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Samsung's Upcoming Galaxy S8 Flagship Smartphone Won't Have a Headphone Jack: Report (sammobile.com)

Samsung is planning to ditch headphone jack in its next flagship smartphone, called the Samsung Galaxy S8, reports SamMobile, a Samsung-focused blog that has a pretty good track record with these things. From the report: Removing the 3.5mm headphone jack enables Samsung to make the Galaxy S8 thinner while also freeing up more space inside for a bigger battery. Samsung may also integrate stereo speakers which some believe will be made in collaboration with Harman, a company that Samsung is acquiring for $8 billion.

360 comments

  1. Sweet by bartosek · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Guess who's not buying an S8?

    1. Re:Sweet by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      The burn victims?

    2. Re: Sweet by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Goodbye Samsung--enjoy mimicking Apple. I'm sure they've done their research and and found a profitable customer base but it will no longer include me. With the Note 7 failure, you'd think they'd be a bit more conservative in their money grab product changes.

    3. Re:Sweet by fizzer06 · · Score: 3, Informative

      Samsung fouled their nest, so I jumped ship to LG V10. Has user removeable battery, Good phone.

    4. Re:Sweet by Oswald+McWeany · · Score: 1, Funny

      Steve Jobs?

      --
      "That's the way to do it" - Punch
    5. Re:Sweet by Oswald+McWeany · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Seems cyclical, the leading manufacturer eventually gets complacent and arrogant and starts to think they know what the consumer wants more than the consumer does.

      --
      "That's the way to do it" - Punch
    6. Re:Sweet by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Good call. That's why I like the expurgated version of Olsen's Standard Book of British Birds...

    7. Re:Sweet by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Thats ok, I wasn't gonna buy one anyway...or a (Cr)apple iDiotphone either. Now if they start making MP3 players without headphone jacks, I might worry a little. But of course they won't, that would kill MP3 player sales.

      In general, removing features from devices is bad, it pisses people off! Adding features is good, if the feature is something people want.

    8. Re:Sweet by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I don't like them, they wet their nests!

    9. Re:Sweet by JustAnotherOldGuy · · Score: 1

      Guess who's not buying an S8?

      Me, for one. And that's too bad, I was actually considering it.

      --
      Just cruising through this digital world at 33 1/3 rpm...
    10. Re:Sweet by Mikkeles · · Score: 3, Interesting

      'Samsung may also integrate stereo speakers which ...' ... will take up a lot more space than a 'phone jack, but has the benefit of annoying a lot more people. Win-win!

      --
      Great minds think alike; fools seldom differ.
    11. Re:Sweet by Holi · · Score: 3, Insightful

      It's rare that I wish I had mod points for an AC, but you sir deserve them all.

      --
      Sorry, teleporters just kill you and then make a copy. A perfect, soul-less copy.
    12. Re:Sweet by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Guess who's not buying an S8?

      Samsung fanbois who lack Courage(tm)!

    13. Re:Sweet by ClickOnThis · · Score: 5, Funny

      Guess who's not buying an S8?

      The burn victims?

      I wouldn't blame them for lacking the, uh, courage.

      --
      If it weren't for deadlines, nothing would be late.
    14. Re: Sweet by ganjadude · · Score: 4, Interesting

      guess its time to lok into LG or moto once again for me. ive been happy with the S line from the time i switched from a slider moto droid1-3 and i have an s7 now. I made peace with the internal battery but i use the jack and dont see me not using it and im not using dongles so. moto....LG, make me happy!

      --
      have you seen my sig? there are many others like it but none that are the same
    15. Re:Sweet by gravewax · · Score: 1

      It is sad really, It kills it as a purchase for me too, the s7 was already thin enough, they could have even added a little weight and thickness to get longer battery life and it would be a winner. I don't understand this pointless push to be a nats whisker thinner and lighter all the time.

    16. Re:Sweet by Freischutz · · Score: 1

      The burn victims?

      Heh... Samsung is never going to live down the S7 is it?

    17. Re:Sweet by ItsJustAPseudonym · · Score: 2

      Tim Cook

    18. Re:Sweet by clone73 · · Score: 5, Insightful

      The burn victims?

      Heh... Samsung is never going to live down the S7 is it?

      Especially if people keep confusing the Note 7 with the S7.

    19. Re:Sweet by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      yeah, but the counterpoint: Courage.

    20. Re: Sweet by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Some people are stupidly blinded by iterative performance percentage improvements and marketing wants to display them. "5% lighter! From 19 hydrogen atoms to 19 hydrogen atoms. Youbwont

      the concept of improvement isn't always being released, consumers won't make impulse purchases to buy crap they don't need.

    21. Re: Sweet by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Motorola ditched the headphone jack first. LG has as well in some models. It's gonna die whether anyone wants it to or not.

      Sorry, mate.

    22. Re:Sweet by tripleevenfall · · Score: 1

      So this wasn't just Apple.

      All carriers will try to save a few cents on each unit by omitting a headphone jack.

      "By the way sir/madam, have you seen our selection of premium headphones?"

    23. Re: Sweet by dgatwood · · Score: 1

      Samsung tends to follow Apple's lead. It isn't as though that was unexpected....

      Have courage; there will likely be copper-compatible options for some time to come. :-)

      --

      Check out my sci-fi/humor trilogy at PatriotsBooks.

    24. Re: Sweet by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Especially when you see people using those cases with the built in battery that extends battery life. The consumer seems to be happy using 1980s sized phones with an LTE connection and touch screen.

    25. Re: Sweet by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Get a Pixel. I'm loving mine. Has a headphone jack, and though it's a Google phone, it's actually HTC and made in Taiwan, not China. Plus it lacks all providers add on bloatware.

    26. Re:Sweet by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The fruit managed to live down the Hindenbook: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/08/24/apple_battery_recall/

    27. Re: Sweet by nonicknameavailable · · Score: 1

      Apple isn't the first one removing the headphone jack from one of their products

      --
      Mendacem Memorem Esse Oportet
    28. Re: Sweet by BronsCon · · Score: 1

      Yup, as much as I love my S7 Edge (enough that I already wasn't looking at the S8, anyway, mind you), I doubt my next phone will be an S9, S10, or S-whatever they're up to when my S7 no longer serves my needs. I'll probably pick up a Pixel 2 (or, likely by then, Pixel 4).

      Sad, because the S7 Edge is poised, hardware failure notwithstanding, be my longest-owned phone by the time I'm done with it. With 2 decades of cellphone ownership under my belt, that's quite a feat.

      --
      APK quotes people (including myself) without context and should not be trusted. Just thought you should know.
    29. Re: Sweet by Grishnakh · · Score: 5, Interesting

      I stay a little behind the curve; I last had an S4 which I liked a lot, and then I upgraded to an S5 which I use now, and I'll happily show iPhone owners why this phone is so great (easily-replaced battery, SDcard slot, waterproof, etc.).

      But the S6 was crap (it eliminated all 3 features!), the S7 brought back two of them but not the battery, and now they want to dump the headphone jack so I can't use my expensive Sennheisers at work or on an airplane? WTF are they thinking? No, I'm not going to use a fucking dongle.

      So I guess when it's time to move on from my S5, I'll have to look at some other brand, like Moto or LG. Maybe even Huawei or some other Chinese brand; they don't seem to be as stupid about chasing Apple.

    30. Re:Sweet by gfxguy · · Score: 1

      They may save a few cents, but the issue has more to do with them competing for specs, and Apple will gloat about it's phone being thinner if Samsung doesn't do the same thing. It's devolved into a pissing contest (well... I guess it was already there).

      --
      Stupid sexy Flanders.
    31. Re: Sweet by Grishnakh · · Score: 1

      No removable battery or SDcard slot.

    32. Re: Sweet by Type44Q · · Score: 4, Funny

      It's gonna die whether anyone wants it to or not.

      Deader than LP's in England, no doubt. ;)

    33. Re:Sweet by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      If Samsung had not followed Apple into the race for thinner phones they could have saved themselves a whole lot of trouble with exploding batteries if they just left them removable removable. I wonder how Samsung will fuck this up.

    34. Re: Sweet by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What premium phones even have those features anymore? If there are any left (maybe Oneplus?) you're definitely not going to see them much longer with people insisting on phones being waterproof these days.

    35. Re:Sweet by arglebargle_xiv · · Score: 5, Funny

      make the Galaxy S8 thinner while also freeing up more space inside for a bigger battery

      So it'll burn longer?

    36. Re:Sweet by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Being removable wouldn't have done anything to prevent the Note 7 fiasco.

    37. Re: Sweet by Grishnakh · · Score: 3, Interesting

      That's plainly wrong about the waterproofing. I have a Galaxy S5 which has all those features and is waterproof. The main challenge for waterproofing is the ports; on mine, the USB port is covered by a removable waterproof cover, but the headphone jack is not (except for the cover built into my Otterbox, but that's not from the factory obviously). So I guess they figured out a way to make headphone jacks that are impervious to water. On Sony Experias I've seen, all the ports are covered by removable covers (including the headphone jack). So the requirement for waterproofing should not be a problem, though it might affect cost, but we are talking about "premium phones" here so that shouldn't be a big problem.

      Now, if there's any left (my S5 is about 3 years old now), that I can't tell you. I believe someone here mentioned a current LG phone with a removable battery. Anyone want to chime in? But if we don't see phones with all these features much longer, it's not because it can't be done (my S5 proves this), but rather because the stupid manufacturers aren't bothering to make phones like that any more, and the stupid consumers aren't insisting on these features.

      I guess I'll have to hang onto my S5, and install CyanogenMod on it.

    38. Re:Sweet by Tough+Love · · Score: 1

      There's got to be a plan right?

      1) Samsung leaks "no headphone jack in s8" rumour
      2) Wait 3 weeks
      3) Samsung leaks s8 specs with headphone jack

      Result: free publicity!

      --
      When all you have is a hammer, every problem starts to look like a thumb.
    39. Re:Sweet by Impy+the+Impiuos+Imp · · Score: 1

      If Samsung had not followed Apple into the race for thinner phones they could have saved themselves a whole lot of trouble with exploding batteries if they just left them removable removable. I wonder how Samsung will fuck this up.

      Phone thinness is stupid -- I already double it with a new Otter case every time.

      --
      (-1: Post disagrees with my already-settled worldview) is not a valid mod option.
    40. Re: Sweet by Impy+the+Impiuos+Imp · · Score: 3, Informative

      A headphone jack can be all metal and plastic sealed tube and does not have to open up to the inside.

      --
      (-1: Post disagrees with my already-settled worldview) is not a valid mod option.
    41. Re: Sweet by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Well, it has been like 7 years and people are still using the "holding it wrong" meme... there wasn't even safety issues with that one...

    42. Re:Sweet by roman_mir · · Score: 1

      For sure, I am happy with my OnePlus, will buy another one once this one is totally dead.

    43. Re:Sweet by Curtman · · Score: 1

      Yes please. Double removable battery on mine too. External charger and a spare battery means never worrying about charge time, AND it becomes a solution when the charging port gets mucked up. I'm sure the latter is why they stopped doing this.

    44. Re:Sweet by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Me. Nor an iPhone 7.

    45. Re: Sweet by ZipK · · Score: 1

      It's gonna die whether anyone wants it to or not.

      Deader than LP's in England, no doubt. ;)

      Phones with headphone jacks will be purchased as Christmas presents for recipients who do not own plug-in earphones.

    46. Re:Sweet by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Gotta get that sweet left/right audio with five inches separation. It makes all the difference.

    47. Re:Sweet by suso · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Slashdot, where a comment about someone not having enough mod points is marked up as "Informative". Now watch this one get modded up as insightful. Maybe later it will get meta moderated.

    48. Re: Sweet by Grishnakh · · Score: 1

      Of course, but there's still an electrical connection to the inside. So the circuitry has to be designed to handle the contacts being immersed in water, which can be conductive (esp. if it's saltwater).

    49. Re:Sweet by strstr · · Score: 1

      I have a $300 oxygen free copper coated with silver, cryogenically frozen down to -300c for five days, which will be made useless by this. this cable accompanies by $1500 headphones, Westone W80.

      and here's my problem. the headphone jack on existing units is actually smaller than the micro USB and USB C ports. the USB C port and cabling also is flimsy, and twice the width of a headphone jack. I would not want to be using it for headphone audio under any circumstances. I can picture any type of DAC/USB C adapter being quite large and possibly destroying the signal by the time it gets to my high quality $300 cable.

      then you have Bluetooth which transcodes all your audio into lossy formats destroying the audio even more. they do many a Bluetooth cable for my headphones but the audio loss of AAC/apX is quite large over a lossless signal traveling over my cryo cable.

      https://www.obamasweapon.com/

    50. Re: Sweet by vivian · · Score: 2

      I hate my S7 Edge - but the thing was too expensive to justify replacing it yet.
      I also have a Note 2 which I love and would have bought an Note 7 except for the battery fiasco. I got an S7 edge instead and really regret it. The curved screen edge feature is bloody annoying - I constantly accidentally hit keys on the side when using the keyboard, from holding it, and yet find it really hard to hit the 1 key when trying to - it ends up miustyping as 2 - though that might be partly the fault of the curved screen protector I have on it. I also miss having the larger screen of a Note - it's harder to text on smaller screens. Wish I had gotten just a flat screen or mabey even another brand with a large screen.
      It's bad enough they took the replaceable battery away.
      If the jack goes, I'll never buy another Samsung.

