“The most recent leak comes to us via a post from the Chinese microblogging site Weibo,” Yoni Heisler reports for BGR. “Allegedly posted by a Foxconn insider, the post adds a few crumbs of new information about the iPhone 7 will also lending credence to a number of previously circulated rumors.”
“First, the Foxconn leaker notes that the iPhone 7 home button will not be a mechanical button that users can depress,” Heisler reports. “Instead, the leak indicates that the iPhone 7 home button will implement a touch-based design. Notably, this aligns with previous rumors we’ve seen emerge over the last few weeks. Just a few days ago, for instance, we came across a report claiming that the iPhone 7 home button will be touch-sensitive and will sit atop of sensors that will provide haptic feedback to users when touched. The goal here is to give users the illusion that the home button is mechanical, similar to what Apple has already implemented on its MacBook [Force Touch trackpad]. What’s more, the home button on the iPhone 7 is said to be pressure sensitive, thereby providing another avenue for Apple to implement 3D touch functionality.”
Heisler reports, “Third, the Weibo post corroborates a slew of rumors claiming that the iPhone 7 will not include a 3.5mm headphone jack.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: If not at launch, then relatively soon after, we expect Lightning headphones to be able do more than just reproduce sound:
For 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 (currently the Jaybird X2 Sport Wireless Bluetooth Headphones (around $115)). They’re easy to charge, easy to pair, light and comfortable, and work perfectly with our Apple Watches and iPhones.
SEE ALSO:
Apple supplier preps for removal of 3.5mm headphone jack in next iPhone – June 30, 2016
Mossberg: New Even earphones tune themselves to each individual’s hearing – June 29, 2016
Alleged iPhone 7 chassis lacks 3.5mm headphone port – June 28, 2016
iPhone 7 rumored to get second speaker, larger camera – June 27, 2016
Apple is known for dumping legacy tech before the rest of the world catches up – June 27, 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
Glad I bought a 6s plus instead. The processor of the new phone may be way faster but the headphone jack removal is just stupid. Why doesn’t apple try to bring great products to the market instead of working on the thinner is better credo.
…“Why doesn’t apple try to bring great products to the market instead”…
You are implying that Apple’s current products are less than great. I could see this as an argument by a rabid fandroid, but based on pretty much every objective, as well as subjective metric available out there (and plenty of surveys and tests have been done over the years), the iPhone is far superior to all other competitors. While out of any context, this may still not mean much (a Blackberry may be far superior to a Windows 10 phone, but that tells us nothing), the absolute metrics tend to indicate that Apple indeed does make great products.
There are many people who are unable to walk and chew gum. I think Apple has demonstrated quite some time ago that it is perfectly capable of walking and chewing at the same time (i.e. making great products and at the same time working on “thinner is better”).
Thinness as an attribute-in-itself became a permanent scandal on the catwalk, with high-priced fashion models suffering from eating disorders and heroin addiction. That problem is ineradicable because ensembles display best on tall, thin models. The same applies to personal appliances such as the hand-held cell phone. Thinner is sexier looking and enjoys other emotional benefits from its light weight and compactness. The mantra of the die-hard-with-a-vengeance technophile may be “battery life over thinness” but chunkiness is just not appealing to the mass market. Pocket protectors, eyeglass lanyards, and chinos with rolled cuffs are also Out.
Like it or not, the Design Sensibility is firmly in place at Apple. As long as it makes lots and lots of money for them, the grumbling of the cognoscenti is unlikely to dislodge Jony Ive, Tim Cook, or any other traitor to the holy cause of restoring The Formerly Great Apple. Nobody needs another Hundred Years’ War.
“but based on pretty much every objective, as well as subjective metric available out there” If you read widely enough you would see this is just not true. This is not saying Apple does not make good products, but “far superior” is way overstated and just plain wrong in many cases (you would have to use inferior), including smartphones.
“You are implying that Apple’s current products are less than great.”
On the contrary, as Tak explained that he or she was glad that they bought the 6S, it’s quite obvious that they think that Apple’s current products really are great. I assume that they are less persuaded about the changes being rumoured for Apple’s next iPhone.
It will have larger battery as a side benifit.
And lighting headphones will allow additinal functionality that 3.5 jack cant offer. See MDN note.
Plus you can always use your 3.5 headphones if u insist…with the included adaptor.
No harm done anywhere.. Yet a slew of possibilities and advancments lie ahead .
Exactly. Big benefits for lightning headphones, no downside due to adaptor.
Apple knows what it is doing. They know the superiority of the lightning connector, they have a long term roadmap.
Most of the critics have no knowledge of the technical advantages of the lightning port, nor Apple’s plans into the future. Without those they cannot make a rational judgement.
And most are very short sighted with no imagination
I think it’ll work out in time, but I just bought a Rode VideoMic Me which plugs directly into the 3.5mm jack. The 7 would have to be truly revolutionary for me to upgrade from my 6+, but I’ll likely just keep it and maybe pick up a discounted 6s+ in the future. I wish they’d go back to the iPhone 4/5 shape, the 6 is in constant danger of being dropped without a case.
The iPhone SE is almost exactly the iPhone 4/5 shape, but includes all the important things from the latest iPhones. I’m finding greatly improved battery life too.
I’d like that shape in the 6+ size, or even bigger.
I agree completely. I have seen no arguments good enough to justify Apple dropping the 3.5mm jack at this time. Maybe they’ll make one, but I can’t see it. My 6+ is in great shape, and will likely last me a while, and if it doesn’t last until the 8, I’ll get a 6s+ somewhere. And if the 8 doesn’t give a good reason either, I have no trouble jumping to Android. I’ve been an Apple guy since 1983, but their “style over substance” approach of the last 3 or 4 years has finally lost me.
My 6+ is great, but they hobbled it with the 1GB of RAM. I hope it’ll serve me well for another year or more, but we’ll see what Apple does with upcoming versions of iOS that may hobble devices with less memory.
You know external speakers use headphone jack and many other things use that. That’s gonna be s hard one to overcome. Then having to always entire I have my lightning to earphone cable with me
The lightning adaptor will be attached to your 3.5 headphones.. You wont even know you are carrying it!
All these rumors crack me up.
Pictures of this model and that model showing this and that are Bullshit.
Apple’s R&D center has a complete prototype manufacturing capability. All parts are tested for fit and finish before China ever sees them (very late July/ very early August). Full production/ramp starts in very late August/very early September.
The only known theft of an iPhone part from a production facility led to the arrest and incarceration of the Foxconn employee that did it. All these purported photos of things to come are nothing more than 3D prints of current products with some digitally modified elements.
We are gullible. We are easily excitable. Our resultant bleating is measured by men in white coats and sold to sleazy statisticians.
I imagine no 35mm jack will equal $$$ for Apple accessories… Like the $99. Pencil that works ONLY with Ipad Pro!
Have to admit… Apple’s products are great, but so are the price tags!
And last week we rumor-learned that there WILL be a 3.5mm headphone jack.
I’m tellin’ ya! Apple is leaking out their own FAKE iPhones to utterly confuse the rumor mill. I am motivated to laugh so hard that I puke. Ha! :-Q***** Ha! :-Q*****
Wake me up when it’s real 💤💤
PREDICTION:
I see in the future there will be even skinner MacBooks with a trackpad for keyboard that still feels like a keyboard due to haptic feedback as fingers a slid across key “edges” and press “buttons”.
A haptic/taptic keyboard with an OLED screen could result in a MacBook of extraordinary thinness. If the batter case did double purpose as the bottom half’s case, it could be insanely thin.