http://www.digitaltrends.com/music/why-apples-iphone-7-may-kill-the-headphone-jack/
For all of its seductive luster and elegance, the soon-to-be-released iPhone 7 possesses one key feature that is bound to arouse a certain level of outrage. The designers of the new device have decided to remove the audio port. Consequently, purchasers of the 7 will have to use innovative headphones that, unlike their modest predecessors, lack a male jack, meaning they do not plug into anything. Those who are making an effort to foresee the ramifications of this change are anticipating the obsolescence of the standard ear buds that millions of people own today. Apple plans to take a substantial step forwards, rewriting the rules of how the average consumer listens to their music, and the headphones of today will become redundant. Creative brilliance, and our world will become a cemetery. The discarding of millions of pairs of headphones is no compliment to Mother Nature. Yet I cannot place the blame on Apple alone. Instead of antagonizing the corporation as so many have done before, consider who will send the headphones to their graves. Who is the real executioner? Who will choose to give up their money, to seize the sparkling, new product in their hands?
One could attack the company’s ethical principles with ease, rain fire on their pathetic attempt to practice Corporate Social Responsibility. After all, Apple’s CSR in this instance could be disparaged on two fronts, where their greed for maximizing profits is excessive, and the environmental impact resulting from their decision is also harmful. CSR relates to moralistic values; it is now demanded of corporations to take on the role of the environmental activist, or the charitable benefactor. However, these contributions are often tactical investments. The value of a corporation gifting money to charities is in the improvement of their brand image. Once the public is made aware of these generous contributions, the money flows back in. Apple could dedicate a portion of their profits to any socially responsible cause, but as a business it will never exist primarily to support environmental protection or world poverty.
Antagonizing Apple in this case is common, yet the truth of the issue is seldom sought for. Jonathan Sterne writes in an article for The Globe and Mail titled, ‘Your new iPhone will soon be trash, and that’s the point’, stating that Apple is committed to “planned obsolescence”. Apple did not make the decision to remove the headphone jack on the new iPhone 7 because they enjoy negatively affecting the environment. No, maximizing their profit was the sole purpose. Making money is their priority. Their decisions are only guided by their expectations of the consumers. Henceforth, unless the consumers change their priorities, unless the individuals realize their own social responsibility, nothing will change.
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