Apple cultivates a unique kind of rumor mill, one that often gets fixated on an idea and just keeps bringing it up year after year. Because eventually, it’s bound to be right...right? That’s the case with a new rumor suggesting Apple’s going to ditch the trusty 3.5mm headphone jack on the iPhone. But unlike past speculation, this time it has a little more weight behind it.
Technology is filled with all kinds of rumors and speculation — real and fabricated.BitStream collects all those whispers into one place to deliver your morning buzz.
The reason that this rumor is more believable this time around is the source, a reliable Apple-obsessed Japanese site Macotakara, claims insider sources confirm Apple will be ditching the 3.5mm port to shave off one millimeter of the iPhone. Instead, the iPhone will rely on bluetooth headphones and a new audio-enabled lightning port, which some headphone makers like Philips already make. This means Apple’s usual earpods will be replaced with Lightning-enabled ones, and if you want to use your old, trusty, non-Bluetooth headphones, you’ll need a converter (which I’m sure Apple will happily sell you.)
With more convincing specifics on why Apple would ditch the port, along with Macotakara’s good record of accurately predicting and reporting on other Apple rumors, this one might actually come to pass. The iPhone 7 is also the year the phone will see significant physical changes in comparison to its “S” years.
So, no more 3.5mm jack. Add it to the already-growing pile of iPhone 7 rumors that won’t be put to rest until Tim Cook takes the stage in early September next year. [Macotakara]
Amazon on Apple TV?: There was a bit of a commotion over Amazon’s decision to remove Apple TV, along with other set-top devices, from its online store. However, the technical team confirms that it’s working on an app for the Apple TV and that it’ll be appearing in the app store “within a few weeks.” [Mac Rumors]
Keeping up with Moore: Intel has stumbled in an effort to make ever smaller chips year after year, as the manufacturing process has become more difficult. But Intel is determined to play a little bit of catchup. According to Intel exec Bill Holt, the promised 10nm processor, codenamed Cannonlake, will be coming in 2017. The predictable tick-tock is disrupted, but progress continues all the same. [PC World]
Samsung’s photo future: Samsung’s camera division is seeing some changes. It’s already been reported that the division is being split into smartphone and tablet sections to help improve those components. But SamMobile says Samsung has a “major camera announcement” coming at CES 2016. Luckily, we’ll be there tell you all about it. [SamMobile]