41–50 of 558 posts
Earlier quoted context omitted.
On the other hand phones are now thing and waterproof. Not saying that replaceable batteries are bad but it’s not like this was an entirely arbitrary decision.
If a group of government scientists can deploy devices into the field with waterproof enclosures and replaceable battery banks - it makes me wonder if Apple could do it :P
"The more I think about it, the more I realize Apple’s Self-Service Repair program is the perfect way to make it look like the company supports right-to-repair policies without actually encouraging them at all."
I don't think it's incumbent upon Apple to invent a new set of tools for self-service repairs. Assuming these are the tools they actually use, rather than a cumbersome set they invented just to be insufferable, then making the tools available seems like a fair way to (reluctantly) satisfy the right-to-repair demand. I think a better indication of whether they're really honoring the right to repair is if they keep doi…
I've had two third party repairs on my iPhones - one was done with a heat-gun and the finish was awful and the screen popped up in one corner at the end and the metal frame was dented from the pry-tool, and the second shop used a proper heat pad and an assembly tool and the finish was like it was a new phone.
Personally I would have been suprised if Apple recommended/advised use of a hairdryer / conventional heat-gun when that's not what they use themselves and clearly not how the iPhones are designed to be reassembled. Also presumably asking amateurs to use a heat-gun on their electronics would come with it's own risks (particularly heat guns + lithium batteries if you aren't careful!).
Like this article includes the following complaint:
> The repair manual not only suggests you need three pages worth of tools but also a jar of sand in case your battery catches fire — one of many not strictly necessary items that don’t come with the kit.
This doesn't sound entirely unreasonable from Apple's perspective - because at their scale they probably should be worried about the risk of people piercing the battery during a repair or using a heatgun near their battery. Also seems weird to throw shade at Apple for sending you too much stuff, but then also note that Apple didn't ship you a bucket of sand, but appreciate that was a kind-of joke.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
On the other hand phones are now thing and waterproof. Not saying that replaceable batteries are bad but it’s not like this was an entirely arbitrary decision.
There are also a lot of laws and regulations about shipping and selling batteries that don't apply to devices with non-removable batteries.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
This shit has to stop.
It isn’t drm, a warning shows up on boot if the battery replacement was done unofficially. It has no functional impact on the device. The reasons behind it are pretty strong. A lot of repair stores use second hand, or fraudulent parts which damage the user experience. So for an owner getting a repair, if they don’t see warnings, they know the repair was done right. And as a buyer, you can tell the phone is using all…
Edit: and preferably let them buy the batteries in bulk, without having to have the phone on hand which just causes unnecessary delays.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
The Galaxy XCover 5 is waterproof (IP68) and has a replaceable battery. It's built for extreme conditions so it looks a little funky, but it's clearly possible to have both. Sure, gluing the battery into a closed container is a lot easier than developing novel waterproofing methods, but it's not impossible to do so.
We've been waterproofing watches for almost 100 years. If Apple cared, it's absolutely possible.
I don't think the battery in question had time to self-discharge: it's a model A2660 introduced with the iPhone 13 in 2021, and the Li-ion self-discharge rate is only several percent per month at full charge, with discharge plateauing at lower voltages.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
On the other hand phones are now thing and waterproof. Not saying that replaceable batteries are bad but it’s not like this was an entirely arbitrary decision.
The Galaxy XCover 5 is waterproof (IP68) and has a replaceable battery. It's built for extreme conditions so it looks a little funky, but it's clearly possible to have both. Sure, gluing the battery into a closed container is a lot easier than developing novel waterproofing methods, but it's not impossible to do so.
If made to fulfill the word of the law without actually having to follow it in spirit, this would be my modus operandi too. By designing $1200 deposit, $49 rental & two Pelican suitcases of tools and manuals, while keeping the battery replacement price same at $69 (what you'd normally pay in total at Store), they have entirely disincentivized self-repair without actually breaking any law. Masterstroke /s
And we think you’re going to hate it too!
Earlier quoted context omitted.
It isn’t drm, a warning shows up on boot if the battery replacement was done unofficially. It has no functional impact on the device. The reasons behind it are pretty strong. A lot of repair stores use second hand, or fraudulent parts which damage the user experience. So for an owner getting a repair, if they don’t see warnings, they know the repair was done right. And as a buyer, you can tell the phone is using all…
You could surely still have this for non-genuine / used batteries, but here we have a genuine battery coming straight from Apple throwing that warning. Just let 3rd party repair shops buy them at a reasonable price and don't throw the warning if it's unused. Edit: and preferably let them buy the batteries in bulk, without having to have the phone on hand which just causes unnecessary delays.
The thing is there is very little drm here. There is no complex crypto chip on the battery. The battery just says “my id is 36382” and the phone goes “that’s not the id I expect”. Which makes it impossible for fraudulent parts to replicate since even making the chips respond identically won’t work.
Yes it has some downsides. But I think the trade off is reasonable. If you want to do an unofficial replacement, you still can. Just ignore the notification that shows on boot.
"The more I think about it, the more I realize Apple’s Self-Service Repair program is the perfect way to make it look like the company supports right-to-repair policies without actually encouraging them at all."
I don't think it's incumbent upon Apple to invent a new set of tools for self-service repairs. Assuming these are the tools they actually use, rather than a cumbersome set they invented just to be insufferable, then making the tools available seems like a fair way to (reluctantly) satisfy the right-to-repair demand. I think a better indication of whether they're really honoring the right to repair is if they keep doi…
Alas, had we all poured out into the streets and demanded companies stick with through-hole components....
It does seem technology (more specifically, manufacturing) are moving beyond the means of a "guy in a garage".