I’m with you. The hate has always seemed a bit like a first world problem.
Comment on Fairbuds are Fairphone’s proof that we really could make better tiny gadgets
BreakDecks@lemmy.ml 7 months agoI understand people’s desire for a headphone port, but I really don’t understand the hate for devices that don’t have one. It would be one thing if they vendor-locked Bluetooth headphones so you had to use theirs, but it really just seems like a common sense move in a world where Bluetooth reigns supreme.
As long as a USB-C adapter still provides the same functionality, I really don’t see anyone’s choices being taken away. If it is one less physical port on the device that helps streamline the hardware, I’m all for it too.
And if it is a dealbreaker, you don’t have to buy a fairphone.
stoly@lemmy.world 7 months ago
octopus_ink@lemmy.ml 7 months ago
I used up all my hate when Apple did it. I still think Apple lied about their reasoning (waterproofing and space), which pisses me off more than the other complaints, many of which I also agree with.
However, at this point a big portion of the market has adjusted and accepted (to varying degrees), and that first change is so far in the past that I don’t know that I can muster up a lot of hate for mfrs who are taking away headphone jacks today when instead of upending the market they are following market trends.
Having said that, I’d be willing to bet that a larger than typical percentage of Fairphone purchases would really like to have a headphone jack.
blssflbreeze@lemmy.world 7 months ago
it’s partially because we are running out of options that have the headphone jack, and the only reason to remove them is to boost sales of more expensive bluetooth sets. Bluetooth really doesn’t reign supreme yet because wired headphones are still more convenient, cheaper to produce, and last longer than their bluetooth counterparts. the only reason it’s so common is because it keeps getting removed from phones so people don’t have a choice in the matter.
ECB@feddit.de 7 months ago
I think they mean “reign supreme” in the sense that, given the choice, most people these days would choose the bluetooth anyways.
Its just so nice to not have a cord…
windpunch@feddit.de 7 months ago
but I really don’t understand the hate for devices that don’t have one.
I like to have the choice. And I choose not having to buy another device.
in a world where Bluetooth reigns supreme.
We must think of different aspects then.
- Reliability - battery charge, potential signal loss (note that I have no experience with wireless headphones, so the second point could be wrong.)
- Longevity - batteries that degrade vs a cable that’s fine if you don’t abuse it
- Ease of use - Plug it into what I want vs pairing process, possible problems with switching, devices sometimes malfunction (meaning software-wise)
- (Audio quality - I can plug them into any DAC I want vs being limited to the built in one - I will not pretend to be able to hear the difference between 16bit/48kHz and something higher. But I still could use an audio interface that can do it.)
daltotron@lemmy.world 7 months ago
Mostly just because it’s kind of seen as a higher profile example of mobile phone manufacturers colluding and creating totally unnecessary changes in the market because they’re incapable of actual innovation. The reason people are mad, basically, is because there was no reason to remove the headphone jack. I haven’t seen a reasonable argument for it’s removal, really, or the removal of most of the other used-to-be-standard features on smartphones.
nyctre@lemmy.world 7 months ago
Does that include fairphone’s explanation for the removal of the headphone jack? Cause to me it sounds reasonable. It could be bs, sure, but I don’t think it is.
sugar_in_your_tea@sh.itjust.works 7 months ago
The problem is that there are fewer and fewer options with a headphone jack. My current phone has one and I use it all the time.
Bluetooth sucks for a variety of reasons, such as:
I also like using bluetooth headphones sometimes, but having an option is good, and I don’t want to bring a dongle around everywhere.
BreakDecks@lemmy.ml 7 months ago
Most Bluetooth headphones are encrypted with a key shared only by the headphones and the host device. Not sure why you think they aren’t private. Maybe really cheap or really old headphones might not be so secure, but the vast majority of Bluetooth headphones in use today absolutely are.
Charging and audio quality are legitimate concerns, but again, you still have a headphone port… It’s just part of the USB-C port on the bottom of your phone. A $5 adapter completely absolves you of having to use Bluetooth.
I really don’t see how this is a big enough deal to care about.
sugar_in_your_tea@sh.itjust.works 7 months ago
They broadcast the ID and I think type of device. Yeah, the data sent between the devices is encrypted, but that’s not really an improvement over wired headphones since the signal is privacy by virtue of not being broadcast everywhere.
It’s not the price that’s the issue, but the convenience. I can’t change my phone while using the adapter, and I have to bring it along wherever I go. Why should I need an adapter for something that used to come standard?
What do I gain from not having a headphone jack? A slightly thinner phone due to slightly more space for the battery? My current phone has a headphone jack, and it’s no bigger than any other phone, and it has a larger battery than most. Better water resistance? I’ve never lost a phone due to water.
So I’ll flip it around, why do you not want a headphone jack? What about a micro-SD card?
My next phone will probably not have a headphone jack, and I’m annoyed just thinking about it.
BreakDecks@lemmy.ml 7 months ago
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The same reason you needed a new charging cable every time the USB standard changes: because technology standards change over time.
If anything, audio adapters have been a thing for decades longer than cell phones have existed. This is not a new development at all.
blssflbreeze@lemmy.world 7 months ago
in response to bluetooth being private: cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvekey.cgi?keyword=bluetoot…
also the adapters get lost and break before the headphones usually do (and cost about as much as a cheap pair of headphones)
Vaderhoff@lemmy.world 7 months ago
Honestly most of these points don’t make a whole lot sense, yet these are the arguments I see every time wireless ear buds pop up in any conversation. Phones by nature are not private, and honestly, who is trying to intercept Bluetooth close to you anyways? Majority of what they would likely get is “oh another person listening to music or tiktok”. I haven’t charged my 3 year old $50 Bluetooth buds in weeks, and they are still sitting at great battery health. Proper research and care goes a long way, though the option to have replacement batteries is def a plus. And if you’re going on long road trips, just pack an adapter and wired headphones if you’re that conscious. What are you doing with your phone that you need top-tier audio quality on the go? Just seems like a very very niche market.
windpunch@feddit.de 7 months ago
I jut want to address the point with the battery.
