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Pursuit of Slenderness May Mean No More Headphone Jack In iPhone 7 (pcmag.com)

Posted by timothy on from the dropping-the-screen-saves-weight-too dept.

An intriguing rumor reported by PC Mag (and initially reported in this Japanese blog) holds that Apple may drop the standard headphone jack from the next revision of the iPhone, in favor of Bluetooth and Lightning connectors. From PC Mag's article: The big question is just how such a move might affect all the other headphones one can buy, as well as the other devices Apple makes. While we can envision some manufacturers making iPhone-exclusive variants of their headphones, we doubt that Apple's potential decision to chop out the headphone jack is going to suddenly make for a market full of Lightning-only headphones and earbuds. There are, after all, plenty of non-iPhone devices that still use the 3.5mm connection. And, of course, you could just pair any ol' pair of Bluetooth headphones or earbuds with the iPhone 7.

7 of 412 comments (clear)

  1. converter by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    As with virtually any apple device, there will be a $75 piece manufactured for 85 cents that will be a lightning to headphone jack connection.

    As with the other lightning connectors, if you plug it into your mac it will crash when it wakes on sleep.

  2. Bullshit by melatonin · · Score: 3, Interesting

    This would mean a DAC, headphone amp, and batteries in every headphone.

    --
    Moderators should have to take a reading comprehension test.
  3. They will go one step further by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

    ... before long Apple will put in an 'identity tag detector' inside their new iPhone and only their own brand headphones have the tag - and without the tag the headphone won't work

    1. Re:They will go one step further by kupekhaize · · Score: 3, Interesting

      I hate to say it, but they already have a "Made for iPhone" program where there are special chips the iDevices are looking for, and if they don't find it they will complain the accessory may not work properly:

      http://www.iphonehacks.com/201...

      Last I heard it never went past fear mongering but was still annoying. I can't remember if there was a way to disable it or not but I'm sure if so it was on by default.

      --
      One of these days i'm going to find this 'peer' guy and reset HIS connection!
  4. Airplane Mode by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I don't think that the FAA will make an exception for iPhone7 Bluetooth usage on board planes... So no more silly inflight playlists (in the air tonight, jefferson airplane, top gun)... ;)

  5. Re:3.5mm? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Interesting
    The reason Apple want to get rid of the SIM card is to take more control over which network the device is using. And likely get a large revenue cut of the network subscription.

    This could in theory be a good thing, with an e-sim your device can switch effortless between networks and chose the best offer at any time. And Apple could pressure networks on price to be part of the selection for iDevices.

    But, at the same time Apple has also taken away the control you today have to switch SIM card yourself. And while networks are pressured on price, Apple will likely pocket a large cut to themselves.

  6. What else is there left to do on smartphones? by areusche · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I miss the good 'ol days of 2004-5 when smartphone innovation was huge. Nowadays what's left to innovate? There isn't much room left for Apple to do anything nifty besides up the memory and processor speed. Smartphones are so boring these days. The last phone I was excited for was the Droid 4 and iPhone 4 and the marginal software updates for each applicable platform. What is a mobile hardware geek to do?

    I'd love it if some phone manufacturer made a device that was truly secure and could detect when it was being connected to a StingRay device used by law enforcement. Now that's an exciting innovation!

    Brb, checking out the Blackberry Priv.