next iPhone won't have 1/8" out.

[backwardsvoyager]

fuck wired game controllers, i'll never miss those.

same. IMO the dualshock 4 is pretty much flawless; more than adequate response rate, no heckin' AA batteries, can still be used wired, 1/8" headphone jack etc. perfectly acceptable area for wires to die out.

[rustywire]

How many stadium level bands are using cables? You don't see Slash, or Dave Murray or whatever trip over his cable. They're using wireless and have been for ages. And Iron Maiden live in Stockholm a few years back was the best sound I've heard at an outdoor venue. It was awesome. So obviously, wireless is already implemented for some areas of useage, without noticeable sound degradation. And that is only going to increase.

NSFW: show

Saying that wireless will never be as good as wired is just Luddite.

Even disregarding future improvements in tech, if the bit rate of Bluetooth is inferior to what is necessary to deliver equivalent to 44,1 kHz audio, people are not necessarily interested in whether something is the best. Convenience will trump quality pretty much all the time. Consider "smart phones". My old Nokia could go a couple of weeks without a recharge. Coverage was awesome. My current phone needs to be charged every night, at best. But my Nokia is gathering dust somewhere. Fuck, I'd kill to have a battery life that's half as good as the old Nokia, but there are a bunch of things that I can do on my current phone that I wouldn't give up for anything. So it's a tradeoff.

At the moment it's a little difficult to see the benefit to me as an end-user in the tradeoff with getting rid of the 1/8 jack. I'm happy to see where this goes and see if that benefit becomes apparent with time.

Q: How many stadium level bands are using cables?
A: All of them

There may be a wireless system plugged into the instruments (for players who don't fuzz) but everything else from the backline to the PA system is wired. It's a matter of convenience as previously stated. The wireless systems may be adequate for their needs in that case, but they are not (yet) reliable enough to be implemented from A to Z. I try to avoid saying things like "never will wireless be on the same level as wired" but currently? Cables may be passive, however wireless systems use active circuitry. There is a difference in sound...although you'll be hard pressed to distinguish it at 120dB+ in a noisy venue. In the studio is another story, entirely.

Q: How many musicians are using wireless systems in the studio?
A:

[Strange Tales]

Yea of course wireless is more convenient. That can't be argued for standard users.

But I'm not a luddite for saying that wired will always trump wireless when it comes to performance. That's just how it works.

[Chankgeez]

[odontophobia]

fwiw.

ever try to get a broken headphone jack out of a 3.5mm port? that shit blows. ever get a punch of pocket lint in there? also a pain in the ass.

"how will i charger and listen simultaneously"

buy a new adapter. it sucks but... ya know... it's the world we live in?

removing the headphone jack i'm sure had something to do with the water resistance. likely had something to do with being able to create a bigger battery.

bluetooth headphones are pretty decent/getting cheaper all the time. i have a pair. great when walking the dog or doing chores and shit and not having a goddamn wire.

i'm not sure why all these audiophiles are freaking out -- is your iphone the main way you listen to music? if so you're in the minority, man. most iphone users are streaming music from spotify, google, youtube and apple music.

[D.o.S.]

I demand only the highest quality listening for my EDM running playlist and top 40 dance parties.

[Jwar]

Bluetooth has been around since about 1998, so almost 20 fucking years. People still don't like it.

I laugh my ass off at the whole wired it better than wireless. Each item is going to be different. There's no evidence that all wired items are better than wireless items. Wireless continues to improve and get better each year. Is it perfect? Fuck no.

For phone, and again this is a phone we are talking about here, it's fine.

I pre-ordered two today and can't wait.

[Chankgeez]

I laugh my ass off at the whole wired it better than wireless. Each item is going to be different. There's no evidence that all wired items are better than wireless items. Wireless continues to improve and get better each year. Is it perfect? Fuck no.

Good point.

I pre-ordered two today and can't wait.

Dibs on the flip.

[lordgalvar]

fuck wired game controllers, i'll never miss those.

same. IMO the dualshock 4 is pretty much flawless; more than adequate response rate, no heckin' AA batteries, can still be used wired, 1/8" headphone jack etc. perfectly acceptable area for wires to die out.

