Slashdot Mirror
Phones Without Headphone Jacks Are Here... and They're Extremely Annoying (mashable.com)
A few weeks ago, we had an intense discussion on what would happen if Apple's next iPhone doesn't have a headphone port -- and what that means for the rest of the industry, as well as the pros and cons of ditching the legacy port. Over the past few months, we have seen many smartphone manufacturers launch new handsets that don't have a headphone jack. Mashable has a report today in which it says that it is already causing frustration among users. From the article: In the Android camp, phones like Lenovo's Moto Z and Moto Z Force and China's LeEco have already scrapped the 3.5mm headphone jack; to listen to music on the company's three latest phones, users need to plug in USB Type-C headphones, go wireless, or use a dongle. I'm all for letting go of old technologies to push forward, but what is happening is actually going to make things worse. The headphone jack has worked for 50 years and it can work for another 50 more because it's universal. Headphones I plug into my iPhone work in an Android phone, in a BlackBerry, in my computer, in my PS4 controller, in my tablet, in any speaker with audio-out, and so on. I can walk into any electronics store and pick up a pair of headphones and not have to worry about compatibility with any of my devices. I know it'll work. [...] With a universal headphone jack, I never have to worry whether or not the crappy pack-in iPhone EarPods I have will work with the Android phone I'm reviewing or not. I also never have to worry if I'll be able to plug my headphones into a friend's phone to listen to some new song. Same applies for when I want to use my earbuds and headphones with another person's device. And there lies the real issue. I will need different dongles -- a Lightning-to-headphone-jack and a USB-Type-C-to-headphone-jack to be prepared because I do carry both iPhone and Android phone on me daily. Dongles also get lost.
I'm also a strong supporter of sticking with something universal and that works well.
What's this useless "USB" Apple is mandating on all the iMacs?! Stick with ADB and the Printer/Modem ports. It's been Universal on Mac's since the beginning!
You are apparently unaware that, to date, the only phones which have shipped without headphone jacks are Android phones...
#DeleteChrome
Oh man, I would definitely carry a tube smartphone.
You are welcome on my lawn.
that's the darkest wiki entry ever for a consumer electronics product. literally:
* reaction at launch
* criticism
* discontinuation
at the very least, they could link to what the reviewers said at the time it was released.
I've had to find the "sweet spot" on an untold number of 3.5mm jacks.
Well... Your partners say you try to find it and give you an "A" for effort.
It must have been something you assimilated. . . .
Lucky for us we can only hear an analogue signal.
You mean Monster Aether? Plugs into the wall like those room perfume thingies, and spreads complex organic molecules tuned to the specific BT frequencies, to help carry the signal and keep it coherent. Reduces noise in BT headsets and results in a more natural, warmer sound, and completely eliminates bit-flutter. Comes in pine & lavender or sweet jasmine. Only €49,99
If construction was anything like programming, an incorrectly fitted lock would bring down the entire building...
Everyone hates all-caps.
NOT ME!
That's why I fitted my phone with an XLR socket.
It's sufficient to bear my own bodyweight.
Adapter? I just lathed down my headphone plug by 0.5mm.
"They were pure niggers." – Noam Chomsky