The best headphones are the ones you have with you

Detour is designed for use with headphones, so we’re watching the impending removal of the iPhone’s headphone jack with great interest.

I’d like to suggest a simple way to measure the success of the jack removal, adapted from a truism that explains the rise of cameraphones: The best headphones are the ones you have with you.

If the new iPhone headphones increase the likelihood that at any given time you have your headphones, they’ll be great. If they decrease the likelihood, they’ll be a disappointment.

Here’s hoping for headphones that innovate around storage — that connect to your keychain, or otherwise make the task of keeping your headphones on your person something that you don’t need to think about.