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

[tuxmelvin]

I don't know. Maybe I just like changes, but I kinda like that that 3.5mm jack is going away, even though I sometimes use it. I've had bluetooth earphones for 5 years now and I love it, I use them 95% of the time, they last around 9 hours, which is great (I think).
The more I hear, the more I am excited about iPhone 7, it'll pack new technologies, new iOS 10 (I hope they have something huge prepared for us).

I don't understand. Why would you be excited that they are taking functionality away? It's great that some people use bluetooth headphones, but the headphone jack is used for a lot more than just headphones.

 

[bigchrisfgb]

Even with all of these iPhone 7 advances, I think I'm more excited to see what the next version of iOS 10 will bring.

The iPhone 7 will be quite a device.

iOS 10 ( or iOS X) will in my opinion feature peer to peer Apple Pay. Peer to peer Apple Pay has been rumoured for a little while with Apple patenting various peer to peer payment methods.

If Apple Pay and Samsung pay do indeed use the same tokenisation methods it would be great if they both teamed up so that they could make and receive payments across platforms so that it is easier for both users. If they don't then it could still leave for a fragmented system, 3rd party payments systems and apps like PayPal would still be able to offer an advantage over a fragmented system.

 

[deckard666]

You probably would keep the irony a bit lower if you for example had $1000 custom made in-ear monitors (because you care about great sound quality) for which will need a fricking dongle when you want to use them with your next iPhone...

Custom iem being used with an iPhone ? Wtf ? You using Rockbox ? even with my Oppo HA-2 and a custom app they aren't a patch on a dedicated sub 500 pounds player ....

 

[8281]

Isn’t it amazing how much people are bitching about retiring quite literally 100 year old technology. I mean take a look at photographs from the early 1900s showing people wearing headsets with braided cords plugged into their radio sets. Only back then it was 1/4” jacks instead of 3.5mm jacks. Analog baby!

“If Henry Ford had asked customers what they wanted before starting his assembly line they would have said, “A better buggy whip.”” attributed to Steve Jobs

Except there really isn't anything wrong with the 3.5 mm jack. You can make a phone waterproof regardless. It doesn't make the phone too thick or heavy and everyone has inexpensive headphones.

This move, if true, isn't innovative. It's a cash grab. And there's plenty of other apple services (hello iCloud) that could use attention.

 

[zhenya]

So to reiterate, with the removal of the 3.5mm jack, ANY headphone will now need at a minimum a redundant DAC AND amplifier. If you want wireless you need both of those plus the Bluetooth equipment, battery, and a charging cable. How much money do you think is going to be left in a set of $20-$50 headphones for the sound quality?

 

[thermodynamic]

It's also PASSIVE analog, receiving power from source. There are no wireless devices that don't also need a power source. That alone is a very big deal.

The difference is number of power sources needed. Anything wireless = 2 sources.

I'd love to see unbiased stats on how often a bog standard 3.5 headphone kit drains the battery compared to anything wireless or using a proprietary connector, and even then is the upfront cost worth that difference? Have those stats been provided? Of course not. After all, it took years for Apple to finally add more than 1GB RAM as standard memory for an iphone, while everyone else was doing 2 or more for a lot longer and that means, if nothing else, allowing for many more web pages and apps open to actually multitask with.
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Except there really isn't anything wrong with the 3.5 mm jack. You can make a phone waterproof regardless. It doesn't make the phone too thick or heavy and everyone has inexpensive headphones.

This move, if true, isn't innovative. It's a cash grab. And there's plenty of other apple services (hello iCloud) that could use attention.

iCloud the fourth rename of their cloud services because the previous iterations bombed? (icloud, mobile.me, @Mac, wasn't there another...?)

 

[fourthtunz]

If this turns out to be the case it's the first decision that's made me think I could look at Android phones.

Yeah, I use my iPhone for music and the output is more than just using headphones..
I love everything apple but this headphone thing might make me do the same..
I'll keep my iPhones and iPads that I currently have for music
and just get a cheap android for my phone...my girlfriends android phone is pretty nice..
lots less money and it works fine...

