Philip Houska Trends in the technology world are changing practically constantly and what was in today may be out tomorrow. Everything is changing, design, technology, approach. This also applies to the ports, among which, however, there is only one - the 3,5 mm jack that transmits audio - as a big exception. It has been with us for decades, and it is evident that not only Apple is thinking about replacing it, but also Intel. He is now proposing to use USB-C instead.
USB-C is becoming more and more popular and it is probably only a matter of time before it becomes the standard on most devices, be it mobile or computers. Apple has already deployed it in its 12-inch MacBook, and other manufacturers have it in their phones as well. At the SZCEC developer conference in Shenzhen, China, Intel has now proposed that USB-C replace the traditional 3,5mm jack.
Such a change could bring benefits, for example, in the form of better audio quality, wider options within the controls and other things that could not be achieved through a 3,5mm jack. At the same time, there would be the possibility of uniting or removing the other connectors, which would bring significantly more space for the placement of larger batteries and other components, or the potential for thinner products.
Moreover, Intel is not the only company that has plans to push something like this. Rumors that Apple will abandon the outdated audio signal transfer connector in the the upcoming iPhone 7, constantly resonate in the media. However, there is a minor difference - the Cupertino giant apparently wants to replace the 3,5mm jack with its Lightning connector.
Such a move would be logical for Apple, as it pampers its proprietary Lightning on both iPhones and iPads, but it might not be a pleasant transition for users. Apple would thereby force them to purchase new headphones with the appropriate connector in the vast majority of cases, which would also lock them into their own ecosystem, as they would not be able to connect to any other product.
However, it can be expected that the cancellation of the 3,5 mm jack would further accelerate the sale of wireless headphones, which are gaining more and more popularity. After all, the potential single connector in the iPhone could be limiting in many ways, if only because Apple phones still can't charge wirelessly.
Something similar – i.e. getting rid of the ever-present 3,5 mm jack – will probably also be tried by Intel, which would like to define a new audio sphere where sound would only be transmitted via USB-C. It already has the support of companies such as LeEco, whose smartphones already transmit audio exclusively in this way, and JBL, which offers headphones with active noise cancellation thanks to USB-C.
Large technology companies are obviously interested in starting to transmit audio in a different way, be it through a different type of connector or perhaps over the air via Bluetooth. The end of the 3,5mm jack will certainly not be particularly fast, but we can only hope that every company will not try to replace it with its own technology. It will be quite enough if only Apple decides differently than the rest of the world. After all, headphones have been one of the last mohicans in the field of accessories, where we have known to connect them to practically any device.
especially since I don't thin anything anymore.
Let them make it thinner, but above all let them leave the 3,5 mm jack there for me :D
It's a bit of a problem for Apple that mobile devices have Lightning and Apple TV, and Macbooks have USB-C. It would probably be a pain, but I think it would be ideal if all devices had the same connector (most likely USB-C). This is how you buy headphones for Lightning but don't plug them into your Macbook.
And they don't have the same connector? That is, a 3,5 mm jack, which is of sufficient quality for everything to work at the highest possible quality. Planar magnetic headphoned LCD3 from Audez have a TSR connector and are considered to be some of the absolute best headphones on the market (they cost 50k too). Now Apple and Intel come with USB-C and everyone really believes that it will "increase the quality" of the sound in their $15 headphones? This can not be true. Marketing over brain.
Well, I didn't comment on the removal of the 3,5 mm jack, I consider it wrong. I mean, if they have to remove the 3,5 mm jack, at least replace it with something that will be everywhere.
So, as far as I know, the headphones must be active if they are to suppress the surrounding noise. This is currently solved with flashlights, which is a brutal spring, so it is actually unusable or difficult. USB powered would solve that.
In my opinion, there would be a whole advantage with USB-C (except for active headphones). USB-C would be waterproof and would be able to charge and play music through headphones. In all the latter cases, it is better to throw the cable away. Probably the best solution would be bluetooth+wifi+cable (USB+C).
It still doesn't fit me somehow, if Apple wanted to get rid of the classic Jack, it wouldn't be in the new MacBook.