    51. Re: Sweet by sthomas · · Score: 1

      Unless you were holding it wrong and couldn't make a call to report a Samsung user on fire.

    52. Re:Sweet by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      make the Galaxy S8 thinner while also freeing up more space inside for a bigger battery

      So it'll burn longer?

      Was the S8 text a real quote? The content isn't in any of your parent posts... Fake quote for better styling or is Slashdot deleting posts?

    53. Re:Sweet by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The Luddites?

    54. Re: Sweet by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What? Of course it would. You can't squeeze a removable battery in too tightly, lest the thing pops out.

    55. Re: Sweet by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      A headphone jack can be all metal and plastic sealed tube and does not have to open up to the inside.

      The same is true of a USB charging socket.

    56. Re: Sweet by Maritz · · Score: 1

      Uh, there will be smartphones with headphone jacks for decades to come. Sorry mate.

      --
      I do not want your cheap brainburning drugs. They are useless for work. And I am a working man today.
    57. Re: Sweet by gravewax · · Score: 1

      more like 1990's phones, 1980's mobile were massive bricks. regardless though phones rapidly reached acceptable size and weight a long long time ago and it seems insane to focus on that when such other glaringly obvious problems exist like battery life.

    58. Re: Sweet by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Ha! Happened. Let's keep this rolling and see if we can get this post modded up as stupid

    59. Re: Sweet by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      LOL made my day

    60. Re: Sweet by AmiMoJo · · Score: 1

      Check out the OnePlus 3. Top notch specs and quality, low price.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    61. Re: Sweet by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Wait 3 weeks
      Customer gave up waiting for S8 and bought a LG

    62. Re: Sweet by BronsCon · · Score: 1

      So, you bought a phone that lacked a feature you required (a larger screen) and had a feature you didn't understand (a curved screen) and that's the phone's fault? Why didn't you just get the Note 6? It would've been cheaper, to boot!

      Mind you, I shared some of your frustration with the curved screen at first, but I realized it would be an issue and I'd have to adjust my grip when I bought it. I made that adjustment and it hasn't been an issue in months; having the phone laying flat on my side table and still being able to see the time and any notification icons, while throwing only a minimal amount of light in my direction, is a nice feature.

      I won't buy a phone solely for that feature and I doubt I'll miss it when it's gone, but it's not the living Hell you make it out to be, either.

      --
      APK quotes people (including myself) without context and should not be trusted. Just thought you should know.
    63. Re: Sweet by jabuzz · · Score: 1

      Right you are talking out your backside there on the Sony front, speaking as a Z1 Compact owner, with a sister with a Z3 Compact and her husband with a Z5 Compact.

      Basically Sony have been doing waterproof with a 3.5mm jack "something" for decades, and the phones are no different. Everything *before* the Z5 had a cover for the microUSB and a magnetic charging connector.

      The Z5 ditched the magnetic charging connector (which is a shame) and introduced a fully waterproof microUSB connector that does not need a cover.

      Then after being first to the market with waterproof, they ditched it as everyone else started doing it. Way to go Sony not.

    64. Re: Sweet by fisted · · Score: 1

      There's no "stupid" mod, but doing something like +5, Troll is actually possible, if only /. moderators would coordinate themselves.

      The first mods -1, Troll, the rest votes +1, Underrated. Before modding, reload the page, click "Score" to see the status quo.

      Now, where's my +5 Informative (though I'd take a +5 Troll too)?

    65. Re:Sweet by fisted · · Score: 1

      Are you fucking retarded? The quote is from the ultimate great-grandparent of all posts, namely TFS. Geez.

    66. Re: Sweet by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      who needs a headphone jack? I've been using bluetooth only for years now. Basic BT headphones are available online for like , 12.99

    67. Re: Sweet by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Goodbye Apple, enjoy mimicking Braun.

      FTFY

    68. Re:Sweet by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Guess who's not buying an S8?

      All the iPhone users that knew Samsung would copy Apple in the end. You know, the ones that laughed at all the fucktards that bitched and moaned when Apple did it... first.

    69. Re:Sweet by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I have a $300 oxygen free copper coated with silver, cryogenically frozen down to -300c for five days, which will be made useless by this. this cable accompanies by $1500 headphones, Westone W80.

      Right. And you use those $1500 headphones with a smart phone. Cut the bullshit you fucking liar.

    70. Re: Sweet by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Decades? Decades? Umm, no.

    71. Re: Sweet by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I don't have to guess. I am not buying an S8 if they do this. I have been buying Galaxy S phones since the Galaxy S2. If they do this, I'm switching to a phone with a headphone jack. There is no excuse. I don't give a shit about making it "thinner". It is already too thin. Make it thicker. Give me some functionality.

    72. Re: Sweet by jeremyp · · Score: 1

      Five years maximum.

      --
      All I want is a secure system where it's easy to do anything I want. Is that too much to ask ~~ Randall Munroe
    73. Re: Sweet by DarthVain · · Score: 1

      I went from an iPhone (3S) to a Samsung more less because having to use iTunes pissed me off. I most recently switched from Samsung to LG because they got rid of the replaceable battery and SD slot. I do have to say however I have very rarely used my backup LG battery. Unlike my old Samsung that seemed to have a battery life of a couple of hours and hence the absolute need sometime to carry an extra battery around with me, my LG seems to under almost all circumstances to last all day for me. The replaceable battery is still nice to have if you suspect you may be someplace you can't easily charge your phone and may incur heavy usage however, but so far that isn't really regular usage, more like trips and such.

      So while still a useful feature it may not be as critical if Samsung has managed to solve their poor battery woes (Mine was an old S3)...

      That said, Samsung seems to take their design cues from Apple... Got a lazy design team it seems. Personally I think getting rid of the headphone jack is silly.

    74. Re: Sweet by Aereus · · Score: 1

      Those that want actually decent headphones and no DRM? My Xperia Z3 even recognizes my noise-cancelling earbuds and enables it automatically. Maybe its okay for people listening to 128-160kbit on speakers, but when listening to 320/FLAC with headphones BT ruins the sound quality.

    75. Re: Sweet by Aereus · · Score: 1

      Worst-case scenario I go back to carrying around a separate audio player. Progress!

    76. Re:Sweet by Aereus · · Score: 1

      It's so the phone is easier to slip out of your hand and crack, making you buy a new one.

    77. Re:Sweet by steveg · · Score: 1

      Phone thinness is stupid. I don't like cases, so a too-thin phone becomes just too damned fragile.

      --
      Ignorance killed the cat. Curiosity was framed.
    78. Re: Sweet by vivian · · Score: 1

      Actually my wife bought the S7 for me - mainly because she knew I was interested in getting into VR - it came with a Gear VR. She knew I would prefer a Note, and if I didn't care about using it for that, I would have just bought a Note 4, which still has a removable battery. Unfortunately the NOte 4 is not compatable with Gear VR. Because of the battery problems the Note 7 was having, she got me an S7. I haven't had the heart to tell her how I really feel about the phone -
      I thought I would get used to it, but that hasn't happened yet.

      On a side note, the Gear VR has been interesting - and has a lot of potential to be really fun but I wouldn't recommend it for developing on - you have to keep unplugging the phone from the GearVR and plugging it back into USB to PC every time you want to do a build / upload - which is also pretty annoying - and even though the Gear VR has a USB port, it can't be used to passs data through to the phone - it's for recharging only. If they just corrected that, so that you could keep it plugged in and connected to the PC via USB, it'd greatly improve the whole development cycle and stop my USB port wearing out prematurely.

    79. Re:Sweet by Coren22 · · Score: 1

      Perhaps you missed this story:

      https://tech.slashdot.org/stor...

      Yes, a removable battery could have prevented the issue as they would have had more space to leave the needed gap around the battery. Though I would point out that this is a management failure that could have occured just as easily with removable batteries.

      --
      APK likes to ask for responses to the same things over and over. Maybe he just likes the responses?
    80. Re: Sweet by Coren22 · · Score: 1

      I suppose you could buy an S10, but making phone calls on it would be...interesting.

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...

      --
      APK likes to ask for responses to the same things over and over. Maybe he just likes the responses?
    81. Re: Sweet by BronsCon · · Score: 1

      It's got plenty of storage, including the ability to add external storage, and a removable battery to boot, though. And the FM radio isn't disabled!

      --
      APK quotes people (including myself) without context and should not be trusted. Just thought you should know.
    82. Re: Sweet by Coren22 · · Score: 1

      You do have a point. It also costs less than an S7...a month.

      --
      APK likes to ask for responses to the same things over and over. Maybe he just likes the responses?
  2. FR0STY P1SS!!!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Well, looks like Samsung really wants their flagship phone to die.

  3. Oh boy... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Looks like there's more than enough COURAGE to go around in the smartphone industry.

  4. thinner = more likely to blow up by Joe_Dragon · · Score: 4, Interesting

    thinner = more likely to blow up can we get one with sd card, battery you can swap, etc.

  5. Thinner by 110010001000 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Do people really want thinner phones? They all seem to put big old protective cases around them anyway.

    1. Re:Thinner by caseih · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I always put cases on my phones precisely so they will be a little thicker and easier to hold. I find the thinner the phone the more awkward it is to use. Even to hold it in front of me an interact with it.

    2. Re:Thinner by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I just don't get it. I've never worn that kind of pants, and I want more battery life!

    3. Re:Thinner by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I always put cases on my phones precisely so they will be a little thicker and easier to hold. I find the thinner the phone the more awkward it is to use. Even to hold it in front of me an interact with it.

      Exactly! Who ARE theses consumers demanding thinner phones?
      I'll happily trade 1mm thickness for battery life (and my life, due to battery not combusting)

    4. Re:Thinner by sims+2 · · Score: 1

      Nope but some seem to think they do.

      Case in point check how many of your co-workers are using a phone with a cracked screen.

      That is the market they are selling to everyone else sticks their phone in a case that makes the phone about 4x larger and darned near impervious to 10ft drops.

      Some people seem to prefer a cracked screen to even a minimal amount of protection.

      --
      Minimum threshold fixed. Thanks!
    5. Re:Thinner by Oswald+McWeany · · Score: 3, Funny

      Obviously it's people with small hands!

      / I didn't say any names...

      --
      "That's the way to do it" - Punch
    6. Re:Thinner by alvinrod · · Score: 3, Insightful

      I don't use a case on my phone, but if I did it would probably be to make it slightly thicker. I see a lot of people with cracked screens, but I buy my phones unlocked so I pay the full price which makes me a bit more careful with them so I'm not too worried about any drops.

      However, it's easily possible to make a thin phone thicker with a case. However a thick phone cannot be made any thinner in such a fashion and I do remember back to when phones were much thicker and the only reason they weren't a burden was because they didn't have 5" screens. Try having a phone as thick as a Nokia 3310 be any wider or taller than it was and still be pocket friendly.

      I think the real reason the phones keep getting thinner is that the components keep getting smaller and while a larger battery could be added, this would add to the weight of the device, which is what I think manufacturers really want to minimize.

    7. Re:Thinner by ClickOnThis · · Score: 5, Funny

      Obviously it's people with small hands!

      / I didn't say any names...

      With a username like Oswald McWeany, you don't have to.

      --
      If it weren't for deadlines, nothing would be late.
    8. Re:Thinner by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      But he has YUUUGE hands

    9. Re:Thinner by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So they can show off the first days

    10. Re:Thinner by gravewax · · Score: 1

      users that don't buy the phone outright are actually paying more for the phone. accidents happen regardless of how careful you are, some bumps your hand as you take it out of your pocket or you reach to grab something and the silk smooth casing makes it slip through your fingers, despite the so called gorilla glass it only takes a single slip and an awkward landing position for the phone and it is cracked.

      Weight is the same situation as thinness, they have already gone overboard to the point where saving a couple of grams is not noticible to the user and if anything they are already getting to light. I will happily have a slightly thicker and heavier phone for the convenience of keeping a universal headphone jack and slightly longer battery.

    11. Re:Thinner by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Do people really want thinner phones? They all seem to put big old protective cases around them anyway.

      This

    12. Re:Thinner by Ogive17 · · Score: 1

      I just upgraded from an S3 to an S7. I did not have a case for my S3 and planned to not use one for the S7 either. After 1 week, I got a $12 case off Amazon because the S7 was so damn slick, I was afraid of accidentally tossing it.

      --
      "Action without philosophy is a lethal weapon; philosophy without action is worthless."
    13. Re:Thinner by Freischutz · · Score: 1

      I always put cases on my phones precisely so they will be a little thicker and easier to hold. I find the thinner the phone the more awkward it is to use. Even to hold it in front of me an interact with it.

      I put my phone in a shock proof case because the damn things are fucking expensive and I want mine to last until it dies of old age.

    14. Re:Thinner by Mike+Van+Pelt · · Score: 1

      Plus, Samsung's phones (which I love otherwise) are made of the slipperiest substance this side of greased Teflon. I could not keep the dang thing in my hands until I put a case on it. (Seidio case, also sold by Best Buy as their "Platinum" case. Since I had a Palm Pilot, my first criteria for a cell phone is that Seidio makes a case for it.)

      I think if they don't have a headphone jack in future phones, though, that I may find myself looking elsewhere.

    15. Re:Thinner by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I bought the extended battery for my Moto Z just for the extra thickness.

