I hope the magnetic connector is also a way to charge it. I use BT sport earbuds, and it requires using micro-USB. I'd rather have wireless earbuds that can recharge from the Lightning connector, the way Apple Pencil does. The "MagSafe" style connector sounds perfect.
I would imagine that would be the case, otherwise I'm not sure why there would be a magnetic connector at all.
About the demise of the 3.5mm headphone jack being a relic:
When I purchased the very first iPhone on day one, non of my headphones worked with it and I needed to buy an adapter. It was a bulky solution to a problem that should not have existed.
To this day I still use all of those same headphones and my first iPhone sits in a drawer. A relic of yesterdays technology.
I hope that Apple does not eliminate the 3.5mm jack.
I have a 40 year old amp sitting in my living room, with beautiful sound, even makes music transmitted over my blue tooth dongle sound warm and lush. It's only "drawback" -- it has a 1/4" headphone jack. In order to use it, I have to use a 3.5mm to 1/4" adapter. Hasn't bothered me once. Talk about a "relic" of yesterday's technology. Any more unrelated anecdotes?
the headphone jack is an aging relic of the analog era that stands in the way of thinner, more flexible iPhone designs.
Firstly, it's not even close to being a relic. The age of a technology has nothing to do with it's practicality, usefulness or technical merit. I wonder how long we have been using knives, laces and buttons? This nonsense of analogue audio somehow being a thing of the past that has been superseded is very ignorant. Our ears decode analogue waveforms, not digital.
Secondly, it doesn't stand in the way of a thinner iPhone. The Vivo Air is just 5.1mm thick and manages to have a 3.5mm headphone socket. I would say that unless you want to make a phone less than 4.5mm thick, you don't have to forego a headphone socket, unless you wan't to make the claim that Apple's design and manufacturing prowess isn't up with that of a tiny Chinese manufacturer.
Apple seemed perfectly happy to increase the thickness of the 6+ in order to accommodate force touch, something which is of far less utility than a headphone socket.
5.1mm thin:
My daughter has a set of earbuds with a magnetic coupling in the cable, so I doubt Apple can be trying to patent this aspect of the design.
as stated numerous times, it's the depth of jack that takes up space. volume. the port is one of the largest components.
as for patents - most people fail to understand how they work. ideas aren't patentable. Implementations are.
A wire hangs under your chin in wireless mode? I'll stick with my existing BT cans with optional 3.5mm jack connection thanks.
The Power Beats wireless earphones are the same - a wire hanging under your chin.
And they stink in real world applications because of it. They have the same issue as the first gen "pill remote with IC" Apple buds: sweat seeps into the gaps between plastic parts and fries the circuitry. Considering most people who buy wireless bluetooth headsets do so to use them while sweating, it's a heck of a design flaw. After swapping out three sets of wireless PowerBeats after each failed within a month, I finally asked for a full refund.
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http://www.plantronics.com/us/product/backbeat-fit
as stated numerous times, it's the depth of jack that takes up space. volume. the port is one of the largest components.
as for patents - most people fail to understand how they work. ideas aren't patentable. Implementations are.
The Power Beats wireless earphones are the same - a wire hanging under your chin.