The new iphone design confirmed

Started by Elantric, July 06, 2012, 10:38:41 AM

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Kevin M


Rhcole

Microsoft, Apple, Roland...

They all frustrate me to no end.
And you know what?
They sincerely don't care!

gumtown

I have seen a picture floating around,
a take on the Apple plugs, with optional subwoofer which is too rude to post.
Free "GR-55 FloorBoard" editor software from https://sourceforge.net/projects/grfloorboard/

Elantric

bad Timing?
------------
https://www.itu.int/rec/T-REC-P.382/en
http://standards.globalspec.com/standards/detail?familyId=JZDERFAAAAAAAAAA

On July 29th without much fanfare ITU-T standardization committee approved a new "recommendation P.382". The standard specifies critical physical and electrical-acoustical characteristics for the universal headset interface with more than 4 terminals. To put it in other words, the geometry and technical requirements for 3.5mm audio plugs and jacks that have 5 (or more) separate communication channels were outlined and standardized. That's right, good old TRRS audio connector featured in  billions of audio devices used and produced anew each year is about to get a huge makeover.

Increasing a number of poles of the 3.5mm audio connector interface has been tried in the past several times. All attempts were not adopted by the market due to issues arising from backwards compatibility with existing 4 and 3 pole solutions currently in use.

However, just recently, MAX Solutions LLC began offering plugs and jacks that comply with P.382 recommendation while providing full backwards compatibility with legacy solutions. Backwards compatibility removes any friction from the market adaption standpoint. All legacy accessories can be connected to MAX TRRRS 5 pole jack without any issues. And vice versa, newly developed accessories with TRRRS plugs will be compatible with legacy 3 and 4 pole jacks. (5th channel notwithstanding)

So what is a big deal shall you say? What difference does one extra channel make?

Increasing a number of separate channels from 4 to 5 could have a huge impact on the market of affordable audio accessories. MAX TRRRS connector interface allows analogue two microphones and two transducers to be connected to a mobile device CODEC simultaneously. Therefore following new all analogue wired accessory applications become enabled:

Inexpensive earbuds with Active Noise Cancelling
Low cost/high performance Wired Hearing Aids and PSAPs
Binaural Recording and Video Conferencing, think Facetime, Skype etc.
Balanced Audio Listening and Recording straight to and from your smartphone
I sincerely hope audiophile community gets as excited about these opportunities as I am. The ground now seems to be staged for a wave of inexpensive all analogue wired advanced audio accessories to start penetrating the market.

It should be fascinating to watch how attempts to rid the world of one of the most popular connector interface in favor of a fragmentation (Apple via Lightning, USB-C) are received and compete with legacy TRRS and MAX's newly developed and standards compliant backwards compatible TRRRS solution.

Are you intrigued? Please visit our web site at www.maxsolutionsllc.com to get further info and contact us for potential future collaboration.

You are equally welcome to discuss this new development in the LinkedIn thread. I would be more than happy to answer any follow up questions.

Oleg Los

MAX Solutions LLC

Founder

Phone: (847) 912 3463

Email: info@maxsolutionsllc.com



rolandvg99

#131
There is only one(two) reason(s) for Apple to ditch the headphone socket: increased profit (room for haptic home button). Most of the moves they've done is to maximize profit. No SD-Card forces users to buy overpriced storage options from Apple. No headphone jack forces headphone makers to licence Apples lightning standard versus the licence free 3.5 mm. The "new" wireless is just an Apple way of not having to licence Bluetooth APTX, but force makers to use their new "magic" chip to achieve optimum wireless performance. Apple is a corporate equivalent to North Korean politics: Everything is perfect, we always knows what's best for you.

While being hard to shift and reach, Microsoft and Roland does at least try. Microsoft has gone from arrogant to less arrogant after firing Balmer and Elop.
To V or not to V: That is the question.

My little Soundcloud corner

Rhcole

The least arrogant of the big companies is Google. I have been on their campus before, they are like members of a really happy cult. They wear Google t-shirts, jeans, and tennis shoes. They smile a lot.

Microsoft is less arrogant than they used to be, but Windows 10 clearly gives the edge to what THEY want you to do the way THEY want you to do it. My wife hates it for that reason.
I like my iPad Pro very much, but I am wary of Apple.

whippinpost91850

Same here , I Love my iPad Pro and iMac but very wary of the direction Apple has been heading , ever since Steve Jobs passed

rolandvg99

Quote from: Rhcole on September 22, 2016, 11:44:58 AM
The least arrogant of the big companies is Google. I have been on their campus before, they are like members of a really happy cult. They wear Google t-shirts, jeans, and tennis shoes. They smile a lot.

Microsoft is less arrogant than they used to be, but Windows 10 clearly gives the edge to what THEY want you to do the way THEY want you to do it. My wife hates it for that reason.
I like my iPad Pro very much, but I am wary of Apple.

