Grumbling about Apple's removal of the 3.5mm jack is selfish and backwards
This article may contain personal views and opinion from the author.
What's the fuss all about?
So, Apple decided to get rid of the 3.5mm headphone jack, starting with the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus - a move that, for some unknown reason, made a lot of people freak out. We saw posts, articles, rants, (not funny) parody videos, and more - all of which built around the news of the absent 3.5mm jack. However, I honestly fail to see what the fuss is all about.
But, what happens if you do want to plug in your own wired earphones, a model that makes use of the universal 3.5mm jack? Well, if you have headphones that you really love and want to keep using... the truth is there's absolutely nothing to stop you from doing so. Each and every iPhone 7 or 7 Plus ships with a Lightning port to 3.5mm jack adapter, which allows you to connect whatever 3.5mm gear you wish. If you happen to misplace the adapter, Apple will sell you a new one, at the very reasonable price of $9. So, once again: what's the fuss all about?
Misinforming the audience
The thing about most people is that we are very good at adapting to new stuff, stuff being added, but we hate the thought of losing something we've gotten used to; something like the 3.5mm jack. This makes us uncomfortable, frustrated even, which is also true for consumers who aren't necessarily tech-savvy.
'Backward!' said no great leader in history
Do you recall a decisive leader who ever cried "Backward!", as their army started trudging towards their goal? Nope, they all say "Forward!"... and moving forward means there's always something that you need to leave behind. Apple's aim is to stay ahead in the technology game, it wants to be on the borderline of what's possible (and useful, at the same time). Being there in a consistent and reliable manner means the company has to think ahead; it means it cannot afford to hang onto stuff indefinitely. It means that every once in a while, space needs to be freed up for the new tech and ideas to come in.
Clearly, wireless is the way to go, and the technology is now mature enough to deliver a reliable and delightful user experience. Just take a look at what Apple's doing with its new AirPods, as well as the upcoming new Beats models: pairing and connecting them is easier than it is with wired headphones! You take those out of their case and have them paired in mere seconds, without having to first go through the nostalgic process of untangling wires. You can also use them seamlessly across multiple devices, and you can take advantage of advanced features otherwise not possible through a 3.5mm jack... Being at the forefront of tech is exciting, but it also means sacrifices need to be made. True, advanced wireless headphones like those sold by Apple won't come cheap at first, but as the market for wireless audio starts growing, more affordable solutions are bound to pop up.
Protesting against the removal of an age-old technology, when we're at the dawn of something more convenient, is simply a demonstration of backward thinking and unwillingness to change. There's no need to get needlessly nostalgic over the loss of the audio jack - Apple's trying to push us into a new, wireless age, and I really can't find much reason to grumble about it.
Things that are NOT allowed: