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Apple's 2018 iPhones Are Rumored To Not Include Headphone Dongle In the Box (theverge.com)

Apple will reportedly ditch the 3.5mm to Lightning port headphone dongle with this year's iPhone models. Apple notoriously dropped the headphone jack from the iPhone 7 in 2016. It has included a headphone adapter with every iPhone since to help curb public unease. The Verge reports: The research note claims that Cirrus Logic, a supplier for the dongle has "confirmed" that it won't be included in the box alongside the new iPhones. Apple has been trying to transition away from wired headphones entirely with its AirPods and lineup of wireless Beats headphones, so the move isn't entirely surprising. The dongle was always meant as a stopgap while customers adjusted to the new, headphone jack-less reality that Apple imposed on the world. Apple will almost certainly continue to sell the dongle -- which costs $9 -- separately for users who still want it. But if the report is true (which, again, remains to be seen), it's hard to imagine that customers will take the news well. The Barclays research note was first spotted by Mac Rumors.

175 of 283 comments (clear)

  1. What's so bad... by Arzaboa · · Score: 1

    .. about a company pushing 7 billion or so new headphones with the right jack? That's a whole lot of jobs.

    --
    'Forty Two' - D. Adams

  2. Headphone dongle by beep54 · · Score: 1

    Not to worry! You will be able to purchase it through the Apple Store for somewhat under $500!

  3. How I loathe iOS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    But I refuse to switch to Android and have Google vacuum every ounce of my personal data.

    I consider Apple the lesser of 2 evils.

    1. Re:How I loathe iOS by Artem+S.+Tashkinov · · Score: 3, Informative

      Step 1: find a phone compatible with LineageOS.

      Step 2: buy it and install LineageOS/MicroG.

      Now Google doesn't vacuum anything.

      Also: you can perfectly use your Android phone without any modification/alteration and have none of your data shared with Google (except APKs which Google will regularly scan for malware): do not login, disable Google backup, do not use built-in Google applications like Google Play, Google Chrome, Google Music, etc. Even if you use these apps and features, Google will not identify you since you're not logged in.

    2. Re:How I loathe iOS by AHuxley · · Score: 1

      Encrypted wireless link with extra DRM to ensure only the one owner can ever listen.

      --
      Domestic spying is now "Benign Information Gathering"
    3. Re:How I loathe iOS by fluffernutter · · Score: 1

      Personally I would rather own my phone. I don't use it for anything I don't want Google to see unless I can obfuscate it.

      --
      Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.
    4. Re:How I loathe iOS by Rockoon · · Score: 1

      Encrypted wireless link with extra DRM to ensure only the one owner can ever listen.

      This is what concerns me. When you get all the way down to it, wireless means public. It does not matter that it cannot be decrypted now if it can still be decrypted sooner or later, and pretty much nobody can be sure that none of the devices in their home arent already slurping up and transmitting every bit of bluetooth it can to a 3 letter agency, corporation, or creepy neighbor.

      --
      "His name was James Damore."
    5. Re: How I loathe iOS by Evtim · · Score: 1

      Aren't we talking about music here? Get a proper DAC device and a pair of proper phones...

      My low end audiophile set is Cowon Plenue D and Sennheiser IE80. I dare you to find a phone that can achieve such sound.
      And with all the loudness wars and compressions people have not had decent sound in their ears for a long time...even when paying 1000 bucks for it...

    6. Re: How I loathe iOS by sound+vision · · Score: 1

      Step 1 may be the hardest here, especially if you add the qualifier that it needs to be affordable.

      Something tells me I won't find anything that isn't either 10 to 15 times more expensive than my current phone, or significantly less durable... probably both at the same time, really.

    7. Re:How I loathe iOS by rainer_d · · Score: 1

      I have no problem that Google is tracking all this stuff. Apple is, too.
      What Apple does not do is take all the data and make it available so ads can be better targeted at me.

      Google has no "I don't want you to resell my data" subscription - if it had, it would probably be very expensive and open up the public's eyes on just how much money they make of the average consumer.

      Apple has its hardware. That hardware has a price. I pay it, and I'm done. If Google ever has a model similar to that, I can compare the prices.

      --
      Windows 2000 - from the guys who brought us edlin
    8. Re:How I loathe iOS by jwhyche · · Score: 2

      Apple does the exact same thing. What makes you think they are any better than google?

      --
      I read at +2. If your post doesn't reach that level I will not see or respond to it.
  4. Re:Perfect by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Are wireless headphones even safe? AFAIK, studies haven't found a link between cellphone use and brain tumors, but wireless headphones are much closer to the brain and for much longer, and probably haven't had as much study as cellphones have.
    Plus, Bluetooth audio codecs aren't even lossless.

  5. Re:Perfect by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Wireless is the way to go, let's not get stuck in the past like old folk but move forward.

    1) What is your beef with "old folk" ? I am 62 years old and I GUARANTEE I could kick your ass in hand to hand combat. And frankly I would enjoy
            doing so, because you sound like a stupid arrogant prick who would benefit from learning some respect for others.

    2) "Old" people know things they have learned based on experience. Obviously you have not yet learned that life lesson yet. With respect to electronic devices, new does NOT equate to "better". The foremost goal of a company like Apple is to SELL STUFF. And of course idiots like you gobble that shit up like it was steak. But make no mistake, it IS shit.

  6. Apple is Apple by Artem+S.+Tashkinov · · Score: 4, Insightful

    It's natural: selling such a dongle separately increases your profits.

    1. Re:Apple is Apple by ShanghaiBill · · Score: 1

      It's natural: selling such a dongle separately increases your profits.

      It is also a win for consumers, since most of iPhone buyers already have wireless headphones, and don't need another adapter.

    2. Re:Apple is Apple by AmiMoJo · · Score: 2

      I bet even more of them already have wired headphones.

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

      You mean "It's also a neutral for some iPhone buyers, since many, perhaps most of iPhone buyers, already have wireless headphones that they like and prefer to wired headphones, and only plan to listen to music via the headphones, so won't necessarily need an adapter"?

      Adding the adapter does not harm iPhone buyers who have no plans to use wired audio equipment in the slightest.

      --
      You are not alone. This is not normal. None of this is normal.
    4. Re:Apple is Apple by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      This is an utterly moronic idea. Apple sold 30 billion dollars worth of iPhones this quarter alone, which is a 20% increase since this time last year. And you think Apple would endanger that by deliberately making their iPhones worse so they could make money selling dongles? Are you completely innumerate? Exactly how much money do you think Apple stand to make from selling dongles?

      Apple are getting rid of the dongle because they don't think it's necessary any more. They aren't doing it because they think it's still necessary and want to make money selling dongles. That's utter madness that doesn't make the slightest bit of sense. The amount of money they could make by doing so is a tiny drop in the bucket compared with the iPhone market, they aren't going to trade iPhone sales for dongle sales.

    5. Re:Apple is Apple by fluffernutter · · Score: 2

      How does having a jack on a phone prevent people from using Bluetooth?

      --
      Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.
    6. Re: Apple is Apple by Green+Mountain+Bot · · Score: 1

      Sure, when Apple does it in their stores, it's praised as a courageous way to increase profits. But when I try to sell dongle in the alley behind the bar, the DA says I'm committing an indecent act.

  7. Re: Perfect by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Thatâ(TM)s my concern too. The product is phantastic but i need to see a proper study that demonstrates safety to feel comfortable wearing them.

  8. Meaning... by hcs_$reboot · · Score: 1

    "You had 2 years to adapt and purchase new bluetooth equipment - you have to catch up!".

    --
    Slashdot, fix the reply notifications... You won't get away with it...
  9. Still to use mine by seoras · · Score: 3, Informative

    I've had my iPhone X almost year now and I've not used the dongle yet.
    I do own the Air Pods which are excellent for all my music and phone call needs.
    I will use the dongle next month though when I fly home to the UK from NZ.
    My trusty Etymotic (.com) in ear plugs need a jack.
    I've been using them 20 years and they are superb. I keep the dongle in the Etymotic's pouch.
    As long as there's the option of a dongle I'm happy.

    1. Re:Still to use mine by AmiMoJo · · Score: 1

      Your wireless headphones won't last 20 years. The non replaceable battery will become useless in a few years and of course inductive charging means you can't simply plug the charger in while you wear them.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    2. Re:Still to use mine by seoras · · Score: 1

      Yes, I expect them to not last. I also expect the wireless tech to get even better so replacing them will be desirable at some point.
      If I get 3 or 4 years I'll be happy.
      I've never worn out the battery on them yet. They last for hours.
      The only real gotcha is they are easily lost.
      Luckily I seem to be born with an ear shape that holds them very well.
      I don't fly often so even though I've had the Etymotic's 20 years I've probably only used them a few dozen times.

