Microsoft receives patent to protect the headphone jack

[Murius]

I often see articles like this then in the comments everyone is arguing 3.5mm headset jack vs none.

I think often these miss the point. I too hate the removal of the 3.5mm headset jack, but not because it's simply being removed, more so because it's being removed with no well thought out replacement or timeline.

What we are all looking for is a solution that works well and is universal. We are going from a connector that is universal anywhere in the world and between OS. I could have MAC, PC, Linux, a car in China, a car in Brazil, a phone of any OS, etc.... 3.5mm is universal and works.

Now, the headset jack is becoming like anything else, proprietary. Like power adaptors.
One argument here will be that Apple is breaking the mold with lightning and that the world is universally acceptant of the USC-C standard, this is true to an extent....however, is this permanent?

I've gone from a universal standard of Mini USB, to Micro USB, to USB C, all within a relatively short timespan, I've had headsets outlive all these standards. Is USB C the final standard for the next 10 years + ???

So the new headset I buy (and I spend good money on my headsets), can I use them for my next 3-4 phones & laptops?

In addition to this there's still several questions unanswered. What happens if I need to recharge and use my headset? IF thickness was the issues why wasn't 3.5mm replaced with a second USB-C connection?

What happens when I want to use my new headset on my new phone + use it on my 2 year old very expensive Laptop?

Seems to me that I'm given 2 options:

1) Dongles. Ah the world of dongles.... manufacturers seem to love dongles, I don't think I need to explain why the majority of users don't like them.

2) Wireless. Perfect! I love wireless, I own several wireless headsets in addition to my wired one.

Problem is, forgetting to charge batteries and losing universal compatibility. Now when I go on a trip and the car I rent doesn't have wireless /bluetooth my road trip is ruined, till I find a place to buy yet another dongle to throw in my cupboard afterwards.

No worries, I'll make it a point to put a dongle in my laptop bag...oh wait, I also used my cellular for navigation so I'm back to the problem of charging and listening to music...guess I'll carry a bigger dongle.

There are many variations of these issues but I think you get the point.



A standard should come along, decisions should be made as to where the industry is going, reasonable time should be allowed for adoption so majority of users devices support it, then you go the route of removing the old 3.5mm connector.

Within 1 year we went from manufacturers poking fun at Apple to jumping ship and doing the same. We don't need to support every user out there, especially people still using XP type serious legacy stuff, but can a user like me with a 2015 top of the line Macbook pro have time to convert? Maybe give me a couple years so my lease is up. Keep 3.5mm there for legacy purposes while introducing to the market where the new direction is.... giving me great wireless and USB-C headsets and highlighting their superiority so when the transition to phones with no 3.5mm happens theres widespread support for it rather than forcing me away from something that works into a landscape where it's going to cause me and many others tons of headaches.

If that were the case I'd buy the new USB-C standard headset, I would know it would last me 10+ years, I'd also have a phone with 2 USB-C ports as well as my laptop having it, then all would be good enough, sadly this isn't where things are going at all.

It's like WIFI becoming a thing and then every manufacturer removes the wired network connection all within a year. With WIFI we also had backward compatibility, those USB-C headphones might not when the new universal connector comes out.

Haphazardly removing the 3.5mm and waiting for the market to figure it out is a headache to consumers. I don't mind adopting new technology, I welcome it, but for now it's less of a headache for me to adopt a phone that isn't pushing me a certain way, giving me the choice.

Very interested in seeing what your take on these issues are, from both sides of the argument.
Hopefully the market figures it out.

 

[Kibaruk]

For crying out loud, it's SUPER clear. It's TOO BIG for TODAY STANDARDS.

Although I've never seen anyone say "look at how slim my phone is, I love it because of it"...

 

[OutlawCecil]

I often see articles like this then in the comments everyone is arguing 3.5mm headset jack vs none.

I think often these miss the point. I too hate the removal of the 3.5mm headset jack, but not because it's simply being removed, more so because it's being removed with no well thought out replacement or timeline.

