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Crazy Thought , what if Apple kills the 3.5 mm headphone jack on all it's new hardware ?

AVEGA

AVEGA

macrumors regular
Original poster
Feb 11, 2016
163
168
Austin TX
Ok so it looks like the iphone 7 won't have the 3.5 mm headphone jack, but lets take this further, what if Apple decides to remove it from all its future & upcoming hardware?

Lets just say in September Apple has a big conference and shows off the following hardware without the headphone jack.

  • ipod touch
  • ipad mini pro
  • ipod nano
  • ipod shuffle
  • iMac
  • Mac Book Pro
  • Mac mini
  • Mac Pro
  • Thunderbolt display
  • iphone 7SE
  • iphone 7
  • iphone 7+
  • iphone 7 pro
Also any hardware with a head phone jack is discontinued and no longer made and any remaining stock will be sold but after March 2017 they will be removed from the store shelves, destroyed, and thrown into in a volcano to appease the gods (just kidding) . So the 3.5 MM headphone jack purge begins this fall and ends next spring. This explains why Apple hasn't shown new mac book pro's yet because they were busying taking out the headphone jack. How would that make you feel ?
 
wow.. that is kinda crazy ..

Well... dunno, u know Apple,, once add features they do it to other products to (in time).. Touch ID was on Iphone/ then they bought it to iPad Air, and now this year Touch ID rumored for Mac laptops..

So I don't disagree, but that *is* a pretty long list..... I can't see Apple doing it on all products, particularly the laptops, but anything is possible.

Weather it makes sense, not important there as a consumer.. since it will only impact a small number of customers raises issues... The vast majority i see would like it... they'd argue first, then them come to accept changes, like we all do in the Apple eco-system.

The same happened with the change of the 30-pin to lightening for charging directly on the phone.. It always happens.
 
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If that's the cases, people will have to adapt to that. Not everybody will adapt to this change quickly...but will eventually adapt. There may be some people going to samsung for mobile devices if this occurs.

Having 3.5 jack is great...i can use wired earphone without having to charge...and pair with the phone (little inconvenience).

For mac pro...I would be pissed off....but I guess if there's speakers that is being powered by plugs..i guess..
I can see the benefit of wireless earphones as well...less clutterness.
 
I can definitely see them removing the audio jack from all hand-held devices, but it's a bit trickier for their desktop line. The problem is equating "audio jack" with "headphone jack". I use a Mac Mini as the hub of my entertainment center, but not with headphones. I need the ability to plug the computer directly into my audio receiver, and a lightning port wouldn't be helpful there.
 
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I don't think Apple would have any reason to discontinue 3.5 jacks on larger computers this quickly. It makes sense in a portable device to cut out the jack if Lightning port or Bluetooth can be a viable replacement. In a MacBook Pro, Mac mini, iMac, or Mac Pro the space isn't as much of a priority and the port can be used for more than just headphones. Plus, there would be no need to put a lightning connector on any of those. USB headphones already exist, but we haven't seen Apple trying to cut the 3.5 jack and force people to use those. The only computer option that I could see being feasible is if Apple wanted to drop the 3.5 jack in the MacBook and MacBook Air. I'm sure they could develop headphones that connected via usb-c. That would be similar to the move we are anticipating with the new iPhone in that wired headphones when used would prevent charging at the same time. I realize that the current Air doesn't have a usb-c connector, but I bet that change will happen soon.
 
AVEGA said:
Ok so it looks like the iphone 7 won't have the 3.5 mm headphone jack, but lets take this further, what if Apple decides to remove it from all its future & upcoming hardware?
Click to expand...

I think the only unfeasible part of your suggestion is the idea that Apple would unveil the whole shebang in September.

I doubt they're in a hurry to update the iPod line (given how hard you have to dig to even find the iPod on their website).

I'd expect it to be dropped from iPads - but maybe starting next year. I can easily see it going from the 12" MacBook, too - but that isn't due for an upgrade for a while (maybe they could use the space for a 2nd USB-C).

Dropping the jack from the MacBook Pro and other Macs is worse than the iPhone in one respect, because you're more likely to use it for external speakers (as well as headphones) and the sockets double as optical digital audio out (which is what I use to hook my decent speakers up). On the other hand, USB headphones and soundcards are widely available and cheap; most Thunderbolt docks have audio; both HDMI and DisplayPort also carry digital audio - and most people's first choice is going to be bluetooth, anyway.

If you can't stand bluetooth because it is compressed, odds are you're in the market for a audiophile-grade external soundcard anyway (because 3.5mm jacks give a thinner sound than proper 1/4" ones)
brando_usb_tube_soundcard.jpg

[....er, no that isn't a good example :) - and why did they spoil the effect by using a blue light? Still, my faith in humanity is slightly restored by my failure to find an actual USB soundcard with valves, although there was a motherboard with a valve amp a few years back] - but, seriously, if you're really into audio, odds are you've already cut the internal sound system out of the loop.

