iOS code suggests Li-Fi support, removal of headphone jack

Apple's next iPhone, which is likely to be called iPhone 7 is reported to ditch the 3.5mm headphone jack. Now the iOS code references is offering more evidence about the move. In addition, an another code suggests that Apple is working on adding support for Li-Fi  wireless technology for future iPhones.

The latest iOS 9.3 beta 1.1 code mentions “Headphones.have.%sinput.NO”, indicating that Apple is doing away with the 3.5mm headphone jack. The aim is to make the iPhone even thinner and the round headphone jack is one of the obstacles. If Apple decides to do so, users will have to use headphones with a lightning charging port connector or wireless headphones.

Also found was a reference of Li-Fi in iOS 9.1 library, indicating that Apple may add support for Li-Fi technology in future iPhones. For those unaware, Li-Fi is a technology similar to WiFi, but uses light or infrared and near ultraviolet communication to transmit data. The tech uses smart LED light bulbs that flash on an off very quickly and sends data through this blinking.

Li-Fi can transfer data up to 100 times faster than Wi-Fi. A test conducted by researchers in November last year suggests that Li-Fi has achieved a speed of 224 gigabits per second, which is fast enough to download multiple 720p movies in less than two seconds.

However, the Li-Fi wireless technology is in development stages, and has limitations as well. For instance it required both the sender and receiver to be within a radius of around three meters and is not able to send data though walls, as it uses light to transfer data.

Via