Has anyone noticed that Apple never said they took it out to make it waterproof? That all that came from speculation? Their stated reasons were to improve space utilization and to help foster the move to wireless.
Actually water resistance was cited by Phil Schiller as one of about four reasons they did it.
Removing the headphone jack perpetuate's Apple's vertical ecosystem and lock-in.
Using chips tied to one carrier or the other's network perpetuates the carrier's lock-in, and sells more iPhones when people want to switch networks.
The sad part is this latter move undoes years of hard effort Apple's made in the 4 previous phone generations at altering the landscape of American cellephony to get consumers some much-needed network independence.
g=
Saying DUH makes you sound like a moron, especially when YOU don't think it through. How many people will loose the adapter and have to re-purchase it. How many will have their adapter break and have to re-purchase it. Your the idiot. DUH.
It's nine whole dollars; get over it. Just use the included Lightning headset until you get your new adapter to plug in your precious $10 earbuds (that don't sound any better than the Apple included ones). Or if you're really that unable to go without music for a few hours, carry a spare...
ya right those adapter probably cost apple 50 cents to make. but nice try
Fraud not. Not even in China. Probably around $2, when you factor in some R&D, mold design, BOM costs, etc. so they're doing ok at $9; but the overall profit of the adapter project is definitely negative.
And that doesn't even consider the R&D costs, etc, for redesigning the INCLUDED Headset, which is now Lightning-based.
And they are NOT recouping these costs in the phone, all things being equal; especially since they doubled the storage on the new model (and even went back and did the same thing on the previous model), without increasing the price, and in fact reducing the price in the previous model. Also, their new SoC is quad core, which of course means a larger die, and likely lower yields, which in turn make the whole project have to absorb those additional costs, too. And all that without hiking the price to compensate.
I'm not saying "Poor Apple"; but those costs do come from somewhere, and that "somewhere" is their Profit on each phone.
So, it is really hard to see this as a "money grab".
And is actually the primary reason to avoid this generation. The loss of the headphone jack is a money grab associated selling Bluetooth via their beats brand. Dividing their handset lineup is a return to the Motorola / LG / Samsung model of inflating sales by requiring a new device when transitioning to a new network.
Apple should have held their guns and demanded that Verizon and Sprint pony up to accelerate their rollout or risk their number one device having reduced coverage on their network. Customers won't complain about Apple if their friends with the same device have better service on another network. Instead they will switch carriers. To be clear, that is what consumers should want other people to do.
First off, the headphone jack rant is both tired and off topic.
Second, even Verizon and Sprint can't just snap their fingers and swap out a bunch of cell tower transceivers and antenna systems in the amount of time that would make a difference. But I sense that practicality isn't high on your priority list.
Apple deserves every amount of shit heaped on it at every opportunity possible. They should be mocked at every opportunity whether or not related to the topic at hand. This is protest by media attention for their anti-consumer we'll force them to buy our shitty Beats by preventing them from easily using an alternative bullshit.
Much like the "beta sucks" campaign which had a great result in the end there's a subtle hope if the cries are loud and continuous enough that they may see the error in their ways.
Everything has limits, and since you don't know what is going on exactly in this device, and more importantly, how many JOULES of energy it can shove down your USB port's throat, you are simply talking out your ass.
Everything has been described pretty informatively, and I just love when random people like yourself claim that someone is talking out of their ass, possibly knowing exactly what I know or less. I find you amuzing, but please don't take offense, there is so many other things in life that could potentially do that. Not worth it.
Really? I broke the Slashdot code, and actually read TFA. I have been an embedded Dev. For nearly 4 DECADES, with most of that designing Industrial Controls that have to not only survive, but actually FUNCTION properly in some fairly electrically-hostile environments. I have personally conducted both controlled and practical ESD testing,
I don't know what you saw in that article, but TFA had pretty much as much info as TFS, and certainly nothing to suggest specifics such as pulse duration or amplitude, let alone the pulse shape, polarity, or total energy delivered.
Unless you know those specifics, PLUS the specifics of the ESD protection of the port you are attempting to compromise, there is NO HOPE of knowing whether a particular circuit will survive an attack by this device. And that doesn't even get into variables like humidity, etc. that would affect the actual energy applied to the circuit-under-attack. Because quite frankly, even knowing all that doesn't account for everything; because I can tell you from some of the testing I participated in, the exact-same controlled ESD discharge that won't cause obvious damage one time, will wreak utter havoc another time, with everything you can make the same, being the same. All you can do is do your calculations, add some "fudge factors", and test, test, test...
