Beginning Next Year, Apple Will Send You Parts and Tools To Fix Your iPhone and Mac at Home (techcrunch.com) 157
Apple just announced Self Service Repair, a new program designed to let users perform common repairs on devices at home. Through the program, users with damaged devices will be sent "Apple genuine" tools and components -- same as the ones they use at the Genius Bar. From a report: The company will also be offering up online repair manuals (text, not video), accessible through the new Apple Self Service Repair Online Store. The system is similar to the one the company rolled out for Independent Repair Providers (of which there are currently 2,800 in the U.S. plus 5,000 Apple Authorized Service Providers), beginning with the iPhone 12 and 13, focused on display, battery and camera fixes. A similar service for M1Macs will be launching "soon" after.
"Creating greater access to Apple genuine parts gives our customers even more choice if a repair is needed," COO Jeff Williams said in a release tied to the announcement. "In the past three years, Apple has nearly doubled the number of service locations with access to Apple genuine parts, tools, and training, and now we're providing an option for those who wish to complete their own repairs." Apple hasn't listed specific prices yet, but customers will get a credit toward the final fee if they mail in the damaged component for recycling. When it launches in the U.S. in early-2022, the store will offer some 200 parts and tools to consumers. Performing these tasks at home won't void the device's warranty, though you might if you manage to further damage the product in the process of repairing it -- so hew closely to those manuals. After reviewing that, you can purchase parts from the Apple Self Service Repair Online Store.
"Creating greater access to Apple genuine parts gives our customers even more choice if a repair is needed," COO Jeff Williams said in a release tied to the announcement. "In the past three years, Apple has nearly doubled the number of service locations with access to Apple genuine parts, tools, and training, and now we're providing an option for those who wish to complete their own repairs." Apple hasn't listed specific prices yet, but customers will get a credit toward the final fee if they mail in the damaged component for recycling. When it launches in the U.S. in early-2022, the store will offer some 200 parts and tools to consumers. Performing these tasks at home won't void the device's warranty, though you might if you manage to further damage the product in the process of repairing it -- so hew closely to those manuals. After reviewing that, you can purchase parts from the Apple Self Service Repair Online Store.
What's happening here?! (Score:5, Funny)
Did I wake up in the upside-down Bizzaro Universe?
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These are not impossible repairs but delicate ones that I see the average consumer messing up. It may prove Apple's point to some extent.
In my experience a solid 60% of the population not only abhors repairs, but are incapable of doing any repairs beyond a simple lightbulb change. It’s not stupidity, it’s a strong dislike for the knowledge and skills that leads to general atrophy of that part of their brain. These people existed throughout all history, it’s not new. It should not be legal to lock down all components and disallow repairs in order to gouge people on price, it’s unethical, inefficient, and creates ma
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Itâ(TM)s not stupidity, itâ(TM)s a strong dislike for the knowledge and skills that leads to general atrophy of that part of their brain. These people existed throughout all history, itâ(TM)s not new.
That is an hilarious idea.
If you do not know how to repair, you call one. There most certainly not an inherent dislike to repairs. I for my part do not have the time to figure how to repair my car. So I let an expert do it. Like everyone else who is not a tinkerer by heart. Has nothing to do with
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A lot of people could probably do some projects on their own even if it requires them to watch videos on YouTube in order to learn how to do them, but without the skills and/or the tools it's usually wiser to hire someone else who does that kind of job all day long.
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If I did my own phone repairs, I would probably only do it a handful of times in my entire life. There is a good chance the first couple of times while I was learning I would screw something up and bin a $500 phone. That would wipe all potential future savings I could realize over just paying someone $80 to do it for me. Given that, why wouldn't I pay a repair shop who has someone on hand who's done 100s of repairs and is on the hook if they mess it up?
For something less fragile, like replacing an LED on
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If the parts are available to users but not independent repair shops then it will be seen as a transparent bid to do just that by Apple.
If they are available to both then users will have the choice whether to ruin their hardware or take it to a pro. Or for the few who know what they are doing, fix it themselves.