That Google scenario sounds like an Apple store some 10 years ago. Regarding Windows 10: I can do all of my Windows 7 stuff in Windows 10.
Having used Amigas, Ataris, BeOS, Acorn, Tiki, multiple Linux iterations, every Apple OS since the 80's, every Windows OS, Dos, UNIX, I really don't see that Windows 10 is that limiting. Audio wise it's more efficient than any other Windows version I've tried and touch is a real plus for live/studio use.
To V or not to V: That is the question.

My little Soundcloud corner

Elantric


admin

#136
https://www.cnet.com/news/ifixits-iphone-7-audio-adapter-teardown-reveals-mystery-circuity/

http://ifixit.org/blog/8448/apple-audio-adapter-teardown/


The decision to axe the iPhone's built-in headphone port and simply put an adapter in the box has provoked reactions ranging from amusement to near panic. Why did they do it? Was it worth it? Will other manufacturers copy it? Today we're going to ignore all of these questions. Instead we're asking, How did they do it? And since we like taking things apart, we'll answer with some exploratory surgery and some X-rays.

All Your Digitals Are Belong To Us

Apple feels the 3.5 mm audio jack is an antique whose time has passed. But we're not all prepared to shell out for new headphones just yet, so to ease the transition Apple gave iPhone 7 owners a deal worthy of Oprah—you get a headphone adapter! And you get a headphone adapter! Everyone gets a headphone adapter!

Separately, this little adapter retails for $9.00—making it pretty much the cheapest thing in the Apple store, where you can drop $35 for a simple screen protector. So, you'd probably think a $9 dongle doesn't have much going on.

Imagine our surprise, then, when our pals over at Creative Electron gave Apple's new adapter the X-ray treatment:


Thanks to Creative Electron for this X-ray image of Apple's audio adapter.
There's actually a lot going on in there. As expected, one end is a simple female 3.5 mm headphone jack, and the other end is a male Lightning connector. But what's all that silicon around the Lightning connector end? Most of the retail space near the connector is taken up by a single mystery IC.


Image courtesy of the amazing folks at Creative Electron.
We needed a closer look. Thankfully, long-time iFixit contributor and gadgeteer extraordinaire oldturkey03 sliced his adapter open so we could all get a peek inside. He uncovered that mystery IC by the Lightning connector, marked 338S00140 A0SM1624 TW—which doesn't tell us much, other than it's an Apple part number.


Thanks to longtime iFixit community member OldTurkey03 for his teardown of the audio adapter.
While the official purpose of this IC is unknown, at minimum we can guess that it contains a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) and amplifier, and its counterpart, an analog-to-digital-converter (ADC).

We know this because audio accessories like earphones (as well as human ears) need analog signals to work—and unlike ye olde analog headphone jack, Apple's Lightning connector is all digital. The DAC bridges that gap. By the same logic, this chip must also contain an ADC circuit to convert the analog signal from your headphones' built-in mic into something that can pass back through the Lightning port so your iPhone can make use of it.

In past iPhones like the 6s, both DAC and ADC functions were handled internally. The analog inputs and outputs from the headphone jack (and other components) were wrangled by a single chip on the logic board, a custom Apple/Cirrus Logic IC labeled 338S00105. (In the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus, that same exact chip still exists—because even without a headphone jack, the phone still has to shake hands with the built-in loudspeakers and microphones, all of which use analog signals.)


Apple/Cirrus Logic 338S00105 audio codec in the iPhone 6s (left) and iPhone 7 (right).
Is All Well In Appleville?

The moment Apple's plans for a headphone adapter first came to light, audiophiles began questioning whether such a tiny dongle—and, presumably, the DAC + amp buried inside—could possibly supply a quality audio experience. Speculation was that, in order to fit aboard the adapter, the audio hardware would have to be so small that corners would inevitably be cut.

Well, here's a visual comparison of the audio chip on the iPhone 7's logic board, photographed right next to the exposed chip on the new adapter:



This isn't an oranges-to-oranges comparison however, because each of these chips handles more than just DAC/ADC. The larger chip is also a codec, and is not believed to contain an amplifier (there are three amps located elsewhere on the iPhone 7 logic board).

In short, a more scientific approach is called for. So upon its release, hi-fi enthusiasts at German computer tech magazine c't ran a battery of sound quality tests on Apple's new adaptor. After taking baseline measurements from the old-school, built-in headphone jacks on an iPhone 6s and iPad Air, they compared the adapter's output on iPhone 6s, iPad Air, and iPhone 7:


Hi-fi enthusiasts at German computer tech magazine c't ran a battery of sound quality tests on Apple's new adaptor and broke down the results.
The takeaway seems to be that in some areas, the sound quality does measure a bit worse from the adapter than we might be accustomed to. For instance, when playing an uncompressed 16-bit audio file on the iPhone 6s, the dynamic range dropped from 99.1 dB at the headphone jack to 97.3 dB at the adapter. Though keep in mind, this slightly lower measurement is still higher than the theoretical maximum you get from a compact disc (which is 96 dB). So, is it a difference you are likely to notice? If you sit in a quiet room with a really, really good pair of headphones ... and you're a canine, the answer is: maybe.