Still, although the world could work around the loss of an audio jack, and it would be a very apple-y thing to do - leaving it out on a premium-priced laptop just seems mean unless there's a really good payoff.

The other sensible-sounding thing Apple could do is start moving the iDevices from lightning to USB-C so that people wouldn't be stuck with iOS-only headphones.
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pat500000 said:
Having 3.5 jack is great...i can use wired earphone without having to charge...and pair with the phone (little inconvenience).
Click to expand...

Having acquired a couple of pairs of bluetooth headphones - one cheap'n'cheerful, another half decent - I'd say that the benefits of not being tethered to the computer outweigh the disadvantages. They go for ages on a charge - and the better ones can pair to 2 devices at the same time so you don't have to keep re-pairing.

Still - I use an optical cable from the 3.5mm jack to run (potentially) 5.1 sound to my nice Creative surround speaker system, so it would be a loss - but then the speakers must be 10 years old+ now and many of the current equivalents include bluetooth...
 
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it would also be the removal of 3.5 on desktop/laptop would mean either u now need an adapter, or two (in daisy chain) to connect old equipment, or just replace your expensive A/V receiver for new gear just to make your shiny new Apple product work how u like it. That would hurt too many, if Apple says u must replace this in order to use our devices..

Asking customers to replace all their cables it one thing, but not when it comes to hardware, particularly expensive hardware just to satisfy one company... but Apple could make a living though adapters :)

If your gonna remove it, u gotta replace it with something . otherwise how can u route audio out of a Mac.. through the lightening port ?
 
Stuff your bloody "it's the future nonsense."

Sometimes it would be nice to be able to use a bluray player with analog outs, or an Apple TV that has an optical port, or a receiver that still had a multichannel analog input. BUT NO!. Got to make sure that what people have gets replaced.

I am sick and tired of people deciding that my existing electronic infrastructure is too plebian to support and that I should shell out an extra four or five hundred bucks to resolve incompatibility issues.

I use my headphone jack-- specifically the optical portion-- and frankly I'm none too interested in spending more money to replace its absence.
 
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Personally I could live w/o 3.5mm jack on an iPhone but would be unhappy about its disappearance from laptops.

I lived through the original pitch that analog was so over and digital so perfect you could virtually be in the concert hall and hear a pin drop with all the cold precision of a conductor raising his baton, blah blah blah. And after all, it was pretty exciting to have a little CD player to replace that thing the size of a small refrigerator in the living room...

Then came the pitch that a purchased MP3 file brings the precision of digital beauty straight to the brain without the inconvenience of physical storage, blah blah blah. Somewhere around the time I ripped a CD to lossless, I woke up and realized I was just being marketed to, big time.

Now when someone tries to tell me that the dropping of yet another port from a device is a sign of maturing comprehension of the efficiency of minimalism in hardware design, blah, blah, blah... I would have to go offline to express my actual opinion.

Meanwhile I grow older and my nextgens become creatures wtih jobs and their own disposable income, so my previous justifications for indulging in the latest hardware upgrades are fading away. Pretty soon they'll be as thin as the next Apple laptop will apparently be. No sale on ditching the 3.5mm jack from those yet, that would be a last straw for me.
 
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mscriv said:
I don't think Apple would have any reason to discontinue 3.5 jacks on larger computers this quickly. It makes sense in a portable device to cut out the jack if Lightning port or Bluetooth can be a viable replacement. In a MacBook Pro, Mac mini, iMac, or Mac Pro the space isn't as much of a priority and the port can be used for more than just headphones. Plus, there would be no need to put a lightning connector on any of those. USB headphones already exist, but we haven't seen Apple trying to cut the 3.5 jack and force people to use those. The only computer option that I could see being feasible is if Apple wanted to drop the 3.5 jack in the MacBook and MacBook Air. I'm sure they could develop headphones that connected via usb-c. That would be similar to the move we are anticipating with the new iPhone in that wired headphones when used would prevent charging at the same time. I realize that the current Air doesn't have a usb-c connector, but I bet that change will happen soon.
Click to expand...

They also didn't have any reason to make things in rose-gold, or to make the (insert product here) thinner and with only one port, but they did it anyway.
 
People will either adapt or find a different product that meets their needs. I'm going to keep sticking with Apple because I'd like to believe they have a good, proper solution for this move that is more than being greedy.
 
my money is on it gets ditched across all lines as they get updated, and supply a $20 adaptor for those who need it.
Personally I can't remember the last time I used the 3.5mm jack on my mac and am more than happy to see it go, as it is the last remnants of an analogue age.
 
richinaus said:
my money is on it gets ditched across all lines as they get updated, and supply a $20 adaptor for those who need it.
Personally I can't remember the last time I used the 3.5mm jack on my mac and am more than happy to see it go, as it is the last remnants of an analogue age.
Click to expand...