    3. Re:Still to use mine by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      I've had my iPhone X almost year now and I've not used the dongle yet.

      Cool story. I don't have an iPhone but if I did I would use the dongle daily, like I do on my Galaxy.

      I've tried your fancy airpods. Combining something without a cord with something that falls out of ears, and sound like garbage isn't a decent alternative. Plus I guarantee they will be either lost, broken, or have a dead battery while you still have your Etymotics (the things I plug in my Galaxy daily).

    4. Re:Still to use mine by Anubis+IV · · Score: 2

      As someone who has dabbled in Bluetooth headphones, this is exactly the reason I’ve never purchased a high-end Bluetooth set, yet have had several decent wired ones over the years. Why would I pay more for an otherwise-identical model that has an expiration date, thanks to its use of non-replaceable batteries? I don’t care as much on electronics that are unlikely to last long enough for the battery to become a concern, but good headphones can last decades, so those batteries need to be replaceable.

    5. Re: Still to use mine by fluffernutter · · Score: 1

      Bluetooth basically compresses to MP3 during transmission. You're only ever going to get MP3 quality, even if your source is an original recording. If you buy all the Apple shiny shiny I believe you get AAC which is better, but if I use it in my truck I might as well be playing MP3. Furthermore, Bluetooth was designed for telephone calls and not music. There is no standard protocol (Sony has their own audio codec over Bluetooth) so you are locked into the vendor if you want top quality. my second google result on "Bluetooth audio quality" explains it.

      --
      Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.
    6. Re:Still to use mine by seoras · · Score: 1

      Aww, did I upset you by saying I use and like an Apple product and that it works well?
      Poor wee, anonymous coward, you. :)
      "tens of minutes" was the bit that had me laughing out loud. Thanks for the entertainment!

    7. Re: Still to use mine by Khyber · · Score: 1

      "Please explain this or link to an article explaining "Bluetooth audio compression""

      Bluetooth degrades the transmission format to something akin to MP3. You can clearly hear this the second you introduce any FX like pitch shifting in your audio player. The music goes from fairly smooth to UTTER SHIT in a split second.

      I'm an audio engineer by hobby, with over 10 years in handling digital pitch-shifting FX (since the SB Live! card came out, actually.) Get on my level or shut the fuck up, child.

      --
      Still waiting on Serviscope_minor to wake up to fucking reality and realize that Jessica Price isn't going to fuck him.
    8. Re: Still to use mine by Khyber · · Score: 1

      "but if I use it in my truck I might as well be playing MP3"

      Well, let's be honest. Most car audio systems are utter garbage in the first place. You'd be lucky to get MP3 quality (even at 128kbit) over the wires after decoding and decompression.

      --
      Still waiting on Serviscope_minor to wake up to fucking reality and realize that Jessica Price isn't going to fuck him.
    9. Re: Still to use mine by fluffernutter · · Score: 1

      Yet I bought a premium vehicle, part of that being the sound system.. and then getting stuck with bluetooth sucks because it kills everything.

      --
      Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.
  10. Re:Perfect by Time_Ngler · · Score: 1, Informative

    I wouldn't be worried. First, they are receivers, not transmitters. Second, they have to communicate all of 3 feet. That's quite a difference from a cell phone that has to transmit to a cell tower miles away.

  11. I don't know that apple consumers care by batkiwi · · Score: 1

    My wife and I are android people. We trade off upgrade years.
    I got the Pixel 1.
    She got the Pixel 2, no headphone jack. It took her 6 months to notice, because we haven't owned non-bluetooth headphones in years, apart from some "studio" ones I use when doing music and never go near a phone anyways (and have a 1/4" jack).

  12. You mean to tell me... by gaiageek · · Score: 1

    ... the 2017 iPhone actually included a free accessory? Holy shit, that IS amazing news.

    1. Re:You mean to tell me... by Iwastheone · · Score: 1

      I've owned Koss over ear headphones for over 29 years. No tiny batteries that wear out within a year, no connection problems with bluetooth (which is an attack vector, look up "bluetooth hacks".). Call me an old fart, GetOffMyLawn type of guy, I stick with what works. Screw these companies who keep trying to sell us the new tech that needs to be replaced every year or so. Easy to lose earbuds, my Koss headphones sound great and I always know where they are. So there.

    2. Re:You mean to tell me... by RandomFactor · · Score: 1

      If you aren't buying new things regularly, you are just a support expense.

      --
      --- Mercutio was right.
    3. Re:You mean to tell me... by Spamalope · · Score: 1

      Think different, think disposable quality (same high price though).

      Be sure to have some eco friendly marketing though!

      Doesn't anyone get quality headphones that sound great and last anymore? You know you can do better than beats right?

  13. Re:Perfect by Time_Ngler · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Charge my phone, charge my watch, and now my headphones, too? That's FOUR things to keep track of how much charge they have! How could I ever be expected to remember to do that, let alone want to?

    Also, what about forgetting they're in and going for a swim, or a shower? What about bumping into someone or tripping down the stairs and losing them forever?

    What if I want headphones that have noise cancellation, or want earbud types? How much do I want to spend on specialized headphones that also have bluetooth machinery inside? With wired sets you could just plug them in and they were guaranteed to work. Now, what if the bluetooth implementations between the phone and the special headphones I got are incompatible?

    They suck!

  14. Watch out guys... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    ...we're dealing with a bad ass over here.

    1. Re: Watch out guys... by that+this+is+not+und · · Score: 1

      It's almost like there's a natural attraction of certain personality types to forums like this one.

    2. Re: Watch out guys... by datavirtue · · Score: 1

      Do you want to get hit by an old keyboard? No? Then watch your fucking mouth!

      --
      I object to power without constructive purpose. --Spock
  15. Re:Perfect by fluffernutter · · Score: 2

    Give me wireless headphones with a battery that doesn't degrade faster than the electronics in the headphone and I would agree with you. I'm no environmental crusader, but it seems obvious that we should not be buying disposable electronics.

    --
    Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.
  16. Re:Perfect by fluffernutter · · Score: 1

    Live for your Apple product, HUMAN!

    --
    Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.
  17. Re:Perfect by blindseer · · Score: 3, Funny

    Are wireless headphones even safe?

    Compared to the threat of getting a headphone cord wrapped around your neck? Yes, wireless headphones are safe.

    --
    I am armed because I am free. I am free because I am armed.
  18. They will have to include headphones. by xxxLCxxx · · Score: 1

    They will have to include headphones though, as it is becoming mandatory in an increasing number of countries due to harmful radiation.
    This presentation explains this rather well:
    "The truth about mobile phone and wireless radiation" -- Dr Devra Davis

    Likely to get bombed by spammers/trolls. =>

  19. Re:But still comes with wired headphones by blindseer · · Score: 1

    But there'll still be the lightning EarPods in the box. Seems like a weird thing to omit from the article.

    Yes, weird.

    Or was is deliberately trying to be sensationalist, I wonder?

    I don't wonder at all.

    --
    I am armed because I am free. I am free because I am armed.
  20. What about FM Radio? by TheRealQuestor · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Wasn't there a thing a while back about handset makers are required to unlock the fm radio on these things and without the wired headphones what are they going to use for an antenna now?

    1. Re:What about FM Radio? by Duds · · Score: 1

      They're also required to use Micro USB charging in the EU and Apple apparently are allowed to skirt that by selling an adapter.

    2. Re:What about FM Radio? by Iwastheone · · Score: 1

      My moto e4 has a radio app that works, but not with earbuds. Not a problem since I use wired headphones that serves as an antenna wire. I do weep for the future generations who are getting trained to accept the new way of paying extra for everything.

    3. Re:What about FM Radio? by TheRealQuestor · · Score: 2

      Apple's new logo... Paying more and getting less since 1976....The Apple Way...

    4. Re:What about FM Radio? by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      No problem, just unlock the FM functionality. No one said you had to actually be able to tune in a station with it.

    5. Re:What about FM Radio? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Thanks for the tip.

  21. Re:Perfect by Artem+S.+Tashkinov · · Score: 2

    BlueTooth maximum power: 100mW for class 1 devices (e.g. laptops) and just 2.5mW for most common class 2 devices (e.g. cell phones and BT headphones).

    CellPhones maximum RF transmit power: 2W (when reception is good it should be less than that).

    IOW, the average BT RF power is three orders of magnitude lower than of the cellphone under non-optimal conditions.