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They are available to independent shops, but to get the parts, I think you have to sign a contract that says you'll never use third party parts ever. If I were running an independent shop, I'd have the device owner buy direct from Apple to stay out of that contract.
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I think you have to sign a contract that says you'll never use third party parts ever.
And on what basis should that work?
It is illegal in most parts of the world ... you Americans have so silly ideas about "contracts", it is absurd.
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On the basis that if you don't sign, you can't be an "Independent Repair Provider" and have no way to order parts from them. Contract law in the US does not offer a lot of protections to the people signing.
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It's absolutely a transparent bid to do just that by Apple.
If I had an independent repair shop, I'd set up an iMac at the front counter where customers could order Apple parts themselves and had them shipped to me, and offer them the option of me using 3rd party parts if they didn't want to handle the part order from Apple.
The "authorized" repair shop contracts are onerous. Apple wants control of everything, including your decor. And of course "authorized" shops are banned from using 3rd party parts at al
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> Did I wake up in the upside-down Bizzaro Universe?
Would Apple allocate $100M to kill off iFixIt which has been a pain in their side lately regarding RTR?
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Would Apple allocate $100M to kill off iFixIt which has been a pain in their side lately regarding RTR?
I mean, that is pocket change for them...
Upside-Down Bizzaro Universe (Score:3)
Did I wake up in the upside-down Bizzaro Universe?
I was wondering the same thing. Why does everyone suddenly have a tiny head [apple.com] and a huge body [ispot.tv]?
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I don't know who they hired to draw those cartoons, but they should find a better artist immediately! Those are crap, I'd never think they came from Apple! Yikes!
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No, it's a clever marketing ploy. Rather than give independent repair shops what they want, they provide kits directly to users. The users (a significant portion of which are not technically capable of doing this) will screw up their devices and Apple will go to law makers and say "see, we told you so" and thus ending the right to repair efforts.
They are playing the long game while putting on a friendly face.
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Why do you think an "independent repair shop" is not a user? Do you think they run their billing software on Windows PCs?
A independent repair shop is just the same as a private user. That is a no brainer.
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A independent repair shop is just the same as a private user. That is a no brainer.
Nope. A private user is my girlfriend, someone who goes online to buy a simple kit for a few dollars to swap a part while watching a youtube video. An independent repair shop is often very much more, the kind of place which will buy esoteric parts, look at schematics, trace faults, and replace complex BGA components using a microscope.
Saying one is the other is nonsense, but then based on your reply to my other post you not only seem to have completely missed the point, but also seem to not have a clue what
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Hehehe... "Balls"... hehehe /Beavis
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An independent repair shop needs to be able to buy the parts wholesale, not as little consumer kits with a bunch of plastic tools included and a 50% markup.
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And part cost from Apple for "authorized" shops is the same price they charge for the repair including labor at an Apple store. You literally can't make money being "authorized" if you're not at least a few hundred miles from an Apple store, customers will just walk out.
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An independent repair shop needs to be able to buy the parts wholesale
And what is preventing them to do so?
Nope, not April 1 (Score:2)
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Wonders of regulators stuffing common sense down a megacorp-s throat.
There are lots, and I mean LOTS, of companies who don't sell service parts, service manuals, schematics/mechanical drawings, and have had those policies for Decades.
But along comes Apple with the same common policies, and suddenly the entire planet wants to be a Repair Tech!
So now, Apple says “fine”, and now people are STILL suspicious!
FFS!
Butterfly (Score:2)
So much for "IT'S DANGEROUS" ... (Score:2)
Remember one of the big arguments against right-to-repair trotted out in several hearings was "it's dangerous to let non-authorized persons make repairs." Think of the battery fires!
Clearly it isn't. Question is, were they ever under oath when they made those claims?
