iPhone 7 May Ship With Lightning-Connected EarPods, New Wireless Earphones Also Under Development

[Chupa Chupa]

So is 99.99% of audio listened to on iPhones.

Right, but that it the point. The music source starts out compressed and then w/ BT it's compressed again. Right now, Jan 2016, there isn't a pair of BT earbuds with the same audio quality as it's wired model sibling.

Personally, I could deal with having to charge up BT earbuds -- whats another device on the charger, right. But the benefit isn't there b/c BT audio is the pits. Convenient, sure. But the quality is miserable compared to wired, especially when listening to already compressed audio.

 

[chromite]

Reading these pro-headphone jack comments is funny. Guaranteed everyone defending the headphone jack is over 30 years old and are just sad to see the technology they love finally come to an end. Move on people. Make way for new, higher quality sound.

 

[OllyW]

It is possible, yes, but speed is key in the tech world.

We'd still be using the headphone jack in 2030 if someone didn't have the balls to kick it now.

What is actually wrong with the headphone jack?

 

[oldmacs]

It is possible, yes, but speed is key in the tech world.

We'd still be using the headphone jack in 2030 if someone didn't have the balls to kick it now.

I'm guessing that newer technology (no matter whether or not it is better than what it potentially replaces) is always better than the old. Why doesn't apple replace the keyboard with Siri. I mean Siri is a newer technology, it is better because you don't have to type etc, there would be more available screen room, iOS could take up less space. Goodness, we'll still be using the keyboard in 2 years if apple didn't have the balls to kick it

Reading these pro-headphone jack comments is funny. Guaranteed everyone defending the headphone jack is over 30 years old and are just sad to see the technology they love finally come to an end. Move on people. Make way for new, higher quality sound.

Lol, or you're 19 and you don't feel like stuffing around with bluetooth audio which is a whole lot more annoying, and achieves nothing other than draining your battery more, being less convenient through needing to recharge a battery, and removing cables which for many is not even a problem to begin with. There is no audio quality advantage, and even if there was, most iPhone audio is not good enough to make it worthwhile.

Majority of people I know who are my age (And countless people at university) use wired headphones between multiple devices and do not have a problem with it.

 

[diamond.g]

I wonder if Apple will license aptX compression technology. That helps solve the Bluetooth bandwidth issue.

 

[OllyW]

Reading these pro-headphone jack comments is funny. Guaranteed everyone defending the headphone jack is over 30 years old and is just sad to see the technology they love finally come to an end. Move on people. Make way for new, higher quality sound.

I can understand others playing the convenience card but using the higher quality argument isn't going to wash.

 

[APlotdevice]

No - that is not what is happening. I've seen this too many times already.

We are transitioning from TWO universal standards and one propriatory to ONE universal standard and one propriatory.

What's the advantage of propriatory? You are an Apple user, you should know that by now.

There is no advantage to lighting. It offers nothing over USB type-c. Arguments could be made for FireWire, the Dock connector, and even Lighting in the "pre-Type-C world", but as of now it's a inferior connector that Apple will stubbornly hold on to just so they can collect licensing fees.

 

[chromite]

I'm guessing that newer technology (no matter whether or not it is better than what it potentially replaces) is always better than the old. Why doesn't apple replace the keyboard with Siri. I mean Siri is a newer technology, it is better because you don't have to type etc, there would be more available screen room, iOS could take up less space. Goodness, we'll still be using the keyboard in 2 years if apple didn't have the balls to kick it



Lol, or you're 19 and you don't feel like stuffing around with bluetooth audio which is a whole lot more annoying, and achieves nothing other than draining your battery more, being less convenient through needing to recharge a battery, and removing cables which for many is not even a problem to begin with. There is no audio quality advantage, and even if there was, most iPhone audio is not good enough to make it worthwhile.

Majority of people I know who are my age (And countless people at university) use wired headphones between multiple devices and do not have a problem with it.

I'm 23 and also at university. I haven't used the headphone jack on my iPhone 1 single time. My car has Bluetooth and I use wireless headphones.

 

[oldmacs]

I'm 23 and also at university. I haven't used the headphone jack on my iPhone 1 single time. My car has Bluetooth and I use wireless headphones.

Thats nice for you Enjoy that battery drain.

 

[Chupa Chupa]

Reading these pro-headphone jack comments is funny. Guaranteed everyone defending the headphone jack is over 30 years old and are just sad to see the technology they love finally come to an end. Move on people. Make way for new, higher quality sound.

I'd love high quality BT audio, but it's not available in BT right now.

I'm over way over 30 & have been a technophile since I can remember. I look forward to the day when wired-quality sound is available in BT, but we are not there yet. I think your youth is deluding you that newer must be superior. As you wise up as you age you'll understand sometimes companies change things for their benefit, not the consumers. New doesn't always mean better or improved.

 

[diamond.g]

I'd love high quality BT audio, but it's not available in BT right now.