  22. Headphone snob here... by cormandy · · Score: 2

    Although I havenâ(TM)t tried Beats, I am invested in a pair of Shure SE535s which I love, and which have the 3.5mm connector and need a reasonable amount of ampification to sound great. Sorry apple, but I very much miss the old headphone jack... May I add that as I have no choice but to use the lightening to 3.5mm analogue converter dongle, has anyone performed a study on the quality of audio coming out of it?

    1. Re:Headphone snob here... by Tough+Love · · Score: 2

      Welcome to Android :)

      --
      When all you have is a hammer, every problem starts to look like a thumb.
    2. Re:Headphone snob here... by LynnwoodRooster · · Score: 2

      The audio coming out of the Lightning adapter will always be the same. Apple mandates than ANY analog audio adapter for the Lightning connector must use the Lightning Audio Module (LAM), that is designed and built and sourced only from Apple. You must also include the iAP2 chip, and the appropriate licensing. And then it must be built at only an Apple-approved manufacturer. Meaning - you're always going to have the same audio quality AND the same manufacturing quality (and the ~$13 minimum price paid for the LAM, iAP2, and licensing - that's the "Apple Tax" for making a wired headphone adapter for the Lightning port).

      The way around it is to use a Lightning camera adapter, that turns the Lightning port into a "generic" USB port. THEN you can use external USB DACs like those from Audioquest (the Dragonfly red is pretty sweet). Of course, now instead of just a dongle, you are carrying a dongle AND a DAC. But hey - it's Apple.

      If you want a really good audio platform, consider the LG V30. That thing sounds - and measures - phenomenally when you turn on the built-in quad DACs and high-current output amplifier. As good as most $1000 digital audio players. And it will play all high res formats as well as MQA - unlike any iOS device.

      --
      Browsing at +1 - no ACs, I ignore their posts. So refreshing!
    3. Re:Headphone snob here... by johnlenin1 · · Score: 1

      I've been quite happy with my Shure Bluetooth adapter. It would do the trick for your SE535s.

  23. Re: Perfect by ShanghaiBill · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Thatâ(TM)s my concern too.

    Sigh. We really need better science education. Or are this many people just failing to absorb basic facts and thinking skills?

  24. Bluetooth is pretty good by cerberusss · · Score: 1

    Around the iPhone 4, I found out that my earbuds were often stuttering and failing due to the cable strands breaking. I switched to Bluetooth. It hasn't been flawless to be sure, but the comfort of cordless/wireless sound is so awesome that I also want it everywhere else.

    To be sure, I'd call it pretty good but not great. For instance, while there's plenty of choice among earbuds, I'm still looking for a bluetooth version of the Sennheiser HD 558. The ear cups are easily the biggest (inside diameter 2.75" or 7 cm) and I haven't found a $100 replacement of those.

    Another problem is that all this Bluetooth stuff requires micro-USB. While great at its time, I now really want USB-C to charge.

    --
    8 of 13 people found this answer helpful. Did you?
    1. Re:Bluetooth is pretty good by Static · · Score: 1

      There are Bluetooth dongles for receiving audio and using your existing headphones. They have been aiming at people with high-end headphones, so their DACs are really good. But you can use whatever you like with them. An EarStudio is the one I use, but there are others.

    2. Re:Bluetooth is pretty good by hcs_$reboot · · Score: 1

      8 of 14 people found this answer helpful.
      Jack connected headphones render usually better than BT.
      BT device is one more thing to charge / power.
      Cannot charge an iPhone while the lightning 2 jack is used.
      Tl;dr give us back the jack.

      --
      Slashdot, fix the reply notifications... You won't get away with it...
  25. Can they get rid of the charger next? by blindseer · · Score: 1

    Does anyone reading this not have a pile of USB chargers by now? I know I do. I don't need another in the box with the phone. If I do need a charger then I'd like a choice between getting the tiny 5 watt charger or the bigger 30 watt charger.

    Maybe even leave out the painfully short 1 meter cable, I'd prefer the 2 meter cable instead. I'd buy a 3 meter cable if I could find one. I'd also like the choice between USB-A and USB-C instead of Apple making that choice for me.

    I know that with most any new electronic device I'll need to buy accessories. This may be because the accessories that come with are the wrong size/length/shape, have the wrong connector, or simply be not included. I plan for that and make that part of my budget for the device.

    I bought a new display a few months ago, and it came with a VGA cable in the box. Thanks for nothing, I'll just toss that cable in a box with the rest of the VGA cables I'll be taking to the recycling center. What a waste. Apple has to know that at some point people will have moved on from the 1/8 inch connector. Maybe they picked that time too soon. Better than being too late and seeing cables and adapters ending up being tossed out unused.

    --
    I am armed because I am free. I am free because I am armed.
    1. Re:Can they get rid of the charger next? by Tough+Love · · Score: 1

      Does anyone reading this not have a pile of USB chargers by now? I know I do. I don't need another in the box with the phone.

      Speak for yourself. I find that each phone generation wants a beefier charger. More battery capacity, faster charging. Give me a charger that's tailored to the phone, thanks. Switching power supply technology keeps improving, so each USB charger generation ends up about the same size, and a bit more efficient, nice.

      Apple can keep removing things that people need and want, I don't care, in fact it's amusing. I get my electronics from somebody else.

      --
      When all you have is a hammer, every problem starts to look like a thumb.
    2. Re:Can they get rid of the charger next? by JaredOfEuropa · · Score: 1

      I for one am quite happy with my pile of USB chargers. Because before those were the norm, every phone would come with its own proprietary charger, which often weren't interchangable between different phones even from the same brand. Now, if a charger breaks (it happens), just get another from the pile. And they are useful for powering other stuff like Pi's.

      --
      If construction was anything like programming, an incorrectly fitted lock would bring down the entire building...
    3. Re:Can they get rid of the charger next? by fluffernutter · · Score: 1

      For one thing, Apple repeatedly says you are on your own if you don't use the correct Apple approved accessory. For another thing, how many powerbars full of USB chargers and I supposed to have?

      --
      Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.
    4. Re:Can they get rid of the charger next? by fluffernutter · · Score: 1

      I'm guessing you don't own an iPhone, with it's non-interchangable lightning port (even with a newer macbook).

      --
      Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.
    5. Re:Can they get rid of the charger next? by JaredOfEuropa · · Score: 1

      I do own an iPhone. And use Apple chargers to power other USB stuff, or charge the phone from a non Apple charger using the lightning cable. You still need the special cable but the chargers are pretty much interchangable.

      --
      If construction was anything like programming, an incorrectly fitted lock would bring down the entire building...
    6. Re:Can they get rid of the charger next? by freeze128 · · Score: 2

      I volunteer at a non-profit that recycles and repurposes electronics and computers. Your unneeded VGA cable is a great help for us. Sometimes we get monitors with NO cables, and we can make use of your VGA cable. Even if we cannot, we can recycle it for it's base components (Copper). If you decide not to donate your cables to a recycler, they can often be given to friends and family members who can make use of them. There is really no need to just throw it in the trash.

    7. Re:Can they get rid of the charger next? by fluffernutter · · Score: 1

      Ok well nothing like compromising on your beliefs by supporting a company that half-asses it.

      --
      Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.
  26. Got to get more money per follower by Tough+Love · · Score: 1

    Apple has to get more money per follower, it's the only way to hold the stock up. Come on, don't be stingy, Apple needs your retirement savings more than you do! What are you, selfish?

    --
    When all you have is a hammer, every problem starts to look like a thumb.
  27. Re: Perfect by ShanghaiBill · · Score: 1

    Hey now, the past had all the great gadgetry that was built to last

    Indeed. There are Model-T Fords more than a century old, but you never see 100 year old Teslas.

    Survivorship Bias

  28. Re:More courage! by Tough+Love · · Score: 1

    Ah, that's what Tim Cook meant, thanks for clarifying, he just wants to give you his "courage".

    --
    When all you have is a hammer, every problem starts to look like a thumb.
  29. Re:Perfect by Pseudonym · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Also, what about forgetting they're in and going for a swim, or a shower? What about bumping into someone or tripping down the stairs and losing them forever?

    I always figure that anyone who think wireless peripherals are a good idea have no kids. Kids are pretty good at looking after the phone itself, but peripherals should be considered disposable.

    I lost count how many times earbuds have been lost or destroyed by various means; death by laundry cycle is a very common one. I'd be upset about this if they cost more than $10 to replace.

    --
    sub f{($f)=@_;print"$f(q{$f});";}f(q{sub f{($f)=@_;print"$f(q{$f});";}f});
  30. Re:Perfect by Time_Ngler · · Score: 1

    > These are First World problems, people! Get a grip and maybe even marvel at all the technology that's available to you now.

