Beats surrender?

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spiny norman

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Jan 14, 2009
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http://www.engadget.com/2014/06/04/lightning-headphone-spec/

Or, to fly in the face of that article's happy, smiley, 'we love Apple and please make sure we get invited to your next launch' spin, Apple now wants to grab all the money people spend on aftermarket headphones for their iThings, by locking out the industry-standard 3.5mm headphone socket.
 
Could this help with sound quality in any way? I'm guessing it would be digital out....don't see a problem as long as both alternatives are available.
not sure it would be any advantage to me as I use in ear with my portable devices so sq is pretty limited anyway and at home with my over ear I need them to work on multiple devices ipad 2, ps4 remote and amp.
But this could be good for some I guess.
 
But I'm sure it will please some people on this forum that all those appleites will shortly be wearing active speakers (probably in white or red) on their heads.
 
Um White was last year.....it's all about the black this season.get with it girlfriend.
 
carter said:
don't see a problem as long as both alternatives are available.
Click to expand...

The suggestion seems to be that in the medium-to-long term Apple could well phase out the 3.5mm stereo analogue socket on it's products, meaning that you'll either need to use active Apple-approved headphones (hi, Beats! :wave: ) or an add-on adapter to fit between the Lightning socket and conventional analogue cans.

Either 'Made for iPhone/iPad' certification. or an add-on adapter (which would presumably need both a DAC and a headphone amp built-in) is going to increase costs for both third party manufacturers and consumers. Plus an add-on adapter/DAC/headphone amp may be a bit clunky for use with your svelte new iOS device, so encouraging users to buy only Apple-approved headphones (for which read those whose manufacturers pay Apple for approval). Or even just headphones from Apple.

FWIS it looks very much like Apple seeing the size of the premium headphone market and thinking 'Hmm, we'd really should have a big slice of that' – a non-standard, propietary connector, of course protected with an Apple authentication chip so clever third- party companies can't make cheaper unauthorised peripherals, would seem to be a good way to achieve that. In other words, allowing Apple to control the one part of the iOS music playback chain currently in the hands of the free market.

Not to mention the fact users might be 'locked in' to those 'orrible-sounding Beats earmuffs – after all, Apple is quite keen on keeping users within its product corral, and at the moment headphone buyers have an annoying habit of roaming the range of headphones out on the market, and not trotting obediently into AppleStore shearing pens.

BTW, this is written as a committed Apple computer user, before the fanois get all fanboiy. 🙂
 
Would be for it if it was "as well as" to maybe get a bit of extra sound out of the device however for me worrying about sq for portable devices
Isn't a priority great if it does sound better but most the time sitting on a train or being at work it's just a bit of background noise.
Not sure doing away with the old jack altogether would be to good.
 
John Duncan said:
How do you charge your phone and listen to music at the same time?
Click to expand...

Don't be silly: we all know iOS devices hardly ever need charging! :shifty:

(But there some suggestions that 'Lighning headphones' will also have a extra port to alloow charging, although of course this may be even more speculative than all the rest of this speculation)
 
I managed to peel myself away from Apple recently, felt they were rotten to the core. Now have Android phone and tablet and enjoying the freedom to use whatever brand of earphones/chargers/docks that i want to..... :dance: :rockout:
 
grdunn123 said:
I managed to peel myself away from Apple recently, felt they were rotten to the core. Now have Android phone and tablet and enjoying the freedom to use whatever brand of earphones/chargers/docks that i want to..... :dance: :rockout:
Click to expand...

....except the "Made for iPhone" ones, some of which don't work very well with a Android, especially the remote control.
 
I suppose it couldn't actually be to save space in these ever more slim devices???

I'll get my coat.
 
Always remember you have the right not to buy the company's products if you really don't like the way they're heading or don't like the products on offer. Just in the same way that if you really don't like Zanussi's current range of washing machines you have the right to buy a Hotpoint or a Whirlpool (etc etc). There is no 'communist' regime in place banning you from buying anything except Apple products. Feel free to exercise your right with your wallet.

Ok so now that calm is restored with a little bit of level-headedness...

Notwithstanding the risk that yes Apple 'could' choose to abolish the headphone socket (though I haven't read anywhere that they are), the possibility of DAC-equipped headsets driven by the Lightning connector sounds really good to me. And if they prove popular, manufacturers will be falling over themselves to pay any necessary licence-fee. Hell it can't be very expensive, I've seen basic lightning docks on the right side of £25.
 
MajorFubar said:
Always remember you have the right not to buy the company's products if you really don't like the way they're heading or don't like the products on offer. Just in the same way that if you really don't like Zanussi's current range of washing machines you have the right to buy a Hotpoint or a Whirlpool (etc etc). There is no 'communist' regime in place banning you from buying anything except Apple products. Feel free to exercise your right with your wallet. Ok so now that calm is restored with a little bit of level-headedness... Notwithstanding the risk that yes Apple 'could' choose to abolish the headphone socket (though I haven't read anywhere that they are), the possibility of DAC-equipped headsets driven by the Lightning connector sounds really good to me. And if they prove popular, manufacturers will be falling over themselves to pay any necessary licence-fee. Hell it can't be very expensive, I've seen basic lightning docks on the right side of £25.
Click to expand...

After paying three billion dollars for their own headphone company they are hardly going to start issuing licences to others.
 
chebby said:
MajorFubar said:
Always remember you have the right not to buy the company's products if you really don't like the way they're heading or don't like the products on offer. Just in the same way that if you really don't like Zanussi's current range of washing machines you have the right to buy a Hotpoint or a Whirlpool (etc etc). There is no 'communist' regime in place banning you from buying anything except Apple products. Feel free to exercise your right with your wallet. Ok so now that calm is restored with a little bit of level-headedness... Notwithstanding the risk that yes Apple 'could' choose to abolish the headphone socket (though I haven't read anywhere that they are), the possibility of DAC-equipped headsets driven by the Lightning connector sounds really good to me. And if they prove popular, manufacturers will be falling over themselves to pay any necessary licence-fee. Hell it can't be very expensive, I've seen basic lightning docks on the right side of £25.
Click to expand...

After paying three billion dollars for their own headphone company they are hardly going to start issuing licences to others.
Click to expand...

I personally don't think they're interested in beats, or what they've paid the $3Bn for (they've just got it as part of the deal)
 
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