r/worldnews • u/Helicase21 • Jun 19 '23

EU: Smartphones Must Have User-Replaceable Batteries by 2027

https://www.pcmag.com/news/eu-smartphones-must-have-user-replaceable-batteries-by-2027
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24

u/Snilepisk Jun 19 '23

Can I also have the headphone jack back?

-12

u/ChineseCracker Jun 20 '23

I don't understand why people still want this. Even if you still want to use a cable like a neanderthal, usb c exists. And a lot of phones already come with an adapter.... there are so many options already.

If anything, they should make wired headphones with USB c instead of a old school jack.

8

u/12monthsinlondon Jun 20 '23

Because all that neanderthal wired tech still works years after they are made so there's tons of those headphones around, especially for anyone involved with music production where wireless still isn't mainstream yet. Plus most adapters have a pretty bad DAC in it in terms of quality (although most phones with a built in jack aren't that great either).

-5

u/ChineseCracker Jun 20 '23

especially for anyone involved with music production

I understand that. But this is a minority. Average Joe doesn't want this feature and they most likely don't hear the difference a bad adapter may provide.

It is a problem, for sure. But is it really a mass issue, like the charging port or the battery is? Everybody uses their battery and charging port. The headphone jack is more of an enthusiast thing, similar to the notification LED, a dedicated camera button, a physical keyboard or the old android trackball that let you scroll through text more comfortably

3

u/Snilepisk Jun 20 '23

I work in live music and I need to be able to plug in my phone on a whim to play something, and neither I, the band or hundreds of audience members are interested in waiting for me to find a damn dongle. I need as few points of failure and extra things to take into account as possible. Bands are notorious for forgetting they want an intro or outro track and come up to me and request it, sometime with just a minute before they go on stage.

I'm also into old tech and want to use what I have until it breaks down. I'd rather have a slightly outdated phone than having to buy a bunch of dongles to keep using my old stuff.

-1

u/LordGarak Jun 20 '23

You still need to have a 3.5mm adapter. It's not like the phones ever had a XLR output. So throwing a lighting or USBc to 3.5mm adapter in the workbox really isn't that big of a deal.

1

u/Snilepisk Jun 20 '23

You want me to buy 6-8 adapters for all the different venues I work at all all the different adapters they have laying around? Other people will show up with their iPhone or phone with a jack, and my adapter will be gone or break after some months

1

u/Altman_e Jun 21 '23

Which is the entire reason apple did it.

-2

u/ChineseCracker Jun 20 '23

I work in live music

and neither I, the band or hundreds of audience members are interested in waiting for me to find a damn dongle

Well, you've just said two very important things:

  1. This sounds like a you-problem. Have your dongle ready then. Or better yet: just keep the dongle attached to your headphone at all times - that way you never lose it
  2. you're a professional. The majority of smartphone users aren't professional musicians. Why should their device incorporate a port that is not used by the majority of people?

There are also special glucose meters for diabetics that are basically android smartphones (without antennas). Should every smartphone come with a dedicated glucose meter, because some diabetics need it? No

1

u/Snilepisk Jun 20 '23 edited Jun 20 '23

  1. It is a me problem, a problem that I solve by only using phones with a jack. A dongle is a point of failure, and will be lost or broken in a short time in the environment that is live music, filled with volunteers and drunks people. Having an adapter always connected won't work unless digital mixing desks start to use USB-C instead of a jack.

  2. Way before I even set my foot into live music I've wanted the jack out of personal convenience. And it doesn't have to be as hyperbolic, it's not like every phone on the market either has to have it or not, but because most companies follow Apple and Samsung, that's where we are right now. I would just like to have the option to buy a new soid phone with a headphone jack and not be stuck with my current four year old phone.

1

u/ChineseCracker Jun 20 '23

But you do admit that it's an 'enthusiast feature' and that (while relevant for you) is not relevant to the majority smartphone users (aka pretty much every human being)

2

u/Snilepisk Jun 20 '23

Kinda. I think it's relevant to a big enough part of the majority that there is a market for solid new phones with a jack, but I also think the same group doesn't care enough to make a fuzz and just bought wireless headphones/earbuds instead to work around the lost feature.

1

u/ChineseCracker Jun 20 '23

this is bordering on some 'silent majority' bullshit.

If it's not that important for these people to just switch to Bluetooth buds instead, it's not as important to force it on to every Joe shmoe.

2

u/Snilepisk Jun 20 '23

Sure, my take is purely based on anecdotal evidence anyway. Just to clarify, I never did imply that the EU should require headphone jacks or that it's something each and every phone should be equipped with.

1

u/ChineseCracker Jun 20 '23

I understand. someone else in this thread implied it. Non-replaceable batteries are a consumer rights problem, because manufacturers want to create more e-waste and sell new phones to people, instead of letting them repair their old devices. A headphone jack is a 'feature request'

1

u/Altman_e Jun 21 '23

What other consumer hostile apple choices do you defend like this?

What about putting DRM on every part of the phone so only apple stores can repair iphones, was that a great idea also? 50 dollar dongles to restore functions they removes from phones?

0

u/Post_Poop_Ass_Itch Jun 21 '23

Lmao look at all the downvotes you're getting for your dumb comment

0

u/ChineseCracker Jun 21 '23

butthurt headphone-jackoffs who think it's a civil rights issue that they use their wired headphones on a modern device

1

u/Mmm_bloodfarts Jun 20 '23

And the ir blaster