Hirez audio is a marketing gimmick, period, and choice of DAC doesn't matter to 99.9% of people, and 99.9% of the .1% who claim it matters wouldn't withstand ABX testing. The numbers would be even worse when talking about a portable audio device and the conditions that it's used in. All the attention to this, if true, suggests to me Apple is quickly running out of ideas and is desperate for new features, something, anything they can claim is "new and improved." The problem is, the iPhone is already quite good, and the overwhelming reaction will be, "Meh, I can't tell any difference." Surely they realize this? Of course they do. If true, it's all just a naked money grab with the Beats acquisition behind it. "Well, we gotta make a big move in audio now."
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iPhone 7 May Ship With Lightning-Connected EarPods, New Wireless Earphones Also Under Development
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Even if they do, it will be with an industry standard that will ultimately be supported by thousands of devices.
I don't think the average joe will understand this. Why should accessories like a keyboard have a different port than the computer? Also i think the ATV 4 is more of an iOS device than anything else, but somehow it moved to USB C. And the so called laptop replacement iPad Pro got Lightning. As i said, last years lineup didn't reflect such a clear distinction.
Lightning doesn't seem to be very future proof. It's already a bottleneck on my 6S Plus. The export of self recorded 4K movies is really slow. And the wireless work arounds via itunes wifi sync or airdrop aren't very reliable for those big files. So i often end up using the slower wire. Even worse, in contrast to the old Dock, the Lightning Digital AV adapter can't output raw HDMI. I don't know if 4K video output would be possible. So far it doesn't even manage 1080p very well (upscaled 900p with artifacts/delay Source: https://panic.com/blog/the-lightning-digital-av-adapter-surprise/). So much for Apple's strength of thinking things through.
The underlying interface is definitely overdue for an update, but only the iPad Pro got a new controller with "faster" USB 3.0 speeds. And you need to buy a new adapter for that. I'm sorry, but i'm not going to exchange those pricey Lightning adapters on a routinely basis. I can't stand anymore adapters that only work with iPhones/iPads. And now this rumor about iPhone only headphones. No thanks. From a consumer perspective, Apple should move to USB C for their whole lineup. Even if there a still hurdles for USB C like the lack of backwards compatibility to serial UART without an adaptor. But the loss of the audio jack would be way more bearable for me, if i don't get fully pushed to a proprietary standard.
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& if I had to guess, I'd say somewhere around 50% of iPhone users actually use the headphones port for headphones... and if you include using it as an auxiliary port to play music in the car... maybe 80%.
If I had to guess how many people are satisfied with the trash Apple headphones & never replace them with a real pair... maybe 3-5% tops?
Soooooo..... Apple, not wanting "complaintfest" on their hands, will almost certainly include this adapter.
Adaptor lightning -3.5 mm
whats the fuss about?
you don't want it, you get wireless headphones. Whats the fuss?
You already own wireless? Then its OK.
you already own wired headphones? Just get an adaptor, put it on cable and forget it. Whats the fuss about?
whats the fuss about?
you don't want it, you get wireless headphones. Whats the fuss?
You already own wireless? Then its OK.
you already own wired headphones? Just get an adaptor, put it on cable and forget it. Whats the fuss about?
Jesus, do you really think I want such a friggin' long adapter between my iPhone and my wired headphones when carrying the iPhone in my jeans pocket? Probably only a matter of time before I break my lightning port and my headphone connector when I sit down...
Yes, if this is true, we seem to be back in a situation like the old MHz race of old. Basically, who cares about even more thinness? Aesthetically, yes, but Apple, you've built success on user experience and not just looks. I'm worried that this focus is now slowly fading and that would in the end be very bad for Apple.
The user experience of the single USB-C port on the Macbook is poor (connectivity is painful, especially if you want to charge at the same time). The user experience (think for instance "choice in headphones") is poor if they drop the 3.5mm now. It's only acceptable if they include (and not sell at another $100) an adapter that turns the lightning into a lighting + 3.5mm. Less elegant, but at least the user experience is ok.
1. The adapter is yet another thing you'll have to carry around and, since it's so small, potentially lose.Adaptor lightning -3.5 mm
whats the fuss about?
you don't want it, you get wireless headphones. Whats the fuss?
You already own wireless? Then its OK.
you already own wired headphones? Just get an adaptor, put it on cable and forget it. Whats the fuss about?
2. Since it occupies the lighting connector, you can't listen and charge at the same time. Or get audio-out with the VGA adapter.
3. It puts added strain on the port.
4. Apple is unlikely to include an adapter, thus necessitating an extra expense.
There isn't really anything to understand. They will just plug in whatever comes in the box to whatever port it fits in. Certainly less confusing than the landscape is already becoming with various video ports (ie. displayport to hdmi cables that can only operate in one direction) or where usb-c is headed (same port that has vastly differing capabilities - once Thunderbolt accessories hit the market there will be plenty of devices on the market that aren't compatible with things that can physically plug into that port.) I'm pretty sure the ATV got USB-C because it isn't really intended for the consumer to plug it in, an they didn't want them trying to plug it into their computer with the lightning cable included in the box.
