this post was submitted on 18 Nov 2024

51 points (80.0% liked)

Technology

59448 readers

3565 users here now

This is a most excellent place for technology news and articles.

Our Rules

Follow the lemmy.world rules.
Only tech related content.
Be excellent to each another!
Mod approved content bots can post up to 10 articles per day.
Threads asking for personal tech support may be deleted.
Politics threads may be removed.
No memes allowed as posts, OK to post as comments.
Only approved bots from the list below, to ask if your bot can be added please contact us.
Check for duplicates before posting, duplicates may be removed

Approved Bots

founded 1 year ago

MODERATORS

[email protected]

Apple's controversial iPhone accessory may have been discontinued (www.theshortcut.com)

submitted 12 hours ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

42 comments fedilink hide all child comments

🤔 One of Apple’s most famous accessories seems to have been discontinued

👋 The Lightning to 3.5mm jack adapter has sold out in the US

🌎 It’s also not available in other countries

🎧 The adapter was introduced in 2016 when Apple removed the headphone jack from the iPhone 7

top 42 comments

sorted by: hot top controversial new old

[–] [email protected] 1 points 22 minutes ago (1 children)

I thought that was because everyone just bought $3 off-brand ones on Amazon.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 13 minutes ago

*On TEMU or AliExpress.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 29 minutes ago* (last edited 28 minutes ago)

I recently bought a cheap phone after I broke my main one, because I needed something while my main one was being "repaired". It turns out that this new cheap phone has a headphone jack AND a better stylus. It also had a solid 1000mah bigger battery and 10w extra of charging over my old flagship.

When the repair shop told me that the 20 cent ribbon connector couldn't be replaced and that the repair would be $600 for a new screen and glass back, I decided to keep the cheap phone, which works damn well. It's so nice to have a headphone jack to use again. All my other shit still has headphones jacks from my PC/laptop/SD to my car and stuff like kitchen stereos. I can use my Bluetooth earbuds, but they only have about 5 hours of playback and have a bad click in one bud after the first year of use.

I'm almost disappointed at how good this mid-range, $250 phone is compared to my $1,700 Samsung. I've been wasting money for years on flagships. Not going back after I got my data transferred to my new phone.

[+] [email protected] -14 points 1 hour ago* (last edited 1 hour ago) (4 children)

Because, after all the crybaby tantrums, it turns out that nobody really wanted a headphone jack, they just wanted to be whiny cunts. This is the proof.

Go on and throw a tantrum and downvote. The proof is here. Everyone who pissed their pants complaining about this was wrong. Nobody gave a shit in the end other than for their own ability to whine and complain.

Meanwhile, all of the adults in the room just moved to Bluetooth. Most of us did it years before this change. And that’s why they remove the headphone jack. That’s why everyone else is doing it too.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 21 minutes ago

That’s certainly a good possibility.

Could it instead be related to them discontinuing the lightning port on all devices, and usb-c to 3.5mm adapters are available for $2 on temu so they’re not bothering? Is that alternate reality also possible?

A follow up, if wired headphones actually are unpopular, why are there pages and pages of sellers in all marketplaces selling usb-c to 3.5mm adapters?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 27 minutes ago

I did buy a pair of wireless headphones, but the earbuds are staying wired. The headphones have a large, easy-to-replace battery that lasts a couple of weeks easily - while earbuds don't. Some people might be inconvenienced by having to charge another device. Plus, Bluetooth doesn't have the same audio quality - not as important for me, but might be for some people.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 50 minutes ago (1 children)

The fact that it sold out proves that no one wants it?

[–] [email protected] -4 points 48 minutes ago* (last edited 46 minutes ago) (2 children)

For those not hallucinating, the headline and article says “discontinued”. Not “sold out”.

Apple does not discontinue products that are popular. The obvious conclusion is that nobody wanted this bullshit.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 42 minutes ago

The article summary and the article both say "sold out"?

[–] [email protected] 6 points 43 minutes ago

Apple made the transition a little easier for those who weren’t ready to give up on their wired headphones by including a $9 adapter. However, it looks like it could now be confined to the annals of history, as the Lightning to 3.5mm jack adapter has sold out in the US and other countries, suggesting Apple may have quietly discontinued it

It says "sold out" and "discontinued. The latter is currently just speculation.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 59 minutes ago

And that’s why I still listen to music on my Zune HD instead of my iPhone.

[–] [email protected] 34 points 10 hours ago* (last edited 10 hours ago)

Controversial? Unpopular I can understand, but that's not the same.

I still prefer wired buds and chose a phone with a 3.5mm jack, but I wasn't into Apple phones to begin with.

Now that Apple is going USB C, the lightning adapter will stop mattering, I guess.

[+] [email protected] -17 points 11 hours ago (5 children)

There’s been some loud folks over the years but generally no one cares. 450+ million AirPods have been sold and the experience is arguably MUCH better than wired headphones.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 55 minutes ago* (last edited 55 minutes ago)

Any professionals or enthusiasts who give a shit about sound quality used wired headphones. At the same time, I wouldn't be using the lightning to 3.5mm adapter. I'd use an external DAC. There are lightning to USB-B cables for this purpose.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 hour ago

I can't take any headphone with a battery seriously because it's on borrowed time the moment it's manufactured.