I'm over way over 30 & have been a technophile since I can remember. I look forward to the day when wired-quality sound is available in BT, but we are not there yet. I think your youth is deluding you that newer must be superior. As you wise up as you age you'll understand sometimes companies change things for their benefit, not the consumers. New doesn't always mean better or improved.

I am reading that aptX really helps the quality. Though I don't have a pair of headphones nor do I have a supporting audio source to test the theory.

 

[chromite]

Thats nice for you Enjoy that battery drain.

Can't comment on battery drain because I can't compare it to anything but the convenience of having no wires is pretty great

 

[APlotdevice]

What is actually wrong with the headphone jack?

Well if I can make one criticism it has too much grip for modern devices. With a Walkman or a gameboy a sudden jerk would rip the jack out, but that same jerk can make a phone go flying.

So yeah, I actually think it would be a good idea to replace the jack just for safety's sake. But NOT with lightning.

 

[Narcaz]

There is no advantage to lighting. It offers nothing over USB type-c. Arguments could be made for the FireWire, the Dock connector, and even Lighting in the "pre-Type-C world", but as of now it's a inferior connector that Apple will stubbornly hold on to just so they can collect licensing fees.

So true. I think it's a total misconception to assume there will be a future with only Lightning, Bluetooth and a dying 3,5mm. Bluetooth is really not ready to take over anything. Problems with batteries, charging connectors and even sound quality (especially lip sync in videos) have to be overcome first. And even than you will the inconvenience of having another device to charge. And Lightning is Apples own proprietary connector, that won't be licensed to other smartphones. Honestly why should they? The rest is going with USB C, which is nearly better in every aspect. Looking at the CES and many other smartphone manufactures, USB/C could soon cover an even larger portion of the smartphone market than Lightning. If this happens, we could face a future, where iPhone users will be the minority, which has to bring adapters for e.g. wired audio and charging their headphones. This doesn't look like a great improvement to me.

 

[0098386]

This is all so nuts. I'm not happy with bluetooth headphones due to their lag and the compression tech that butchers up sound quality. I really don't want to move away from iOS. I'm all nice and settled in here but music is too important for me to just give up like that, it's the reason why I bought a 128gb instead of an 8gb phone.
[doublepost=1452345397][/doublepost]

Reading these pro-headphone jack comments is funny. Guaranteed everyone defending the headphone jack is over 30 years old and are just sad to see the technology they love finally come to an end. Move on people. Make way for new, higher quality sound.

I can't tell if you're a joke account or not. With BT the sound is compressed again causing lower sound quality. It simply isn't possible to get the same sound quality without introducing much more lag. Wired provides a higher quality sound.

 

[OllyW]

There will be an adapter for the interim period.

I've just remembered I've already got one though I can see a few issues with portability.

It even works with 1/4" jacks which is a bit of a bonus.
Joking aside, it works perfectly without having to alter any settings on the phone so thumbs up to Apple.

 

[MarkusL]

Battery life concerns, what a surprise. So Apple is switching to wireless audio but it's not ready yet... This will be a desaster, trust me.

Agreed, four hours would be pitiful. It would no longer be "you're using it wrong", it would push us firmly into the realm of "you're using it, and that's wrong". I have to admit my expectations on Apple have faded slightly the past few years, but I still have a hard time believing they would let such a dud out the door.

 

[Poisednoise]

Reading these pro-headphone jack comments is funny. Guaranteed everyone defending the headphone jack is over 30 years old and are just sad to see the technology they love finally come to an end. Move on people. Make way for new, higher quality sound.

It is possible, yes, but speed is key in the tech world.

We'd still be using the headphone jack in 2030 if someone didn't have the balls to kick it now.

Yes, I'm over 30. I'm a musician, and I can tell you now, with absolute certainty, that the 3.5mm jack will still be being used in 14 years' time. I am also prepared to bet that Bluetooth, at least in its current form, will no longer exist, and no phone or other consumer device will be using lightning ports in 2030. Honestly, you have this totally wrong. I'm prepared to believe that most of us won't be using wired headphones with our personal devices any more, but there's no way the 3.5mm jack is disappearing, any more than the ¼ inch jack, the rca phono, or the XLR or bantam plug. They're too deeply embedded in studio gear, which unlike your phone, does not get replaced every one or two years.

 

[OllyW]

I'm prepared to believe that most of us won't be using wired headphones with our personal devices any more, but there's no way the 3.5mm jack is disappearing, any more than the ¼ inch jack, the rca phono, or the XLR or bantam plug. They're too deeply embedded in studio gear, which unlike your phone, does not get replaced every one or two years.

It's quite funny that these so called old fashioned connecters are still used in studios during the actual recording of music but are deemed too old hat to be used when listening to the music on a phone.

 

[nt5672]

It's quite funny that these so called old fashioned connecters are still used in studios during the actual recording of music but are deemed too old hat to be used when listening to the music on a phone.

Most people that listen to music on the iPhone do not listen critically and therefor do not need studio quality equipment. Any music going over radio waves (bluetooth, etc) has subtile changes in latency that most people don't care about or can't hear it.

