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Intel Touts USB-C as Future of Digital Audio as Apple Set to Ditch Headphone Jack
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As much as it would be great for all consumer products to switch to USB-C, Apple simply won't. Apple will always want a proprietary connector they can charge a fortune for on accessories and cables.
I feel like I see this response about six times a day on these forums. You act like Apple has always been ahead of the pack and has never had any blunders where it was later proven to be wrong
Well good thing your digital audio standard can exist next to our ubiquitous analog audio standard.
However, the difference is all other smartphones will replace their headphone jack with a standard USB-C jack.
Yes, well for the longest time the 30-pin connector and then lightening were superior interfaces/connectors. But now there is finally an industry standard interface/connector that, for the first time that I can recall, is actually superior to an Apple proprietary one.
I understand Apple won't be releasing the iPhone 7 with USB-C since that ship already sailed (development takes years). However, I hope that (encourage) Apple will join the band (they had significant input to the design of USB-C anyway) and switch to USB-C (full spec w/thunderbolt) in all their products starting next year, and hopefully total migration by 2019.
I understand Apple won't be releasing the iPhone 7 with USB-C since that ship already sailed (development takes years). However, I hope that (encourage) Apple will join the band (they had significant input to the design of USB-C anyway) and switch to USB-C (full spec w/thunderbolt) in all their products starting next year, and hopefully total migration by 2019.
Well, considering Android manufacturers are already moving to USB-C and Apple seems to be sticking to Lightning, I don't think they'll be following Apple. The other way around, if anything.
Well I still don't understand why Apple keeps lighting port instead of USB-C port. USB-C port can do more than lighting port does
The size is similar that other smartphone is also using. No point at all
The size is similar that other smartphone is also using. No point at all
Considering Apple originally designed USB-C, why not tote that and change completely over to it? Would make the most sense, but they do like having their own standards to live by so that's obviously playing a major factor here. If there was ever a time to switch.. next year would be it. New Screen, New Form Factor, New Connector... Happy Anniversary iPhone. If I was them, I would also completely redesign the IOS interface... but that's just me.. feels like it's time for a major change from Apple.
The way I see it is... if Apple goes the USB-C route for headphones, the industry will start developing products to support it. This will force other companies like Samsung to follow suit, and eat their words of course (if anyone saw the Samsung Note 7 presentation)
I'm all for it. Bring it on Apple.
I'm all for it. Bring it on Apple.
Apple obviously wants to maintain control over a connector with their lucrative MFi licencing, perhaps they can maintain the "smart connector" for that and lock down the USB C connector to just deliver power / audio. Not that I agree with it, but sadly it seems more realistic than Apple giving in to an industry standard connector.
Without a doubt. And we all know Apple won't include any type of adapter in the box for 3.5mm -> Lightning use.
Ewwwww. It grosses me out when man say that. If it came from anyone else's mouth I'd run
We're talking about the headphone jack, which is still in use by all Android devices. I said if Apple removes the jack and migrates to a different solution be it Lightning or USB-C, other manufacturer's Android or Microsoft will most likely follow suit by removing the jack. I hope for an open standard (USB-C) and not lightning.
...except that there were no real equivalents for any of those at the time:
30 Pin: Has (at various times in its history) combined Firewire, USB, analog audio, various video formats and remote control signals on a single connector, long before the advent of "smart connectors" like Lightning and USB-C that could re-configure a small number of pins to match what was plugged in.
MagSafe: Nothing else like it (partly thanks to Apple's patent lawyers) - but becoming less relevant as laptops gain "all-day" battery life so they don't have to be charged in precarious situations, and laptops get so light that even a MagSafe will still pull them off the table.
Lightning: no comparable small, reversible connector with "smart" pin assignment, robust enough to support a phone in a dock, available until USB-C appeared (probably including a few Lightning patents) last year.
Now, though, USB-C would be a viable replacement for Lightning and now would be the ideal time to switch, before lots of customers to go out and replace their 3.5mm audio devices with Lightning stuff.
I'm sure lightning-to-3.5mm dongles will be available if you have any decent headphones. The cheap earbuds that you get with every iPhone you buy are landfill-fodder anyway.
Well, if they're USB-C then at least they should work with lots of other devices.
Pro-tip: don't buy expensive Lightning headphones - lightning or USB-C to 3.5mm dongles will inevitably appear and, no, you won't notice the difference.
Sorry, no. There are already Android phones (Moto Z / Force, etc.) on the market without headphone jacks. They use USB-C in its place.
And, just to note, what you said here is very different from what you said in the post I responded to. You said when Apple replaces the headphone jack with USB-C, others will follow. Not only will Apple not be the first to do that, it appears they'll also be quite late to the USB-C party. By the time they get around to switching to USB-C, they will be well behind.
I mostly agree with your revised statement, but it's different from the original one you made.
Then build in a much better DAC and be done with it. Can't be that hard. Having to build in a DAC and an amp into every single headphone is only going to drive up the cost. You still need to get that digital signal converted to an analog one at some point.
Except for the older 2nd hand cars. And cheaper cars. And more expensive cars where Bluetooth is an option making it even more expensive.
I've run across some of the leaked pictures and vids of the new iPhone 7 (?), and what I noticed is that on these pictures the current Lightning ports have a black ring sticking just a little bit out of the port. I almost looks if Apple found a way to make a black in-port USB-C to Lightning adapter, so people still keep using their current Lightning cables.
Beside the fact that the Lightning is slightly smaller than USB-C, the USB-C has all same the benefits Apple mentioned when they announced the new Lightning connector on the iPhone 5, so it would not be unlikely to think Apple is turning into USB-C all the way.
Beside the fact that the Lightning is slightly smaller than USB-C, the USB-C has all same the benefits Apple mentioned when they announced the new Lightning connector on the iPhone 5, so it would not be unlikely to think Apple is turning into USB-C all the way.
I'd like to think that since Apple switched over to USB-C on the Macbook, that they are open to switching over to that for more things. I wouldn't be surprised to see USB-C appear on the new Macbook Pro's when they come out. I personally would like to see them move over to USB-C for as many of their products as possible, so that before long, we'll be able to use the same cables for our iPads, iPhones, macbooks, macbook pros; heck even apple tv if need be.
People who make this argument don't seem to understand that the audio world is far, far bigger than just apple.
This is going to be an annoying mess.
I like seeing that ancient technology hole in future iPhones gone. Lighting is the future for headphones until USB C replaces Lighting.
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