To be fair, the charging cases (if we talk about earbuds) are a good idea.
That said, with wired headphones I need to charge one device less, don’t have to worry about battery care (no matter how much effort you consider this, it’s zero with wired) and it’s no factor for the longevity of the device.
Also this:
So I need another pair of headphones and an apdapter vs just one pair of headphones?
Vaderhoff@lemmy.world 7 months ago
I honestly, never really put any extra energy into caring for my battery, it just seems to be fine. When I see it gets low, I just have the reaction to throw it on a charger, and leave it plugged in for a bit, then I’m good for a while. Wired are good backups, yes, but I don’t think in this day and age, they are the perfect solution, just the same that wireless are not either. But for my runs to the grocery store, the gym, or going for a hike. I’d rather not have a cable constantly getting in my way, and being able to freely hold and move my phone around with no issue. Of course that would be my use case, possibly making it subjective, but I imagine a lot of common users are pretty much about the same.
On the “needing to have another pair of headphones”, I mean why not? I don’t know how many wired earbuds, over the ears, and such I had growing up. They weren’t high end, or even mid-tier quality, but you could find them pretty easily. Just as easily as you can find them now. Not saying “take two different sets of headphones” with you whenever you go on a trip. That’s dumb, you’d have a higher chance of losing something that way. Just take the wired ones, with an adapter because that makes sense for a long trip where you want to conserve battery life and you’re just sitting in a car anyway. Also those adapters are pretty tight fitting, I leave mine just stuck to the headphone cable.
I’d also think if you cared about your audio equipment that much, you would probably be probably be able to keep track of a little adapter pretty easily.
sugar_in_your_tea@sh.itjust.works 7 months ago
Bluetooth data is encrypted, that’s not what I’m worried about. I’m more concerned about tracking.
Bluetooth transmits a unique ID, which can be picked up by any curious individual. That’s pretty much how “Find my Droid” and “Find my iPhone” work, and providing even more devices to track isn’t great. I can turn off the Bluetooth in my phone and use wired headphones to avoid it, and removing the jack makes that more annoying.
Why not? I often listen to music or whatever when exercising, riding transit, or doing yardwork. Having good sounding headphones is really nice.
Audio jacks cost almost nothing, and I can buy them for <$1 each from Amazon, less if I buy in bulk. So it’s not a cost savings, and they’re not particularly big, so why do they need to remove it?
Even if you don’t care about privacy or audio quality, it’s just really convenient to be able to use any cheap earbuds if you lose your nicer pair when on vacation or whatever. Why not have the option? Why force people to use an adapter?
I also have Bluetooth headphones (bone conduction for listening to audiobooks on my bike), yet I still prefer the wired headphones around the house, on walks, and pretty much everywhere else.
Vaderhoff@lemmy.world 7 months ago
I think the removal is less so the conspiracy, and more so just spacing on the board or even just pure neglect at this point, but I could be wrong. But I’m good with every other point you threw up there. The tracking bit does make sense too, just no one has ever mentioned it. Though I still don’t think anyone is hunting me personally lol. I understand having peace of mind is also good too, and honestly, should not be a luxury like it feels these days.
Damage@feddit.it 7 months ago
Get an USB c dongle and leave it on the cord then… I too wish we still had jacks, but that battle’s lost, and attacking the only someone conscientious phone manufacturer for following trends set by bigger companies is myopic. They do what they must to compete, it’s not like they’re drowning in money.
Plopp@lemmy.world 7 months ago
Even USB-C dongles suck.
There are two types: ones that passes through the analog audio signal from the phone’s internal DAC, and ones that have a built in DAC and pretty much acts as external USB sound card. You need to know which type your phone supports and which type it is you’re buying.
If it’s the type that has a built-in DAC (which I think is the most common but I might be wrong) they are fury-inducing absolute monstrous pains in the ass if there’s the slightest glitch in the USB connection. Because it’s like unplugging the audio device. Playback just stops for seemingly no reason and it doesn’t resume once the connection is good again.
My solution is wired headphones plugged in to a small BT receiver I keep in my pocket. That way I get both an annoying cable and shitty audio quality lol.
Damage@feddit.it 7 months ago
I don’t see why you’d buy the more expensive one with the DAC. If the quality from the jack was enough before, the quality from the USB must be as well, it’s not like they removed the DAC from the SoC.
sugar_in_your_tea@sh.itjust.works 7 months ago
Who said I’m attacking anyone? I’m not saying “don’t buy a Fairphone because it doesn’t have a headphone jack,” I’m saying phone manufacturers like Fairphone should include a headphone jack.
How is removing a headphone jack helping them compete? They cost well under $1 each on Amazon for 10, and much cheaper in bulk. The trickier part is waterproofing it, so they could just sell two models, one without the jack with a high waterproof rating, and one with the jack. All that would need to change is the case.
sarmale@lemmy.zip 7 months ago
For me the slight lag is the worst, I can stand charging them and cant notice the lower audio quality but the lag is so annoying, For music they are good, bot not for things you interact with