 

[Mr. Dee]

I am so glad I bought my iPhone 6s. I am going to be like Michael Jackson and eat my popcorn. The 7s will definitely refine the rough edges.

 

[Narg]

Here's a petition to tell Apple to keep the headphone jack http://action.sumofus.org/a/iphone-headphone-jack/?sub=taf

 

[Rogifan]

Give a good reason why it should be replaced and an actually viable alternative. The 3.5mm jacks are widespread, cheap, robust, convenient to use, really small enough and do everything they need to do. I see no upside to this upcoming change whatsoever. If you do, please explain.

The fewer ports you have the easier it is to make a device water resistant. I'm going to guess that Apple has pretty reliable data on how many iPhone users are using the headphones in the box (or wireless) vs a 3rd party wired alternative. My guess is that number is high enough for Apple to get rid of the jack.

 

[dan110]

If history is any indicator, the sound quality of the Apple branded headphones will be complete garbage and they won't even be able to stay in your ears. All while being obscenely priced when purchased a la carte.

 

[Rogifan]

Bizarre, I haven't had an issue with a headphone jack in a long time, but every single lighting cable I have is currently frayed.

A lightning CABLE and headphone JACK aren't the same thing. I'm sure you've never had any issues with the lightning PORT either.

If history is any indicator, the sound quality of the Apple branded headphones will be complete garbage and they won't even be able to stay in your ears. All while being obscenely priced when purchased a la carte.

Apple EarPods are $29. How are they "obscenely priced"?

 

[lars666]

Custom iem being used with an iPhone ? Wtf ? You using Rockbox ? even with my Oppo HA-2 and a custom app they aren't a patch on a dedicated sub 500 pounds player ....

Don't use my customs ONLY for my iPhone, of course, but when being on the road, the iPhone drives them very nicely, even without a separate headphone amp. For smartphone circumstances, the integrated DAC is one of the best. (Again: compared to other smartphones.)

 

[SgtPepper12]

The fewer ports you have the easier it is to make a device water resistant. I'm going to guess that Apple has pretty reliable data on how many iPhone users are using the headphones in the box (or wireless) vs a 3rd party wired alternative. My guess is that number is high enough for Apple to get rid of the jack.

So your answer is basically "I just trust Apple and you should too"? Because really, the water resistance thing is not really a real reason. It's perfectly feasible to make the phone water resistant either way. I don't like forging statistics from anecdotal experience, but I'd say at least 90% if not more people I see running around with headphones on their ears use cabled ones.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

Give a good reason why it should be replaced and an actually viable alternative. The 3.5mm jacks are widespread, cheap, robust, convenient to use, really small enough and do everything they need to do. I see no upside to this upcoming change whatsoever. If you do, please explain.

Good post. 3.5mm is also dirt cheap and licensing cheap (or perhaps even free after all these years). Adopting Lightning on the other hand requires fees from all headphone makers paid to Apple and all adapters including the Apple premium to make existing headphones work through a proprietary standard completely controlled by Apple. For what real gain? Someone please lay out the real upside here (that isn't talking on behalf of Apple's accounting department or AAPL shareholders).

To remain an Apple Phone user if this rumor comes to pass pretty much means the vast majority of us are likely to have to carry around part of what will contribute to the big reveal "lighter" spin in a separate adapter. Personally, I don't desire "thinner & lighter" by kicking out ubiquitous utility. That's technological anorexia IMO.

Pretty much needing to carry around adapters is not "the future" unless that future is measured by further enriching the ONE company that completely controls the replacement jack and all of its licensing. As an AAPL shareholder myself, I don't even want more profits this way. This is SONY-type thinking.

 

[Mac 128]

Oh dear...connecting in my car will be a pain in the ass. Or, I'll have to buy a Lightning to 3.5mm cord, if that'll exist.

Better solution:

http://www.amazon.com/Mpow-Streambot-Bluetooth-Streaming-Smartphones/dp/B00MJMV0GU

So... are they going to add a Lighting port to the Mac line? Do they expect people to invest in Lightning headphones that they can't even use with their other products?