Just because you hooked a Raspberry Pi up to a Relay to feed your cat doesn't mean you understand physics or even electronics.
If this device as described in the OP does as its advertised, then its no more than that, at best it will kill your USB port, or as usual..
Really? People wipe out USB ports with static discharges ALL THE TIME, despite the ESD protection.
Everything has limits, and since you don't know what is going on exactly in this device, and more importantly, how many JOULES of energy it can shove down your USB port's throat, you are simply talking out your ass.
you are about to be apprehended. you use a netbook that lacks real permanent storage, but still need some form of NV datastore, so use use encrypted USB.
to prevent security failure, you plug both devices into the same USB root hub.
you eliminate all useful forensic data in a few seconds.
It would be good if you're about to go through a US (or any) border and they demand your equipment. Plug this sucker in (here you're gonna demand this too!) and when they try to look at your shit, play stupid and blame them for it being fucked up. Make a big stink for their stupidity, take down their badge numbers and by the time they figure it out, you're gone baby!
I'm not saying that there are no (or won't be any) Lightning headphones. I'm pointing out that those headphones will only work with Apple iOS devices. There aren't Lightning ports on Sony consumer equipment, Dell desktop machines, or even Apple laptops. So if I buy a pair of nice Lightning headphones, I'm severely limited in how and where I can use them.
1. l don't think that there is a proscription by Apple on putting a Lightning Port on ANYTHING, as long as you are a member of the MFi Program as a Developer or Manufacturer. So, it is Dell, Sony, etc. that are the problem there; not Apple. Let's put the blame where it belongs, shall we?
2. Any of those hypothetical Lightning headphones would work FINE with anything with a 3.5mm jack, if the manufacturer simply included a Lightning adapter. Not practical on a $10 set of earbuds; but on a $50 set, certainly. And how many headphones STILL come with a 3.5mm 1/4" adapter to this very day? Almost all. So don't tell me it isn't practical.
Its just that the royalties on lightning are so high, any device having that port is double the price!
It's now something like $4 per connector. I agree that that is kind of high; but it's been going down steadily; so hopefully it will go down even more now.
BTW, there are Royalties (Licensing Fees) on Bluetooth and Aptx (including having a proprietary chipset for Aptx), too; yet no one seems to whine about that. Why?
But the thing is, carrying around an adapter in your pocket all day sucks. Having to remember to bring a different cable if you plan to hook your headphones up to your phone sucks.
You know what every professional sound engineer has in abundance? Adapters. I don't even do it for a living anymore, and I still have a little tacklebox FULL of RCA,-> 3.5mm, 1/4" 1/8" (3.5mm), Stereo "Y" cords of several types, Male - Male, Female - Female, Female - Male Adapters, Balanced XLR Unbalanced XLR, XLR 1/4" TRS, etc. et FUCKING cetera. And you know what? MANY times it would take MORE THAN ONE Adapter to get from "here" to "there".
And we liked it. Well, not really; but we didn't Fucking WHINE about it incessantly, like someone snatched their firstborn or something, sheesh!!!
So seriously, having to hook up a little 2" adapter cable (that is honestly not much larger than the cable itself) to convert your coveted $10 analog earbuds to the lightning connector on your phone for the next couple of years (after which Lightning earbuds will be nearly as ubiquitous as 3.5mm earbuds are now) or just using the SUPPLIED Lightning headset for the time being, IS NOT WORTH ALL THIS HATE.
God DAMN, but you people are such insufferable spoiled brats! Oh, I've got to remember an ADAPTER! FFS...
Get over yourselves. Seriously. This SUPPOSED to be a "tech" site; and yet, when someone tries to move "tech" forward, they get PILLORIED for it, along with anyone who DARES to support them.
Firewire is a spectacular interface. Just ask the pro audio and video people. Do you know how many channels of audio you can carry over even a 400 mb/s Firewire connection? It's truly astounding.
And BTW, Thunderbolt is even better in that regard. LOTS better; because it has stuff in it to take care of timestamping issues, and because it is MUCH faster.
"which was going completely unused 99% of the time"
In the universe I live in, I can't leave my house without seeing a kid using wired ear buds. They're ubiquitous. Current market statistics say that almost half of those people are using iPhones.
What universe do you live in? I've never been there.
Sorry if I was unclear: I meant the Lightning connector is unused most of the time. They just decided to make it "more used" an simultaneously got more room and better water-resistance as part of the bargain.
