Apple To Dump 3.5mm Earplug Jack?

imagesAPPLE ALIENATED MANY by switching from the legacy dock connector to the lightning port. Now, it looks like history is about to repeat.
The rumour mill is ablaze after Apple recently mulled over moves to kill off the 3.5mm headphone jack in favour of a new lightning port at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference.
Having already spent up big on Apple accessories, many were dismayed that their new iPhone 5 was incompatible.
The logic behind Apple’s decision to kill the 3.5mm jack is pretty compelling, however. Lightning connectors will enable Apple to add a pile of functionality to iPhone/iPod headphones.
The Lightning connector can supply power, allowing for features such as noise cancellation. Third party D/A converters could also deliver high end audio. The lightning connector will also free up room for bigger displays and batteries.
For Apple shareholders the story is somewhat simpler. Apple also gain a whole new revenue channel from license fees from headphone makers.
The move also follows Apple’s recent acquisition of Beats By Dr Dre. Based on this, the iPhone 6 will no doubt come with Apple branded cans by Dr Dre sporting a Lightning connector. Shame they’ll pretty much be useless for anything else that needs headphones.
Microsoft copped flack by changing the file format for MS-Office files. Many speculated that the move was more about wringing extra cash out of MS-Office upgrades than improving MS-Office.
Could it be that Apple are about to be getting away with pretty much the same thing?
Having been burnt once by the change from legacy dock connectors to lightning ports, already irate iPhone 5 customers who buy the iPhone 6 may find the headphones they’ve spent a pile of cash on need a clunky adaptor to work.
Apple-Buy-BeatsThis is a risky move for Apple. Locking customers into proprietary headphones after rendering the previous generation of Apple accessories useless is likely to leave many scratching their heads, wondering why they’ve been so loyal to the brand.
Hereโ€™s hoping the benefits of this move outweigh its issues, or that the Apple rumour mill is wrong. PAT PILCHER
Avatar photo

Steel has been penning his pungent prose for 40 years for publications too numerous to mention, most of them consigned to the annals of history. He is Witchdoctor's Editor-In-Chief/Music and Film Editor. He has strong opinions and remains unrepentant. Steel's full bio can be found here

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Give a little to support Witchdoctor's quest to save high quality independent journalism. It's easy and painless! Just donate $5 or $10 to our PressPatron account by clicking on the button below.

Witchdoctor straight to your inbox every 2nd week

Authors

Panasonic Fire TV Be Mesmerised with next gen AI TV
Advance Paris - Designed with French flair. Amplifiers, Streamers, CD players and more www.pqimports.co.nz
Previous Story

Magellan’s Two New Fitness Gizmos

Next Story

Simaudio Releases New High-End Moon Neo 430HA Headphone Amp

Latest from Gear

Go toTop