The iPhone 7 has been announced and the rumors were true; they've removed the headphone jack. Now you'll need an adapter to use your standard headphones. This is probably fine for the majority of iPhone users but it's impractical for me.
I'm addicted to my iPhone. I use it for both work and play on a daily basis. I film footage with my phone for our behind the scenes series and I also use it at times for professional jobs as well. I have approximately 6 different sets of headphones that I use with my DSLRs while we film that I will also use to listen to music or podcasts with my phone. When I play my digital drum kit at home, I plug my phone into my kit via the headphone jack for music backing. When I get in my car, or a rental car, I use the aux port to play music. The idea that I am going to buy an adapter for each of these devices is ridiculous or the idea that I am going to carry an adapter with me everywhere I go is even more absurd.
I know that I'm probably not an "average" iPhone user and you may only have one set of headphones that you use but there is one more annoying issue. The flaw with Apple's design is that even if you don't mind using an adapter for your headphones, you can't charge your phone while listening to music at the same time. I would imagine that the majority of people with long commutes like to charge their phones while they pipe music through the aux port in their car.
Phil Schiller has recently come out and said that if you want to charge and listen to music, you can purchase an iPhone Lightning Dock that is designed to sit on a desk and cost $50.
Belkin has announced that they are releasing a Lightning splitter which would allow you charge and listen to music via Lightning headphones but if you want to use standard headphones you will need to use a second adapter. This option is also too cumbersome to be taken seriously.
I've never been satisfied with my iPhone's battery life. Maybe it's fine for 99% of users but I want to be able to use my phone literally all day long without needing to charge. For this reason, I have put a battery case on every single one of my iPhones to double, or sometimes triple, my battery life.
My current battery case converts the proprietary Lightning connector on the bottom of the phone into a standard micro USB slot. This has saved me from buying extra Lightning cables for all of my computers at home and at the office. Every room in my house already has some device which uses micro USB.
We already know that it is possible to charge the iPhone 7 and listen to music with the help of Apples dock. I'm praying that one of these battery case manufacturers will include a micro USB for charging and transferring files and a headphone jack for music.
In a perfect world I want an iPhone that is double the thickness with 2 days of battery life, a headphone jack, a micro USB jack, and a Lightning jack. I seriously doubt that will ever happen though. I've heard some people say that they believe Apple will be forced to back pedal and will include the headphone jack back in the iPhone 7s or 8 but I doubt they will. If you look at their track record, they love proprietary cables and I don't remember them ever doing a complete 180 with their designs.
I was planning to buy an iPhone 7 but at this point I'm going to wait for a battery case with a headphone jack to be released. A wire-free world sounds awesome, but I use my phone with too many devices to make that a reality today.
Like really? Get over yourselves already. It's nothing new for Apple, they've been pioneers in pushing new standards and abandoning old ones for decades. Does USB ring a bell? FireWire? Thunderbolt? Gigabit Ethernet?
But guess what, Apple is not even the first one this time around; with Intel advocating for it (http://www.pcworld.com/article/3061884/mobile/intel-calls-for-the-end-of...) and apparently nobody seemed to care when Moto did it (http://www.androidcentral.com/moto-zs-usb-c-headphone-jack-adapter)? Nobody cares because Moto doesn't matter and Intel needs a hardware partner that can push volumes to make a technology change happen. This wasn't any different for USB, FireWire, Thunderbolt and it'll happen again for USB-C and wireless, with Apple & Intel being the initial driving forces behind it.
I get it, people don't like change, but if one can't handle change then it's better to swear off technology altogether. It's just not for you.
Everything is going to be alright. Take deep breaths.
You surely meant to reply to all the posts of people hyperventilating that their irreplaceable headphone jack is gone, right?
Having the 6s+ means the phone is always uncomfortable to have in my pocket. So I started using the Jaybird wireless headset so I can have the phone in my bag. Personally I won't miss the jack, but it does seem like a mistake that other customers will suffer for. They should have released the wireless headphones months ago. That way more people would be adapted to a wireless way of life.
Most of the people commenting on this post didn't even read it. I understand that most iPhone users don't need the headphone jack. I still do.
I read your post, but you have to understand where apple is coming from.
Yes, you need the jack because your current setup requires it. But that would be like people saying they still want disk based media because they have a setup for it and don't want to adapt to digital.