    Reading people's complaints about First World problems is also a First World problem. So I suggest you get a grip, sir!

  31. Re:they cost 9 bucks now.. by Tough+Love · · Score: 1

    I'm so pleased with my Moto G6+, great value. I can see getting their flagship next cycle. I don't need to mention whether this one has a 3.5mm jack, right?

    --
    When all you have is a hammer, every problem starts to look like a thumb.
  32. Missing the plug by DrYak · · Score: 2

    Exact reverse thing noticed here.

    I and most of my friends own good speaker sets in our home.

    Up until recently, playing music (e.g.: at a party) basically meant plugging the cable into the jack of whatever device (the hosts' laptop, the smartphone of whomever has a nicr playlist the want to share).

    Now suddenly, there is a bunch of people who simply cannot plug their music. Those with the "courageous" iPhones, or with the Chinese copycats that decided to follow the trend without muxh thinking.

    (Okay, for some idiots with weird musical taste, you're actually happy that they can't subject their music to all the innocent bystanders)

    Now its fumbling around to find the adequate dongle (Lightning, USB-C) to plug into (and hope the device still has enough battery).
    Or trying to find which service to use to share the music (oh, you're using Spotify? But I have all my playlist on Apple music / ad youtube playlists).
    Or you need to buy a cheap BT receiver module, except you don't want to pay 500â for it, so you get it from aliexpress and now need to hope that it will work as intended.
    Or you need to buy a new set of speakers with built in Bluetooth receiver, that will cost more and be less durable and shittier than the one you have.

    (and then hope that the Bluetooth connection will work as intended).

    --
    "Sufficiently advanced satire is indistinguishable from reality." - [Tips: 1DrYakQDKCQ6y52z6QbnkxHXAocMZJE61o ]
    1. Re: Missing the plug by Artem+S.+Tashkinov · · Score: 1

      Their phones are great (in terms of bang for the buck).

      Their OS (MIUI) is an abomination and iOS wannabe.

      Their MIUI QA is horrible. Regular critical bugs. Bugs which remain for months. Regressions which totally disable certain functions of your phone.

    2. Re:Missing the plug by Ol+Olsoc · · Score: 1

      Now suddenly, there is a bunch of people who simply cannot plug their music. Those with the "courageous" iPhones, or with the Chinese copycats that decided to follow the trend without muxh thinking.

      Explain. I could plug into my iphone directly. If I wanted to.

      Now its fumbling around to find the adequate dongle (Lightning, USB-C) to plug into (and hope the device still has enough battery).

      So you are the person in all of those infomercials that can't do anything, and needs some hot new product.

      But perhaps I am being cruel. In professional and high end audio, where what y'all call "Dongles" are actualy adapters, said adapter is roughly as troublesome as putting socks on in the morning.

      My compatriots and I have plastic divider boxes with all manner of adapters.

      tl;dr for that paragraph - First order first world problem.

      Or trying to find which service o use to share the music (oh, you're using Spotify? But I have all my playlist on Apple music / ad youtube playlists).

      Um, wouldn't the music source be figured out by the device that is playing the music?

      Or you need to buy a cheap BT receiver module, except you don't want to pay 500â for it, so you get it from aliexpress and now need to hope that it will work as intended.

      SRSLY? Dude, your bridge too far list is beginning to sound ridiculous.

      Or you need to buy a new set of speakers with built in Bluetooth receiver, that will cost more and be less durable and shittier than the one you have.

      (and then hope that the Bluetooth connection will work as intended).

      Um... yeah, right.

      I have a couple of BT receiver/speakers, one for the wife and one for me. They were mid-range, not the cheapest, but not the most expensive by far.

      Pairing is ridiculously easy. My wife, who is one of the least technically proficient people I know, easily pairs hers with her laptop, smartphone, or tablet, depending on what she wants to use at the moment. Takes maybe 5 seconds. they even sound okay. Nothing special, but they aren't designed for sound studio use.

      But it is too hard for you?

      Reading what you write, I suspect that you are forming your opinions based on some of the cheapest stuff around, as well as listening to people who simply hate anything new and their righteous hatred justifies simply making shit up.

      If you don't want an iphone - don't get one. If you want to use the 5 dollar headset from Big Lots, or a studio headset, by all means do - warning, you'll need an adapter - or dongle as you call them for most studio quality headphones.

      But your infomercial style list is simply laughable - stick to real facts, not bizzare problems like where the music provider comes from.

      --
      The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.
  33. Re: Perfect by PolygamousRanchKid+ · · Score: 1

    There are Model-T Fords more than a century old, but you never see 100 year old Teslas.

    . . . I'm sure Rei has one, and will prove you wrong . . .

    --
    Schroedinger's Brexit: The UK is both in and out of the EU at the same time!
  34. Re:Perfect by Static · · Score: 1

    Can't address the first items, but there are Bluetooth dongles for receiving audio that you can plug in whatever headphones you like. They tend to target people with high-end headphones and as such have very good DACs of their own, but you can use them however you like. Even with cheap off-brand earbuds.

  35. if this trend continues.. by sheramil · · Score: 1

    There will come an iphone with no physical ports, no buttons, no screen... just an off-beige slab of plastic that you buy, and charge, which tracks your movements. The perfect product.

    1. Re:if this trend continues.. by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      There will come an iphone with no physical ports, no buttons, no screen... just an off-beige slab of plastic that you buy, and charge, which tracks your movements. The perfect product.

      You jest, but if they actually took away all the holes (though not the screen,) that might actually be justification for not having a headphone port. Actually removing all of the ports would make it easier to make a sealed device. This half-assed removal of some ports that other vendors have figured out how to include on their thin phones is the part that makes no goddamned sense.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
  36. And on aircraft, Apple? by chrism238 · · Score: 1

    Is Apple aware that many airlines won't let you use wireless headphones and devices during flight? Or does Apple just wish us to be "courageous"?

    1. Re:And on aircraft, Apple? by MikeMo · · Score: 1

      Remember that the phones will still include a set of Lightning ear buds.

  37. Re: Perfect by Joce640k · · Score: 2

    You meant 'courageous', surely.

    --
    No sig today...
  38. Re: More courage! by Tough+Love · · Score: 1

    triggered?

    --
    When all you have is a hammer, every problem starts to look like a thumb.
  39. Re:Perfect by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    At a retail price of US $1,024.50 you'd think they'd include the dongle.
    But wait, there's more - the dongle is DCMA protected and lists for US $39.95.

    CAP === 'combers'

  40. Wireless headphones haven't matured yet. by Qbertino · · Score: 1

    I tried the wireless thing with some decent mid-range Bluetooth noise cancelling headphones for 170 Euros. It was a drag. Flaky connections breaking down after 30 minutes, increased charging hell with smartphone, tablet, notebook and then headset, sub par Bluetooth connectivity on Linux and Chromebooks, etc.

    I replaced the mobile wireless attempt with a regular wired headset without noise cancelling. It's a small step back again put it's feasible for everyday usage opposite wireless. At least in my experience. Maybe in 10 years I'll try it again.

    Bottom line: Wireless audio isn't there yet. For professional mics maybe, but not for mobile everyday devices. We probably need a more stable standard than Bluetooth and better signal and power efficiency until this concept is usable.

    --
    We suffer more in our imagination than in reality. - Seneca
    1. Re:Wireless headphones haven't matured yet. by Daralantan · · Score: 1

      Sounds like something was wrong with the headphones or Bluetooth for it to be that bad. I use my headphones every time I go to the gym, and listen to them for 55-75 minutes or so. I'm often leaving the phone near the squat rack and walking 20ish feet away to the water fountain or doing loaded carries walking across the whole gym and rarely ever have connection issues unless I go a long ways and go around a corner.

      That being said I did also get water damage to my phone, and rather than replace it right away I used it for 3-4 more weeks..... And one of the issues it had was Bluetooth no longer worked beyond 5-7 feet very well. But as soon as I got a new phone it was fine. Granted, I do have a 1 second or so delay like in the comment below this one... just not issues with connection breaking.

  41. IT Crowd meets John Wick by geekmux · · Score: 2

    Are wireless headphones even safe?

    Compared to the threat of getting a headphone cord wrapped around your neck? Yes, wireless headphones are safe.

    The "threat" of strangulation by headphone has me visualizing a mash-up between IT Crowd and John Wick for some reason.

    I mean c'mon, strangling evil hipsters by their old-fashioned cords would be one hell of a signature move for a super-nerd assassin...

  42. Re:Perfect by Paradise+Pete · · Score: 1

    wireless headphones are much closer to the brain and for much longer

    They don't do a lot of transmitting, do they? Certainly nothing compared to cell phones.