So, I see this as either (a) they are hoping someone does something stupid and blows up a battery so they can back up their claims about it being dangerous, or (b) they figure people won't be able to follow the instructions and will break a lot
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(c) they finally realize they can sell the parts at an extremely high markup and since they are "official" parts people will buy them instead of the exact same part directly from the manufacturer.
the plan is to sell $99 batterys with an $40 retur (Score:2)
the plan is to sell $99 batterys with an $40 return when you sent back the old one so they can kill off the shops that will just do an battery for $29
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Re:So much for "IT'S DANGEROUS" ⦠(Score:2)
Siege warfare (Score:2)
The goal being reducing the revenue of independent repair shops like Rossmann and others.
Once the shops start faltering, Apple will then change tack once again.
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They do an excellent job, and, it makes more sense for me to spend the cost of an entry level lawnmower to fix my 16 year old one every 4 or 5 years because of less crap in the landfill.
If Apple just does what they are saying and nothing
beware "Accidental" typos (Score:2)
this has nothing to do with right to repair. (Score:3)
This is good news, but it actually has nothing to do with right to repair.
Folks like Louis Rossmann and other electronics repairpeople are asking for a heck of a lot more than just some parts, tools, and instructions. They need multi-layer board level schematics in searchable PDF format ala FlexBV (or, heck, gerber or CAD files if they can get them), apple-proprietary discrete components, etc. Louis's big ask is he wants the same components and information that the Apple repair centers have access to.
Otherwise, this sounds good to me. I don't personally care about whether it's a "good policy" or a "bad policy". It's a policy that gets me the parts I want and need, and can give to a repair shop if need be.
What really concerns me is the price. If the parts and tools are made available at an affordable price, then I'm all for it. Currently, genuine batteries for macbooks airs and pros older than one or two generations are pretty much impossible to find on the parts reseller market. There are some "trusted" OEM batteries but they have consistently shown inferior battery life compared to the factory battery.
If it costs just as much as me taking it to Apple to replace, then it's kind of pointless for me, really, compared to the status quo. It might be worth it to someone who doesn't live near an Apple store.
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This is good news, but it actually has nothing to do with right to repair.
No I don't think it is. I think they are playing a long game here, putting basic repair kits into the hands of users in the hope that they'll screw up their phones (a good portion will, a screen change or battery replacement is still quite a sensitive operation that can go wrong) and then Apple can go to law makers and say "see, independent repair is dangerous" thus further blocking the right to repair movement.
Or maybe I'm just old and cynical and Tim Cook was killed and replaced with some alien and decide
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"Folks like Louis Rossmann and other electronics repairpeople are asking for a heck of a lot more than just some parts, tools, and instructions. They need multi-layer board level schematics in searchable PDF format ala FlexBV (or, heck, gerber or CAD files if they can get them), apple-proprietary discrete components, etc. Louis's big ask is he wants the same components and information that the Apple repair centers have access to."
I'd be surprised if Apple repair centers had these things. The idea that they
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I'd be surprised if Apple repair centers had these things. The idea that they waste internal time doing board level component repairs strikes me as... unlikely.
Yeah, I agree. If they actually find the bug in a particular chip on a swappable sub-assembly, is an Apple repair place going to risk microsoldering the wayward part onto the board, right there - assuming they even have the individual chips on hand - or just replace the entire sub-assembly? At best, they probably ship suspect components back to Apple's engineering department so they can analyze it. In that case, engineering would likely want the entire sub-assembly, anyway.
Next Year? (Score:2)
They sent me replacement parts for my iMac G5 well over a decade ago, back when there was a power supply recall.
Yet they somehow managed to ship the wrong one, despite knowing exactly what model I had.
If they were serious about allowing repairs (Score:2)
If they were serious about making their devices truly reparable and fixable they would stop gluing things together and stop using non-standard fasteners. If everything was held together with phillips screws a person wouldn't need any "genius" tools.
There was at time when you could actually replace batteries in phones without tools, even!
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If everything was held together with phillips screws, then you'd have a ton of stripped screws. Torx screws are usually way better for electronics and Apple has used them in some cases in the past.
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Yes that's what I should have said. Torx for sure. But pentalobe? Come on, Apple.
