iPhone 7 and 7 Plus Again Rumored to Feature Smart Connector, but No Stereo Speakers or Thinner Design

[fourthtunz]

For the love of baby jesus, do NOT make me use a damn dongle to plug in my headphones.

I have the answer.
They will make cases that have the dongle built in, so that you just plug in your headphones
as you normally would.
The case may have to be a little larger to include the dongle but
I bet it will be fine.
That's the only way I'll be getting an iPhone 7, no dongles no bluetooth headsets for me.

 

[Mac 128]

If they delete the headphone jack, they will most certainly place something their. Unlikely if Apple to leave a voided space, A an extra speaker is the most logical decision. I doubt a sensor for a low light camera would be secured on the bottom of the phone, next to the Lightning jack.

Apple is not arbitrarily dropping the headphone jack. So there won't be empty space they need to fill with something. A speaker is the least logical choice of features Apple could add to the iPhone. At a minimum a larger battery comes to mind.

Besides, a speaker is not just going to drop into the space where the headphone jack was. It's not Tetris. Take a look at any tear down and you'll see that.

 

[THE JUICEMAN]

Lol every iPhone leak/launch starts out with all this criticism and hate. Then it breaks records. I see the trend will be continuing for the iPhone 7.

 

[Pbrutto]

I just can't see a use for the smart connector, how much power can pass through one of those?

 

[Dr.Chroma]

Apple is not arbitrarily dropping the headphone jack. So there won't be empty space they need to fill with something. A speaker is the least logical choice of features Apple could add to the iPhone. At a minimum a larger battery comes to mind.

Besides, a speaker is not just going to drop into the space where the headphone jack was. It's not Tetris. Take a look at any tear down and you'll see that.

Arbitrarily? Tetris? Lol. Let's not have any false modesty here. Larger battery you say?? We all know WHY Apple will drop the Headphine jack. That being said, it seems logical for a second speaker to be implemented. Maybe you can educate me on why a larger battery would be plausible. This is Apple we are talking about last I checked. When the photo leaks become more wide spread, I'll be sure to point this out. It's my opinion that a speaker will be in place of the deleted Headphone jack.

 

[Pbrutto]

It's really time for stereo speakers on these....

 

[chickenwingfly]

There's no winning.

No headphone jack? What am I supposed to do with my expensive headphones? EarPods are disgraceful. Can't move to Android because I'm not very interested in giving away all of my data to Papa Google.

Actually MFI Lighting Headphones have been a thing for a couple years now, but never caught up. So even if they removed the good ol' jack someone will create a lighting-to-3.5 adaptor, which makes sense (why not, imagine whoever comes with a good cheap version of that and how many they'd sell).

https://www.macrumors.com/2014/06/03/lighting-cable-headphone-mfi/

 

[twocents]

Not being an Apple apologist here, but there may be some positive to removing the headphone jack. Worst case you keep an adapter always connected to the end of your headphones and have it work just as it used to. Though this will be a more jarring jump than when they dropped the optical drives, in the long run AirPlay, Bluetooth, or similar tech will be the future
[doublepost=1460608381][/doublepost]I realize this is a macrumors forum and people are entitled to their opinions, but the complaining about design is unreasonable. "Tried and true" isn't a fault but sticking to what works. I didn't personally care for the antenna breaks in my iPhone 4 steel band, but got over it fast. Heck, I like the bands on my gold 6 Plus as they make it unique and functional in an otherwise solid aluminum unibody. The real valid complaint is the protuding camera as even Apple has been shown in the past to not be proud about it with them Photoshopping it out on some of their renderings

 

[Dr.Chroma]

"But your concern is one of the reasons I'm against adding stereo speakers, because then it means Apple is removing the headphone jack in the absence of any industry need to do so, which will most certainly backfire on them."

So if stereo speakers are implemented in the iPhone 7, then what? Backfire how? I'm not seeing your argument here. The other competitors will likely follow the precedent Apple sets forth. Apple is a Company in which will stir the pot and hence, why they challenge themselves to "Think Different. "

 

[macfacts]

... The only reason I use an iPhone even if I'm a tech geek, computer scientist, well versed programmer and all you can think of, is because I love iOS as simple and functional as it is, and the integration with everything Apple including OS X. If there was no such ecosystem, I wouldn't pay for overpriced hardware, which is what it is in the end. But then I pay for what's inside (iOS)....