  43. Re:But still comes with wired headphones by fluffernutter · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Great.. a set of headphones that doesn't work with anything but one device.

    --
    Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.
  44. Re: Perfect by q_e_t · · Score: 1

    I believe bluetooth receivers that can then transmit to a car aux have been invented, on the basis that I have one. And one for home audio connection.

  45. Audio lag by ruddk · · Score: 1

    So far, the Bluetooth headset I have used with the iPhone have had the most terrible latency. The audio sometimes is a full second behind. A work I got a Plantronics noise canceling set and they are unusable while watching YouTube videos using Bluetooth. I had another pair from a different manufacturer and it was equally bad.
    The same goes for the Bluetooth connection to my car, a Panasonic head unit.
    Isn’t there someone in the protocol to counter the lag? I thought I read something about that somewhere.

    1. Re:Audio lag by hcs_$reboot · · Score: 1

      Jobs focused on quality. Cook focuses on margin. Cannot have both.

      --
      Slashdot, fix the reply notifications... You won't get away with it...
    2. Re:Audio lag by yabos · · Score: 1

      I think it's your head phones that cause the lag. In my old car I had a cheap $30 bluetooth AUX adapter and when I played music or whatever in my car there was no lag. With the exact same phone but in my "new"(2010) car(Mazda), there's a delay of a couple seconds now. Same phone, different car. I think the car/headphones have some buffer or something that causes the delay. My same phone works fine with some cheap bluetooth earbuds as well. I watch videos no problem. So something with the bluetooth implementations in some devices seems to cause delays sometimes.

    3. Re:Audio lag by LynnwoodRooster · · Score: 1

      Bluetooth audio does not have a specification limit for latency, and it's quite common to have 200+ msec of latency in a Bluetooth audio stream. There is a solution - AptX LL (Low Latency) which is around 20 msec. Of course, that requires the use of a CSR/Qualcomm Bluetooth chip - and iOS does not support those (interestingly enough, though, macOS does support them).

      You could also use an Avnera stack, which is used in pretty much all gaming headphones and lots of TVs (like Vizio, Samsung, LG) that is built for Now, for those will will counter "Airpods! W1! Apple! Teh Betterz!", here's some interesting data on existing Bluetooth latency with a selection of headphones, and here's the same guy running the same test with the Airpods - and the latency is even worse (upwards of 300 msec).

      --
      Browsing at +1 - no ACs, I ignore their posts. So refreshing!
    4. Re:Audio lag by BronsCon · · Score: 1

      You can, Jobs certainly did, it's just that Cook is only focusing on margin. That's short-term thinking and, eventually, people will realize the brand is nothing more than a name now. It won't kill Apple, but it will hurt them the same way it hurt Sony, and countless other before them.

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

      Lucky. It's 3 seconds in the 2012 models.

      --
      APK quotes people (including myself) without context and should not be trusted. Just thought you should know.
    6. Re:Audio lag by Known+Nutter · · Score: 1

      Jobs focused on quality. Cook focuses on margin. Cannot have both.

      Yes you can.

      Quality, budget, schedule. Pick two.

      --
      Beware of the Leopard.
    7. Re: Audio lag by that+this+is+not+und · · Score: 1

      We had a dork intern running around at work with an earpiece a decade ago. He was 'with it' and we were old farts. He, however, was the dork with the earpiece.

  46. Re: Perfect by that+this+is+not+und · · Score: 3, Insightful

    There is a handshake. Part of the time they are transmitting.

  47. Re:Perfect by Iwastheone · · Score: 1, Offtopic
    (Are wireless headphones even safe?) No, for security they are not. They were never meant to be secure by design from the get go.

    Security company Armis has found a collection of eight exploits, collectively called BlueBorne, that can allow an attacker access to your phone without touching it. The attack can allow access to computers and phones, as well as IoT devices.

    “Armis believes many more vulnerabilities await discovery in the various platforms using Bluetooth. These vulnerabilities are fully operational, and can be successfully exploited, as demonstrated in our research. The BlueBorne attack vector can be used to conduct a large range of offenses, including remote code execution as well as Man-in-The-Middle attacks.

    “BlueBorne affects pretty much every device we use. Turns that Bluetooth into a rotten black one. Don’t be surprised if you have to go see your security dentist on this one,” said Ralph Echemendia, CEO of Seguru.

    As you can see from this video, the vector allows the hacker to identify a device, connect to it via Bluetooth, and then begin controlling the screen and apps. It’s not completely secretive, however, because in activating the exploits you “wake up” the device.

    The complex vector begins by finding a device to hack. This includes forcing the device to give up information about itself and then, ultimately, release keys and passwords “in an attack that very much resembles heartbleed,” the exploit that forced many web servers to display passwords and other keys remotely.

    The next step is a set of code executions that allows for full control of the device. “This vulnerability resides in the Bluetooth Network Encapsulation Protocol (BNEP) service, which enables internet sharing over a Bluetooth connection (tethering). Due to a flaw in the BNEP service, a hacker can trigger a surgical memory corruption, which is easy to exploit and enables him to run code on the device, effectively granting him complete control,” write the researchers.

    Finally, when the hacker has access they are able to begin streaming data from the device in a “man-in-the-middle” attack. “The vulnerability resides in the PAN profile of the Bluetooth stack, and enables the attacker to create a malicious network interface on the victim’s device, re-configure IP routing and force the device to transmit all communication through the malicious network interface. This attack does not require any user interaction, authentication or pairing, making it practically invisible.”

    Windows and iOS phones are protected and Google users are receiving a patch today. Other devices running older versions of Android and Linux could be vulnerable.

    How do you stay safe? Keep all of your devices updated regularly and be wary of older IoT devices. In most cases the problems associated with BlueBorne vectors should be patched by major players in the electronics space but less popular devices could still be vulnerable to attack.

    “New solutions are needed to address the new airborne attack vector, especially those that make air gapping irrelevant. Additionally, there will need to be more attention and research as new protocols are using for consumers and businesses alike. With the large number of desktop, mobile, and IoT devices only increasing, it is critical we can ensure these types of vulnerabilities are not exploited,” wrote Armis.

    https://techcrunch.com/2017/09...

  48. That's nothing... by LordHighExecutioner · · Score: 1

    ...years ago I ordered an Iphone from a chinese reseller, and in the box there was just the earphone.

    1. Re:That's nothing... by hcs_$reboot · · Score: 1

      You are a lucky buyer.

      --
      Slashdot, fix the reply notifications... You won't get away with it...
  49. Acceptance by StormReaver · · Score: 2, Insightful

    it's hard to imagine that customers will take the news well.

    Seriously!? Has the writer not paid attention to the Apple customer profile for the last 20 years? Not only will Apple customers take the abuse well, they will drop their pants, bend over, and ask to be anally abused with 1 grit sandpaper. Then they will kindly ask Apple to include rougher sandpaper (and charge an extra $80 for it), because 1 grit isn't edgy enough.

    1. Re:Acceptance by hcs_$reboot · · Score: 1

      I would reduce the time span to 6 years, not 20, though.

      --
      Slashdot, fix the reply notifications... You won't get away with it...
    2. Re:Acceptance by daftna · · Score: 2

      I was a loyal Apple user since the 80's. Counter to what was said a lot here in the earlier age of OS X it was basically a really good GUI over FreeBSD and was really stable and easy for me to use. It "Just worked". However, I have completely lost faith in the Apple brand over the last few years. They have moved from making good products to just making good profits. All of my computers and devices seem to arbitrarily slow down. You can't upgrade one piece of the software without upgrading the whole thing which then breaks your old hardware and you have to buy the new, crappier hardware with the same frickin specs as the old hardware. I'd rather just buy the new software that should obviously work on my slightly-older hardware. Their biggest lock-in is iMessage but hopefully one of my computers can continue to sync my phone as I move to Linux (still distro shopping). I haven't upgraded my phone OS in years because I see my friends dealing with more and more issues. It's unfortunate because the software used to be the big selling point. It was so stable and both easy to use and also easy to tweak. The other day I went to ftp an image to a webserver (that doesn't have SFTP enabled) and I learned that apple had removed ftp for 'security reasons'. this is OUTGOING ftp .. not incoming!! and who, that knows how to use the command line, doesn't know the security risk already? I use computers professionally and they seem to be making shiny toys that aren't really meant to do anything except grocery lists and checking the stock market. If they wanted graphic designers they wouldn't dump FTP. If they wanted music professionals they wouldn't make compatibility such a chore. Pro tools is my "killer app" and it runs better on Windows now. I loved your products for 30 years, Apple, but you betrayed me by wasting my time in all the preventable troubleshooting I've had to endure in the past 5 years.

