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Except that there are adapters that convert to that same old jack, and so you haven't really lost anything. Yet, anyhow. If they ever lock you down to only ap

Except that there are adapters that convert to that same old jack, and so you haven't really lost anything. Yet, anyhow. If they ever lock you down to only approved headphones, then we've got a real problem, and not just for being able to do what you want with your music.

dogma1138 10y ago
You can control what songs can be decoded with what adapter. You can control the bit rate and quality. You can effectively make songs that only play on certain headphones or songs that play better quality when you have your beats plugged in. This isn't the first time this has been brought up this was the first thing everyone had in mind when the rumors about Apple ditching the headphone jack first appeared.
- rimantas 10y ago
  As if they cannot control what iPhone outputs to 3.5.
  - dogma1138 10y ago
    Not really, they can't tell what headphones are plugged in they might be able to determine some very coarse profile but even that is highly questionable. With audio being pushed through lighting port in a digital format Apple knows for sure what device is connected to it, and even if you spoof the device id they can still use DRM because the device decodes the digital signal and if it doesn't have the correct set of keys or decoding configuration it would not be able to play the audio.
0x0 10y ago
As the article mentions, it's probably super easy for iOS to refuse to route audio to the adapter if it so chooses, for example when playing certain "fairplay" encrypted content. How convenient.
- mbreese 10y ago
  Wouldn't it be just as easy to refuse to route to a physical audio jack as well? I don't see how the loss of the physical jack changes that scenario.
  - 0x0 10y ago
    It matters because the jack is no longer the default output device that customers expect to always work.
    - nchelluri 10y ago
      Maybe you can open my eyes a bit, because right now that seems like splitting hairs to me. One way or another, the audio is cut off. Just because it's another jack/plug customers won't be upset?
      - 0x0 10y ago
        I think it's an easier "sell" to refuse third party headsets connecting through a legacy adapter, compared to refusing to use the bundled headsets that came in the box.
  - calinet6 10y ago
    The difference is in how smart the jack can be. First, it's under legal/licensing restriction, which means you have to pay to play (ignore the adapter for now; it's inconvenient and can also be detected as a particular kind of 'unlicensed' device). Second is the subtler stuff -- like how the jack can now communicate about the music and the device with the phone, so you really could do things like have exclusive Apple music releases only playable on Beats, or (behind the scenes) have a higher quality version play on your Beats than your other headphones, reinforcing the illusion that the new port and devices are "better" than the old analog one (which is impossible). Or have advertising play on radio, except on headphones that have paid a premium to be "ad-free." It also opens up much more positive possibilities, like the phone knowing the frequency profile of the headphones that are plugged in and automatically using the right equalizer settings to make it sound great. Or, simply wireless devices being able to charge through the port when plugged in. Or having headphones with memory that can keep a few hours of music on them 'synced' by plugging in so you don't even need your iPhone to listen. So all in all, it's a set of tradeoffs, giving up some freedom and simplicity, for the opportunity of more possibilities in the future. It's difficult to say exactly how it will be used, but the realist point of view is that it's all ending up as the same analog sound in the end; there's only so much that can be revolutionized. Time will tell.
ddt_Osprey 10y ago
If they ever... Boiling frogs, my friend. Boiling frogs.
deleted 10y ago
[deleted]

dogma1138 10y ago

You can control what songs can be decoded with what adapter. You can control the bit rate and quality. You can effectively make songs that only play on certain headphones or songs that play better quality when you have your beats plugged in. This isn't the first time this has been brought up this was the first thing everyone had in mind when the rumors about Apple ditching the headphone jack first appeared.

rimantas 10y ago
As if they cannot control what iPhone outputs to 3.5.
- dogma1138 10y ago
  Not really, they can't tell what headphones are plugged in they might be able to determine some very coarse profile but even that is highly questionable. With audio being pushed through lighting port in a digital format Apple knows for sure what device is connected to it, and even if you spoof the device id they can still use DRM because the device decodes the digital signal and if it doesn't have the correct set of keys or decoding configuration it would not be able to play the audio.

0x0 10y ago

As the article mentions, it's probably super easy for iOS to refuse to route audio to the adapter if it so chooses, for example when playing certain "fairplay" encrypted content. How convenient.

mbreese 10y ago
Wouldn't it be just as easy to refuse to route to a physical audio jack as well? I don't see how the loss of the physical jack changes that scenario.
- 0x0 10y ago
  It matters because the jack is no longer the default output device that customers expect to always work.
  - nchelluri 10y ago
    Maybe you can open my eyes a bit, because right now that seems like splitting hairs to me. One way or another, the audio is cut off. Just because it's another jack/plug customers won't be upset?
    - 0x0 10y ago
      I think it's an easier "sell" to refuse third party headsets connecting through a legacy adapter, compared to refusing to use the bundled headsets that came in the box.
- calinet6 10y ago
  The difference is in how smart the jack can be. First, it's under legal/licensing restriction, which means you have to pay to play (ignore the adapter for now; it's inconvenient and can also be detected as a particular kind of 'unlicensed' device). Second is the subtler stuff -- like how the jack can now communicate about the music and the device with the phone, so you really could do things like have exclusive Apple music releases only playable on Beats, or (behind the scenes) have a higher quality version play on your Beats than your other headphones, reinforcing the illusion that the new port and devices are "better" than the old analog one (which is impossible). Or have advertising play on radio, except on headphones that have paid a premium to be "ad-free." It also opens up much more positive possibilities, like the phone knowing the frequency profile of the headphones that are plugged in and automatically using the right equalizer settings to make it sound great. Or, simply wireless devices being able to charge through the port when plugged in. Or having headphones with memory that can keep a few hours of music on them 'synced' by plugging in so you don't even need your iPhone to listen. So all in all, it's a set of tradeoffs, giving up some freedom and simplicity, for the opportunity of more possibilities in the future. It's difficult to say exactly how it will be used, but the realist point of view is that it's all ending up as the same analog sound in the end; there's only so much that can be revolutionized. Time will tell.

ddt_Osprey 10y ago

If they ever... Boiling frogs, my friend. Boiling frogs.

deleted 10y ago

[deleted]