iPhone 7 Headphone jack - 6 months later poll

[manhattanboy]

Apple plays the long game, lets people adjust for a time when the headphone jack really can't be included anymore. They could've waited another two years IMO, but that's Apple for ya.

Exactly!! Why not let AirPods be in existence for a year or two, have alternatives spring up to support a wireless ecosystem and THEN say they are being courageous to remove the port. Right now they just look like greedy b@stards that were not even able to get AirPods ready for mass distribution before literally pulling the plug!

The thing is, as iPhone 7 users, have we really gained anything by removing the headphone jack ? Nope, we haven't.
Previous iPhones had a lightning connector so you can have digital audio (with the proper headset) on these devices too. And don't mention waterproofing please, Apple could have sealed the headphone jack just like others manufacturers did.

What I mean is that I'm all for the progress, for example I'm really happy that Apple removed all the ports on the 2016 MacBook Pro and replaced them with USB-C because USB-C can do (and does it better) everything those old ports did and such a big decision from a big company will make the industry move forward but the fact that in the iPhone 7 they did not replaced the headphone jack with a more convenient alternative, they just got rid of it completely makes me think that this was just a decision to make more and more money. Replacing both the headphone jack and lightning connector with a single USB-C port would have made much more sense.

Totally agree! Although I still would not have pulled the plug on the headphone jack yet until a good year or several have passed in an upgraded wireless ecosystem.

Currently, and in the short term future, I don’t think you will find any major improvements from the removal of the headphone jack other than what I listed earlier. However down the track, we may look back on the antiquated, albeit ubiquitous port, and wonder why we didn’t let it go sooner but until then, we find ourselves in a period of transition.

For example: try buying software on a disc. Sure, there are a few options however the majority of software distributed in this day and age is online.

Have you tried reinstalling OS X without an Internet connection? Yeah, its darn near impossible unless you somehow magically have it already installed on another drive that you can clone or have the installer downloaded already on a USB key. My point is that requiring an Internet connection for software installation is an inconvenience (not dissimilar to the lack of headphone jack) and for software poses its own security risks. How do you know someone did not inject bad code into your massive multi-GB download? Are you running sums on what is "automatically" downloaded via the App store?

 

[Fried_Gold]

"Something I wasn't concerned about and everything is fine"

To be fair I no longer have my 7 Plus but I bought the AirPods as soon as they were available and I use them with my MacBook Pro and whatever phone I'm currently using anyway, before AirPods I had some cheap Anker wireless earbuds that did the job.

 

[manhattanboy]

"Something I wasn't concerned about and everything is fine"

To be fair I no longer have my 7 Plus but I bought the AirPods as soon as they were available and I use them with my MacBook Pro and whatever phone I'm currently using anyway, before AirPods I had some cheap Anker wireless earbuds that did the job.

The thing is that many people - including everyone in my family - hate the Apple headphones. They either do not produce good enough sound or do not fit well. That was the beauty of the headphone jack... there were ENOUGH options that EVERYONE could find something that both sounded great and actually fit well. I would never use Airpods as they do not block out all sound, which pretty much has been my standard for headphones the last decade. I know some in my family do not use Airpods because of the fit. So what are the alternatives? They are sparse and pale in comparison to the options that are available for regular headphones. My solution to the iPhone 7's loss has been a headphone jack case. It fixes the charging and listening to music problem as well as providing a simple solution for music... you just plug in any headphones you like. So simple it might be magical

 

[spac3duck]

That was the beauty of the headphone jack... there were ENOUGH options that EVERYONE could find something that both sounded great and actually fit well.

I agree with you that a ubiquitous standard such as the 3.5mm headphone jack was/is good at providing options for people with all matter of headphones and I understand that many are approaching the change with the "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" mentality.

So my question then, is at what point do we question the status quo?
[doublepost=1496312806][/doublepost]

Have you tried reinstalling OS X without an Internet connection?

No. Thankfully I have only needed to reinstall my OS once in four years on this device that lacks an optical drive and in which case, I had preprepared a USB drive with the latest OS to install from.

Alternatively, you can reinstall from a Time Machine backup.