Short term frustrations will subside and bluetooth technology will continue to get better. And just like we are slowly moving into a digital only world for all our media, we will move into a wireless world for a phones.
I dunno, have you ever taken a 8+ hour flight? It's going to be so annoying having to charge wireless headphones all the time or carry extra batteries for the bigger headphones when extended headphone listening is needed.
Also how does audio sharing with Bluetooth work? If you want to listen to a movie with your gf/wife/travel friend, can both people connect to wireless audio? I thought it was just one device per connection.
That's a great point. Never thought about that.
Apple website says the battery life on 1 charge is up to 5 hours, then you will put them back in their case which happen to be a portable charging base for 15min to get extra 3 hours.
But you are focusing and debating on an accessory, which actually cost you an insane 1/3 of the phone cost. Doesn't fit for you ? Too expensive ? Just don't buy it.
In the iPhone box, you'll get this little adapter to still use your good old headphones. And nothing will change except this extra 2 inches cable where you'll plug your splitter with two 3.5mm jacks if you want to share music with your neighbour.
Just use the adapter on the flight?? For photographers you guys don't seem very adaptable...
Just use the adapter!
You think that will be the only adapter? I'm sure rocket fish or something similar will have another one out. Or you could just ya know not buy the phone. Troubleshooting is the #1 trait a photographer can have. Doesn't seem like you can do that.
Don't worry. I was sad too. How else am I going to ignore people at grocery stores when I'm food shopping?
https://youtu.be/65_PmYipnpk
Really? Read your headline one more time; still confused by people not understanding you mean a battery-jack-case is the only hope _for you_?
You make a fair point for your predicament, but the headline is pure click bait. Of course you'll get replies from people who haven't read the whole thing 😳
Absolutely agree. The title is worse click bait than buzzfeed. With pre orders already sold out the iPhone is doing fine and doesn't need an "only hope"
Agreed.
I agree Lee - I keep reading comments and feel like writing "did you read the article or just the headline?"
What they should have done is kept the 3.2mm audio jack and replaced they lighting socket which is the first thing that wears out on iphones 5 onwards. I don't care about the headphones, why listen to headphones while driving when bluetooth connectivity is so good with in car audio systems these days
I actually am looking forward to all the features. While I enjoy photography, I am also an audiophile and looking forward to where headphones, DACs with an app can elevate audio to an new level. But again thats just me. Not saying I would get it, I actually am an iPhone SE type guy (cant stand big phones), but can benefit from all the audio technology that will get pushed further because of this. Any phone with a lightning jack, and with or without analog audio will reap the benefits. I am more than curious how this camera technology will look like. Still, a camera alone won't sway me from buying this. I think for what it is, its a good phone and a good effort to have a camera with you at all times, that just plain works. Im not talking the best camera of all time, just something that works plain and simple. And as far as batteries and docs and such, Apple isn't the only company that sells these things. You don't have to buy apple accessories, so the point of extravagant prices is moot. Just don't buy it, there are others out there. If the new airpods are not for you, then don't buy it. Why do people bitch about things they don't need to get. I get wanting an apple phone if you have vested your workflow into it. What I can say is, I am a fan of hardware and software working together. And Apple does that for me just right. I haven't had a good experience with older Android phones with updated firmware and hardware. Im sure there are ways to "get it to work" but nothing like Apple can, in the way they do it. OMG this looks like a rant, ill stop now and push post anyways.
The worst thing about the new iPhone is that it takes the attention away from Canon's poor effort with the 5D.
I'll bite, why is the 5D IV a poor effort? For photographers it's looking to be a great upgrade. For video, get the better XC15 or a C100 which feature the Digic DV processors which are optimised for video and are broadcast quality.
The 5D series is a stills camera first and foremost for general purpose photography, it's always added video as a second choice for ENG scenarios just like the 1Dx. Now if any of the other cameras or manufacturers that can match the DPAF, lens selection and professional level of support Canon provides then they might be able to complain. Bang for buck the feature list on the 5D IV is pretty damned good especially in 6-12 months when the prices settle down. Just like the upgrade from the 5D II to the 5D III didn't look much in practice it was a massive difference and it wasn't just down to the new AF it was the quality of life improvements that don't feature on the specs list.
