Confirmed: T-Mobile G1 has no 3.5mm headphone jack

Hey, that's pretty awesome that Amazon's thrown together an MP3 store app for the G1, isn't it? What would be even cooler still, though, is if you could actually listen to those tracks without a crazy dongle hanging off your phone. Like many recent HTCs (Touch HD notably excepted), the G1 eschews a standard 3.5mm headphone jack for its proprietary ExtUSB connector, meaning you'll need custom headphones or an adapter to plug in your own. What's worse, the adapter won't be available immediately at launch, just a bundled headset. Why, HTC? Why?

[Redline13 @ Sep 23rd 2008 1:22PM]

This is a deal breaker.

[tom @ Sep 23rd 2008 1:31PM]

Does it support A2DP?

[Eddie @ Sep 23rd 2008 1:33PM]

Not yet apparently tom.
Google didn't feel the api was polished enough or something. Supposedly its coming.

[Dahk @ Sep 23rd 2008 1:34PM]

Maan. HTC you just totally unsold me.

[Charlie @ Sep 23rd 2008 1:34PM]

so far I've heard no A2DP (I'd forgive the no 3.5 in an instant if it did)

[Phoenix @ Sep 23rd 2008 1:34PM]

Do you look at the other articles?

The answer to both is NO.

[KevENation @ Sep 23rd 2008 1:36PM]

One of the most annoying things about the iPhone (version 1) was the requirement of an adapter to use regular headphones. At least it shipped with a functional proprietary pair. Apple finally listened to enough of us bitch about it so that iPhone 2 now has a standard jack. Why don't companies GET how important this is to us? It's not like this phone is trying to break any micro-thin records.

[nerdtalker @ Sep 23rd 2008 1:36PM]

If A2DP = Maybe win
If no A2DP = Very Fail

[who? @ Sep 23rd 2008 1:40PM]

A2DP runs down your battery like a bitch, and rechargeable headphones? Come on. The option=great. Having it be the only option=fail.

[UnixSystemsEngineer @ Sep 23rd 2008 1:45PM]

True, but I think most people are interested in this phone to see Android, not to actually buy this specific piece of hardware. We can play with it in the stores when it starts showing up, and if we like Android, we can pick up a better-designed handset; no doubt there will be more cool Android phones coming out in the next 6 months.

[m @ Sep 23rd 2008 2:31PM]

this is obviously disappointing to many people, but let's not forget this is a phone, from a phone company, and not an ipod. love them or hate them, apple thinks about things in a way most industry engineers do not--and they also blew it on the standard headphone jack front with the 1st gen iphone. as usual, public expectation is way ahead of the hardware.

[Juaquin @ Sep 23rd 2008 2:58PM]

Dongles are a massive pain in the ass. I used one with a Sony W580i for a while and it's just not worth it, especially considering how easy it is to just throw a 3.5mm in there. This seems like a major lack of attention to detail - things like this will ruin a phone/platform if you're not careful.

[Jeremy K. @ Sep 23rd 2008 5:32PM]

I can't believe no one has noticed this yet. I'll type it in all caps so you can't miss it.

IT COMES WITH A WIRED STEREO HEADSET

[u8myfoood @ Sep 23rd 2008 8:10PM]

there are already adapters for this, it is just easier for HTC and T-Mobile to sell it as an accessory later on, check on ebay there are tons of mini-usb to 3.5mm jacks everywhere for cheap too!

[who? @ Sep 23rd 2008 10:12PM]

Oh, I see. So you guys would have me solve this problem with a big ass dongle or special headphones that fit the jack? What wonderful ideas! Hurry, or you might miss the deadline for turning this in to Stockholm!

/sarcasm

Good Lord! It's worse than the recessed headphone jack on the first iPhone!

[Jason @ Oct 6th 2008 10:46AM]

a2dp is not currently supported on the iPhone or G1.

The difference is that the G1 and Android powered phones have open APIs and when it is released there will be several quick fixes out (if not by Google, then 3rd parties), the downloads will not be killed by something like the Apple app store.

Being an open platform, having several other phones come out will eventually make this a more powerful phone. Once you have Android power phones on AT&T (2 phones in early 09), Verizon, Sprint, etc you will see the community overtake the iPhone ownership.

Not that I am a complete iPhone hater... I just always have a problem with a closed and controlling company like Apple. iPhone changed a lot, but it will fall.

[noel @ Oct 11th 2008 8:17PM]

Deal breaker??? There is ALWAYS going to be something that is an issue with someone.. I for one think this is a stupid choice by HTC, but its like.. seriously.. there is a lot more good then bad on this phone.. alot!

[iEye @ Sep 23rd 2008 1:22PM]

I luv open devices...

[who? @ Sep 23rd 2008 1:35PM]

I love iLuv headphones on my iPhone... Oh, what's that G1? No, sorry, 3.5mm. Bummer dude.

[yaniv.chokron @ Sep 23rd 2008 1:58PM]

The worst part about it is that currently its impossible to order one.
The site is being bombarded, I cant even get to my regular account info.
Baaaaaaad deal T-Mobile.... baaaaaad deal.