    16. Re:Thinner by istartedi · · Score: 2

      Do people really want thinner phones?

      In Japan, the hand can be used like a knife; but that doesn't work so well with a tomato. SPLAT! Introducing the Ginsu Phone--chop, Chop, CHOP! (warning, keep phone in sheath when not in use. Works best with Ginsu shaving cream. Do not hold up to face when talking. In case you need to talk for more than four hours, do not use this phone.)

      --
      For all intensive purposes, "whom" is no longer a word. That begs the question, "who cares"?
    17. Re:Thinner by sjames · · Score: 2

      I think the real reason the phones keep getting thinner is that the components keep getting smaller and while a larger battery could be added, this would add to the weight of the device, which is what I think manufacturers really want to minimize.

      Apparently not. It is now known that the note 7 exploded because the battery had no slack space for expansion. That 0.5mm of open space wouldn't have weighed much. Better rigidity of the phone wouldn't add much weight either.

    18. Re:Thinner by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      None of my coworkers have a cracked phone that I know of. At least in my general vicinity or if I interact with them daily I haven't noticed one.

    19. Re:Thinner by cant_get_a_good_nick · · Score: 1

      I put a case on any phone i have. So: thin phone + thin case will be thinner than thick phone + thin case. I moved from a 5s to a 6s (broke the 5s, middile age man eyesight liked a bigger phone) and i like the thinness of the 6s.

      YMMV,.

    20. Re:Thinner by Falos · · Score: 4, Interesting

      It's not the consumers, it's the headlines. When a tech rag has 60 seconds to examine a maybe-functional prototype at an expo/con they're going to write about garbage. They're going to write about how firm and clicky the buttons are (with up/downspin vocuabulary, either is easy), they're going to write about what the texture of the back plate feels like, they're going to write about the physical appearance (!) of the camera module. They're going to fill a whole fucking paragraph about thinness, if they can.

      Consumers inhabiting reality don't give a flying fuck. They want to know how well it handles scratching/dropping/bending. They want to know how long the battery handles the actual OS/software bloat in real-world conditions. They want to know if said bloat boots/runs stuff slowly, despite N specs. They want to know how it literally handles - how long takes a robotic hand on average to drop it, during randomized clutching gestures.

      But none of that is in the RSS feeds. Only "7.93mm*!" or "Curved screen!" or "Thinnest bevel ever!"

      Gee, no bevel. Anyone going to stick THAT in your jeans without a case? Anyone? Show of hands? Surely some of you can afford to be careless with devices racing to break $1000.

    21. Re:Thinner by dgatwood · · Score: 1

      What kind of consumer are you? Don't you know you're supposed to be replacing phones once a week? :-D

      --

      Check out my sci-fi/humor trilogy at PatriotsBooks.

    22. Re:Thinner by BronsCon · · Score: 1

      Look at dbrand skins; I've used one on my last 3 phones (including my current S7 Edge), my iPad Pro, and even one of my XBOX One controllers, they're good stuff. The leather texture and metallic skins seem to give the best grip and they seem durable enough; thus far, they've seemed to be a good way to protect my devices without adding bulk or weight.

      Would they hold up against repeated dropping? Probably not. But, then, I've never lost a phone to that in 2 decades; and I've thrown one phone through drywall and another through a closed car window (I used to have a bit of a temper -- that's calmed down a lot in the past decade).

      --
      APK quotes people (including myself) without context and should not be trusted. Just thought you should know.
    23. Re:Thinner by BronsCon · · Score: 1

      I never use cases and I've never cracked a phone screen. Of course, I also don't make a habit of dropping or throwing my phones (all of them have been dropped and some have even been thrown, mind you) and I tend not to put them in my back pocket and sit on them like an idiot, so... that might have something to do with it.

      --
      APK quotes people (including myself) without context and should not be trusted. Just thought you should know.
    24. Re:Thinner by rijrunner · · Score: 1

      I personally considered the S7 Note to be too thin. It was the first time I ever bought a case for a phone.

      They are operating in a size range where .5mm less thickness causes more problems than it solves. Unless they want to sell additional cases..

    25. Re:Thinner by Grishnakh · · Score: 1

      Exactly! Who ARE theses consumers demanding thinner phones?

      iPhone buyers.

      The problem is assuming that all smartphone purchasers think like iPhone buyers. They don't.

    26. Re:Thinner by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Exactly!
      Who ARE theses consumers demanding thinner phones?

      It isn't consumers that want this, it's that the final element of the Jobs era was taking the existing technology and making it thinner and lighter. Apple's running out of innovative ideas so they are just continuing whatever the last thing Jobs was doing. He sometimes controversially removed things too so what better "innovation" for Apple to do than take something customers use and remove it to make the device thinner and lighter then label themselves "courageous" for doing so. They're scrambling for "things that Jobs did" to regurgitate.

      It's effectively been 3 years of the iPhone 6 and not one innovation. The closest thing has been this "portrait" mode in the camera on the 7 Plus to attempt to create a fake bokeh effect that doesn't really work properly.

    27. Re:Thinner by exomondo · · Score: 1

      iPhone buyers.

      No they aren't. Pretty much everybody stuffs theirs into a protective case anyway and nobody is advertising the thinnest protective case.

    28. Re: Thinner by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Why four hours ?

    29. Re:Thinner by Rakarra · · Score: 1

      users that don't buy the phone outright are actually paying more for the phone. accidents happen regardless of how careful you are, some bumps your hand as you take it out of your pocket or you reach to grab something and the silk smooth casing makes it slip through your fingers, despite the so called gorilla glass it only takes a single slip and an awkward landing position for the phone and it is cracked.

      No matter how careful I was, sometimes my old Galaxy S3 slipped out of my hands, and that cracked the screen. It was just unavoidable -- over the course of two years, it will happen several times. No case. When I got my S5 some time ago, I got an otterbox. No cracks of any kind after a number of falls.

    30. Re:Thinner by Rakarra · · Score: 1

      I just upgraded from an S3 to an S7. I did not have a case for my S3 and planned to not use one for the S7 either. After 1 week, I got a $12 case off Amazon because the S7 was so damn slick, I was afraid of accidentally tossing it.

      I dropped my S3 a number of times because the back was so smooth and slick. Are you saying the S7 is even slipperier?

    31. Re: Thinner by istartedi · · Score: 1

      Extra bonus, two parodies for the price of one. Ask your doctor if it's OK to use this phone. It's *that* sexy.

      --
      For all intensive purposes, "whom" is no longer a word. That begs the question, "who cares"?
    32. Re:Thinner by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yes. This means the case+phone profile will be overall thinner.

      Think of the phone as the functioning insert. The case is the chassis the user can pick (or swap or replace) to suit their needs.

    33. Re:Thinner by Grishnakh · · Score: 1

      You make a good point here, but it's always Apple which is pushing the envelope on thinness, and iPhone buyers are very cult-like in their behavior, insisting on buying iPhones no matter what without even looking at alternatives, so they can be blamed for this by enabling Apple and its behavior.

      In addition, I've seen Apple cultists online, including here on Slashdot, arguing loudly about how wonderful iPhones are because they're 0.7 mm thinner than the competition (or whatever), as if this is the most important feature. I've never seen Android users argue in favor of thinness. All Android fans seem to really care about is having a nice phone that does what they need, without an unhealthy attachment to any particular brand; this just isn't the case with Apple fans.

    34. Re:Thinner by unixisc · · Score: 1

      I put cases and screen protectors on all my phones for a different reason. One is to protect the phone, in case it falls, but also, I combine a wallet and phone in one package, so that I never forget either. Previously, I used to often forget my phone, so a wallet case was the solution

    35. Re:Thinner by kamapuaa · · Score: 2

      Consumers don't care how the phone looks, or the look/feel of the phone? That's obvious bullshit. "They want to know if it boots slowly" - where do you even get that idea? Who cares, who re-boots their phone?

      --
      Slashdot: providing anti-social weirdos a soapbox, since 1997.
    36. Re:Thinner by exomondo · · Score: 1

      it's always Apple which is pushing the envelope on thinness, and iPhone buyers are very cult-like in their behavior, insisting on buying iPhones no matter what without even looking at alternatives

      You seem to be generalizing a bit there, if you want iOS then there is no choice but an iPhone - thinner or not. I don't think many phone buyers will be put off to look at alternatives because the new device is thinner than the last one.

      But then again why do you think they don't look at alternatives? There is no doubt Apple's app store is better curated, you don't need to worry about whether the phone you choose will get software updates or not and if something goes wrong you can just go into an Apple store and get a replacement on the spot. That's pretty compelling, I'm sure a great many people look at features like that and then look at what Android offers that offsets all those benefits, there is the flexibility of being able to load custom ROMs, fix problems and do updates yourself but outside of the geek community who really wants to do that for their phone? Most of the Android OEMs are just copying Apple these days anyway so what is the specific feature(s) that Android offers to the average user that makes you believe they are so irrational as to ignore in favor of Apple's brand?

    37. Re:Thinner by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      >so they can be blamed for this by enabling Apple and its behavior.

      And since the android OEMs just copy even the stupid apple crap like lack of sd cards and removable batteries but the android buyers dutifully buy them anyway they are just as responsible for the lack of differentiation in the android world. Maybe if the android oems could be a bit more original and not constantly copy crapple features then maybe we wouldnt see this problem.

      >In addition, I've seen Apple cultists online, including here on Slashdot, arguing loudly about how wonderful iPhones are because they're 0.7 mm thinner than the competition

      That sounds conveniently contrived to support your generalisation. Of course "on slashdot" there would be a record of such things if they were true. I can tell you I have seen you here saying whatever I feel like to support my position but it doesnt really mean much though now does it?

      >All Android fans seem to really care about is having a nice phone that does what they need, without an unhealthy attachment to any particular brand

      Yep, there are no irrational Android fanboys, in fact Android fans arent even fans of Android because they are completely open and not attached to Android at all and always willing to consider any other alternatives to Android because Android fans are just so pragmatic, not like stupid Apple fans.

    38. Re:Thinner by Grishnakh · · Score: 1

      And since the android OEMs just copy even the stupid apple crap like lack of sd cards and removable batteries but the android buyers dutifully buy them anyway

      Incorrect. Samsung tried that with the Galaxy S6 (not waterproof, no SDcard slot, no removable battery), and sales were crap. So the S7 brought back the IP68 waterproofness and the SDcard slot (but unfortunately not the removable battery), and sales were a lot better. I'm pretty sure there's other current Android phones with removable batteries too, as well as SDcard slots. With Android, at least you have choices.

      and not constantly copy crapple features then maybe we wouldnt see this problem.

      When's crapple going to finally copy Samsung's AMOLED screens anyway? Apple's screens are crap by comparison; AMOLED is far better than LCD.

      Yep, there are no irrational Android fanboys, in fact Android fans arent even fans of Android because they are completely open and not attached to Android at all and always willing to consider any other alternatives to Android because Android fans are just so pragmatic, not like stupid Apple fans.

      Exactly right. Android fans aren't cultists, and when their preferred manufacturer takes a turn they don't like, they either stick with their old phone, or they switch to another Android phone maker. That's the nice thing about Android; it may not be technically the best-engineered OS ever (neither is iOS), but it's not the sole domain of any one manufacturer, so you can easily switch from Samsung to LG or HTC or whatever and still keep all your Play store purchases. You can even use the same charging cable! (For now; they'll probably all switch to USBc before long.)

    39. Re:Thinner by Grishnakh · · Score: 1

      Um, a reasonable price tag for starters? What good is getting "a replacement on the spot" if it costs a small fortune? I have a friend with an iPhone with a broken screen, who's having all kinds of problems with the thing as a result. Apple isn't going to give her a free replacement on the spot, so she's just suffering with the broken screen. The replacement or repair costs are outside her meager budget, being a single mother and not having a high-paying job. I've tried convincing her to switch to an Android phone, because I can get her a great phone 2 years old for much less than the repair cost for her stupid iPhone. Apple is the brand for people with more money than sense. I'm sure if you can afford a Bentley, you can just go to the Bentley dealer and for a price they'll fix anything that went wrong too. Most people can't afford Bentleys.

      In addition to this, when you do need to buy a new Android phone because you broke yours, you don't even have to stick with the same overpriced company. You can easily switch from Samsung to LG if you want, and still retain all your Play Store purchases.

    40. Re:Thinner by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Good': $80 Moto G3 1st edition, otterbox to protect and have the 'feel' and grip of a 'real' phone. Battery life over 2 days on standby.

      Bad: 3.5 gb usable internal memory, not a major problem until it "upgraded" to Android 6, lost the SD card function. Still, it's reliable, I could 'root' it, no need right now, don't give a damn about 'apps' (disabled the minimal b.s. bloatware apps), & I might go back to a "feature phone" after it dies.

    41. Re:Thinner by exomondo · · Score: 1

      I'm not sure where you got the idea that it was a "free" replacement, though that certainly does happen if it's a defect under warranty and it's swapped over on the spot. While the iPhone does cost a little more than flagship Android phones like the Pixel or Galaxy you do get those advantages of things like a much better curated app store without all the malware and software updates which you get immediately and on my primary communication device things like timely security updates are VERY important.

      I'm not sure what your agenda is that drives you to brand anybody who values something different to you as a "cultist" or "more money than sense". Sure if I want timely updates on Android I could switch to a Pixel - I don't think I actually have any purchased apps anyway - but that's even more expensive!