Or if all else fails, head into your local Apple Store and speak with the genius team who will be happy to assist you.

My point is that requiring an Internet connection for software installation is an inconvenience.

I agree that it can be inconvenient to have an internet connection as a requirement however I would put forward that it is somewhat negated by the frequency that one needs to reinstall your OS. In some ways, I would propose that an internet connection is almost as important as electricity for a computer system given the interconnected world we live in.

How do you know someone did not inject bad code into your massive multi-GB download? Are you running sums on what is "automatically" downloaded via the App store?

Firstly, the OS is downloaded from the official Apple App Store. Doing so, it is transported over TCP which ensures your system acknowledges the correct packets have been received from the sender. Furthermore, Apple use SSL to encrypt the data being sent from their store to your computer. Finally, you have Gatekeeper on your current system that is checking the digital signatures of your downloads. On top of this, you, as the user, should be using your own protection i.e. Firewalls, Antivirus, IDS/IPS which adds another layer of security to your system. I’ll be the first to say that nothing is ever guaranteed in the world of security however those layers of defence are likely to prevent malicious behaviour from exploiting vulnerabilities in your system via numerous attack vectors. If you are feeling extra paranoid, I’m sure you could go over and above with the security scans and checksums but theoretically, that is something you could be doing regardless of whether it is an OTA update or physical/optical disc installation.

Everything goes through some version of evolution: B&W TVs -> Colour TV, Landline -> Mobile Phone, Mainframe PC -> Laptop, etc. None of the examples were perfect when they were released and it was only after iteration after iteration that we arrived where we are now. But to move forward, we need to challenge the status quo and ask "can we do this better" or as Apple like to say "Think Different".

 

[potentmf]

This reminds me of when I bought a new computer case that didn't include outlets for optical drives. No big deal, I rarely use them nowadays. Welp. Talk about frustrating when I had to install software that only came on a minidisk.

Not having a headphone jack isn't a deal breaker but can be frustrating when you realize you left the dongle attached to your headphones at home, you are 300 miles from your house and someone is handing you the AUX cord because they know you have all the hot (up to date) playlists on your phone.

Good luck explaining how Apple wants to push technology forward by not including a headphone jack, when all anybody wants to do is listen to music and can't understand why your new phone doesn't have something their phone does.

 

[DNichter]

No issue for me at all. I hadn't used the headphone jack for years on my iPhone's. Happy they finally pulled the plug on a dying protocol.

 

[manhattanboy]

I agree with you that a ubiquitous standard such as the 3.5mm headphone jack was/is good at providing options for people with all matter of headphones and I understand that many are approaching the change with the "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" mentality.

So my question then, is at what point do we question the status quo?

When the alternatives are UNQUESTIONABLY better than the status quo. You cannot say that about wireless headphones right now. Again, what Apple should have done is built up a wireless headphone ecosystem for a few years and have people want to ditch their wired headphones. Right now looking at what is available I do not see anything in wireless headphones that comes close to the comfort, sound levels and ease of use I enjoy with current wired headphones.

Firstly, the OS is downloaded from the official Apple App Store. Doing so, it is transported over TCP which ensures your system acknowledges the correct packets have been received from the sender. Furthermore, Apple use SSL to encrypt the data being sent from their store to your computer.

Even Apple can fail at basic things like SSL:
see here: http://www.macworld.com/article/2099987/what-you-need-to-know-about-apples-ssl-bug.html

I understand why people just use the Internet to install the OS; its convenience and for Apple products that is fine. But say I have another computer and I want to swap from BSD to Linux and then perhaps to something else. Not everything has USB installers and I have not found anything to be as simple as burning ISOs and installing from an optical drive. It "just works", which ironically used to be Mac's old philosophy

Everything goes through some version of evolution: B&W TVs -> Colour TV, Landline -> Mobile Phone, Mainframe PC -> Laptop, etc. None of the examples were perfect when they were released and it was only after iteration after iteration that we arrived where we are now. But to move forward, we need to challenge the status quo and ask "can we do this better" or as Apple like to say "Think Different".