    3. Re:Acceptance by PPH · · Score: 1

      Really? People still visit Karl Marx's tomb*.

      *You have to pay to visit it.

      --
      Have gnu, will travel.
    4. Re:Acceptance by chispito · · Score: 1

      For now maybe. With Jobs gone it's only a matter of time before the masses abandon Apple. Jobs built huge momentum though so it will take time to come back and bite them.

      Phasing out the 3.5mm jack is the most Jobsian move Apple have made since his passing.

      --
      The Daddy casts sleep on the Baby. The Baby resists!
    5. Re: Acceptance by that+this+is+not+und · · Score: 1

      It doesn't sound like you have used any Android devices at all. What qualifies you to have such a strong position about Android?

    6. Re:Acceptance by Waccoon · · Score: 1

      Not that it's my business what people like and how they choose to spend their money... but I get a kick out of all the people who bitch about the new MacBooks being garbage compared to the old ones, but they still run out to dealers to buy them by the truckload.

  50. Re: Perfect by Joce640k · · Score: 1

    Sigh. You really need to watch more George Carlin.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

    --
    No sig today...
  51. Re:Perfect by Joce640k · · Score: 1

    It's not the power, it's the wavelength.

    --
    No sig today...
  52. Re:Perfect by Ol+Olsoc · · Score: 1

    Charge my phone, charge my watch, and now my headphones, too? That's FOUR things to keep track of how much charge they have!

    Ermagherd! Ferst wherld Preerblerms!

    Jeebuz, then just don't buy an Apple, and don't buy wireless earbuds for an Android while you are at it.

    If the rumor is true - and we have the Apple haters hoping beyond hope that it is true, than its pretty likely that Apple found out that the adapter was pretty much unused.

    I used mine exactly once, just to try it out. Now it sits in the desk drawer.

    But I use Bluetooth except in the cases where I use studio headsets. And why I would need studio headsets on a smartphone is a mystery. Of course even then I have to use a 1/4 inch to 1/8th inch adapter to plug into the lightning adapter.

    Which I'd have to use it on my Androids as well. Either way, an adapter. So I use Bluetooth on my Androids as well.

    Why? Because I didn't get a wireless smartphone to have to use wires on it.

    --
    The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.
  53. When in doubt -- cheap out: the new Apple by sandbagger · · Score: 1

    I'm an old Apple hand but this really is self-interest masquerading as a feature. Headphones with wires are not only incredibly inexpensive, but guaranteed to work barring physical damage and aren't immediately devalued by irreplaceable battery cycle degradation.

     

    --
    ---- The above post was generated by the Turing Institute. Maybe.
  54. Re:Perfect by Godwin+O'Hitler · · Score: 1

    Because the wires run all the way back to the the record factory. Riiiight.

    --
    No, your children are not the special ones. Nor are your pets.
  55. Re:Perfect by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    I'll worry when they use X-rays or gamma rays for transmission.

  56. Re:Perfect by svirre · · Score: 1

    Safety != Security

    Safety is keeping the world unharmed by your device
    Security is keeping the device unharmed by the world (Or rather the attackers inhabiting it)

  57. Re:Perfect by Revek · · Score: 1

    Odds are the 62 year old will play to win and the other has a glass brain.

  58. Re:Perfect by Revek · · Score: 1, Insightful

    To further expand the 62 year old grew up when kids had to be tough. Now you little SJW darlings are not prepared for a real fight.

  59. Re:Perfect by Iwastheone · · Score: 1

    From the onset of Bluetoooth it has never been secure, even when 'off'. It has always been an attack vector to gain access to a smart/dumb phone. NSA crap. Welcome to this modern world. :/

  60. Re:Perfect by Ol+Olsoc · · Score: 1

    Because the wires run all the way back to the the record factory. Riiiight.

    I dunno - any environment I'll be listening to music with a shitty smartphone will be impossible to achieve anything like fidelity. So I don't worry about any issues like that.

    Occam's explains all of this. Few people who like Apple products care about the little adapter - that's what it is, an adapter. A dongle is something else indeed, but those who are fans of Chevies, H^H^H^H^H^H^H Androids - sorry about that - just find it a talking point. You aren't likely to ever buy aniPhone, but it's oh so much fun to bitch about them. For all the excuses of why it is so damn critical to have that superannuated 18th inch ( that's 3.5 mm for the metric-only crowd) phone jack, the simple answer is that you hate apple Products, so it is yet another unforgivable assult on your finely tuned sensibilities.

    Meanwhile, myself and a lot of others simply use Bluetooth like we have for years. It even works on Android phones and tablets.

    --
    The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.
  61. Re:Perfect by freeze128 · · Score: 1

    It seems much more likely that you would be hit by a car because you're listening to headphones while crossing the street, than you are to actually die from strangulation by headphones. If that's the case, then wireless headphones are just as dangerous.

  62. Re:Perfect by freeze128 · · Score: 1

    Apple Exec: "Our products are good, and people like them, but we need to create a constant revenue stream. We need to start selling disposable electronics."

  63. Re:Perfect by Khyber · · Score: 1

    "First, they are receivers, not transmitters."

    That isn't how Bluetooth works at all, dumbass. Do you know what pairing is? That's a transmit/receive operation. Bluetooth REQUIRES BOTH.

    Whomever modded you up needs to have their mod privileges revoked.

    --
    Still waiting on Serviscope_minor to wake up to fucking reality and realize that Jessica Price isn't going to fuck him.
  64. Re: Perfect by LynnwoodRooster · · Score: 1

    Go out your head in a microwave

    WTF is only his head gay, WTF would his microwave care?

    --
    Browsing at +1 - no ACs, I ignore their posts. So refreshing!
  65. Re:Perfect by MikeMo · · Score: 1

    Mom? Is that you?

  66. No surprise, Apple hates high quality audio by LynnwoodRooster · · Score: 1

    iOS does not support AptX, AptX HD, nor LDAC (all of which are much higher quality audio than AAC or SBC). Note that at least macOS supports the AptX codecs.

    iOS does not support any files higher than 24/48, meaning all the new, high res and enhanced (like MQA) audio is DOA for your iPhone and iPad. Sure, you CAN maintain downgraded copies to handle, but now you have to double your library.

    Apple doesn't really care about audio, at least from a portable standpoint. It's no surprise they would kill off the dominant connection mode - that also guarantees the highest audio quality (the DACs in most cellphones are typically MUCH better than what you get in a headphone; lots of AKM and ADI in cellphones, not so much in portable products). They don't really care about music - so if YOU care about music, then why pay attention to Apple?

    --
    Browsing at +1 - no ACs, I ignore their posts. So refreshing!
  67. Re:BlogLinking Info by Khyber · · Score: 1

    Can't promote a site when it won't load, dipshit. First thing to do - find real hosting that isn't from Africa.

    --
    Still waiting on Serviscope_minor to wake up to fucking reality and realize that Jessica Price isn't going to fuck him.
  68. Re: Perfect by BronsCon · · Score: 5, Insightful

    How do they pair with the phone? How do they let the phone know they're present, operational, and waiting for audio? How do they let the phone know you've just pressed the pause button? Idiot, they're not just receivers, they're also transmitters. The lack of understanding of technology on this tech site recently is fucking astounding.

    --
    APK quotes people (including myself) without context and should not be trusted. Just thought you should know.
  69. Re:But still comes with wired headphones by LynnwoodRooster · · Score: 1

    Well, don't overlook the crappy sound quality, that has to count for something!

    --
    Browsing at +1 - no ACs, I ignore their posts. So refreshing!
  70. Re:Perfect by reboot246 · · Score: 1

    There's a lot of truth in what you say. I'm 65 and I've been in about three dozen real fights in my life, most of them before I was 25. I've been knocked out a couple of times and also knocked out the other guy a couple of times. I came way too close to killing a guy in college with my bare hands. That was my last fight because I realized the damage I could do to another human being. Nowadays I wouldn't fight if you paid me, and I've learned that revenge is safer and more satisfying.

    Remember, when us "old" people were young, there was no protection from bullies. It was either learn to defend yourself or suffer the consequences. You learned fast.

  71. Re: Perfect by sound+vision · · Score: 1

    Doing without them is exactly the plan. My headphones ain't broke, why fix them? I know Apple needs to reach the next -illion on their scorecard, but I am a businessman too. Following that, when I make a purchase, my concerns are more along the lines of utility, reliability, cost-effectiveness...

  72. Re:Perfect by Ingenium13 · · Score: 1

    Bluetooth uses 2.4 GHz, just like wifi can. Wifi power is often in the range of 100-200 mW. Some LTE bands are 2.3Ghz and 2.5 Ghz.

