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Sooo... why is the headphone jack on the bottom?
- Thread starter MultiMediaWill
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Your holding it wrong...
I think the plug on the bottom is a much more logical place
I think it's fine on the bottom. If you have the phone in your pocket and slide it out, you can pretty much view/use it immediately.
I always HATED that design on the HTC Amaze. I can't even recall why though to be honest, just know I didn't like it.
There is another, completely trivial reason to have it on the bottom:
Fluff!
Whenever you put the phone in your pocket, you potentially have fluff getting into the dock connector, getting mechanically in the way when trying to plug in something to the dock connector. I had this a few times and have grown accustomed to putting the phone into the pocket upside-down ever since, because without tiny pliers or a toothpick it's near to impossible to get that fluff out, especially when on the road. Not to mention the risk to damage the connector.
With the headphone jack on the same side as the dock connector, it's also less likely to get fluff into the headphone jack with the phone being upside-down in the pocket. And you can have earphones plugged in without risking to bend and break the cable in that position.
Though i perfectly understand concerns others have with this design decision. Unless Apple will make the headphone jack movable on the phone there will always be one group that suffers, i guess.
Fluff!
Whenever you put the phone in your pocket, you potentially have fluff getting into the dock connector, getting mechanically in the way when trying to plug in something to the dock connector. I had this a few times and have grown accustomed to putting the phone into the pocket upside-down ever since, because without tiny pliers or a toothpick it's near to impossible to get that fluff out, especially when on the road. Not to mention the risk to damage the connector.
With the headphone jack on the same side as the dock connector, it's also less likely to get fluff into the headphone jack with the phone being upside-down in the pocket. And you can have earphones plugged in without risking to bend and break the cable in that position.
Though i perfectly understand concerns others have with this design decision. Unless Apple will make the headphone jack movable on the phone there will always be one group that suffers, i guess.
I get why Apple positioned the headphone jack at the bottom. To add to the other responses, when using an arm band when working out, it's apparent to have it at the bottom, while having access in reading what's on the screen when the i5 is positioned upside down (on your biceps/arm).
I never want to run with my iPhone because I am afraid I will sweat to much and trip one of the water sensors somehow
. I just use my GPS watch and my nano if I want to listen to music.You use SimCity on your iPhone? (your link goes to an EA video feed featuring SimCity
And to everyone freaking out about devices/accesories take up too much space on the bottom to use the headphones - the only thing that fits in there at the moment is the new cord, and it looks like there's plenty of space to fit that in and the headphones at the same time.
EDIT: I guess if you're buying the $30 adapter I can see the point of it taking up space. However, even the 30 pin dock still allows for two speakers on either side of it on the 4s so I think you could still plug in the headphones.
Oh lol.... Strange, must have copied the wrong link.
It meant to show a leather sleeve type case from "Sena".......
Actually I think it's a move long overdue for one simple reason: It's a phone, you occasionally have to use it to take calls when water is falling from the sky. When that happens having a whacking big hole in the top edge of the phone is a massive pain in the backside. By shifting the jack to the bottom they solve that problem, move all of the major potential entry points for water to a single edge and really don't inconvenience users much at all (other than the usual kneejerk reaction to change). Heck the iPod Touch has always had its headphone socket on the bottom of the device and that's part of the music player line.
I think this is the reason. Without the analogue line out, some docks/audio adapters may just put a headphone jack in their dock alongside the 'Lighting' connector to get audio from the iPhone.
The problem with the bottom headphone jack is that it makes holding the phone impossible with headphones plugged in. If you're right handed your pinky will be in the way of the headphone jack...
Bad design desicion, Apple!
Do you know what "impossible" means?
The problem with the bottom headphone jack is that it makes holding the phone impossible with headphones plugged in. If you're right handed your pinky will be in the way of the headphone jack...
Bad design desicion, Apple!
Pinky finger goes across the charging port, not that far to the left.
If you're a cyclist and have a bike computer app, it's not going to work in your current iPhone bike mount. The iPhone doesn't let you use apps upside down.
The problem with the bottom headphone jack is that it makes holding the phone impossible with headphones plugged in. If you're right handed your pinky will be in the way of the headphone jack...
Bad design desicion, Apple!
See that left corner...... My pinky sits on the outside edge of it. Never had a problem holding my iPhones that way for the 3G and i4 that I own.
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My Apple dock as a headphone out jack on the back. I listen to my iPhone every night like this. I only use the headphone jack when I am working out.
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Left side makes sense though. More people are right handed than left. If u it it on the right the cord would be pushing on your palm putting pressure on the cable and the built in jack. Where the jack is the left side is completely clear of my fingers since I have my finger on the outside of the corner.
I am split. I don't understand why the plug needed to move to the bottom & I never liked it on the bottom of the Nano either. I prefer it on the top, but maybe that is because it is what I am used to.
On the other hand, I like having both the power & audio on the bottom for when I ma in the car. It sucks having a cable coming out of both the top & the bottom.
I'm fine with it either way.
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I think that is one thing that really needs to change is the ability to orient the phone however you want with apps. We are all smart enough to know which way is up on the phone (for the most part). Just keep certain apps, like the phone app, fixed when it makes sense.
On the other hand, I like having both the power & audio on the bottom for when I ma in the car. It sucks having a cable coming out of both the top & the bottom.
I'm fine with it either way.
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I think that is one thing that really needs to change is the ability to orient the phone however you want with apps. We are all smart enough to know which way is up on the phone (for the most part). Just keep certain apps, like the phone app, fixed when it makes sense.
Exactly. I frequently mow with my phone in my pocket. I have in-ear headphones while on the mower. To pull out the phone to change to a different podcast or music, I have to reach in, pull it out, reverse the direction to push the unlock and get to the home button, change the podcast, lock it, reverse the phone direction again and put it back in my pocket. That's a lot of unnecessary movement and actions when I could have slid it part way out, unlocked it, made a new selection and put it back.
Having a connector at the top reverses the direction in pants/coat/shirt pockets from how you actually use the device. Even as you say, putting it right-viewing in front of you wraps the cord down the side of it and bending the wire over at the plug.
I think thats poor placement as well. Every other i-device has it on the top. I think putting it there was an afterthought. Like they had everything else how they wanted it then didn't have space on the top anymore so said, slap that beyatch at the bottom.
That's not true. The iPod touch has had the iPhone jack at the bottom for a while.
if I had to guess it was for space. It means less wiring as they have to be down their for the dock any how.
Well thought. I would love it for iOS on iPhone to act like on iPad where 'top' is relative.
i figured it would be SMARTER to have all external things at the BOTTOM of the device.
Maybe the Lifeproof case now knowing the headphone jack be at the bottom will just open the case hole ENTIRELY, which is good because then you can use different cords and not just stock
Maybe the Lifeproof case now knowing the headphone jack be at the bottom will just open the case hole ENTIRELY, which is good because then you can use different cords and not just stock
What part of the phone is closest to you? The bottom.
Where's the charging port? The bottom.
If your phone is in your hand and you put the phone in your pocket with the least amount of effort possible, what's closest to the top of the pocket? The bottom.
The top never made sense. It's extremely clumsy to use with the charger in the bottom and headphone port sticking out of the top.
Where's the charging port? The bottom.
If your phone is in your hand and you put the phone in your pocket with the least amount of effort possible, what's closest to the top of the pocket? The bottom.
The top never made sense. It's extremely clumsy to use with the charger in the bottom and headphone port sticking out of the top.