Speaking as a former audio/broadcast engineer... Out of phase audio is highly unlikely in an iPhone or iPod. It may sound like it, but in hard-wired systems with digitally-sourced audio... I can't imagine how an across the board, 180-degree phase reversal of a single channel can happen. A failing jack/mis-inserted plug/dust or lint... far, far more likely. We're not at Sherlock Holmes' "whatever is left, no matter how unlikely" stage of things.
"Planned obsolescence" is a loaded term. In a field that changes as rapidly as smart phones, it's more appropriate to speak of "expected obsolescence." Apple and Samsung are busy trying to one-up each other with each new model - new features that demand greater power, additional hardware/components... They don't need to plant time bombs in their software or hardware. The young overtake and eat the old without any need to hobble them.
"Planned obsolescence" is a loaded term. In a field that changes as rapidly as smart phones, it's more appropriate to speak of "expected obsolescence." Apple and Samsung are busy trying to one-up each other with each new model - new features that demand greater power, additional hardware/components... They don't need to plant time bombs in their software or hardware. The young overtake and eat the old without any need to hobble them.
