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Comment by parasense | Hacker News Reader

I kinda do care, but this year it seems they removed the headphone from their so-called "affordable" phone, the Pixel 6a. Call me old fashioned, but I very much do still use wired headphones, especially when doing yard work, or whatever physical exercise, or connecting to any of my analog audio gear. The phone is a convergence device, and so walking away from audio convergence is a big mistake IMHO.

As far as the watch goes, I'm curious, it could be compelling if it surpases the Samsung watch, and we just assume is beats anything by fitbit.

A new tablet might be nice, and correct me if wrong but it feels like Android abandoned the tablet market, right? So it's nice to see them getting back in the game.

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> Call me old fashioned, but I very much do still use wired headphones.

However, I see that kids these days (my daughter turned teenage this year) are more into wired headphones. We had all sorts of wireless headsets (gaming or otherwise), wireless earbuds, etc. But she ended up using the wired ones more -- don't want to worry about charging, easier to use, just works, etc. are some of her reasons.

I agree with your daughter.

No chance in hell I will use a wireless headset.

I was gifted a wireless headset some years back, but I have always used it with wire.

I do not want to charge another thing. There are already too many things that I have to charge.

Will not use earbuds because I tend to lose things inside my house. They are impractical on the road while walking or on public transport.

Not to mention wireless ones drain phone's battery faster.

I use a Linux OS as my daily driver, and it tends to cause problem wrt being in perfect sync.

I have quite an high-end Philips wired earphones and that mid-range wireless one that I always use wired.

> I do not want to charge another thing.

Preach. I sometimes think my only purpose in life is to continually ensure things are charged.

I don't think it has to be one or another, I'm completely happy with my Sony headphones, the Bluetooth never failed to pair, they connect about the same time it would take me to plug them.

If they run out of battery, I can plug them, yes recharging takes time but it can be done when they are not in use.

I had a Bluetooth headset and it was uncomfortable, so I understand that. Also, Bluetooth <5.0 has a few noticeable issues.

On the other hand I cannot complain about my earbuds. If I want to use my earbuds, I turn on Bluetooth, take out my earbuds and put them in my ears. (If I turn on Bluetooth after, I have to manually connect them, but I don't think that's a big deal).

VLC on Android is very helpful in setting up profiles for Bluetooth audio so you can set a permanent delay.

They've never fallen out of my ears. I just put them back in the case when I'm finished with them. I charge the case about once a week.

I don't have a dangling cable get caught on things and hurt my ears.

I don't have one ear stop working because the cable has got damaged.

I don't have to untie cable knots.

I will never buy wired earphones again.

Wireless headsets do have their function, but if you want quality sound your best bet is wired.

I do hope that we'll get the headphone jack back, because it really doesn't take up that much space in the phone (or even laptop) and it's extremely reliable!

Were the first few generations of wireless earbuds that bad?

I bought my first pair a year ago and haven't had a problem with them.

I don't have a dangling cable get caught on things and hurt my ears.

I don't have one ear stop working because the cable has got damaged.

I don't have to untie cable knots.

> we just assume is beats anything by fitbit.

BTW google owns Fitbit.

Xperias still have a headphone jack, but just like anything made by Sony, you're going to pay quite a bit for it.

SD card port too, which Google always seems to neglect.

But Sony needs to figure out how to number things in a straightforward way.

Sony phones are named like their cameras.

First number is the model (1/5/10); smaller is more premium.

Roman numeral is the generation (i/ii/iii); bigger is newer.

It's about as straightforward as they come when it comes to phone naming. The competition names things <generation number> + Mini/Pro/Pro Max/SE or S/Z/A/M <generation number> e/Lite/+/Ultra/FE or <generation number> +a/a(5G)/Pro/XL.

Wasn't it Canon who does it that way?

IIRC there was a7 and a9 and a9 was better (ignoring the "r" numbers).

On the other hand Canon's 1D is the flagship, next 5D, then 6D, 7D, then things mess up at higher digits where larger number within same digit count is the newer, yet less number of digits is the more pro model.

Yeah, Sony cameras are higher number models are higher positioned models. Canon is lower number is higher positioned models. But they follow a very boring number/variant/generation naming scheme. At least until they announced the a1 which is positioned above the a9.

Then there's Nikon that just decided to pick numbers outta a hat.

I love Xperias design. But my experience with one was terrible. It came with a snapdragon processor that the phone couldn't properly cool down so if I had the camera app opened for more than 30 seconds, I'd get an alert saying that the app had to be automatically closed due to high temperature.

Well, they (and most other smartphone makers) "converged" all interfaces into USB-C. I personally use wireless headphones, but is using a USB-C-to-headphone-plug adapter (which you usually get with the phone) really that much of a hassle?

Yes it is. Mine is never there when I need it, and it doesn't even work right sometimes.

USB-C ports actually have to support audio (ie be plugged into a DAC). My wife has a phone with a USB-C port that gives a helpful message that it wont work without an official adapter if you plug in a rando USB-C - 3.5mm adapter. So yeah, fuck USB-C, it's a hassle.

My new phone was a Nokia XR20, headphone jack included

I'll keep this one on my watch list, as LG is getting out of the business (of providing me phones with good audio quality).

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