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The End of Headphone Jacks, the Rise of DRM

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Re: The End of Headphone Jacks, the Rise of DRM

#121

Post by notyourwork »

cr1895 wrote: post #115
Yetanfou wrote: post #105

That Apple wants their users to only use 'approved' peripherals with their stuff (i.e. only those from which they get a share of the profits) under the guise of 'user experience' and 'convenience' does not mean the rest of the world will suddenly give up on their analogue headphones. Apple users will be able to buy dongles (which have to be Apple-approved, so Apple will still get their share of the profits leading to…

>As an aside, what a strange creature is man that he wants to replace a device which is analogue by nature - ears not being digital after all - with a digital counterpart which is clearly sub-optimal, overly complex and fraught with potential restrictions Well, if you're hearing it it's ultimately become analog. The question is where does it become analog. I can legitimately understand that many people would like tha…

As much as I disagree with Apple's decision, I agree with your point.

Re: The End of Headphone Jacks, the Rise of DRM

#122

Post by zonovar »

I am paranoid I know, however the first thing I thought is that, as headphone can be used in a reverse way as microphones, that Apple made a secret deal with the NSA (or else...) so they will be able in a Bluetooth range to connect (as Bluetooth is far away from being secure) and listen to people. Those plugs all around are just free and easy tool for spies. Of course they could also listen to non encrypted conversations during phone calls between people using encrypted channels/tools. Am I the only one thinking about that?

Re: The End of Headphone Jacks, the Rise of DRM

#123

Post by selectodude »

lucozade wrote: post #47
the_other wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They limit their market to only those people who'll put up with DRMd music. I don't recall the dates of the decisions and changes too well but I'm pretty confident iTunes sales would have sky-rocketed some time AFTER the DRM came off. Is the number of people who only buy music from iTunes really enough to keep iPhone where it is in the market?

> Is the number of people who only buy music from iTunes really enough to keep iPhone where it is in the market? I'm going to take a punt and suggest that the answer is no. Why do I think that? Because Apple haven't restricted music to DRM only.

Apple was the one that forced the hand of the record companies to eliminate DRM requirements.

Removing the headphone jack sucks, but the reasons given are not why.

Re: The End of Headphone Jacks, the Rise of DRM

#124

Post by dogma1138 »

rimantas wrote: post #104
dogma1138 wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You can control what songs can be decoded with what adapter. You can control the bit rate and quality. You can effectively make songs that only play on certain headphones or songs that play better quality when you have your beats plugged in. This isn't the first time this has been brought up this was the first thing everyone had in mind when the rumors about Apple ditching the headphone jack first appeared.

As if they cannot control what iPhone outputs to 3.5.

Not really, they can't tell what headphones are plugged in they might be able to determine some very coarse profile but even that is highly questionable.

With audio being pushed through lighting port in a digital format Apple knows for sure what device is connected to it, and even if you spoof the device id they can still use DRM because the device decodes the digital signal and if it doesn't have the correct set of keys or decoding configuration it would not be able to play the audio.

Re: The End of Headphone Jacks, the Rise of DRM

#125

Post by mhurron »

jrowley wrote: post #76
sigmar wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>why is that any different than the OS influencing what gets sent to the 3.5mm jack? Their issue seems to be that it is not analog. The lightening port and bluetooth connection are two-way data connections, and the phone will be able to identify what is attached (rather than just outputing an analog signal). Here's the quotes that make that clear- > But intentionally or not, by removing the analog port, Apple is givi…

Yeah, I'm imagining some scenario where say Spotify partners with Bose, and if you plug in Bose headphones then you get higher quality audio than you can get elsewhere. Or say tidal (Jay Z's streaming service) says you can only listen to some songs via Kanye's new headphones.

And the only reason any of that works is because people accept it and pay for the privilege.

Don't like the situation, don't buy the service offering it. It turns out, society doesn't really care about these things.

