“More than 300,000 people have signed a petition [organized by The Sum of Us, a website ‘fighting for people over profits’] urging Apple not to ditch the headphone socket from the version of the iPhone due for release this autumn,” Jane Wakefield reports for The Beeb.
MacDailyNews Take: Fools.
Wakefield reports, “Many complained on Twitter that removing the socket would render expensive headphones useless.”
MacDailyNews Take: You have “expensive headphones,” but you’ve never heard of a simple adapter?
Wakefield reports, “Others said that they would not be upgrading.”
MacDailyNews Take: Luddites.
“Apple introduced support for headphones over its Lightning cable in 2014,” Wakefield reports. “If the rumours prove true, it will not be the first time Apple has abandoned what it sees as outdated technology. In 1998 it released the iMac G3 without a floppy disk, leaving many questioning the wisdom of the move. But, just more than a decade later, Sony – a pioneer of the floppy disk – announced it was killing off the storage device.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: The original version of this jack dates back to 1878. Your current headphones will work with a simple adapter. Our current headphones will continue to work without an adapter.
The only people signing such a petition are fools, Luddites, and/or those with way too much time on their hands.
So: Bring. It. On.
Apple product users are never wedded to old tech when there’s progress to be made.
Plus, here’s another good reason for the Beats buy. If Apple and Beats both change to Lightning headphones, the rest of the world will have to follow.
Also, don’t discount the ability for Lightning headphones to do more than just reproduce sound:
For just one example, see Apple’s U.S. Patent No. 8,655,004: “Sports monitoring system for headphones, earbuds and/or headsets.”
Apple’s patent abstract: A monitoring system that can be placed proximate to the head or ear of a user is disclosed. According to one embodiment, the monitoring system can be used with headphones, earbuds or headsets. The monitoring system can, for example, be used to monitor user activity, such as during exercise or sporting activities. The positioning of the monitoring system can also facilitate sensing of other user characteristics (e.g., biometric data), such as temperature, perspiration and heart rate. The monitoring system can also be used to control a an electronic device. In one embodiment, the monitoring system facilitates user control of the electronic device using head gestures. More info here.
From your ear to your wrist in the blink of an eye™.
Also, if you’d prefer no wires at all, you can do as we’ve been doing for years now and just go Bluetooth. We’ve been using wireless Jaybirds for some time now (currently the Jaybird X2 Sport Wireless Bluetooth Headphones, $100 at Amazon). They’re easy to charge, easy to pair, light and comfortable, and work perfectly with our Apple Watches and iPhones.
SEE ALSO:
Apple iPhone 7 to offer ‘only subtle changes’ beyond dumping 3.5mm headphone jack for Lightning connector – June 21, 2016
iOS 9 code reveals Apple’s plans to dump 3.5mm headphone jack in future iPhones – January 20, 2016
Apple’s intention to kill the 3.5mm headphone jack is brilliant – January 13, 2016
iPhone 7 said to be waterproof, replace 3.5mm headphone jack with Apple’s Lightning – January 8, 2016
The fastest Lightning cable is also one of the least expensive – January 8, 2016
Apple will drop headphone jack to make the iPhone 7 super slim, source confirms; wireless charging and waterproof, too – January 7, 2016
Petition demands Apple keep 3.5mm headphone jack in the ‘iPhone 7’ – January 7, 2016
More reports claim Apple has dumped the 3.5mm headphone jack on iPhone 7 – January 5, 2016
Why Apple may axe the 3.5mm headphone jack – June 20, 2014
Apple may be poised to kill off the 3.5mm headphone jack – June 7, 2014
Apple may ditch analog 3.5mm headphone jack for Lightning to make thinner devices – June 6, 2014
Apple introduces MFi specs for Lightning cable headphones, iOS software update to deliver support – June 5, 2014
Apple preps HD audio for iOS 8 plus new Apple In-Ear Headphones and lightning cable – May 13, 2014
Apple patents biometric sensor-packed health monitoring earphones with ‘head gesture’ control – February 18, 2014
Apple paves way for more affordable iOS accessories with lower MFi and Lightning licensing fees – February 7, 2014
I’m sure we could get more than 300,000 people to sign a petition banning DHMO ( http://DHMO.org ), so that doesn’t really mean anything.