I am not saying for Apple to stop iterating on existing products. They were nowhere near the first in mp3 players, yet iterated and eventually became the dominant player. Perhaps that is what they desire in wireless headphones, and perhaps over time they may succeed if they haven't already. However, I have my doubts on their abilities as they have failed to improve the standard headphones included with the iPhone, and threw a ton of money at a B-grade headphone company in Beats. What this tells the music lovers is that Apple does not give 2 sheets about you and that you should learn to love crappy sounding music through poorly fitting and inconvenient headphones or don't use Apple. Many would see that not as progress to "think different" but as foolishness and greed. If they are so serious about pushing forward wireless technology, then why not open source the W1 bluetooth connection for everyone? I think you already know the answer.

 

[Susurs]

Was not concerned and does not matter

 

[Vanilla35]

This reminds me of when I bought a new computer case that didn't include outlets for optical drives. No big deal, I rarely use them nowadays. Welp. Talk about frustrating when I had to install software that only came on a minidisk.

Not having a headphone jack isn't a deal breaker but can be frustrating when you realize you left the dongle attached to your headphones at home, you are 300 miles from your house and someone is handing you the AUX cord because they know you have all the hot (up to date) playlists on your phone.

Good luck explaining how Apple wants to push technology forward by not including a headphone jack, when all anybody wants to do is listen to music and can't understand why your new phone doesn't have something their phone does.

That's what I'm saying. **** sucks

 

[Applejuiced]

Let's see how many years it takes to get over it
Get me a violin

 

[super michael]

I preferred wired headphone and 3.5mm headphone jack for these simple reasons:

1st I have to remember to recharge wireless headphones, while wired I don't need to remember recharging
2nd Bluetooth drains the phone battery faster
3rd removal of the 3.5mm headphone jack means I need dongles if I want to use headphone
4th Only Iphone uses lightning while every other device uses 3.5mm headphone jack meaning forced to have dongles

 

[nviz22]

I wouldn't be surprised if Apple brought it back again. Motorola did it, but they're mid-range phone savant. It's a bold move to remove the headphone jack because Apple is banking on its W1 chip and future bluetooth advancements. Bluetooth will not be as good as 3.5 mm for a long time. It's not the same as the difference between Wi-Fi and Ethernet connections, but the premise is similar. To this day, Ethernet is more effective with a reliable connection and minimizes interference. I hope to see Bluetooth 5.0 in the iPhone OLED model.

 

[noekozz]

No issue for me at all. I hadn't used the headphone jack for years on my iPhone's. Happy they finally pulled the plug on a dying protocol.

3.5 is a universal standard, it's not going anywhere anytime soon. Eventually I'll end up upgrading my phone, I'll just have to deal with having to carry a dongle around.

 

[DNichter]

3.5 is a universal standard, it's not going anywhere anytime soon. Eventually I'll end up upgrading my phone, I'll just have to deal with having to carry a dongle around.

It'll be removed from the majority of smartphones by the end of next year. You do have options though. You can leave the dongle on the end of your headphones or make the move to bluetooth. Airpods have been awesome.

 

[Vanilla35]

View attachment 701839
Let's see how many years it takes to get over it
Get me a violin

Lol never to be forgiven

 

[nviz22]

It'll be removed from the majority of smartphones by the end of next year. You do have options though. You can leave the dongle on the end of your headphones or make the move to bluetooth. Airpods have been awesome.

If that happens, it would suck so hard. A 3.5 mm headphone jack cannot be beat these days and won't be for the considerable future. Dongles limit some flexibility and can become an annoying expense if not included with a phone.

 

[DNichter]

If that happens, it would suck so hard. A 3.5 mm headphone jack cannot be beat these days and won't be for the considerable future. Dongles limit some flexibility and can become an annoying expense if not included with a phone.

I hear ya, but I think it's pretty inevitable at this point. No point in having wires in the future, for anything, if possible.

 

[537635]

If that happens, it would suck so hard. A 3.5 mm headphone jack cannot be beat these days and won't be for the considerable future. Dongles limit some flexibility and can become an annoying expense if not included with a phone.

