Apple, the folks that brought us the i-everything, is rumored to be developing a new standard and connection protocol for stereo headphones -- a system in which headphones would connect to iPods, iPhones and iPads via the existing Lightning port rather than the industry standard 3.5-mm input.
At first blush, it is no surprise that Apple would immediately move to seek dividends on its still-fresh $3 billion acquisition of Beats Electronics and Beats Music. It is not a stretch, of course, that there will be Beats headphones with Lightning connectors that will help consummate the Apple-Beats marriage.
To facilitate the development of the technology involved, Apple has added the specifications for the new system into its Made For iPhone/iPad/iPod (MFI) program that manufacturers use to create Apple-compatible products. It will be incorporated into the forthcoming iOS 8 and will be added to an update for iOS 7.1.
It is planned that the new connectors will also retain the three-button microphone/volume control toggle that is found on the current Apple EarPods. New headphones will also be able to work with, and launch a related app on the connected device.
The Lightning cable will provide power to the headphones, eliminating the need and cost of an internal headphone battery.
It is in the works that there will be two configurations for Lightning headphones -- Standard, for use with older and simpler headphones; and Advanced, which can take advantage of digital audio processing features such as active noise cancellation.
It is believed that in either configuration, audio output quality will be significantly improved from the current Apple set up.
The Lightning connector, introduced on the iPhone 5 and now de rigueur throughout Apple's portable products line, is no stranger to controversy on its own. Owners of the preceding Apple products could no longer use their legacy connectors as accessories to the new Lightning-enabled products. Those customers attempting to purchase additional or replacement Lightning cables found that it was one exorbitantly priced cord. Even third-party Lightning cables are, to this date, still far costlier than their legacy cable equivalents. The only apparent step-up benefit seems to be the ability to attach a Lightning connector in any direction. That makes it easier to connect in low light or when the connection must be made without visual guidance.
Just taken for what it is at this point, the idea raises just as many questions as there are currently answers.
Does this mean that Apple will remove the 3.5 mm headphone jack from forthcoming products? It is not known at this time, but based on past experience -- Apple has pioneered the removal of floppy disk drives, optical drives and Firewire ports -- you can bet dollars to DRAM that the 3.5-mm port is going to be made redundant. Owners of pre-Lightning headphones will be shuffled toward the purchase of spendy adapters. No doubt Apple is counting on legacy headphone owners to simply invest in a pair of snappy new Lighting-enabled Beats.
Another question: Since the Lightning port is also the recharging port on iDevices, will some accommodation be made so that headphone users can listen to audio and recharge their devices simultaneously, as can be done under the current configuration?
