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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

#111

Post by rimantas »

Klathmon wrote: post #62
javajosh wrote: post #32

Isn't this tacitly assuming that Apple will be able to single-handedly eliminate the headphone jack? I think it is quite likely that post-Jobs Apple has finally overstepped it's bounds, and despite it's good qualities the iPhone 7 will be a relative dud. In which case the iPhone 8 will (reluctantly) put the jack back.

I just don't see that happening. To be completely honest, literally 0 of the people I know with iphones have anything other than official Apple headphones. Even when they break, they go into an apple store and buy new ones. There will be lots of complaining, but for most people this won't change anything except the annoyance of not being able to charge while using the headphones without an adapter (which is the only…

Exactly. It's quite annoying to see this no-problem blown so out of proportion (it sure will cause some problems for some people, but considering the whole user base that's negligible) but if one was to judge by the complaints it sounds like it affects all.

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

#112

Post by em3rgent0rdr »

rimantas wrote: post #98
wfo wrote: post #80

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Apple has been very good at predicting (or perhaps directly causing) the demise of certain technologies: the disk drive, the CD drive, the ethernet port. They removed them much to the chagrin of many a loyal customer, and a few years later they nearly ceased to exist across the entire industry (we're still waiting on the ethernet port to go away but give it time). How many times will it take you forgetting your dongl…

> How many times will it take you forgetting your dongle > to just pony up and buy the apple approved headphones? Uhm, Apple headphones are right there in the box. You get them with your iPhone.

How many times will it take you forgetting your apple approved headphone to just pony up and buy another apple approved headphone?

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

#113

Post by cr1895 »

6stringmerc wrote: post #82
agentgt wrote: post #34

> Besides, with only Apple earbuds currently supporting the Lightning audio connection, the only way to connect an iPhone 7 to a recording or mixing device will be over the suboptimal Bluetooth connection or a dongle provided by Apple. If you are recording stuff from your iPhone using the 3.5mm jack you are already suboptimal perhaps even to the bluetooth. For one you are going through the iPhone DAC (luckily the iph…

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.

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

#114

Post by em3rgent0rdr »

cr1895 wrote: post #84
onli wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My understanding is that it is about what is the output. The 3.5mm jack outputs the regular audio data. You could just make it output encrypted data, but that is the same as removing it, all the headphones won't work. If you replace it with a proprietary system you can add in DRM, like not outputting anything if the connected device (which can be an adapter) is not certified. Everything has to get transformed into re…

>The 3.5mm jack outputs the regular audio data. You could just make it output encrypted data, but that is the same as removing it, all the headphones won't work. The 3.5mm jack outputs an analog signal. It's already been converted from digital data to an analog signal by the phone's DAC chip.

but hypothetically you could send a digital encrypted signal over the audio 3.5mm jack, provided that the receiving device has an ADC and can decrypt.

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

#115

Post by cr1895 »

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 that it happens at your ear and you don't have wires.

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

#116

Post by domador »

mead5432 wrote: post #20

I understand the argument that forcing content through a proprietary jack opens the door for controlling said content and has huge implications for hardware manufacturers and the way people use their stuff. What I am having a hard time understanding is why is that any different than the OS influencing what gets sent to the 3.5mm jack? It isn't like apps running in iOS had to interact with APIs to do all the other thi…

I'd think that the OS is irreparably "blind" to devices connected to the 3.5mm jack, unable to identify them, and unable to discriminate among them, unable to send audio output to some of them, and not to others. A proprietary audio standard might include a way to identify devices (since manufacturers would likely have to use some kind of ID in the devices they make with Apple's blessing).

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

#117

Post by azinman2 »

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?

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

#118

Post by javajosh »

Klathmon wrote: post #62
javajosh wrote: post #32

Isn't this tacitly assuming that Apple will be able to single-handedly eliminate the headphone jack? I think it is quite likely that post-Jobs Apple has finally overstepped it's bounds, and despite it's good qualities the iPhone 7 will be a relative dud. In which case the iPhone 8 will (reluctantly) put the jack back.

I just don't see that happening. To be completely honest, literally 0 of the people I know with iphones have anything other than official Apple headphones. Even when they break, they go into an apple store and buy new ones. There will be lots of complaining, but for most people this won't change anything except the annoyance of not being able to charge while using the headphones without an adapter (which is the only…

The headphone industry was generating $2.3B in revenue in 2013 [1], with premium headphones making $1B of that. Needless to say, the world is much larger than your friend group.

[1] https://www.npd.com/wps/portal/npd/us/news/press-releases/pr...

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

#119

Post by 6stringmerc »

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…

Great points, and reminds me of how Apple treated those who invested heavily in Final Cut Pro 'server farms' (so to speak) for professional production, only to see FCPX and nearly pick up torches and pitchforks. Actively slicing away utility and, well, consideration for professionals at the expense of greater revenues from consumers seems to be ingrained in the Apple business model. I don't like it but I can see it with these kinds of decisions.

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

#120

Post by snerbles »

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?

Does the dongle add latency?
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