      Really what I was hoping with Android was that the freedom to modify the OS and all the different carrier options would lead to some awesome innovations, some features that would be hugely compelling to end users but ultimately it's just come down to, as you summarized: if you're willing to sacrifice things like timely updates then you can get something cheaper.

    42. Re:Thinner by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I have a friend with an iPhone with a broken screen, who's having all kinds of problems with the thing as a result. Apple isn't going to give her a free replacement on the spot, so she's just suffering with the broken screen.

      I have a friend with a Nexus 6p with a broken screen in the same situation. The replacement is free in neither case but at least with an iPhone it's done on the spot, not having to be sent away and be without a phone for weeks.

    43. Re:Thinner by dunkelfalke · · Score: 1

      Amoled displays have oversaturated colours and use less power with a dark background. Unfortunately Google insists on white backgrounds for their material design and amoleds are far more expensive to replace. Text on amoleds is also less well readable.

      --
      "It's such a fine line between stupid and clever" -- David St. Hubbins, Spinal Tap
    44. Re:Thinner by Maritz · · Score: 1

      Text on amoleds is also less well readable.

      Weird. I have a S6 edge workphone, and I can read it fine.

      --
      I do not want your cheap brainburning drugs. They are useless for work. And I am a working man today.
    45. Re:Thinner by dunkelfalke · · Score: 1

      Sure you can, but a text on a LCD with the same display size and resolution looks even better. I have upgraded from a S5 to a Z5 and there is a very noticeable difference. The colours are worse and so is the contrast, but the black-on-white text is, indeed, much better. The reason is the RGB matrix instead of Samsung's PenTile. RGB has a 1/3 higher subpixel resolution.

      --
      "It's such a fine line between stupid and clever" -- David St. Hubbins, Spinal Tap
    46. Re:Thinner by DirkDaring · · Score: 1

      THIS!

    47. Re:Thinner by Ogive17 · · Score: 1

      In my opinion, yes. The plastic back of the S3 seemed to give me more grip than the the one on the S7, maybe due to the rounded edges and the aluminum ring around the outside. I think the s7 is also heavier, which might add to the issue.

      --
      "Action without philosophy is a lethal weapon; philosophy without action is worthless."
    48. Re:Thinner by Ogive17 · · Score: 1

      You should have seen the reaction of the saleswomen when I walked into the store and said "I think it's time to upgrade my S3"... her response was "uhh.. yeah".

      My only real complaint was the battery life.. just sitting at work (with crappy reception) would drain the battery even if I wasn't using it. Figured it made more sense just to start over than replace the battery.

      --
      "Action without philosophy is a lethal weapon; philosophy without action is worthless."
    49. Re:Thinner by Ogive17 · · Score: 1

      I got a Spigen case, just a simple rubberized case. Looks nice, does not add much bulk to it. Gives me good grip when holding it around the edge. It survived one accidental fall when the 3 year old bumped it off the table. Only $12. I'm low maintenance and am happy with the purchase.

      --
      "Action without philosophy is a lethal weapon; philosophy without action is worthless."
    50. Re:Thinner by Grishnakh · · Score: 1

      That sounds like BS. There's cellphone repair places all over the place; it shouldn't be hard to have one of them order the parts if necessary and schedule an appointment so you minimize your downtime.

      If you're in such a rush you need your phone fixed right now and it's currently unusable because of a broken screen, then you have no business buying an expensive phone at all, and should be buying sub-$100 phones so you can just buy a new one when it breaks. There's no shortage of $50-100 Android phones. Or you can buy used phones which take a few days to arrive from Ebay. Or you can buy a nice used (or new) phone and a cheap-o backup phone, and switch your service when you have a problem, while waiting for a nicer replacement to arrive. It takes me all of about 5 minutes to switch my number over to a different Android phone on Ting, just using the website.

      iPhones are for rich people, or people who want to believe they're rich. The problem is they suck in a bunch of very-much-not-rich people like my friend and convince them that they *must* have this phone and nothing else will do.

    51. Re:Thinner by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Stop nitpicking over what amounts to The Point. Specifically, metrics that are actually relevant. Not the texture of a case you'll box anyway, a logo hidden in your pocket - assuming you're the type of tool that thinks walking around branded with company names is a perk, or even okay dude are you really letting that camera thing slide good lord.

      As phones plateau and this fad of one-year faux obsolescence fades, I hope the growing appeal of lasting hardware causes favor for function over form.

      Not pocket jewelry. Couldn't you spend the $1000 on other shiny paperweights? That are visible at parties? And don't dilute the industry's motives?

    52. Re:Thinner by BronsCon · · Score: 1

      I've never checked out their cases, will do for my next lhone. My problem with cases it that they tend to add to the width of tbe phone, which makes it difficult to find dash mounts that will fit the larger phones I am drawn to; I haven't been driving as much since my back injury, though, so that's less of a concern now.

      --
      APK quotes people (including myself) without context and should not be trusted. Just thought you should know.
    53. Re:Thinner by Dixie_Flatline · · Score: 1

      Naked Robotic Core theory. Make the phone as thin and unobtrusive as possible. Give it the most functionality you can cram into that small package, and then if people want more, they can add a case that does all the extra stuff, without burdening those that just want something thin and light in their pocket. For some people, small size and big mobility is the major advantage. If you're okay with carrying a bigger device, just add a case that does the things you want.

    54. Re:Thinner by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      This is not Apple's fault, or even the fault of those cult-like iPhone buyers you mention. The fault is with the Android phone manufacturers. If their phones were truly better than iPhones, they wouldn't be racing to look the same.

    55. Re:Thinner by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      There's cellphone repair places all over the place; it shouldn't be hard to have one of them order the parts if necessary and schedule an appointment so you minimize your downtime.

      Yes and they can do the same thing for the iPhone or a Galaxy or a Nexus or a Pixel, but in all cases it would void the warranty. It is no cheaper to repair the Nexus 6p screen (or the Galaxy or the Pixel for that matter) than it is the iPhone.

      If you're in such a rush you need your phone fixed right now and it's currently unusable because of a broken screen, then you have no business buying an expensive phone at all

      Ok so before you were angry that Apple was making thinner phones, then you were angry at people who buy Apple phones because of your view that it supports Apple's decisions which wouldnt affect you in the slightest if the Android world didnt follow Apple's lead all the time. Now you are angry at people who buy phones that cost more than $50-$100. It seems you are just angry at Apple for some reason and are desperately fumbling around for a way to justify it.

      Maybe you just need to relax and stop getting yourself so worked up. It is ok if you cant afford an expensive phone or if you just dont want to spend more than $50-$100 on a phone, either way it is just fine and you dont have to get all upset about the decisions that other people make.

      iPhones are for rich people, or people who want to believe they're rich.

      And what about phones like the Nexus 6p or the Pixel or the Galaxy Edge? They are all equally expensive to repair and the Pixel is even more expensive to buy. It's painfully obvious that you are desperately trying to come up with a way to justify your irrational hatred of Apple but you keep stumbling and contradicting yourself.

      If you don't want an iPhone then don't buy one, getting all red-faced with your incessant ranting is just leading you well on the way to having an aneurism.

    56. Re:Thinner by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That's not "known", it's "speculated". The group that did that teardown were software engineers, not hardware.

    57. Re:Thinner by Rakarra · · Score: 1

      Ah. Hmm, I found the plastic back very smooth, especially in arid conditions when the fingers are also try. That's why I ended up cracking the glass by dropping mine on top of a volcano.

  6. Bluetooth Headphones by zuxun · · Score: 0

    You can always use Bluetooth headphones.

    1. Re:Bluetooth Headphones by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      You can always use Bluetooth headphones.

      I can do that now. This is a limiting move that really only has negatives. Personally, I'm move off Samsung the next phone I buy. If I wanted an iPhone I'd buy one.

    2. Re:Bluetooth Headphones by Oswald+McWeany · · Score: 2

      Yeah, and get lower quality audio... but it's an option. I'd rather get a different phone.

      --
      "That's the way to do it" - Punch
    3. Re:Bluetooth Headphones by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      at additional cost to you. 600-700+ USD and I still have to buy a decent set of headphones? No thanks...

    4. Re:Bluetooth Headphones by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Good luck with bluetooth on a commuter bus, with 60 other people trying to use it.

    5. Re:Bluetooth Headphones by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Bluetooth is also easily hacked. It's been the focus of a bunch of hacks over the last few years. It's particularly bad for Android phones, where the version of OS is limited in part by the carrier, so the critical security updates that came in OmgCrazyNewOs v9000 won't be applied to your LameOMatic v5.

      So, if you own an S8 for more than a year, it'll probably have a Bluetooth vulnerability built into it, and there won't be a damn thing you can do. But at least you'll have Pandora/Spotify/iHeart Radio streaming low bitrate music using over-saturated wireless channels shared by the 100 people around you. That's worth it. Right?

    6. Re:Bluetooth Headphones by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Ever play games with Bluetooth headphones? The audio delay is terrible! By the time I hear whether or not I got him, he got me. :(

    7. Re:Bluetooth Headphones by Holi · · Score: 1

      But my radio in my truck does not have blue tooth, it does have an aux port. If the choices are buy a new radio or choose a different phone, which way do you think I am going to go?


      I would think Samsung would be smarter then to drive away potential customers now.

      --
      Sorry, teleporters just kill you and then make a copy. A perfect, soul-less copy.
    8. Re:Bluetooth Headphones by Obfuscant · · Score: 5, Insightful

      You can always use Bluetooth headphones.

      You can try.

      1. The battery goes dead after a short period of time, so then you can't.

      2. You are in a WiFi-rich environment, which means you get about a 1' range for your bluetooth. I've actually been in places where even with the phone in my shirt pocket, if I turned my head left or right the signal was lost.

      3. You have a smart watch which is linked via bluetooth, in which case you can't link a headphone at the same time (I've tried.)

      4. You want to feed the audio to some wired system. (Yes there are bluetooth to jack adapters, but the one I have never seems to have a charged battery, so refer to #1).

    9. Re:Bluetooth Headphones by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Or use an adapter? OMFG you can even... leave it in your truck so it is just like plugging it in now. I bet they will even give you an adapter for free just like apple.

    10. Re:Bluetooth Headphones by Yvan256 · · Score: 1

      The radio in my truck does not have bluetooth, but it does have an aux port. If the choices are buy a new radio or choose a different phone, which way do you think I am going to go?

      Buy a new truck?

    11. Re:Bluetooth Headphones by bigfinger76 · · Score: 1

      Dongles!

    12. Re:Bluetooth Headphones by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      3. You have a smart watch which is linked via bluetooth, in which case you can't link a headphone at the same time (I've tried.)

      Probably depends on all of the hardware. Samsung gear fit with a note 5 and bluetooth headphones/car stereo and they all work fine together.

    13. Re:Bluetooth Headphones by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Make America great again and buy a new truck!

    14. Re:Bluetooth Headphones by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      OMG donglegate!

    15. Re:Bluetooth Headphones by Gojira+Shipi-Taro · · Score: 0

      I have never had any issues using bluetooth headphones while my Android watch is connected. Not once.

      I also haven't had issues with interaction with "wifi-rich" environments, and I live in a 26 story building with dozens of WIFI networks.

      The battery life issue is entirely dependent on what model of headset you have. I did the research, and got a set that lasts a good long while.

      I'm not saying that I agree with the removal of the jack, but your arguments don't apply to any environment I've encountered in recent years.

      6 years or so, Bluetooth was far more dodgy, and didn't provide sufficient quality for music anyway.

      --
      "Oh my God. This is terrible. This is the end of my Presidency. I'm fucked."; ~ Donald J. Trump
    16. Re:Bluetooth Headphones by unrtst · · Score: 1

      But my radio in my truck does not have blue tooth...

      While I would agree that removing the headphone jack is really really really stupid, this very small demographic of people with old car stereos that want to use their phones via bluetooth is not only negligibly small, it's also very easily and cheaply resolved via something like this ($15): http://www.monoprice.com/produ...
      Might take a minute to wire that in, but you'll have bluetooth in your truck then. It's kinda like the old tape player adapter so you could pipe your portable cd player output into your car radio.
      You can also go the other route and get an adapter (usb to stereo plug), which, in this case, lacks the arguments against the adapter ("have to carry around an adapter everywhere you go") because you can just leave it hooked up in your truck.

    17. Re:Bluetooth Headphones by SoCalChris · · Score: 1

      I use a bluetooth headset every day in a packed subway and commuter train without any issues.

    18. Re:Bluetooth Headphones by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Let me guess... Buy a new truck?

    19. Re:Bluetooth Headphones by BronsCon · · Score: 1

      Yes, and you can always deal with audio desync when watching video or playing games while using Bluetooth headphones.

      --
      APK quotes people (including myself) without context and should not be trusted. Just thought you should know.
    20. Re:Bluetooth Headphones by BronsCon · · Score: 1

      Right, because everyone else is using wired headphones. When that ceases to be an option.............

      --
      APK quotes people (including myself) without context and should not be trusted. Just thought you should know.
    21. Re:Bluetooth Headphones by BronsCon · · Score: 1

      It's not just old car stereos; a friend of mine drives a 2015 Hyundai something or other that has a USB port for iPod and an AUX jack for everything else; also, despite having Bluetooth in my car, the AUX port sees a lot of use, typically if I want to plug in my iPod or let a passenger be in charge of the music without making having to go through the Bluetooth sync process for a device which will, in all likelihood, never be connected to the car again.