But it appears Apple's engineers did their job, and this tiny adapter performs better than most people expected or even thought possible.

Why did they do it? Was it worth it? Will other manufacturers copy it? Give us your thoughts.


OCTOBER 5, 2016   WRITTEN BY JEFF SUOVANEN   IN TEARDOWNS

http://ifixit.org/blog/8448/apple-audio-adapter-teardown/

Elantric

#137
I suspect the next iPads will also remove the 3.5mm TRRS jack

but compare the iPad AIR audio performance with TRRS Jack vs iPhone 7 with the new audio dongle

the old iPad AIR with TRRS jack has roughly twice the  Voltage dbV and  +7dB improved SNR   


https://www.heise.de/ct/artikel/iPhone-7-nachgemessen-Audio-Adapter-liefert-schlechteren-Sound-3325932.html


https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=de&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.heise.de%2Fct%2Fartikel%2FiPhone-7-nachgemessen-Audio-Adapter-liefert-schlechteren-Sound-3325932.html&edit-text=

-------------
IPhone 7 measured: Audio adapter delivers poorer sound


TEST & CONSULTATION TEST


Hartmut Gieselmann  16.09.2016  Audio , Audio Adapter , iPhone 7 , headphones , Lightning , Lightning adapter , Measurement , Music , quality , test
The wegrationalized jack of the iPhone 7 currently heats the mind. It should be a short lightning adapter. But instead of improving the sound, the signal quality deteriorates, as our measurements show.

One can argue about whether Apple's decision to the phone jack, iPhone 7 omit a step forward or backward is. If you like headphones with cables, you can arrange with the small adapter cable, which Apple attaches to the smartphone. Even with a loss of Lightning adapter the damage is manageable, finally you can buy a replacement for 9 euros.

It is indisputable, however, that the sound quality has deteriorated with the introduction of the adapter. We checked the short cable stub in our audio lab. The adapter was used on the new iPhone 7 and 7 Plus, on an iPhone 6S and on an iPad Air. For comparison, we measured on the iPhone 6S and iPad Air the signal quality of the internal jack socket.

The results are clear: On the iPhone 6S, the dynamics deteriorate by 4.5 dB (A), if one plays a 24-bit music file over the adapter instead of the internal jack. On the iPad Air the signal deteriorates by 3.8 dB (A). Even with 16-bit music files the losses are noticeable, if not so drastically: Here the dynamics worsen by 1.8 dB (A) on the iPhone and by 3.1 dB (A) on the iPad.

In the measurements, it was irrelevant whether the adapter on the iPhone 7, 7 Plus or iPhone 6S was connected: The results are equal to the decimal places. It was noticeable, however, that the adapter on the iPad significantly better results than on the iPhone. This may indicate that there is no separate D / A converter in the adapter, but the audio signal is already transmitted in analog form via the Lightning socket. Since the Lightning chips in the cable with their opponent in the iPhone / iPad negotiate in each case, which would be transferred, would be quite possible. As long as Apple is silent on the subject, only further tests can bring certainty.

Higher levels only for low-impedance headphones

If the current jack socket is used as a line connection, the iPad Air delivers almost twice as high voltage as the iPhone 6S with 0.5 volts (-6 dBV) with just under 1.0 volts (-0.2 dBV). Also here the adapter looks worse, around around 1 dBV lets the output voltage decrease. However, when the output jack is loaded with a low-impedance headphone (16 Ohm), the voltage on the adapter does not drop as much as before with the internal jacks. If the latter had to accept a drop of 1 to 2 dBV, the voltage at the adapter remains largely stable and only breaks by 0.2 to 0.3 dBV.

According to these measured values, Apple has significantly reduced the output resistance of the adapter compared to the jacks of the iPhone 6S and iPad Air. If it is still less than 5 ohms at the iPhone-6S jack and 1.6 ohms at the iPad, it has shrunk to about half an ohm in the adapter.

For headphones with 30 ohms it makes no difference in the volume, whether they are operated at the adapter or the internal socket of the iPhone 6s / iPad Air. Headphones with lower impedance play louder on the adapter, higher impedance earphones (up to 80 ohms are recommended on the iPad) are louder at the internal jacks of the iPone 6S and iPad Air.

However, the distortion factor is not influenced by this. Through our entire series of measurements, even with high-resistance resistors of 30, 80, 250 and 600 Ohm, it remained constant at very good 0.001 and 0.002 percent, respectively.