That simply isn't true. For an average user, wireless headphones do not have any downsides. They can be charged by the same charger and cable as the phone (Beats, Airpods) and they are more comfortable to wear. The sound is better than the Earpods or some cheap in-ear hadphones.

Sure, you have advanced (music oriented) users, who demand quality and/or additional features. For those you still have an option of either Apple's D/A adapter or pure digital, where the analog conversion is done by the headset.

And then you have whiners, who had a terrifying experience 3 years ago, when they had to use the 3.5mm plug and now live in constant fear of that happening again. Those same people advocate that Apple should put back the DVD, SD card reader, Firewire, VGA port (remember those?!) and 5.25'' floppy.

 

[manhattanboy]

And then you have whiners, who had a terrifying experience 3 years ago, when they had to use the 3.5mm plug and now live in constant fear of that happening again. Those same people advocate that Apple should put back the DVD, SD card reader, Firewire, VGA port (remember those?!) and 5.25'' floppy.

Crazy broad generalizations. Just because something is newer or appears "better" does not mean it is for all people. For example, Tesla may be better for the environment, but when you want to take a trip to a remote national park, is it really the better vehicle? The old standard gas-powered vehicles may be the only useful ones in that in that scenario. What I am saying is that choosing bluetooth, just like choosing an electric car, should not automatically mean that you categorize folks that prefer the old standard headphone jack or the old standard gas-powered car as "whiners".

 

[nviz22]

That simply isn't true. For an average user, wireless headphones do not have any downsides. They can be charged by the same charger and cable as the phone (Beats, Airpods) and they are more comfortable to wear. The sound is better than the Earpods or some cheap in-ear hadphones.

Sure, you have advanced (music oriented) users, who demand quality and/or additional features. For those you still have an option of either Apple's D/A adapter or pure digital, where the analog conversion is done by the headset.

And then you have whiners, who had a terrifying experience 3 years ago, when they had to use the 3.5mm plug and now live in constant fear of that happening again. Those same people advocate that Apple should put back the DVD, SD card reader, Firewire, VGA port (remember those?!) and 5.25'' floppy.

A downside is not as good quality sound as a wired headphone. Bluetooth could also experience issues. Is Wi-Fi better than using ethernet? Yes, but that's because Wi-Fi is mature enough. Apple prematurely removed the headphone jack and hasn't replaced it with something comparable.

 

[potentmf]

A downside is not as good quality sound as a wired headphone. Bluetooth could also experience issues. Is Wi-Fi better than using ethernet? Yes, but that's because Wi-Fi is mature enough. Apple prematurely removed the headphone jack and hasn't replaced it with something comparable.

Apparently none of these people have ever had BT connection issues let them tell it. It's all fun and games til Apple sends an update that messes up your BT... I guess that's when people will say that's what the dongle is for.

 

[Reno Raines]

The thing is that many people - including everyone in my family - hate the Apple headphones. They either do not produce good enough sound or do not fit well. That was the beauty of the headphone jack... there were ENOUGH options that EVERYONE could find something that both sounded great and actually fit well. I would never use Airpods as they do not block out all sound, which pretty much has been my standard for headphones the last decade. I know some in my family do not use Airpods because of the fit. So what are the alternatives? They are sparse and pale in comparison to the options that are available for regular headphones. My solution to the iPhone 7's loss has been a headphone jack case. It fixes the charging and listening to music problem as well as providing a simple solution for music... you just plug in any headphones you like. So simple it might be magical

Which case do you use? I bought two kind and have had bad luck with them so far. I would like to get a good headphone jack case. Thanks in advance.

 

[exterminator]

Results are only viewable after voting.

I am interested in knowing what people think since I dont own an ip7 myself. But the only way to find out is to vote and compromise the integrity of the poll. nice.

OP, can you add a 'i dont own an ip7' option?

 

[spac3duck]

OP, can you add a 'i dont own an ip7' option?

I've just modified the poll so the results can be viewed without voting.

 

[Qbnkelt]

I was amused by the angst and the drama.
No issues for me. I have hands free in the car and I've got a BT headset. Life is, as it was, good.