      --
      APK quotes people (including myself) without context and should not be trusted. Just thought you should know.
    22. Re:Bluetooth Headphones by technicaltap · · Score: 1

      You can always use Bluetooth headphones.

      You can try.

      1. The battery goes dead after a short period of time, so then you can't.

      2. You are in a WiFi-rich environment, which means you get about a 1' range for your bluetooth. I've actually been in places where even with the phone in my shirt pocket, if I turned my head left or right the signal was lost.

      3. You have a smart watch which is linked via bluetooth, in which case you can't link a headphone at the same time (I've tried.)

      4. You want to feed the audio to some wired system. (Yes there are bluetooth to jack adapters, but the one I have never seems to have a charged battery, so refer to #1).

      What products are you using that have so many problems?

      1) I get about 15-20 hours of playback at moderate volume from a single change with my Bose QC35 BT headphones.

      2) I can pick up probably a dozen APs from my desk at my work and over 50 in my apartment, most on 2.4GHz. Never get any drop outs at less than 20 feet.

      3) iPhone 6s and a first-gen Apple Watch with the aforementioned headphones, no issue at all.

      4) Airplay via AppleTV in the living room, Airport Express in the bedroom, and Bose Bluetooth Adapter in my home shop. Never any issues with any of them.

      People love to rip on companies like Apple and Bose for being overpriced around here, but if your experience is typical of what I can expect for the cheaper prices, I'll gladly keep "overpaying".

    23. Re:Bluetooth Headphones by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I get pops and chirps from an Android running through a Bluetooth speaker. My anecdote cancels out yours.

    24. Re:Bluetooth Headphones by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      I have never had any issues using bluetooth headphones while my Android watch is connected. Not once.

      So you're not piping audio control to your watch, or you don't have call or media control support in your headphones (i.e. cheap crap headphones).
      Claiming you have no problems is interesting given that a fundamental limitation in the Bluetooth stack as implemented by all devices that you can only pipe one output to one connected device at the time, same for the input. This is exactly why some devices (e.g. car radios) multiple Bluetooth radios in the device.

      And this is not a headphone / watch issue. This is an anything 2 bluetooth devices attempting to use the same profile at the same time issue.

    25. Re:Bluetooth Headphones by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      3 and 4 are real issues.

      1 and 2 means you should stop buying crap headphones.

    26. Re:Bluetooth Headphones by Rakarra · · Score: 1

      Ever play games with Bluetooth headphones? The audio delay is terrible! By the time I hear whether or not I got him, he got me. :(

      Most quality headsets use RF or something like that rather than bluetooth.

    27. Re:Bluetooth Headphones by kimvette · · Score: 1

      Right,... if they are copying Apple, the adapter will let you listen using headphones, but will not include pass-through charge capability, doubling the fail.

      --
      The Christian Right is Neither (Christian nor right). See: Matthew 23, Matthew 25, Ezekiel 16:48-50
    28. Re:Bluetooth Headphones by Maritz · · Score: 1

      They can shove the adapter, and the phone, just as apple can shove theirs.

      --
      I do not want your cheap brainburning drugs. They are useless for work. And I am a working man today.
    29. Re:Bluetooth Headphones by squiggleslash · · Score: 1

      Plus Bluetooth on Android (may be true of iOS too, no idea) is fairly bug ridden and crappy. I've seen three relatively recent Android phones that crash if they try to connect to our minivan's BT system. Googling for "bluetooth share has stopped" (the error message the phones give) show this is a common problem and has been for some years. Looks like the 4.x series was the last version of Android that had remotely stable Bluetooth support.

      You'd think, at the very least, Samsung would hold off until Google can put out a half way stable Bluetooth stack.

      --
      You are not alone. This is not normal. None of this is normal.
    30. Re:Bluetooth Headphones by Toshito · · Score: 1

      5. You live in a household with more than 1 person. Having to pair/unpair connect/disconnect multiple phones and tablets to our soundbar and car stereo is a nightmare. Often when I power up the soundbar it automatically connects to a device somewhere in the house, and then I have to ask everybody or even search the entire house to find the phone/tablet/ipod that is powered up and try to turn off bluetooth on it. Impossible if this device is locked and the owner is not there...

      So now for our car stereo we use a good old headphone cable. Works everytime, instantly.

      --
      Try it! Library of Babel
    31. Re:Bluetooth Headphones by Game+Genie · · Score: 1

      I can use dongles for serial on my phone now. Removing DB9 from phones is a limiting move that really only has negatives.

  7. Soooooo lesson not learned? by H3lldr0p · · Score: 5, Informative

    Wasn't there an article yesterday saying that the battery problems with the G7 Note largely due to it being too thin? Which, given the circumstances seems to be a fairly strong thesis for the trouble. So why try to go thinner?

    I get there's a lead time on design and engineering and that it's quite likely this particular design has been in the works before the Note 7 was even out the door. But it seems like poor management to not backup and start over just to be certain the same design flaws don't happen again. Starting by not having thinness as a goal.

    Then again, I'm not an exec working on their quarterly bonus. I'm just a guy on the internet.

    1. Re:Soooooo lesson not learned? by lgw · · Score: 1

      Basic management philosophy:

      "We must do X"

      "Sir, it's not working - in fact, it's burning our customer base"

      "We're not doing enough X!"

      --
      Socialism: a lie told by totalitarians and believed by fools.
    2. Re:Soooooo lesson not learned? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Wasn't there an article yesterday saying that the battery problems with the G7 Note largely due to it being too thin?

      How do you know that the article was at all accurate? It wasn't Samsung reporting that, it was some random guys.

      Which, given the circumstances seems to be a fairly strong thesis for the trouble. So why try to go thinner?

      I need help to parse that sentence.

    3. Re:Soooooo lesson not learned? by ClickOnThis · · Score: 3, Informative

      Wasn't there an article yesterday saying that the battery problems with the G7 Note largely due to it being too thin? Which, given the circumstances seems to be a fairly strong thesis for the trouble. So why try to go thinner?

      Samsung's problem was with the Galaxy Note 7 not the S7. (TFA is about the S8.) And the problem was not that the Note 7 was too thin, but that it was too thin for the battery. They should have provided about 0.5 mm room for expansion. They didn't, and as a result, the battery was squeezed when it expanded, and parts of its internals touched that were not supposed to. And kaboom.

      I get there's a lead time on design and engineering and that it's quite likely this particular design has been in the works before the Note 7 was even out the door. But it seems like poor management to not backup and start over just to be certain the same design flaws don't happen again. Starting by not having thinness as a goal.

      Given the disastrous blowback from the Note 7, I doubt they'll let anything in the 8th generation leave the factory until it's ready.

      Disclosure: I own an S5. It does get warm if I'm charging it in my car with Google Maps running and it's in sunlight. But otherwise it has been trouble-free as far as heat is concerned.

      --
      If it weren't for deadlines, nothing would be late.
    4. Re:Soooooo lesson not learned? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Wasn't there an article yesterday saying that the battery problems with the G7 Note largely due to it being too thin? Which, given the circumstances seems to be a fairly strong thesis for the trouble. So why try to go thinner?

      I get there's a lead time on design and engineering and that it's quite likely this particular design has been in the works before the Note 7 was even out the door. But it seems like poor management to not backup and start over just to be certain the same design flaws don't happen again. Starting by not having thinness as a goal.

      Then again, I'm not an exec working on their quarterly bonus. I'm just a guy on the internet.

      Samsung is plagued by notoriously poor management.

    5. Re:Soooooo lesson not learned? by ausekilis · · Score: 1

      "Remember Ralphie, if you get a bloody nose it's because you're picking your nose too much... or not enough." - Chief Wiggum

    6. Re:Soooooo lesson not learned? by thegarbz · · Score: 2

      Wasn't there an article yesterday saying that the battery problems with the G7 Note largely due to it being too thin? Which, given the circumstances seems to be a fairly strong thesis for the trouble. So why try to go thinner?

      Yeah. It was an article written by a group of software engineers who bought one, opened it up and declared themselves experts through conjecture, speculation, and stuff they may have read about lithium batteries on the internet.

      But hey they got their company name on Slashdot so it was worth it.

    7. Re:Soooooo lesson not learned? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Wasn't there an article yesterday saying that the battery problems with the G7 Note largely due to it being too thin? Which, given the circumstances seems to be a fairly strong thesis for the trouble. So why try to go thinner?

      Yeah. It was an article written by a group of software engineers who bought one, opened it up and declared themselves experts through conjecture, speculation, and stuff they may have read about lithium batteries on the internet.

      But hey they got their company name on Slashdot so it was worth it.

      You really didn't read that article, did you? Almost everything you said was wrong.

      It was an article written by a team of experts on design, particularly on moving design through prototype into ramped-up production. They know a lot more about lithium ion batteries than you do :-) They may have software engineers on staff, but the commentary was from hardware and production engineers. They specialise in diagnosing problems in products due to production issues, and solving those problems. The Note 7 issues were precisely the kind of thing they make their living solving.

  8. Fuse by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    That's where the fuse and detonator go now.

  9. Thinner? by flipper9 · · Score: 1

    Wasn't the problem that was found with the burning ("exploding") Samsung S7 Note the fact that they made it too thin without enough space for the battery? Did they not learn their lesson?

    Also, I want a headphone jack. I love my headphone jack on my Samsung S7 active. I can plug many things into it, many things I already own. It's flexible, compatible, a great thing. I don't want a super thin phone. I just want a fast, reliable, convenient, water-proof phone that has flexible and standard connectivity with a battery that can get me through 24 hours of heavy use without needing to charge all the time. I'll pay money for that, not for some fragile, super-thin device that needs to be charged all the time.

  10. Slimmer, Bigger Battery... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    More BANG for the buck.

  11. I don't get it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    A) Why isn't Samsung leveraging the fact that their product includes a certain feature and B) Why are we going backwards?? You're supposed to be 'innovating' Samsung...

    1. Re:I don't get it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You haven't got your Sales Hat on ... if you can't innovate by adding features then you innovate by removing them.

  12. Just a way to push overpriced things by p51d007 · · Score: 1

    wireless earbuds, adapters and what not. I'm not a fan of Apple or Samsung. In my opinion, BOTH are overpriced to the point I can find a good quality phone,with similar features for HALF the cost.

    1. Re:Just a way to push overpriced things by Oswald+McWeany · · Score: 1

      Indeed. At one point, Samsung was "the smart" equivalent to Apple. It had comparable hardware for much less money. They gained market share and good word of mouth and they raised their price to match. Samsung buyers became like Apple buyers- they stuck with the product rather than shopped around for a better deal.

      Now Samsung has comparable hardware and comparable costs. Samsung has lost it's edge. Apple may indeed be the better deal than Samsung now.

      Thank goodness there are other players in the market who don't follow the lead of those two quite so closely in regard to pricing.

      --
      "That's the way to do it" - Punch
    2. Re: Just a way to push overpriced things by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yeah I'm an LG g5 user now... I'm waiting until I can afford a pixel up front... The v10 looks nice as well

    3. Re:Just a way to push overpriced things by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I've found LG products to have better quality than Samsungs, my cheap LG smartphone still runs fine compared to a similar cheap Samsung that had both hardware and software issues.

  13. So, more "exploding" phones then? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    make the Galaxy S8 thinner while also ... a bigger battery

    https://tech.slashdot.org/story/16/12/05/2032203/engineers-explain-why-the-galaxy-note-7-caught-fire

  14. Ever thinner by TroII · · Score: 4, Insightful

    enables Samsung to make the Galaxy S8 thinner

    What is this fucking obsession with making phones thinner? I want a phone that's sturdy. I wouldn't mind my phone being two or even three times as thick, if it could have double or triple the battery life. What I don't want is a fragile, dainty phone that's going to snap in half if I hold it the wrong way. Who is asking for thinner phones?

    1. Re:Ever thinner by PPH · · Score: 1

      Yep. And then buy an after market phone case with built in back-up battery for it.

      --
      Have gnu, will travel.
    2. Re:Ever thinner by Oswald+McWeany · · Score: 5, Funny

      Yeah! People, stop fat-shaming my one year old phone! It's not how thin your phone is, wide phones can be beautiful too.

      It's the hardware inside that counts.

      --
      "That's the way to do it" - Punch
    3. Re:Ever thinner by FFOMelchior · · Score: 1

      > What I don't want is a fragile, dainty phone that's going to snap in half if I hold it the wrong way. I've always assumed that's the reason they're making phones thinner. More likely to break means more likely Joe Schmo will have to buy a new one after it breaks 8 months in.

    4. Re:Ever thinner by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Who is asking for thinner phones?

      Hipsters. They're ruining everything.

    5. Re:Ever thinner by geekmux · · Score: 1

      Who is asking for thinner phones?

      What, you don't think we like the revenue generated from you prematurely breaking it? We love that shit.

      What is this fucking obsession with making phones thinner? I want a phone that's sturdy. I wouldn't mind my phone being two or even three times as thick, if it could have double or triple the battery life. What I don't want is a fragile, dainty phone that's going to snap in half if I hold it the wrong way.

      Fuck what you want. You'll get features you never asked for because it maximizes our profit. We love that shit.