I'm pretty sure you still can't back up an iPhone to an Apple Time Machine directly.

 

[pika2000]

Have a feeling this is how the 7 is going to look like. Sure it's not breaking any new grounds, but at least somebody at Apple realize the ugliness of the antenna bands on the 6/6s.

As for features, I would wait till the announcement. Since I have a 6S, I have no need to upgrade immediately. I do wish for Apple to review battery life of iPhones under real world usage (where people have many malware called Facebook installed). IMO Marsmallow is starting to kisck iOS in terms of stand by time. I don't want battery life matching previous iPhones. I want BETTER battery life. Even with low power mode, my 6S is barely lasting the whole day for me (and this is without the Facebook malware). Now I end up needing to use battery pack before I go home, fearing my 6S would die on the way home.

As for other features, I am impartial. I don't even utilize much of the advertised features like love photos nor 3D Touch on my 6S. Those things are nice, but I can't think of any new features I would want.

 

[BvizioN]

Why remove the headphone jack if they aren't going to put anything in its place? That does seem a little weird. Oh and I'm almost 100% sure it'll be thinner!

For the same reason why floppy disk, CD/DVD drive and lot of other old technologies were removed from certain products. Things change and it always have to be 1 company to do it first. Being the right time or not, is another discussion.
[doublepost=1460611404][/doublepost]It is kind of laughable that some of you guys are even considering the possibility of the smart connector being for a smart keyboard on iPhone !!! Come on guys, you are smarter then that.

 

[Serban]

If the rumors rely on those pictures, we can see the one from the left that there are 2 cuts for 2 speakers

 

[jamesrick80]

Shouldn't the smart connector be on the side, if you are typing with a keyboard would you have the screen wide? Would just look really strange keyboard mounted to the phone vertically.

The most hilarious thing ever done by Apple would be creating a smart keyboard for the iPhone or so called iphone pro lol....I don't think that would be the reason for the smart connector. It seems a smart connector would be great if they added virtual reality headset support but apple will not do that anytime soon especially since they are so non-innovative currently.
[doublepost=1460612093][/doublepost]

1. It's rumours.
2. If you are not tied to iOS, then your best bet is always Android. Way cheaper storage, cheaper models, more flexibility in some areas and a plethora of manufacturers.

The only reason I use an iPhone even if I'm a tech geek, computer scientist, well versed programmer and all you can think of, is because I love iOS as simple and functional as it is, and the integration with everything Apple including OS X. If there was no such ecosystem, I wouldn't pay for overpriced hardware, which is what it is in the end. But then I pay for what's inside (iOS).

Seems like you may be one of those people who don't really need the ecosystem nor has a compelling need for iOS, in which case, yes, mid-high end range Android phones are almost always a better choice from a hardware perspective!

Tech geeks should not need a simple phone otherwise why be a tech geek...android has all the functionality and more that Apple doesn't have....

 

[Jakexb]

I think what I'm not getting is: what's the advantage? What is so great that they can justify at the keynote, hey we removed the 3.5 connector, BUT WE GAVE YOU THIS NEW COOL THING! What could it be? Surely not slightly thinner case. Probably not 10 more minutes of battery life. It needs to be something fairly cool and not just "well 3.5 is an old connector".

Also, are they really going to produce separate headphones for Macbooks and iPhones? I listen to things on the way to work and then plug in to my computer. Will I need to switch adapters?

 

[Tech198]

Its all about the dongle.....

Apple can do this....Apple people live in the eco-system, i thought u'd be used to it all these changes by now

 

[Mac 128]

I think what I'm not getting is: what's the advantage? What is so great that they can justify at the keynote, hey we removed the 3.5 connector, BUT WE GAVE YOU THIS NEW COOL THING! What could it be? Surely not slightly thinner case. Probably not 10 more minutes of battery life. It needs to be something fairly cool and not just "well 3.5 is an old connector".

