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More rumors that Apple might drop the 3.5mm headphone jack on the iPhone 7

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31–40 of 70 posts

Re: More rumors that Apple might drop the 3.5mm headphone jack on the iPhone 7

#31
I can't see why anyone is surprised by this. Classic Apple move. It'll just create a market for the cheap 3.5mm to Bluetooth dongles [1] you can plug into your headset, which I've actually come to like since I can tuck the headphones into my shirt pocket then use the phone like normal. Of course just one more thing to keep charged though...

[1] http://www.amazon.com/MOCREO-Bluetooth-Wireless-Streaming-Re...

Re: More rumors that Apple might drop the 3.5mm headphone jack on the iPhone 7

#32
post #14

I don't know if the current users of iPhone will take this as a number of them are music producers (or enthusiasts) and their current very expensive hardware won't be compatible with the new iPhones.

An adapter would surely be available in short order...right? :)

Knowing Apple, I'm going to say $30 optional accessory.

The old to new magsafe adapter is only $10, so maybe I'm being too hard on them. On the other hand, their Lightning to HDMI or VGA adapters currently go for $50.

Re: More rumors that Apple might drop the 3.5mm headphone jack on the iPhone 7

#33
post #15

With bluetooth headphones/speakers becoming more prevalent this makes sense. What do we get in return though? Less battery life because now bluetooth must be on? Thinner and easier to bend? If they gave me a microsd slot it would be worth it...

the industry seems obsessed with thinness, am I the only one thinking that we have passed the point of diminishing returns a while ago ? IMO recent high-end smartphones, even large ones (iPhone 6S plus, Nexus 6P) are already thin enough.

Previously I didn't care if phones got thinner but now that they're making the screens so big I can barely hold them in one hand I would appreciate a reduction if width to make it easier for smaller handed people like myself to hold.

Re: More rumors that Apple might drop the 3.5mm headphone jack on the iPhone 7

#35
I think that 3.5mm jack is a source of many repair issues for Apple.

- pocket lint routinely finds its way into the jack.

- most male connectors are manufactured with low precision, which causes added stress to the socket.

- some male connectors are long, creating a lot of leverage if force is applied in the wrong direction.

- water gets in easily through the socket.

- the socket is very fat and forces the phone to be thicker than it would otherwise need to be.

Other connector designs are superior for all these reasons. The main issue is that Apple doesn't let other companies clone its connectors, so everyone has to pay exorbitant prices.

Re: More rumors that Apple might drop the 3.5mm headphone jack on the iPhone 7

#36
post #3

I say let them do it and let the market sort out if it cares. Maybe people do want thin more than headphones.

I think they will. I just hope that:

1: This isn't being done to close the "analog hole" (ie hdcp-like drm for audio)

and

2: Apple doesn't try to make the connector proprietary

Re: More rumors that Apple might drop the 3.5mm headphone jack on the iPhone 7

#37
post #31

I can't see why anyone is surprised by this. Classic Apple move. It'll just create a market for the cheap 3.5mm to Bluetooth dongles [1] you can plug into your headset, which I've actually come to like since I can tuck the headphones into my shirt pocket then use the phone like normal. Of course just one more thing to keep charged though... [1] http://www.amazon.com/MOCREO-Bluetooth-Wireless-Streaming-Re...

And these are absolutely horrible(I tested 4 different ones) because there's always a little bit of lag. You can't use them for watching videos or playing games because of it.

Re: More rumors that Apple might drop the 3.5mm headphone jack on the iPhone 7

#39
post #17

This would seriously make me consider switching to Android after being iPhone only since the 3G. The fact that both of my ports (3mm, lightning) on my 6 started flaking out about the time the warranty expired helps, too.

Why would it make you consider switching?

Re: More rumors that Apple might drop the 3.5mm headphone jack on the iPhone 7

#40
post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Apple would probably piss more people off than they would make happy. The amount of lightning port gear out there has to be huge. People flipped when they went from the 30-pin to lightning just a few years ago.

USB 3 can carry alternative signals though. Just sell an adapter and get rid of it. Also, has apple ever really cared about pissing people off?

Adapters work ok for cables, but not so well for docks that you set you phone in. I understand these are a fairly common accessory.

Heck, I stayed in a hotel once that had a speaker/alarm gadget with an iPod dock connector in every single room. All obsolete now. Would they do it again so few years later?

Android users might be happy to have Apple switching to USB-C, but the majority of Apple's customers wouldn't be.

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