As far as "Costs" go, right now it is a LOSS, because Apple had to redesign the Ear Pods to be Lightning (when they COUL have just said "Use the Adapter", AND include an Adapter. And they are selling that Adapter as a separate piece for only NINE DOLLARS; so no one should be able to accuse them of a money-grab here.
They truly ARE trying to push everyone forward. And they will succeed.
And, by the way, Macs for all? You'll NEVER force your fucking obsolete garbage on me. If you gave me a Mac for free, I'd smash it into little pieces with a sledgehammer and jam every single last shard directly into your asshole. But, I'm sure you'd like that, you faggot. FUCK YOU, your whore mother, loser father, and any women desperate and drunk enough to get within 20 meters of you.
Wow. Just. Wow.
Slashdot: THIS is why AC Posting MUST END!!!
Seriously; is that anything even APPROACHING "rational discourse"? Does that add ANYTHING WHATSOEVER to the Conversation?
And yet, that post is "left alone" (surprised it wasn't upmodded to "+5 Insightful"), while post after post of MINE were SYSTEMATICALLY marked either "Flamebait" or "Troll", NO MATTER WHAT.
Slashdot's Moderation system only works if people use it REASONABLY. It has LONG SINCE jumped that particular Shark, and it is HIGH TIME FOR AC POSTING TO GO. These COWARDS would NEVER Post that INSANE SHIT if they had to "sign their name" to it. NEV-ER. Because, afterall, THEY ARE COWARDS, JUST LIKE ALL BULLIES...
Slashdot Mirror
Has anyone noticed that Apple never said they took it out to make it waterproof? That all that came from speculation? Their stated reasons were to improve space utilization and to help foster the move to wireless.
Actually water resistance was cited by Phil Schiller as one of about four reasons they did it.
Or absolutely anywhere in the retail industry from director to box packer.
Not just retail; but any industry that creates, handles, or sells goods on any level.
Why not call it a "model" like normal people? A SKU is a barcode.
You're an idiot. SKU is an retail industry-standard term, and has nothing to do with barcodes.
Removing the headphone jack perpetuate's Apple's vertical ecosystem and lock-in. Using chips tied to one carrier or the other's network perpetuates the carrier's lock-in, and sells more iPhones when people want to switch networks.
The sad part is this latter move undoes years of hard effort Apple's made in the 4 previous phone generations at altering the landscape of American cellephony to get consumers some much-needed network independence. g=
Get a life.
Saying DUH makes you sound like a moron, especially when YOU don't think it through. How many people will loose the adapter and have to re-purchase it. How many will have their adapter break and have to re-purchase it. Your the idiot. DUH.
It's nine whole dollars; get over it. Just use the included Lightning headset until you get your new adapter to plug in your precious $10 earbuds (that don't sound any better than the Apple included ones). Or if you're really that unable to go without music for a few hours, carry a spare...
ya right those adapter probably cost apple 50 cents to make. but nice try
Fraud not. Not even in China. Probably around $2, when you factor in some R&D, mold design, BOM costs, etc. so they're doing ok at $9; but the overall profit of the adapter project is definitely negative.
And that doesn't even consider the R&D costs, etc, for redesigning the INCLUDED Headset, which is now Lightning-based.
And they are NOT recouping these costs in the phone, all things being equal; especially since they doubled the storage on the new model (and even went back and did the same thing on the previous model), without increasing the price, and in fact reducing the price in the previous model. Also, their new SoC is quad core, which of course means a larger die, and likely lower yields, which in turn make the whole project have to absorb those additional costs, too. And all that without hiking the price to compensate.
I'm not saying "Poor Apple"; but those costs do come from somewhere, and that "somewhere" is their Profit on each phone.
So, it is really hard to see this as a "money grab".
"People who believe that theory are dumber than a bag of hammers."
Do you not know that Apple is the largest BlueTooth headphone maker on the planet? Hello, Beats.
If you can't smell the money grab, you need to have your brain checked for tumors.
It is you that has the brain tumor; and for the sake of the planet, let's hope it's a Glioma.
or lost or broke, then cha-ching more profits for apple
Then they will sell you a replacement for the princely sum of... Wait for it.... NINE FUCKING DOLLARS.
So kindly STFU, will ya?
And is actually the primary reason to avoid this generation. The loss of the headphone jack is a money grab associated selling Bluetooth via their beats brand. Dividing their handset lineup is a return to the Motorola / LG / Samsung model of inflating sales by requiring a new device when transitioning to a new network.
Apple should have held their guns and demanded that Verizon and Sprint pony up to accelerate their rollout or risk their number one device having reduced coverage on their network. Customers won't complain about Apple if their friends with the same device have better service on another network. Instead they will switch carriers. To be clear, that is what consumers should want other people to do.