I'm all for change, but I won't buy thinner, period. Since I don't use the iPhone for critical listening what they do the audio does not matter except that if there is no wire on the earphones then I'm sure I'll be loosing them all the time.

 

[AppleFlames]

There is also a petition to remove the jacks to show Apple to not listen to the petition to keep them.

Link: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/removetheheadphonejack

Let show Apple we DO want to move to the future.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

Smaller devices.

So "thinner"? Could you point me to maybe 5 posts anywhere on this site of tens of thousands of posts where any of us are griping about the onerous thickness of the iPhone 6... or even the 5... or 4?

Fewer wires

It's one wire from 3.5mm to headphones. Switch to Lightning and it's one wire from Lightning to headphones (or maybe 1 + 1 wire from phone to adapter and adapter to headphones).

This is not about Bluetooth. There is not nearly the profit for Apple in adopting Bluetooth vs. making this go with Lightning. Apple doesn't own Bluetooth.

For those already using Bluetooth or considering it, "fewer wires" with Bluetooth as is means sacrificing audio quality that you'll likely be able to notice. And if you like watching video on your devices, be prepared for audio lag (lips moving before audio plays- like old overdubbed Godzilla movies).

Higher quality audio all round.

Through Lightning, this is the best argument so far. But how many of us will be able to hear the difference through headphones... even good ones? For years and years now, we've argued that AAC Plus is "good enough"... that "no one can hear the difference". But now we think Apple is going this way and all of our ears have magically improved. Were we lying to ourselves and each other all these years or are we lying to ourselves and each other to rationalize this change?

And if this point is about Bluetooth, Bluetooth is NOT equal to "higher quality". Bluetooth is only wireless convenience at the expense of audio quality. No one who is objective could argue this truth.

Better controls.

Conceptually true. But what controls for headphones are missing or don't work well now?

Better noise cancellation tech.

Based on what? What in "noise cancellation technology" will be bettered by embracing a Lightning connection (that can't be matched with the "as is")? How does a connection via a proprietary jack improve "noise canceling tech"? And if you have a (tangible, objective) answer, wouldn't it work just as well via USB3c?

Pushing an entire industry forward.

What industry? The Lightning accessories makers?

If this is about pushing Bluetooth audio forward, see the innovation by subtraction post #165. In extreme summary, if Apple ships this rumored iPhone:

• with Lightning buds, people may just use those for iPhone: thus no real push on Bluetooth audio innovators
• with an adapter, people may just use the adapter: thus, no real push on Bluetooth audio innovators

So if you think this is about pushing Bluetooth audio innovators to innovate higher-quality audio via Bluetooth, Apple- and everyone else- needs to abandon the existing options and exclusively support Bluetooth as pretty much the ONLY way... OR Apple needs to roll out a superior wireless Bluetooth audio standard at or before launch (hopefully not relying on some elements ONLY controlled by- and thus requiring steep licensing from- a single corporation).

Bluetooth has been evolving without a (artificial by subtraction) push. If it is THE way to a future of wireless + better, it will evolve there on it's own. Apple doesn't need other computer manufacturers to remove ubiquitous features to better Macs. They just work on it anyway. Apple doesn't need other phone manufacturers to remove ubiquitous features to better iPhone. They just work on it anyway. Bluetooth manufacturers don't need ONE corporation to remove a ubiquitous feature to better Bluetooth audio. They'll work on it anyway too.

 

[Virinprew]

I might as well implant Bluetooth chip into my brain. Or may be the whole phone.

 

[oldmacs]

There is also a petition to remove the jacks to show Apple to not listen to the petition to keep them.

Link: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/removetheheadphonejack

Let show Apple we DO want to move to the future.

Do you not understand that removing the 3.5mm port will not give better sound quality? Also I'm not sure you understand how sound or speakers work if you think that lighting ports will give you 'Digital sound'... Your petition doesn't address the many issues surrounding bluetooth, nor the many environmental implications of Apple moving away from a standardised connector.

Also plenty of other manufacturers have made waterproof phones with 3.5 mm connectors so that is another invalid point.

 

[Rigby]

Fine for me, if they add Bluetooth AptX Lossless. If not, wireless sound is worthless if you're just a little audiophile.

You will not see a truly lossless version of AptX on Bluetooth. The bandwidth is simply not sufficient. If at all, AptX Lossless will be run in "hybrid" mode where it's only lossless part of the time.

But in any case, Apple is unlikely to use AptX, since it is proprietary and they'd have to pay a licensing fee. They are more likely to continue using AAC on Bluetooth.

This also illustrates that Bluetooth audio products are not quite as standardized as one might think. The only mandatory codec for Bluetooth A2DP is SBC, which even at its "high quality" setting is worse than MP3 at 128kbps. Some headphone makers support AptX which is a bit better, but Apple has never supported that. They use AAC, which in turn is not supported by most non-Apple headphones.