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Comment by apsdsm | Hacker News Reader

> You really think that Apple removed the headphone jack to make a bit more cash? Seriously? Hand-on-heart honestly, you think that's why? Come on.

Yes.

And honestly, if you think a big company like Apple does anything without the motivation of making money, then frankly you're being starry-eyed and naive.

Maybe if they were a little start-up or something, sure, I could buy that argument. But yes, I entirely, whole-heartedly believe that Apple is doing this for money. If not, why not release the air pods first, then release a few generations of iPhones with audio jacks? It's not like having that little hole in the bottom of a phone would stop Apple from generating more "magical" technology.

I don't doubt Apple thinks that air pods are cool, but come on, seriously.

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Of course apple is motivated by making money, but their profits come mostly from selling new devices, not pissing off existing customers by building features to squeeze cash out of existing customers.

So do you really think they will jeopardize sales of their most profitable iphone devices to squeeze some extra cash from a niche earpod device?

Apple's justification for removing the headphone jack is that it helps make the iPhone 7 water resistant and thinner (so increases the premium feel). Both of these features add value so potentially raise the selling price. The lack of headphone jack makes a wireless audio solution necessary. Apple have attempted to turn this weakness into a strength with their new class of headphones (earbuds). Apple may seek to make these distinctive earbuds fashionable like the original white earphones of the iPod. Apply must surely have calculated that the additional profit from customers that gain value from the iPhone 7 plus earbuds outweighs lost profit from irate former customers otherwise their behaviour is irrational.

Your analysis is basically correct, but it should also include a time dimension. Apple likely has a version of the iPhone in development 1-3 generations out that absolutely will not have space for a wired headphone jack. They probably have also reasoned that future AR capability will require wireless to be usable. Apple has in the past reasoned that kickstarting an ecosystem of accessories and consumer behaviors earlier than they technically need to has long term benefits to the sale of future devices.

Actually the iphone 7 is such a device. The space previously taken up by the jack is now used for the taptic engine under the capacitive home button.

Also water proofing.

The iPhone 7 does take advantage of the saved space. I was envisioning very thin, by today's standards, devices, or eventually full AR, where maintaining a wired connection to the main device would be impossible or extremely cumbersome.

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