I'm thinking the 2017 iPhones are going to be...

[Phynaz]

"Apple Tax"

How borish.

 

[Oyeve]

Bluetooth not good enough? It's obvious you don't own an iPhone.

iphone has nothing to do with BT headphones being garbage. The BT spec is just rubbish for headphones. You and most iphone users probably just think the packaged ear buds are great but people who enjoy "quality" sound reproduction shun all BT headphones. Wired and a good DAC is where it's at.

 

[postmortemIA]

iphone has nothing to do with BT headphones being garbage. The BT spec is just rubbish for headphones. You and most iphone users probably just think the packaged ear buds are great but people who enjoy "quality" sound reproduction shun all BT headphones. Wired and a good DAC is where it's at.

Yep. Bluetooth headphones have to have DAC and BT receiver versus wired that don't have to have either. Guess which one have better sound quality for the same money?

And BT highest quality compression is around 320kbs, so high end headphones are not utilized to their potential on it.

 

[Midwayman]

iphone has nothing to do with BT headphones being garbage. The BT spec is just rubbish for headphones. You and most iphone users probably just think the packaged ear buds are great but people who enjoy "quality" sound reproduction shun all BT headphones. Wired and a good DAC is where it's at.

That's not really true anymore. Sure SBC sucks. But there are newer protocols that support lossless transmission as well as sending AAC and MP3 as data to the headphones so they can decode. Its more a matter of someone wanting to make a high end set and also having a phone that supports that protocol. Its more complex to get right than a cord for sure and chinese crap is poisoning the market. I have a fairly high end set that support Aptx and so long as you're listening to compressed audio in the first places its more than good enough. However its not up to competing against FLAC and a set of $300 cans if that's your jam.

 

[Commodus]

That's the joke.

Of course it's 'good enough' from a user standpoint, but from Apple's standpoint it's horrible as they don't get a cut of all accessories.

So they'll put their own spin on bluetooth and tout it as more seamless, more power efficient, better quality, whatever, but the real reason is so everyone has to pay the apple tax.

Let's wait until that happens (if it happens at all) before proclaiming gloom and doom, shall we?

Remember, Apple does use standards where it doesn't get a cut. It's part of the Bluetooth governing body. Heck, it was instrumental to creating Mini DisplayPort, Thunderbolt and USB-C. The difference is that it will ditch standards if it's convinced there's a meaningful benefit (Lightning had reversible cables years before USB-C showed up).

 

[QueBert]

Did they finally get aptx support?

iOS 8+ supports 256k AAC streaming. While they aren't many AAC enabled wireless headphones, headphones with APTX aren't exactly common either. And if I was going to pick one to support I'd go with the AAC ones as Apple > * when it comes to companies making accessories.

It's laughable that people are making this senario that Apple's going to ditch BT and put some new proprietary crap in their new iPhone to force people to have to buy new shit. I've had Apple devices since the original iPod. TWO connectors, no other company has stuck with the same connector as long as Apple. My 1st Motorola cell phone had a Motorola connector, a year later I got a Motorola Boost phone, which had a different connector. A few years later my Motorola phone had a Mini USB, then Micro USB a few years after that. During that entire time my Apple devices all used the same connector. What was around and supported as long as Apple's 30 pin connector?

 

[Oyeve]

iOS 8+ supports 256k AAC streaming. While they aren't many AAC enabled wireless headphones, headphones with APTX aren't exactly common either. And if I was going to pick one to support I'd go with the AAC ones as Apple > * when it comes to companies making accessories.

It's laughable that people are making this senario that Apple's going to ditch BT and put some new proprietary crap in their new iPhone to force people to have to buy new shit. I've had Apple devices since the original iPod. TWO connectors, no other company has stuck with the same connector as long as Apple. My 1st Motorola cell phone had a Motorola connector, a year later I got a Motorola Boost phone, which had a different connector. A few years later my Motorola phone had a Mini USB, then Micro USB a few years after that. During that entire time my Apple devices all used the same connector. What was around and supported as long as Apple's 30 pin connector?