Why spend more than £50 on a headphone with a battery that won't hold charge in 2 years? It's not like they make the battery easy to change.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 hours ago (1 children)

Audio latency with Bluetooth screws up things like music lessons in Duolingo.

A few weeks ago I was gardening with Pixel Buds on and one dropped into a pile of leaves. I spent ten minutes looking for the thing. Then the other day the same one dropped into the garbage disposal while I was doing the dishes.

I don't mind the cheap Bluetooth headphones I have that wrap around my ear slightly. I can run in those without them dropping out.

When I want audio quality I use some over-ear Bose headphones.

I have no idea how people are ok with just the little buds for all use-cases.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 26 minutes ago

Did you manage to extract it from the garbage disposal?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 hours ago

I was against wireless headphones for so long because I love my open-ear cans, but I could not agree more with the experience being infinitely better with AirPods when using a phone. I still use my nice cans when I’m listening to anything at home, but when I’m out and about, not having a cord is glorious.

[–] [email protected] 19 points 11 hours ago* (last edited 11 hours ago) (2 children)

For me, the switch to wireless earbuds has been mixed. Not having the cord get tangled and caught on things is nice, but I've come to dislike how precarious AirPods can feel (to me at least).

I'm always worried about them falling out of my ear and landing in a gutter or a toilet; I have to be careful pulling them out of their case and putting them back because they're easy to slip out of my fingers; I always have to remember to keep the case charged; if I want to take them off temporarily, I can't just drape them around my neck (at least not without 3rd party accessories but then you have to take those off to charge so more hassle). I feel like I just can't be as spontaneous with them as with wired ear buds.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 hours ago

I liked my AirPods but I switched to Pros because I have to go to the office and deal with coworkers making noise sometimes and the experience is 100x better. They sound almost as nice as my Sennheisers, but block out annoying people and never feel like they’re about to fall out.

I still use my regular pods for sleeping, but the batteries are kinda dying. They only last 2-3 hours on a charge now… but they’re like seven years old.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 9 hours ago

Of course everyone's ears are different, but for me, my Jabras lock in. They aren't going anywhere. They are designed to be twisted into place, causing a literal lock into your ear. I can force them out without touching them, but it takes work to do it, they aren't falling out on their own, and if they start to come loose, I'll know instantly because the seal is broke and I can hear that they aren't settled in right.

[–] [email protected] 35 points 12 hours ago (2 children)

The USB-C one is a great deal, and good quality. If you need one for other devices too.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 1 hour ago* (last edited 1 hour ago) (1 children)

Just a heads up for android users (like me):

It might not work at full power on android because fuck you. They made it so it has only 50% power on android.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 38 minutes ago (1 children)

I’ve never heard this before. And I use it on a VR headset. It’s actually louder than another option I have.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 minutes ago

Yes, Apple's USB-C > 3.5mm DAC dongle is not properly compatible with Android devices . The roughly -25dB gain applied appears to be by design.

Link

[–] [email protected] 0 points 8 hours ago (1 children)

How to change and listen/speak simultaneously?

[–] [email protected] 12 points 8 hours ago* (last edited 8 hours ago) (1 children)

Wireless charging and/or wireless headphones. Or a powered usb c hub.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 8 hours ago

Yeah, I’m not here to say it’ll fix every USB need you have for a device. It’s only $9. It’s not a USB hub.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 12 hours ago (3 children)

Seems a little early doesn't it? I know the iPhone 15 and 16 have a USB type C, but don't they still sell devices that have the lighting port?

[–] [email protected] 10 points 10 hours ago (1 children)

Yup, iPhone SE 3 for example

[–] [email protected] 2 points 10 hours ago

I thought so.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 11 hours ago (1 children)

I don't think they do, iirc the watches and ipads both use type c

[–] [email protected] 5 points 11 hours ago (1 children)

What about the iphone SE?

[–] [email protected] 0 points 8 hours ago

They still make the SE?

[–] [email protected] -2 points 11 hours ago* (last edited 11 hours ago) (4 children)

I mean if you’re buying the apple version sold on their website a 5x market value instead of an off brand one that’s on you.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 33 minutes ago

The off brand ones are noisy and sounds like shit, the apple one was worth the money over that shit.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 9 hours ago

Unironically, the Apple USB-C DAC is the best you can buy for that price. You’d have to go for something double or triple its price to get the same performance from any other dongle, specially at that size.

[–] [email protected] 18 points 11 hours ago* (last edited 10 hours ago) (1 children)

It's $10 and high quality. How much do you think you're saving with a junk off brand one?

[–] [email protected] -2 points 10 hours ago (1 children)

You got a point, and I looked on amazon. Most bundle 2 or 3 into one, and the price is around $10 with a few above and not many below. I did find a 2 pack for $5. so I guess 50% because that's definitely the one I would buy.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 10 hours ago (1 children)

And when it's junk out of the box because random no-name Amazon cables are universally terrible?

[–] [email protected] 10 points 10 hours ago* (last edited 10 hours ago)

Can confirm it is terrible. I bought a pack from Amazon and both of them have terrible DAC artifact noises. Should have gone with the Apple one.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 hours ago

True