Intel wants to kill the 3.5mm headset jack too

27 April, 2016
Last week LeEco unveiled three new Android-powered smartphones that have one interesting thing in common - neither of them features a 3.5mm headset jack. Instead, you're supposed to use the USB Type-C port for all your audio needs.

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  • D
  • AnonD-472910
  • kaJ
  • 28 Apr 2016

AnonD-531164, 28 Apr 2016why don't they make use of magnetic ports. like sony magnet... morewow someone else knows of magnetic charging, i see smaller companies do this and i wonder why larger oems dont take note, the technology charges as fast as regular wire ones and is better than wireless for now

    • ?
    • Anonymous
    • n41
    • 28 Apr 2016

    Shazzy B, 28 Apr 2016I don't understand where this idea of thinner is better cam... moreit come from apple and isheeps

      • D
      • AnonD-64662
      • uuM
      • 28 Apr 2016

      Shazzy B, 28 Apr 2016I don't understand where this idea of thinner is better cam... moreYou simlpy don't seem to have vision of future. Look back from the times when the computers were room big, so were the hard discs/drives.
      Think ahead, sky is the limit, if you caN limit it.
      Down the line, very soon many things go obsolete, why worry, still you will have all the possibilities to have access to your favorite things/ music if you like!

        • ?
        • Anonymous
        • n41
        • 28 Apr 2016

        AnonD-123996, 28 Apr 2016First of all, the batteries of all phones got sealed. Secon... moreall of those are caused by apple and iSheeps. you should blame them.

          I don't understand where this idea of thinner is better came from. Y'all complain about not having a good battery or power efficiency, and people still say that phone companies listen and do what consumers like best. If that's true then why the hell are they making these phones paper thin? I LIKE thicker phones, since I actually know they're in my damn pocket and that it's not fragile. And it has a bigger battery, better power efficiency, and better hardware and software. Getting rid of 3.5mm headphones jacks from phones is like taking the screen off a TV. Pointless. Also, if it's gonna be replaced by the port used to charge the phone, how are you gonna listen to music while charging your phone? And there's no point saying wireless headphones, since they're not refined, nor wireless charging since not every phone has wireless charging. Removing the music from phones is a BAD move.

            • ?
            • Anonymous
            • 7X7
            • 28 Apr 2016

            Anonymous, 28 Apr 2016Or once in a while some company comes in offering a USB-C t... moreThis way consumers do not have to throw away their pre-loved or beloved headphones or earphones donning a 3.5mm plug. It does not take much technological marvel to mass produce a simple little converter or adapter than engineering, developing or producing robotics made of materials that do not easily crumble when sent to Mars

              • D
              • Dpx
              • jLB
              • 28 Apr 2016

              Good!
              Another silly idea to make me buy new hardware all over again.....can't wait for this one....

                • D
                • AnonD-531307
                • MA8
                • 28 Apr 2016

                AnonD-442158, 27 Apr 2016Only when supported headphones becomes as readily available... moreI have bluetooth headphones that last 20+ hours on a charge, take about 3 hours to fully charge from empty. supports APTX for actually decent audio quality and has a removable cable. Light enough for a pair of over ears and folds. problem is they cost for more than most people are going to pay.
                Also it only has a choice of 2 colours.

                despite all this the 3.5mm audio jack works fine with a cable that gets regular pulling and twisting. i suspect usb-c will fail far quicker.

                  • D
                  • AnonD-385420
                  • HDF
                  • 28 Apr 2016

                  Until we get the new type of batteries that can last more than a day and can include fast charging,the 3.5mm jack should be here to stay,Bluetooth earphones might be o.k but there battery draining earphones,removing the 3.5mm jack might make phone very unpopular with a lot of consumers

                    • D
                    • AnonD-64662
                    • uuM
                    • 28 Apr 2016

                    I love the development, as the idea has come of age now. I just posted an earnest request to Apple in this forum somewhere, to go this way in their very next lauch of 7 series? sooner than later asit shall afford them a testing ground before they go for a totally renovated Avatar of series 8 in 2017.
                    I wish to add here, that if digital tech allows it, why not go wireless way altogether, by docking headphones/ speakers by using some bluetooth/NFC/ or other feasible technology to remove this wire mess forever! This shall go a long way in enriching user experience, fuss free and without those annoying wires. They also may build on this theme by adding to their stuff in the shape of blue tooth Speakers as well compact and nice, the Xiomi way. I can see this happening soon, and Apple smiling all the way to their coffers once again!
                    make me a proud Apple fan!
                    BS/ Sandeep Singh( Chicago)

                      AnonD-375713, 27 Apr 2016Pure ripoff idea. Seriously please stop trying to find "goo... moreVery well said ET.

                      Tad technical, but those with brains and an ability to learn will understand your comments. After all audio is no PC technology, where digital is always better.