Even apples 30 connector changed at couple of times. I recall fire wire then USB and apple switched some crap on their products to not charge on fire wire and there was simply no reason to do that than to have you buy more shit.

 

[Herr Kutz]

All the sources so far claim this release will be pretty meh, but imho they will have to offer something decent on this year's phone to distract people from the removal of the headphone jack (assuming apple follows through with it).

Who on here would upgrade their phone to one with a missing headphone jack if the only changes are a slight revision in design, a slightly faster processor, and a slight improvement in image quality?

 

[Commodus]

All the sources so far claim this release will be pretty meh, but imho they will have to offer something decent on this year's phone to distract people from the removal of the headphone jack (assuming apple follows through with it).

Who on here would upgrade their phone to one with a missing headphone jack if the only changes are a slight revision in design, a slightly faster processor, and a slight improvement in image quality?

Just remember that most people won't be upgrading from a 6s; they'll probably be coming from a 6 or earlier, where there will be more of a tangible improvement. Those folks will see a massive increase in performance, significant improvements in camera resolution and quality, 3D Touch, (presumably) more base storage... the absence of a headphone jack may not be a deal breaker, especially not if there's a headphone adapter in the box.

 

[Artdeco]

Listening to Marco Arment on Daring Fireball, "BT headphones are worse, but more compelling."

I went BT years ago, don't care, but likely won't upgrade till the 2017 iPhone.

 

[deathBOB]

Like every IO change ever, we will hear bitching and moaning for a few weeks/month from tech enthusiasts. Normal users will adapt and move on with their lives.

 

[poofyhairguy]

Like every IO change ever, we will hear bitching and moaning for a few weeks/month from tech enthusiasts. Normal users will adapt and move on with their lives.

Eh, I think regular people "get" what a headphone jack is. Get ready for some negative headlines in "normal" newspapers this fall. This isn't a firewire port.

 

[dawheat]

Like every IO change ever, we will hear bitching and moaning for a few weeks/month from tech enthusiasts. Normal users will adapt and move on with their lives.

Is there really a parallel to the headphone jack? It's been the standard on anything outputting audio for over 50 years and you can plug into it everywhere in the world. I dont know if any other port has had nearly the same longevity. Having a device that can't connect without an adapter needs a compelling reason.

 

[Oyeve]

Having a device that can't connect without an adapter needs a compelling reason.

Apple will concoct a compelling reason and the Apple users will eat it up. I guarantee it. IMO, its all about itunes, beats, and DRM. But they won't say so. Doesnt affect me as I don't buy into the ecosystem and all my apple products that I do have I have gotten for free either from work or other means.

 

[gorcorps]

Is there really a parallel to the headphone jack? It's been the standard on anything outputting audio for over 50 years and you can plug into it everywhere in the world. I dont know if any other port has had nearly the same longevity. Having a device that can't connect without an adapter needs a compelling reason.

The headphone jack has been a standard for portable audio, but the 1/4" jack was common for larger equipment. I don't agree with removing the headphone jack myself, but with the amount of wireless headphones available I don't blame them for making the jump. Especially since I'm convinced they'll have a lightning adapter for the headphone jack. Cuts down on cost for them and makes it easier to waterproof since they only have to worry about the lightning connector.

 

[poofyhairguy]

Apple will concoct a compelling reason and the Apple users will eat it up. I guarantee it.

That is what I can't wait for. You KNOW there will be some bullshit test where its proven that lightening headphones have a better sound quality and that will be the justification for everything.

Then when the point is brought up that "previous iPhones could use those better headphones AND old school headphones" the response will be "yeah but if we didn't get rid of the headphone jack the market for these better lightning headphones would never take off. Apple knows what is best for you."

Then we all get to laugh at pictures of Apple fanbois having to use a rat's nest of adaptors to hook their "better headphones" to their one port Macbook, plus the inevitable video of that Spanish guy but this time as an "Apple product developer" laughing at all the idiots who buy Apple's reasoning.

Then a year later Apple will release the 10 year anniversary iPhone with an actual modern form factor and competitive screen technology and everyone will forget what happened this year with "headphonegate." (someone already purchased www. headphonegate.com so get ready).