44.1 kHz better than 96 kHz

Curious were the measurement results with different sampling rates. ITunes can not play files with 96 kHz under iOS, but only with 44.1 and 48 kHz. This has a good reason, because the D / A converters of the iOS devices are only designed to 48 kHz. Nevertheless, there are some iOS programs that still play 96 kHz files, such as the DAW Cubasis and the file program Goodreader (with which we ultimately completed all measurements under iOS10). However, both programs convert the 96 kHz files before and cut the high frequencies with a low-pass filter. Cubasis already sets the blade at about 18 kHz, the goodreader only at 19 kHz. The best frequency values ​​were obtained at 44.1 kHz, where all device frequencies were transferred to 21 kHz. In all cases, the frequency response was sub- stantially linear.

Vergrößern At 44.1 kHz, the frequency response over the entire audio spectrum
image
remains exemplary

linear:. C't

Vergrößern 96 kHz files, however, are already cut at lower frequencies depending on the software, while the Goodreader is about 19 kHz. Can hear that but most children and young
image. C't
The optimum sound quality can be achieved on an iPhone / iPad, with music files encoded at 44.1 kHz and 24 bits. However, while the higher 24-bit word range versus 16-bit at the output of the iPhone 6S and iPad Air is still a dynamic improvement of 5 to 7 dB (A), the difference in the new Lightning Adapter shrinks to just 2.3 dB IPhone and 6 dB at the iPad Air together.

So it is not worthwhile to encode music with 24 instead of 16 bits for the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus, because the adapter output negates the quality advantage. In order to be able to hear a 16-bit advantage with 24-bit music on the iPhone 7, you would have to output the music digitally over another audio interface or digitally connected headphones. Top-of-the-line models have achieved 24-bit up to 122 dB (A) dynamics and voltages of up to 10 volts in recent years (so far exceed the voltage required for headphone and line connections).

Conclusion

With the saving of the jack socket, Apple deteriorates the output quality of the music on the iPhone. While the output sockets of the iPhone 6S and iPad Air itself perform well compared to professional audio interfaces, the output on the new Lightning adapter of the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus reaches only the note satisfactorily.

The differences should be noticeable in comparison with similar connected headphones in the price class from 100 euros, especially with uncompressed music files with 24 bits. In the case of lossy compressed music pieces (MP3, AAC), most users will hardly notice a difference. Bluetooth headphones and digital audio interfaces are not affected by the deterioration.

Update 20/09/16: Inszwischen we made further hearing tests, the rather unusual properties of the adapter encouraged to light. In summary, we have them in the article

IPhone 7: Audio adapter can amplify noise



iPhone 7 hearing test: Audio adapter can amplify noise UPDATE

heise online 20.09.2016 14:00 clock Hartmut Gieselmann
read out

(Picture: c't)
Apple's new audio adapter for the Lightning port of the iPhone 7 heats up the mind: in more accurate listening tests, we found more features of the D / A converter, which can lead to more noise.

Heise online Preisvergleich
display
Apple iPhone 7 32GB black
Apple iPhone 32GB black 7
from € 759, -
After last Friday initially the signal quality of the new Lightning Audio Adapter measured and with the internal audio jack of the iPhone 6s and iPad Air had compared, we have the adapter now open and made more hearing tests to analyze the sound characteristics more precisely.

Behind the Lightning plug, Apple has installed a Lightning chip with the code "338S00140 0KR1618 TW". It is responsible for the communication via the lightning port and, according to our knowledge so far, has its own D / A converter unit. The analogue signals for a stereo headphone and a microphone for the use of headsets are connected to the 3.5-pin 3.5-mm jack plug of the adapter.

D / A converter operates non-linearly
The built-in converter has some unusual features, depending on whether it is connected to an iPhone or iPad. In terms of measuring technology, it achieves poorer dynamics compared to the built-in socket. With 99.6 dB (A) on the iPhone and 102.9 dB (A) on the iPad, it is still better than what is commonly described as "CD quality", the internal jacks of the iPhone 6S and the iPad Air delivered 104.1 dB (A) and 106.7 dB (A), but significantly better values, which with the better professional audio interfaces quite well.


Under a microscope the label of the lightning chip is visible in the audio adapter: 338S00140 0KR1618 TW. Its exact specifications are unknown to us so far. Vergrößern
Image: c't
In the hearing test, however, it was shown that the converter in the Lightning adapter does not take advantage of its dynamics because it is not linear in contrast to the internal converter of the iPhone and iPad at the lower end of the loudspeaker spectrum. Thus, in the listening test level, it outputs approximately the same level as around -86 dBFS as with -120 dBFS.

The effects correspond to those of a very low adjusted parallel compressor. So you can hear extremely low noise with the adapter, but these are compressed from a certain threshold, so that you no longer perceive loudness differences. However, the dithering noise that is often used in 16-bit recordings can therefore be heard louder than the internal audio socket of the iPhone 6S and iPad Air. Their converters also operate linearly in the lower volume range, so that signals are also beyond -86 dBFS Quieter. We were able to hear levels of up to -95 dBFS on the iPhone 6S and -102 dBFS on the iPad Air with a low-impedance in-ear headphone (Beyerdynamic DTX-100, 12 Ohm) and perceive volume differences. With other headset models, these perceptible levels may be different.

