The internet is abuzz about the new IPhone which is speculated to have a wrap-around screen and improved speakers. However, loyal users may be disappointed as the 3.5mm headphone jack is rumored to be off the list.
A recent report from the FastCompany may shed some light on Apple's plan to say goodbye to the 3.5mm headphone jack. It claimed that the removal of the jack is consistent with their fixation on making devices simpler and smaller. The Cupertino company has set a precedent for this as evidenced on last year's unveiling of the 12-inch MacBook. Though it sports a 3.5mm headphone jack, the MacBook has a lone USB-C port to handle power, data transfer and video output.
Users with existing headphones need not worry however as FastCompany reports that if Apple finally removes the headphone jack, it plans to include an adapter which allows users to plug in their regluar 3.5mm analog headphones into the new phone.
On the subject of better audio through improved speakers, 9TO5Mac reports that Apple was just awarded a patent last January 12, 2016 that describes a method of making the speaker of slimmer devices output higher-quality and higher-volume audio.
Apple proposes to allow using more of the phone's internal space to act as an audio chamber. This allows turning other components of the IPhone into part of the speaker. The increased volume of air being pushed from this improvement increases the maximum allowable sound volume from the internal speakers. It also has potential to increase audio quality of the output.
Newsweek discovered that Apple had another patent filing last September 29, 2015. It describes a 4.9-inch wrap-around screen, missing on the screen was the Home Button and volume controls. Another glaring omission from the patent is the headphone jack, further giving credence to the 3.5mm jack rumor.
Apple, through the patent, believes that the flat planar standard form factor of today's phones leaves the sides and rear of unused or filled with buttons and switches that does not maximize functionality and the user experience.
All these new features and functions reported though extensively researched, must always be taken with a grain of salt. After all, Apple's patent filing may be a pro-active attempt to prevent Samsung and other companies from exploiting their technology and design; or it could simply just be smoke and mirrors.
