I really wish they could but I have serious doubts, let's see if anybody with more knowledge can bring some info
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Intel Touts USB-C as Future of Digital Audio as Apple Set to Ditch Headphone Jack
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
I really wish they could but I have serious doubts, let's see if anybody with more knowledge can bring some info
Everyone knew the floppy was dying. It was slow and way too small, even for the late 90s. The question was what would replace it (which super floppy / zip disk technology). Apple just saw the writing on the wall that portable hard drives and flash memory were the future, and nobody missed the floppy.
The Lightning port was clearly better than the old 30-pin connector. People hated changing, but it had to happen eventually.
The 3.5mm analog headphone jack is still the king. They aren't replacing it with something "better." It's not like HDMI replacing RCA cables on your TV. For most iPhone users it will seem like change for the sake of change -- with no clear benefit to the user and lots of downside. That's why this is different.
Tim Crook would rather sell us Lightning to USB-C adapters
I doubt it, but I hope you're right.
Intel is being a bit ridiculous. They say they're adding it - meaning USB C cant currently handle digital audio now. So how is Apple supposed to include it? Apple created lightning long before USB C was ready - and they've already added audio to it. I'm very curious how all of this will play out. Apple is not a stupid company - they know the ramifications of removing it. I'm assuming they have a good reason for it. We'll find out next month.
Here's to hoping for a USB C connector starting with next year's iPhone.
"Digital audio" except audio is an analog thing. You have to get the digital signal converted to an analog one at some point, and since the phone already had a DAC for the internal speakers why even bother with adding yet another DAC in the headphones when there's one in the phone anyway?
I bet Apple ditches Lightning for USB-C in not this coming iPhone, but the 2017 one. It hurt changing from 30-pin to Lightning because people were going from proprietary to proprietary. Going to USB-C should matter because it's not proprietary and people won't feel so bad buying a new cable because they'll need one eventually (or they'll already own one).
Personally, I really dislike Lightning. It's hard to get a stable connection in my iP6+.
Personally, I really dislike Lightning. It's hard to get a stable connection in my iP6+.
This is one of the things that frustrates me to no end with apple. They really need to drop proprietary ports and the MiFi program that makes their use problematic.
I really do not care which standard wins. What I do care is going to a standard. If Apple had its way, every plug in my house electrical would be different standard. The mess of cords, adapters, is not only a PIA but, causes unnecessary environmental waste, not to mention adding costs for us consumers.
Nope...it's "magical"Do they ever use the word "amazing" NAAAHHH I've never heard that.
USB isn't really an open standard. A company wishing to contribute has to become a member of USB-IF. Additionally, obtaining a USB vendor-ID and being able to use the USB logos costs a non-negligible amount paid to USB-IF.
I'd love to see Apple adopt USB-C moving forward. Wouldn't the world be a much better place if everything could be charged using the same cable?
So maybe in the future there will be a MacBook with two USB-C ports on both sides and no Headphone Jack? Intel hurry up! Why couldn't USB-C handle digital audio from the beginning?
Except that lightning came out before USB-C here. So I get to continue using lightning accessories with existing and future iOS devices while everyone else has to ditch their micro-USB peripherals for USB-c ones.
The difference is that the floppy disk outlived its usefulness. We were needing data storage larger than what that format could handle. The headphone jack does not have any bandwidth issue. The quality argument that so many people/companies use is crap. The headphone jack itself does not have anything to do with the quality of the audio, the components on either side of it do. This move is simply so they can have an excuse to sell more stuff to make money on. They will latch onto and market any tiny argument they can find that makes it sound like it's better, but it's not. It's simply the removal of an option so they can sell you more new stuff, especially since you can already use bluetooth and lightning headphones if you want. /rant
I just want to carry one charging cable for everything. if it's lightning then add a lightning connector to the laptops. If it's USBC then switch the connectors on the idevices. Right now I carry the connector for the watch, the idevices and the macbook whenever I travel (that is three just in case you lost count). Apple does not have a proprietary standard as people are saying. They have too many connectors, so nothing is standard.
Adopt ONE standard that works on ALL products and I will be happy regardless of what that standard is - lightning, USBC, or something else.
Adopt ONE standard that works on ALL products and I will be happy regardless of what that standard is - lightning, USBC, or something else.
Last edited:
This. I will likely get the Note 7 this fall as well, so having headphones that work with USB-C and both a new iPhone and the Note 7 would be nice.
Actually Apple could implement the same sort of verification technology Lightening has. The USB-C standard has Applles fingerprints all over it. We could see Apple implementing technology that rejects USB-C devices that aren't MiFi compatible.
Apples practices with respect to MiFi are absolutely hideous and directly counterdicts their supposed consumer oriented practices. MiFi is very anti consumer.
Apple is leading the push to USB C with the MacBooks, but they will probably wait another generation or two before it comes on the iPhone or iPad, since there basically isn't really any phone manufacturers using it.
But why be bothered by it? At least this time you can use USB C to power everything and not just you iPhone.
But why be bothered by it? At least this time you can use USB C to power everything and not just you iPhone.