Apple and Old Technology

Apple's current line of mobile devices, iPhone, iPad and iPod, are sleek, modern and exceptionally well-made. They are assembled with cutting edge techniques, pushing the boundaries of what is possible in the machining and assembly of aluminium and glass. They feature modern processors designed to maximise performance while minimising battery drain and heat generation. They have a sophisticated proprietary connector, Lightning, that is small, neat, solid and reversible. The "innovate and iterate" strategy has given Apple a range of market-leading products that generate huge profits and whatever you think about them there is no denying that they are enormously successful.

Amongst all this fantastic 21st century technology there is one element that stands out as old, preserved beyond it's years and ripe for replacement. It's so common, so familiar and so well-established within its niche that you've probably never noticed its age or heritage or questioned why it hasn't previously been replaced. In fact, when I suggest that it is inevitably something that Apple will ditch you're likely to protest and you may even rant about standards, arrogance and how it simply isn't possible to displace such an entrenched system. I disagree; it is both necessary and desirable to retire old technology so that new and better solutions can take their place.

And the item of which I speak, the humble 3.5mm headphone socket, is well past its prime, having been designed for use with transistor radios in the middle of the 20th century. Surprised?

Apple have a history of retiring systems when better (faster, cheaper, easier) alternatives become available and they have often surprised observers by dumping "vital" features while the rest of the industry carries on unchanged. Why would they want to do away with the 3.5mm headphone socket? There are two good reasons, from Apple's perspective:

• Size - have a look at the photos of the bottom of the iPhone 5 on Apple's website; the 3.5mm socket is huge in comparison with the overall depth of the phone. Apple may not be able to slim the iPhone, or the iPad, further if they stick with the 3.5mm socket.
• Manufacturing simplicity - removing the 3.5mm socket saves machine time (one less hole in the case), reduces component count, lowers assembly costs and frees up internal volume for alternative uses.

If there were no obvious alternatives then even Apple might balk at such a large change but there are at least two; 1) Bluetooth connection, or 2) the Lightning connector (which provides a standard USB audio output) with appropriate adapters or headsets.

The 3.5mm headphone socket is used on all Apple's major products so a change wouldn't be simple. If Lightning can be pressed into service (and I suspect it includes USB audio for precisely this reason) then it makes sense to refresh all the mobile products, including laptops, in one go. It might never happen but I think the 3.5mm headphone socket will be replaced by Lightning on all Apple's products at the 2014 Autumn product refresh.