      Oh, and don't forget, you accepted the EULA when you opened the box, so we can sell everything you do to everyone. We love that shit.

      Fuck you Very Much and Have a Nice Day.

      Hugs and Kisses,

      - The Smartphone Pimps

    6. Re: Ever thinner by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'd kill for a phone that can survive a severely askew glance without an inch thick case

    7. Re:Ever thinner by OzPeter · · Score: 4, Funny

      Yeah! People, stop fat-shaming my one year old phone! It's not how thin your phone is, wide phones can be beautiful too.

      It really is disingenuous to fat shame phones. Samsung unequivocally proved that no-one wants a hottie smart phone.

      --
      I am Slashdot. Are you Slashdot as well?
    8. Re:Ever thinner by Nothing2Chere · · Score: 2

      It's not the width...It's how thick it is that counts.

      I worry about depth.

    9. Re:Ever thinner by 0100010001010011 · · Score: 1

      I demand people stop having different interests than me!

      Want a rugged phone? Buy One

    10. Re:Ever thinner by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I did exactly that. Phones are too thin to be ergonomic now and the battery doesn't last long enough even when they're new. Hate this trend toward thinner phones by sacrificing usability and functionality. And for the record, a few days ago I literally paid full price for LAST year's phone because I want and very much use the headphone jack (and that's not going to change in the near future).

    11. Re:Ever thinner by Dorianny · · Score: 1

      enables Samsung to make the Galaxy S8 thinner

      What is this fucking obsession with making phones thinner? I want a phone that's sturdy. I wouldn't mind my phone being two or even three times as thick, if it could have double or triple the battery life. What I don't want is a fragile, dainty phone that's going to snap in half if I hold it the wrong way. Who is asking for thinner phones?

      That's what everyone says when going to the store to pick out a new phone; And then they walk out with a iPhone or a Galaxy instead of something like the (slightly heavier and thicker) Moto Z with its 23 hour battery life

    12. Re:Ever thinner by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      I see most people asking to move the needle a bit away from thin and a bit more towards extra battery life....and you come in with a hyperbolic argument that really supports no intelligent discussion. Here's a bit of social education for you: If you want a thinner phone, reply "I like my thin phone because..." or "I would like my phone to be thinner because..." and provide some real world reasons that other people can relate to. Otherwise, we're going to ignore the asshat response that serves only to hinder intelligent discussion from people who actually are considering multiple viewpoints and use cases.

    13. Re:Ever thinner by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Not consumers.

      But the thing is, "thinner than ever" is the simplest and most effective excuse for all the shitty changes they do, from "cannot remove battery; buy a new one" to "we're acquiring a new speaker company, remove the headphone jacks so people have to buy our new speakers" to "it's your fault it broke when you dropped it; buy a new one".

      It's the grocery-shrinkray effect: You change the package to screw the customer while being able to claim it's new, courageous and synergybold nextgen.

      A tough, reliable smartphone that isn't fragile would need no (or less) special protective carrying case either, after all...

  15. No headphone jack? by SpankiMonki · · Score: 5, Funny

    Apple should sue Samsung for copying the iPhone...oh wait

    1. Re:No headphone jack? by Pascoea · · Score: 1

      It would be interesting to see a lawsuit for a company implementing a "copied" feature, where that feature was a component being omitted. Is that possible?

    2. Re:No headphone jack? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "Hey, we designed a jackless phone first. We deserve protection for the idea. Anybody else removing their jacks should pay us a licence fee"

  16. Boom by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Thinner with a bigger battery, is that not possibly what got them in trouble with the Note 7 already.

    Leave my stinking 3.5mm jack and make the damn battery replaceable again. I will not be upgrading again for this crap. My note 4 will work find till AT&T stops updating it.

  17. I'd rather a headphone jack by Oswald+McWeany · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I'd rather a headphone jack than my phone to be slightly thinner.

    Phones have been thin enough since 2010. Having a thinner phone is exactly dead last on my list of priorities... about two or three spots below having a headphone jack.

    --
    "That's the way to do it" - Punch
    1. Re:I'd rather a headphone jack by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Exactly. I predict that within 10 years, no "unauthorized" music files will play on any phone or tablet. Removing the analog "hole" is merely the first step in that process.

    2. Re:I'd rather a headphone jack by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'd rather a headphone jack than my phone to be slightly thinner.

      Phones have been thin enough since 2010. Having a thinner phone is exactly dead last on my list of priorities... about two or three spots below having a headphone jack.

      It's 2016. You are told what to like and how to think. To do otherwise means social suicide.

    3. Re:I'd rather a headphone jack by Drethon · · Score: 1

      Looks like I'm buying new batteries for my cracked Galaxy S5, rather than a new phone. Though maybe it is just time to transition fully away from Samsung.

    4. Re:I'd rather a headphone jack by rgbscan · · Score: 1

      Doesn't matter, all content services will be subscription based affairs by then, which is what they really want.

    5. Re:I'd rather a headphone jack by CrashNBrn · · Score: 1

      Or Android|Samsung et al, could use the damnable headphone jack for a digital out, so we wouldn't be stuck with crap OTG for audio that prevents charging your device when getting an audio digital-out line to bypass the phones $5 on-board $5 DAC. See 3.5mm to coaxial.

    6. Re:I'd rather a headphone jack by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Absolutely this. Stop the crazy rush to be thinner. Don't want thinner. Want more battery life and more physical surface to hold.

    7. Re:I'd rather a headphone jack by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "Not catching fire" is last on my list. Where is it on yours?

    8. Re:I'd rather a headphone jack by tepples · · Score: 1

      Under such a regime, how would a musician become "authorized"?

  18. Apple wins again by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Always on the forefront of the tech curve with courageous design decisions

    Poor Sammy, always playing catch-up

  19. Oh FFS by TheBilgeRat · · Score: 4, Insightful

    My daughter purchased the new jackless iPhone. The misplacing of the adapter for a non-bluetooth pair of headphones has been occurring on a semi-regular basis. Its a terrible design decision. Not everyone wants to also charge their bluetooth headphones. Now, if they introduce a line of bt headphones that cost 20 bucks and don't suck we might be getting somewhere. Or at least include them instead of making it an upcharge.

    1. Re:Oh FFS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      My problem with bluetooth audio is the delay. It's fine for music but things like movies/games that delay is brutal.

    2. Re:Oh FFS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The iPhone 7 comes with a pair of earphones that connects via the lightning port. You only need the adapter if you want to use a different set. Thus, your bit about headphones costing 20 bucks is pointless. The phone comes with a pair.

    3. Re:Oh FFS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Trust me, she still does plenty of jacking. Bigly, she gives the yuuuugest jacks, believe me.

    4. Re:Oh FFS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yeah! We should just keep using the same old shit forever and never progressing!
      Who's with me!!!?

    5. Re:Oh FFS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If it's a problem for movies, your movie player/framework is crap (or they didn't even try to make a sensible protocol when they developed bluetooth audio). There is no reason the audio delay couldn't be fully compensated (potentially even better than with cable based headphones) for movies.
      Games are a different issue, nothing you can do about the latency there really.

    6. Re:Oh FFS by snookiex · · Score: 1

      This is the kind of decisions the industry will keep shoving down our throats until the hipsters decide that it's time to have a retro phone with headphone jack and physical keyboard.

      --
      Open Source Network Inventory for the masses! Kuwaiba
    7. Re:Oh FFS by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      Or at least include them instead of making it an upcharge.

      At between $800-1000 depending on the model, no one cares about the upcharge and including the wireless headphones should diminish the dumb decision.

  20. Ah... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ...that's so courageous of them.

  21. Samsung, Samsung, Samsung... by Type44Q · · Score: 1

    ...you are fucked.

  22. Lousy Apple! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You're a bad influence on the other kids in the neighborhood.

  23. Apple told is they do! by Sycraft-fu · · Score: 2

    Seriously, that seems to be the extent of the logic some of the manufacturers use. Apple has/had an obsession with thin, Apple did well, therefore we need to have an obsession with thin.

    Personally, I say fuck that. Phones have gotten anywhere from thin enough to too thin. I had a Note 3 for a few years, which I was completely fine with in terms of thickness. However I recently got an LG G5 which is just slightly thicker, and I actually like it better. The slight extra thickness, combined with rounded edged, makes it really comfortable to hold. Of all the smartphones I've had it fits in my hand the very best. I think they've got it pretty close to perfect in therms of thickness.

    Oh and it manages to have a removable battery, headphone jack, and SD card so that's nice as well.

    I get annoyed with the worship of the cult of thin. I understand the interest back in the day, I had an early Windows CE smartphone which was a massive brick and ya, I wanted something smaller. However we have gotten to the point where they are plenty thin enough and going thinner is less ergonomic, not more.

    1. Re: Apple told is they do! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You know I agree with you, but we're geeks. The avg Joe on the street only can compare Dick size to phone size or truck size. Try to impress a girl or a friend on the strength and life of your battery and you'll be dissapointed

    2. Re:Apple told is they do! by pnutjam · · Score: 1

      Yeah, I don't want to feel like I'm going to get a papercut from my phone.

  24. Ok Samsung by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    How do I charge my phone and listen to music in my car?

  25. Sigh by ledow · · Score: 3, Insightful

    We're so innovative, we even copy our own competitors when they make a decision that's been widely ridiculed!

    FFS, Samsung, you used to think for yourself AND make better decisions.

    1. Re:Sigh by Oswald+McWeany · · Score: 1

      Maybe these phone companies know something we don't. The US or the EU is going to enact a headphone jack tax to replace income tax. Your taxes hereon out are based on how many headphone jacks your devices have.

      Apple and Samsung might be trying to save us money.

      --
      "That's the way to do it" - Punch
    2. Re:Sigh by iggymanz · · Score: 1

      which competitor had the phone that blows the fuck up?

    3. Re:Sigh by Holi · · Score: 2

      You think Apple wants to save you money????

      --
      Sorry, teleporters just kill you and then make a copy. A perfect, soul-less copy.
    4. Re:Sigh by ledow · · Score: 1

      Or the Bluetooth patent holders might be offering a discount if they do this.

    5. Re:Sigh by ledow · · Score: 1
    6. Re:Sigh by iggymanz · · Score: 1

      To me Apple is the "blows the fuck up" laptop company of 2006-2008, expanding into phone market I see

    7. Re:Sigh by Rakarra · · Score: 1

      You think Apple wants to save you money????

      Apple is happy to save you the money that you're not paying to Apple.

  26. What I really really want... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The companies and perhaps the users who buy these crap products... Give me a 1.5" THICK(4" screen) phone with slide out keyboard, 2 MicroUSB(one for charging), hdmi, audio jack, 1 maybe 2 microSD slots(one hot swappable). Last 24-48hours under medium cpu load/screen on. It would still fit in my pockets just fine and be a lot more handy...

    Speaking of handy, throw an x86 baytrail(or better, ie: as power efficient as ARM) in it with legacy bios and allow an application to act as dialer.. Could run Linux, Windows, Android, or whatever...

    1. Re:What I really really want... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Pretty much agree. Reminds me when flip phones were hot and it was all the rage to have the newest, smallest phone until they were so tiny, they needed bulky leather cases to be usable.

      The last great phone I owned was a Nokia N900 with slide out keyboard. I could take calls, check email and use an SSH client in the portability of a phone. Yes, the screen wasn't the best, but the basic form was solid.

    2. Re:What I really really want... by DirkDaring · · Score: 1

      1.5" thick? You have big pockets...

  27. Thin by backslashdot · · Score: 1

    It will also be made thinner such that battery is squeezed so tight that there is impact/compression between the layers as it gets charged.

    What could go wrong?

    1. Re:Thin by psergiu · · Score: 1

      ... and with no orifice large enough (like, circular and 3.5mm large) to quickly vent any gases created by a shorted battery ...

      --
      1% APY, No fees, Online Bank https://captl1.co/2uIErYq Don't let your $$$ sit in a no-interest acct.
  28. Who cares about a thinner phone? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    My body has been getting fatter faster than phones are getting thinner. When are we going to work on anti-aging technology?

  29. No Deal - Thanks for coming out Samsung! by Atticka · · Score: 2

    Still have to carry wired headphones when you travel anyways, until they install Bluetooth at each individual seat on the airplane!

    No.

    --
    No sig here...
    1. Re:No Deal - Thanks for coming out Samsung! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Still have to carry wired headphones when you travel anyways, until they install Bluetooth at each individual seat on the airplane!

      No.

      The fact that all others follow the Apple design team around like a lost puppy is almost as laughable as you trying to sell in-flight solutions as viable entertainment.

    2. Re:No Deal - Thanks for coming out Samsung! by tsqr · · Score: 1

      Still have to carry wired headphones when you travel anyways, until they install Bluetooth at each individual seat on the airplane!

      Um, what? I've been using Bluetooth headphones to listen to music/movies on my phone on transatlantic flights for years. Or are you talking about the cabin entertainment system? For that, I use the handy 3.5mm cable that came with the headphones.

    3. Re:No Deal - Thanks for coming out Samsung! by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      That doesn't make sense. Every set of Bluetooth headphones I've ever seen (except for that shit that Apple expects you to stick in your ears) has the option to plug in a cable. They all continue to work without battery too. Your example is a complete non-issue.

