Apple Patents Slick New ‘Magnetically Detachable’ Wireless Earphones

Apple Patents Slick New ‘Magnetically Detachable’ Wireless Earphones
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Apple was finally granted a patent on Tuesday — which, in essence, details a ‘hybrid headphone’ design that functions either wirelessly or via a cord — amidst months of rumors circulating about the company’s omission of the standard 3.5mm headphone jack on the forthcoming ‘iPhone 7’.

Awarded to the Silicon Valley tech giant by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Apple’s latest patent — U.S. Patent No. 9,277,309, details a “Detachable wireless listening device,” which can accept audio signals via both a traditional cord, as well as via Bluetooth or some other wireless protocol.

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The patent application illustrates what appears to be a set of standard corded earbuds. Additionally, the headset also appears to sport a main audio cord, which then branches off into two leads — presumably, one for each ear. Apple’s invention, however, in practice, relies on the transmission within two separate cables — one of which connects the stereo headphones together to form a ‘listening subsystem,’ and the other which tethers the subsystem to an iPhone, err, “a host device.”

Shortly after Apple launched its redesigned ‘EarPods’ headphones, which were originally included with the iPhone 5 back in 2012, the company’s first patents about the ‘hybrid headphone design’ originally began to surface. And between then and now, we have seen three iterations of the iPhone come and go with no changes in headphone hardware.

Rumors first began to surface back in November, alleging that Apple plans to axe the standard 3.5mm headphone jack from its next-generation iPhone — in favor of an ‘all wireless’ or Lightning enabled audio solution. And there’s a reasonable possibility that we’ll see some of this new ‘hybrid technology’ in the next iPhone, too. Reasonable, at least, considering Apple’s 2012 introduction of the Lightning standard — and, of course, the vast platform buildout that ultimately ensued.

The Lightning audio module was originally introduced back in 2014, though, and was alluded to “a piece of hardware that offers third-party manufacturers access to create deeper system controls.” Shortly thereafter, Apple even introduced its own Lightning enabled audio solution, via the company’s Beats by Dr. Dre brand.

On another note, the most recent rumblings from the rumor mill suggest Apple could replace the space occupied by the 3.5mm headphone jack with an audio module featuring a second speaker for stereo sound — although, to date, an insufficient amount of evidence has surfaced in support of that speculation.

Fret not, though, for time will tell, and all will ultimately be revealed when the next iPhone is announced, and released, presumably later on this fall.

Learn More: From the Original iPhone to the iPhone 7 – How Apple’s SoC Has Changed the Game

What do you think about Apple’s newest headphone patent?

[The information provided in this article has NOT been confirmed by Apple and may be speculation. Provided details may not be factual. Take all rumors, tech or otherwise, with a grain of salt.]

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