Re: Here's an idea!
""Was removal of the 3.5mm ear/mic jack purely to sell expensive buds?""
Some of the most expensive earphones have 3.5mm jacks.
I am sure the reason was to sell earphones with tiny, short lived batteries and thus keep the replacement cycle going endlessly. When I read about BT earphones with batteries as easily replaceable as those on a hearing aid I will review that statement.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
