Courage. The word is typically reserved for the likes of firefighters, soldiers, and civil rights leaders. As of Wednesday, however, one more noble breed joins the ranks: Apple Inc.
“It comes down to one word,” said Phillip Schiller, the company’s senior VP of marketing, last week. “Courage. The courage to move on and do something better for all of us.”
New, thinnest-ever iPhone to dispense with headphone jack, screen, case and electronics; will be intangible platonic ideal of itself.
— James Poniewozik (@poniewozik) September 7, 2016
The courage Schiller referred to in his keynote address is that which apparently spurred Apple to design the new iPhone 7 without a standard headphone jack, opting instead to utilize its proprietary lightning port for audio output.
Apple has long been touted as a visionary in the tech industry, famously leading the vanguard on relegating technologies like the floppy disc and CD drive to the dustbin of Silicon Valley. And while these innovations proved hugely successful—indeed, have driven the company’s popularity, in many ways—eschewing the familiar 3.5mm headphone jack has been met with mixed emotions on Twitter.
A sample of tweets discussing the move shows that while some fans have embraced Apple’s vision, the majority fall into the camp of ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’.
Those in favour of the change argue that the lightning port provides improved audio quality and an eventual end to messy wires, while those upset by the change claim that the 100-plus-year-old technology has served us perfectly well until now, and doesn’t require updating.
If you’re an audiophile, then you already know that the D/A converter on the unbalanced iPhone headphone jack is garbage, so good riddance ??
— Daddy Kev (@daddykev) September 7, 2016
Some also speculated the decision is little more than a money grab. Despite a myriad of reasons why the headphone jack should remain, one theme prevailed above all: auxiliary cords. It seems that while electronics are becoming increasingly wireless, automobiles have yet to catch up.
Yo I just thought about something….if the iPhone 7 ain’t got a headphone port…how ima aux cord my music? I gotta upgrade my car too?
— . (@BriLadoris) September 3, 2016
Though Twitter already seems thoroughly decided, only time will tell if Apple’s decision to do away with the headphone jack will go down as visionary, or if it’s destined to go the way of the 8-track.
Peeps wishing for Apple to keep a headphone jack on the iPhone are going to be in the awkward position of arguing to keep 150 year old tech.
— Matthew Panzarino (@panzer) September 3, 2016
