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Fairbuds are Fairphone’s proof that we really could make better tiny gadgets (arstechnica.com)

submitted 7 months ago by Diplomjodler3@lemmy.world to c/technology@lemmy.world

206 comments fedilink hide all child comments

But of course we all know that the big manufacturers don't do this not because they can't but because they don't want to. Planned obsolescence is still very much the name of the game, despite all the bullshit they spout about sustainability.

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[–] kadu@lemmy.world 25 points 7 months ago (2 children)

Yep, same excuses as Apple.

Analogue connector too old, too big, hard to make modular. All proven false by a multitude of other devices.

[–] Stull@lemmy.world 22 points 7 months ago (3 children)

It might be false, but I think the real reason is that very few people care about a jackstick... I care, but I'm the only one I know, and I only ever hear a small group of people online talk about it being a big deal. In the end I don't think too badly about that specific decision from any phone manufacturer.

[–] PopOfAfrica@lemmy.world 14 points 7 months ago (3 children)

Heck, I don't even care about having an audio jack as long as there are two USB-C ports. I'm a down for a unified connector. There just needs to be enough ports for it.

[–] ripcord@lemmy.world 13 points 7 months ago (1 children)

I might be on board with this, especially how simple and reliable the USB-C analog audio system is supposed to be. And my ongoing problem with Bluetooth is just how amazed I am at how slow/unreliable it is to both pair and to reconnect on a slew of different (modern!) hardware.

But it's funny. I have a tablet with 2 USB-C ports. I have USB-C to audio adapters that I've used with it for a while.

Recent trip, I forgot the adapters. So I picked up a pack of adapters at the local Best Buy. Didn't work! Tablet behaved as if they simply weren't plugged in. Rebooted, tried stuff, then bought a different brand of them. Same problem! Got home, original ones I had worked fine.

I don't care if it's the tablet's fault, or the adapters, or what. I've never, ever, ever had to worry about stuff like this with 3.5mm jack on any device. Ever. That's the reason it's worth it to me (plus not having to worry about charging, or various other complications with wireless. Like when enabling Bluetooth headphones on my last laptop crushed wifi performance. Or makes my good ol' Steam Link start to freak out with my 8bitdo, or...)

[–] FJW@discuss.tchncs.de 2 points 7 months ago

I’ve had issue with very worn out 3.5mm adapters before! Like: I was on an intercontinental flight earlier this week and my cable barely held in the worn out port of the plane. I agree that there are fewer issues with software refusing to work, but the hardware-connection can be quite sucky on them too.

[–] blssflbreeze@lemmy.world 2 points 7 months ago

I'd be more okay with it if that weren't for the fact that there can still be compatibility issues when before there weren't.

[–] captainlezbian@lemmy.world 2 points 7 months ago

I’d prefer that to the jack tbh. I’ve been converted to prefer digital wired audio

[–] ripcord@lemmy.world 7 points 7 months ago (1 children)

In my case, lots of people I know care about it. And I definitely do.

But these are just anecdotes, and I haven't seen real data.

I'm guessing the majority of people would prefer to have it, but don't care enough that it's a major factor for their phone. And the number that care at all continues to shrink. But we're both just guessing.

[–] villainy@lemmy.world 4 points 7 months ago

This is just one search result but it's showing 326 million phones shipped in just Q4 of last year. How many of those new phones do you think shipped with headphone jacks?

https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=prUS51776424

There's plenty of industry analysis out there that, while not perfect, is data showing that new phone sales have not been hampered by the removal of the headphone jack.

I'm rocking a Pixel 5a which does still have it and I do get a warm and fuzzy in my nerd brain by having it there. If I'm honest though, I used it maybe twice in the last year.

[–] amelia@feddit.de 1 points 7 months ago

Yeah, same here. It's a pretty specific demand when bluetooth headphones have become really good and actually have a lot of advantages compared to wired ones. Also there is always the option to use a USB C dongle so it's really not that big of a deal.

[–] ThunderWhiskers@lemmy.world 2 points 7 months ago

I don't need another hole in my phone that does nothing but collect debris.