Questioning the iPhone: Is it true that non-Apple headphones need a special adapter?

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Jeff Block
Questioning the iPhone: Is it true that non-Apple headphones need a special adapter?

What question? What are you talking about?

The Apple iPhone was released on June 29th, amid a flurry of press coverage, hype, and strong opinions. Long time TechLore member and super gadget geek Steven Jones frothed at the mouth, and published a three-part Ode to the iPhone in the process. Read his rants at:

Eric Brandt, a newer member, harshly countered Steven's iPhone fervor with a list of questions, which I've broken out into the forums. This is question #4. I wanna hear what you think.

Eric's Question

Is it true that non-Apple headphones need a special adapter?

He writes...

All because Apple deliberately recessed the jack?

And what about stereo Bluetooth headsets – is it true they won't work with iPhones?

What's your answer?

Okay, Techlore people... I want to know what you think! What's your answer?

Matt Whitlock
Not sure about A2DP support

Not sure about A2DP support for bluetooth headphones (my 8525 supports them though), but it does seem a little silly that an "iPod" won't work with regular headphones without an adapter. Apple's way of giving the accessory makers a cookie. Thanks for greeding me out of my 5-10 bucks Apple!

I'll be fair though. My 8525 doesn't support regular headphones without a mini-USB to headphone adapter. However, my smartphone isn't advertised as an MP3 player either.

I'll call this a draw, but since the headphone jack is there, just "conveniently" placed out of reach, I think they did it intentionally and to penny pinch consumers for another few bucks.

Michael Czyz
it is a non-standard 1/8"

it is a non-standard 1/8" jack, and it is evil.  i wanted to plug in to someone's aux-in and play something on their home system, but i couldn't.  my biggest annoyance with the iphone so far.

i also want to stream to an airport express over wifi, just because i should be able to.  this would be at least one reasonable approach for bigger room audio, but the adapter requirement is very rude.

makes sense, though, because the headphones have a mic so they need another circuit...  but still.

Steven Jones (not verified)
Michael, I love the Airport

Michael, I love the Airport Express feature request - I think I would use that and pretend I had a Sonos system! I also have to agree with the crippled headphone jack. I don't want to believe it was done that way to support a new accessory category of recessed-headphone-jack-converter-to-every-other-set-of-headphones-you-already-own products.

 

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