There are certain kind of games (most of which aren't on systems like PS4 anyway) that any controller lag will ruin the whole game experience. Shooters are one (really shooters not FPS). Even lag in the mechanical switch mechanism (throw) can really make a difference. Scores won't even be considered unless the entire system is running at ideal (some ports of shooters run at different frame rates, Ibara PS2 is an example, and scores do not equate). So, depending on the game, wire is still necessity. On my Xbox 360, I run all wired but still notice controller problems (which could be due to the game port or to using USB even...which is processor dependent). Not calling you out, just mentioning that there will probably always have to be mechanical switches and cables for things to act right (membrane buttons need to die too...trash).

Audio, I still think cable is the best way. If Bluetooth can't sync a damn fitbit once in a while without stupid glitches, why would I really want to run a continuous stream of data through it? Also, it probably has to down sample to get within an acceptable data stream...ever tried to transfer a photo over it? Freaking MMS kills it haha.

If it works for some people, cool. I use wireless internet connections for convenience (though they can be spotty) I think I'll always prefer wired just from a quick response and simple troubleshooting point of view.

I just wish one of these phone manufacturers would stop adding consumer features to their os and just freaking develop a battery that holds a 24 hour charge of semi-regular forum use (haha) after being used for 6 months (because batteries are great when you first get them...and you follow all the best practices...then it's like charge every 8 hours unless there is some liberal use of airplane mode haha). But, if they did that, people wouldnt buy new phones all the damn time. Freaking Kenmore Refrigerators in our pockets.

Dang, waiting for glue to dry makes me ramble haha.

[SPACERITUAL]

Ive been using a $300 pair of BT headphones for a while now and they 100% pay for themselves. You never catch the cords on shit while you're walking around and they never get tangled up and, most importantly, i haven't had to replace them once, whereas I've gone through.....i don't even want to think about how many pairs of headphones I've bought because the cords got fucked up and one channel started dropping out.

As for audio quality, can i tell the difference between them and my $1000 grados? Of course i can. Can i tell the difference between them and a comparable pair of corded headphones? No. No i can't. Neither can you you're a bunch of grownups that go to shows and shit and have bullshit hearing stop pretending.

[foomanfat]

For me, having a pair of inexpensive earbuds in my pocket at all times that I can just plug into my phone is way more convenient than caring for a bluetooth set.
I don't seem to have the chord woes that others do, but
I'm not arguing for audio quality, just relative convenience.

[SPACERITUAL]

For me, having a pair of inexpensive earbuds in my pocket at all times that I can just plug into my phone is way more convenient than caring for a bluetooth set.
I don't seem to have the chord woes that others do, but
I'm not arguing for audio quality, just relative convenience.

Yeah Im always scared ill lose them but thankfully there is always some little pocket on a computer bag that fits them perfectly. However...the ones without at least the little connecting cord scare me because i know ones just going to fall out of my ear and ill step on it or something.....

[backwardsvoyager]

There are certain kind of games (most of which aren't on systems like PS4 anyway) that any controller lag will ruin the whole game experience. Shooters are one (really shooters not FPS). Even lag in the mechanical switch mechanism (throw) can really make a difference. Scores won't even be considered unless the entire system is running at ideal (some ports of shooters run at different frame rates, Ibara PS2 is an example, and scores do not equate). So, depending on the game, wire is still necessity. On my Xbox 360, I run all wired but still notice controller problems (which could be due to the game port or to using USB even...which is processor dependent). Not calling you out, just mentioning that there will probably always have to be mechanical switches and cables for things to act right (membrane buttons need to die too...trash).

i get what you mean, i'm really only talking about new games optimized for the system with said wireless controller. ports are spotty in general and i'd only expect something to be able to eliminate all of those issues on PC.
overall i think the game industry is doing a fairly good job considering sony, microsoft etc don't have the degree of military funding for their technological developments that Apple do. current gen bluetooth is hard to fault.

[JonnyAngle]

Remember when only apple headphones had white cables?

[Chankgeez]

Remember when White Castle fries only came in one size?