 

[poofyhairguy]

Especially since I'm convinced they'll have a lightning adapter for the headphone jack.

Guaranteed they will, for $40 plus tax.

 

[sweenish]

What was around and supported as long as Apple's 30 pin connector?

At the same time, likely nothing. Connectors were definitely a mess back in the day.

But micro-USB has been the standard for a good while. USB-C will be the next de-facto connector, might outlast micro-usb. Not exactly sure what you're going after here.

At this point, every year Apple doesn't switch to USB-C on mobile is a ding against them for me.

 

[Fingolfin269]

All the sources so far claim this release will be pretty meh, but imho they will have to offer something decent on this year's phone to distract people from the removal of the headphone jack (assuming apple follows through with it).

Who on here would upgrade their phone to one with a missing headphone jack if the only changes are a slight revision in design, a slightly faster processor, and a slight improvement in image quality?

I'll be updating my iPhone 6 to some type of Android if Apple goes through with removing the headphone jack.

 

[ericlp]

you guys got it all wrong. As usual...

Apple is going to have wireless charging and it will be a portless phone...

What they will have is a wireless high speed link that is ULTRA low power and fast. Maybe bluetooth maybe something apple is cooking up. Regardless... It will be powering a hub. From this hub, most likely a wireless charging station... Will have headphone and lightning connectors.

Don't like bringing the clunky charger with you all the time? NO PROBLEM! Apple has you covered! For $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ you can get a super small link with a built in Headphone jack. Just for you!!!

 

[boomhower]

Pretty much regardless I'm buying one. What I want is image stabilization in the smaller phone as it is my preference but at this point I will go plus if the camera is substantially better, one of my main motivations of upgrading. I am looking forward to touch 3D but that's a given. I'd really like to see wireless wireless charging this time around as well. No headphone port doesn't bother me personally as I don't use it, got home stereo for quality music listening. One thing I really want is for them to stop making the damn thing thinner and use a larger battery. I've yet to hear a single person ask for a thinner phone, we want battery life!

 

[zerocool84]

I don't know why we need an even thinner phone. Make it slightly thicker to fit in a decent battery. The iPhone always needing to be thinner than the year before is dumb.

 

[QueBert]

At the same time, likely nothing. Connectors were definitely a mess back in the day.

But micro-USB has been the standard for a good while. USB-C will be the next de-facto connector, might outlast micro-usb. Not exactly sure what you're going after here.

At this point, every year Apple doesn't switch to USB-C on mobile is a ding against them for me.

micro-USB isn't a true standard though, I mean there are specs for it, but companies don't always follow the specs. With the cable that came with my Note 1, my PC couldn't see my HTC phone (unknown USB device) I thought it was the cable, but it was that Samsung uses a different pin out, great. The micro-USB cable that came with my Beats Bluetooth headphones doesn't work at all with my Flex 2 or HTC One. It charges my headphones fine, I can't imagine the cables bad, but I suppose a different Beats cable could work with my phones, I dunno. And I seem to remember something about the HTC cable from an EVO not working with a Blackberry I had. In theory Micro-USB's great, but I've had a ton of problems with it and compatibility. What good is a standard if you don't even know what you're getting from company to company? I hope USB-C cables are standardized from phone to phone.

 

[Commodus]

micro-USB isn't a true standard though, I mean there are specs for it, but companies don't always follow the specs. With the cable that came with my Note 1, my PC couldn't see my HTC phone (unknown USB device) I thought it was the cable, but it was that Samsung uses a different pin out, great. The micro-USB cable that came with my Beats Bluetooth headphones doesn't work at all with my Flex 2 or HTC One. It charges my headphones fine, I can't imagine the cables bad, but I suppose a different Beats cable could work with my phones, I dunno. And I seem to remember something about the HTC cable from an EVO not working with a Blackberry I had. In theory Micro-USB's great, but I've had a ton of problems with it and compatibility. What good is a standard if you don't even know what you're getting from company to company? I hope USB-C cables are standardized from phone to phone.

USB-C has been somewhat hit or miss early on, but that's partly because the smaller brands have been having a tough time adapting to the new spec. You're generally fine if you stick to official phone cables or known brands.