Samsung's Next-Generation Galaxy S8 Won't Include a Headphone Jack

[sinsin07]

Why would they scream? All the new Mac's are USB-C. By the time this happens they will have already switched everything else to USB-C.

Ridiculous chain of thought.
The fact that Mac's have USB-C is irrelevant; way more IOS users than MAC users.
Not everyone wants or owns Macs.
If you think there will be no gnashing of teeth here and elsewhere if Apple moves over to USB-C on IOS devices then you have haven't been around long.

 

[aaronhead14]

And USB-C on the iPhone instead of lightning would cause the same "problem" it does now for people that want a headphone jack.

Not true in the slightest. USB-C headphones can be used on any USB-C equipped device, including the MacBooks. Lightning ONLY works on the phone.
USB-C is a valid replacement for the headphone jack because it's a universal port (just like the headphone jack!). Lightning is NOT a valid replacement because it's proprietary. Proprietary headphones are utterly useless.

 

[Mac 128]

Now that USB-C is getting fairly well established, Apple may make the switch from Lightning. It would be a shame since Lightning is so small and elegant, but it's not significantly smaller than USB-C. It does have a more robust design (no inner 'tongue' to break off), but what other technical advantages does Lightning have over USB-C? Some? None?

What other technical advantages does it need for charging a mobile phone?

Apple is pushing wireless. Rumor suggests that Apple will be offering wireless charging in the near future. In the meantime, Lightning potentially offers transfer rates up to USB 3 speeds, which is faster than most PCs & Macs can handle. It offers data interface for various peripheral devices and adapters. What possible benefit does anyone gain by switching to USB-C on the iPhone, besides cross platform compatibility (which is not necessarily a good thing)? As you point out, it loses a lot of robustness. It also requires more than half a billion customers to toss out their Lightning cables and accessories for USB-C -- and if Apple goes completely wireless and drops the Lightning port altogether; for no reason whatsoever.

As I pointed out earlier, the iPhone is likely to go completely port-less in a couple of years in favor of wireless everything, with the option of a wired magnetic induction connection if needed via the SmartConnector, or other sealed port. The iPad might switch to USB-C as that becomes the standard in the Mac and PC world, and the iPad and Mac merge ever closer.

But there will be reasons behind it. I don't see any compelling reason to switch from Lightning to USB-C on the iPhone, especially since going completely wireless is the ultimate goal on a portable mobile device. Maybe if there develops a huge USB-C headphone market, that might be a compelling reason, but so far I see no evidence that this is, or ever happening.

 

[arftech99]

How courages!

 

[aPple nErd]

if only apple could give up on their charging cable monopoly and just use USB c, the iPhone would be right up there. but this is like selling a TV with a betamax player built in, when everyone else is selling tvs with a VCR built in.

 

[The Game 161]

Ridiculous chain of thought.
The fact that Mac's have USB-C is irrelevant; way more IOS users than MAC users.
Not everyone wants or owns Macs.
If you think there will be no gnashing of teeth here and elsewhere if Apple moves over to USB-C on IOS devices then you have haven't been around long.

And I think alot will not want to folk out for the new macs with USB C. Most will be happy who do have a macbook to last with their current gen.
[doublepost=1481079088][/doublepost]

It's not Courage everyone, it's Bravery. Bravery to follow blindly for...reasons
Isn't removing the headphone jack one of the most unpopular decisions made by Apple? Why do this? What do they hope to achieve?

It was unpopular but having used wireless headphones and will use wireless earbuds I have no idea why it's an issue. Wires are freaking annoying.

 

[Mac 128]

Not true in the slightest. USB-C headphones can be used on any USB-C equipped device, including the MacBooks. Lightning ONLY works on the phone.
USB-C is a valid replacement for the headphone jack because it's a universal port (just like the headphone jack!). Lightning is NOT a valid replacement because it's proprietary. Proprietary headphones are utterly useless.

Lightning can also be used on iPads and iPods. But it can't be used on Macs, nor is there yet an adapter for USB-C, Thunderbolt, nor 3.5mm -- and that's a problem.

That said, USB-C is hardly a universal port at the moment. When I can walk into a 7-11 at 3 in the morning and buy a USB-C cable, maybe your point will have some merit. At the moment, USB-C is just as pointless as Lightning. Further, Lightning headphones don't necessarily have to be useless. For starters, if I were spending any significant money on headphones, I wouldn't invest in fixed Lightning NOR USB-C headphones. I would make sure I could easily swap the cable for anything I needed. The Audeze Sine headphones are a perfect example of the only thing I would buy at this juncture, or at a minimum, I would insist on a 3.5mm removable cable which could take any kind of DAC equipped cable.

