Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Here's What a Headphone Jack to Lightning Adapter Looks Like
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Change is not equivalent to progress. IMO, whether or not it's a 'progression' is yet to be seen. If the rumor pans out to be true, then time will reveal whether or not it was wise from the perspective of design AND marketing.
I'll admit I was one of those whiners when Apple ditched the CD/DVD drive, and honestly, I adapted just fine. Will this be the same? Who knows. Apple pushed for firewire and the rest of the world didn't follow. If Apple pushes for their own proprietary architecture when something equally reliable and more widely accepted (USB C) could have been used, will that result in pushback against Apple? Guess we'll see.
I'm not excited about it, but I'm not going to project failure before we know all the facts. I DEFINITELY don't see myself buying an iPhone 7 if the primary selling point is a headphone jack that's just going to cost me MORE $$$.
I often applaud Apple's decisions to jettison legacy technology for new standards, precisely because that drives new technology. This is different.
First, headphones are audio products more than they are technology products. If you have a great pair of headphones, you don't necessarily "upgrade" to anything, ever. Rather, your goal is to enjoy those headphones as long as you can.
Second, great headphones are very expensive. Those of us who have invested hundreds or thousands in headphones are motivated to keep them for that reason alone.
Third, while adapters exist and Apple surely will make one, having to use an adapter makes the experience worse than it would be without the need for one. If for any reason you can't or won't replace your headphones, that makes a new iPhone inferior to the iPhone you already have (in that respect). While adapters aren't ever fun, they usually are more of a temporary measure than they will be for many in this case.
Fourth, the inconvenience of having to use an adapter is intensified by the fact that iPhone is a portable device. Having to carry an adapter all the time seems unworkable, yet that is exactly what many will need to do.
Fifth, the intended replacement technology -- wireless -- isn't as good as the wired technology it replaces. If you're an audio enthusiast, you probably will notice the difference with wireless.
Sixth, the emerging new technology isn't widely adopted, something that makes a big difference when jettisoning the old one.
For those reasons, Apple would be better off keeping this particular "legacy" port for at least a bit longer.
First, headphones are audio products more than they are technology products. If you have a great pair of headphones, you don't necessarily "upgrade" to anything, ever. Rather, your goal is to enjoy those headphones as long as you can.
Second, great headphones are very expensive. Those of us who have invested hundreds or thousands in headphones are motivated to keep them for that reason alone.
Third, while adapters exist and Apple surely will make one, having to use an adapter makes the experience worse than it would be without the need for one. If for any reason you can't or won't replace your headphones, that makes a new iPhone inferior to the iPhone you already have (in that respect). While adapters aren't ever fun, they usually are more of a temporary measure than they will be for many in this case.
Fourth, the inconvenience of having to use an adapter is intensified by the fact that iPhone is a portable device. Having to carry an adapter all the time seems unworkable, yet that is exactly what many will need to do.
Fifth, the intended replacement technology -- wireless -- isn't as good as the wired technology it replaces. If you're an audio enthusiast, you probably will notice the difference with wireless.
Sixth, the emerging new technology isn't widely adopted, something that makes a big difference when jettisoning the old one.
For those reasons, Apple would be better off keeping this particular "legacy" port for at least a bit longer.
It's all a mirage to have the customer dumbfounded by this instead of a lack in innovation.
Why does the phone need to be skinny? I only use bluetooth headphones but when they die, its nice to ONLY carry a pair of headphones, not an additional adapter. If the space of the headphone jack has been causing the battery to be smaller wouldn't they have addressed this with the iphone 4? basically the phone doesn't need to be a brick but not as skinny as it is now. Look at the hunchback battery pack... if they made the phone maybe 1/8 inch thicker with battery occupying that space, you wouldn't necessarily need to purchase a spare battery pack. Maybe 1 hour more of phone use...? It just doesn't make any sense other than they are hyping this to have everyone be distracted versus allow more something better to come out of the next phone... I doubt the 7 will lose the headphone jack as they'll likely save it for the 7s' or whatever they're going to call it as it will be the 10th.
Why does the phone need to be skinny? I only use bluetooth headphones but when they die, its nice to ONLY carry a pair of headphones, not an additional adapter. If the space of the headphone jack has been causing the battery to be smaller wouldn't they have addressed this with the iphone 4? basically the phone doesn't need to be a brick but not as skinny as it is now. Look at the hunchback battery pack... if they made the phone maybe 1/8 inch thicker with battery occupying that space, you wouldn't necessarily need to purchase a spare battery pack. Maybe 1 hour more of phone use...? It just doesn't make any sense other than they are hyping this to have everyone be distracted versus allow more something better to come out of the next phone... I doubt the 7 will lose the headphone jack as they'll likely save it for the 7s' or whatever they're going to call it as it will be the 10th.
It's funny how Gruber states that the complaints play out the same each time Apple removes certain things, and here we are with a thread multiple pages long doing exactly that. "But, but, but I have X dollars of headphones / speakers invested and don't want to change anything about that." - because no one wants to change.
