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Why is Apple presumably putting the headphone jack on the bottom of the iPhone 5?

Like quite a few others here, I place my iPhone head down. So placing the headphone jack at the bottom makes sense. However, where will they placed the volume button? I don't always use the apple issued earphone. So some of my earphone doesn't have the speaker & volume control. With the jack on top, I can easily press the vol button w/o having to pull out the phone from my pocket. That's the only issue I can think of when having the jack at the bottom. Not a big deal though.
 
Because they needed room for the NFC chip on top?

What difference does it make where the jack hole is. The phone will still play music upside down...
 
I think it's stupid too. The cord seems like it would get in the way when switching songs etc. Music is easily the most used feature of my iPhone and I like it the way it is.
 
  1. Better in your pocket as it's the right way up when you remove it
  2. Better in a car as the 3.5mm cable drops straight down from the dash or window
  3. Better for people using headphones with no mic built in so you can hold it with the bottom edge towards your mouth
It might even be a dual optical/analogue audio socket as seen in the Macs and ATVs :)
 
I prefer the jack on the top, as I put it in the cup holder of my car, via audio lead into the aux input of the radio.

The jack on the bottom would ruin that!
 
There has been at least one other thread about this, but I can't be bothered to look it up.

Having the jack on the bottom sounds kinda stupid to me, for I believe it will inevitably introduce more cable strain, which has been the cause of the demise of every pair of headphones i have had since getting the iPhone. Moreover, it will complicate the design of battery cases. Maybe Apple will just push bluetooth headphones. I've never tried them but wonder what they're like.
 
MultiMediaWill said:
How about we hold off judgement until Apple actually announces the phone.
Click to expand...

And then do people have your permission to discuss it? I think it's pretty obvious to everyone here (except perhaps you) what the case layout is and where things are. Everyone one of these case leaks (from several different sources) all show exactly the same case. It's a slam dunk case at this point.

To OP's point: There's pro's and con's both ways, so it's probably a wash. I put the phone in my pocket top down, so the jack works there, but I don't want to have to put my phone upside down in my cup holder so I can plug in the aux cable.. Not losing any sleep over it either way.
 
8317645 said:
I really dont understand why...
Click to expand...
Nor do I.

But then again, Apples no longer the company I once highly trusted, respected, and could count on.

Whereas they were once the company that put products & customers first, they are now the company that puts Anger, Vitriol, Revenge, and Headlines at the forefront.

Having soared to the top of the profits & financial charts, they rested on their laurels, failing to give us iPhone 5 last year. Rather, it was put an S on the end, add a gimmick or two & ship it.

It's very sad to witness thermonuclear meltdown... Walking away from style & class to takeup the position of street fighter, thug, Apple is adrift in a sea of chaos, turmoil & chest pounding. Too bad, so sad.
 
ixodes said:
Nor do I.

But then again, Apples no longer the company I once highly trusted, respected, and could count on.

Whereas they were once the company that put products & customers first, they are now the company that puts Anger, Vitriol, Revenge, and Headlines at the forefront.

Having soared to the top of the profits & financial charts, they rested on their laurels, failing to give us iPhone 5 last year. Rather, it was put an S on the end, add a gimmick or two & ship it.

It's very sad to witness thermonuclear meltdown... Walking away from style & class to takeup the position of street fighter, thug, Apple is adrift in a sea of chaos, turmoil & chest pounding. Too bad, so sad.
Click to expand...

Need a tissue? It's just litigation, fella. It'll be okay.
 
robots3humans0 said:
I think it's better at the bottom. When I pocket my phone it always goes in top first, screen facing in - that way when i take it out of my pocket my thumb is already on the home button to turn it on. Putting the headphone jack at the bottom will let me always put it in my pocket this way, even when listening to music.
Click to expand...

This.

End of.
 
I think this is one of those little quirks that we will quickly get used to. No big deal really, what does it matter what direction the phone enters our pockets?
 
Regardless, I just wonder if this new 9 pin business altimately means the audio will suffer.
 
I hope they don't remove digital audio from the new 9pin connector. This would totally screw-up audio docking. Even if digital audio is moved to a hybrid headphone connector, the adapters would be ridiculous. Also having a hybrid analog/optical connector would complicate the rumored "water-resistance".

I've actually always preferred the headphone port on the bottom and liked it on my old iPod Touch.
 
Buckeyestar said:
Not even remotely.
Click to expand...

Do you put your iPhone in your pocket 'upright' then?

I would suspect most people put in 'top down', so that it's the right way up when you pull it out to answer/look at it (I certainly do).

And for me, that's why it makes complete sense to have the jack on the bottom (a la iPods).
 
I have an iPhone and an iPod so either way would be fine for me,but given a choice I'd say on top because I've gotten so used to headphones on top
 
8317645 said:
I really dont understand why... if you're using your phone with headphones plugged in I rather have them coming from the top of the phone or even in the pocket
Click to expand...

Because it is naturally the way people put their phones in their pocket. Upside down. It allows using it as an iPod more naturally.
 
i never use my headphone jack. in the car i use bluetooth and at home bluetooth/airplay. It does make sense to have it on the bottom. When holding your phone and looking at facebook or checking email the cord isn't sticking out from the top. it's just naturally hanging from below ;)
 
davehutch said:
  1. Better in your pocket as it's the right way up when you remove it
  2. Better in a car as the 3.5mm cable drops straight down from the dash or window
  3. Better for people using headphones with no mic built in so you can hold it with the bottom edge towards your mouth
It might even be a dual optical/analogue audio socket as seen in the Macs and ATVs :)
Click to expand...

agreed. After reading the jack would be on the bottom, I started putting my phone in my pocket upside down and it just makes sense. Plus the having both the headphone jack and charger on the same side also makes sense.
 
The relocation of the headphone jack has led to more chuckles on my end than I care to recall. All the whining and debating over this change, and the new phone in general, is awesome. I'm basing my new comedy routine entirely off of this forum. :p

On Topic: My i4 has never had headphones plugged in. Ever. Bluetooth made that a no-brainer. I'll suffer with a little loss in audio quality, I'm tone deaf and hard of hearing anyway. lol.

Actually, does anyone know where I can get a plug for my headphone jack? I'd like it to just be smooth across the top. (or bottom rather)
 
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