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

There, I have it! Mag-Safe it !!

A strong but thin magnet under a corner of the iPhone 7 with four spring contacts on the surface would allow you to magnetically attach any 3.5 mm plug to it.

When not in use, the contacts would be electrically protected/isolated.


Want it crazier?! make the camera external and magnetically attachable. This way the iPhone 7 could be made almost paper thin! And you could get a better camera later, if you want.

Add a super-cap and BT to the camera module, then detach it for a couple of minutes for the perfect selfie.
 
Rogifan said:
Apple's not completely stupid. iPhone is their cash cow. If they had data that suggested most people are not using the headphones that come with the phone but ones that they purchased separately (and they're wired) they're not going to get rid of the headphone jack or if they do there's going to he an adapter in the box. My guess is Apple has pretty reliable data that most people are using the headphones that come in the box or are using wireless. And the people that are freaking out about this are the small percent that don't use the headphones that come in the box. And I'm saying this as someone who doesn't use Apple's headphones so I would be impacted.
Click to expand...

Even if they have rich consumer data that says that, Apple is famous for the "customer experience." Think about that customer experience...

If a customer ONLY uses an iDevice with the included buds, the impact of shipping Lightning-terminated earbuds is small.

But what if that customer also uses Macs?

What if they want to jack into pretty much anything else?

Then, the customer experience is burdened by the need to carry around another adapter. Take a flight and want to watch the movie or show? Need your adapter unless all of the airlines embrace Lightning too. Have a (non-Apple) friend saying you "must hear this new song"? Need the adapter. Have ANY reason to listen to audio on anything other than iDevices? Need the adapter.

Else, everything else needs to adopt Lightning (too). And by the time everything else can adapt Lightning (if everyone got with it right now), a future iPhone will be wanting to get too "thinner" for Lightning.

Introducing Lightning 2.
 
Last edited:
SgtPepper12 said:
The biggest inconvenience is the requirement for a second battery. It usually makes headphones bulkier, you need them charge regularly, it's yet another device that can die on your in the middle of something. Yes, that sounds like a real inconvenience. The cable on the other hand seriously has never been inconvenient to me. It was never difficult for me to figure out where to put it or whatever. In fact, the cables were often part of the functionality to me — I often got the phone out of my pocket by pulling on the cable, or disconnected the headphones to automatically stop playback. Or using the remote on the cable to control volume.
Click to expand...

Well for starters, I love the freedom of movement my bluetooth headphones allow. I'll gladly keep them charged up in order to have that freedom. Battery life, weight, bulk all are tradeoffs which will improve over time. And a lot of that depends on whether those things affect you. Have you seen the size of the most popular headphones on the planet -- Beats? The BT Beats headphones actually appear to be smaller than the wired ones! On the other hand I have a pair of wireless BT earbuds that are as light and as small as I need, which have about an 8 hour battery life (there are some BT headphones that get 20!). Which is more than enough to last me a couple of days. Now if you're worried about them dying in the middle of something, many new BT headphones are being made with optional cables. My guess is during the transition, there will be BT headphones with both Lightning and 3.5mm analogue cables. But that's true for anything. What if your iPhone dies in the middle of something?

So it's OK if you like dealing with wires. I don't. I love being able to stand up on an airplane to let someone out of the row, without unplugging my headphones, or taking them off. I love being able to workout at the gym without a cable routed down my shirt to keep it out of the way, or otherwise managing the cable so it doesn't flop around on the treadmill. I love not having to keep my phone tucked in someplace within the length of the cord, which is never long enough to put it where I'd like to. I love not strapping my phone to my arm. I love listening to music around my house or at the office while I'm working, without disturbing others. I can walk down to the kitchen and get some coffee without taking my headphones off, and not have to carry my iPhone, iPad or MacBook with me. Or if I go to the bathroom. I can make a sandwich with both hands free as I move around the kitchen. I can go outside! Recline on a chaise lounge without disturbing my neighbors with loud music. I can leave the iPhone inside or put it conveniently on any table that's more than 2 feet from my head! And I can control it with Siri! And the list could go on and on.

Also, I hate digging in my pocket with a bunch of junk in there. No case on my iPhone for that reason, so it slips in, and out. No need to tug on anything -- which by the way is bad for everything, phone wires, and buds (I used to do that too, and can't tell you how many earbuds and jacks I broke doing that). My BT headphones also have convenient controls located right on them that will stop the music, or control the volume.

While you don't see any need to improve anything right this minute, and have grown accustomed to the limitations of wired audio, or wireless audio doesn't serve your needs today, there's a big difference between that and what would ultimately be more convenient for you. That's all I'm saying. And the revolution has to start somewhere.
 
I hate ear buds as it is. Sometimes they can be uncomfortable. I like over the ear headphones better. But my beats I guess are old? Cuz they're not Bluetooth. Ugh guess I gotta update and buy new ones. That sucks.
 
Last edited:
MacRumors said:



Apple's upcoming iPhone 7 is rumored to feature a thinner body with no headphone jack, with Apple instead planning to rely on the Lightning port and Bluetooth as ways to connect headphones to the device.