[fred @ Sep 23rd 2008 2:23PM]

You cant program a headphone jack no mater how open it is.

[Mike @ Sep 23rd 2008 2:33PM]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000UUQGEY is all you need

[swingman @ Sep 23rd 2008 2:59PM]

Is there a flash player?

what video formats does youtube support?

that will be awesome if it has flash player or it can support flash player

[Dave @ Sep 23rd 2008 2:58PM]

Does Amazon have an mp3 store other than their full blown site available for us that use Windows Mobile devices? That would tight on my new Touch Diamond.

[Flashpoint @ Sep 23rd 2008 5:16PM]

YOU MISSED THE POINT.

The headphone jack will come on the 3G model.

[I LOVE THE CAPS LOCK KEY @ Sep 23rd 2008 10:46PM]

Let it be heard, boycott T-Mobile for Two reasons:

1) This phone and it's proprietary crap version of USB.
2) Their recent 1GB of data per month bandwidth cap.

Let the competition flourish. T-Mobile DIE!

[thebigDallas @ Sep 23rd 2008 11:51PM]

you won't be hearing about any 3.5mm pwnge tool for this

[boolean22 @ Sep 24th 2008 1:44AM]

Gotta admit, that is just a mini USB. You can pop in any mini USB cable (think MotoMING's, or ROKR, for eg.) FOR DATA. Then again, the adapters (WITH the mic for handsfree stravaganza) are being sold since that incident between Adam and the Snake... that is a long time ago, for those atheists! =)

[Wwhat @ Sep 24th 2008 5:22AM]

Thanks for thinking of us boolean22 :)

[aardWolf @ Sep 24th 2008 12:07PM]

Actually, that's not just a mini-USB connector. It's an extUSB connector, which is different.

[MadMike @ Sep 23rd 2008 1:22PM]

To keep the thickness down... oh wait...

[TareX @ Sep 23rd 2008 1:48PM]

HTC was a massive FAIL in this phone. Obviously their hardware screwed up the Android lauch, not anything else.

Looks like MS paid them more than cheapass Google.... shockingly.

[ryan @ Sep 23rd 2008 5:02PM]

that's what she said

[Jonathan Allen @ Sep 23rd 2008 1:25PM]

Strike 1

[Andrew @ Sep 23rd 2008 2:26PM]

... in a binary system.

[Jason @ Oct 6th 2008 7:31PM]

strike 2

[fh @ Sep 23rd 2008 1:23PM]

The adapters are everywhere on the internet for two for $1.

But if HTC isn't packaging them into the retail boxes, that's a shame.

[iEye @ Sep 23rd 2008 1:27PM]

You can purchase one for only $19.99 at checkout... ships in 2-4 weeks...

enjoy!

[Pikl @ Sep 23rd 2008 1:27PM]

Seriously. I looked these up weeks ago, because I'm considering the HTC Touch Pro. Doesn't bother me.

[kjb434 @ Sep 23rd 2008 1:50PM]

I have an adapter for my ATT Tilt right now.

These things are everywhere......

Just search for one.

[OnlyShawn @ Sep 23rd 2008 3:08PM]

lord, is this so hard to understand? I don't want to deal with having another piece of hardware to drag around, and with no viable excuse for having to do so, it's inexcusable.

[Marcus @ Sep 23rd 2008 1:24PM]

Fail

[jorvay @ Sep 23rd 2008 2:08PM]

The first time in ages that a "Fail" comment has truly been appropriate...no...required.

My excitement for the software is still there, but when this comes to Canada, I hope to hell it's on an improved device. Too bad, I really liked the form factor otherwise, despite being a bit bland.

[h0rk @ Sep 23rd 2008 1:25PM]

i have an xda ignito (touch diamond) and it comes with a nice in line remote that plugs in to that port and has a headphones jack in it. its really good.

[Christy McGrory @ Sep 23rd 2008 1:23PM]

DAMN T-MOBILE. DAMN THEIR LACK OF 3.5MM JACK TO HELL!!!

[Alex @ Sep 23rd 2008 1:34PM]

It's not T-Mobile, it's HTC. I'd rather get stuck without a 3.5mm port than be stuck with Apple's proprietary docking port. Any regular USB still charges the ExtUSB port.

[fanman @ Sep 23rd 2008 1:35PM]

Goo job I'm not stuck and my iPod has both.

[yaniv.chokron @ Sep 23rd 2008 1:45PM]

LOLOL

[Jason @ Sep 23rd 2008 2:07PM]

@ Alex. You've still got to have some adapter to fit that extUSB port for charging though, or a special extUSB to USB-A cable -- it's NO DIFFERENT than having to use the Apple iPod cable, which BTW is also USB. At least my old RAZR used a standard miniUSB port.

[Michael @ Sep 23rd 2008 2:32PM]

A standard miniUSB charger (like say Motorola RAZR) will charge this just fine. I know because I have a Sprint Mogul which is made by HTC and has the ext USB jack. I even sync my Mogul with the PC with the miniUSB cable.