In announcing the elimination of the audio jack, Apple exec Phil Schiller said that the existing analog port was “ancient”, and that a compact digital device such as the iPhone couldn’t afford to waste real estate on it. The dual camera gizmo in the iPhone 7 Plus combines 2 optical sensors in a similar fashion to the LG’s V20 and G5, so there’s no technological breakthrough here.
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And that’s probably because, unlike with past tech Apple’s killed, there’s no clearly superior standard waiting to fill in for the humble headphone jack.
First off, there’s talk that Apple will kill of the 16GB model, meaning the price of the cheapest (32GB) SIM free iPhone 7 could be slightly more expensive than the iPhone 6S when it launched last year – what with it being double the capacity of last year’s iPhone 6S entry model.
If you’re not ready to purchase new headphones, you’re in luck, because Apple is throwing in a pair of Lightning-based earbuds – essentially the same headphones that have come with iPhones until now but with a different connector – with every iPhone 7 and 7 Plus.
Cue AirPods, a pair of Bluetooth-enabled earphones that go on sale in October for $159.
“With a powerful new dual-core processor, water resistance 50 metres and built-in GPS, Apple Watch Series 2 is packed with features to help our customers live a healthy life”.
The AirPods will work with other Bluetooth-enabled devices, but will have to be paired manually.
Apple’s latest iPhone may be more notable for what’s missing than what’s been added, as the consumer tech giant tries to revive demand for its top-selling product and nudge consumers closer to its vision of a wireless world.
Besides the streamlined new design, the removal of the iPhone’s headphone jack also allows the device to become water-resistant-finally.
As well as slashing the 16GB model this year, Apple is expected to introduce a new 256GB model for the first time.
Except – oops! – CEO Tim Cook had yet to announce the new version of the smartphone.
Also coming to the watch: Pokemon Go. The game will be available during the holidays. “The courage to move on and do something new that betters all of us”, Schiller told the crowd. The original Apple Watch will be discounted and starts at $269.
However, don’t get sad just yet, because the snappers in the new iPhone 7 Plus are maybe the best on the market quality wise (or at least they should).
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Apple shares gained less than 1 percent in trading Wednesday, before closing at $108.36.
