Techdirt Podcast Episode 94: The Headphone Jack Apocalypse!

from the well-not-really dept

Tue, Oct 11th 2016 12:58pm — Leigh Beadon

Yup, we're doing it — we're tackling the much-derided controversy over Apple's decision to remove the analog headphone jack from the iPhone! I join this week's episode myself as a guest host, and in truth none of us really think it's any kind of "apocalypse" — but none of us are huge fans of the move either. We discuss the questionable technical advantages, the looming spectre of DRM, and more.

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Filed Under: headphone jack, iphone, techdirt podcast
Companies: apple

6 Comments

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Philosopherott (profile), 11 Oct 2016 @ 2:22pm

Other options
Is there an opportunity to also have Google play pick up your podcast as well?
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- Mike Masnick (profile), 12 Oct 2016 @ 9:59am
  
  Re: Other options
  Is there an opportunity to also have Google play pick up your podcast as well?
  
  We submitted it last night. Hopefully will be approved soon.
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  - Mike Masnick (profile), 12 Oct 2016 @ 11:34am
    
    Re: Re: Other options
    And it's done. Here you go:
    
    https://goo.gl/app/playmusic?ibi=com.google.PlayMusic&isi=691797987&ius=googleplaymusic&a mp;link=https://play.google.com/music/m/I7k52rqqwe2hazruioqjohzsbzi?t%3DTechdirt
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Anonymous Coward, 12 Oct 2016 @ 4:11am

It's interesting that you discuss the potential for a headphone specific music subscription and Amazon launches an Echo only subscription.
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Rafael Nonato, 12 Oct 2016 @ 5:44pm

Who was it that correctly predicted music services that would be cheaper and only play on a single device?
That single device is the Amazon Echo, and the price is $4

http://rss.slashdot.org/~r/Slashdot/slashdot/~3/aWBK5-oK-Ik/amazon-launches-new-music-unlimited-se rvice-starts-at-4month-for-use-on-just-one-echo
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fairuse (profile), 2 Nov 2016 @ 9:15pm

It's a mobile phone 1st and media device 2nd
Apple made sure the iPhone is a controlled environment.There is no reason to remove the audio jack. The digital audio is not going to make dynamic compressed mp3 better. Whatever youtube outputs is random quality. Audiobooks? OOPS mp3 or whatever itunes plays (Note: I refuse to use iTunes for anything. I just hate it.)

So, why is the mini-jack gone? 1. Manufacturing costs. 2. DRM. 3. Apple says so. Reckon my $300 Bose bluetooth headphones will work. My Motorola bluetooth will not (that model is not seen by iPads also.) The backup wired earwigs require an interface -- mini-jack to bluetooth which is not what Apple wants.

It's plain market control and it's a telephone so Apple is the gatekeeper.

I have 2 Kindles, 3 iPads, 2 HTC mobiles, and 1 Samsung mobile. Keeping headphones charged for all day listening is a chore.

luck to the new boss.
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