Yes. If Apple does this, a Lightning connector will be added to every product. And yes, people who use Apple products exclusively will invest in Lightning or BT headphones. A reverse adapter will be available to plug into legacy equipment as needed.

I just hope the 3.5mm adapter is unobtrusive and small. I don't want a giant dongle (...or do I?).

Haha, I see what you did there ... How's this:

Wanna try it now? My iPhone 6+ and 6S+ are both able to transmit sound over a lighting cable plugged into the USB port on my car. Sounds pretty good too. While you are recharging, just try playing a song and switch over to AUX. We already have the feature here.

Or just get a pass through connector:

will that be possible? the adapter? in a tiny form factor that will fit at the end of one's normal head phone cable?

Yes. This example above is of a custom made DAC for an Android phone. The one Apple sells will blow this out of the water in terms of size and features ...

Cool, wait.

If the new wireless earbuds are separate from each ear, does this eliminate the microphone and volume controls?

And, if the 3.5" port is eliminated, does this mean I can't listen to music in my car while charging my phone? Or can't plug my phone into party speakers? Or that I get to carry an adapter around everywhere I go now? That sounds like an improvement on a problem that didn't exist, definitely.

Of course. The mic is built into the earbuds, just like it is now. The new ones may even have controls and mics in both, or work in tandem. The whole point is to eliminate wires. Not functionality. You will need an adapter to plug into a non-current Apple product. Or just pair your phone with the party speakers with BT. Unless of course they aren't wireless. But then where are you getting the cord to plug your phone into them, so you have to carry it around? Frankly I wouldn't really want to plug my phone into party speakers, and have to leave it tethered to it. It would be weird to leave my phone sitting near a speaker at a party, and then how would I check my messages during the party. BT is a vastly superior improvement in such a situation.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

Bizarre, I haven't had an issue with a headphone jack in a long time, but every single lighting cable I have is currently frayed.

Apple makes money every time you have to buy another Lightning cable. But they don't make money every time you have to buy a new 3.5mm cable. Do the math. And then apply the math to the thinking behind this rumor. Then, this rumor makes a LOT more sense (for Apple and AAPL).

 

[Mac 128]

Give a good reason why it should be replaced and an actually viable alternative. The 3.5mm jacks are widespread, cheap, robust, convenient to use, really small enough and do everything they need to do. I see no upside to this upcoming change whatsoever. If you do, please explain.

So you don't have to physically be attached to a peace of equipment to listen to audio privately. The future of audio is wireless. Not being tethered to something, or figuring out how to run wiring to connect devices, is the ultimate evolution for everything. Giving developers incentive to improve current technology, innovate new ideas, and compete with each other will bring this revolution around sooner rather than later, and will drive prices lower, making the convenience of wireless affordable for everyone, without sacrificing sound quality, or causing undue inconvenience over the current hard-wired standard.

 

[ppenn]

I'm tired of charging stuff.

 

[davidg4781]

So... are they going to add a Lighting port to the Mac line? Do they expect people to invest in Lightning headphones that they can't even use with their other products?

There couldn't have been a greater time to make a universal switch to USB-C

When Lightning came out, I was really hoping that would end up being the USB-C connector and Macs would just have a few Lightning connectors. I guess they can still add it.

 

[dannyyankou]

Note to self: Refrain from buying headphones for the next 10 months until more companies adopt lightning

 

[Mac 128]

I'm tired of charging stuff.

I agree. Just wait until you have to add your car to that list. Solving the headaches of charging stuff is the next big revolution.

 

[milo]

Analog baby!

And these new headphones would be analog as well, they just move the converter to a different spot. It's pretty amazing how little people understand basic audio technology.

 

[ppenn]

I agree. Just wait until you have to add your car to that list. Solving the headaches of charging stuff is the next big revolution.

Remember when having a white cord dangling from your ears was a status symbol? sheesh.

 

[ScepticMatt]

Now if they used USB-C dropping the headphone jack would be more understandable.
USB-C can at least transmit analogue audio, so you'd be fine with a passive adapter.
So no "separate DAC for every headphone" hogwash.

But even then the headphone jack has been working just fine since frickin' 1878.