iPhone 7 will pass analog audio through the Lightning port

[dustinsc]

I just want to get my iPhone 7 prediction on the record:

Apple will remove the 3.5 mm audio port, but will not remove the DAC for headphones. Instead, Apple will pass the analog audio output to the lightning port, using four contacts on sides of the port. Two will be on the sides (let's say for the right and left channels), and will double as the contacts that hold the lightning connector in place. A headphone adapter would have two corresponding contacts on the side of the connector. Two more connectors will be at the rear of the port. These would function as the microphone channel, and a single corresponding contact would be on the connector. The phone would recognize the orientation of the adapter based on which of the two contacts on the port makes contact.

Port
__0____0__
|..............|
0.............0
|..............|

Connector/Adapter
_____0__
|...........|
0..........0
|...........|


Adapters for old headphones would be trivial to make, as they would simply pass each contact to the corresponding channels on the 3.5mm port through a basic connection. I would imagine that third party accessory makers could make these available for a couple bucks.

 

[Newtons Apple]

They will be selling adapters by the millions. I would not bother making one.

Have not used my jack in years.

 

[cynics]

That would be a real kick in the teeth.

Remove the standard analog connector with weak amp merely to make it a proprietary connector with an weak amp.

Virtually no benefit to the end user? I'm over looking something in your thought process I'm sure....?

 

[zhenya]

Why would they do this now but didn't bother to do it from the beginning when the introduction of lightning left millions of 30-pin accessories useless without the expensive and cumbersome 30 pin to lightning adapter containing a DAC?

 

[dustinsc]

That would be a real kick in the teeth.

Remove the standard analog connector with weak amp merely to make it a proprietary connector with an weak amp.

Virtually no benefit to the end user? I'm over looking something in your thought process I'm sure....?

Allows for waterproof design; space used up by 3.5 mm jack can be used for something else.

 

[Beerstalker]

There would be no reason to do it like this. The contacts for the lightning port are dynamically assignable, so if Apple wanted to output analog audio over the lightning port they could do it using the contacts that are already there. There would be no reason to add more contacts to the sides like you are talking about.

 

[off_piste]

I read a while back the Lightning port already sends analog audio so why would they have to change the port?

 

[cynics]

Allows for waterproof design; space used up by 3.5 mm jack can be used for something else.

Meh, waterproof has already been done with a 3.5mm port. Adding another speaker wouldn't hurt though, better than nothing.