I agree, and it won't be stereo speakers either. Contactless wireless charging would do it for me ... But Apple definitely has an uphill marketing battle ahead of them. And the only reason it makes any sense is because the competition is in the same boat faced with making room for new technology, otherwise I don't see how they can pull it off. Removing the headphone jack just to make room for stereo speakers is ridiculous, especially since the competition already has it.

Also, are they really going to produce separate headphones for Macbooks and iPhones? I listen to things on the way to work and then plug in to my computer. Will I need to switch adapters?

No, they will put Lightning ports on their Macs.

 

[smacrumon]

That's one ugly looking iPhone.
If Apple proceeds with such an unresolved rubbish design, it has cemented itself as no longer a design company making the best products. Protruding camera, three random connector dots on the back spoiling the back design. The new iPhone that's full of warts.
What is going down in Cupertino exactly?
Disgraceful.
Completely fugly.

 

[Black Magic]

I think what I'm not getting is: what's the advantage? What is so great that they can justify at the keynote, hey we removed the 3.5 connector, BUT WE GAVE YOU THIS NEW COOL THING! What could it be? Surely not slightly thinner case. Probably not 10 more minutes of battery life. It needs to be something fairly cool and not just "well 3.5 is an old connector".

Also, are they really going to produce separate headphones for Macbooks and iPhones? I listen to things on the way to work and then plug in to my computer. Will I need to switch adapters?

HD sound quality via new headphones connecting through charging interface. This actually was rumored a year or so ago. Looks like it maybe true.

 

[Tech198]

This is the first time as an Apple user I have broken away from Apple's eco-system .....by not following suit with any upgrades/updates. and will continue to do so.

First started with not upgrading to 10.11.. Still using an "outdated" OS, and still using iPhone 6, so really , Apple can eliminate all they like.... I go my own way weather Apple likes it or not.

HD sound seems good, except, there is not much of it at the moment... I would like to see much more of this. Probably the reason for the change.

 

[smacrumon]

So apple got rid of the antenna bands but added that hideous camera. Wow

As well as adding three warts.

 

[8692574]

I just can't see a use for the smart connector, how much power can pass through one of those?

As i said in an earlier post you can charge a phone with that as Nokia did (look my post in page 2)
Inductive charging add on for iPhone trough cases....

or add on like the camera thinghy.. the dots can be used to connect buttons!

 

[Neodym]

Battery cases or some kind of wireless charging system could be possibilities.

Amazon's new Kindle Oasis has outsourced the majority of it's battery to an external battery cover, connected via a 5 pin port and held in place by strong magnets. The idea is to disconnect it from the battery cover easily for use and plug it back for charging. In theory I could imagine Apple aiming for something similar.

However, while the Oasis focused on proper ergonomics as well as being light and thin(!), I'd be afraid to have the naked iPhone slip out of my hands too easily with the current (iPhone 6/+) design.

Another use case could be a docking station for part-time non-mobile use of the iPhone (acting as some kind of a low-level Mac mini replacement). But I think both the hardware and especially iOS are not there yet.

Still don't understand the need to remove the headphone jack. Touch still has one at 6.1mm, that's plenty thin.

I'd assume it's more about the - comparably - big space the headphone jack demands internally. Hopefully they make better use of it than adding 4 speakers similar to the iPad Pro 9.7" ...

 

[thequietaussie]

For the same reason why floppy disk, CD/DVD drive and lot of other old technologies were removed from certain products. Things change and it always have to be 1 company to do it first. Being the right time or not, is another discussion.

Those are not in any way the same as removing the headphone port. Floppy disk and CD/DVD drives were taken out because people had moved to USB sticks and internet based file sharing and because both of those things took up HUGE amounts of space in laptops.

The same cannot be said for the headphone port.

Now if Apple release a lightning port adapter that offers the same level of audio quality that the current headphone port offers, I think I could be persuaded to deal with that. It'd be one extra thing I'd have to be mindful of when heading out, but I could live with it. Though my preference would be for them to keep the port.

But if they expect people to use bluetooth then I'm out.

 

[Neodym]

[...] ugly looking iPhone.
[...] unresolved rubbish design
[...] new iPhone that's full of warts. [...]
Disgraceful.
Completely fugly.

Hyperbole much?