More than just a 3.5 mm hole
Every decision Apple makes is shrouded in controversy, although following the company’s traditionally secretive approach that decision has yet to be formally announced.
This time, the controversy is the result of an article in the WSJ claiming that the next iPhone will differ little from its predecessor (Apple normally makes major modifications every two years to its smartphones) other than that the 3.5 mm headphones mini-jack is to disappear. Audio options would then be to use Bluetooth headphones, a Lightning connector, or perhaps the USB-C used on Macbooks.
The Verge editor Nilay Patel describes the removal of the mini-jack as a “stupid decision” and “user-hostile”. He then outlines the six reasons why: because restricting audio output to a purely digital connection means that music publishers and streaming companies can start to insist on digital copyright enforcement mechanisms; wireless speakers are not up to the job; because dongles are clumsy; ditching a deeply established standard will disproportionately impact accessibility; making Android and iPhone headphones incompatible is “so incredibly arrogant and stupid there’s not even explanatory text under this one” and finally, nobody asked Apple to do this.
Cory Doctorow, writing in Boing Boing, also points out that there are other uses for the audio jack, such as to connect a waterproof MP3 player, or credit card readers such as the ones created by Square or Stripe, for example.
But John Gruber writes on his Daring Fireball that the mini-jack is like the three-and-a-half inch diskettes that Apple eliminated in 1998, a decision that leading analysts like Walt Mossberg described at the time as a “flagrant design error”. Gruber believes Apple is making the right decision, suggesting that it might install a Lightening port instead, for use with headphones that would come with the connector, meaning that only Apple or Apple-authorized manufacturers could make devices for the iPhone.
Gruber also says that Apple’s decision might be to do with making room in the iPhone for a bigger battery.
Apple has often introduced things that “nobody” asked for, which is why Steve Jobs used to quote Henry Ford’s comment that if he had asked people what they wanted, they would have said “faster horses”. Apple doesn’t care about its products being compatible with Android, as shown by its refusal to introduce a micro-USB port or decisions to remove this or that connector over the years. Nobody misses those dreadful 30-pin dock connector, even though many complained when the company changed them. In all likelihood, within a couple of years, it will be the same with the mini-jack socket.
Three interesting responses —the WSJ piece, Patel’s critic, and Gruber counter-arguments — to what seems like a relatively simple decision. There may have been other factors, like making the phone waterproof, although most other water-resistant smartphones have mini-jacks, and I’m sure we’ll hear other rumors. As Patel and Gruber point out, people will vote with their wallets. For the moment, it doesn’t seem likely that the absence of a mini-jack socket will really affect most people’s decision. But as always with Apple, let’s wait and see.
(En español, aquí)