What we are all looking for is a solution that works well and is universal. We are going from a connector that is universal anywhere in the world and between OS. I could have MAC, PC, Linux, a car in China, a car in Brazil, a phone of any OS, etc.... 3.5mm is universal and works.

Now, the headset jack is becoming like anything else, proprietary. Like power adaptors.
One argument here will be that Apple is breaking the mold with lightning and that the world is universally acceptant of the USC-C standard, this is true to an extent....however, is this permanent?

I've gone from a universal standard of Mini USB, to Micro USB, to USB C, all within a relatively short timespan, I've had headsets outlive all these standards. Is USB C the final standard for the next 10 years + ???

So the new headset I buy (and I spend good money on my headsets), can I use them for my next 3-4 phones & laptops?

In addition to this there's still several questions unanswered. What happens if I need to recharge and use my headset? IF thickness was the issues why wasn't 3.5mm replaced with a second USB-C connection?

What happens when I want to use my new headset on my new phone + use it on my 2 year old very expensive Laptop?

Seems to me that I'm given 2 options:

1) Dongles. Ah the world of dongles.... manufacturers seem to love dongles, I don't think I need to explain why the majority of users don't like them.

2) Wireless. Perfect! I love wireless, I own several wireless headsets in addition to my wired one.

Problem is, forgetting to charge batteries and losing universal compatibility. Now when I go on a trip and the car I rent doesn't have wireless /bluetooth my road trip is ruined, till I find a place to buy yet another dongle to throw in my cupboard afterwards.

No worries, I'll make it a point to put a dongle in my laptop bag...oh wait, I also used my cellular for navigation so I'm back to the problem of charging and listening to music...guess I'll carry a bigger dongle.

There are many variations of these issues but I think you get the point.



A standard should come along, decisions should be made as to where the industry is going, reasonable time should be allowed for adoption so majority of users devices support it, then you go the route of removing the old 3.5mm connector.

Within 1 year we went from manufacturers poking fun at Apple to jumping ship and doing the same. We don't need to support every user out there, especially people still using XP type serious legacy stuff, but can a user like me with a 2015 top of the line Macbook pro have time to convert? Maybe give me a couple years so my lease is up. Keep 3.5mm there for legacy purposes while introducing to the market where the new direction is.... giving me great wireless and USB-C headsets and highlighting their superiority so when the transition to phones with no 3.5mm happens theres widespread support for it rather than forcing me away from something that works into a landscape where it's going to cause me and many others tons of headaches.

If that were the case I'd buy the new USB-C standard headset, I would know it would last me 10+ years, I'd also have a phone with 2 USB-C ports as well as my laptop having it, then all would be good enough, sadly this isn't where things are going at all.

It's like WIFI becoming a thing and then every manufacturer removes the wired network connection all within a year. With WIFI we also had backward compatibility, those USB-C headphones might not when the new universal connector comes out.

Haphazardly removing the 3.5mm and waiting for the market to figure it out is a headache to consumers. I don't mind adopting new technology, I welcome it, but for now it's less of a headache for me to adopt a phone that isn't pushing me a certain way, giving me the choice.

Very interested in seeing what your take on these issues are, from both sides of the argument.
Hopefully the market figures it out.

Well written. cheers!

 

[J spot]

Look. Just like everybody else, I hate when they change connectors to make you go buy all new accessories but *sometimes* it really is an improvement. Look at USB for example. When you first get your hands on USB type C, you about fall out of your chair. No more plugging it in the wrong way. You ask yourself, why the he11 have we stayed with the old connector so long?! My point: If it's an improvement, go with it. Don't stick with old technology that is obviously bigger than it needs to be. Create a newer better standard and stick with it. That DOESN'T mean do what Apple does and create your own unique connectors and force all users to buy YOUR accessories. You go with the new standard!

I think it's a matter of removing a connector, not changing it. (Especially when USB offers a huge improvement, versus no improvement.)

