Removal of iPhone 7 Headphone Jack Was Essential for Water Resistance, New Camera System

[MacRumors]

Apple removed the headphone jack in the iPhone 7 and the iPhone 7 Plus, a controversial decision that's upset some iPhone fans. On stage at today's media event, Apple executives explained that it had been done to save space and to usher in improvements in wireless headphone technology, but in an interview with BuzzFeed, Apple's Greg Joswiak, Dan Riccio, and Phil Schiller explained in much greater detail why the decision was made to move away from the 3.5mm headphone jack.

The idea for the removal of the headphone jack was raised during the development of the iPhone 7. In a nutshell, the "driver ledge" for the display and backlight, traditionally placed near the camera, was interfering with the new camera systems in the iPhone 7 and the iPhone 7 Plus, leading Apple to explore other placement options. It was moved near the audio jack, but it also caused interference with various components, including the audio jack itself, so Apple engineers toyed with the elimination of the jack altogether.

When the headphone jack was removed, Apple realized it was easier to install the new Taptic Engine for the pressure-sensitive Home button, implement a bigger battery, and reach an IP7 water resistance rating, so the elimination of the headphone jack became essential for all of the other features in the iPhone 7.

Apple executives also believe the headphone jack is outdated technology that needed to go to make room for new advancements. According to Dan Riccio, it was holding Apple back "from a number of things" the company wanted to add to the iPhone, taking up space that could be used for camera improvements, battery, and processors.

"The audio connector is more than 100 years old," Joswiak says. "It had its last big innovation about 50 years ago. You know what that was? They made it smaller. It hasn't been touched since then. It's a dinosaur. It's time to move on." [...]

For Dan Riccio, Apple's senior vice president of hardware engineering, the iPhone's 3.5-millimeter audio jack has felt something like the last months of an ill-fated if amicable relationship: familiar and comfortable, but ultimately an impediment to a better life ahead. "We've got this 50-year-old connector -- just a hole filled with air -- and it's just sitting there taking up space, really valuable space," he says.

According to Apple's Phil Schiller, there's no ulterior motive behind the move away from the 3.5mm headphone jack. "We are removing the audio jack because we have developed a better way to deliver audio. It has nothing to do with content management or DRM -- that's pure, paranoid conspiracy theory," he said.

To ease the transition away from the 3.5mm headphone jack, Apple is including a 3.5mm to Lightning adapter with every iPhone 7 and it is also offering EarPods with a Lightning connector. Apple's new AirPods, which are fully wireless and are priced at $159, will also make it easier for customers to adapt to a device without a jack.

On the subject of Apple's new AirPods, Apple's Schiller says the earbuds, which are "as advanced a project as Apple Pencil," have been in development since the Apple Watch was conceived. "We knew we needed a great wireless solution for audio," he said. "What if you could design what the future of headphones should look like?' That's we asked the team to do."

The full explanation for the removal of the headphone jack, which is well worth reading, is available over at BuzzFeed.

Article Link: Removal of iPhone 7 Headphone Jack Was Essential for Water Resistance, New Camera System

 

[zphillippy]

Then how does the Samsung maintain the water resistance when it has a headphone jack?

 

[sniffies]

Nothing "courageous".

 

[dwnss]

Its true, its time to move on.. technology changes, people don't use cassette players anymore.

Apple should have made the phone itself wirelessly charge like the apple watch, that would have been a perfect combo

 

[Bubba Satori]

Courage.
Or not.
https://www.macrumors.com/2016/09/07/iphone-7-7-plus-ip67-water-resistance/

 

[Rogifan]

Then how does the Samsung maintain the water resistance when it has a headphone jack?

Maybe they don't?

http://www.consumerreports.org/smar...fails-consumer-reports-water-resistance-test/
[doublepost=1473289103][/doublepost]

Its true, its time to move on.. technology changes, people don't use cassette players anymore.

Apple should have made the phone itself wirelessly charge like the apple watch, that would have been a perfect combo

All of this is setting up for next year. I think even the ceramic Watch is setting us up for a ceramic iPhone next year.

 

[ajcadoo]

I mean, their reasoning behind it isn't all bad. The fanboys point out the cash grab, but I do genuinely believe this logic to be accurate. ESPECIALLY with the craziness that is rumored for the iPhone next year.

