Apple cut the cord on Wednesday– but there are plenty.
After months of rumors, Apple formally eliminated the 3.5mm headphone jack over the iPhone 7. But do not panic, Apple is bundling EarPods with the 7 that plug into the Lightning Connector — exactly the connector used for charging the mobile phone. The iPhone 7 also comes come with an adapter which lets you use your old 3.5millimeter headphones.
But that is an interim solution. Later this fall, the actual deal is coming: the completely-wireless Apple AirPods and bevy of Beats wireless headphones and earphones.
The Apple-branded AirPods not only link wirelessly but possess no connecting wire between both ear buds. Siri — Apple’s assistant — will control the AirPods via an integrated microphone. Along with a brand new”W1″ Apple chipset removes the normal Bluetooth pairing procedure, connecting them automatically to the iPhone 7 and Apple Watch Series 2.
They will be available in late October and include a charging instance. Apple says they provide five hours between charges.
Apple has also introduced a trio of new wireless Beats headphones. Powerbeats3 Wireless Earphones ($200), which can be rated at 12 hours of battery life, Beats Solo3 Headphones ($300), that are a more customary over-the-ear design and are rated at 40 hours, and BeatsX Earphones ($150), that are rated at 8 hours between charges.
And the Apple shop has already been offering headphones.
Jaybird sells Freedom Wireless Bluetooth Headphones for $200 at the Apple store, as does Will.i.am, with all the i.am+ EPs Bluetooth Wireless Headphones for $230. And less-expensive wireless headphones, PUMP two HD Multi-Sport Bluetooth Headphones, are available from BlueAnt for $100.
Why Apple ditched the headset jack
Apple got rid of this headphone jack for a couple reasons, based on a meeting Apple executives gave to Buzzfeed.
The jack, Virtually speaking carries up too much space that Could better be utilized for camera parts, although the jack also makes it difficult to waterproof the telephone. Plus, the headphone jack is too old, executives said.
“That is a 50-year-old piece of technology,” the chief advertising officer Rene Oehlerking at headphone manufacturer
Into is the same Technology which you plugged into with your Walkman that Sony invented. So, that connection to the device is faulty,” he said. (The Walkman was initially marketed in 1979.)
“[Apple] established the Apple Watch Last year and that’s got no headphone jack. Thus, it’s already happening,” he added. Oehlerking additionally pointed out that for the first time sales of wireless earphones and headphones exceeded that of wired, according to data from market researcher NPD.
Market Researcher IHS Technology says that Apple earphone offerings are comparable with products on the market. “Apple’s new products match, rather than exceed, the technological envelope created by rivals in the audio and cellular accessories markets,” IHS said in its analysis sent to the press on Wednesday.
“However, When taken in combination with the [Apple ] W1 chipset, a rise in Convenience is offset by a.. .Move by Apple to move device owners Accessories purchases from industry standards and parties, And more distinctly into Apple’s own product families,” IHS said.
