don't need the phone on me always to walk around the house with headphones on, and working out with them at the gym eliminates any snagging that could happen. And most of all, they sound damn good. So at this point, it's really up to you to decide if you want to try out the new change or stick with the old.

Great post, but folks often don't like change and need time to adjust without losing the current functionality they are used to.
Its just a "transition phase", trying to make the transition smooth - keeping 100% folks happy (not possible) but the target is 100%
cheers

 

[dewski]

Sounds like your car is the problem.

Yeah it is. Thats why I need the 3.5mm