Are you ready for a future devoid of headphone jacks? That future isn't too far away, if you believe the rumors about Apple ditching the 3.5mm connector from its next iPhone.
Peripherals manufacturers aren't waiting around to see if that will happen. Griffin today unveiled its iTrip Clip, which can send audio from iOS and Android devices over Bluetooth to pretty much any device that accepts a 3.5mm input. The $20 device goes on sale in September.
In a thinly veiled reference to the Apple rumors, Griffin manager Andrew Biddle said in a statement that the "iTrip Clip ensures users can continue using their favorite 3.5mm headphones, with no worries about if their new smartphone eliminated the headphone jack."
The iPhone would not be the first mainstream smartphone to ditch the jack. The latest Moto Z series, announced in June, already did so. Instead of a 3.5mm port, the phone outputs audio via its USB-C port, and you get a headphone-to-USB-C dongle in the box so you can continue to use your current headphones.
With that setup, though, you can't charge your phone and listen to audio at the same time. The new iTrip Clip's Bluetooth connection sidesteps that issue. On its tiny black plastic body, you also get play, volume, and track controls, in addition to an integrated mic to receive calls and access Siri, Google Now, or other voice-recognition apps.
It will be most useful for people who want to connect to a car audio system or media reciever at home, since its added bulk can be avoided while on the go by simply picking up a pair of Bluetooth headphones.