HTC's redemption song: 3.5mm jacks coming to 'vast majority' of post-Hero devices

Better late than never, we suppose. Our friends at Mobile Crunch have it on word from a HTC spokesperson that a "vast majority of devices we launch after Hero" are gonna be including a 3.5mm headphone jack as a standard feature. The rep also added that devices already announced would "not necessarily be part of this change," which while not ruling it out entirely, doesn't get our hopes up. Still, it's refreshing to know the future generations won't be beholden to the adapter-laden shackles of its ancestors -- so Lancaster, where will you fall in all this mess?

[Via Smartphone Thoughts]

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 10th 2009 10:49PM]

How is it a legacy port? 3.5mm audio jacks have not declined in popularity in electronic devices or been replaced by a new standard. They are the most mainstream audio output in existence. They are the opposite of a legacy port.

[DCLocal Posted Jul 10th 2009 8:26PM]

This may be related to the recent post about WinMo7 requiring a 3.5mm jack. (Though I don't know why it would be a requirement) Now if only HTC would add the 2.5mm jack to the already (pre Hero) Sprint Touch Pro 2... THAT would make me happy.

[akarol Posted Jul 10th 2009 9:12PM]

Took them long enough. I'll finally start considering them again for future cell phones.

[Cheesus Crust Posted Jul 10th 2009 9:17PM]

Looks like my touch pro

[sivan Posted Jul 10th 2009 10:11PM]

@GBeatzRecrds no, you are the idiot. These are mobile devices, they need to be small and without any redundant plugs.

[zephxiii Posted Jul 11th 2009 8:25AM]

You sir are a fool. 3.5mm FTW.

[sivan Posted Jul 10th 2009 11:23PM]

We need exactly one USB cord for charging, file transfer and audio. Anything extra only complicates designs and comes at the expense of other useful hardware.

That jack doesn't require an adapter, but in return you have to plug two cords to your device when you want to play music for a while and need to have it also on the charger.

So what do we get for this supposed convenience? A separate jack is unnecessary hassle, and redundant when USB can carry audio.

[Magicland Posted Jul 11th 2009 12:44AM]

Why on earth would anyone want headphones with a wire anyway? I can understand that on crappy devices that don't support stereo bluetooth (iShit), but who wants to be tethered to a device when they don't have to be? I agree, ONE USB port is the only port you need, for audio, power, whatever. Anything else is a waste of space and money.

[Broo Posted Jul 11th 2009 1:47AM]

Sivan,

How many sets of headphones do you see at BestBuy/Fry's/WalMart that end with a USB plug? let me give you a hint: 1 - 1 = ?

A single plug is a great idea, but when only HTC alone does it, it is a proprietary piece-o-crap. Since most manufactures are now starting to move from MinuUSB on to MicroUSB, I doubt that this will ever become a standard.

HTC's idea to not include a 3.5mm plug was a bad idea- and it has kept me from choosing an HTC device on more than one occasion (albeit I currently use a G1 now- which did not come with a USB-3.5mm plug so it did not get used for a MP3 player until the 1.5 firmware enabled A2DP)

Personally, I have preferred A2DP over any type of wired headphones for several years and it seems like the phone manufacturers are finally starting to catch on -even Apple!

[MarkAnderson Posted Jul 11th 2009 9:22AM]

Absolutely, because carrying around a stupid adapter is far more efficient than having a built in socket on your phone.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 11th 2009 4:18AM]

Tentacle gadget pr0n?

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 11th 2009 5:06PM]

nice phone
http://concurs.opublicitate.ro/N0_limit click HERE !!

[SiXiam Posted Jul 11th 2009 5:24PM]

Screw 3.5mm, I want an hdmi port....

[Mister Posted Jul 11th 2009 7:02PM]

Lancaster: 2.8" low resolution screen... forget it. I don't care if it has 3.5mm jacks.

[sivan Posted Jul 11th 2009 9:40PM]

Again, what do you get for not having to use an adapter? You have to use a second cord. You don't carry that second cord, it's always dangling from some stereo input of another device. So why can't that cord have an adapter on it so it's always ready to plug into the phone?

On my G1, the USB cord charged it while it was playing music through a splitter to my car auxiliary cord. As simple as can be. The splitter was mounted on the auxiliary cord, because I don't connect anything else to it. My G1 was my primary music source. So I didn't have to carry any adapter with me.

My two sets of headphones also were mostly used with my phone, hence each got a USB adapter. Other devices that would accept a 3.5 jack got their adapters. So I never carried adapters with me. My priority is the convenience of using my phone, all other devices are secondary, so adapters go on them for when I need to connect the phone to them.

Now that I have a Pre, I absolutely hate plugging in the USB cord from the side for charging, and then plugging in another 3.5 jack on top for audio. Imagine what it's like to hold a phone with two cords connected to it on two different sides. Even just putting it down flat is a mess of cords, each trying to twist it its way. And with two cords, mounts and carrying cases that let you charge and play music are impractical (leaving aside BT and Touchstone, we're talking about cords in this case).

You guys simply hate the idea of spending $5 for an adapter, even if it would make handling the phone much easier. Would you also demand that manufacturers stuff the power supply into devices so you don't have to carry it separately?

Okay, here's an idea, what HTC really should do, and they may have, I don't know, is make USB audio OPTIONAL. That is, if you prefer, you can connect a splitter to the USB jack and be able to charge and play music through it. If you're cheap and don't want to buy adapters, have your 3.5mm. Everyone happy?

[aar123mcl Posted Jul 11th 2009 10:37PM]

This news makes me happy