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Please, as if this was just because of outdated tech. They want that sweet HDCP DRM.
The Lightning Dock - Apple's answer to charge and use headphones
- Thread starter Vanillalite
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old manatee
Banned
00's kids will understand
heliosRAzi
Banned
Oh. Then I don't care a bit. Carry on.
Michael F. Assbender
Banned
I can certainly see how that'd be an issue. I guess I'd just try to be extra careful and always keep the headphones attached to the dongle whenever possible, even when not in use.
Not terrible, but that gets pricey if you're constantly replacing them.
Which is why I'm either going wireless or Lightning. I've never in my 36 years charged my phone while listening to music thru headphones, so this change doesn't affect me in the least. Bummer for those it does, but that's why it's so great to have a massive selection of smartphones available out there, I guess.
Until and unless we see evidence of this, you're just spreading FUD.
I have a MacBook, MacBook Pro, IPhone 6+, IPad air2 and my daughter has an SE.
This is a stupid decision to remove the Aux port.
It's removing functionality for no reason. I have just been charging my phone and listening to a podcast using my perfectly reasonable earbuds. I don't want to spend $100 + for wireless earbuds because they will only last so long and it won't be any longer than the wired ones I'm using that cost significantly less. I don't need a dongle, I don't need to spend $$$.
So Apple fans. What's the solution. Don't shout buy this or that. I shouldn't need to.
This is a stupid decision to remove the Aux port.
It's removing functionality for no reason. I have just been charging my phone and listening to a podcast using my perfectly reasonable earbuds. I don't want to spend $100 + for wireless earbuds because they will only last so long and it won't be any longer than the wired ones I'm using that cost significantly less. I don't need a dongle, I don't need to spend $$$.
So Apple fans. What's the solution. Don't shout buy this or that. I shouldn't need to.
Gravy Boat
Member
I know it seems pretty vocal here on Gaf, but I can't help but assume that the number of people who use headphones while charging their phone is pretty small. I absolutely could be wrong, but that's the impression I get from experience.
From my experience it's like half the people at my work.
Michael F. Assbender
Banned
The solution is don't buy this phone. Obviously you fall into categories where workarounds don't work.
old manatee
Banned
brutal. looks like a Sharper Image catalog.
GameAddict411
Member
You have to be fucking blind not to see how greedy Apple is. Instead of providing the headphone jack, they choose to let user buy these overpriced accessories. The airpods probably sound horrible considering the seal, and now you have to pay a premium for a docking station. But what's more terrible is that Apple will probably get away with it. They know their audience too well.
Michael F. Assbender
Banned
You're not forced to buy anything. They provide you with the means to listen thru Lightning or with your old headphones, right out of the box. Wireless shit is optional. As it has been for years.
Gravy Boat
Member
Do they not also have computers they could plug their headphones into?
banefirelord
Banned
Granted I'm just one dude, but I charge and use headphones simultaneously with my 5C at least 3-4 times a week, if not more. That's mainly for podcast listening in the evening, but it's a frequent enough usecase that I'm definitely hopping to another brand on my next upgrade if this sticks around for multiple cycles.
MegaManTrigger
Banned
Dumbest move that apple has ever made. What was the point of removing the port when Bluetooth isn't even at its best? Not to mention, they preach design, and yet they want consumers to fork over money for a clunky charging device out there (which is counterintuitive to the whole design theme they have with the iPhone). It's a clear cash grab move, but it also doesn't make any sense. And I say this as someone who doesn't use the aux port anymore.
It's a work computer, so a lot of streaming related sites are blocked. I have to use my phone to have access to Audible while at work.
Yep, this is my exact situation as well.
And when that dongle fails? Think Apple is giving you another for free?
They probably already have some internal document projecting how much revenue they expect to get from replacement dongles for the next fiscal year.
And maybe not next year, but soon after, they will likely just include a lightening headphone and call it a day. Make some appeal to improved audio capability or some shit.
Uno Venova
Banned
If the end user is satisfied I never understood why they should care if the company they buy from is "greedy". At the end of they day I'll be using the packaged headphones with my device, occasionally buying a replacement if it breaks.
it's 9 dollars, what If the dongle doesn't have a high failure rate?
You act like the dongle is the only act of customer extraction here.
Like the very thread you are in. They created a problem with no benefit that could of been achieved in other, simple ways, and now you can give us 39.99 to fix it. They are banking they will be able to cash in on brand loyalty and not lose many customers but their uptick in accessories and licensing fees will shoot up to make investors happy. That is a strategy directly targeting their customers through poorer value proposition.
I will never understand corporate knights, let alone one that is currently in trouble for trying to dodge taxes.
whitemex88
Member
I'll just wait for the phone case that adds a jack while giving you a charge port
Which I am assuming, based on the other thread, Apple will get a piece of for using the lightening port.
Uno Venova
Banned
But the point is it might not be a problem or an extraction if people just use the dongle or the included headphones and go on their way. I'm not making declarations on their manufacturing but I got a better battery life with little to no loss in my personal user experience. I'm not worrying about their licensing fees or revenue.
And I truly don't care about Apple enough to be a knight, I'd appreciate if that language wasn't used for not seeing it your way.
Thiiiiiis....
"Fuck that old port, its being replaced by new better techno....."
"Here's that port you lost, buy this $40 dock
It's not like GAF is the only place vocal about this. Look around social media. Theres a ton of people that see right through this nonsense.
Uno Venova
Banned
This is an old product.Thiiiiiis....
"Fuck that old port, its being replaced by new better techno....."
"Here's that port you lost, buy this $30 dock"
old manatee
Banned
I wonder how many people will start carrying two phones because of this. An android phone for the headphone jack, and an iPhone for dat piano black paint job.
