Apple expands independent repair program to Mac after US antitrust investigation • Hacker News Board

Re: Apple expands independent repair program to Mac after US antitrust investigation

#41

Post by egsmi » Mon, Aug 17, 2020, 10:02 PM UTC

wonnage wrote: post #32

crazygringo wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> you are forced to let apple audit you at any time, you have to share personal client data on all of your clients with apple I assume they want to be able to confirm the shops aren't also buying counterfeit Chinese components on the side and swapping them in for the genuine ones. I also assume they want the repair information to feed into their tracking of the history of the device, as it can affect warranty, AppleC…

Once you buy the device why the hell should Apple prevent someone from putting a counterfeit battery/screen/whatever inside of it? Sure, people might be defrauding AppleCare, but that's their problem - there's no reasonable justification for why they should be able to regulate who fixes their devices.

I can understand the battery but admit the case is weaker for screen and other components.

If someone gets hurt using an Apple product it’s international news [1] and everyone ignores the reports 5 days later when it shown they were using a counterfeit. So I can understand why Apple would care. Keep in mind this article is about bringing repairs to Mac. The 16” MBP has a 100WHr Lithium-Polymer battery. That thing is no joke.

[1] https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-new...

Re: Apple expands independent repair program to Mac after US antitrust investigation

#42

Post by kevindong » Mon, Aug 17, 2020, 10:02 PM UTC

rasz wrote: post #2

Just as a reminder, their phone "independent repair program" has you signing rights to your business away (you are forced to let apple audit you at any time, you have to share personal client data on all of your clients with apple. All of this not limited to Apple repair part of your business) for the right to: - remove battery / screen from client device - send battery / screen to Apple with all clients personal inf…

> - send battery / screen to Apple with all clients personal information

I trust Apple far more than any independent repair shop with my personal information. But also, what personal information is on a battery / screen?

Additionally I use full disk encryption via FileVault on my Mac and keep the passcode enabled on my iOS devices which is known to be secure. No one, not even Apple, knows my password/passcode.

Re: Apple expands independent repair program to Mac after US antitrust investigation

#43

Post by css » Mon, Aug 17, 2020, 10:03 PM UTC

kevindong wrote: post #42

rasz wrote: post #2

Just as a reminder, their phone "independent repair program" has you signing rights to your business away (you are forced to let apple audit you at any time, you have to share personal client data on all of your clients with apple. All of this not limited to Apple repair part of your business) for the right to: - remove battery / screen from client device - send battery / screen to Apple with all clients personal inf…

> - send battery / screen to Apple with all clients personal information I trust Apple far more than any independent repair shop with my personal information. But also, what personal information is on a battery / screen? Additionally I use full disk encryption via FileVault on my Mac and keep the passcode enabled on my iOS devices which is known to be secure. No one, not even Apple, knows my password/passcode.

If you have to do any serious repairs they will ask you to make a second admin account so they can login and test things.

Re: Apple expands independent repair program to Mac after US antitrust investigation

#44

Post by sebmellen » Mon, Aug 17, 2020, 10:11 PM UTC

damnyou wrote: post #39

TheBillyMania wrote: post #29

Reading the comments below, Apple is damned it they do and damned if they don’t.

That is the only correct state of affairs for corporations (and governments) as big and powerful as Apple. Constant criticism no matter what they do. It's the only way to hold them even remotely accountable.

I don't know why you're getting downvoted for this. Power is kept in check by criticism and close observation.

If Apple weren't held accountable at all, you can be sure they'd declare themselves a sovereign dictatorship w/ Mr. Cook at the supreme leader (/s of course, but...?).

Re: Apple expands independent repair program to Mac after US antitrust investigation

#45

Post by christkv » Mon, Aug 17, 2020, 10:20 PM UTC

tmaly wrote: post #4

I have a 2013 MBP that started random crashing several years back. I took it into a Mac store and they could not help me. I have always suspected a hardware issue. Repair for a new board was just not worth the cost. If this works and it would bring the cost down, I would still consider trying to get this machine fixed.

Try https://www.rossmanngroup.com/ he also has a YouTube channel and is very active in the right to repair movement.

