Catalyst device for Bluetooth headphones only/death of the headphone jack.

[Smeaton1724]

In discussion with a friend today and we were exchanging ideas, a logical theory appeared that this year we will see wireless headphones go completely mainstream.

- Apple Watch - wireless headphones a must.
- New MacBook Air with minimal thickness, logically the same wireless headphones only.
- iPad redesign, to get any thinner, eliminate the headphone port and use lighting, or go wireless.
- Mac mini formfactor redesign long overdue this year, no headphone port.
- iPhone 7 re-design in 2016 - wireless headphones.
- iPod touch to stay the same, no new form factor.

So within the next 2 years the only NEW devices to offer headphone ports could be the iMac, MacBook Pro and Mac Pro.

Good, bad or about the right time if this were to happen?

 

[Night Spring]

I agree. Also, headphone manufacturers are finally coming out with Bluetooth headphones with acceptable sound quality for music. About two years ago, I looked for Bluetooth headphones and couldn't find one that was portable but had good sound quality. Now I have this:
http://www.bose.com/controller?url=..._headphones/soundlink_oe_headphones/index.jsp

So I think technology is lining up for wireless headphones to go mainstream, maybe in about a year or two. I bet iPhones will eventually come with Bluetooth earbuds instead of wired ones.

 

[Piggie]

I thought battery life was always the issue as opposed to sound quality?

Are we then looking at:

Get ready for bed.

1: Put iPhone on charge.
2: Put Apple watch on charge.
3: Put wireless headphones on charge.

 

[lewisd25]

I thought battery life was always the issue as opposed to sound quality?

Are we then looking at:

Get ready for bed.

1: Put iPhone on charge.
2: Put Apple watch on charge.
3: Put wireless headphones on charge.

Is that really a big issue??

 

[Piggie]

Is that really a big issue??

I guess it depends on the person.
I won't buy a smartphone due to this reason.

My NEW phone I'm getting just over 3 weeks almost 4 to a charge.
I've generally charged my iPad once a week.

The concept of needing to charge a device every single day just to keep it working, to me is a horrid one.

You see, if you were all like me, We would have better, longer lasting smartphones as customers would be demanding this.
As the Makers can see they are selling millions of them, that need a daily charge, then that's what they will continue to make.

It's actually the customers acceptance that is causing things to be like this.

 

[Runt888]

I guess it depends on the person.
I won't buy a smartphone due to this reason.

My NEW phone I'm getting just over 3 weeks almost 4 to a charge.
I've generally charged my iPad once a week.

The concept of needing to charge a device every single day just to keep it working, to me is a horrid one.

You see, if you were all like me, We would have better, longer lasting smartphones as customers would be demanding this.
As the Makers can see they are selling millions of them, that need a daily charge, then that's what they will continue to make.

It's actually the customers acceptance that is causing things to be like this.

Actually, I'd say it's physics that causes things to be like this. if customers required longer battery times, speed and capability would suffer - we would all be using dumb phones like you.

Back on topic - I recieved a pair of bluetooth earbuds for xmas. They sound better than my previous pair of wired earbuds and the battery lasts for about a week (using them a 2-3 hours a day).

 

[Piggie]

Actually, I'd say it's physics that causes things to be like this. if customers required longer battery times, speed and capability would suffer - we would all be using dumb phones like you.

Back on topic - I recieved a pair of bluetooth earbuds for xmas. They sound better than my previous pair of wired earbuds and the battery lasts for about a week (using them a 2-3 hours a day).

No, sorry it's customer acceptance.

If it was clear from sales and customer feedback that a 3 day battery life was the minimum the typical customer would accept it would simply means iPhones would be a little thicker that's all, as 3 days would of become the industry standard as the design/manufacturing stage.

The fact that customers are accepting and buying 1 day batter phones means they will never get round that table at the early design stage and place 3 day batter on the list of "must have's"

I'm not suggesting you change the law of physics here, just bit larger batteries

Wireless charging may help, so I actually may end up with a Lumia 940 towards the end of this year. Just placing a phone on a pad beside me, would feel no biggie.

 

[Night Spring]

Wireless charging may help, so I actually may end up with a Lumia 940 towards the end of this year. Just placing a phone on a pad beside me, would feel no biggie.

Never figured out what the big deal was with induction charging pads. Okay, so placing the device on a pad is marginally faster and more convenient than pluggin in a cable. But the pad still has to be plugged in to an outlet, and you have to bring the pad with you when you travel. Packing th charging pad, versus packing some cables... Same difference.

As for Bluetooth headphones, mine is the same as the other poster said. I use it maybe 2-3 hours a day, and the battery lasts about a week. My headphones even tell me how much charge is left every time I turn them on. In a way, it's easier to keep track of then my iPhone battery level.

 

[Piggie]

Never figured out what the big deal was with induction charging pads. Okay, so placing the device on a pad is marginally faster and more convenient than pluggin in a cable. But the pad still has to be plugged in to an outlet, and you have to bring the pad with you when you travel. Packing th charging pad, versus packing some cables... Same difference.

