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WHEN THE FIRST Sony Walkman was released in 1979, it helped popularise something that had been around since the 60s.
The 3.5mm headphone jack gave people a way to listen to their favourite music while on the move – first from cassette tapes before moving to CDs, MP3 players and now smartphones – and for the good part of 37 years, it’s been the standard.
Now the last few months have seen talk of the headphone jack being phased out completely. In recent times, Intel has marked its intention to create a USB audio standard to help replace the 3.5mm port.
And the most persistent rumour regarding the next iPhone, which will likely be announced at the start of September, is it will ditch the headphone jack, replacing it with earbuds that connect to the lightning port instead.
That particular Apple rumour has been circulating since the start of the year – and it has been met with anger from some quarters - but the stage is set for devices to move on from the 3.5mm standard.
This change won’t happen immediately, but you will see a gradual movement towards a different standard.
Old habits die hard
Probably the reason why the headphone jack is such a contentious issue is how universal it is. While devices and standards have changed significantly in its lifespan, it has managed to stay strong.
If you need headphones, you don’t have to worry about whether you have the right port or not, you just plug it in.
Despite improvements, the 3.5mm headphone jack is still analog technology, one of the last ones on your phone and most devices. Having an old analog standard mixed with new digital standards isn’t the best when it comes to space and efficiency.
There are a few reasons for smartphone manufacturers to make the leap. Making a device thinner is the obvious benefit to removing it, but a USB-C or lightning cable connection would also allow better quality audio.
According to Intel, going through a digital channel like USB-C will allow for better sound, and extra effects like noise cancelling or “concert hall” reverb. It would also mean you don’t need expensive headphones to get these effects.
And USB-C is a standard that all smartphones will include eventually as they’ll be required by EU law to have the same charger. Devices like the Apple MacBook, the Google Nexus 6P and the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 include USB-C connectors and it’s a safe bet to assume this will become more commonplace as time goes on.
There is the matter of how exactly you’ll charge your device while you listen to music or podcasts – chances are you’ll need a dongle so you have two ports – but the power consumed by USB-C headphones shouldn’t be significant enough to make a difference (and who knows, maybe the extra space would pave the way for a larger battery).
The arguments against it
That’s not to say everything will be brighter and rosier as the argument against the move doesn’t just boil down to ‘it’s inconvenient’.
Despite improvements, wireless speakers and headphones don’t match the same quality as its plug-in counterparts. You will likely need a dongle to listen and charge at the same time, the standard between Apple and other devices will be different, and potential problems with copyright by moving from analog to digital.
It’s worth mentioning again that such changes won’t happen immediately. The number of devices offering USB-C is still tiny and while it will grow, you’re not going to wake up the next day and realise all your headphones are now useless.
But don’t be surprised if your next phone goes down this direction.
Many Intelligent services have forecasted this turn of events a few months ago. The EU under US pressure have prevented a South stream gas pipeline from Russia to Europe via Bulgaria. Now Gasprom have signed an agreement with Turkey to build a new pipeline over the black sea and deliver gas at a very attractive rate to most EU countries via Greece and Macedonia. This could earn Greece and Macedonia billions of EUROS in transport costs. The US are completely opposed to this.
As the mysterious well paid snipers have turned up in Syria and indeed In Ukraine to enforce regime change this was inevitable .
Ah the little green men return
@Pat
Mysterious snipers turning up in Ukraine to enforce régime-change? The shooting of protestors in the Maidan was the work of Yanukovych’s henchmen, i.e. the Berkut police unit.
Still waiting on chocoshenko to investigate which will never happen as he does not want the truth about who the snipers were on maidan. Check out BBC investigation on google, what we know about maidan snipers
@ Ciarán Masterson:
A total lie as every half way intelligent person knows today, Even the otherwise totally one sided BBC had to admit this in order to save themselves of being accused of being total liars. (Some) EU members request an official explanation of the Maidan snipers as of the Nazi massacre in Odessa. Not forthcoming of course. For obvious reasons.
http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-31359021
@Pat
The protest leaders didn’t have absolute control over the protest. Some protestors brought weapons at their own accord because Yanukoych’s men had killed first. According to the BBC article, Sergei’s account has been partly corroborated. He didn’t shoot to kill; he only shot at the policemen’s feet.
