4 ms·

Yes. I've worked on phones in the past (Amazon's ill-fated Fire Phone) and there was no pressure that I perceived to sell more third-party accessories. There wa

Yes. I've worked on phones in the past (Amazon's ill-fated Fire Phone) and there was no pressure that I perceived to sell more third-party accessories. There was, however, a very tangible pressure to make the phone thinner and lighter, and at the same time to pack it full of more shiny-seeming software features. It's entirely conceivable, based on my experience, that removal of the headphone jack is attributable to ignorance and not to malice.

baddox 8y ago
Ignorance of what? I’m sure they knew some people would be upset about the decision, but they must have predicted that it would be worth it for their bottom line and aggregate customer satisfaction. And I have seen no data suggesting that their prediction was incorrect.
jimmaswell 8y ago
What reason is there to chase more thinness? Phones are thin and light enough as is. I'd rather my phone not blow away in the wind if I set it down outside.
- wmeredith 8y ago
  What if you never had to set it down? What if it was another credit card you put in your wallet? Saying technology has come far enough is folly.
smegger001 8y ago
Does anyone actually want it thinner and lighter or is that just an assumption we have had and never questioned? I mean most people end up putting their device in a case anyway to protect it already. They are to structurally flimsy and fragile. Hell otterbox is valued at 2.5 billion and all they sell are thick bulky phone cases. A inch thick phone would be fine and have more room for battery, storage, etc, etc, etc... and still have room to have a sturdy case and most people wouldn't care.
- wmeredith 8y ago
  Yes. I think this a “people want a faster horse” situation. The people who don’t want phones to go thinner and wireless everything aren’t thinking it through fully. I miss the head phone jack on my phone right now, I’d like longer battery life... but there is a future where a smartphone is the size of a credit card, is waterPROOF, and never plugs into anything ever. If you think it’s not possible, consider that the chips in each AirPod are more powerful than the one in the first iPhone. I am temporarily annoyed with the audio jack removal, but I get it. It’s a “burn the boats” type strategy of pushing for the wireless, portless future.

baddox 8y ago

Ignorance of what? I’m sure they knew some people would be upset about the decision, but they must have predicted that it would be worth it for their bottom line and aggregate customer satisfaction. And I have seen no data suggesting that their prediction was incorrect.

jimmaswell 8y ago

What reason is there to chase more thinness? Phones are thin and light enough as is. I'd rather my phone not blow away in the wind if I set it down outside.

wmeredith 8y ago
What if you never had to set it down? What if it was another credit card you put in your wallet? Saying technology has come far enough is folly.

smegger001 8y ago

Does anyone actually want it thinner and lighter or is that just an assumption we have had and never questioned? I mean most people end up putting their device in a case anyway to protect it already. They are to structurally flimsy and fragile. Hell otterbox is valued at 2.5 billion and all they sell are thick bulky phone cases. A inch thick phone would be fine and have more room for battery, storage, etc, etc, etc... and still have room to have a sturdy case and most people wouldn't care.

wmeredith 8y ago
Yes. I think this a “people want a faster horse” situation. The people who don’t want phones to go thinner and wireless everything aren’t thinking it through fully. I miss the head phone jack on my phone right now, I’d like longer battery life... but there is a future where a smartphone is the size of a credit card, is waterPROOF, and never plugs into anything ever. If you think it’s not possible, consider that the chips in each AirPod are more powerful than the one in the first iPhone. I am temporarily annoyed with the audio jack removal, but I get it. It’s a “burn the boats” type strategy of pushing for the wireless, portless future.