It's been this way forever, regardless of what the change is. Leaded gas to unleaded, incandescent to led bulbs (happening now), floppy (8") to 5.25" to 3.5" to Zip drive, to cd-rom to dvd to thumb drive to streaming. You invest in things that become a standard, but so much we live with daily, at least as far as technology goes, has lifetimes that are fleeting moments, at best, right now.
It's been this way forever, regardless of what the change is. Leaded gas to unleaded, incandescent to led bulbs (happening now), floppy (8") to 5.25" to 3.5" to Zip drive, to cd-rom to dvd to thumb drive to streaming. You invest in things that become a standard, but so much we live with daily, at least as far as technology goes, has lifetimes that are fleeting moments, at best, right now.
According to the BBC:
"More than 300,000 people have signed a petition urging Apple not to ditch the headphone socket from the version of the iPhone due for release this autumn."
http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-36606220
Apple might need to consider that dropping a floppy disc and a headphone jack are not in the same category. As for waterproofing, Samsung & Sony have done it without sacrificing the audio jack.
"More than 300,000 people have signed a petition urging Apple not to ditch the headphone socket from the version of the iPhone due for release this autumn."
http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-36606220
Apple might need to consider that dropping a floppy disc and a headphone jack are not in the same category. As for waterproofing, Samsung & Sony have done it without sacrificing the audio jack.
The lightning connector still allowed me to charge my phone and listen to music. That's actually my biggest concern. I'll go buy three or 4 sets of lightning headphones if I have to.
Noble BTS is a good bluetooth receiver for 99 bucks. There are cheaper ones out there no doubt.
You keep it plugged in to your headphones and it just makes the cord longer. Not really an inconvenience. I do agree with the rest of your points, however.
Those technologies were still extremely popular and standard in OEM devices when Apple pulled the plug. There were just as many people throwing tantrums then too.
Wireless headphones are also gaining in popularity and wires are a PITA when on the go.
I'm hoping the rumors are true because it would mean better and more affordable wired and wireless headphone options are around the corner.
the real problem with headphones is that it's a piece of technology that people see should last them upwards of 5-10 years. floppy disks were cheap and very easily replaceable.
Great... I would like to also charge my phone and plug in headphones. And charge my phone in the car and plug in aux. And sync with my computer while charging/listen to headphones. Oh wait.
Nice. Great upgrade.
Well here is a phone I will resist buying for as long as humanly possible. When in the past I have jumped on every upgrade at release. Despise this idea. Same garbage they did with the MacBook, and it makes no sense. Apparently Apple thinks nobody does multiple things at once. Even if the headphones are wireless, what about my car? I have an 08 BMW without bluetooth, so my only option is Aux. Just supposed to drain the phone battery all day while we drive?
Nice. Great upgrade.
Well here is a phone I will resist buying for as long as humanly possible. When in the past I have jumped on every upgrade at release. Despise this idea. Same garbage they did with the MacBook, and it makes no sense. Apparently Apple thinks nobody does multiple things at once. Even if the headphones are wireless, what about my car? I have an 08 BMW without bluetooth, so my only option is Aux. Just supposed to drain the phone battery all day while we drive?
Are you somehow under the impression that this is what is being produced by Apple, if this rumor turns out to be true in the first place?
No kidding. If you're referring to Rene Richie (or even Serenity Caldwell) what a couple of uncritical Apple loving airheads.
Phew. Glad I'm not scared of a future without a headphone jack. So many peeps on here are running for the hills.
Idiotic. Crappy wireless Bluetooth sound, or an easily lost and awkward adapter. Looks like the 6S gets a long life, and I'll be wary of buying an iPhone model again. Not ruling it out, but "Bad for the consumer, Good For Apple" is the sort of phrase like "Screw you, I got mine". Nice money grab.
Maddening.
Maddening.
You're adapting it the wrong way, but that works great if Apple drops the lightning connector instead.
There's still a cord using lightning. How is this stimulating wireless? Bluetooth has a long way to go.
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
No, why add something? This is likely about "thinner" (and profitability in proprietary licensing fees and adapters).
Next year, the battery can go to make it even thinner. After all, "we" apparently don't mind buying and rolling with adapters here, and there are already battery cases.
Year after that, the camera can go to make it even thinner. Since it is a certainty that an add-on camera could be purchased (separately) that would be able to take higher quality photos than what the camera inside the phone can shoot, this seems even more likely (in the name of quality).
Both battery and camera are technologies more "antiquated" than 3.5mm, so why not? As you can see around here, the Apple fans will roll with anything Apple wants to dish out... even work hard to convince others why they are wrong to fault concepts like now having a "tail" (adapter) hanging out of their iPhones. Apple is always right (to some people). A future iPhone could be made out of razor blades and some will argue the benefits- no GENIUS- of regularly refreshing our blood supply.
Year after the camera goes, Lightning jack can go because it will probably be too thick for that iDevice generation. Tip up your iDevice right now and consider it's thickness vs. "thinner" goals. Then see "the future."
A couple of years from now, all the nay-sayers will be enjoying their devices with improved sound quality (and adapter-free), and no one will want to go back to a 3.5mm jack and plug.
Sorry folks, the advancement of technology can't be stopped, nor should it be.
Sorry folks, the advancement of technology can't be stopped, nor should it be.