Does Apple really think we're ready to ditch the headphone jack?

Rumour is Apple will announce the end of its analogue audio connector at the iPhone 7 launch, in favour of either Lightning or USB-C. But is it a good idea?

When you want to hook your headphones up to your smartphone you could soon find yourself searching for a non-existent socket if certain manufacturers - including possibly even Apple - get their way.

The sad thing is, the headphone jack - that 3.5mm analogue three or four pole plug - is a very good connector. It's a universal connector: it can plug into your smartphone, your tablet and computer, your TV, hi-fi, radio, Game Boy or console. And it has been used widely for decades, more or less replacing the larger 1/4-inch jacks (which dated from the 1870s) since the 1960s for all but specialist applications, such as electric guitars and some more powerful amps.