Apple patent application reveals tiny audio jacks

Agreed. I got the new iPod Touch but due to money issues returned it and got the new iPod Nano instead and after three days with it I'm returning it as well.

This thing is just TOO small. I can't hold it comfortably in my hand, and scrolling is a bit tough with my thumb (I'm fat) and when I'm driving having to look at the screen closely to see what I'm listening to is going to get me killed.

I think that the new Nano is cool and all, but Apple needs to stop trying to make everything smaller because the Nano in my opinion is already TOO small. Not to mention a smaller audio jack would mean proprietary audio cables, and looking at the iPods USB caables and the Macbook's power cables you can tell trusting Apple with cables is a big no-no.

Introducing more moving parts into a design? Seems very un-Apple.

I swear it looks like my iPhone 4 has pogo pins

I'm pretty sure the next iPod shuffle will be just the ear buds. Just bop your head left or right to switch songs.

2.5 mm plugs already exist, though everyone dislikes them because they are not the standard 3.5mm.

If Apple wants thinner, why not just use that, other than the obvious all standard headsets are 3.5mm? I'm not sure I fully understand what they actually trying to change with this patent, but if they want to get a thinner plug input to shrink the width of the iPods even further, they would have to change the dimension of the plug on the headset any way.

A smaller jack doesn't necessarily mean a smaller iPod - it could mean more space for things like batteries.

Sony used micro jacks on MD in-line remote units (and maybe other items) back in the day and they were a pain. You needed one of these: http://www.minidisc.org/soundprofessionals/cables/img/sony-ma.jpg to use your own headphones. No proprietary connectors, please.

I don't want a smaller headphone jack... I want bluetooth (and other wireless headphones/headsets) to progress to the point that don't have to plug in at all.

Current options aren't quite there in my opinion.

Two things to bear in mind: one, a smaller jack assembly doesn't necessarily mean a smaller or proprietary jack itself—it's the pins that are smaller, not necessarily the jack itself. And two, a smaller component doesn't necessarily mean a smaller device—they could choose to repurpose the space saved for new components or a bigger battery, too.

If they do switch to a proprietary connector, that would be awful, and no, I'd have no use for smaller devices, but neither of those is a mandatory outcome of shrinking the jack assembly.

How about shrinking down my air conditioner? That's a pain to replace. The gains would be quite useful in labor savings.