In a potentially controversial
move, the company wants to get rid of the traditional 3.5mm headphone
jack that connects essentially all types of headphones to all types of
smartphones and replace it with something better.
During
a WWDC briefing session this week, Apple revealed its plans for a new
standard that would use the company's own Lightning Connector port to
plug a set of headphones into a smartphone or tablet.
The
logic behind the decision, outlined by Apple's manager of platform
accessories Robert Walsh, is to bring more functionality and performance
to headphones. The Lightning Connector can be used to power as well as
connect devices for example, so headphones could have controls, like
volume or nose cancellation features, but wouldn't need their own
batteries to power the features.
The
same port would also allow analogue and digital playback and for an
iPhone or iPad to communicate, via an app, with the headphones for even
greater precision and control.
According
to Apple Insider, which first reported on the WWDC session, if Apple
were to remove the headphone jack on future iPhones it would free up
space for other internal components, such as a bigger battery, something
that will be needed if the next-generation iPhone is to have a bigger,
higher resolution display.
While
the plan may upset a lot of loyal Apple customers who have already
invested substantially in premium headphones with a standard headphone
jack, and of course a host of premium headphone makers, there is little
doubt that one brand -- Beats By Dr Dre -- will soon have a set of cans
with a Lightening Connector cable in the works.
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