    2.4 Ghz is non ionizing. If you're concerned about absorbing heat from it, it's comparable to the head from a small LED. It's insignificantly small.

  73. Re:Perfect by BronsCon · · Score: 2

    It's also the distance and duration. An earbud in your ear is putting half its power directly into your head (the other half is directed away from you). Not only is more than half of a phone's power radiated away from your head (through the back and sides, that power is spread over a larger area simply by the fact that the antenna is larger. Then, you factor in distance, taking into account the fact that electromagnetic radiation propagates through 3d space, and you quickly find that the amount of radiation reaching any part of the body is less than that of the earbuds.

    Quick math:
    Earbuds: 2.5mw x 2 = 5mw
    Divide by 2 to account for roughly half the radiation being directed away from you = 2.5mw
    The portion of the earbud that goes into your ear is going to have a surface area of roughly 1 square centimeter. There are two of them, so we divide by that to determine exposure per square centimeter: 2.5/2 = 1.25mW

    Non-ideal phone: 2000mw x 1 = 2000mw
    Only radiation emitted from one of six faces of the device reaches the head: 2000/6 = 333.3mw
    The dimensions of that face (we'll use an iPhone 8, not even the + model, to make it more fair to Artem's argument) are 6.73cm by 13.84cm, yielding a surface area of 93.1432cm^2. We'll round this down to 90 to account for the rounded corners. 333.3/90 = 3.7mw per cm^2
    Now, to remain fair to Artem's argument (and keep the math simple, since there are too many viariables, such as the angle at which you're holding the phone, the size of your head, and the exact distance at which you hold it), we'll ignore that a portion of that is going to radiate around your head. This is fine by me, we're talking worst case, after all. Now, if you hold the phone 1cm from your ear, that puts it 2cm from the closest part of your cheek, and at least 3cm away from the farthest. Following the law of inverse squares, at 1cm you get 3.7^0.5mw, or 1.92mw per cm^2; at 2cm you get 1.92^0.5mw, or 1.39mw per cm^2; and at 3cm you get 1.39^0.5mw, or 1.18mw per cm^2.
    If we assume the average ear is roughly oval and roughly 2.5x3.5cm, we get an area of roughly 24cm^2. Since the ear is a 3d structure, we'll halve this and say 12cm^2 of the phone is 1cm away, and assume half of the remaining surface (90 - 12 = 78; 78/2 = 39) is 2cm away and the rest (39) is 3cm away, we get the following:
    (12 * 1.92) + (39 * 1.39) + (39 * 1.18) = 123.27mw reaching you head, spread over 90cm^2, which yields an average of 123.27/90 = 1.37mw per cm^2.

    Right, so under the absolute worst case conditions, and with estimates and assumptions favoring Artem's argument, that phone is dumping a whole 0.12mw (e.g. rounding error) more into your head, despite its transmit power being orders of magnitude higher.

    As for duration: The average phone user will have their phone to their ear for an hour a day (most are much less, a handful are much more, but it averages out to an hour), while the average headphone user will have them on for 4 hours.

    Roughly equal exposure assuming roughly equal exposure duration; but the headphone users will see roughly 4x the exposure in the real world.

    Now, we've got studies linking cellphone radiation and ADHD. I haven't read them, I don't know how conclusive they are, but I'm assuming not very since they seem to be relatively early studies. They're enough, however, to suggest that EM radiation may not be as harmless as we all think; and that's at frequencies that aren't right next to the one your microwave uses to boil water. Bluetooth is your microwave's little cousin. As you so astutely point out, that matters; a lot.

    Yes, more research is needed. Right now, I don't believe they're unsafe, but I don't have enough data to be meaningfully certain of that; I simply don't use them because they sound like shit to me. Yes, even Apt-X and (because most of my music is not encoded in AAC, so there are re-encoding artifacts that are very audible) AAC. That's fine for a noisy

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

    You lose power with distance, and a microwave has enough power at the right wavelength to be harmful at a good distance. How about you try it.

    --
    APK quotes people (including myself) without context and should not be trusted. Just thought you should know.
  75. Re:But still comes with wired headphones by BronsCon · · Score: 2

    ... or sound all that great. Better than the $2 pairs that come with most phones, but garbage compared to the AKGs that came with my S8, and complete shit compared to anything I'd buy (the same applies to the AKGs, by the way). In fact, all the lightning (or USB, for that matter) headphones I've encountered in the $200 price range have been complete shit compared to the $170 headphones I use daily; the same is said of bluetooth, as well.

    Funny how that works out, no? A $200 price point used to mean speakers and cans worth $200. Now, $190 of that goes to the radio, the DAC, the amplifier, the battery to power it all, and the "new shiny", and you're left with $10 headphones. For 20x the price.

    Progress.

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

    Since they don't seem to have room for that in a phone any longer, I won't hold my breath.

    --
    Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.
  77. Re:Perfect by fluffernutter · · Score: 1

    That actually sounds like pretty bad design. Any key fob I have gets a watch battery and lasts for two or three years. I'm surprised BMW would make their owners put up with something like that. We need key hooks by the front door with USB plugs now?

    --
    Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.
  78. Re:Perfect by fluffernutter · · Score: 1

    Yup, us too. We went back to buying overstock 'stock' Samsung phone headphones. They work for what the kids need them for and are the only ones we found that are comfortable for them.

    --
    Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.
  79. Re:Perfect by Spamalope · · Score: 1

    Wait until you need to keep track of which headphones Apple allows to work with this phone. Remember ipod docks? Remember that each new iPhone/pod refused to work unless you bought a brand new dock - each with it's own licensing fee to Apple? How soon before the headphones have to be Apple licensed to work, or are in a reduced quality mode etc? One more generation of devices or sooner?

  80. Re: Perfect by fluffernutter · · Score: 1

    Most cars have bluetooth now, unfortunately this will give you the bluetooth limitation for sound quality. My vehicle's phone plugs in via USB but the audio still goes through bluetooth. I'm pretty pissed about that.

    --
    Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.
  81. Re:Of course by Spamalope · · Score: 2

    How soon before it only works with an Apple licensed headphone too, just like they did with the docks?

  82. Re:Perfect by Artem+S.+Tashkinov · · Score: 1

    Your analysis could be spot on, except ... some people don't use earbuds (like me - I only use wireless headphones) and then earbuds' antennas are usually outside. Case in point: Apple AirPods Teardown - check out step 9.

  83. Re:Perfect by BronsCon · · Score: 1

    You still have closer proximity with AirPods. The antenna is in the piece that hangs down, which rests against your earlobe. Same power, same distance, dissipation is going to be 1/6 rather than 1/2, but over 1/6 the surface area, so double the dose per cm^2. AirPods are actually worse in that regard.

    Wireless cans (and good on you for using those, earbuds are shit to begin with) are going to give you about 1/4 the radiation at he point where the antenna resides. Offset by the fact that you likely use them 4x longer than the average phone user would use their phone, it's a wash...

    ...

    ... until you factor in frequency.

    We, as a society, still have much to learn in this field. It may well be perfectly safe, but it may well not be. Don't discount that simply because the aggregate transmit power is lower than phone (which we're still not sure are safe) because, as demonstrated, the dosage is the same; in some cases, even higher.

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

    Indeed. The ignorant, and the people who must work with or for them. I own Macs because my clients use them and I have to make sure the work I do for them works on their platform of choice.

    --
    APK quotes people (including myself) without context and should not be trusted. Just thought you should know.
  85. Re: Perfect by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Short answer: because they are transceivers.

  86. Re:Perfect by kenai_alpenglow · · Score: 1

    Correct. so you remove the "remove-your-genes-from-being-so-stupid" from both sides, leaving the strangulation-by-headphone being more likely to kill you then tumor-by-bluetooth.

  87. iPhone 2020 & 2021 by shubus · · Score: 1

    iPhone for 2020 said to have no battery and for 2021 the screen will finally be removed. Onward and upward, Apple!

  88. Re:Perfect by sglewis100 · · Score: 1

    Wait until you need to keep track of which headphones Apple allows to work with this phone. Remember ipod docks? Remember that each new iPhone/pod refused to work unless you bought a brand new dock - each with it's own licensing fee to Apple? How soon before the headphones have to be Apple licensed to work, or are in a reduced quality mode etc? One more generation of devices or sooner?

    So far, I believe the list is... all Bluetooth headphones. And any wired headphone with a dongle. Oh, and any wired headphones plugged into a Bluetooth transceiver, also available for about ten bucks on Amazon. Feel free to bookmark this compatibility list.