First off, the headphone jack rant is both tired and off topic.
Second, even Verizon and Sprint can't just snap their fingers and swap out a bunch of cell tower transceivers and antenna systems in the amount of time that would make a difference. But I sense that practicality isn't high on your priority list.
People - for gawd's sake give it a rest.
Apple deserves every amount of shit heaped on it at every opportunity possible. They should be mocked at every opportunity whether or not related to the topic at hand. This is protest by media attention for their anti-consumer we'll force them to buy our shitty Beats by preventing them from easily using an alternative bullshit.
Much like the "beta sucks" campaign which had a great result in the end there's a subtle hope if the cries are loud and continuous enough that they may see the error in their ways.
Get help.
Everything has limits, and since you don't know what is going on exactly in this device, and more importantly, how many JOULES of energy it can shove down your USB port's throat, you are simply talking out your ass.
Everything has been described pretty informatively, and I just love when random people like yourself claim that someone is talking out of their ass, possibly knowing exactly what I know or less. I find you amuzing, but please don't take offense, there is so many other things in life that could potentially do that. Not worth it.
Really? I broke the Slashdot code, and actually read TFA. I have been an embedded Dev. For nearly 4 DECADES, with most of that designing Industrial Controls that have to not only survive, but actually FUNCTION properly in some fairly electrically-hostile environments. I have personally conducted both controlled and practical ESD testing,
I don't know what you saw in that article, but TFA had pretty much as much info as TFS, and certainly nothing to suggest specifics such as pulse duration or amplitude, let alone the pulse shape, polarity, or total energy delivered.
Unless you know those specifics, PLUS the specifics of the ESD protection of the port you are attempting to compromise, there is NO HOPE of knowing whether a particular circuit will survive an attack by this device. And that doesn't even get into variables like humidity, etc. that would affect the actual energy applied to the circuit-under-attack. Because quite frankly, even knowing all that doesn't account for everything; because I can tell you from some of the testing I participated in, the exact-same controlled ESD discharge that won't cause obvious damage one time, will wreak utter havoc another time, with everything you can make the same, being the same. All you can do is do your calculations, add some "fudge factors", and test, test, test...
Just because you hooked a Raspberry Pi up to a Relay to feed your cat doesn't mean you understand physics or even electronics.
so yes, talking out your ass...
If this device as described in the OP does as its advertised, then its no more than that, at best it will kill your USB port, or as usual..
Really? People wipe out USB ports with static discharges ALL THE TIME, despite the ESD protection.
Everything has limits, and since you don't know what is going on exactly in this device, and more importantly, how many JOULES of energy it can shove down your USB port's throat, you are simply talking out your ass.
lets say you are an international terrorist.
you are about to be apprehended. you use a netbook that lacks real permanent storage, but still need some form of NV datastore, so use use encrypted USB.
to prevent security failure, you plug both devices into the same USB root hub.
you eliminate all useful forensic data in a few seconds.
As I said: "Legitimate reason"?
It would be good if you're about to go through a US (or any) border and they demand your equipment. Plug this sucker in (here you're gonna demand this too!) and when they try to look at your shit, play stupid and blame them for it being fucked up. Make a big stink for their stupidity, take down their badge numbers and by the time they figure it out, you're gone baby!
You are dumb as a box of rocks, asshole.
I wonder if the USB spec allows for a TVS on the port to protect it from things like this.
I would put one in if I was designing a board that was somewhat critical. I would hope people designing electronics for aircraft would do the same.
Probably too many Joules for even a TVS to handle, seriously.
with clamping diodes and fuses. But that costs more money.
Yeah, well even ESD protection has its limits. This thing is pure evil. And not even particularly clever evil.
Damn! Is there ANY legit reason for this "USB Taser" to exist?!?
Thank you KenCurry for saying the correct thing.
I pointed that out, too.
I'm not saying that there are no (or won't be any) Lightning headphones. I'm pointing out that those headphones will only work with Apple iOS devices. There aren't Lightning ports on Sony consumer equipment, Dell desktop machines, or even Apple laptops. So if I buy a pair of nice Lightning headphones, I'm severely limited in how and where I can use them.
1. l don't think that there is a proscription by Apple on putting a Lightning Port on ANYTHING, as long as you are a member of the MFi Program as a Developer or Manufacturer. So, it is Dell, Sony, etc. that are the problem there; not Apple. Let's put the blame where it belongs, shall we?