Those 300 000 signatures do not mean anything because Apple finalizes design of iPhone about a half year before it goes on sale, so whatever those people are screaming about is absolutely useless.
If Apple did get rid of the headphone jack, and if Apple would be all of sudden now, after this petition, convinced to succumb to its demand, the company will be only able to bring this headphone jack in 2017 model, not earlier.
A company that is unwilling to modify it’s course, is doomed to become the next lumbering failure (I.e Microsoft). If Apple truly decided that customers we right, and that release of this model was a complete mistake and released it anyhow, that would be highly microsoftian. If they knew they were making a mistake, and sold it anyhow, they’re doing something worse than producing a bad product–they’re damaging the brand.
The fact is, that Apple is unafraid to remove technologies when they’re uneeded. I’m thinking of killing off the CD drive, the floppy drive, and even further back, nubus and ADB.
Just vote with your dollars and don’t purchase the new iPhone if you don’t want it, no online petition necessary. I myself see no issues with removing the headphone jack, it is the price of progress.
Ah, but don’t you realize that we now live in an age where minor inconveniences have to result in petitions and protests? We used to protest things like wars, segregation, and voting rights. The new “fight” is over headphone jacks. Nothing wrong with providing consumer feedback, but stop pretending you are fighting for people over profits.
MDN, then give them the damn adapter and don’t charge $39.99 for it. It doesn’t resolve the issue that adapters are generally stupid and just a means by which Apple and others can make more money. It’s a start though. Apple charges Ludacris prices for their adapters. And, then you have to sift through all the junk online when it’s not an Apple adapter.
What does a rapper have to do with iPhones?
Rob, did you ask the automotive industry to pay your food costs for your horses also? Dude, don’t upgrade.
I have a Walkman I can sell you.
Tit
An adapter would be another overly expensive device prone to loss and subject to being misplaced.
Bluetooth sound quality is not as pure as from a wired headphone.
Bluetooth headphones are generally more expensive.
Eliminating the 3.5 mm jack would make millions of perfectly workable headphones functionally obsolete.
No,
No,
No,
and…..
No.
Adaptor will be shipped with the iPhone…..so cost = 0.
No one is asking you to use Bluetooth.
You seriously think Apple will pass up an opportunity to sell adapters for $40 or $50 each?
You didn’t own a Mac in the early 90’s that was “System 7 Ready”, did you?
Feel free to buy an android.
While you are at it go and buy a PC with CD player and Blurry player and Rotating HD and whatever other shit you want. No one is stopping you!
Adapters cost money. When has Apple ever built an adapter that was just given away?
Some people would not want an adapter – free or otherwise. Who needs or wants a redundant dongle.
You may not have the capacity to notice the degradation in Bluetooth sound quality. I guess that’s good for you. Neither are you aware that wired headphone are the industry standard in studio music production.
A cursory review of Bluetooth and wired headphone clearly indicates that the vast majority of wired headsets are cheaper than Bluetooth devices.
So play with your ineffectual, tinny, poor sound quality, over priced Bluetooth headphones, son. If you choose lower quality products, it’s your loss.
Turn off your fanboy mode, Paul.
If Apple wants to maintain popularity, it needs to deliver what users want. Nobody is asking for a thinner iPhone and nobody is asking for a different connector. And most of us don’t see any point complicating usability by forcing users to carry around overpriced adapters.
I know that as an audiophile, my standards are higher than the average user, but there’s no excuse for Apple to make everyone who wants to connect their life more difficult. Ergonomically and economically, all Apple adapters in the past decade have completely sucked. Going 100% wireless is a nonstarter. Why can’t Apple innovate with some improved battery life and a legible GUI?
