Will you miss the headphone jack? (iPhone 7 discussion)

[anat0l]

Having taken out the headphone jack, is there anything identifiable that Apple have done with the real estate within the phone that adds extra functionality? That is, is there a 'justifiable' trade-off?

Or was it another change for change's (and profit's) sake?

I'm not sure as I haven't checked the specs, but one effect of removing the headphone jack is that the thickness of the device could be reduced.

I guess it is also one less fault point, and one less entry point for water damage.

If I am not mistaken, you can't support digital audio effectively through the current 3.5 mm headphone jack. That's not a particular reason to get rid of it, as most find headphone quality sound quite acceptable, even if it isn't the very best.


Apple are very much in the game of economising the real estate and connections on their devices. Look at a Macbook Air - super, super thin, but pretty much nil external connections. That presents a challenge for some power users who need to use it in various environments (e.g. giving presentations, hooking up to different networks, etc.)

 

[anat0l]

Re: The totally off-topic thread

What are the chances of buying the phone on Friday, big long winding queues aside?

I thought most of the pundits would have already put in a pre-order for theirs, with that list appropriately backlogged as it is.

You can always pay someone to stand (and/or sleep) in line for you to get one; how desperate are you to get your hands on it?

 

[RooFlyer]

What are the chances of buying the phone on Friday, big long winding queues aside?

Fair dinkum, one of the funniest things in modern life are the 'cool people' standing in queues, or otherwise desperate to get any new iPhone the day its released; preferably within the hour. Just like trained animals responding to a learned stimulus.

For the love of Mike, why is it so important to get it straight away? (a rhetorical question, not aimed at anyone here)

<snip>
If I am not mistaken, you can't support digital audio effectively through the current 3.5 mm headphone jack. That's not a particular reason to get rid of it, as most find headphone quality sound quite acceptable, even if it isn't the very best.

Apple are very much in the game of economising the real estate and connections on their devices. Look at a Macbook Air - super, super thin, but pretty much nil external connections. That presents a challenge for some power users who need to use it in various environments (e.g. giving presentations, hooking up to different networks, etc.)

I read ... somewhere ... that the much touted (by Apple) Bluetooth audio connection will result in degraded audio compared to direct cabling, due to the compression of the digital signal. Any ideas?

Form over function - that seems to be Apple all over. My loathing for 'designer' anything extends to electronics.

I went to iPhone when the 6 came out as I was fed up with my Android phone not synching properly with my Sony laptop and I liked the big screen (still do). (Notwithstanding that I have to go into Options and tick the iPhone add-in every bloody time I start Windows - grrr.) Now the Sony has been replaced with a Toshiba, I may well go back to Samsung when they stop them burning up.

 

[OATEK]

The headphone jack is one of those things that can have many knock on effects. A lot of homes will have a simple music system, where they have been able to play music from their phone through the headphone jack, don't have bluetooth capability, and now find they are looking at something else to replace. And their slightly older car has a headphone jack for input, but no bluetooth. These things are fine for those that have all the up to the minute infrastructure in their possession, but can become a burden for the less well off.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Re: The totally off-topic thread

What are the chances of buying the phone on Friday, big long winding queues aside?

100% for me. Pre-ordered, pick up instore

 

[UP4014]

The headphone jack is one of those things that can have many knock on effects. A lot of homes will have a simple music system, where they have been able to play music from their phone through the headphone jack, don't have bluetooth capability, and now find they are looking at something else to replace. And their slightly older car has a headphone jack for input, but no bluetooth. These things are fine for those that have all the up to the minute infrastructure in their possession, but can become a burden for the less well off.

Agree, or even those alarm clocks I once could charge a phone with as it has a fixed plug in the base.

The phone industry has no use for people who can't afford the latest.

 

[anat0l]

I read ... somewhere ... that the much touted (by Apple) Bluetooth audio connection will result in degraded audio compared to direct cabling, due to the compression of the digital signal. Any ideas?

I haven't read around to find out, but my impression would have been that there should be no degradation. Bluetooth shouldn't really be flaky technology, especially at a distance less than a metre away.

Surely the pundits would have tested this out by now using Apple's stock wireless headphones included with the iPhone 7.

 

[Skyring]

The phone industry has no use for people who can't afford the latest.