2. Any of those hypothetical Lightning headphones would work FINE with anything with a 3.5mm jack, if the manufacturer simply included a Lightning adapter. Not practical on a $10 set of earbuds; but on a $50 set, certainly. And how many headphones STILL come with a 3.5mm 1/4" adapter to this very day? Almost all. So don't tell me it isn't practical.
Its just that the royalties on lightning are so high, any device having that port is double the price!
It's now something like $4 per connector. I agree that that is kind of high; but it's been going down steadily; so hopefully it will go down even more now.
BTW, there are Royalties (Licensing Fees) on Bluetooth and Aptx (including having a proprietary chipset for Aptx), too; yet no one seems to whine about that. Why?
But the thing is, carrying around an adapter in your pocket all day sucks. Having to remember to bring a different cable if you plan to hook your headphones up to your phone sucks.
You know what every professional sound engineer has in abundance? Adapters. I don't even do it for a living anymore, and I still have a little tacklebox FULL of RCA ,-> 3.5mm, 1/4" 1/8" (3.5mm), Stereo "Y" cords of several types, Male - Male, Female - Female, Female - Male Adapters, Balanced XLR Unbalanced XLR, XLR 1/4" TRS, etc. et FUCKING cetera. And you know what? MANY times it would take MORE THAN ONE Adapter to get from "here" to "there".
And we liked it. Well, not really; but we didn't Fucking WHINE about it incessantly, like someone snatched their firstborn or something, sheesh!!!
So seriously, having to hook up a little 2" adapter cable (that is honestly not much larger than the cable itself) to convert your coveted $10 analog earbuds to the lightning connector on your phone for the next couple of years (after which Lightning earbuds will be nearly as ubiquitous as 3.5mm earbuds are now) or just using the SUPPLIED Lightning headset for the time being, IS NOT WORTH ALL THIS HATE.
God DAMN, but you people are such insufferable spoiled brats! Oh, I've got to remember an ADAPTER! FFS...
Get over yourselves. Seriously. This SUPPOSED to be a "tech" site; and yet, when someone tries to move "tech" forward, they get PILLORIED for it, along with anyone who DARES to support them.
Firewire much?
Firewire is a spectacular interface. Just ask the pro audio and video people. Do you know how many channels of audio you can carry over even a 400 mb/s Firewire connection? It's truly astounding.
And BTW, Thunderbolt is even better in that regard. LOTS better; because it has stuff in it to take care of timestamping issues, and because it is MUCH faster.
"which was going completely unused 99% of the time"
In the universe I live in, I can't leave my house without seeing a kid using wired ear buds. They're ubiquitous. Current market statistics say that almost half of those people are using iPhones.
What universe do you live in? I've never been there.
Sorry if I was unclear: I meant the Lightning connector is unused most of the time. They just decided to make it "more used" an simultaneously got more room and better water-resistance as part of the bargain.
As far as "Costs" go, right now it is a LOSS, because Apple had to redesign the Ear Pods to be Lightning (when they COUL have just said "Use the Adapter", AND include an Adapter. And they are selling that Adapter as a separate piece for only NINE DOLLARS; so no one should be able to accuse them of a money-grab here.
They truly ARE trying to push everyone forward. And they will succeed.
My familiarity with 86 come from the restaurant industry - if something is unavailable (special, menu item etc... it is 86'd or 86 the quiche etc...)
I knew the restaurant reference; just not the etymology of the term.
And, by the way, Macs for all? You'll NEVER force your fucking obsolete garbage on me. If you gave me a Mac for free, I'd smash it into little pieces with a sledgehammer and jam every single last shard directly into your asshole. But, I'm sure you'd like that, you faggot. FUCK YOU, your whore mother, loser father, and any women desperate and drunk enough to get within 20 meters of you.
Wow. Just. Wow.
Slashdot: THIS is why AC Posting MUST END!!!
Seriously; is that anything even APPROACHING "rational discourse"? Does that add ANYTHING WHATSOEVER to the Conversation?
And yet, that post is "left alone" (surprised it wasn't upmodded to "+5 Insightful"), while post after post of MINE were SYSTEMATICALLY marked either "Flamebait" or "Troll", NO MATTER WHAT.
Slashdot's Moderation system only works if people use it REASONABLY. It has LONG SINCE jumped that particular Shark, and it is HIGH TIME FOR AC POSTING TO GO. These COWARDS would NEVER Post that INSANE SHIT if they had to "sign their name" to it. NEV-ER. Because, afterall, THEY ARE COWARDS, JUST LIKE ALL BULLIES...