We do use currently Eithernet adapters now anyway to still connect to wired network physically, and although their were issues from the start from loosing the port, we got use to it.

Its the Apple way.... ditch the port and customers will eventually be happy.
 
The same number of people who complained about the ethernet port going were the same number of people who were going to complain about it had it gone when the unibody design was first announced.

They have to see how this new technology goes on the phone first before they bring it to the computers. Like someone already said, there's other things going on in the jack than just plugging in headphones. And in reality, if you have both the computer and phone in front of you, you're putting them in the phone because it gives you less of a headache.
 
I can't remember the last time I used the stereo jacks on my Mac Pro. The sound is "dirty" with pops and buzzing, so I use USB audio anyway.

I don't think I've ever used the headphone jack on the iPad. It's just so convenient to use airplay to connect to home audio systems--mobile handheld devices shouldn't be tethered by a cable. Same for headphones, I use bluetooth headphones so I can walk around the house and yard without having to carry around the iPad too.

As for iPhone, I've already went through the uncomfortable transition period when they moved the jack to the bottom, which is blocked in my dock. So as for the new one not having a headphone jack, I've already transitioned to wireless.
 
What do you think? In my opinion, Apple has been always been inconsistent on port support for their various products over the years, so maybe they won't delete the headphone jack for this year's lineup of upcoming Macs but...maybe they will.
 
visegripmikey said:
What do you think? In my opinion, Apple has been always been inconsistent on port support for their various products over the years, so maybe they won't delete the headphone jack for this year's lineup of upcoming Macs but...maybe they will.
Click to expand...
Are they struggling got space?
I think a jack on a Mac is essential for desk top speakers etc.
 
visegripmikey said:
Yes, but the point being Apple is making the move to wireless with a bold claim, so eliminating it everywhere for consistency makes sense. Desktop speakers can be Bluetooth.
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Not high end ones.
I'm pretty sure my next iMac will have a jack.
Maybe different on the portables. But I haven't bought a laptop in years.
 
Higher fidelity from a lightning port was a reason to get rid of the analog jack. Also, can you imagine buying a high-quality pair of lighting headphones but not being able to plug them into your computer? I haven't seen an adapter for that scenario yet.
 
Apple fanboy said:
Not high end ones.
Click to expand...

Studio grade headphones didn't stop elimination from the iPhone.

They'll just say use our USB-c to 3.5mm TOSLINK capable adapter for $59.99 or get our two port adapter for $99.99. I'm kidding we all know prices will start at $99.99.

While I do use bluetooth headphones. They are a real pain at times. Since the human body seems to be enough to block the signal momentarily. I just use them because the earbuds kept popping out of my ears when working out due to the cord jostling.

Now if Apple has a wireless headphone solution that solves Bluetooth's interference shortcoming. That would be great. Using regular Bluetooth headphones of course. As Apple do no fit or grip as well as less aesthetically pleasing ones do.
 
velocityg4 said:
Studio grade headphones didn't stop elimination from the iPhone.

They'll just say use our USB-c to 3.5mm TOSLINK capable adapter for $59.99 or get our two port adapter for $99.99. I'm kidding we all know prices will start at $99.99.

While I do use bluetooth headphones. They are a real pain at times. Since the human body seems to be enough to block the signal momentarily. I just use them because the earbuds kept popping out of my ears when working out due to the cord jostling.

Now if Apple has a wireless headphone solution that solves Bluetooth's interference shortcoming. That would be great. Using regular Bluetooth headphones of course. As Apple do no fit or grip as well as less aesthetically pleasing ones do.
Click to expand...
I have a fairly cheap over the ear Bluetooth set that never cut out. Can't remember the brand, and they are at work, but yours sound a bit dodgy.
 
Ray Brady said:
I can definitely see them removing the audio jack from all hand-held devices, but it's a bit trickier for their desktop line. The problem is equating "audio jack" with "headphone jack". I use a Mac Mini as the hub of my entertainment center, but not with headphones. I need the ability to plug the computer directly into my audio receiver, and a lightning port wouldn't be helpful there.
Click to expand...

Yes, "audio jack" is more than a headphone jack. I have a pair of portable speakers and connect them daily to any of my iPods, iPad Mini, and MacBooks to boost the internal speakers so I, a senior citizen can at least hear. Not everyone likes stuff in or pressing on ears, or wants to mess with Bluetooth.
 
AFAIK, the 3.5mm jack on almost every Mac is a combo analog and S/PDIF output. That is, it's both analog and digital, depending on what you plug into it. Plug in a mini-toslink cable and you have a digital optical audio output. I have this on my older Mac minis and my 2012 13" MacBook Pro.

I'm fairly sure only the MacBook Air and the latest MacBook model (USB-C) lack this feature.

So no, I don't really see Apple removing the 3.5mm jack from most Macs.
 
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