But moreover, Lightning isn't meant to be a replacement, and for that matter, USB-C isn't a valid replacement either. The replacement for the headphone jack is wireless -- wifi or BT. Lightning or USB-C are there as wired options for those who need the highest quality signal available. And that's exactly what Apple has provided -- native wireless output, with the option of Lightning, or adapting the output to 3.5mm, or frankly anything else. Bluetooth is now the universal port for audio, and it's only a matter of time before all new audio products provide BT as a standard way to connect listening devices. At some point, no phone will have a Lightning or USB-C port, and instead do everything via wireless, or magnetic inductive connectors like the SmartConnector where a wire is preferable. That's the future, and that's what Apple is preparing us for.

 

[Suckfest 9001]

And I think alot will not want to folk out for the new macs with USB C. Most will be happy who do have a macbook to last with their current gen.
[doublepost=1481079088][/doublepost]
It was unpopular but having used wireless headphones and will use wireless earbuds I have no idea why it's an issue. Wires are freaking annoying.

Because people like listening to their music in high quality?

 

[The Game 161]

Because people like listening to their music in high quality?

Wireless is high quailty. With the right product it's better sound quality than wired. Not sure why you are under the impression wireless isn't high quality.

 

[deany]

1. You can - just buy a single cable.
2. I've literally never done this in 9 years of owning iPhones.
3. If it's really that "precious" to you and for some reason it's not already backed up in iCloud (I can't begin to think what data this could be) then just setup wifi sync? Why on earth are you still connecting your phone to the computer in 2016...

Hi
1. The apple cable is £19.00


Although not a lot against the cost of a 2016 rMBP.
£19.00 is not 'small change' or
http://target.georiot.com/Proxy.ashx?TSID=3088&GR_URL=https://www.amazon.co.uk/1-M-Apple-lightning-USB-C/dp/B01DGDNLYY/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1481068900&sr=8-2&keywords=lightning+to+usb-c
thanks @Jamie0003

2. My iPhone wasn't backing up on iOS 9 (plenty of icloud space) this continued for a month before I realised. Other MR members reported the same issue https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/icloud-backup-not-working.1922868/

3. iCloud backups do not backup account passwords, Health, and HomeKit data. Only encrypted iTunes backup does this.

https://www.macrumors.com/how-to/create-an-archived-itunes-backup/amp/?client=safari

wifi sync wont backup 3. above

I try and do an iTunes encrypted archived backup once a week to 2015 rMBP via a cable for my iPhone and iPad mini.
Then backup to Time Capsule.
Then CCC TC to USB 3 drive and keep offsite.

https://www.intego.com/mac-security-blog/should-you-back-up-your-ios-device-to-icloud-or-itunes/


http://www.pcworld.com/article/2154...rucial-differences-that-affect-your-data.html
"The best choice: use both together" (iCloud and iTunes)

 

[AZ63]

if only apple could give up on their charging cable monopoly and just use USB c, the iPhone would be right up there. but this is like selling a TV with a betamax player built in, when everyone else is selling tvs with a VCR built in.

Yeah, but the Betamax produced a better picture. /s

 

[lincolntran]

What better audio quality?

You can only experience it if you have it. The difference is noticeable.

 

[AZ63]

Hi
1. The apple cable is £19.00

View attachment 676673
Although not a lot against the cost of a 2016 rMBP.
£19.00 is not 'small change' or
thanks @Jamie0003
http://target.georiot.com/Proxy.ashx?TSID=3088&GR_URL=https://www.amazon.co.uk/1-M-Apple-lightning-USB-C/dp/B01DGDNLYY/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1481068900&sr=8-2&keywords=lightning+to+usb-c

2. My iPhone wasn't backing up on iOS 9 (plenty of icloud space) this continued for a month before I realised. Other MR members reported the same issue https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/icloud-backup-not-working.1922868/

3. iCloud backups do not backup account passwords, Health, and HomeKit data. Only encrypted iTunes backup does this.

https://www.macrumors.com/how-to/create-an-archived-itunes-backup/amp/?client=safari

wifi sync wont backup 3. above

I try and do an iTunes encrypted archived backup once a week to 2015 rMBP via a cable for my iPhone and iPad mini.
Then backup to Time Capsule.
Then CCC TC to USB 3 drive and keep offsite.

https://www.intego.com/mac-security-blog/?s=Should+You+Back+Up+Your+iOS+Device+to+iCloud+or+iTunes?&x=0&y=0


http://www.pcworld.com/article/2154...rucial-differences-that-affect-your-data.html
"The best choice: use both together" (iCloud and iTunes)

Wow! You do some serious management. My reason is simpler, I like the charging aspect of plugging in to sync. Every 15 minutes helps.

 

[Abazigal]

I don't see how it's any easier than pairing with NFC. If you could pair with NFC that is.

