第1454期:Apple’s headphone headache？

Apple is known for technological innovation. They came up with the iPod, the iPad and the iPhone – all of which were game changers.苹果以技术创新着称。他们推出了 iPod、iPad 和 iPhone——所有这些都改变了游戏规则。 But their latest offering has had many tech journalists scratching their heads.但他们的最新产品让许多科技记者摸不着头脑。Why? Their new smartphone has been released without the humble headphone jack. 为什么？他们的新智能手机已经发布，没有简陋的耳机插孔。That's right, customers who buy an iPhone 7 will not be able to plug traditional headphones straight in to their device.没错，购买 iPhone 7 的客户将无法将传统耳机直接插入他们的设备。Instead, they'll be encouraged to use 'AirPod' headphones, which connect wirelessly to the iPhone.相反，他们会被鼓励使用“AirPod”耳机，它可以无线连接到 iPhone。 These look much the same as the old earbuds, with one crucial difference: they’re cordless. 这些看起来与旧耳塞非常相似，但有一个关键区别：它们是无线的。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?虽然我们都熟悉缠结的电线带来的挫败感，但一想到两根昂贵的工具包从我们的耳朵里摇摇欲坠，就提出了一个简单的问题：如果它们掉出来怎么办？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. AirPods 也因其外观而在社交媒体上受到嘲笑，人们说它们看起来像迷你吹风机，像电动牙刷，甚至像卡通狗史努比。Others claim the change is about profit, as old headphones are now obsolete without an adapter.其他人声称这种变化是为了利润，因为没有适配器的旧耳机现在已经过时了。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.苹果自己承认这一举措已经“鼓起勇气”，并坚称新方法节省了手机内部的重要空间，并使设备更加防水和防尘。 AirPods also double as microphones and can be used to control the iPhone with just your voice.AirPods 还兼作麦克风，可用于通过语音控制 iPhone。So, could this mark the demise of one of the longest-standing technologies? 那么，这是否标志着历史最悠久的技术之一的消亡呢？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.早在 1950 年代，简单的 3.5 毫米耳机插孔就首次用于晶体管收音机，而早期版本则更进一步用于 1800 年代后期的电话交换机。Regardless, with a falling share price and strong, innovative competition, Apple needed to do something bold.无论如何，随着股价下跌和激烈的创新竞争，苹果需要做一些大胆的事情。 Time will tell if their headphone strategy will help cut through the noise.时间会证明他们的耳机策略是否有助于消除噪音。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