Doesn't it have a DAC in it? Or does the Lightning port have analog audio?
Michael F. Assbender
Banned
You make a salient point and then get borderline conspiratorial about internal documents. Like they're just rubbing their hands together, waiting for that dongle money.
Or maybe they are. I don't know. I'm just one of those stupid people who prefer evidence that isn't based on gut feelings. If an internal document like the one you describe leaks, you earn mountains of praise. Until then, I just don't see the suits at Apple saying "Yes, we'll piss people off, but think of that sweet dongle booty."
Also, my guess is that you won't get a dongle next year. You get Lightning headphones and wireless charging. Yes, "Apple invents wireless charging" jokes will be flowing like water. I can't wait.
Edit: I should clarify that the document I assume you're inferring exists is one that says Apple is doing this jack removal in order to make lots of cash from it. I'm absolutely certain a document exists that forecasts sales projections for every product Apple makes. Because most companies do that. That's not underhanded, it's just smart business.
But if a document exists where they talk about taking this step to make mountains of cash from replacement dongles, you win all the everything.
NHarmonic.
Member
You'll regret it soon enough, though. Iphone 6 keeps being the best cellphone ever made.
heliosRAzi
Banned
Well, they're a corporation. They're always waiting on ______ money.
orthodoxy1095
Banned
So instead of a tiny hole on my phone, they suggest some gargantuan adapter to waste my money on. How stupid.
I have also never done both at the same time. If I'm using headphones I'm not by an outlet and if I'm by an outlet I'm listening to music on a Bluetooth speaker or Bluetooth to my receiver. 🤗
TemplaerDude
Member
It's nice that they've stopped pretending and are just straight up ripping money out of you for proprietary garbage.
First off, all those things you got could of been achieved by simply adding a bit of depth and/or length to the phone.
Think about it for a moment, if if in the end you don't care.
The smartphone market has flatlined. Major new sales bumps from new markets are not really realistic. So to increase profits you have to look to other strategies. There are many, many ways you can go. One of them, if you assume you have a fairly inelastic product(within reason) due to high customer loyalty(which they have) you can begin adding new revenue streams by adding new costs to your consumer base and angling your product to get larger cuts of the pie from complimentary products to your phone. Apple is wise though, they aren't just raising prices, they are adding streams of revenue from their consumers and obfuscating it through clever marketing and doing it on the back end and piecemeal.
Its not like I am some fuming fanboy but it is a shift that has me taking notice. If the market continues to flatline I definitely now worry that this strategy is going to be a recurring lever they are going to reach for.
It has nothing to do with conspiracy theories, its basic responsible corporate management like you said at the end. You don't make changes like this without trying within the best of your abilities to see how it will affect revenue.
Michael F. Assbender
Banned
Of course. I'm more referring to them maliciously removing the jack specifically to gain access to dongle money.
I mean, sure that money exists. But I sincerely doubt they stand to gain more from that than they stand to lose from angry customers turning elsewhere for their phones. I'd have to imagine they've done enough research to know they're going to lose more than they gain on that particular front.
It's an adapter that's existed for years. They're just pointing out there are options. Whether those options work for you is for you to decide.
How are they doing that here? They include a dongle in the box and Bluetooth isn't proprietary.
ShadowKingpin
Member
Yeah, no. Fuck off, Apple.
Uno Venova
Banned
Of course they could have done other things, but the bottom line for me is still a better battery with no personal loss.
And if it gets to a point where the phone having experience of an iPhone is actually bad and the strategy you've drawn up affects their quality, we'll see the market effects.
No loss, but over time it likely will increase cost of ownership.
Which again, is everyones prerogative.
I say all this stuff knowing full well I am stuck with Apple's ecosystem for at least another couple years because of my job.
This more aggressive strategy is just something I am keeping my eyes on.
I think that people need to think about what they're saying.
Like going after that dongle money? Surely, if it were possible, wouldn't it be better to sell phones with the jack and make more money off the phone? ESPECIALLY since they're giving one away to every user. Not to mention that a large portion of people actually buy third party dongles for things like this.
At any rate I'm sure they've done their calculations and regardless, it doesn't make sense to go after "dongle money".
I'm curious as to whether they'll put headphone jacks in their next macs....
Angelus Errare
Banned
Thats why this is a multi-faceted strategy. It's not just dongle money, it's eliminating that one input they can't heavily monetize so they can get revenue from basically everything that goes into their phone except bluetooth.
And at least this year, the inability to listen with headphones and charge your phone will force consumers for which that is important to either buy the official Apple charging stating or buy a third party product that they get a piece of.
Plus I think you are overstating how large of an exodus this will cause. It's a smart strategy from a business perspective. At least short term. Going to this well too much could, over the long-term, erode loyalty and goodwill though. At least IMO.
Don't think of it as "dongle" money. Its a comprehensive strategy of increasing revenue for Apple by removing a low revenue stream for one with a much higher yield that they have total market control over.
Some of these posts are just something else...
If you need a new phone and charging + listening is really that important to you, you have 3 options:
Seems pretty simple to me. I honestly wonder if there is enough current iPhone users that care enough to choose option 3? I'm guessing most of those complaining in this thread will buy a 7 anyways, or they are already Andriod users who are just hating on Apple.
- Buy a 7 and a splitter
- Buy a 6S or older iPhone
- Buy an Android phone
Seems pretty simple to me. I honestly wonder if there is enough current iPhone users that care enough to choose option 3? I'm guessing most of those complaining in this thread will buy a 7 anyways, or they are already Andriod users who are just hating on Apple.
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