[lloeki]

> Why does everyone (including here on HN) focus on the darn headphone jack

Because it's been nearly universal for even longer than computers have existed, serves the purpose perfectly, and the alternative is hard pressed to be compelling in any way, whether on sound quality, convenience, device size, cost, robustness, complexity, usability, or versatility (it's really an analog port that turns out to be mostly used for audio signals). Previous removals (magnetic or optical disk drives, vga, serial, or ethernet ports) were dealt with when they were obsoleted by outperforming, or at the very least vastly more convenient alternatives.

> finally make the computer-in-your-pocket dream a reality

The dock is the easy part, the hard part is the OS/UI and making the thing super convenient.

[cat199]

> compelling in any way, whether on sound quality, convenience, device size, cost, robustness, complexity, usability, or versatility

compelling for DRM rights holders, and all the manufacturers are trying to setup their walled garden 'content stores' and need to make rights agreements with content producers..