Removing the 3.5mm jack seems like a good idea to me as it could make the iPhone 7 thinner, perhaps as thin as the current iPod touch which it is rumoured the iPhone 7 will be as thin as. That would be awesome. (please ignore the fact that the iPod touch does have a 3.5mm jack, and instead pretend it needs to be removed to make the iPhone as thin as it)

I read somewhere they might switch to USB type-C from Lightning for the iPhone 7. That seems like a step backwards to me as it would allow the use of non-approved cables. Maintaining strict control over which accessories can be used ensures a more consistent and reliable user experience.

Removing all sockets and making everything wireless (charging, bluetooth headset) is definitely the way forwards as it could allow the next iPhone to work even if accidentally dropped into liquid. Just imagine a water-proof smartphone! That would be incredible.

One thing that would really make the iPhone 7 truly superb would be even longer battery life. I wouldn't mind if it was a millimeter or two thicker than the 6/6S in order to achieve that. With or without a 3.5mm jack or anything else.

Time to get Googling - waterproof smartphones already exist!!!

Easy solution is to simply not buy it. I plan on buying one if it's any good and I couldn't give a stuff about a headphone connector. It will work in some way and probably better. Maybe stream hi def audio.

Agreed. Most of the time I'm playing music from the phone it's Bluetooth (to a car or portable speaker) or WiFi (to my Apple TV).
Can't remember the last time I plugged headphones in.
In any case I'm sure there will be a huge range of cheap adapters to convert Lightning to 3.5mm jack.
Also those complaing that they might want to listen on headphones and charge at the same time, I'm pretty certain someone (if not Apple) will have a dual charging and audio adapter available. Not an issue really.
As others have said, this has to be Apple working towards a fully waterproof iPhone.
That can only be a good thing.

Mate, 10 years from now, a waterproof anything will be so yesterday.

But you don't need to remove it for waterproofing, so it wouldn't be a compelling reason at all!!

God forbid a standard would be adopted I agree.

Do you really think Apple could invent a waterproof phone, surely not I don't think the tech exists yet. Although if anyone can ....

Perhaps the search feature on iDevices blocks access to results for gadgets that do what they can't do themselves?

http://www.tuffphones.co.uk/defender-2.html

Because going super thin worked out so well for them with the 6 didn't it......

The last thing Apple need is bendgate part 2.

If anything they could do with going a few MM thicker. Make the phone less awkward to hold and mostly, get a bigger battery in there.

Bluetooth headphones/earphones are very good I have them but I dont think you can use them on a plane. You have to use normal earphones.
I think in time the new USB C will become the new standard USB. Whitch I'm not to keen on

Darren

USB C is vastly superior to micro-USB, its reversible, and very tough. Apple was 5 years ahead; and now can't easily switch, but the benefits are the same.

It is a step forwards: USB is good (far better than RS232 or Parallel interfaces which preceded it) but it can't last forever and we now need something capable of higher speeds and ideally also more robust and can be inserted either way around for convenience.

That will mean a lot of USB cables you eventually have to dispose of, much like I had a load of RS232 and Parallel printer cables which probably ended up in landfill, but at the end of the day they will work better and you'll no doubt be able to pick them up from the likes of Amazon dirt cheap.

Same here, it's like going from dial up to broadband.

Even though the audio quality is compromised compared to leaded headphones?

http://www.aptx.com/howitworks2

Yer, right! Hearing is not believing.