When comparing the perceived volume of normal pop songs, we could not make any obvious loudness differences despite the measurement-technical differences in the level of the adapter and the internal socket, whether with 12 ohm in-ear headphones or 70 ohm headphones ( Sennheiser HD-25).

Frequency response and harmonic distortion are exemplary both on the internal sockets and on the adapter.

Conclusion
Apple Lightning audio adapter reinforced by our listening tests signals are quieter than about -86 dBFS. This may cause a little more noise to be heard on some recordings, such as when analog tape recordings were used, or when a 16-bit music file was often dithered, as usual with mastering.

However, this can only be noticed if they tip their ears, use high-quality headphones with high efficiency or when they connect the audio adapter to a stereo system or active loudspeakers via their line input. For the listeners to understand this at home, the computer magazine c't will publish corresponding test files for download in its upcoming issue 21/16, which will be released on October 1st.

In normal everyday life, when a user hears MP3 or AAC files with already heavily compressed pop or rock music, he will not notice the difference. From developer circles it was heard that manufacturers are now working on high-quality audio adapters for the Lightning connection, which should also satisfy audiophile users. With the elimination of the very good internal audio jack on the iPhone 7, Apple can stimulate the demand for such high-quality external converters.

Update 21/09/16: We have now checked against a Lightning extension cable if between iOS device and Lightning audio adapter analog audio signals are transmitted or not. Even after several passes with all possible combinations of the eight Lightning contacts, we have not succeeded in recognizing a usable audio signal at the oscilloscope.

We could only catch a very weak and distorted signal (under 20 mV), which obviously comes from a discussion of the adapter connected to the headphone. This review is only available with a low-impedance headphone and disappears as soon as it is changed with a high-impedance line connection. From this, we conclude that a D / A converter is inserted in the Lightning adapter.

We also found that the Lightning audio adapter is not compatible with all headsets. With original Apple headsets and licensed MFI models (Made for iPhone), both microphone and volume setting work. Other iPhone-compatible headsets without MFI certification, whose volume setting had so far worked with the analog input jack, can no longer adjust the volume on the Lightning adapter.

Elantric

#138
http://www.belkin.com/us/p/P-F8J198/
$39
* Dual functionality to listen to Lightning Audio and charge at the same time
* Supports pass-through charging up to 12W for iPhone and iPad
* Supports up to 48 kHz, 24-bit audio output
* Compatible with Lightning Audio headphones† and the Apple Lightning to 3.5 mm Headphone Jack Adapter
* Supports remote control and microphone from Lightning Audio headphones
* Works with Apple iPhone 7 Smart Battery Case
* Made for iPhone + iPad



Adapter for iPhone 7 for charging when listening to music
09.09.2016 15:06 clock Leo Becker
read out

Belkin has introduced an adapter that allows you to charge iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus while using a cable headphone. The "Lightning Audio + Charge RockStar" has two lightning jacks.

Using another adapter Belkin wants to solve the problem that the iPhone 7 is no longer possible, simultaneous charging during wired music listening. The " Lightning Audio + Charge Rockstar " said adapter is plugged into the Lightning port on the iPhone and keeps himself two Lightning jacks willing to let on to plug it the charging cable as well as the included Lightning EarPods. The accessory was developed in close cooperation with Apple, according to the manufacturer.

Two headphones not supported
manufacturer
Vergrößern
Image: Manufacturers
One could also use Apple's lightning-on-jack adapter to attach a headphone with 3.5 mm jack. The "Lightning Audio + Charge RockStar" does not make it easy to plug in two Lightning headphones if you want to listen to music together - it is only for an audio device and a charging cable, Belkin explains.

The adapter supports 24-bit audio output up to 48 kHz and charging up to 12 watts of iPhone as iPad. The accessory can also be used with Apple's Smart Battery Case. The "Lightning Audio + Charge RockStar" is to come on October 10 for 40 euros in the trade.

IPhone 7 measured: Lightning adapter delivers poorer sound
Other options for charging the iPhone 7 at the same time
At 7 reproduce the iPhone to store while still music with a wired headset, has over a user recommended Apple's marketing chief , but to use Apple's Lightning dock with jack - cost point from 45 euros.

Due to the first missing jack socket, only the handle for wireless headphones remains to be charged when listening to music. This also corresponds to Apple's vision of the future with wireless devices that automatically record connection - a feature that the newly introduced AirPods and first Beats models with W1 chip are intended to provide. The AirPods are expected to enter the market by the end of October.

Elantric

#139
http://www.computerworld.com/article/3135664/personal-technology/what-happens-when-apple-removes-headphone-jacks-and-usb-ports-from-our-devices.html

What happens when Apple removes headphone jacks and USB ports from our devices
When there is no transition period, frustrations arise.




