According to a US patent, Apple is looking into the possibility of creating a pair of headphones that seamlessly move between wired and wireless mode without interrupting playback. The headphones described in the patent could be the long-rumoured EarPods that Apple is believed to be developing for its upcoming iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, scheduled for release this September. Bluetooth headphones are nothing new – and most of the existing hardware on the market comes bundled with a cable that lets audiophiles revert to wired playback when the headphones are short on battery. But seamlessly moving between wireless and wired playback has a number of problems, and the latest Apple patent hints at how the company plans to solve them.
Secondly, Apple wants to include a built-in buffer within its headphones, so there are a few extra seconds of audio that are already streamed and ready to play during the handover. This would mask the quick pause as the iPhone juggled between wired and wireless modes. If it works, Apple iPhone owners will be able to unplug their headphones to move into a wireless mode without hearing a stutter, break or pause in their favourite songs. Apple could unveil the next-generation headphones at its annual developer conference, WWDC, scheduled for June.
Dropping the 3.5mm headphone jack – a hundred-year old technology based on analogue signals – would also save space inside the device for new components.
Two Chinese sites, Anzhou and Macotakara, have quoted anonymous sources from within Apple's supply chain. They claim the US firm has been able to shave "more than a millimetre" from its latest iPhone design, thanks to the move away from the 3.5mm jack. The current models, the iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus, measure 7.1 mm and 7.3 mm respectively.
Lightning headphones are capable of receiving lossless stereo 48 kHz digital audio output from Apple devices, as well as sending mono 48 kHz digital input from a microphone. Manufacturers can also include remote controls with the ability to change the volume, pause and play audio, as well as buttons to launch specific apps.
A Lightning connector to 3.5mm jack adapter is also expected to be sold separately by Apple. The Cupertino company was first granted a patent for Lightning connector equipped headphones back in December 2014.
Writer - Liam McClelland | @Liamicy