LATEST FEATURE! Apple’s iPhone 7 ditches traditional headphone socket

The iPhone 7 will not have a traditional headphone socket.

Apple said its lightning connector could be used instead, which would make room for other components. It has released a set of its own called Airpods, and will also boost the utilization of wireless earphones.

The company said it had required “guts” to take the measure.

Nevertheless, it risks annoying users who’ll now require an adapter for headphones that are existing.

The US company unveiled its latest handsets in San Francisco following a year by which market share and its mobile revenue decreased at an event.

Other new features include:

The home button are now able to detect how securely it will be pressed and supply vibration-established feedback, but moves into the cellphones
the larger iPhone 7 Plus version gets a two-lens camera on its rear, allowing it to offer a choice of focal lengths

“The present difficulties with the EU will have little bearing towards the iPhone 7 only at that juncture,” called Ben Wood from the CCS Insight consultancy.

“But the dispute will drag on for years, and if opinion turns against Apple that may have important implications for the brand.

“For now, there is a strong argument the iPhone 7 is a lot more than an iterative update.

Airpods

The 3.5mm headphone jack was made popular by Sony’s Walkman cassette players, but was first introduced in one of the Japanese business’s transistor radios in 1964.

Apple has repeatedly been willing to ditch connectors and other ageing technology from its products before than its rivals.

Yet, it was not first in this scenario.

“Lenovo’s Moto Z and select versions from Chinese maker LeEco have launched without the 3.5mm socket in 2016,” noted IHS’s Ian Fogg.

One sound pro also had doubts.

“If you have been interested just in the audio quality then a wired connection has consistently been best,” said Simon Lucas, editor of What Hi-fi magazine.

“You’ve greater equilibrium – there’s no chance for drop outs. Wireless headset also must be charged, and the louder you listen the quicker they will run out of power.

“With regards to earphones with a lightning connector, there’s just about eight pairs currently available and they will all have had to pay Apple a licence to use its proprietary connector.”

Apple, nevertheless, suggests there are advantages to using its Airpods, that may cost £159.
It demonstrated that the wireless earphones could be paired with the phone much faster than is usually the case with Bluetooth sets.

The Airpods also contain infrared detectors to detect when they’re in the user’s ears. This enables music to be automatically stopped by them when they’re taken out.

Motion sensors in the buds additionally enable the virtual assistant Siri of the company to be activated for voice commands by double- tapping on their sides.

Users will, nevertheless, have to get used to charging another apparatus.

Another related change is the opening of stereo speakers – one at each end of the handset – meant the iPhone 7 could deliver the volume of the iPhone 6S.