As for Bluetooth headphones, mine is the same as the other poster said. I use it maybe 2-3 hours a day, and the battery lasts about a week. My headphones even tell me how much charge is left every time I turn them on. In a way, it's easier to keep track of then my iPhone battery level.

Well, I imagine in my mind a fantasy future where, in my desk I have this large pad. Like a mouse pad, perhaps 12" diagonal.

I can place my Tablet, Phone, Headphones! Watch, SatNav, etc etc just onto this pad without any thought, just come home place on the pad, and wander off.

Ok, scratch that, I want the whole table (coffee table) to be a charging area.

At the moment I have a plug/charger like this:

http://www.bombayharbor.com/product...Plug_In_Smart_Li_Ion_Battery_Pack_Charger.JPG

One for my SatNav
One for my Phone
One for my Windows Tablet
One for my iPad
One for my iPod
I could have one for my a smartwatch if I had one
I could have one for my headphones if I had them.

All 7 incompatible, all needing to be plugged in with 7 lengths of wire.

Horrid.

Hence, my utopia dream of say a LARGE area, even a pad that's 20" diagonal, like a thin rubber table mat.

I can place ANY or ALL of my devices onto this 1 single mat, and they all charge.

That's MY future

Just I don't see it coming anytime soon.

Not unless the EU or other enforcement body kicks ever makers arse into making all devices charge of the same format in the future.

 

[Night Spring]

Hence, my utopia dream of say a LARGE area, even a pad that's 20" diagonal, like a thin rubber table mat.

I can place ANY or ALL of my devices onto this 1 single mat, and they all charge.

That's MY future

Yes, that would indeed be utopia.

More likely, each device will come with its own pad which will be incompatible with everything else, and we'll end up with 7 different pads cluttering our tables and needing to be matched up with the correct device.

In which case, plugging cables are better because the plugs take up less room than pads.

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

Well, I imagine in my mind a fantasy future where, in my desk I have this large pad. Like a mouse pad, perhaps 12" diagonal.

I can place my Tablet, Phone, Headphones! Watch, SatNav, etc etc just onto this pad without any thought, just come home place on the pad, and wander off.

Ok, scratch that, I want the whole table (coffee table) to be a charging area.

At the moment I have a plug/charger like this:

http://www.bombayharbor.com/product...Plug_In_Smart_Li_Ion_Battery_Pack_Charger.JPG

One for my SatNav
One for my Phone
One for my Windows Tablet
One for my iPad
One for my iPod
I could have one for my a smartwatch if I had one
I could have one for my headphones if I had them.

All 7 incompatible, all needing to be plugged in with 7 lengths of wire.

Horrid.

Hence, my utopia dream of say a LARGE area, even a pad that's 20" diagonal, like a thin rubber table mat.

I can place ANY or ALL of my devices onto this 1 single mat, and they all charge.

That's MY future

Just I don't see it coming anytime soon.

Not unless the EU or other enforcement body kicks ever makers arse into making all devices charge of the same format in the future.

Think even more ahead in the future and you'll be able to charge all of them wirelessly in the bluetooth range. No need to do anything special while at the computer, in the car, or at work.

 

[Piggie]

Think even more ahead in the future and you'll be able to charge all of them wirelessly in the bluetooth range. No need to do anything special while at the computer, in the car, or at work.

Here is hoping.

And I believe this is one reason why the EU stepped in and wanted to try and force all makers to adopt the same charging device/connection method.

No matter what brand you like, even Apple (who I know would dig their heels in and have to be dragged kicking and screaming toward any standard)

I'm sure 99.999% of consumers would love having 1 charger, with 1 connector that would plug into their whole range of different devices from different brands and have them all charge perfectly from this one wire/connector/charger.

Just would make modern life that bit less annoying.

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

Here is hoping.

And I believe this is one reason why the EU stepped in and wanted to try and force all makers to adopt the same charging device/connection method.

No matter what brand you like, even Apple (who I know would dig their heels in and have to be dragged kicking and screaming toward any standard)

I'm sure 99.999% of consumers would love having 1 charger, with 1 connector that would plug into their whole range of different devices from different brands and have them all charge perfectly from this one wire/connector/charger.

Just would make modern life that bit less annoying.

Apple isn't likely to give up their proprietary connection just to comply with the nanny regulation so they'll issue an adapter just for the EU countries.

 

[Piggie]

Apple isn't likely to give up their proprietary connection just to comply with the nanny regulation so they'll issue an adapter just for the EU countries.

Well, it depends how you view it.

You may call it "nanny regulation" but if it's for the benefit of millions of members of the public, when it's something that does not need to be the way it is, I'd not choose to see it in such a negative light myself.

There are literally thousands of things we all use in every day life that would be a nightmare if every maker and every brand had their own method of working.
We just don't see it, as it's obvious to us NOW that things should just be compatible and work together.

Think of this whilst you are running low on fuel for your car and looking for a "Ford" fuel pump, when you can only find Renault, Mercedes and BMW fuel pumps.

