Apple replace headphone jack on iPhone 7s with airpods

World Today

Phil Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of worldwide marketing, talks about the features on the new iPhone 7 earphone options during an event to announce new products Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2016, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Apple’s next iPhones will come without the analog headphone jack that’s been standard on iPhones and most other electronic devices for years.

Instead, the company is making iPhone owners listen with wireless Bluetooth headsets or with earphones that can plug into the phone’s digital “Lightning” port, which has been used primarily for charging.

CCTV America’s Mark Niu reports.

The long-rumored decision to ditch the 3.5 millimeter headphone jack could cause an outcry from consumers. Critics have already complained that their old headphones won’t fit in the charging port without an adapter. There’s also the dilemma of where to plug-in a set of headphones if the charging port is already being used to plug-in a power cord.

Apple will include an adapter with the iPhone 7 for those with older headphones.

Apple marketing chief Philip W. Schiller said it comes down to “courage to move on to something new.”

Schiller said removing the port frees up space in the phone for newer technologies. He also says the Lightning port was designed years ago with digital audio in mind.

Apple designed new wireless headphones called AirPods to replace the traditional ear buds. Schiller didn’t mention a price for the wireless earphones.

Apple isn’t the first to ditch the headphone jack. Motorola quietly did so a month ago with some models of the Moto Z.

The new iPhones are getting stereo speakers — one on each side of the phone — along with a display capable of reproducing a wider range of colors.

Story by the Associated Press


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