IF they change it then there will be headphones with that jack so you do not need that adapter at all. Only if you decide to use other headphones with it. Or you can sell your old iPhone with the old headphones and use the cash to buy a new iPhone and new headphones with the new jack so then again no need for the adapter. No I want to see the Apple to do this new jack thing because the fandroids will simply go monkey bananas and that is always a good thing.
Whn has Apple ever really listened to the users of thier products?
Maybe they now can with new lightning connector headphones? 😃
Glad people have priorities.
I didn’t care one way or another before. Now I want Apple to update that jack so bad.
“Apple product users are never wedded to old tech when there’s progress to be made.”
Forgive my ignorance. ‘Progress’ implies some sort of forward progression into a better relative position. What benefit stands to be gained by removing the headphone jack?
Thinner phone, better sound quality, two way data capability, entry into the 21st Century.
Presumably, removing a connector that serves only one purpose, and is mechanically problematic and takes up disproportionately large amount of space in a mobile device where space is at premium. There may be other reasons which I cannot think of at the moment.
Someone argued that it is the headphones plug that is the biggest obstacle to making a waterproof mobile phone. It is not that it cannot be done; it is just that it would take up even more space and be more expensive to implement.
Apple had made these types of migrations many times (SCSI, ADB, serial, FW400, FW800, VGA, DVI, 30-pin dock connector…). It has been done many times before, and there weren’t any significant consequences in the aftermath. In all fairness, though, they didn’t have the user base of over 100 million people before, but on the other hand, only a very small percentage of that user base would actually be affected, those who actually replace the bundled Harman-Kardon earpods with something else. And even among those, large percentage own a cheap $20 SONY MDR-10 headphones.
Since the beginning, iPhone has bundled headphones. This will obviously continue, regardless of the connector. And there is no doubt, major headphone makers (Senheiser, Koss, Bose, Sony, SkullCandy etc) will likely have a full line of lightning headphones even before the first iPhone with lightning headphone connector is even out for sale. Remember, you can already use such headphones with existing devices with a lightning port.
puhleeze
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. The only reasons I can see for Apple to drop the analog headphone jack for a proprietary one are profits and DRM.
BS!!
The horse and cart was “not broken”. It just needed one more horse.
Yeah, right! God, people are so stupid.
Interesting; to have one less hole in the device is in the simplifying spirit of Steve Jobs. And possibly an aid to making the iPhone less prone to water damage? (Without the cover BFWOT port covers that Samesong put on the Galaxy Tab.)
Reasons given for removing the headphone jack really don’t make that much sense. It’s not about thinness (as if anyone is clamoring for a thinner phone), since the significantly thinner iPod touch manages to have a headphone jack.
I’m wondering if this has something to do with DRM and protecting music copyrights. Having sound output through only a digital port (lightening or BT) and eliminating the analog headphone jack is probably appealing to the music industry.
Just because Apple deems it a good move doesn’t automatically make it one. Why was the iPhone power button relocated. Now, I have to think about where it is when I switch between iPads and iPhones. Why did the headphone jack have to moved from the top of the device to the bottom? Now precludes having the device in a dock while using headphones.
All this was done not for the end user but for Apple’s purposes.
The removal to the 3.5mm plug will require more than just a simple adaptor. Unless the lightning port gets hooked up to the signal processor and amplifier, you’ll need an adaptor with those features. Not a good thing.
the thunderbolt port on the phone is very susceptible to jean pocket lint
Are these the same people who complained that they should retain the drum brakes on their automobiles?
I don’t like adapters, simple as that. Maybe if there was a new industry standard headphone jack I would suck up the change, but there isn’t. Replacing an industry standard connector with proprietary connector is definitely not a step forward.
What are you getting in the earphone jack hole is a big problem with the waterproof phone
Anyone experience issues with the Lightning cable connector coming loose after a while? Sometimes not visibly so, but enough where the connection is broken, and a very slight jiggle reconnects it. It doesn’t snap in firmly enough in it’s current form.