[caption id="attachment_426" align="aligncenter" width="300"]
Source: Apple.com[/caption]So this really upset me. I know, it's a relatively small thing and I agree, but when the convenience of how we use our devices is messed with, it's an issue.
One of the things I immediately noticed when the iPhone 5 was first announced was that the headphone jack had been moved from the top to the bottom of the phone. Little explanation was given, but we later found out it was to help with the thinness of the new design.
This change really upset me. I know it's a trivial change but again it is one that would change the very specific ways in which I use my iPhone. Since the inception of the device, the headphone jack was at the top. Since 2007 I put my phone in my pocket a specific way, with the headphone jack pointed up. This has become a habit. I put my phone and pull it out of my pocket knowing exactly its orientation. I've been doing this for over 5 years now. Apple has to go and literally turn things upside down!
My biggest gripe with this change is the fact that I usually use/listen to my phone plugged into my computer. Don't you just love the outstanding battery life of the iPhone? Before, the 30 pin cable connected nicely to the bottom of the phone while allowing me to unobtrusively have the headphones plugged into the top. It made a nice little line of cables that were relatively out I the way.
That was then, this is now. I'm here to politely remove my foot from my mouth. Apple has once again showed me the right way despite what I had originally thought. Surprisingly enough I really like the headphone jack on the bottom. It is crazy how wrong it now feels to have the headphone cable sticking out of the top, getting in the way everything you do. "It just works" having the cable come from the bottom while using it in your hand. You no longer have to fiddle with the cable to keep it out of the way of the screen. It's so obvious. And as for the charging issue. Thankfully I don't have to charge the 5 nearly as much as its predecessors, at least not for now.
You may ask yourself, what's the point of all this, besides me telling you my fanatical view on headphone jack placement. Apple often has a way of giving us what we need without us fully understanding or realizing the need. Even more important with new or updated products. This should be a lesson learned not to jump to conclusions. Especially conclusions where you think you know better then Apple, history has proven this is rarely the case. So I guess I should probably hold out my disappointment over the iPad Mini being 4:3 instead of 16:9. I'm sure after a while I'll understand why, I really do want it this way.
I prefer the bottom port simply because in my car I only have a 3.5 port. This means if I'm charging an listening to music I now don't have cords taking my phone com both ends! I can rest ye phone in the cup holder ass up. The accelerometer takes care of screen orientation.. And it all fits in nicely.
ReplyDelete