It was not clear if Apple would continue to ship EarPods along with the iPhone 7, and whether those EarPods would use Lightning or Bluetooth, but a new report from 9to5Mac suggests Apple will indeed ship Lightning-connected EarPods with the iPhone 7. Apple is also working on a new set of wireless Bluetooth earphones that would be sold alongside the iPhone 7 as a premium accessory and alternative to the Lightning-connected EarPods.

While traditional Bluetooth headphones, including Apple's own PowerBeats, have a wire that connects the left and right ear pieces to each other, Apple is said to be designing earphones that do not include a connective cord. These earphones would be similar in design to the Bragi Dash, an upcoming set of earphones that features individual ear pieces for each ear. Charging would be done through a battery case.

bragidash-800x488.jpg
A recent rumor suggested Apple would use new audio technology in the iPhone 7 to improve noise-cancelation techniques for better sounding music and phone calls, and this appears to be technology that may also extend to Apple's prospective wireless earphones.

In October, trademark filings for an audio accessory by the name of "AirPods" were linked to Apple, so it's possible Apple's rumored wireless earphones will eventually be named "AirPods" and sold alongside the existing EarPods.

According to 9to5Mac, while the earphones are currently under development in preparation for a fall launch, there's a possibility the technology could be delayed due to battery life concerns. The earphones are said to have a battery life under four hours.

Today's report also suggests Apple is finalizing the design for the iPhone 7, testing three designs that range from a thinner model to a device that looks much like the iPhone 6s.

Article Link: iPhone 7 May Ship With Lightning-Connected EarPods, New Wireless Earphones Also Under Development
Click to expand...
The Lightning connected headphones are useless, you can't use them with a macbook or any other apple product for that matter. Should I go around with two headphones all the time? The only solution will be to buy their 200 bucks wireless headphones.
 
Rogifan said:
So how does that happen if everybody says what you just said. How will the world move away from common use of that jack if nobody ever gets rid of it? It's got to start somewhere.
Click to expand...

The world doesn't need to move away from it. Frankly with the burden of charging headphones, wired ones are a long way from going away.

Trying to move the world away from an existing standard only works when it's done by trying to move the world to something better. And it's not something better in this case.
 
nfl46 said:
Bring on the change!

Don't worry, Samsung, will make sure their 2017 devices have no headphone jack. :) I expect a commercial around September/October 2016 saying how the Note 6 and S7 can connect to any headphones, while your new iPhone cannot. Lol.
Click to expand...

Hearing this rumors, Samsung change the design of S7 for this summer.
[doublepost=1452291522][/doublepost]
milo said:
The world doesn't need to move away from it. Frankly with the burden of charging headphones, wired ones are a long way from going away.

Trying to move the world away from an existing standard only works when it's done by trying to move the world to something better. And it's not something better in this case.
Click to expand...

Its just Apple... Not the whole World... Well... As usual what Apple do.. Everyone will follows.
 
I should start off saying that I have the developer version of the Dash and here are my thoughts on them :

The Bragi Dash is pretty cool. They have controls for noise cancellation and to allow sound to pass through in case you're driving. I haven't used the on-board memory but with 4 GB users can put music on them so they don't need the iPhone.

My only concern is the battery life. Unless Apple has some secret up their sleeve users will only get about 3 hours battery life and the average user will want more of they're going to spend $300 on a device like this.

As for fit, I've walked around the mall with these things in my ears and not one worried about them falling out.
 
bigchrisfgb said:
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.
Click to expand...
Sounds so incredibly dangerous. Sounds like a whole new way to be a victim of theft.
 
oneMadRssn said:
Way too big. Where do I put that in my pocket? If I bend it around behind the phone, will that put stress on the plug and port?
Click to expand...

Not sure I follow. That's not much bigger than than the end of your cord as it is. It will hang out of your pocket presumably as the cable from your headphones already does. What difference does it make? And why would bending it around put stress on your connector? Does bending the cord of your headphones around do that now? And as I already stated, the adapter Apple comes up with will be much slimmer and unobtrusive than this cobbled together example. It will more likely be no larger than a bump in the cable, in much the same way as your mic and control mechanism is.


Orlandoech said:
As long as they include a free adapter, I will be OK with it during the mean time, until I find a pair of BT Headphones I truly like.
Click to expand...

Not likely to happen. Apple's goal here is to move its customers to wireless, and introducing them to Lightning as the alternative. Giving you a 3.5mm adapter will only encourage you to keep using what you already have. Instead they will give you a pair of Lightning headphones, just as they always have.

HobeSoundDarryl said:
Of course, Apple could go ahead and make the switch to bundling in Lightning earbuds without jettisoning the 3.5mm jack. That would cover all bases:
  • All the people arguing that this is really about wireless (Bluetooth) could keep using wireless (Bluetooth). And if it is about wireless, Apple could ship wireless earbuds and let us hear that audio superiority vs. a corded option.
Click to expand...