I agree Daris. I looked at the 5D4 release and thought "that thing looks awesome". Then I read the comments on photography forums and it looked like everyone swallowed Canon's competitors' marketing kool-aid. Why all the hate for something so good?
And I shoot Nikon DSLR and Sony mirrorless.
Well the original 5D was the best still camera for the price. The 5DII was was best still camera and only slr that shot video. The 5DIII lost some ground against Nikon and Sony for still quality, but it was still one of the best options for video. Certainly as a hybrid, it was the best all rounder. The Mark IV is significantly behind Nikon and Sony in resolution, noise performance and dynamic range and is significantly behind Sony and Panasonic in terms of video usability. I wanted to love the MarkIV as I've used the brand for 10 years, but the Mark IV was just a gutless offering by Canon. They're trying to seep rate their product lineup when they were the first to offer a hybrid. For my needs, which doesn't require great auto focus speed, the Sony A7RII destroys the Mark IV. Like I mentioned above, I would have way preferred decent Mark IV but facts are facts.
Stand your ground, working in a camera shop, I completely agree the 5d Mark IV is underwhelming.
It makes no sense to me that they make a song and dance about pro quality 4K video, then take away the option to use a better quality mic whilst mounted on a gimbal (most of which cover the Lightning port).
@leemoris ,You'll get use to it! And you'll very soon realize this article was just "old you" complaining about change and evolution. You are right, Most people can't embrace change unless it's forced, everybody likes to sit in their comfort zone and complain about others lack of innovation.
Remember the old ipod connectors? the big sim cards? Firewire 800? The 4in iPhones ?
You'll catch up!
I have no doubt I will but it will be years until all of my headphones are wireless.
Pickup a pair of Samsung gear earbuds if they go on sale. That's what I did while still using my wired Bose headphones. the money commitment wasn't huge so I figured I'd sell if I didn't like them. Ended up loving them and now own no wired headphones. It was gradual though but I think you should give them a chance without investing too much.
I've got to say that as a non Apple user I've found the whole kerfuffle over the headphone jack kinda humorous. Personally I stream my music via bluetooth pretty much everywhere I go, in my family room, in my car, in my wife's car, in the RV. The only place in the house where I play music through a wired connection is at my desk, where my speakers are hooked up to an external DAC. Meanwhile, being a bit of an audiophile, I have a portable DAC/AMP combo that I use to drive my headphones. Guess what, it connects to my phone via the micro USB port, or (gasp) via Bluetooth. If the next Samsung Note didn't have a headphone jack, I'm not so sure I'd miss it.
I'm just waiting for the Note 7's battery issue to be fixed then I'll get one! iPhone 6 Plus is my current phone and would be my last Apple product that I will own.
iPhone are very good phones - there's no doubt on that. But the hefty price tag for a piece of tech that is lacking innovation for the past 2 generations drove me away as their customer. Android, on the other hand, has never impressed me - until the Note 7 came. Too bad it has battery issues right now, but I'll wait for it.... or hopefully something else "better" will come up.
I was a really hoping Apple would have introduced the iPhonePro for those who need triple battery life, better camera options and still in the small format...not the plus format....never once have I heard someone say I wish the iPhone was thinner....majority of people bloat the thickness with our protective cases....
Funniest thing is the announcement that this is the best iPhone ever...duh...if you release an iPhone that isn't better than the previous..you will lose business.....this is the BEST camera on the iPhone ever.....
Sadly disappointed in the update...give me an iPhone Pro
For me the problem is the accessories that require a headphone jack such as the Square swiper.
Yeah, and trigger trap!
Pretty sure Square will have a Lightning swiper ready soon.