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These phones are designed to be as thin and light weight as possible while having almost no bezel and to be water resistant. I'm not sure you can achieve that without gluing it together and sealing the battery inside. If you want a bulkier phone with easily swapable parts, but which is not IP67 rated, then Apple is probably not the brand you want for a phone.
I'll withhold judgment (Score:2)
Until we see the actual details. The mention "screen repair", for instance - let's see if this amounts to more than Apple sending people a Genuine Polishing Cloth for buffing out minor scratches.
Makes little sense? (Score:2)
Essential tool (Score:2)
Does it come with a hammer?
Strategic move (Score:2)
You can alway pull back claiming "see things went wrong", but if regulated it will be "Meh, tough"
We will see if they offer parts for hardware outside of Apples "AppleCare" period, ie the time when service parts are actually needed by consumers trying to keep a useable device alive for a few years longer.
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It still says something about their average user. I have been using laptops on a daily basis since the early 90's and guess how many times I have had that happen
Thats right... None, I am not a moron stringing cables in walkways
Well, enough people have praised that feature that I feel safe in determining that you are wrong and they are right.
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The middle of your comment reads like you jerked it while watching footage of a diabetic man stumbling on a cord.
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I kid, but yeah, I was pissed at first so wanted to see what had happened, as he hadn't noticed anything amiss until it hit the floor.
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Yep, they probably just want some ammo to deny right to repair. Besides we are talking about an ecosystem where they put magnets in power cables so their user base could get it right...
You are an idiot. STFU and GTFO.
Re:Wait what? (Score:5, Insightful)
If the parts and tools are available to anyone, then anyone can try to perform a repair - wether you do it yourself or have someone else do it for you. This is a good thing.
The auto industry works the same way, anyone can buy auto parts and instructions but most people won't. Most people will find someone who already has experience and the necessary equipment and have them carry out the repair.
As the parts and instructions are available to anyone, a savvy user can work out how much the parts cost and how much labor is involved to ensure that whoever performs the repair for them isn't over charging them.
They'll muddle it. (Score:3)
If the parts and tools are available to anyone, then anyone can try to perform a repair - wether you do it yourself or have someone else do it for you. This is a good thing. {...} As the parts and instructions are available to anyone,
This could have been a good thing. But you can bet Apple will actually find a sneaky way to subvert it. They specifically said "parts" and compared it to "Genuis Bar".
What a real "rights-to-repair" supporting move would be: promise to not keeping trying to make it illegal to buy single components and small parts and obtain schematics (witthout immediately a SWAT team busting your door for Piracy!).
What Apple will probably do is sell you completely overpriced giant chunks: the "replacement parts" are probab
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If the parts and tools are available to anyone, then anyone can try to perform a repair - wether you do it yourself or have someone else do it for you. This is a good thing. {...} As the parts and instructions are available to anyone,
This could have been a good thing. But you can bet Apple will actually find a sneaky way to subvert it. They specifically said "parts" and compared it to "Genuis Bar".
What a real "rights-to-repair" supporting move would be: promise to not keeping trying to make it illegal to buy single components and small parts and obtain schematics (witthout immediately a SWAT team busting your door for Piracy!).
What Apple will probably do is sell you completely overpriced giant chunks: the "replacement parts" are probably:
- "the entire fricking motherboard" (costs more than you paid your laptop, "and for 100 $ more you can buy a brand new laptop")
- A whole cryptographically-linked together "smartphone motherboard + screen + fingerprintscanner + battery" cluster (costs more than you paid your phone, "and for 20 $ more you can buy a brand new phone")
You can be assured that, other than batteries, displays and trackpads, this will not be component-level repair. Nor should it be.
The percentage of regular folks who can re-ball BGA components, have SMT rework stations, video microscopes and the skills to use same are in the fractional percentage level.
Conversely, the people who have a hair dryer, can use a supplied pentalobe screwdriver and guitar-pick prybar, and can be talked-through gently removing and reconnecting flex strips to replace a display, track
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If the parts and tools are available to anyone, then anyone can try to perform a repair - wether you do it yourself or have someone else do it for you. This is a good thing.
