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CES 2017: Incipio Announces 'OX' iPhone 7 and 7 Plus Case With Integrated 3.5mm Headphone Jack

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Incipio today announced the launch of an iPhone 7 and 7 Plus case that includes a headphone jack and enables iPhone users to charge their devices while listening to music.

The Incipio OX case fits over the Lightning port of the iPhone 7 or 7 Plus and adds an additional Lightning port for charging along with a 3.5mm headphone jack that can be used with traditional 3.5mm headphones.

incipioox.jpg

Incipio's case adds a decent amount of bulk to the iPhone, but it allows for simultaneous charging and music listening without the need for an adapter or dongle. It snaps on to the back of the phone and features shock-absorbing features to protect the display and body of the device.
"We wanted to bring the headphone jack back to the latest iPhone so our customers could still enjoy their favorite pair of traditional headphones without worrying about low-battery and sacrificing device protection," said Carlos Del Toro, Director of Products, Incipio. "The protective OX(R) Case allows individuals to use existing headphones with a 3.5mm audio connector through the built-in headphone jack, while simultaneously allowing access to the LightningTM port for charging."
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Incipio plans to make the OX case available during the first quarter of 2017. Available in Black, Forest, and Purple color options, the OX will be priced at $59.99.

Article Link: CES 2017: Incipio Announces 'OX' iPhone 7 and 7 Plus Case With Integrated 3.5mm Headphone Jack
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2017/01/04/ces-2017-incipio-headphone-jack-iphone-case/
I'm sure these will make more sense with the 10th anniversary iPhone due to the smaller bezels, the case won't seem as bulky.
 
Appleaker said:
I'm sure these will make more sense with the 10th anniversary iPhone due to the smaller bezels, the case won't seem as bulky.
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I agree, but I think all cases seem bulky. I don't ever use them.

My wife needs a case because she is clumsy with her phone. Her iPhone SE should be a small phone, but with the case on it, it looks huge. I think it is called an Otterbox. I know not all cases are that big, but they all add at least a little bulk.

As for the OX case, I think it is a nice compromise for people that want to stick with the new iPhone, but don't want to give up their jack plus charging. It looks a lot better than that adapter that gets posted on the forum a lot.

I wonder if the sound quality is better than Apple's adapter?
 
So now we pay $60 for a ubiquitous port that used to be built inside for the price of the stock iPhone, or just roll with the audio fragmentation issues of this decision for years and years ahead (while hoping that everything else will embrace Lightning or USB3C or Bluetooth very quickly)? Built in with this kind of device... or dongles?

And does this show what else is coming? For example, what "courageously" gets ejected out next to "make room" mostly for "thinner?" This thing- and many like it- already bring added battery. How long until "thinner" ejects ALL battery from the iPhone, encouraging buyers to purchase whatever amount of battery they desire (while still paying full price for iPhone of course) right at the point of purchase- a great way to increase average revenue & profit on each unit sold without showing that in the price of the iPhone itself.

How long until "thinner" ejects the camera out to an accessory decision (and separate purchase) to get rid of the "wart" which will only increasingly conflict with "thinner" going forward?

Etc.

See our "thinner" future. :( Apple jettisons stuff built in to "make room," then they or others sell us add-ons to put it back in. Apple still gets their full unit price and we pay more if we want to get something back that was jettisoned out of the former package.
 
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jweinraub said:
Not sure if sarcasm but if it had one it would be really ideal...though I hope they back pedal with the 3.5 mm jack on the next iPhone, and go to USB-C.
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Rest assured. USB-C is coming. My approximation is in the next three years or less.
 
Great idea, looks nice. I hope something like this is available for whatever iPhone I buy next, assuming I do, and that Apple doesn't put the jack back (which I don't think they will).

TurboPGT! said:
Ah the product that no one asked for. Always a hit.
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Not sure if serious...

There have been people on these forums alone who have literally asked for/expressed a desire for a product like this...

AngerDanger said:
The iPhone is already tall enough, and headphone jacks are longer than they are wide, so it would save space to place the jack next to the device instead of below it.
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That is a sensible and logical suggestion, but I would guess a lot of people use the iPhone verticially with headphones in their pockets, and I think having the jack at the (shorter) top or bottom side works better than on the (longer) sides I think. Probably be ok with right-angle headphone jacks, but it could possibly bend or crush the cable on straight jack plugs with much use if they were sticking directly out the sides. (Edit...) I guess the socket could be recessed enough that wasn't an issue I suppose, but it would probably look a bit odd.

There would be nothing wrong with having both options though if the market is big enough.
 
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It comes to something when third party vendors start releasing products that put back in the functionality that Apple deliberately removed. I won't be buying an iPhone 7 because the lack of a 3.5mm headphone jack is a deal-breaker for me. This case does not make me any more compelled to buy one either.

It may satisfy the minuscule amount of people who foolishly went out and bought the iPhone 7 without knowing Apple had removed the 3.5mm headphone jack, only to discover that they can't plug in every single pair of wired headphones they've ever owned in their entire life, to their new iPhone.
 
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Relentless Power said:
Rest assured. USB-C is coming. My approximation is in the next three years or less.
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I agree but what a rough 3+ years this is going to be:
  • Lightning only on Apple devices (and maybe only Apple iDevices),
  • USB3C on anyone else's computing-based devices (including probably Apple's own Macs) and
  • 3.5mm on everything else (that does not lean much on the Intel platform).
One needs 2 dongles or 3 terminators to cover every base now... perhaps more if one doesn't want to make a consistent point of carrying them everywhere they go... but also doesn't want to just do without when they didn't pack the set and want to listen to something to which whatever they have can't directly plug in.

I don't foresee wireless Bluetooth becoming as ubiquitous any faster than that either.

And what do we consumers get for all that hassle that we didn't already have? :mad:
 
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This transitional phase seems brutal when you need third-party accessory makers cleaning up the mess that Apple started for having courage.
 
Relentless Power said:
Rest assured. USB-C is coming. My approximation is in the next three years or less.
Click to expand...
Nah, Apple makes too much money from lightning licensing fees.

This case looks like a good compromise if they kill the SE. My wife and I will be going for SEs when our 6s and 6s+ die--too much investment in quality headphones and USB peripherals to toss them just cause Crapple and Tim Crook arbitrarily decided various ports are legacy.

People gripe about Android fragmentation, but Apple has singlehandedly fragmented their new mobile lineups in 2016. I am still an Apple fan, but 2016 product releases really made that hard to justify.
 
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