USB-C is not an issue in this transition, especially since USB-C has virtually no market penetration at this point. Lightning is just fine as long as Apple supports it on other devices. But they haven't. I can't use the Lightning headphones included in the box on anything but some newer iOS devices. Lightning is probably coming to new Macs in a month or two, and hopefully by then there will be adapters for Lightning to USB-C, -A, and Thunderbolt, for which there are none now. For $9, Apple should have had the courage to exclude the 3.5mm adapters from the box and instead promote Lightning use with a 3.5mm source to Lightning headphone adapter -- at least that way customers could immediately begin using their Lightning headphones with every device they own, rather than encourage the continued use of old 3.5mm headphones. Even if Apple included a USB-C to Lightning headphone adapter, it would only work on one Apple product at the moment, not to mention few other products worldwide.
As for your claim that they left behind the headphone jack market, they absolutely didn't. The 3.5mm adapter included FREE in the box, a mere $9 accessory from Apple (likely less from others), will apparently work with all headphone jack accessories. The worst case scenario is that any product designed to plug into the headphone jack will require the 3.5mm to headphone jack adaptor. If a customer only ever needs one and doesn't lose it, then Apple will never make another dime off of any of those headphone jack products.
Yes but, Apple has always been about streamlining and perfecting the user experience. A dongle is not streamlined. No one wants to use a dongle either. No one. I think it's contradictory to what we all know the apple system to be, user friendly. And I'd argue that USB C has as much market penetration at this point as Thunderbolt and it's been around nearly 8 years. It's brand new, will take time, but at least it's a standard we can plan around.
The absolute LAST thing I want to see is Apple bring the Lightning connector to its computer models. Considering the 12 inch MacBook has only a single USB C port, I'd really rather see them add a second one of those that can be used for charging, video, audio, external drives etc than have them place a thunderbolt port that only works for headphones-- only the headphones that came with the iPhone.
Maybe it was time for the headphone jack to go. But now tech companies have to build headphones for three different connectors: traditional headphone jack that works on billions of existing devices, USB C which is rapidly being added to android phones, laptops and computer on both the windows and apple platforms and has intels full intention to be the new standard, and of course lightning-- which is on the iPhone 7, only the iPhone 7, and nothing else. What a disaster this is.
At the end of the day, sometimes it's cool to be first to a new technology, although sometimes it really isn't. Apple has definitely shook the market before by removing the DVD drive from laptops because most users never used them and it significantly freed up space. People reacted poorly, but Apple was right- we didn't need it. But I don't think this situation is the same.
iPhone 7 forces the accessory market to shift to make a third connection type for lightning and hopefully will push better Bluetooth audio quality. Unfortunately, the iPhone 7 will probably be a relic before we see a solid product lineup that has adapted to the new requirements and doesn't come with sticker shock. This happened with thunderbolt- by the time peripherals had become cheap enough and plentiful enough to buy, they were a TB standard behind the newest connectors and so forth. Soon, Intel is abandoning the Mini DisplayPort for the USB C connector which will carry TB 3. By then, I have a feeling Intel will push the market to USB C and lightning will be on the shelf next to FireWire.
When it comes to headphones, I'm w little biased because the Apple earbuds do not fit my ears at all. I give them away to friends the moment I open the box on a new iPhone.
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The issue with removing the 3.5mm jack is just that everyone is used to having one now. While the tide is changing to all wireless, Bluetooth audio still leaves questions of lag and quality which can be an issue for audiophiles and people that want audio synced across rooms via Bluetooth. Apple's new Airpods are pretty good IMO since they should be effortless to use by design which is why I will be purchasing them. They are cheaper and easier to use than competing Bluetooth headphones in similar sizes. Audio quality from the Airpods should be good enough for most people but will probably not be up to studio monitor quality. So realistically, Apple IMO didn't really give any good excuses to cut out the 3.5mm jack besides it being a step in the right direction which many will find abrasive since they probably own 3.5mm jack devices. I own studio monitors but the 3.5mm jack sometimes has issues with connection especially over multiple uses. So while I understand why Apple removed the 3.5mm jack, they haven't actually provided a universal solution for all of their devices besides the Airpods and the new Beats headphones which will connect to all Apple devices wirelessly. For those wanting wired solutions, it will require them to purchase different connectors for their devices. It's an imperfect world and Apple knows it. At least we are moving forward instead of always maintaining legacy devices. For those that resist change and transformation, their days are limited on the Apple ecosystem.
You brought up good points about audio quality with the wireless equipment. It's still far behind wired connections. Not to mention the very under researched health effects and poor battery life.
Apple did move forward, but sadly in a different direction than the rest of the market. If Apple had killed the headphone jack and replaced lightning with USB C I think we'd be on the right track. That's the real opportunity to unify the market, the industry. Creating a platform that everyone can work from will allow the most innovation and improvement to the market.