Do tablets and laptops and PCs have NFC?

This point often gets sidelined when talking about pairing wireless headphones. They get used on more than just smartphones, you know.

 

[wolfaaron]

Hopefully other phones are safe, like the Pixel. I'd prefer not to lug around several adapters.

 

[Suckfest 9001]

Wireless is high quailty. With the right product it's better sound quality than wired. Not sure why you are under the impression wireless isn't high quality.

Rofl... I'm not even going to bother.
[doublepost=1481081301][/doublepost]

You can only experience it if you have it. The difference is noticeable.

No, it's not better. That tiny little DAC in the Lightning plug is not better than the DAC inside the iPhone, and Bluetooth is just much worse than wired. Stop lying to yourself

 

[AFDoc]

You really gotta stop using the word "outdated" when describing the headphone jack. It sounds to me like you've never owned a quality set of cans, that you know nothing about audio quality in general, or both. Is it tech that's been around forever? Yes. Is it outdated? Not in the slightest.

Was just using the term the op used..... PLUS no.... I guess I'm not hip enough to use the term "cans" when referring to headphones...... so I guess I haven't used quality headphones.
[doublepost=1481081510][/doublepost]

Isn't removing the headphone jack one of the most unpopular decisions made by Apple? Why do this?

According to whom?

 

[clauzzz203]

Finally a chance for android users to show how cheapskates they are

 

[Kabeyun]

How courageous.

 

[szw-mapple fan]

Apple really needs to ditch lightning, it's worse than USB-C in every category.

It's thinner, more shallow, and it doesn't have a tongue in the middle of the port that is much more likely to be damaged. While it's certainly a pain to have to switch between standards, I wouldn't say lightning is worse in every category.

They made it fatter where the camera is, they could do the same at the connector. They could have put the connector at the other end and just had a single bulge in that general area to account for both camera and connector.

Why should they take a step backward and make a phone thicker or no apparent benefits? Yes universal compatibility is better for the consumer but offers little tangible return on investment for Apple.

 

[cuestakid]

I have a very simple question. I get that someone could get an adapter for headphones if they want to. However, I have not found a clear answer regarding the use of bluetooth headphones on airplanes. It seems like the usage seems to vary airline to airline. The FAA won't just bend to please Apple-it is why for so long that wifi wasn't available for a long time and why we couldn't even use them during the entire flight until the last couple years.

It seems like if the trend is to dump the jack, then explanations Apple/Samsung/Google/Motorola should say explicitly what people can and cannot do.

 

[deany]

I have a very simple question. I get that someone could get an adapter for headphones if they want to. However, I have not found a clear answer regarding the use of bluetooth headphones on airplanes. It seems like the usage seems to vary airline to airline. The FAA won't just bend to please Apple-it is why for so long that wifi wasn't available for a long time and why we couldn't even use them during the entire flight until the last couple years.

It seems like if the trend is to dump the jack, then explanations Apple/Samsung/Google/Motorola should say explicitly what people can and cannot do.

Its taxi, take off and landing that most airlines don't want passengers using bluetooth.
Which is fair enough as these three I believe are when passengers need to be most alert for safety reasons.
I think even wired would be frowned apon by cabin crew during these three occasions. Safety first.
BA
http://www.britishairways.com/cms/global/pdfs/handheld-devices-used-onboard_Dec14.pdf

 

[bxsonic]

According to whom?

According to many reviews and the endless amount of whining I've seen in this and other forums? I understand why Apple removed it. They want to accelerate adoption of wireless headphones. I'm personally excited to get my hands on the airpods.

I just take issues when companies like Samsung follows Apple without a good reason behind it. "Missing the headphone jack" is not exactly a feature. And wireless headphones still work with or without the headphone jack.

 

[StayPuft]

Was just using the term the op used..... PLUS no.... I guess I'm not hip enough to use the term "cans" when referring to headphones...... so I guess I haven't used quality headphones.

I didn't know calling headphones something else besides headphones made anyone hip.
[doublepost=1481089590][/doublepost]

Why should they take a step backward and make a phone thicker or no apparent benefits? Yes universal compatibility is better for the consumer but offers little tangible return on investment for Apple.

And why should they make it thinner for no apparent benefits? This applies to a variety of their products.
[doublepost=1481089674][/doublepost]

No, it's not better. That tiny little DAC in the Lightning plug is not better than the DAC inside the iPhone, and Bluetooth is just much worse than wired. Stop lying to yourself

Someone gets it.

 

[godkiller]

Oh get over it. Wireless is the way forward. If you don't like it, well, tough luck. Every phone will be like it in a few years time.

holy **** you can read the future? "Every" phone my rear end.

Wireless future? Just look at how big of a fad wireless charging was from many years ago.