What you forgot in your list is that as long as people don't have to make a choice, they will continue using the 3.5mm jack. And then there's no demand to give incentive for developers to improve bluetooth, or compete with each other to innovate or lower prices. And nothing changes. Moreover, whatever Apple can put in the box is not going to please all musical tastes. Some people are fine going though life with a $4 set of earbuds they picked up at a drugstore on vacation. Others are fine with the set Apple gives them for free. In fact I'd wager that constitutes most headphone users everywhere. But giving the benefit of the doubt, there's a wide range of audio quality between Apple's bundled earbuds and the highest fidelity audiophile wired headphones. And within that begins the debate of what's acceptable in a wireless headphone for each individual user -- price, quality, weight, or battery life? So Apple will offer an average quality wired headphone comparable with what they have and let the wireless audio makers go to work to compete for your money. And as usual, Apple will set the bard for them with their own offering, which will appeal to some, but not all -- like everything else in the world. And just like every major change of this nature, the new standard will continue to improve, ticking off each previous complaint until eventually there will be none.
 
lucabruno1618 said:
The Lightning connected headphones are useless, you can't use them with a macbook or any other apple product for that matter. Should I go around with two headphones all the time? The only solution will be to buy their 200 bucks wireless headphones.
Click to expand...

Or maybe buy a $20 adapter? MacBooks will all be updated with Lightning ports in their very next refresh after the iPhone 7 debuts.

milo said:
The world doesn't need to move away from it. Frankly with the burden of charging headphones, wired ones are a long way from going away.

Trying to move the world away from an existing standard only works when it's done by trying to move the world to something better. And it's not something better in this case.
Click to expand...

Well I appreciate your personal viewpoint, but as with the rest of us, you don't speak for everyone. I would gladly add recharging my headphones to the list for the wireless freedom I enjoy with them. And with 8 hours per 1 hour charge, that gives me a lot of freedom.

Where would we be if people felt that way about WiFi? I guess running around town plugging our phones and tablets into Ethernet ports.
 
Do current BlueTooth/Wireless headphones also have a microphone for making phone calls? Or will an adapter also be required for this basic functionlity?
 
Mac 128 said:
Well I appreciate your personal viewpoint, but as with the rest of us, you don't speak for everyone.
Click to expand...
Exactly, just like you don't speak for everyone. I observe that you pretty much understood that there are two opinions on that topic, some — like you — feel that the freedom wireless headsets offer a great asset, while others — like me — feel that having to deal with the necessary limitations of wireless technology is too much of a trade off. As of yet, both of those opinions could happily co-exist, but for some reason Apple decided to go with one of those groups. The problem is not really that wireless technology is completely useless, that's not my point, my point is that for some people it's just subjectively worse than the cabled solution we had so far. What Apple does is just depriving it's customers of choice. This "upgrade" adds nothing.
 
Stop with the Joke now. It's not funny anymore. Stop waisting our time shouting hole in our heads about a connector no-one cares about beside Apple.

We get that it was a Joke to go on and on and on, it was fun. We got some laughs but move on. Nothing here to see. It's dead. It's not moving. It has passed on. Kicked the bucket. It's no more. THE END

*posted in humour as I sadly can project the new Apple doing this.
 
Last edited:
Instead, the new headphones are likely to come with a carrying case that doubles as a rechargeable battery to juice up the headphones when they are not in use.

Now we'd need a battery case for headphones. It feels wrong, like technology is moving in a funky direction, perpendicular to the real progress and utility for the consumers.

Why not leave the headphones and wait with the release until you are ready? When you could invent better batteries or think of a more elegant way to overcome this shortcoming?

You know, even when you can do it, like with the phones, why are you doing the opposite? What could be easier of making a phone with a good battery which you perfectly can make, but for some reason you keep making phones thinner and thinher and then give us an ugly and bulky battery pack.

Then MacBook with a single port requiring adapter for any single thing. And now that removing of standard audio port on the iPhone and we get another adapter to deal with. What's the point of all of that, where's there the innovation, how it's supposed to be better for the users?..

No one else in the market is going to switch to Lightning port for headphones. There will be some headphones released for iPhones, but the rest of the world will use the old standard.

It would be great if you could make transparent phones or something like that, where such obsession with thinning and removing could be justified, but you can't. So why?
 
zhenya said:
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?
Click to expand...

Who cares about sound quality? Apple is moving forward. Just about everyone I know keeps saying they hope the 3.5mm jack goes the way of the dinosaur.
[doublepost=1452292826][/doublepost]
Mac 128 said:
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.
Click to expand...

The real future of audio is direct to brain waves, bypassing the ears entirely.
 
Everyone assumes, welp, Apple is doing this. Soon, Android will just be copying them.

What if they're wrong? What if this time Apple's dropping a standard backfires? What if this is the moment when Apple cuts down a standard in the forest and nobody hears it?

I am looking forward to USB-C on as much as possible. Why would I buy my next phone without it? I won't buy a PC without it, now.

When phones and headphones can recharge kinetically, just by moving around with them all day, then I'll say we're ready for this.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Back
Top