Sure, they can try, but with different degrees of success - and may make the problem worse.
Quick anecdote: I had a young guy ask if he could bring back an iPhone that I had fixed for him, but he couldn't unlock because he'd forgot all of his credentials - nothing to do with me. He wanted the screen I'd just replaced put on his girlfriends phone, which was the same model. I told him $25, which isn't unreasonable. A few weeks later, he finally brought it by, and when I opened it up, I found one of the fi
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And here we have the Apple shill. Spreading FUD.
Yes when people attempt to do anything, things may not turn out well. I suppose we should ban cook books and gas ovens and just rely on Uber Eats.
Fucking moron.
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If you fuck up your dinner, you can run to Burger King. If you fuck up your thousand d
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when people try their own repairs and make things worse
And here we have the Apple shill. Spreading FUD.
Yes when people attempt to do anything, things may not turn out well. I suppose we should ban cook books and gas ovens and just rely on Uber Eats.
Fucking moron.
Hey, if it's good enough for Sir Elton John, it's good enough for me!
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If the parts and tools are available to anyone, then anyone can try to perform a repair - wether you do it yourself or have someone else do it for you. This is a good thing.
Sure, they can try, but with different degrees of success - and may make the problem worse.
Quick anecdote: I had a young guy ask if he could bring back an iPhone that I had fixed for him, but he couldn't unlock because he'd forgot all of his credentials - nothing to do with me. He wanted the screen I'd just replaced put on his girlfriends phone, which was the same model. I told him $25, which isn't unreasonable. A few weeks later, he finally brought it by, and when I opened it up, I found one of the fine ribbon cables on the right side broken. Since I know where those cables are and how to open the case, I figured he must've tried to replace it himself, or had one of his friends do it. The stray fingerprint on the back of the new screen was a giveaway, too: I use gloves when I work on these devices. So, instead of just $25 for a relatively simple procedure, it cost that much, plus a new screen, as well as the delays for ordering and delivering the part.
As someone who does repairs, I appreciate Apple's move, but I can also see how it may backfire - when people try their own repairs and make things worse. Even if it was their own fault, you can bet they'll blame Apple. It'll be interesting to see how this shakes out.
You can be SURE that, any way this shakes out, people will blame Apple. It's what they do!
Re:Wait what? (Score:4, Interesting)
If the parts and tools are available to anyone, then anyone can try to perform a repair - wether you do it yourself or have someone else do it for you. This is a good thing.
No you're missing the bigger picture. Apple restricts repair for more complex problems as well by restricting certain components, e.g. voltage regulators and therefore preventing repair by qualified independent workshops. This here is a strategic move. Apple is providing kits to users, dumb users who will fuck up their phones during disassembly frequently enough Apple can go to law makers and say: "See, this shit is hard, only we should be allowed to do this!"
Don't fall for the marketing. The problem is not a lack of Apple genuine repair kits, the problem is a lack of service manuals and parts in general combined with Apple actively locking down easy to repair components through software. Even the move to "empower users" is ultimately still a move to kill independent repair.
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Apple is providing kits to users, dumb users who will fuck up their phones during disassembly frequently enough Apple can go to law makers and say: "See, this shit is hard, only we should be allowed to do this!"
No idea what this Apple hate is about.
The USA are the only country in the world where corporations like John Deere who try to interfere with self repair or try to introduce laws against it. In the rest of the world: it is unconstitutional.
Yeah, I do not get it. Apple is proclaiming to do a "good mov
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No idea what this Apple hate is about.
No hate, just a reflection on the fact that companies don't generally do a complete about face after facing well over a year of scrutiny. When the devil comes to the party wearing a halo, be skeptical.
In the rest of the world: it is unconstitutional.
You don't seem to know what that word means. Much of the rest of the world doesn't have a "constitution". Matters of constitution don't general deal with contractual terms between private entities. What you may think is that it may be illegal, and there you will also be only partially right.
The idea that an in
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If the parts and tools are available to anyone...
