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I still miss my headphone jack, and I want it back

fastcompany.com

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Re: I still miss my headphone jack, and I want it back

#291

Post by Klover »

pookieinc wrote: post #213

We need to take into account _Accessibility_. A large use case that I've found most people seems to miss are individuals who are older and don't have much experience with bluetooth or wireless technology. I'm fine with Apple removing the headphone jack, but they've alienated so many people to find their own path when they don't include the adapter. Anecdotal example: I recently purchased headphones for my 65-year old…

Just attach the tiny little dongle that comes with the phone to the headphones. Then say to him that he can put the charging cable there and also the headphones cable.

Would this be too complicated too? You can get the EarPods with a lightning connector. If that’s too complicated then maybe you can draw a picture explaining it?

Re: I still miss my headphone jack, and I want it back

#292

Post by akvadrako »

Nerdfest wrote: post #7

After saying I'd never get a phone without a headphone jack until Bluetooth codecs improved, I ended up getting a Pixel2XL through "reward points". It's a great phone ... and I've "only" been needed a headphone jack a dozen or so times in the six months I've had it. Not for headphone, but for other audio input or output requirements. What an absolutely idiotic idea. I've started leaving those stupid dongles everywher…

BT codes are already pretty good. You can use AAC@256kbps. The only thing better is basically lossless.

Re: I still miss my headphone jack, and I want it back

#293

Post by ayoisaiah »

jamesrcole wrote: post #140
nikofeyn wrote: post #134

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> You say you don't see how it follows, yet you yourself say it will cause more wireless headphones to be sold. no i didn't. i said apple wants to sell more wireless headphones and dongles. removing the audio jack forces users to look at the new shiny airpods, or whatever they're called, and say "i need that". then they need dongles for integration purposes. yet, they didn't need the dongle before and could still buy…

"Apple will sell more wireless headphones, but this won't mean they sell more wireless headphones." That's what you're saying. If people are going to buy more wireless headphones because of these phones, then they're going to buy them from a range of manufacturers -- in fact mostly other manufacturers because the Apple ones are so pricey. If people are going to buy more wireless headphones because of these phones the…

> It's ridiculous to suggest that everything apple does is just a cheap cash grab.

What's so ridiculous about it? Have you not seen the rate at which Apple are increasing the prices across all their products?

And petty practices like not including the lightening to 3.5mm adapter or fast charger on a $1000+ phone e.t.c.

Re: I still miss my headphone jack, and I want it back

#294

Post by tokyodude »

I used to always carry a Y adapter so I could share my music with whoever I'm traveling with. No more of that :(

If any of you know Asian style box karaoke (small private rooms for 4 to 16 people) some places let you plug in external input... but of course they only have headphone cables so none of that anymore. I suppose they're supposed to some how setup Apple TV/Chromecast in every room?

Here in Tokyo anytime I enter a crowded train station or a crowded intersection my Airpods basically cease to function cutting in and out, mostly out, for the until I get out of the crowded area. Didn't have that issue with my wired headphones.

I actually mostly like my Airpods but I do wish my phone kept the headphone jack.

Re: I still miss my headphone jack, and I want it back

#295

Post by akvadrako »

buboard wrote: post #246
chillacy wrote: post #183

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This comment is bound to age poorly ;) Unless 3.5mm headphone jacks will be around in 50 years who knows.

i mean, people buy turntables nowadays. new ones, not just vintage and antiques. Audio equipment tends to age veery slowly

That's not how it worked. Turntables became obsolete then they become popular years later because everything about them is inferior.

Re: I still miss my headphone jack, and I want it back

#296

Post by dmode »

More than the lack of headphone jack, I actually hate the lightning / usb-c / 3.5 mm inconsistency between the iPhone and Macbook. I mean, I usually would keep the dongle on my headset. But when I need to get on a Webex call or listen to music from you computer, I have to remove the dongle. I have misplaced them a few times because of this reason.

Although, I would say that the one upside of removing the headphone jack has been the release of Airpods. One you use them, there is no going back to wired headphones.

Re: I still miss my headphone jack, and I want it back

#297

Post by Lio »

jamesrcole wrote: post #140
nikofeyn wrote: post #134

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> You say you don't see how it follows, yet you yourself say it will cause more wireless headphones to be sold. no i didn't. i said apple wants to sell more wireless headphones and dongles. removing the audio jack forces users to look at the new shiny airpods, or whatever they're called, and say "i need that". then they need dongles for integration purposes. yet, they didn't need the dongle before and could still buy…

"Apple will sell more wireless headphones, but this won't mean they sell more wireless headphones." That's what you're saying. If people are going to buy more wireless headphones because of these phones, then they're going to buy them from a range of manufacturers -- in fact mostly other manufacturers because the Apple ones are so pricey. If people are going to buy more wireless headphones because of these phones the…

Somethings that bothers me about your argument, is that Apple doesn’t support existing highend audio codecs (presumably to avoid paying the licensing fees) and doesn’t include wireless headphones or an adapter for 3.5mm in the box.

Instead they include wired headphones with a proprietary plug.

If you want high quality headphones with an iphone you have to buy some that license a proprietary Apple protocol or chip or settle for lower sound quality generic Bluetooth audio.

Re: I still miss my headphone jack, and I want it back

#298

Post by rusk »

ddingus wrote: post #86
S_A_P wrote: post #74

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think you are onto something here. DRM is probably a driver here. if you have an analog signal, you can "pirate"...

Sadly, that will remain true digitally too. It is just not hard to tap the signal. I think you are right about the DRM. It will prove to be a waste of time. Audio is too easy. Seriously. Heck, I can make something to just write the stream to a file, and doing that is not hard. Costs less than a CD.

> Heck, I can make something to just write the stream to a file

Not so easy if the analog signal only emerges at the earpiece ...

Re: I still miss my headphone jack, and I want it back

#299

Post by roboyoshi »

m_mueller wrote: post #256
pookieinc wrote: post #213

We need to take into account _Accessibility_. A large use case that I've found most people seems to miss are individuals who are older and don't have much experience with bluetooth or wireless technology. I'm fine with Apple removing the headphone jack, but they've alienated so many people to find their own path when they don't include the adapter. Anecdotal example: I recently purchased headphones for my 65-year old…

maybe an industry standard that works like AirPods pairing?

Yes, but looking at Apple, Google, HTC, Samsung and recent history, I think it will come down to this: https://xkcd.com/927/ . I'm almost certain that whatever Apple developed for the Airpods will not be shared with other companies. And whatever other companies push forward as a "Standard" will not replace the Apple Solution in the near future. Even replacing apples crappy AFP Network Protocol took 13 years, until SMB finally took over in macOS Mavericks. And even then, they used their own implementation instead of the official "Standard" one.
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