      Still a dumb design decision, but you need a proper complaint such as not being able to pick up any old headphones and listen to music, or use any of the accessories which use the jack.

    4. Re:No Deal - Thanks for coming out Samsung! by b783719 · · Score: 1

      The type of Bluetooth headphone you have is probably the over-ear Bluetooth headphone with a small 2.5mm jack.

      Most if not all spots or in-ear Bluetooth headphones do not have any jack to connect to a 3.5mm cable.

    5. Re:No Deal - Thanks for coming out Samsung! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'm sure he appreciated being told what he has, basically calling him an idiot that can't tell the difference between a 2.5mm jack and a 3.5mm jack.

  30. Thinner is not better by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Seriously who has an S7 and think damn, this phone is just too thick.

    Headphone jack or thinner, headphone jack or thinner.

    GIVE ME THE FREAKING HEADPHONE JACK!

  31. It's 2017 by holophrastic · · Score: 3, Funny

    I can't believe we're sitting here, I'm 37 years old, and I'm finally getting stereo speakers. It's about time. I can't wait to turn 50, and get a headphone jack.

    1. Re:It's 2017 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Two speakers does not guarantee stereo. You need far more than 6cm between speakers to detect the stereo effect.

  32. More room for the battery? by um...+Lucas · · Score: 1

    Judging from their recent track record, looks like we'll get to look forward to even bigger explosions in the future.

  33. Copycat by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Samsung: lets copy even the Apple bad ideas.

  34. Unlocked bootloader/user controlled trustzone... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    and baseband processor that is logically if not physically separated from the operations of the SoC, storage, memory, microphone,speaker, and camera?

    The biggest problems with cell phones aren't exploding batteries or questionable physical engineering, they are the question technical decisions that result in user hardware having next to no user control, and giving governments globally the sort of undetectable and complete access to personal devices that past and current regimes would kill to enjoy access to.

  35. Copying Apple by Roger+W+Moore · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Except that in this case Samsung has a long history of copying Apple and apparently it seems to extend to even copying their stupid ideas. However it would be ironic if they put a USB-C on the phone and used that for the earphones too because then their phone would be more compatible with the new MacBooks than the iPhone.

    1. Re:Copying Apple by nonicknameavailable · · Score: 1

      Apple have always copied other companies inventions and made them sometimes better

      --
      Mendacem Memorem Esse Oportet
    2. Re:Copying Apple by aergern · · Score: 4, Informative

      They've already said it's going to be USB-C and the audio will use that port.

      --
      Tell me what you believe...I'll tell you what you should see.
    3. Re:Copying Apple by youngone · · Score: 2
      I thought they had learned from their history of Apple copying failure after the S6, which had no micro-sd slot and sold poorly.

      The problem Samsung (and all the other Android phone makers) have is that most people seem to want to buy an Android phone, so they figure out how much they want to spend, and compare features.

      Samsung might find non-iPhone buyers really want a 3.5mm jack and so they go and buy an LG V10 as mentioned in this thread.

    4. Re:Copying Apple by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      About half of that is true.

    5. Re:Copying Apple by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      After switching from the Note 5 to a V10 the only feature I miss is the integrated voice assistant. Having to press buttons to voice dial defeats the purpose of voice dialing.

    6. Re: Copying Apple by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Isn't the 3.5mm jack the last analogue output remaining (besides speakers)? I agree, I hate adapters. But just think, you can boast that your phone is all digital now. That would be so cool. And when you masterbate to porn, don't forget your dongles or you can't hear that donkey.

    7. Re:Copying Apple by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      All these great comments above mine are why many are eschewing smartphones entirely. "Get off my lawn" jokes aside, simpler feature phones are coming back. People are learning that the latest and greatest comes with a higher price besides the actual higher price.

    8. Re:Copying Apple by AmiMoJo · · Score: 1

      I'm just waiting for the first Chinese manufacturer to really break through. OnePlus or one of the many others who make really high end, well built smartphones with lots of great features (dual SIMs + SD card!) for about 1/3rd to 1/4th the price of an iPhone or Galaxy.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    9. Re:Copying Apple by Coren22 · · Score: 1

      You can't say "OK Google, call mom"?

      --
      APK likes to ask for responses to the same things over and over. Maybe he just likes the responses?
  36. Good rule. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    if the phone is thinner than things that fit in my dick. it's too thin.

  37. No thanks. by JustNiz · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Time to identify the best phone with 3.5mm jack, SD slot and removeable battery and buy it.

    1. Re:No thanks. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Note 4

    2. Re:No thanks. by JustNiz · · Score: 1

      No I dont want a phablet or something that old.

  38. Always copying Apple... by AbRASiON · · Score: 1

    and I'm a Samsung 'fan' - well, I was. They keep being morons over and over and it's getting tiresome.

    The ONLY reason I stick with them is the physical home button, if they pull that, force edge displays and remove the headphone jack? Yeah, bye bye.

  39. KNOCK IT OFF WITH "THINNER"!!! by Verdatum · · Score: 4, Insightful
    WHAT, DID THE PHONE INDUSTRY GET CURSED BY A SHITTY STEPHEN KING NOVEL? I haven't wished my phone was thinner for a decade now. I haven't given a pair of fetted dingos kidneys how thin my phone is and I've never met anyone who has. The only allowable excuse for this is if the phone is able to come with a free Bluetooth reciever while selling them together at a lower full-retail-price than the S7.

    I own an S5, and was considering getting an S8, but unless someone can give me a better reason than "thinner, more battery room!" then I'll gladly wait for someone else to come along and eat Samsung's lunch.

    1. Re:KNOCK IT OFF WITH "THINNER"!!! by TeknoHog · · Score: 1

      WHAT, DID THE PHONE INDUSTRY GET CURSED BY A SHITTY STEPHEN KING NOVEL? I haven't wished my phone was thinner for a decade now.

      Obviously, because King's novels truly are the pinnacle of thinness.

      --
      Escher was the first MC and Giger invented the HR department.
  40. How ironic.... by mark-t · · Score: 1

    ... that a recent court decision had determined that Samsung was *NOT* really copying Apple. I guess this clears that up.

  41. I've had Samsungs since the GS2 by phorm · · Score: 2

    I've had a GS2, GS4, GS5, and my wife had a Note3/

    We just recently bought Asus' Zenphone Laser3. Thus far I've noticed that performs just as well as any other phone I've had, with the extra features of Android 6. It also gets *much* better battery life than any Samsung I've ever owned. At $270CAD, it's significantly cheaper than the major Samsung models, but has better specs than their "cheap" models (e.g. better CPU, 32GB instead of 8GB storage), and comes factory unlocked (with none of that lock-to-the-first-SIM-card-used BS either).

    The only downside I've seen to it thus far is that it doesn't have a removable battery like the ZF2 had, lacks wireless charging (Asus: PLEASE add this to the next model), and you can't have a second SIM card if you want to use a MicroSD.

    Least to say, I don't see myself with any need to buy an S8 or any other Samsung. The more recent models already did away with removable batteries and don't support dual-SIM, so the only advantage they seem to have is the wireless charging. While I do love the charging, it's not a feature that I'm willing to pay double the price for nor submit myself to Samsung's dearth of updates for any non-current device.

  42. this isn't news! by Frederic54 · · Score: 1

    We know this since at least September, a simple search in google gives me this for instance: http://www.forbes.com/sites/ew...

    --
    "Science will win because it works." - Stephen Hawking
    1. Re:this isn't news! by Frederic54 · · Score: 1

      or another article from October entitled Samsung Galaxy S8 Won’t Feature A 3.5mm Earphone Jack Either If Latest Certifications Are Followed

      http://wccftech.com/samsung-ga...

      --
      "Science will win because it works." - Stephen Hawking
  43. minority! by e432776 · · Score: 1

    I must be outnumbered in the general public- I really like the headphone jack on my phone and use it almost daily. It sure looks like here on /. I am not alone. Somehow these big companies must have concluded that most customers don't feel the same way.

    1. Re:minority! by geekmux · · Score: 1

      I must be outnumbered in the general public- I really like the headphone jack on my phone and use it almost daily. It sure looks like here on /. I am not alone. Somehow these big companies must have concluded that most customers don't feel the same way.

      Smartphone vendors haven't accounted for what consumers want in quite a long time.

      Every change and "feature" is designed around maximizing revenue. Make it thinner? It'll prematurely break, generating more revenue. Remove the headphone jack? They sell adapters. A display capable of resolutions beyond human capability? Tack on another $100 for "UltraHDPlus".

      Once you realize this fact it will be easier to understand the bullshit behind design changes.

    2. Re:minority! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Ultra high resolution displays phtablets are for cardboard VR.

  44. And... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Do.Not.Fucking.Want.

  45. Great idea! by Obfuscant · · Score: 1
    What a great idea! Remove one easy way of allowing personal listening and add stereo speakers so you can play your music or phone conversations at high volume in high quality stereo!

    Apple, I think it is, is running an ad with some old guy sitting at the pool who turns the volume up on his iPhone and leaves it blaring on the table next to his lounge chair while he goes up and does a high dive. Thank goodness nobody with a brick handy wants to listen to anything other than the mariachi music at high volume that this guy is playing, or we'd see what it really means to have a thin phone and lithium battery fire.

    Those who don't know history are doomed to repeat it. The boom box of the 2020's is on our doorstep. No, in the streets and in the subways and at the park and ...

    1. Re:Great idea! by sl3xd · · Score: 1

      Or, perhaps, headphones will start including their own DAC & Amp, and plug in via USB -- which means their performance isn't limited to the circuit on a portable device where the design priority is portability, not quality.

      Or maybe people will switch to Bluetooth headphones and stop the getting the cord caught in clothes & yanking on your head.

      --
      -- Sometimes you have to turn the lights off in order to see.
  46. Re: Sweet - Not by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    That would be Square.
    Fascist bankers do not like competition.

  47. Something's not right here. by mark-t · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Every other report that I can find of this news anywhere on the web links back to Sammobile, who says that they can somehow "exclusively confirm" this, but does not mention *how*, exactly, that they were able to confirm it... The only reasons that I can imagine that they would not give this information are if they had acquired it by doing something of questionable legality and almost certainly unethical, or else they are just making shit up.

    Maybe it's bullshit, and maybe not... but something's definitely not right here, and I think it's socially irresponsible to propagate this kind of story when it can't be confirmed.

    1. Re:Something's not right here. by KClaisse · · Score: 1

      One can only hope its a load of bunk but its quite a persistent rumor thats been stirring around since we found out apple was removing the headphone jack on the iphone. Following in apple's footsteps is right up samsung's alley unfortunately. I have a feeling this rumor may be true. I have to start looking for a good replacement brand now. Fuck samsung and their idiocy.

    2. Re:Something's not right here. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Presumably they are protecting their source. The legality may indeed be questionable, as perhaps they paid a Samsung employee for the information which the employee should have been keeping it confidential. Maybe it was a deliberate leak by Samsung to test the waters on how well it would be received before they finalize the design. Or it could indeed be bullshit. But at this stage I wouldn't expect more solid information anyway.

    3. Re:Something's not right here. by Rakarra · · Score: 1

      Maybe Samsung themselves are floating the rumor to find out how the reaction will be.
      Will people be saying "Yyyayaaay, thinner phone!" or will they be saying "!#$$!%, no headphone jack?"

  48. Poll topic? by Vegan+Cyclist · · Score: 2

    Would be curious to see a poll on this - do phones need to get any thinner?

  49. Obligatory Corner Gas by Yvan256 · · Score: 2
  50. I smell lawsuit by frovingslosh · · Score: 2

    Boy, are they going to get sued by Apple for not having a headphone jack.

    --
    I'm an American. I love this country and the freedoms that we used to have.
  51. such courage by vel-ex-tech · · Score: 1

    What a courageous choice! I commend their courage!

    Unfortunately, I am a coward and will not be able to courageously buy one of these phones without a headphone jack. I'm so cowardly I didn't buy a phone without an SD slot when they removed those either and instead got a Blu Quattro (fortunately not affected by the phone-home app that was installed but it now runs CyanogenMod at any rate).

  52. Thick Phones by Bratch · · Score: 2

    I like thick phones and I can not lie
    You other brothers can't deny
    That when a girl walks in with a really thin phone
    And a flat thing in your face ...

    I couldn't resist with all the comments about not wanting thin phones.

    --
    Beware of the Redittor who loans you a Sharpie.
  53. It must be nice by WaffleMonster · · Score: 1

    I love when vendors think they are so big it magically earns them a license to dictate terms to their customers.

    Depending on where you live anywhere between 25% and 75% iPhone owners around you will have chosen to place their phones in bulky protective cases. Millions of people want shit that works not glossy marketing gimmicks that are actually a liability (piss poor battery life, fire hazard, fragile, harder to use)

    Then we have issue of vendors giving their customers the one finger salute by removing widely used features and justifying it with PR bullshit.

    1. Re:It must be nice by shanen · · Score: 1

      If they provided lanyard anchors then you wouldn't need the protective case (unless you're paranoid about your lanyard breaking or maybe if you rely on the lanyard too much). I really can't understand the lack of lanyard anchor points on all of the smartphones I looked at recently.

      Also, the NFC has apparently become a high-end feature.

      Standardized mediocrity even on the corporate evil.