Comparing a USB connector to an audio jack is just Apples and Orange. Even when new computers come out with new connectors, such as Type C, they still have ports for the old one, until they become obsolete. They don't simply remove the old one, making your devices that plug into such devices unusable.

 

[Wagan8r]

For crying out loud, it's SUPER clear. It's TOO BIG for TODAY STANDARDS.

Although I've never seen anyone say "look at how slim my phone is, I love it because of it"...

Except that phones aren't being made slimmer due to the removal of the 3.5mm headphone jack.

iPhone 6s: 7.1mm
iPhone 7: 7.1mm
iPhone 8: 7.3mm

 

[OutlawCecil]

Comparing a USB connector to an audio jack is just Apples and Orange. Even when new computers come out with new connectors, such as Type C, they still have ports for the old one, until they become obsolete. They don't simply remove the old one, making your devices that plug into such devices unusable.

It's not apples to oranges. Both transfer power and data. USB headphones do exist (in full) right now. And unfortunately, things get completely phased out all the time. I remember I was totally bummed when PC towers stopped coming with floppy drives. I had lots of games on floppies that I couldn't play anymore. (I know, not 100% the same since you can add them if you know what you're doing, but still.) I do agree, nothing should be removed without being replaced somehow.

 

[Danny101]

I still have concerns about EMF signals next to my head. That includes FM radios too. With the increase of brain cancers in the last 30 years, who's to say all these frequencies aren't affecting us. I keep my cell phone away from my head and out of my pocket as much as possible. Can't see Blutooth being any damn better. My dad worked around mainframes in the late 60's through the 70's. Worked on PC's through the 80's and 90's, and died with brain cancer. I love technology, but I know there are risks, and we can't just buy into every usage that comes along.

 

[J spot]

It's apples and oranges, we're talking about technology being replaced (USB) by something many, many, many times faster. No one is going to complain about such a thing.

They are to totally different situations.

 

[cliffordcooley]

I still have concerns about EMF signals next to my head. That includes FM radios too. With the increase of brain cancers in the last 30 years, who's to say all these frequencies aren't affecting us. I keep my cell phone away from my head and out of my pocket as much as possible. Can't see Blutooth being any damn better. My dad worked around mainframes in the late 60's through the 70's. Worked on PC's through the 80's and 90's, and died with brain cancer. I love technology, but I know there are risks, and we can't just buy into every usage that comes along.

While I do agree with you. There is no way of preventing the outcome, regardless of the direction this topic takes. So with that said, I'm not sure why you brought it up.

 

[Forebode]

Is it worth M$ bothering with the old standard? It's days are definitely numbered? Apparently they must think it is otherwise they wouldn't. Initially when manufacturers were busy abandoning the old 3.5 mm jack I was peeved, I liked my old, wired earbuds and I was used to being tethered but after having switched to wireless/Bluetooth I'm wondering why they (and me) didn't do this a lot earlier.

I'll argue that batteries don't charge quick enough and don't last long enough. Bluetooth isn't perfect and can be influenced. Being tethered is an annoyance, but having a solid connection without degradation to sound, while wearing an over-ear headset that weight less than a pound is worth it. There's a small handful of bluetooth headset/earbuds that don't suck for their sound, though their batteries are limiting based on how loud you like it, and for how long.

There needs to be a physical connection backup. There's a unknown massive amount of sound equipment that use the 3.5 jack. People don't want to replace gear, so you'd be forcing them to get a dongle of some sort to convert the signal. Also, they need to keep a port open to allow charging and physical connection without another stupid dongle.

 

[Skidmarksdeluxe]

I'll argue that batteries don't charge quick enough and don't last long enough. Bluetooth isn't perfect and can be influenced. Being tethered is an annoyance, but having a solid connection without degradation to sound, while wearing an over-ear headset that weight less than a pound is worth it. There's a small handful of bluetooth headset/earbuds that don't suck for their sound, though their batteries are limiting based on how loud you like it, and for how long.

