The Moondrop MIAD 01 is one of the most distinctive Android devices of 2024 thus far. It has a 4.4mm headphone jack to go with the more conventional 3.5mm type. Furthermore, it seems it might be as appealing to teardown enthusiasts as well as audiophiles, and may, therefore, also be easier to repair than most modern smartphones.
  • kalpol@lemmy.worldEnglish
    101·
    7 months ago

    I’ve always wondered why no one thought of redesigning the jack. Have it just be form-fitted outside contacts, with magnetic adhesion to hold the plug in place. There isn’t any real reason it has to be a socket.

    The reason is of course the masses just use Bluetooth, or deal with the dongle, because they absolutely must have an iPhone.

    • Solar Bear@slrpnk.netEnglish
      10·
      7 months ago

      Have it just be form-fitted outside contacts, with magnetic adhesion to hold the plug in place.

      I actually really like this idea. If we’re breaking backwards compatibility anyways, let’s do something useful with it. This form factor was invented in the 1950s. I’m sure we can do something better now.

      We need to move away from everything having a battery anyways. Wireless headphones were a mistake. Now people are walking around with 4-6 batteries on them at all times. Phone, laptop, earbuds, earbud case, battery backup, smart watch. Batteries aren’t great for the environment, not to mention they typically condemn something to being tech waste in a few short years. We need to significantly rethink this model.

    • LazaroFilm@lemmy.worldEnglish
      5·
      7 months ago

      Apple tried to replace it with Lightning connector. They even were selling EarPods with a Lightning connector. Obviously it was a total disaster.

    • Olap@lemmy.worldEnglish
      3·
      7 months ago

      The jack connector has a really long history, back to the telegraph. The simplicity, the dependability, the interoperability, the lack of it falling out, or needing magnets, or who knows means it will be very tough to replace. And it has evolved too, it used to be a ball end, they have switched sizes, added channels

      https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phone_connector_(audio)

    • Taleya@aussie.zoneEnglish
      3·
      7 months ago

      My ol’ sony discman actually has a flat printed pcb connector for earphones.

      Issue is that redesigns get proprietary real fast

    • UckyBon@lemmy.worldEnglish
      212·
      7 months ago

      Actually the DAC in the Apple Dongle (even with how hideous it looks) is quite good (for the price) compared to the DACs powering the minijack ports on mobile phones. Let alone other external DACs.

      If you’d care at all about audio quality you’d at least know that right? Instead of trying to shit on a product you don’t even own, maybe learn something about audio?

      Edit: the comment quality here has rapidly decreased to Reddit hive mind unga bunga “I hate everything I don’t own and have no experience or knowledge about”-levels.

      Most mobile phone mini jacks have horrible DACs running them.

      Edit 2: Damn fake noob audiophiles walking around here lol. Show me 1 article where the Apple Dongle performs under its price. Losers.

      Edit 3: Ah Android sub, of course it’s gonna be full of hate. I thought this had something to do with audio or tech. My bad, you Google chumps.

      • lolcatnip@reddthat.comEnglish
        63·
        7 months ago

        Edit 3: Ah Android sub, of course it’s gonna be full of hate. I thought this had something to do with audio or tech. My bad, you Google chumps.

        You realize most Android phones also don’t have a headphone jack, right? This isn’t an Android vs iPhone issue.

      • woelkchen@lemmy.worldEnglish
        31·
        7 months ago

        I have the Apple dongle. Can’t comment on the audio quality, though. The audio output is way too silent.