I have an iphone 5 and have been waiting it out for the 7 to arrive. Once I saw that in fact there would be only a single port - a lightening port -- on the iphone 7, I have been searching for exactly the battery case described here. I use my phone all day long and seek to minimize the number of items i am forced to carry around and deal with on a day to day basis, which means that i need a battery case that is married to the phone and charges simultaneously with the phone, and is otherwise self contained. So I guess I could get by with the apple case that has the" look through" lightening port, and then add a dongle to it if I needed to charge it and use tethered headphones at the same time, but why do I want to deal with all that stuff hanging all over the place, and add all that stuff to the items that I need to keep track of? A mobile phone is for convenience and to be "mobile" means not to require "binders full of accessories". So I'm debating the 6 vs 7 and will probably hold out on buying the 7 until I find out whether a battery case similar to the one described here -- one with built in options and accessories (including the ability to charge and tether both traditional and lightning port headphones at the same time, and without all sorts of dongles) -- becomes available. I'll be watching this space in anticipation of someone finding that case. And by the way, I get all the folks who say switch to android, but I just don't have time for that complication right now. Again, mobile phones are for convenience and relearning a new system and integrating it into other aspects of my life is just too much hassle. Its the same reason you don't switch banks every time one bank offers you a marginally better deal on one or two or even three aspects of the banking relationship.
I am waiting for the next Mophie.
Im one of the few people who update and want the newest iphone but still listen to my music on my 160gb ipod classic.....also...the apple earbuds never stayed in my oversize ears so my junk drawer is full of new unused buds and a Zune player.
The thing about Apple is (and most of you should know this by now), they don't make devices for today. They make devices for ten years from now. And in Apple's future, cords are non-existent. Wireless keyboards, mouses, printers. So why not headphones? I honest;y don't see the big deal. Either buy a pair of Bluetooth headphones, or don't by the new iPhone. Simple as that.
The bottom line is that Apple makes products for the bottom line. Customers are simply points on a bell curve that measures who will buy the next product and how much they are prepared to pay.
Unfortunately for Lee Morris, he's an outlier on the bell curve, to be ignored.
And you know what? Most people who get the iPhone 7 either already have a set of wireless headphones, or will flat-out buy a set. And a year from now, they'll all be thinking "this no-cables thing is pretty neat". People are naturally afraid of change. Most refuse to change their set ways. It really does take someone with as much marketplace influence as Apple to make things simpler.
I think it's a smart move. They will have done their research and found sales of apple products will increase via wireless headphones etc as you say.
It's smart not because of the "10 years ahead" or "making things simpler" marketing bs, but because it will likely maintain or further increase their profits.
All of the Android fanboys are jumping on the bandwagon to make fun of Apple for removing the headphone jack. I can't wait for 2 years from now when the Android phones start removing the headphone jack as well. We need to keep track of these articles bashing Apple so we show them who is the real leader. LOL!
Would be more like an Android was first kinda thing: http://www.androidcentral.com/moto-zs-usb-c-headphone-jack-adapter or it's pretending that this never happened.
Apple was one of the first to drop the floppy with the imac, and we survived. And then the cd drive... Again we're fine. It is an odd move, I admit, but you said it yourself... You're not the "average consumer" (and I do not mean to sound snarky at all) but they're not building products for users like you.
I used to look at these posts and sigh."another post about iphone users loving their iphone". Now I just find the technological stockholm of apple users fascinating and halarious. The blinders will come off someday. Until then, I love buttered popcorn! :)
All other pro and con arguments aside this is a bad move as far as I'm concerned. I realise that this might be a fairly niche argument but it's one that's valid for me (YMMV). I spend a lot of time camping and sitting around in remote places. My phone (a cheap Samsung A7) keeps me entertained whilst I'm away. Every part of my bag is already full of bits and pieces, so having to carry around another cable and adapter that can be lost or if I went wireless, having to worry about charging my headphones as well as my phone is a non-starter. For the record, I'm writing this in a tent listening to music on my wired earbuds whilst charging the phone with a USB cable on a small powerbank.
I don't understand why you need a headphone jack on the iPhone 7 when you don't use the jack now? Sounds like you should not upgrade to the 7 until a new battery case comes out that meets your requirements. If you feel you must upgrade now, you can use the adapter or splitter with adapter to get by until your ideal case comes out. As you said, your situation is unique. For most people out there, no headphone jack is no big deal.
I think it more likely that Obi-Wan is the only hope... Your headline is way overblown and I think I can be pretty confident that Apple and the iPhone 7 isn't going to fail as a result of the elimination of the 3.5mm headphone jack. That the configuration may pose an issue for you in the short term is possible and to that I have a suggestion: wait, there will always be somebody that looks to fill a gap. This will either be by putting out headphones with the power pass-through built in or by creating a splitter. I think the angst is premature.
Next iPhone will have phones jack agsin. There is too much phones outside to not using them