The ILDOCK offers a Lightning charging port and analog headphone jack for your iPhone 7 or any Apple device with a Lightning port. Credit: ildockgear
           
Computerworld | Oct 26, 2016 5:32 AM

I climbed into my son's car the other day, an older Saab with a fairly decent sound system. I had an iPhone 7 Plus in my pocket, but I didn't bother fishing it out. I know the phone comes with a Lightning port adapter that lets you use a standard 3.5mm cable to connect up to a car stereo. The adapter is about the size of a walnut, but I normally connect up to my car using Bluetooth and don't carry the adapter with me. It was a "gotcha" because we really wanted to listen to the new Wilco album.


These "gotchas" are annoying when it comes to technology, which is supposed to enable us and not make things totally unusable. Rumors are flying this week that a new MacBook Pro won't come with normal USB ports,
http://metro.co.uk/2016/10/24/is-apple-about-to-kill-off-the-usb-port-6212933/
but we've already crossed this threshold. The HP Spectre only has USB-C ports, the smaller ones used for data transfer and power. HP includes an adapter (a cable that's about four inches long) so you can use older USB devices. I'm pretty sure I've already misplaced it.

What happens when we move from one incredibly common technology to a newer one that is no longer compatible? Terrible things. Sudden annoyances. Frustrations. When I wrote about the iPhone 7 and how it doesn't use a normal 3.5mm headphone jack anymore, dozens of people commented on Twitter and by email about how annoying that is. Older devices like headphones and speakers won't work anymore without the adapter, which is easy to lose. Worse, there's an issue with quality. Many Bluetooth earbuds sound like an AM radio under water. You can always upgrade to premium-grade headphones, but what if you don't want to spend the cash?

With USB-C, the problem is much more annoying. There are hundreds of thousands of USB devices on the market. In my office alone, I count at least two dozen -- printers, headsets, a smarthome device, a mouse. Every single one of these devices worked perfectly fine before. Now, I need to use an adapter with laptops that only offer USB-C. When I travel, who knows? If I want to connect to a printer in a remote office, I can likely use Wi-Fi, unless the printer doesn't offer that.

This isn't an article about the good old days, though. It's a problem when there's a transition for reasons other than actual consumer benefit. Maybe HP and Apple want to make thinner and lighter laptops. Maybe there's more room now for the battery in an iPhone 7. Fine. But the industry hasn't caught up. Most earbuds and headphones still sound terrible when they stream Bluetooth audio, and many older cars still provide only an analog input. Most printers provide only a standard USB cable. We need to move on from USB and 3.5mm jacks, but maybe there's a better way to do that.

On a laptop, it makes more sense to add a couple of USB-C ports but keep at least one standard USB port around. Or, maybe the USB-C can use an adapter that fits over the port and stays there, not a cable like the one that's included with the Spectre. With the iPhone, I was surprised when I found out that Apple isn't ready to release the new AirPods (they came out later this month). So, that means the iPhone 7 offers half of the answer when it comes to music streaming. (They do include earbuds that connect directly to the Lightning port, but it's useless with any other device.)

What consumer want is a bridge, a transition period where we can use the gadgets we already own and like and transition into the brave new world. That's never quite what the tech companies want, though.

My advice: It's time to figure out how to make new tech works with the old.



--


http://www.ildock.com/



ILDOCK plus allows you to charge your iPhone while listening to music. You can simply view files stored in the memory card on your phone.

ILDOCK does not require you to install drivers or apps. Simply plug it into the lightning port, view and play back photos and videos on your iPhone with ease!
The Aluminum shell and plastic design make it extremely lightweight yet elegant. It is  so  compact that you can slip it into your bag or pocket.

ILDOCK allows you to use the dock with or without a case, and it fits for a wide range of case sizes. The convenience makes it become your exclusive adapter!
Instead of spending hundreds of dollars to update the storage of an iPhone, ILDOCK is truly affordable. It supports 128G from each memory card.
The ILDOCK shell is adopted with aircraft grade aluminum. And the inner part of ILDOCK is molded with plastic to achieve its precise molding and casting.
http://www.ildock.com/buy-now


--
http://www.ildock.com/product-page/12cb143a-546a-1271-ea9a-a0ec1c1124f5
ILDOCK Plus
$50.00
Except for 3.5mm jack and Lightning port, ILDOCK Plus has additional  three ports for SD card, TF card and USB flash drive. You are free to read videos, photos and music files stored in these storage devices on your phone. ILDOCK supports storage up to 128G for each memory device.
Shaped by aircraft grade aluminum, adopted CNC surface polishing process and molded plastic inside, they are endowed with exquisite, lightweight, compact and portable characteristics.








Elantric

Apple's cord situation is completely out of control
Kif Leswing,Business Insider 6 hours ago Comments  Like  Reblog on Tumblr  Share  Tweet  Email
apple macbook pro vs macbook air size
(Apple)
Apple's newest computer, the MacBook Pro, looks pretty great: It's got fast chips, a good screen, MacOS, and a new kind of touchscreen keyboard it's calling the Touch Bar.