Re: The End of Headphone Jacks, the Rise of DRM

#126

Post by 6stringmerc »

cr1895 wrote: post #113
6stringmerc wrote: post #82

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think you are factually correct and pointing out an over-reach by the EFF regarding the framing of the subject. The EFF likes to narrow an argument down to the point where they can safely ignore individual caveats, preferring to portray things as "universal rights" issues on the larger level. It's their tactic, from what I've noticed over the years. I've had reasonable results using the headphone output on both iPh…

>I use a USB cable to the Camera Connector, and then an adapter to Lightning, then into an iPhone. This is also what I always do with my external DAC. I don't see how currently this will be prevented, if that's what you're suggesting.

No, I don't think it'll be prevented, but I wasn't using an exterior DAC in my scenario. I've got one or two of those (e.g. Line6 something a rather) but what I mean is using the iPhone's internal processing. Use hardware to trigger (via Lightning port) and listen with headphones (via headphone port). That scenario, which is one I use frequently, doesn't work in the new platform shown.

All the other DAC-type stuff should still work provided the iOS / Apple platform will support them (don't see why not). I've just been reluctant to purchase iDevice specific audio cards, so to speak, preferring the USB standard because I use a PC primarily.

Re: The End of Headphone Jacks, the Rise of DRM

#127

Post by mead5432 »

bitwize wrote: post #103
frandroid wrote: post #87

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> How many times will it take you forgetting your dongle to just pony up and buy the apple approved headphones? Or do like I would do, which is buy an Android phone. I mean they only have 88% market share, how long will _they_ be around?

When Apple removed the floppy drive, CD drive, and ports older than USB, everyone else followed. What do you think is going to happen to Android phones' headphone jacks?

Probably not become lightning connectors...

Re: The End of Headphone Jacks, the Rise of DRM

#128

Post by notyourwork »

exabrial wrote: post #106

Other people getting screwed: Custom IEM wearers. I had a $300 set of Alclair Audio IEMs made so I can use an in-ear audio system on stage while making live music. These use impressions that an audiologist takes of your ear canals for an _exact_ fit that completely seals your ear. There's not a snow-balls chance in hell I would have these be wireless, or a proprietary standard: 1) Latency. Anything over 2ms is not ac…

Although your points are completely valid for your demographic I think Apple's focus is on mass audience. Additionally, they have not yet announced the ipads and macbooks are divorcing with 3.5. So its possible you still have hope, just not on your iphone.

Either way I feel your pain and hate this decision.

Re: The End of Headphone Jacks, the Rise of DRM

#129

Post by Longhanks »

Yetanfou wrote: post #105

That Apple wants their users to only use 'approved' peripherals with their stuff (i.e. only those from which they get a share of the profits) under the guise of 'user experience' and 'convenience' does not mean the rest of the world will suddenly give up on their analogue headphones. Apple users will be able to buy dongles (which have to be Apple-approved, so Apple will still get their share of the profits leading to…

Except they clearly explained that they had interference problems with the new camera and the analogue jack, which they don't have by using a digital port. Conveniently, lightning was already there.

I agree the situation is not optimal, but please, stop this "they so greedy", "this is only for selling adapters" etc. After all, it's apple's product, and if it doesn't appeal to you, don't buy it. As you have stated yourself, the rest of the industry might not even follow them here.

Re: The End of Headphone Jacks, the Rise of DRM

#130

Post by cmdrfred »

azinman2 wrote: post #117
exabrial wrote: post #106

Other people getting screwed: Custom IEM wearers. I had a $300 set of Alclair Audio IEMs made so I can use an in-ear audio system on stage while making live music. These use impressions that an audiologist takes of your ear canals for an _exact_ fit that completely seals your ear. There's not a snow-balls chance in hell I would have these be wireless, or a proprietary standard: 1) Latency. Anything over 2ms is not ac…

So use the dongle?

An Android phone costs less than the dongle.
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