                        • ?
                        • Anonymous
                        • 7X7
                        • 28 Apr 2016

                        Or once in a while some company comes in offering a USB-C to 3.5mm adapter or a 2-in-1 USB-C to USB-C port + 3.5mm port connector. Shouldn't take more ingenuity than what is required to send a man on a moon

                          • D
                          • AnonD-123996
                          • 7{8
                          • 28 Apr 2016

                          First of all, the batteries of all phones got sealed. Secondly SD cards got limited to hybrid moniker. Now this 3.5 jack removal is also a new business gimmick. Only limitations will be created that headphones of company 'A' cannot be used in devices of company 'B'. I dont know why this technological evolution is happening for? From sealing batteries to limiting SD cards and now removing 3.5 jack. Strange thing is the response of the end users and public.

                            • D
                            • AnonD-413889
                            • Rbd
                            • 28 Apr 2016

                            K, 28 Apr 2016If they really want to kill it, why not truly kill it and j... moreBecause bluetooth is, in my experience, unreliable. I have a soundbar with the functionality and usually works and connects quickly however every so often devices will just not connect for love nor money. In addition this means the headphones need a battery and require charging, making them heavier and more expensive. Final point is that wireless will always be inferior quality, not to mention the already congested frequency band doesn't really need a shedload more devices!

                              • J
                              • Jay
                              • M%j
                              • 28 Apr 2016

                              HTC did this years ago with the touch pro/touch pro 2. it was a hybrid mini usb and audio. All you did was buy an adapter for you standard 3.5 headset, which also allowed charging. it was a pain as you always had to have the adapter with you but I evolved to keep it attached to my headset. I was so happy when I upgraded away from that annoyance. Only time will tell if this takes off but I'm sure it will as the masses will follow like usual and anyone with 1/2 a brain will then suffer. As Apple are at the forefront of this idea we will just have to like it or lump it. another downgrade to suit the masses of sheeple, in my mind just like the removal of slide keyboards. HTC 10 with HTC Touchpro keyboard, oh how I dream.

                                I plug my 3.5mm headphones, rotate the cable as I see fit, with or without 90-degree turn.
                                Can USB type C do the same thing? Can I rotate it as I see fit? Can I plug in a 90-degree shaped cable? Or am I left at the mercy of straight cable plugged into device's side, effectively making it a tablet, size-wise?

                                This is much less about 3.5mm jack, and much more about general convenience. Unless they come up with convenient headphone jack, I'm not sold.

                                There are a couple of interesting bluetooth offers to make up for the lack of direct plug, but they're wireless, thus typically audio quality is worse than cable and you need to charge yet another battery... not very convenient. 3.5mm forever!

                                  • L
                                  • Linas
                                  • QPU
                                  • 28 Apr 2016

                                  No way... While I completely understand that 3.5mm is outdated standard, USB-C is by far not a better replacement. First of all can accept that reversible connectors like lightning and USB-C are future standard and soon, non reversible ones will be phased out. However, USB-C is by far bigger than USB-Micro and even USB-Mini.. just little bit smaller than standard USB.... it is OK for PCs, Laptops .. maybe larger tablets.. but it is by far too large fro smartphones. What we need is USB-C-Micro.. then I can welcome it to smartphone. So size is not good enough yet. Second.. I was unfortunate enough to use Macbook 12.... what a horribly useless thing... not only you need to use adapter to connect everything (obviously will be sorted when USB-C becomes standard for accessories), but as well you cannot use anything while charging.. OK I know that USB hubs are available.. but what is the point to have slim laptop and carry USB hub with you? I guess the only way forward without 3.5mm is either wireless charging or wireless headphones - neither of which are yet refined. Samsung S6edge is great to charge wirelessly, but if you run out of the battery micro-USB is the port which saves you ass.

                                    • K
                                    • K
                                    • mg1
                                    • 28 Apr 2016

                                    K, 28 Apr 2016If they really want to kill it, why not truly kill it and j... moreIt'll only become more frustrating as the market becomes more saturated with effectively more expensive headphones, when the headphones manufacturers may as well concentrate on bluetooth which will work on both ios and usb-c. Having to change headphones because you change phones would be annoying.

                                      • K
                                      • K
                                      • mg1
                                      • 28 Apr 2016

                                      If they really want to kill it, why not truly kill it and just rely on bluetooth. I'm not really in favour of killing it off, but this just seems like a stepping stone to the inevitable if they really want to do away with them.

                                        • D
                                        • AnonD-276125
                                        • sye
                                        • 28 Apr 2016

                                        AnonD-9097, 28 Apr 2016I'd like to be able to charge, play music on my home thetre... morei bet someone will come up saying that some "xyz"cast wireless receiver is the future to stream a/v to peripheral devices.

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