Apple’s headphone headache? 令人头疼的新款苹果耳机

随身英语 Apple’s headphone headache? 令人头疼的新款苹果耳机

Play audio file 苹果公司在最新发布的手机中去除了耳机接口的决定引起了许多技术专家的强烈反对。做出该决定背后的原因可能有哪些？人们把新款无线耳机比成了哪些意想不到的事物？《随身英语》为你介绍。

课文内容 词汇: 科技

Apple is known for technological innovation. They came up with the iPod, the iPad and the iPhone – all of which were game changers. But their latest offering has had many tech journalists scratching their heads.

Why? Their new smartphone has been released without the humble headphone jack. That's right, customers who buy an iPhone 7 will not be able to plug traditional headphones straight in to their device.

Instead, they'll be encouraged to use 'AirPod' headphones, which connect wirelessly to the iPhone. These look much the same as the old earbuds, with one crucial difference: they’re cordless. And whilst we're all familiar with the frustration of tangled wires, the thought of two expensive bits of kit dangling precariously from our ears raises a simple question: what if they fall out?

AirPods have also been derided on social media for their appearance, with people saying they look like mini-hairdryers, like electric toothbrushes, and even like cartoon dog Snoopy. Others claim the change is about profit, as old headphones are now obsolete without an adapter.

Apple themselves admit the move has taken "courage", and insist the new approach saves vital space inside the phone, as well as making devices more water- and dust-resistant. AirPods also double as microphones and can be used to control the iPhone with just your voice.

So, could this mark the demise of one of the longest-standing technologies? The simple 3.5mm headphone jack was first used in transistor radios as far back as the 1950s, and earlier versions go even further to the telephone switchboards of the late 1800s.

Regardless, with a falling share price and strong, innovative competition, Apple needed to do something bold. Time will tell if their headphone strategy will help cut through the noise.

词汇表 up with 想出（点子或计划）

game changers 对特定商业领域有很大影响的产品

scratch one’s head 冥思苦想

jack 插孔

plug 插入（插头）

wirelessly 无线地

earbuds 一副耳塞

cordless 无绳的

tangle 缠成一团的

precariously 不稳定地

deride 被嘲笑

obsolete 被淘汰的，废弃的

adapter 适配器

dust-resistant 抗尘的

double as 还可以被当作

transistor radio 晶体管收音机

switchboard（电话）交换台

share price 股价

cut through the noise 迅速应对质疑

测验与练习 1. 阅读课文并回答问题。

1. Why are some technology journalists confused? 

2. How long have standard headphone jacks been around?  

3. Why have some people mocked Apple’s new headphones?

4. Which word means 'hanging'?

5. True or false: Old headphones can still be used with an iPhone 7.

2. 请你在不参考课文的情况下完成下列练习。选择一个意思合适的单词填入句子的空格处 。

1. Old headphones won't _________ in to an iPhone 7.

join     adapt       plug   jack

2. Technology now means we can transmit information _________.

wirelessly        cordlessly        jacklessly     precariously 

3. The invention of the CD was a _________. Suddenly you could hear good quality music, cheaply.

head-scratcher       game-changer      sea-changer         hairdryer

4. You need to __________ something new. This isn't good enough.

come up to      came up with      come up       come up with

5. My new camera is _________. It's fine to use it in the rain.

water-resistant       dust-resistant     noise-resistant         irresistable

答案 1. 阅读课文并回答问题。

1. Why are some technology journalists confused?

They are "scratching their heads" because they are not fully convinced by Apple's decision to remove the headphone jack.

2. How long have  standard headphone jacks been around?

The 3.5mm jack has been used since the 1950s, and previous versions of this were first used in the late 1800s.

3. Why have some people mocked Apple's new headphones?

They think they look funny – some say they look like mini-hairdryers, others say they look like electric toothbrushes, and they've also been compared to the cartoon dog Snoopy.

4.Which word means 'hanging dangerously'?

Dangling.

5. True or false: Old headphones can still be used with an iPhone 7.

Yes, but only using an adapter.

2. 请你在不参考课文的情况下完成下列练习。选择一个意思合适的单词填入句子的空格处 。

1. Old headphones won't plug in to an iPhone 7.

2. Technology now means we can transmit information wirelessly.

3. The invention of the CD was a game-changer. Suddenly you could hear good quality music, cheaply.

4. You need to come up with something new. This isn’t good enough.

5. My new camera is water-resistant. It's fine to use it in the rain.