Adaptor lightning -3.5 mm
whats the fuss about?
you don't want it, you get wireless headphones. Whats the fuss?
You already own wireless? Then its OK.
you already own wired headphones? Just get an adaptor, put it on cable and forget it. Whats the fuss about?
Other people have hit on the negatives of a physical design like that, but I'll point out, for about the 10th time in the last week, that your simple adapter there needs to also include a DAC and an amplifier. You think it's going to fit in there? And sound good?
Oh yeah, i should probably point out that what is actually pictured there is not a 3.5mm headphone jack adapter. It's a 3.5mm DC adapter. (eg. the thing we used to use to plug our Gameboy into the mains)
For that matter, I don't think Apple is going for external DAC. Don't forget that iPhone also emits various sounds like music, ringtones and even calls without any headphones. So it does to have a good DAC inside. Going with two DACs is stupid. Therefore, one internal DAC, a new lossless bluetooth codec, wireless phones included. Maybe, also the adaptor. Third parties may go for external DAC, but its already existing solution in current Fidelio Philips high end phones.
So it will have one internal DAC, move the music signal in wireless to new headphones (airpods) or to 3.5mm adaptor. No problem, more battery inside, smaller bezel, clear sound, new DAC will probably go for 24 bit and so on.
The interesting thing if they change to lightning..What will they do on the MacBooks?
remove the jack or add lightning or go bluetooth only?
iPhone 7, showerproof like Apple Watch, not waterproof
iOS 10 -> iOS X?
3D touch v2, double the amount of sensors + better SW integration
remove the jack or add lightning or go bluetooth only?
iPhone 7, showerproof like Apple Watch, not waterproof
iOS 10 -> iOS X?
3D touch v2, double the amount of sensors + better SW integration
Yes, the iPhone does have a good DAC inside - this is one of the primary reasons I'm worried about this change - I see the potential for it to drive down the audio quality (or at least to make it more expensive and less convenient). Two DAC's is stupid which is another reason to be skeptical of this change. Whether the audio output is changed to lightning or bluetooth, either way you need an outboard DAC and amplifier, and it needs to be contained inside the adapter, cable, or headphones in some way.
(your wireless suggestion still requires an external DAC - the wireless output is digital not analogue and must be converted before it can be turned into sound at the headphone transducer)
Let's agree to disagree. I still think it's a weird choice. E.g. USB A would have been cheaper to produce and might allowed to charge the remote. But you're right about the USB C landscape. I don't know how the consortium could miss this problem. The wires matter if you unify the port. Maybe we see again some colored indicators about the capabilities.
Good questions. By now i wouldn't rule out a future Lightning port on the Macbooks. But i guess it is a safe bet that they will also get the rumored Bluetooth enhancements.
true, BT phones will have their DAC. But for lightning-3.5mm you will need internal DAC, unless you are using external amp like Fiio
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Macs already have Bluetooth on by default.
Either way you need an external DAC and amp as lightning doesn't do analogue audio output.
That's what turns me off from this so much - and I'm no luddite - I'm extremely willing to quickly adopt new technology - the existing system is universal, reliable, and elegant in its simplicity. It isn't limiting quality in any way. Any new solution is going to compromise at least one of those factors, possibly multiple ones, for improvements that are largely being manufactured in order to find a way to drive sales of new products that aren't necessarily better, just different.
Yes?! And if Apple really creates those wireless Earpods with the new HQ audio codec (another macrumor news), the macs need at least a software implementation (update) or a maybe even new hardware. The continuity/airdrop features from iOS 8 had also specific software/hardware requirements despite using "ordinary" Bluetooth and Wifi. Supported versions and codecs are important. The macs are still using 4.0 (software upgrade?) while the iPhones moved to 4.2 (iOS 9 enabled it on the 6 and higher).
I guess that right but that whats business is. It is selling you things for convenience. Like UHD TV without much content. Or radio in car, you can drive without.
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Isn't it existing A2DP good enough for that?
No idea. It's Apple choice. They could also go the aptX route for newer devices and offer some backfall mode for older or non-apple devices. But that's pure speculation. Btw the article about the new codec: https://www.macrumors.com/2015/12/20/apple-high-resolution-audio/
Who said that? Personally I found the iPhone 6 to be the perfect thickness, so much so it was the first phone I bought a case for and I realised that there's no need for them to be thinner.
Imagine if this trend continues and eventually we'll have phones as thick as a few sheets of paper and trying to pick that up whilst its lying flat on a table.
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
Adaptor lightning -3.5 mm
whats the fuss about?
you don't want it, you get wireless headphones. Whats the fuss?
You already own wireless? Then its OK.
you already own wired headphones? Just get an adaptor, put it on cable and forget it. Whats the fuss about?
