Shit, we only just got all phone manufacturers working with the same standard.<p>Remember those tiny little jacks 2.5mm (used most recently in my memory for xbox 360). I hated that, you're locked in to one set of headphones and when they break (which they do, because they're made of garbage and greed) then you have lost a function of your device.<p>Obviously Apple will have a plethora of other headphones to choose from, or to order more. But, for me now it's just..<p>I mean.. we were there! not with chargers (although that's much better for non-iPhones).. but we were there!<p>if they don't follow standards then I'm certainly not upgrading to the 7, and I say that as a user since the 4s who has always liked the offering from Apple.
I think that 3.5mm jack is a source of many repair issues for Apple.<p>- pocket lint routinely finds its way into the jack.<p>- most male connectors are manufactured with low precision, which causes added stress to the socket.<p>- some male connectors are long, creating a lot of leverage if force is applied in the wrong direction.<p>- water gets in easily through the socket.<p>- the socket is very fat and forces the phone to be thicker than it would otherwise need to be.<p>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.
Does this mean MacBooks will add Lightning ports? If so, will they be only for headphones, or is there some other device planned to make use of it, too?
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...<p>[1] <a href="http://www.amazon.com/MOCREO-Bluetooth-Wireless-Streaming-Receiver/dp/B00SMBXOP2/ref=sr_1_23?ie=UTF8&qid=1452099571&sr=8-23&keywords=3.5mm+to+bluetooth" rel="nofollow">http://www.amazon.com/MOCREO-Bluetooth-Wireless-Streaming-Re...</a>
But it'll stick with Lightning port, instead of adopting usb type C, the article suggests. That's disappointing. I wonder if ever the iphone will switch to usb type c -- every other phone will later this year.
There are already portable combined DAC/headphone amplifier units that support lightning input (either directly or via a USB converter). I did have one for a few weeks but sent it back it as the minor difference in sound quality wasn't worth the effort of carting it around.<p>The combined heft of both the phone and the DAC unit (most of them are similar size but twice the thickness of an iPhone) makes for an uncomfortable pocket bulge. Aside from being another thing to carry around. it's also another thing to keep charged (like I haven't got enough of those things in my life already).<p>Sure, the DAC on the iphone isn't the best in the world, but it's certainly good enough. Only when concentrating wearing studio-quality headphones in a silent room can I tell the difference between the two, and those times that I am sat in a silent room, it's at home (which has a decent audio setup not dependent on my phone).<p>I guess there will be smaller units produced that are perhaps powered through the lightening port (if this is even possible?), but likely the sound quality produced by them will be similar to the on-board DAC/amp circuit.
If we assume they will drop the 3.5mm jack in favor of using the lightning port for headphones that would mean we couldn't listen to music via headphones while charging the phone. That would be my biggest issue.<p>On the plus side it would be nice if they put an extra speaker where the headphone jack currently is for stereo sound and so that the speakers are harder to obstruct.
This would seriously make me consider switching to Android after being iPhone only since the 3G.<p>The fact that both of my ports (3mm, lightning) on my 6 started flaking out about the time the warranty expired helps, too.
It seems crazy that they would do that, but I thought the same when they got rid of the CD drive on a Mac, included only one port on the Macbook, etc. I know people claim it's to make the phone thinner, but I'm hoping there's other reasons that are driving the decision as well.
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...
What will all those people who invested 300-500 bucks into Beats et al headphones do? Buy another $39.99 adapter? That was the cost of 30pin>lightning when it came out. even today its $30. A surface phone cant come soon enough :)
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.
People are just going to turn on the speaker and listen to their music and conversations aloud.<p>If Apple really cared, they would remove the external speaker in their phones and just have a simple ringer.<p></oldduderant>
I don't get it. is there some law enacted that you have to upgrade to the newest phone every time it comes out? apple can do whatever they damn well please, just like samsung, lg, sony can. IF you don't like the fact that they're removing it, dont upgrade your phone, or switch to a different phone company. Owner of a Note 4. when the note 5 and edge plus came out but no longer had sd card expandable slots, I simply did not upgrade. and will not.