If you kill the headphone jack, you need to replace it with something better

As the rumors that the next iPhone will drop the 3.5mm headphone jack have intensified, I’ve been keeping tabs on the specific argument that Daring Fireball’s John Gruber made yesterday: that removing the headphone jack from the iPhone is the modern-day equivalent of removing the floppy drive from the iMac in the late ’90s. It caused some pain at the time, but it was the way things were moving anyway, and in the grand scheme of things it was a smart thing to do.

The people on the “get rid of the headphone jack” side of the debate normally choose some version of this position as the justification that the jack is “old” and so getting rid of it represents “progress.” And the fact of the matter is that Apple has been pretty good at this kind of progress over the years, picking up new technologies like USB and SSDs and dropping aging ones like the DVD drive well before those technologies had gone (or ceased to be) mainstream.

My first thought was DON’T KILL THE HEADPHONE JACK, Apple. I have a bunch of 3.5 mm chords laying around and older hardware that uses them.

After reading WIRED’s Who Cares if Apples Ditches the Headphone Jack? Wireless Is the Future, however, I’ve changed my mind. All my old hardware and chords and hoopla — it’s all legacy now.

I only use Bluetooth speakers at home because: wireless. I carry my Amazon Tap around to whatever room I’m in because: portable. I use my Apple EarPods because they came with my iPhone. If my next iPhone comes with something else, that’s what I’ll use.

Now that I’ve taken a step back and looked at reality (as opposed to history), I don’t care if there’s a headphone jack in my next phone or not. Holding onto something because that’s what we’ve always used or always done is bullshit. Embrace the now.

What would I would really, really, really like is a wireless charger for my phone. Something built in, no third party extras. My Palm Pre could power up just by sitting on the little cradle and that was badass.

#hardware #apple

Maggie: When’s dinner?

Me: 😳

I should really wrap this painting project up. Anybody making dinner? 😉

In other news…painting behind the toilet is my new least fave thing to do.

#photos #homeimprovement

I just realized I’m wearing my It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia t-shirt. I complain about my job now and then but there’s not too many places I could get away with wearing a drunken sailor shirt to work.

#photos #fashion #itsalwayssunnyinphiladelphia

Happy Wednesday, peeps! This is the baby black spider edition. 😘

#photos #spiders

Cat thinks we’re a couple.

#photos #cats #selfies

The horror of being an inside cat looking out the window.

#photos #cats

Peeps, here’s your up-down-turn-around jam for today.

#musicvideos #neworder

I’ve started setting the microwave to like 1:59 instead of 2:00 minutes. Because then my food is done like a second quicker. It’s gonna save me years in the grand scheme of things.

#protip #foodies

In other news… I ❤️ this purple so fucking much.

#photos #homeimprovement‬

About the time I quit caring is when I should put my paint brush down for the night. 🤔😉