But I'm personally worried that buying the new MacBook Pro will doom me to carrying around various dongles for years, or as long as I'm in Apple's ecosystem. And you should be worried about that too.

In the company's zeal to move to next-generation connectors and future-proof devices, Apple's created a morass of different cords, dongles, and standards.

Take a user who has an iPhone 7 and new MacBook Pro. That's Apple's core customer: someone with disposable income who wants the best computers.

This person needs to think hard about what cords they are going to carry from day to day. The iPhone and MacBook Pro use different chargers, so that person would have to carry both. iPhones use Apple's proprietary Lightning charger. The new MacBooks use the relatively new open USB-C standard.

(That's not a big deal, although it's worth pointing out that if this person had a Google Pixel phone instead of an iPhone, their phone and computer could use the same charger. That's not very elegant, Apple.)
iPhone 7 headphone dongle
(Hollis Johnson/Business Insider)

Things get worse when you consider headphones. The new MacBook Pro has a headphone jack, so you can plug basically any pair of headphones into it. The iPhone 7, as you've probably heard, does not.

Customers can use the dongle that comes with the iPhone 7 to use their laptop headphones with their iPhone. But if someone wants to use the Lightning Earpods that come with the iPhone 7, there's no way to plug them into your laptop, unless Apple makes another dongle — some kind of male USB-C-to-female-Lightning adapter.

Of course, what Apple wants you to do is buy its new AirPods, which cost $159, and need to be charged too. AirPods haven't gone on sale yet because Apple says they're not ready.

And finally, just try to charge your phone from your laptop using the cord that comes with your iPhone. You can't — unless you have yet another adapter (this one USB-C to USB), which Apple will sell you for $19. A USB-C to Lightning Cable costs $25.

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(Apple)

Apple's insistence on using Lightning as its proprietary standard on its phone makes its choice to commit to USB-C on Mac a confusing one.

I understand that ports change and technology has to change with it. But the whole reason to adopt open standards like USB-C is so things can be standardized. And USB-C can do a lot of different things, like power a monitor — so it can certainly charge a phone, handle headphones, or anything else Lightning does.

It's madness. Apple's head of design Jony Ive said last month that "we believe in a wireless future." But my immediate future — deciding whether or not I buy a new MacBook Pro — looks to be full of different cords and dongles.


http://www.theverge.com/2016/10/27/13444262/apple-macbook-pro-2016-no-sd-card-slot?yptr=yahoo

What did the SD card ever do to Apple?
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by Vlad Savov  Oct 27, 2016, 5:36p
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MacBook Pro, 2016 model Vlad Savov
What you see before you, friends, is Apple's brand new MacBook Pro, in the silver $1,799 configuration and space gray $1,499 variant without the cool new Touch Bar. Neither of them has an SD card slot. SD cards are those awesome things that practically every dedicated camera in the world nowadays stores photos on. Fujifilm, Sony, Canon, Nikon, Pentax, Olympus, Panasonic... the only thing all of these photo companies agree on is that SD is the storage medium of choice. And now Apple has decided to ditch it.

SD CARD SLOT > SD CARD ADAPTER

Apple has always been a photographer's close ally. In the olden days when Windows PCs and generic monitor makers didn't care about color fidelity, Apple was the pioneer that said that colors matter. Many of the MacBook Pro's most devoted fans are indeed photographers. And now the MacBook Pro doesn't have an SD card slot anymore. Cue more dongles and adapters.

I understand Apple's reasoning and broader aim: the Cupertino company isn't just dispatching the SD card slot; it's also doing away with the older Thunderbolt port, HDMI, the classic USB jacks, and basically everything that isn't USB-C / Thunderbolt 3 or the headphone jack. Isn't that fun? Apple is showing loyalty to the 3.5mm headphone connector that it considered so retrograde for the iPhone. Honestly, though, nobody else has four Thunderbolt 3 ports on a laptop yet, all of them allowing you to charge the laptop and obviating the MagSafe power plug.

It's just that the SD card is nowhere near being deprecated. Has anyone at Apple tried using the wireless transfer apps that camera makers now offer? They're utterly and universally atrocious. If we could transfer photos off cameras wirelessly, we'd already be doing it. But the fact is that even with so many wireless "options" on offer, we all rely on the tried-and-true method of pulling the SD card out of camera and popping it into our laptop. For many of us, the act of doing this has turned into muscle memory.

The MacBook Pro might be an awesome computer, and its Touch Bar certainly looks like a promising (and actually rather courageous) alteration. But it won't be the perfect computer. You can't take away a basic, fundamental capability and pretend that life will somehow, at some point, be better without it. I was sure that I'd be upgrading to the new MacBook Pro as soon as it became available, but now my confidence is shaken. Can Apple please stop taking away things I like from the devices I want?

Elantric

Belkin Rockstar Lighnting DAC+ Charge

http://www.belkin.com/us/p/P-F8j198/?utm_source=exacttarget&utm_medium=email&utm_content=pre-order&utm_campaign=lighting-availiable-2
LIGHTNING AUDIO + POWER

The Lightning Audio + Charge RockStar makes it possible to listen to Lightning Audio while charging your iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. Enjoy music or talk through Lightning Audio headphones while you charge. Use the RockStar anywhere; at home, at work, in the car or on the go.

Made for: iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, any Lightning device that runs iOS 10 or later

Works with: MFI-certified USB to Lightning cables

Works with: MFI-certified Lightning Audio headphones
http://www.belkin.com/us/support-article?articleNum=207562
Please note: The RockStar delivers power in to your iPhone/iPad, and only supports Lightning Audio. It does not support syncing or any other USB data, or similar protocol like Serial or UART.

Reviews

Quote
★★★★★
★★★★★ 1 out of 5 stars.   dazzling · 13 days ago 
Does not work.
I purchased this product to listen to music and charge at the same time in my car. As soon as I connect it to the car radio cable all I hear is static and the music sounds poor and hard to hear over the static. Will be returning.

Elantric

https://www.yahoo.com/tech/apple-insider-says-demand-dwindling-because-iphone-7-191820325.html

Apple insider says demand is dwindling because the iPhone 7 is boring
Chris Smith,BGR News 8 hours ago Comments  Like  Reblog on Tumblr  Share  Tweet  Email
iphone-7-2
Have we reached peak iPhone 7 already? Apple kicked off iPhone 7 sales almost two months ago and saw incredible demand in spite of critics, who said the device was a "boring" update. Apple sold out of initial stock rather quickly and struggled to meet demand both in the US and in the numerous other markets where the phone was released. But an Apple insider with a very good track record when reporting on Apple's every move now claims that we're already past peak iPhone 7, and sales will now begin to decline.

DON'T MISS: The 5 best new features coming to your iPhone in iOS 10.2

KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said in a note to investors that demand for the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus has peaked, and Apple's suppliers will decrease their iPhone shipments by as 5% to 15% in November and December. Is the new iPhone boring after all?

"As the 4.7-inch iPhone 7, which accounts for a higher share of iPhone shipments, is in stock in the main global markets, we believe overall iPhone shipments have peaked," Kuo said in the note seen by MacRumors. "We think iPhone shipment forecasts will be revised down due to: (1) lower-than-expected demand due to a lack of spec surprises in the 4.7-inch iPhone 7; and (2) shorter times for delivering online orders of 5.5-inch iPhone 7 Plus, which implies slowing demand. We note that the out-of-stock phenomenon also results from fixed capacity, and is not only due to robust demand."

Kuo also said that the out-of-stock phenomenon that Apple experienced after the launch of the iPhone 7 can be explained by limited supply rather than robust demand. The analyst expects Apple sell fewer iPhones on-year in the fist quarter of 2017 due to lower-than-expected demand and increased competition in China.

Early reports indicated that Apple's iPhone 7 launch may be comparable to the iPhone 6s' launch last year. Apple, however, did not confirm these estimates, as it stopped announcing iPhone launch numbers. A different report a few days ago indicated that Android has been making gains at the expense of the iPhone. At the same time, however, there are more documented Android switchers than ever.

Elantric

FWIW , my December 2014 era iPhone 6plus digitizer stopped working 2weeks ago and without Apple Care, Apple swapped out the defective phone for a refurbished iPhone 6 Plus for $329

It's the 128GB model

Today I read this , I'll keep you posted on the outcome , rumor is I may obtain a $175 credit/refund

http://www.siliconbeat.com/2016/11/17/apple-admits-iphone-touch-disease-blames-users-offers-149-fix/?yptr=yahoo

Elantric



admin

Quote from: Elantric on June 22, 2016, 05:49:16 AM


The next iPhone 7 will remove the 3.5mm headset jack

In true "must carry a bag of Apple adapter dongles to get work done" fashion -  look for a new round of Lightning to Headset adapters to arrive in stores soon ahead of schedule





http://www.iclarified.com/55398/lightning-to-headphone-jack-adapters-surface-in-china-ahead-of-new-iphone
   
Adapters that convert a 3.5mm headphone connector to a Lightning connector have already surfaced in China. Tama Electric is making three versions of the adapter as spotted by Macotakara.

Each adapter features volume and play/pause buttons and two of them have a micro-USB port in addition to the 3.5mm port.

Apple is widely rumored to be dropping the headphone jack from its next generation iPhone allowing for a thinner design, saving internal space, and improving audio quality. Presumably, the company would include a set of Lightning earbuds with the device but those who want to use their regular headphones would need an adapter similar to these.

To ease the transition, Apple could include their own adapter with the new iPhone but many feel it will be an additional purchase.



Of course the above is possible because small 24 bit DAC headphone amp IC's are cheap these days.




Hurricane



Hurricane

 :o
My 5s did that .

Soon to come home fixed . I miss it .

EZ :

HR