Photo via Kickstarter/MAGZET
Photo via Kickstarter/Magzet

This is a cool idea long-time coming — magnets for audio jacks.

A new Kickstarter for Magzet intends to do just that by bringing that awesome magnetic breakaway tech you love on your MacBook to your audio jacks.

“We use this technology everywhere we go, and the unfortunate fact is that the audio jack has not stayed up-to-date to the demands placed on it today,” write creators Jon Hallsten and Jeff Russell on Kickstarter. “This dilemma is the ‘spark’ that got it all started as we sat down over a cup of coffee…dreaming of what the world might look like with an improved audio connection solution.”

It’s simple: You attach Magzet’s cap and jack pieces to your device and your headphones. When you want to connect, you simply “snap” it together and it aligns automatically. If you happen to breakaway, no problem, instead of your iPhone crashing to the ground, the magnets split, leaving everything in place.

Photo via Kickstarter/Magzet
Photo via Kickstarter/Magzet

Magzet works with all Apple and Android devices. For a contribution of $35, backers will receive a kit with one Magkap (the black cover part) and two Magjacks.

The makers’ goal is pretty steep for Kickstarter-land: $294,000. When I asked Hallsten about it, he pointed me to their FAQ page:

“One of the challenges we have with this project and why we’ve been working on it for over 18 months is the simplicity of use is enabled by significant complexity on the inside,” they write. “The complexity requires expensive tooling and high precision fabrication processes. We can assure you that we are not taking advantage of our backers! Our funding number is a breakeven and every dollar of that will be invested into the product that we will be delivering to you.”

So far, Magzet has over 1,000 backers and has reached over $50,000 toward its goal with 36 days to go. Check it out below:

Like what you're reading? Subscribe to GeekWire's free newsletters to catch every headline

Job Listings on GeekWork

Find more jobs on GeekWork. Employers, post a job here.