If certain reliable sources are correct, the upcoming iPhone 7 will be missing one feature most consider critical. It's a feature so central to what we consider a phone - or even an iPod - to be, that many will be shocked when the news finally gets out.The new iPhone 7 will very likely not have a headphone jack.The headphone jack has been considered far beyond its useful life for years now. The headphone plug and its home, the headphone jack, are miniaturized versions of the large phone connectors used on switchboards one hundred years ago or more. It was a reliable design in its day. But that day was over years ago.The limitations of the mini 3.5 millimeter headphone jack are many and varied. It's not much good for transferring anything but the relatively narrow bandwidth of audio. Digital communications through headphone jacks are unworkable, at best. It's also rather fragile, as anyone who's used electrical tape to get the last bit of life out of a set of earbuds can tell you.But the real reason Apple is ditching the jack is actually fairly exciting. It's said that the iPhone 7 will have no real buttons anywhere on the device. Although we might need to wait until the release of the iPhone 8, Apple appears to be moving towards an iPhone that's entirely sealed.And really, that should mean it's water-resistant.Yes, in exchange for the headphone jack, we might end up being able to shower with our iPhones. Finally, a longtime dream might become a reality.Considering how affordable Bluetooth headsets are these days, I'll gladly make that trade.So long, old friend. It was nice knowing you.