Since buying some Bluetooth noise-cancellers in Do Buy earlier this year, headphone jacks and cords are things of the past, so it's not a thing for me.

Where Apple leads others generally follow. As with getting rid of floppies, optical drives and hard drives, this will likely be the way things go in the future. Those with headphone or earphone leads will find they are behind the curve.

And, just quietly, but I detest being tethered to the IFE by a cable. In the middle of the night in some cramped Y seat, I'm all but stuck in a web of cords that get tangled up with each other and me. Now I can eliminate one cable. Bonus.

All of the leading electronics companies try to introduce killer new features. One, for a jump on the competition. Those who hesitate, fall behind and die, Nokia, Blackberry, for example. Two, because new features often represent more power or convenience. And three, because it's cool.

But cool in itself is an arid and fickle thing. One can't depend on just being new and different and cool. There's only so far you can go with that. At some point, new features have got to be useful and worth the cost, otherwise you lose the mass market and find a niche to curl up and die in.

Having said that, there are no shortage of phones that are a year or so behind the cutting edge. Just go into JB hifi and check out the handset prices at the bottom end. It's like going back in time, but without the expense.

 

[equus]

I am surprised there is not more mention of Bluetooth receiver/transmitter adapters that have 3.5mm jacks. For instance Bluetooth Transmitter| Music Adapter | Saturn Pro - Avantree

These will either act as transmitters (great to send from a 3.5mm headphone jack to Bluetooth headphones), or equally as a receiver (plug wired headphones into the receiver which is pair to a blue tooth transmitting device). They even come in pairs (so you can create a wireless link between your 3.5mm jack device, and wired headphones).

Other than the extra device (quite small), for an iPhone 7, both the phone and the Avantree can be plugged in and charging whilst in use - so no problem running out of charge....

 

[moa999]

Look at a Macbook Air - super, super thin, but pretty much nil external connections. )

More interesting is that Apple ditched Lightning for the USB-C in the Macbook Air, but hasn't in this iphone.
Suspect that might change next time round, I wouldn't be spending up much on Lightning accessories.

Note that I would buy an idevice, but for now 3.5mm is key for me.
I have a couple of BT headsets that I do use, but also a cheap 3.5mm set in my gym bag, a set of earloop ones for running and a passive noise cancelling set.
While the BT puck is OK its just another device that you need to keep charged.

 

[NM]

Having taken out the headphone jack, is there anything identifiable that Apple have done with the real estate within the phone that adds extra functionality? That is, is there a 'justifiable' trade-off?

Or was it another change for change's (and profit's) sake?

They added stereo speakers, rather than mono + headphone socket.

 

[Pushka]

Any reviews yet?

 

[JessicaTam]

More interesting is that Apple ditched Lightning for the USB-C in the Macbook Air, but hasn't in this iphone.
Suspect that might change next time round, I wouldn't be spending up much on Lightning accessories.

Note that I would buy an idevice, but for now 3.5mm is key for me.
I have a couple of BT headsets that I do use, but also a cheap 3.5mm set in my gym bag, a set of earloop ones for running and a passive noise cancelling set.
While the BT puck is OK its just another device that you need to keep charged.

The MacBook Air still has the thunderbolt port. (Lightning is a mobile device connector.)

The Macbook has a USB-C connector and is a new model stream of Apple laptops so does not have a direct predecessor.

It would be good to see USB-C on all the mobile iDevices, but I think it would be difficult for them to justify as it is physically a similar size to lightning.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Any reviews yet?

Well I got mine out of the box and it looks pretty

 

[RooFlyer]

There was a report on ABC radio yesterday (so it must be true), that the headphone jack is still there, its just been concealed by the hard case.

It should be possible to drill through the case to find out.

Care to have a go, Princess Fiona?

 

[marki]

So how is the iPhone seven ? Tell us a bit more PF

 

[Pushka]

So how is the iPhone seven ? Tell us a bit more PF

It looks very pretty and that is essential.

 

[marki]

It looks very pretty and that is essential.

Any other very essential data from hands on experience would be much appreciated! Ie is it quicker!?

 

[Termite]

How long till the 7S?

 

[JessicaTam]

We should make a seperate thread for iPhone 7 reviews by members thread!

If there are over seven 7 likes will start a seperate thread !

This thread is for iPhone 7 discussion/reviews/whatever (including the lack of a headphone jack).