Re: Apple expands independent repair program to Mac after US antitrust investigation

#46

Post by chromedev » Mon, Aug 17, 2020, 10:21 PM UTC

formerly_proven wrote: post #12

abawany wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

IME, they've really hobbled the functionality of independent repair shops, making it necessary to supplicate to the Apple Store. I was trying to get the battery replaced in a 2015 MBP and the independent shops were 'required' to keep my machine for about 7 days since they had to first 'diagnose' that the battery was dying, order it, wait for it to arrive, and then replace it. In contrast, one could make an appointmen…

This level of customer-hostility would cause a huge uproar for any other "Pro" or "workstation" vendor.

Apple fans seem okay with this and also not being able to install apps outside the app store.

Re: Apple expands independent repair program to Mac after US antitrust investigation

#47

Post by damnyou » Mon, Aug 17, 2020, 10:21 PM UTC

sebmellen wrote: post #44

damnyou wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That is the only correct state of affairs for corporations (and governments) as big and powerful as Apple. Constant criticism no matter what they do. It's the only way to hold them even remotely accountable.

I don't know why you're getting downvoted for this. Power is kept in check by criticism and close observation. If Apple weren't held accountable at all, you can be sure they'd declare themselves a sovereign dictatorship w/ Mr. Cook at the supreme leader (/s of course, but...?).

Is it truly a surprise why I keep being downvoted for pointing out abuses of power by Hacker News's favorite megacorp?

Re: Apple expands independent repair program to Mac after US antitrust investigation

#48

Post by rasz » Mon, Aug 17, 2020, 10:30 PM UTC

kevindong wrote: post #42

rasz wrote: post #2

Just as a reminder, their phone "independent repair program" has you signing rights to your business away (you are forced to let apple audit you at any time, you have to share personal client data on all of your clients with apple. All of this not limited to Apple repair part of your business) for the right to: - remove battery / screen from client device - send battery / screen to Apple with all clients personal inf…

> - send battery / screen to Apple with all clients personal information I trust Apple far more than any independent repair shop with my personal information. But also, what personal information is on a battery / screen? Additionally I use full disk encryption via FileVault on my Mac and keep the passcode enabled on my iOS devices which is known to be secure. No one, not even Apple, knows my password/passcode.

The point is IRP program requires your personal data, and requires IRP business to send your broken part and wait for replacement, usually taking a week.

Real independent place wont ask you anything beyond contact email/phone number _if and only if_ they are unable to do the repair on site while you wait/do your shopping at the mall/take a short walk. Since most places stock parts on site you will get your battery swap /screen replacement done right away.

Re: Apple expands independent repair program to Mac after US antitrust investigation

#49

Post by Zenst » Mon, Aug 17, 2020, 10:31 PM UTC

rasz wrote: post #2

Just as a reminder, their phone "independent repair program" has you signing rights to your business away (you are forced to let apple audit you at any time, you have to share personal client data on all of your clients with apple. All of this not limited to Apple repair part of your business) for the right to: - remove battery / screen from client device - send battery / screen to Apple with all clients personal inf…

Certainly does create the potential for repair brokers. A person who is the owner for the duration of the repair and as such the details of that person would be provided to Apple to comply with this data grab.

Always a way to game/fight the system.

Re: Apple expands independent repair program to Mac after US antitrust investigation

#50

Post by rasz » Mon, Aug 17, 2020, 10:38 PM UTC

robin_reala wrote: post #30

tankenmate wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm not sure if the grandparent was getting to this, but sharing your client information with a 3rd party in the EU and/or for EU citizens is problematic w.r.t GDPR. You'd have to disclose to your client that you are sharing their data, why you are sharing, and get their informed consent.

Consent is only one legal basis, but it’d be hard to argue that sharing their data for processing by Apple is legitimate interest, and the other non-consent bases don’t apply here.

No worries here, Apple IRP actually requires independent business to get a waiver signed by the customer. Among other things Customer acknowledges repair has no warranty from Apple, despite repair being performed "using original Apple parts by Apple Certified technician working within Apple authorized independent repair program"!