      --
      Freedom = (Meaningful - Coerced) Choice != (Speech | Beer^2), and sad sock puppets' bad mods avail them naught.
    2. Re:It must be nice by fustakrakich · · Score: 1

      If they provided lanyard anchors then you wouldn't need the protective case

      Unless you want to protect the screen from coins and keys in the same pocket...

      --
      “He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
  54. Progress by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I heard they don't need earbuds because their new audio hardware has a truly explosive sound

  55. Jack replaced by theendlessnow · · Score: 1

    Replace with pin and timer circuit.

  56. Hello Samsung! by allo · · Score: 1

    Only copy the positive parts from apple!

  57. Maybe that will make it thin enough by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    so Samsung's CEO will shove it up his ass and put it on vibrate.

    1. Re:Maybe that will make it thin enough by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      He had better keep his number very private then. Otherwise you would have tons of people ringing him up during the annual (or perhaps anal) shareholder meeting.

  58. Burning to get one by OneHundredAndTen · · Score: 1

    I can't wait to lay my hands on such an explosive product, from a company on fire.

  59. Bigger Batteries by alcmaeon · · Score: 1

    Bigger batteries mean bigger explosions, and that can't be a bad thing.

  60. Single Problem Determined by cstacy · · Score: 1

    Ah, so they figured out what problem on the phone was causing the battery runaways!
    No jack, no explosions.

  61. So what? All I care about is... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    if it comes with a fire extinguisher.

  62. Please Tweet at @SamsungMobile about it by exabrial · · Score: 1

    We still have a chance to stop the stupidness... I'm tweeting to @SamsungMobile with #keeptheheadphonejack and letting them know I'll be switching to LG. Maybe public embarassment is enough to stop the madness.

    1. Re:Please Tweet at @SamsungMobile about it by toonces33 · · Score: 1

      I have an S5, and I have absolutely no motivation to get anything newer. The S5 still works well, and if you wanted a new one, you can still get it.

  63. HAHA This is fucking hilarious by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    When reports came out that Apple was dropping the headphone jack, the cry babies posting on here and gnashing their teeth about Apple and how Samsung at least innovates and tries new things while Apple just copies everyone else.....HAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHA!

    Suck it you bunch of whiners!

  64. From a long time samsung supporter by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I guess its time to move on.

  65. LG V10 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The LG V10 also has a micro SD slot and probably the best camera available on a mass market phone.

    Shame about the lack of a notification LED though.

  66. I hope by fluffernutter · · Score: 1

    I hope they at least include an adapter that will allow you to plug in and listen through a cable at the same time. When I fall asleep listening to music at night I need to make sure my alarm still works in the morning. Knowing Samsung they will.

    --
    Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.
  67. waterproof SD cards by unixisc · · Score: 1

    What does waterproof have to do w/ SD cards? Those can be buried behind the battery, just like they used to be on many/most facephones. Removable battery, I understand, but no SD cards, no

    1. Re: waterproof SD cards by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The s7 is waterproof with sd slot, headphone jack and no ports cover.

      My s5 is waterproof with removable baytery on top of the above but does have a port cover (probabbly because they went with the wide microusb 3.0 port)

    2. Re:waterproof SD cards by Grishnakh · · Score: 1

      Well to be fair he wasn't specific, and was replying to my comment which mentioned both SDcard slots and removable batteries. He's probably thinking that making a phone waterproof somehow makes it impossible to have a removable battery; he may or may not have even been thinking of the SDcard slot. Of course, as I pointed out with my 3-year-old S5, it's entirely feasible to have a waterproof phone that has a removable battery. It's not even hard; the back cover on my phone comes off with a fingernail, and has an internal seal protecting the battery compartment (and SDcard slot too, and the SIM slot as well).

      The idea that having a phone be waterproof makes it impossible (or infeasible) to have *any* of these features is plainly contradicted by phones that have been on the market for years.

  68. My thoughts... by BlueCoder · · Score: 1

    It still has an onboard DAC since it still has speakers... so not saving space there. But they can use cheap DAC's and capacitors since all onboard sound is crap.

    I like USB-C but if they are going to do this then they should have two ports. One at the top of the phone AND one at the bottom.

    Since USB-C provides power, it is not as bad as people seem to want to make it. The dongles shouldn't be stiff USB keys but rather flexible foot long extension cords.

    For headphones with a true USB-C connection this means expensive headphones can choose to use $20 DAC solutions if they want to. It will also enable cheaper headphones to compensate for cheap parts through a built in equalizer.

  69. Two Models by BeemanIT · · Score: 1

    If they are smart they should make 2 models, one with the headphone jack and one without. See which one sells and determine if they should stick with it.

  70. Uncertain by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I'm uncertain if this jack off feature will increase or decrease sales, but I do believe it's getting a rise out of the media.

    CAPTCHA: "porker". I'd swear Slashdot has an AI system reading your posts and picking the CAPTCHA images.

  71. Not longer, just more by SomeoneFromBelgium · · Score: 1

    ...lethal

  72. Why do they bother? by joboss · · Score: 1

    After years my S5 is still great. Water resistant. I can use a spare battery. Battery life actually is quite good. Has fast charging. Normal phone jack. Fairly common USB charge port. There's always a cable around somewhere or someone has one. Still good CPU, RAM, etc. There's hardly any wear and nothing has broken. I carry it with me all the time. The only annoying thing really is lack of forward facing speakers. There's not really much more I could want.

    Better battery life, CPU, screen resolution, etc is good. However it shouldn't come at a cost. That is, it should come through improvements in technology. Not by sacrificing features. I really liked the keyboard on the Touch Pro 2 as well so I miss that.

    In general the only annoying thing with Samsung that I haven't been able to avoid easily is how propriety they are with firmware when you want to own a device rather than user contract.

    Everything after the S5 has taken away something that I want and many of the additions have been useless. I simply can't fathom the benefit of a curved screen. Technology isn't really progressing fast enough to warrant as many cycles as they want so they are just randomly messing with things or adding some gimmicks each generation. My S5 will probably be replaced 6 to 8 years after purchase date unless it breaks or some shocking new technology comes out. It's already half way towards that duration.

  73. Thinner phones = fat shaming! by Varcain · · Score: 1

    Oh my god, it has just occurred to me that there is a way to stop this thin phone madness! Make SJWs believe that thinner phones is some kind of concealed fat shaming and as bad to their worldview and "safe space" as thin models in posters or thin mannequins. That way SJWs will protest, tech corporations will cater to them since catering to SJWs is progressive - that way we will have normal fat... errr, thick phones again! Win - Win !

  74. That's what she said by RghtHndSd · · Score: 1

    I don't want thinner! I'm fine if it's thick and jacked up.

  75. make it thinner for more space by stealth_finger · · Score: 1

    So if you're making it thinner how does that make room for bigger battery? The jack only takes up so much space. Didn't the iphone say that too and end up having less battey power? Oh well, that's samsung off the considerations list.

    --
    Wanna buy a shirt?
    https://www.redbubble.com/people/stealthfinger/shop?asc=u
  76. So if your car doesn't have bluetooth you are SoL by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Initially I went meh, didn't care. I use a bluetooth headset with my phone, and love it. However, my older car doesn't have bluetooth and isn't worth upgrading with blue tooth. It doesn't even have the line in port. My newer car doesn't have bluetooth either, which is a problem, because the line in connection on the S7 is Crappy as all with static all the time.

  77. Useless features and upgrades by dddux · · Score: 1

    Seems like useless features and upgrades for the sake of just releasing something "new" is coming to smartphones, too. Enjoy buying a new dumbphone and wasting money for nothing every 6 months. I do it every 6 years. :)

    --
    "It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society." - Jiddu Krishnamurti
  78. Anorexic phones by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Do people really want thinner phones?

    Thinner is only better to a point. Then it is a sickness. Nobody really wants that.

    CAPTCHA: cramming (good one when talking about phones)

  79. Put more stuff in it, and leave the headphone jack by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Leave me the damned headphone jack, and as a side note, the phone doesn't need to get any thinner!

    If the components shrink, leave the phone the same size and put more stuff in it. Cool new stuff, or just a bigger battery as everything else shrinks and makes room for it.

    Gimme a bloody FM radio in it while you are add it.

  80. don't worry by ooloorie · · Score: 1

    It will still come loaded with lots of Samsung's crapware.

  81. LOL by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Consider that the 3.5mm jack is of the same vintage as audio cassettes, being a knock-off of the full-sized 7mm audio jack that does back to the 1930s. It fucking should have died 30 years ago but only persisted because of the Sony Walkman.

    Basically people who complain about this are the same people who bitched and complained about the Apple iMac switching to USB and eliminating RS232 and Centronics parallel ports. In other words - fucking looser technology adoption laggards - the last to adopt anything and the change-phobic.

  82. Public masturbation of 1673220 by shanen · · Score: 1

    ZZ

    --
    Freedom = (Meaningful - Coerced) Choice != (Speech | Beer^2), and sad sock puppets' bad mods avail them naught.
    1. Re:Public masturbation of 1673220 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Final warning, Shannon.
      Would Mr. Uramoto and Mr. Kawachiya approve of this behavior?

    2. Re:Public masturbation of 1673220 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Anyone tired of this ongoing stalky-sexual BS should let shanen know directly:

      Shannon Jacobs, Technical Editor
      IBM Japan HRS
      shanen@jp.ibm.com
      shanen@acm.org
      Tel. 046-215-4959
      Fax 046-273-7381

      Or simply complain to IBM Human Resources, seeing as most of shanen's posts are made during business hours (in Japan).

    3. Re:Public masturbation of 1673220 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Anyone tired of this ongoing stalky-sexual BS should let shanen know directly:

      Shannon Jacobs, Technical Editor
      IBM Japan HRS
      shanen@jp.ibm.com
      shanen@acm.org
      Tel. 046-215-4959
      Fax 046-273-7381

      Or simply complain to IBM Human Resources.

    4. Re:Public masturbation of 1673220 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Anyone tired of this ongoing stalky-sexual BS should let shanen know directly:

      Shannon Jacobs, Technical Editor
      IBM Japan HRS
      shanen@jp.ibm.com
      shanen@acm.org
      Tel. 046-215-4959
      Fax 046-273-7381

      Or complain to IBM Human Resources.

    5. Re:Public masturbation of 1673220 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      One wonders if shanen's friends know of this creepy side of his personality?

  83. You know, I really don't mind your trolling by fustakrakich · · Score: 1

    But I'm not sure this is the place to express your sexual illusions, which seem rather banal, as far as that thing goes. You might find more action on one of those mating sites, with pictures. At least try to keep it on topic, eh?

    --
    “He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
  84. Public masturbation of 1673220 by shanen · · Score: 1

    Z^3

    --
    Freedom = (Meaningful - Coerced) Choice != (Speech | Beer^2), and sad sock puppets' bad mods avail them naught.
  85. You are what you project by fustakrakich · · Score: 1

    ZZZ

    --
    “He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
  86. Public masturbation of 1673220 by shanen · · Score: 1

    Z^4

    --
    Freedom = (Meaningful - Coerced) Choice != (Speech | Beer^2), and sad sock puppets' bad mods avail them naught.
  87. You poor pitiful sick puppy by fustakrakich · · Score: 1

    What part of project don't you understand? Look in the mirror and see every little everything you bitch about here... so puerile... oh well, keep it coming, you cannot stop...

    --
    “He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
  88. Public masturbation of 1673220 by shanen · · Score: 1

    Z^5

    --
    Freedom = (Meaningful - Coerced) Choice != (Speech | Beer^2), and sad sock puppets' bad mods avail them naught.
  89. Sexual criminal by fustakrakich · · Score: 1

    Why do you hate your mother?

    --
    “He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
  90. Public masturbation of 1673220 by shanen · · Score: 1

    Z^6

    --
    Freedom = (Meaningful - Coerced) Choice != (Speech | Beer^2), and sad sock puppets' bad mods avail them naught.
  91. You are such a perv by fustakrakich · · Score: 1

    ZZz

    --
    “He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
  92. Public masturbation of 1673220 by shanen · · Score: 1

    Z^7

    --
    Freedom = (Meaningful - Coerced) Choice != (Speech | Beer^2), and sad sock puppets' bad mods avail them naught.
  93. Get help by fustakrakich · · Score: 1

    Check yourself into an asylum

    --
    “He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
  94. Public masturbation of 1673220 by shanen · · Score: 1

    Z^8

    --
    Freedom = (Meaningful - Coerced) Choice != (Speech | Beer^2), and sad sock puppets' bad mods avail them naught.
  95. You need to be committed by fustakrakich · · Score: 1

    What a loon!

    --
    “He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
  96. Public masturbation of 1673220 by shanen · · Score: 1

    Z^9

    --
    Freedom = (Meaningful - Coerced) Choice != (Speech | Beer^2), and sad sock puppets' bad mods avail them naught.
  97. The authorities will catch up soon by fustakrakich · · Score: 1

    You definitely warrant further investigation. Let's see what cold cases warm up again, and if you can still talk your way out after repeatedly revealing yourself as you are here. Maybe I should check out the info the AC posted...

    --
    “He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
  98. Public masturbation of 1673220 by shanen · · Score: 1

    Z^10

    --
    Freedom = (Meaningful - Coerced) Choice != (Speech | Beer^2), and sad sock puppets' bad mods avail them naught.
  99. Clang! by fustakrakich · · Score: 1

    That's the door shutting. You're going to hear that a lot soon.

    --
    “He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”