Of you are having to buy mains adaptors as the Toaster, Iron, TV and Radio in your home all come with different shaped plugs for mains power sockets.

Yes, seems stupid if it was like that.

Very often standard are VERY good for consumers, and sometimes, others have to step in a FORCE a standard.

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

Well, it depends how you view it.

You may call it "nanny regulation" but if it's for the benefit of millions of members of the public, when it's something that does not need to be the way it is, I'd not choose to see it in such a negative light myself.

There are literally thousands of things we all use in every day life that would be a nightmare if every maker and every brand had their own method of working.
We just don't see it, as it's obvious to us NOW that things should just be compatible and work together.

Think of this whilst you are running low on fuel for your car and looking for a "Ford" fuel pump, when you can only find Renault, Mercedes and BMW fuel pumps.

Of you are having to buy mains adaptors as the Toaster, Iron, TV and Radio in your home all come with different shaped plugs for mains power sockets.

Yes, seems stupid if it was like that.

Very often standard are VERY good for consumers, and sometimes, others have to step in a FORCE a standard.

Yes and no. Technology changes, leading to even smaller prospective standards, but a large regulatory body like the EU will be slow to update the standard so you'll be stuck with obsolete, oversized connection for longer than necessary.

 

[Piggie]

Yes and no. Technology changes, leading to even smaller prospective standards, but a large regulatory body like the EU will be slow to update the standard so you'll be stuck with obsolete, oversized connection for longer than necessary.

You mean like the 30 pin Apple dock connector they took 11 years to update from?

How about we make the Apple Lightning Connector an open and cross company standard for all devices in the future for the next decade or so ?

I don't care WHO makes the dam thing, just make it an open standard so everyone can use it, and all consumers will reap the benefits.
Incompatibility does not help you and me, the consumers.

 

[sunfire7]

You mean like the 30 pin Apple dock connector they took 11 years to update from?

I actually thank for this since I didn't have to change my cables every time I change my device

 

[Cashmonee]

In discussion with a friend today and we were exchanging ideas, a logical theory appeared that this year we will see wireless headphones go completely mainstream.

- Apple Watch - wireless headphones a must.
- New MacBook Air with minimal thickness, logically the same wireless headphones only.
- iPad redesign, to get any thinner, eliminate the headphone port and use lighting, or go wireless.
- Mac mini formfactor redesign long overdue this year, no headphone port.
- iPhone 7 re-design in 2016 - wireless headphones.
- iPod touch to stay the same, no new form factor.

So within the next 2 years the only NEW devices to offer headphone ports could be the iMac, MacBook Pro and Mac Pro.

Good, bad or about the right time if this were to happen?

I think this is an area Apple has the wrong idea. If they take away something so universal as a headphone jack just make something thinner, I may have to start looking at other options. You need to have a legitimate reason for losing a headphone jack. Thinness doesn't cut it.

 

[Mascots]

You mean like the 30 pin Apple dock connector they took 11 years to update from?

How about we make the Apple Lightning Connector an open and cross company standard for all devices in the future for the next decade or so ?

I don't care WHO makes the dam thing, just make it an open standard so everyone can use it, and all consumers will reap the benefits.
Incompatibility does not help you and me, the consumers.

Because the 30-pin was was proprietary, Apple was able to change the functionality by repurposing pins that had fallen from usage, keeping you from having to buy new cables even they added things such as video out which could never have been supported by older devices. Because it was not open, it didn't matter to retain support as no more devices of that class (FW support, example) were being created or marketed.

I'd think after the whole "open is better" flop with Android that you would be adamant to accept both sides of that coin

 

[BvizioN]

No, sorry it's customer acceptance.

If it was clear from sales and customer feedback that a 3 day battery life was the minimum the typical customer would accept it would simply means iPhones would be a little thicker that's all.

That would be you and your own expectations. Hell, I don't want a thick phone in my pockets and I wouldn't mind it if it becomes slimier without loosing durability. Charging every night may be a big deal for you but not for everyone. Since when am sleeping at night I don't use my electronic devices, I can live with wasting 2.5 seconds to put it on charge and also 2 seconds to unplug it the fallowing morning. No issue at all for me.

And by the way, when I am away from civilisation (mountaineering etc) I have external battery charger that can fully charge it up to 6 times and is just a bit bigger then a box of cigarettes.

 

[Smeaton1724]

Some great replies to my thread, thank you all!

I think this is an area Apple has the wrong idea. If they take away something so universal as a headphone jack just make something thinner, I may have to start looking at other options. You need to have a legitimate reason for losing a headphone jack. Thinness doesn't cut it.

To some extent I agree, for my personal tastes I didn't want a thinner iPad either, I'd prefer one as thick as the iPad 4 but with 20 hours of solid battery life, some things are like the tide, can't fight it.

For my iPhone I'd be good with wired headphones too, I've had everything since the second generation iPod and until very recently didn't think about wireless headphones, wired work and are fine, but it appears there's no other way forward with the Apple watch, wired is a non starter.

I was expecting some responses of 'no won't happen for years' but it appears the idea is out there amongst quite a few of us!