There needs to be a physical connection backup. There's a unknown massive amount of sound equipment that use the 3.5 jack. People don't want to replace gear, so you'd be forcing them to get a dongle of some sort to convert the signal. Also, they need to keep a port open to allow charging and physical connection without another stupid dongle.

No, Bluetooth isn't perfect but I'm talking about earphones here and. they're a far better solution to anything wired. When it comes to proper headphones... wired all the way, for me. That said, I don't use proper, over the ear headphones for mobile devices at all, only earbuds so BT is ideal besides I only use them while training or working out and headphones are a 'just a wee bit impractical' for that application. If I have a mobile device with a 3.5 mm jack (and I do) or if I don't, either way I don't care but I understand it's not the same for everybody.

 

[Danny101]

While I do agree with you. There is no way of preventing the outcome, regardless of the direction this topic takes. So with that said, I'm not sure why you brought it up.

It's about keeping the option of 3.5 mm headphone jack available given how it's being phased out in favor of Bluetooth. Not everyone wants to use Bluetooth headphones.

 

[cliffordcooley]

It's about keeping the option of 3.5 mm headphone jack available given how it's being phased out in favor of Bluetooth. Not everyone wants to use Bluetooth headphones.

Yes but you brought this up in reference to EMF.

I still have concerns about EMF signals next to my head.

EMF is still present with earphones regardless of whether they work from wire, or wireless.

https://elynjacobs.com/2013/04/25/are-your-headphones-an-emf-health-risk/

What about EMFs from headphones? Studies indicate that the health effects of EMFs are cumulative. Anything electrical emits EMFs, that includes headphones. Are these exposures high? The way to test your exposures is with an EMF meter. Typically the EMFs are not particularly high. BUT there are two important factors; proximity of the EMF source to the body and length of exposure. Headphones are worn very close to the body (in the ear) and many people wear them for long periods of time.

This does however bring up the question as to how much stronger (if any) the EMF signal is with wireless. Taking in the fact that the earbuds will be receivers not transmitters, I don't see them being any higher (maybe even less for the lack of cable length). And then when you think about the power needed to drive the speakers being less with wireless, it changes how you look at the picture. Because now that power is bottled up in the earbuds and not being transfered down a wire creating EMF signals.

 

[Danny101]

I see. That would be pleasant news to find that wireless receiver would turn out to emit less radiation. Although, I definitely would go ahead with the ability to take a call, since I have the headphones anyway. But I can limit the use. Technology has gotten real convenient these days and nobody seems to care about the potential consequences. The million dollar question is 'Is it all really worth it?' I for one only initially got a cell phone because I couldn't find a pay phone and didn't acquire a smartphone until 2013.

 

[DaveBG]

No headphone jack no buy. Simple and easy solution.

 

[Danny101]

No headphone jack no buy. Simple and easy solution.

That may become harder to do over time. Hopefully, we can squeeze them financially to keep it around. I've noticed that phones are such, that it seems they're built to break. At least, my luck hasn't been very good. 4 phones in 3 years. I intended to use each 2 years each time.

 

[Forebode]

No, Bluetooth isn't perfect but I'm talking about earphones here and. they're a far better solution to anything wired. When it comes to proper headphones... wired all the way, for me. That said, I don't use proper, over the ear headphones for mobile devices at all, only earbuds so BT is ideal besides I only use them while training or working out and headphones are a 'just a wee bit impractical' for that application. If I have a mobile device with a 3.5 mm jack (and I do) or if I don't, either way I don't care but I understand it's not the same for everybody.

Right, there's a time and place for using BT, as you stated. You also stated that you use wired as well, which isn't compatible without a dongle.. You can still use BT on a phone that's 1mm thicker and has a 3.5mm jack. If they really want to remove the 3.5 jack, a new standard flat jack should be created (not proprietary). the dongle could be small and would still allow for charging. Go simple, take the round 3.5 and flatten/trim it.