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.

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

Like Apple’s magsafe? Not unreasonable, but you’d still need an adapter. I think the biggest issue would be having magnets small enough for the rim of the phone, but still strong enough to keep secure while moving around, but also won’t interfere with other magnetic components like the speakers or compass.

That takes time and effort (i.e. money). Or they could just omit all that stuff and tell people to use the Bluetooth radio they’re going to put in the phone anyway.

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

Issue is that redesigns get proprietary real fast

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)

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