If you have to order the parts yourself and hire someone for the labor, that will be far more expensive than sending the product directly to Apple for repair. If repair shops have to buy all-in-one "kits" at the retail equivalent like everyone else, their repairs will continue to be more expensive than official Apple repair (or at least close enough to not be worth it). Apple's standard policy right now is to replace parts (such as entire motherboards), rather than "repair". I seriously doubt they have a
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True, but then again there's a certain amount of risk associated with DIY. While I know how to swing a hammer and climb a ladder that doesn't make me adroit at actually replacing my roof. That's why there's a market for roofers. Apple and others have created firewalled components, non-disclosures on schematics and prohibited the public from knowing how to fix their devices, of course except for Apple. The revenue streams of repair costs, extended warranties etc. are all too lucrative to give up willingly.
We need to change the laws, stop protecting the monopolies from prohibiting the public from fixing what they've purchased wherever they want; It's that simple.
So WTF is your position, then? Is this a good thing or a bad thing? Pro-Consumer or Anti-Consumer?
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So, you think people should simply not be able to buy these parts? People need to be responsible for their own decisions. If they shouldn't be trying to fix their iPhone, that's on them to determine, not you, and certainly not Apple.
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So, you think people should simply not be able to buy these parts? People need to be responsible for their own decisions. If they shouldn't be trying to fix their iPhone, that's on them to determine, not you, and certainly not Apple.
Yep, I’ve done repairs on phones including iPhones many times, the flat flex connectors require a delicate and skilled touch to not only re-insert correctly but also to remove without damage as in some models its really easy. Not to mention that without something like a hot air rework station removing the glue is going to be really hit or miss. Even then removal of all the parts without any fixtures and reinstalling them without noticeable blemishes is an art itself. But overall this is a very go
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Don't overblow it, it's the same with all the phones, iPhones or otherwise
Thus the phones, including iPhones comment. iPhones tend to have more expensive construction than average though they are anything resembling easy to service. At least they actually use fasteners instead of being a giant potted glue mess.
Hairdryer
Hairdryers are a recipe to damage if not ruin a phone. Yes, if you don’t care and don’t have proper equipment it can work, but it’s asking for trouble.
suction cup and few picks and you get them all open no problem.
Yes, with pick marks and perhaps a few broken clips. Without fixtures and the right equipment it
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Shouldn't the person even be allowed to try? I sure messed some things up trying to repair them, but that gave me knowledge on how to do it better.
Apple allowing device owners to buy spare parts is a good thing IMO, regardless if the person knows how to replace the part.
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I think they should be allowed. However I can understand if someone suggests that trying without experience could end badly and recommend they go to someone that is more experienced and/or is on the hook to pay for any damages they do along the way to fixing the device.
Of course, it might be nice if certain design considerations were done toward the end of it being easier to repair, like avoiding fragile ribbon cables right where a reasonable person might guess to open without some sort of rugged barrier, o
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I'm guessing that they won't be sending out replacement screens or batteries that require you to melt the glue the iPhone uses to prevent owners servicing their own hardware. It will be stuff like replacement keycaps and trim.
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True, those parts are what maybe 90%+ of the things that need to get changed in a cell phone? Mind you, I'm spit balling here.
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Just thinking out loud: Apple could, once you unscrew the two bottom screws on an iPhone, have the phone basically "drop from the enclosure" . . . that would be a HUGE step forward for repairability . . . or, you know, me farking something up because I wanted to see how it worked.
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That said, I can't compete with a factory-sealed on screen.
It's just sealed with a self-adhesive gasket, which most aftermarket screen replacement kits have included for awhile now. Yeah, if you have butterfingers you can mess up the placement, but it doesn't require any special tools to install.
Really, the big problem with aftermarket iPhone parts is that the quality is generally crap. Being able to finally source genuine OEM parts is a good thing, although they likely will be expensive.
They will likely be the same price as the shit aftermarket parts. Apple is already competitive with independent repair shops when it comes to battery and screen Replacements. And that’s with genuine OEM parts, and Apple supplying the labor.