    I mean... I get it.. Apple took away the headphone port, and now want to take away the dongle. But you have to know in your heart that they thought about it, researched it, and came to the conclusion that the number of people who will no longer buy an iPhone over this issue is small enough to not care about.

  89. Re:And yet... by registrations_suck · · Score: 1

    You're free not to buy Apple's products. Go by something from a manufacturer that is more to your liking. What's the problem?

    Apple's 2017 Q3 iPhone sales market share was around 19%. Apple is hardly a monopoly here. It's not even CLOSE! If you don't like its products, buy someone else's.

  90. Re:Perfect by sglewis100 · · Score: 1

    DMCA protected and lists for US $39.95 is code for it's $9.00 at the Apple Store and as cheap as $5.80 for a two pack of third party on Amazon. Also, they have phones other than the iPhone X for a bit less money. And an entire universe of phones running Android if you really are not a fan of their stuff.

  91. Re: Perfect by wolf12886 · · Score: 1

    EE here. They're definetly safer than holding your cellphone up to your head. Short range bluetooth (class 2) runs up to 2.5mw. A cellphone by comparison can transmit up to 3w aka 1200x more powerful.

  92. Those who don't take the news well... by nospam007 · · Score: 1

    ...can have mine and those of a couple of hundred million other users who don't need it.

  93. Re: More courage! by Tough+Love · · Score: 2

    Why do you troll?

    What you call "trolling" others call "well earned criticism". We both know that Apple's headphone decision had nothing to do with courage and everything to do with selling those overpriced Beats headphones.

    --
    When all you have is a hammer, every problem starts to look like a thumb.
  94. Re: Perfect by datavirtue · · Score: 3, Funny

    I heard that Apple will not be including a phone the next iPhone box. This will make it so much easier for iPhone customers to function and have a normal, uplifting life. Pure genius.

    --
    I object to power without constructive purpose. --Spock
  95. Re: Perfect by datavirtue · · Score: 1

    Was that science? You're fired!

    --
    I object to power without constructive purpose. --Spock
  96. Re: Perfect by datavirtue · · Score: 1

    Ruined a $250 set of water proof Bluetooth headphones...in water.

    --
    I object to power without constructive purpose. --Spock
  97. Re:Perfect by serviscope_minor · · Score: 1

    1) What is your beef with "old folk" ? I am 62 years old and I GUARANTEE I could kick your ass in hand to hand combat.

    What the fuck did you just fucking say about me, you little bitch? I'll have you know I graduated top of my class in the Navy Seals, and I've been involved in numerous secret raids on Al-Quaeda, and I have over 300 confirmed kills. I am trained in gorilla warfare and I'm the top sniper in the entire US armed forces. You are nothing to me but just another target. I will wipe you the fuck out with precision the likes of which has never been seen before on this Earth, mark my fucking words. You think you can get away with saying that shit to me over the Internet? Think again, fucker. As we speak I am contacting my secret network of spies across the USA and your IP is being traced right now so you better prepare for the storm, maggot. The storm that wipes out the pathetic little thing you call your life. You're fucking dead, kid. I can be anywhere, anytime, and I can kill you in over seven hundred ways, and that's just with my bare hands. Not only am I extensively trained in unarmed combat, but I have access to the entire arsenal of the United States Marine Corps and I will use it to its full extent to wipe your miserable ass off the face of the continent, you little shit. If only you could have known what unholy retribution your little "clever" comment was about to bring down upon you, maybe you would have held your fucking tongue. But you couldn't, you didn't, and now you're paying the price, you goddamn idiot. I will shit fury all over you and you will drown in it. You're fucking dead, kiddo.

    1) What is your beef with "old folk" ? I am 62 years old and I GUARANTEE I could kick your ass in hand to hand combat.

    Also, what on earth does that have to do with wireless headphones, or wired ones for that matter?

    --
    SJW n. One who posts facts.
  98. Re: Perfect by BronsCon · · Score: 1

    That'd be what I was getting at. A receiver that also transmits is called a transceiver; the idiot I was replying to was insistent that bluetooth headphones were only receivers.

    --
    APK quotes people (including myself) without context and should not be trusted. Just thought you should know.
  99. Re: Perfect by BronsCon · · Score: 2

    Wow, I should buy Apple stock shortly before the release, and sell shortly after. Launch day profits will be phenomenal, which will shoot the stock through the roof, but I expect it to tank shortly after.

    If only what you said were true... and I had enough cash on hand to buy a few thousand shares.

    --
    APK quotes people (including myself) without context and should not be trusted. Just thought you should know.
  100. Re:Perfect by BronsCon · · Score: 3, Insightful

    What you are forgetting is that they're actually constantly transmitting acknowledgment packets so the device knows they're still there. If you have a pair with removable batteries, try pulling the battery sometime while they're playing music, and count how long it takes the phone to realize they're no longer there and stop playback. It's almost instantaneous, because there is a constant flow of ACK packets (to borrow a term from the TCP stack) being sent.

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

    Actually, it's a lot less. The antenna is behind the screen, which acts as a shield. I was being polite and ignoring that fact in order to give Artem's argument a fighting chance. Now, back when we had flip phones with external antennae, you would have been correct.

    --
    APK quotes people (including myself) without context and should not be trusted. Just thought you should know.
  102. Re: Who cares? by that+this+is+not+und · · Score: 1

    The problem is you haven't gone into the settings of your iGadget and checked the box that fixes the punctuation character bug.

  103. Re: Anyone else notice.... by that+this+is+not+und · · Score: 1

    This is Slashdot. We nerds have always for the most part hated Apple.

    They have had some mainstream market success, and some non-nerds have infiltrated the site. Apple has always been about fashion and proprietary, and a small high-paying segment of the market.

    I remember dealing with the Apple types going back to the dinkyscreen mac era. It's always been the same.

  104. Re:But still comes with wired headphones by BronsCon · · Score: 1

    Oh well look at what I've found. Bluetooth receiver with headphone amp plus analog out plus digital out.

    Yup, and it's only about $60. Not super portable looking, though, and yet another thing to charge; it also doesn't appear to support Apt-X or AAC, so we're back to crap audio quality, not that Apt-X is the greatest and for anything that's not already AAC (and fed straight to the bluetooth stack, rather than being re-encoded) AAC just means more compression artifacts -- and re-compression artifacts are audible.

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

    A person who has graduated from BUD/S doesn't talk about what they have done like you are trying to do. REAL badasses don't need to talk.


      o
    /|\ <-- you
    /\

    . <-- the joke

    I mean wow, you managed to not have the joke go flying over your head and yet you still managed not to get it. I guess being oblivious is an AC special skill?

    PS you missed the bit about "gorilla warfare".

    --
    SJW n. One who posts facts.
  106. Wires are better by speedlaw · · Score: 1

    Having recently rented a few late model cars, in every one of them, the "Aux in" with the classic 3.5 mm plug sounded better than the bluetooth. Apple Phone.

  107. Dongles by stooo · · Score: 1

    Dongles !
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?...
    I need Dongles !

    --
    aaaaaaa
  108. Don't worry by Not-a-Neg · · Score: 1

    Myself and almost everyone else that bought an iPhone 7 still has their dongle sitting new in the box. We will sell you ours for the same price as replacements that are sold at retail. Gotta love how Apple stuff retains value in the aftermarket. Actually, wait about a month and I will have an iPhone 7 to sell you as well since I'm ditching iOS for Android and almost have the iPhone paid off.

    --
    -==- Buy a Mac and leave me alone!
  109. Re:Perfect by Macdude · · Score: 1

    If you have a pair with removable batteries, try pulling the battery sometime while they're playing music, and count how long it takes the phone to realize they're no longer there and stop playback.

    How long would you expect them to continue operating after pulling the battery if they weren't transmitting ACK packets?

    --
    "Grab them by the pussy" -- President of the United States of America
  110. Re: Perfect by BronsCon · · Score: 1

    Read what I wrote... The phone reacts immediately.

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

    To clarify, I would expect the headphones to stop working as soon as power is removed, because I'm not an idiot. I would also expect the phone to continue trying to send audio to them until it realizes they're no longer there (e.g. until it doesn't receive an ack packet in time), and that's precisely what it does. When the bluetooth headphones disconnect, the phone either stops playback altogether, or reverts to its internal speaker. Because ack packets are being sent constantly, this is almost immediate, as well.

    I also, perhaps foolishly, expect that people here will have some reading comprehension. Now, if you re-read what you quoted, and use those reading comprehension skills I'm sure you learned in 3rd grade, you'll note that I'm talking about how long the phone continues trying to send audio to the headphones after you remove their battery, not how long the headphones stay on.

    --
    APK quotes people (including myself) without context and should not be trusted. Just thought you should know.