 

[jamesrick80]

Maybe they don't?

http://www.consumerreports.org/smar...fails-consumer-reports-water-resistance-test/

Plenty of YouTube videos showing the note 7s water resistance......well proven

 

[pcmacgamer]

Essential? Guess Samsung is out engineering them these days too

This just gives Apple apologists more fuel to the fire.

 

[gugy]

Waterproof is huge. My family lost at least 3 iPhones in the past due water damage.

 

[dampfnudel]

It's just too bad the AirPods look like Q-tips sticking out of your ears. At least release them in black.

 

[ThunderApple]

People will complain about this for a few months and then accept it over time. No point in whining about it since it's going to stay from here on out.

 

[linuxcooldude]

Then how does the Samsung maintain the water resistance when it has a headphone jack?

By exploding. The resulting explosion pushes it away for less than a second. lol.

 

[BootsWalking]

Sounds like a lame excuse. If they could devise a way to spit water out of the speaker of the new Apple watch to keep it water proof then they surely could find a way to fit a 3.5mm jack on the phone and keep it water tight.

 

[AyeKay15]

I'm pretty happy with this. Technology needs to advance and Apple got it going. Look at it this way guys, do you still want to carry that CD Player when we can store MP3's on our phones? Apple is God

 

[Munibeast]

I hope this new iPhone will flop. Then they would realise it was a mistake to remove it. I'll be fine with my SE for a couple of years but after that I guess I'll have to get a Samsung or whatever still has a headphone jack.

 

[apolloa]

Oh right, so I guess Sony are frigin technical geniuses then as they managed to make water proof headphone ports YEARS AGO!!!

If Apple are that inept at technical design, I highly suggest they hire some of Sonys mobile division engineers...

Or basically Apple is talking UTTER BS to give excuses for ditching the headphone jack which is far more likely..

Apple truely really are getting more and more arrogant and treating its customers with more and more contempt as the years role on.

 

[jdillings]

 

[ScottishCaptain]

Pure ****ing ********.

If their phones weren't so goddam thin, they wouldn't have this problem.

They are now making up blatant excuses for their poor design decisions.

-SC

 

[dampfnudel]

Waterproof is huge. My family lost at least 3 iPhones in the past due water damage.

Well Apple said water resistant which I guess leaves them an out.

 

[BeSweeet]

Still don't understand why people are comparing this to things like the removal of the floppy disk and cassette players. Each of those things were replaced by better technologies. Ditching a wired technology with a wireless one isn't the same thing, but rather something that complements existing things. For example, Wi-Fi isn't a replacement for Ethernet, for without Ethernet, you generally wouldn't have Wi-Fi.

From the interview, it just sounds like Apple couldn't fix a supposed issue that they were having. Were they telling the truth, or was it lazy engineering? We'll never truly know.

There was literally nothing wrong with the 3.5mm jack.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

Apple executives also believe the headphone jack is outdated technology that needed to go to make room for new advancements. According to Dan Riccio, it was holding Apple back "from a number of things" the company wanted to add to the iPhone, taking up space that could be used for camera improvements, battery, and processors.

Of course, Apple could also drop the preoccupation with "thinner" and created the room for all of that and KEPT the headphone jack. 2 apparently great wants of iPhone buyers:

• More battery
• Get rid of the protruding wart

Rather than ejecting thoroughly ubiquitous utility to "free up "very valuable space," a modestly thicker iPhone could have accomplished the same. I pretty much never see, hear, meet anyone clamoring for "thinner." Now apparently "thinner" comes at a price of kicking utility OUT to accessories.

But spin it fellas... spin it. "Thinner" is essential so the headphone jack had to go so that other stuff could fit. That was our only option.

Now what shall we kick out to an accessory next year to create room for "more innovation" in what must be an even "thinner" iPhone? You know, that battery takes up most of the space, it's an even OLDER technology than the headphone jack and people already buy battery cases anyway. Hmmmm.

 

[thisisnotmyname]

good riddance

 

[MOFS]

The AirPods help drive Watch sales too. Now that the Watch doesn't need to be tethered to a phone for exercise, wireless headphones are essential to push it as a fitness watch, and by pushing people towards wireless [lightning is unlikely to become a standard with just Apple supporting it en masse] Apple are simultaneously people towards using the Watch as a standalone fitness piece.

 

[KidAKidB]

So how did Samsung manage to get an even higher water resistance certification and still keep the headphone jack?