[packrat35]

Stupid decision.

[proxy_user]

So by transferring garbage-quality digital data to a garbage quality DAC, users will get better sound? I don’t think so.

Of course, the iPhone itself can’t play high-resolution digital files anyway.

[Fai Mao]

Yeah, they are forcing you to “upgrade” to a more expensive item that works no better and is easier to lose.

[Swordmaker]

Why losing the 3.5mm audio jack is actually a good thing. Quartz (link only due to copyright issues) explains why it is actually an improvement and the why it will be a benefit for music lovers when they actually hear what is possible when they are not crippled by the old technology forced on them by the bottle neck of the old jack. — PING!

Apple Is Doing A Good Thing
Ping!

The latest Apple/Mac/iOS Pings can be found by searching Keyword "ApplePingList" on FreeRepublic's Search.

If you want on or off the Mac Ping List, Freepmail me

[ImJustAnotherOkie]

Getting paid by the post?

[Paradox]

I see it as neither good nor bad. Its a wash, but in my mind, if you can afford to be in the Apple ecosystem, you can afford a decent set of wireless headphones.

[the OlLine Rebel]

Engineers do not want to abandon a common and cheap item. Nevermind accountants.

We thrive on compatibility and interchangeability.

They might want to make a better jack, but would also push for it to become the new standard, not merely a unique item that will be limited in usage and thus expensive.

[LouieFisk]

I got an idea! Let’s limit our product’s functionality and add 100 bucks to the price! Yeah, that’s the ticket.

[plain talk]

It’s a bit early on the technology curve to eliminate a headphone jack. This is not a wise decision. Of course it doesn’t affect me. My blackberry still works and I will stay with them until they die.

[Mark17]

Thanks bro.

[snarkpup]

When I was shopping for a digital music player last year I borrowed an iPod from a relative. I found it quite useless because the only way to get stuff onto it was to use some malware called iTunes. I haven't found any Apple hardware that is suitable for the purpose.

[lee martell]

Wozniak was and is very much against this decision. He has warned them it would bother a lot of consumers. Sometimes inventors know their target market very well. We shall see what happens. It wouldn’t surprise me if a year from now, Apple comes out with a #7 phone, WITH a phone jack, just to satisfying the other side who need to see and employ that ‘umbilical’ connection.

[blueplum]

They’re dropping the ‘more waterproof’ argument? Somebody didn’t think this out. When people are listening to music, they want stereo sound - meaning two ear buds. Are Apple buds $159 apiece? Has Apple upgraded their sound board to match? A lot of time, too, when people are listening to music they are involved in some activity and the wires on the buds keep the buds from falling into the manure pile or shattering into a billion bits if they hit the pavement. Wired buds are also lighter and they’re not battery dependent. (Global warming oh no!!) Maybe Apple should have let a few working people play with this before they went with the final geek cubicle-centric product? I can’t see buying it.

[RetiredTexasVet]

I predict that the lemmings will comply and denigrate those lame dinosaurs clinging to their bibles and wired ear buds!

[fruser1]

Maybe it was a mistake and they’d rather market it as an “improvement” than retool it. “Sh*t! You forgot the jack!, well wait...I can fix this..”

I always believed that the famous “spiral sliced ham” was created by accident with a mis-calibrated slicer, originally designed to cut off individual slices from around the bone instead of cutting through it.

[Yo-Yo]

supposedly Apple is offloading the DAC to the headphones to save space in the phone.

Then Apple adds stereo speakers to the iPhone, which are driven by a ... wait for it ... a DAC.

[WeatherGuy]

If one of the priorities of your phone is music, Apple is a shitty choice to begin with - I-Tunes is the most locked-down, unmanageable un-intuitive pieces of garbage ever invented.

[RandallFlagg]

Bookmarking.

I just hope they will be compatible with how I use my iPhone for listening to my gun podcasts at work.
The earbuds that came with my iPhone fit nicely under my headset.

[smokingfrog]

One advantage is that noise canceling headphones can draw power from the Lightning port w/o having to rely on a battery.

[gunsequalfreedom]

I’m still hoping Apple will come out with a round mouse.