Parubiy says it is possible that a handful of protesters with weapons may have come to the Maidan as part of a spontaneous, unorganised response to violence from the security forces in the days running up to 20 February.
Andrei Parubiy, who is now deputy speaker of parliament, says it is possible that a handful of protesters with weapons may have come to the Maidan as part of a spontaneous, unorganised response to violence from the security forces in the days running up to 20 February.
“I did hear that, after the shootings on 18 February, there were guys who came to Maidan with hunting rifles. I was told that sometimes they were the relatives or parents of those people who were killed on the 18th. So I concede that it’s possible there were people with hunting rifles on Maidan. When the snipers began to kill our guys, one after another, I can imagine that those with the hunting rifles returned fire.”
The main fact remains: Putin’s puppet, Yanukovych, started the violence. Here’s an example of the effects of corruption under Yanukovych.
@Pat O’Dyer. Perhaps the following might fill in some of the gaps in your analysis.
“Russia has long claimed that the construction of South Stream was a sound business move, but at its core, the project was grounded in politics. South Stream’s purpose was to isolate Ukraine from Europe by redirecting Russian gas flows away from that country to the Balkans, thereby forcing Ukraine into greater energy dependence on Russia and reducing Kiev’s leverage over Moscow. Much of the gas that Russia now sells to Europe passes through Ukraine. Price disputes between Kiev and Moscow have interrupted supplies at least twice in recent years. Moscow also hoped to use South Stream to prevent Central Asian gas from reaching Europe by any means other than those under Russian control. Finally, the Kremlin hoped to use South Stream to secure Russian political and economic influence in the Balkans and Central Europe.”http://imrussia.org/en/analysis/economy/2124-the-end-of-the-line-for-south-stream
As any half-way intelligent person knows Pat, when you spray AK47 fire directly at (mostly) unarmed protesters (as the Berkut were clearly filmed doing in Kiev), most of the people who are going to be hit are unarmed protesters.
As any half-way intelligent person knows, when someone is hit by a bullet the impact doesn’t blow them forwards towards where the bullet was fired from.
As any half-way intelligent person knows, the impact hole in a metal shield doesn’t magically invert itself.
etc…
Yes, there were armed protesters at maidan, and yes the Berkut were also coming under fire. Yes its possible that a minority of protesters were hit by unidentified gunmen, but to try and suggest that Berkut were not responsible for the vast majority of protester deaths is just an insult to peoples’ intelligence.
NATO will blame Russian involvement no matter what regardless of location .
Don’t be silly
FYR Macedonia – Putin & Russian sphere of influence
More like the Journal’s usual malcontents will find a way to blame NATO…
“malcontents”
Is that your new word?
No, why, is it new to you?
The USSR had a heavy hand in reforming Yugoslavia after World War Two and was more than happy to keep a bloodthirsty dictator in power if it meant keeping NATO out. The problems in former Yugoslavian countries were heavily influenced by decisions made in Moscow.
They tend to hold a grudge in that neck of the woods, for at least a hundred years, WW1 hasn’t been forgotton let alone WW2
That armoured personnel carrier appears to have extremely flimsy windows.
Need to be very careful about letting any further FYR’s into the EU.
Ethnic Albanians are like second class citizens in Macedonia,the government of FYR Macedonia are even trying to write them out of the countries history
That is similar to how Albania treats it’s ethnic Russian population
Freudian slip? Or just a mistake and you meant to say Macedonians?
Have you even been to Macedonia? I have and it’s clear as day that the ethnic Albanian population by and large doesn’t wish to integrate with Macedonian society. Albanian communities fly Albanian flags proudly from windows and lamp posts and spray pro-Albanian slogans on walls.
Many parts of Macedonia resemble the divide in Belfast with different neighbouring communities harbouring loyalty to different states.
Article was put together by a dyslexic Macedonian .
Jason McAteer gone mad out there again?
NATO should be worried – since they helped create and are a serious part of the problems in the whole region, it is none of there business, making it your business affords you no rights in the area. The Balkan troubles have been effectively frozen by the new cold war but history tells us this will resurface, with a vengence. Greater Albania is every bit as dangerous a concept as Greater Serbia, or Greater Croatian. NATO already overstretched and undermanned is in no position to contain a conflict.
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