It's this kind of thinking that could be slung again and again by the "Apple is always right" crowd should Apple decide to jettison the battery or camera...
- What the fuss about?
- You don't want it, you get a battery case (or external camera). What's the fuss?
- You already own a battery case (or external camera)? Then it's OK (though it's not really, because the size of the iPhone changes often).
If we can keep swallowing this pill, eventually Apple can ship an empty box for the approx. $1000 and we can get ALL of the parts that make up a current iPhone as separate accessories. The "thinnest & lightest" iPhone ever that is also waterproof, shockproof, shatterproof, unstealable, unhackable, <fill in any other nirvana claims> ever*!
And of course, some of the very same people so passionately arguing (and spinning) in favor of this in the thread will be in those future threads too:
- "it's genius to shift the battery OUTSIDE the phone. Not only would that yield a much thinner & lighter phone but pretty much everyone buys a case anyway... and now everyone can get the exact amount of battery they want."
- "Apple has done it again. No more gripes about the camera quality or protruding because now everyone can simply add whatever quality of camera they want. Perfection. How long until Samesung copies that brilliance?"
- And so on.
Else, keep it in there and let consumers "vote" with their own ears. And including an adapter or including Lightning buds only solves the problem of listening to audio on the iPhone... it still doesn't allow one set of headphones to also work with pretty much everything else that plays audio including Apple's own Macs. Personally, I'm not excited about carrying around TWO sets of headphones OR an adapter(s) for upwards of many years (until everyone else and everything else embraces Lightning on par with the ubiquity of 3.5mm). I'm not burning for a Lightning connector on future Macs just for headphone use (why would we need it for anything else if it will also have the much more versatile USB3 or USB3c?).
And again, flip your current iPhone up and look at how "thick" the current Lightning connector is relative to the current iPhone. Then time travel forward a few generations. How many future iterations of iPhone until Lightning is spun as "too thick" to support future "thinning." And then what? "Introducing Lightning 2"... and all of what we buy to support this move now is obsolete... OR needs ANOTHER adapter?
So again, I hope this is just a (wrong) rumor. If it's not, then I hope Apple is going USB- even USB3c- on the next iPhone (jettisoning Lightning too) so that an open standard not completely owned by a single, for-profit corporation can be "the future" of wired audio connections on portable devices. Certainly THAT would yield an even faster way to "the future" and deliver every single one of the very same benefits being spun by the "always right" crowd... AND everyone else could more quickly adopt it too so that the adapters we'll have to carry between now and a return to audio jack ubiquity could be retired more quickly. But let me guess, the "always right" crowd can easily spin why- say- USB3c makes absolutely no sense... that Lightning is the ONLY way to that "future."
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Adaptor lightning -3.5 mm
whats the fuss about?
you don't want it, you get wireless headphones. Whats the fuss?
You already own wireless? Then its OK.
you already own wired headphones? Just get an adaptor, put it on cable and forget it. Whats the fuss about?
Music reproduction on iPhone is a joke and wireless audio on iPhone is on whole another level of terrible. iOS doesn't even support aptX let alone that there is some proprietary high fidelity technology like LDAC. Then you have to find good quality BT headphones which do exists but cost $$$ and you can forget the same about ear buds.
And I'm not holding high hopes for wireless ear buds Apple will come up with cause like every other peripheral they make or an accessory to their product will be half arsed in every way.
Apple is very fast at ditching something but in no way they provide viable alternative or tools to get there. As a matter of fact no wonder they acquired Beats its a perfect synergy of marketing over quality for iTunes generation.
Apple can develop its own Lossless code ala aptx or just license it.
Apple earbuds have been quite good and came free with phone. If you don't like em, you can buy anything from market.
No big deal. I have 6 wired headphones and looking towards using them with new lightning adaptor. I carry only one set of market headphones (apple one stay in box), and putting an adaptor on them is not a big thing.
I am also thinking of buying bluetooth adaptor to 3.5 mm so I can use even existing one wirelessly. They cost less than one cup of cappuccino at Starbucks.
Unless the adapator itself is BIG. Remember that the thing has to include an amp and a DAC. It's one thing to say that it's no big deal while you sit there and type your post, but in the real world carrying around an adaptor which can get lost or damaged will be a pain in the neck.
You seem to be eager to give Apple more money for something you don't need. You can use your 6 wired headphones right now without spending a penny. If you have an extra $50 to flush down the toilet, why don't you give that money to the Red Cross or some other charity? Apple doesn't need more money, but they sure find creative ways to get more money out of their customers.
You clearly don't care about sound quality. I bet that not one of those 6 wired headphones you own costs more than $20. Sure, if you plug a crappy headphone to a Bluetooth to 3.5 adaptor you will not hear any difference. Just buy a Bluetooth headphone and be done with it. Be sure to buy a Beats, that way you can can make Cook and his cronies even more rich.