"Parts" not "Components" (Score:2, Insightful)
I'm good enough to handle components but fixing my own cell phone? {...} I mean they used to sell vacuum tubes for radios and TVs and local stores had testers and a supply of replacements.
Pay attention to the tiny details. Apple said "replacement parts" and "same as the ones they use at the Genius Bar".
So if some port on your device is dead:
DO NOT expect Apple to sell you (for a few cents) just the fried surface mounted component - as Louis would have soldered for you.
DO NOT expect Apple to sell you (for a couple dozen of bucks) the whole daughterboard that carries the port and ribbon connector to plug it into the motherboard - as some newphew could swap for you using iFixit photo-guides.
DO
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I'm good enough to handle components but fixing my own cell phone? {...} I mean they used to sell vacuum tubes for radios and TVs and local stores had testers and a supply of replacements.
Pay attention to the tiny details. Apple said "replacement parts" and "same as the ones they use at the Genius Bar".
So if some port on your device is dead:
DO NOT expect Apple to sell you (for a few cents) just the fried surface mounted component - as Louis would have soldered for you.
DO NOT expect Apple to sell you (for a couple dozen of bucks) the whole daughterboard that carries the port and ribbon connector to plug it into the motherboard - as some newphew could swap for you using iFixit photo-guides.
DO EXPECT Apple to sell you a whole "single replacement assembly unit(tm)" - i.e., probably the whole iShiny assembly, save to the backcover. Which will cost more than you iShiny back when you bought it. And will including the screen, the fingerprint sensor, the battery and motherboard, because all those need to be cryptographically paired to each other in order to protect you from those "Evil Sideloaders!".
- as the Genius Bar could try to sell you, while trying to persuade you to buy the almost as expensive new sucessor iShiny device for only a few bucks more than the "replacement" part.
Let's see first before just assuming this program will suck.
I agree they won't be selling anything that requires SMT rework skills. Nor should they. But there is a good chance they would sell a Port subassembly, if it can be replaced with a screwdriver and unplugging/plugging a FlexStrip.
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Perhaps i'm needlessly pessimistic, but their attitude in the past helps paint this as a sort of p
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Geek culture, 2021.
iFixit has been doing just fine sending parts and guides to people. "People" includes independent repair shops so you'll be able to go there, to an Apple store, do it yourself, or get the kid next door who can read instructions and apply the right end of a screwdriver. Just like 2016.
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I mean come on, I'm good enough to handle components but fixing my own cell phone? That's a recipe for disaster
Depends on the phone design. A lot of phones aren't bad, they keep fragile ribbon cables away from likely ways a person might try to pry the back cover, or put an overlapping hard material to protect a ribbon cable close to where someone might prod.
Some phones, however, you *need* to know some info in advance, like a very fragile wire being in prime territory to get damaged by a person's reasonable guesses during disassembly. Even these are generally ok if you find a youtube teardown video first.
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I mean come on, I'm good enough to handle components but fixing my own cell phone? That's a recipe for disaster and much worse than what say a Louis "Whiney" Rossman has to go through to get parts and actually do a professional job. I mean they used to sell vacuum tubes for radios and TVs and local stores had testers and a supply of replacements. It wasn't a good idea even then, they had kits with little numbered stickers so you could put the right tube back in its spot after you pulled them all out. That was a recipe for disaster if you were a bumbling dad just wanting to watch Sunday Football. This isn't far from that.
Open up the schematics, allow repair vendors or the public to buy the parts and stop playing hide-n-go-seek saying "security will be broken" if a device owner wants to have is multi-thousand dollar device repaired where they want!
Right To Repair means YOUR Right To Repair. They already allow Assholes like Louis "Whiney" Rossman (love that, BTW!) to become Authorized Repair Centers.
Can't have it both ways.
And why don't you see what this program looks like before you start attacking the details?
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"Authorized" repair isn't repair, as Rossmann has repeatedly pointed out. It's just board swapping. He couldn't do what he does if he was "authorized" because the Apple contract wouldn't allow him to actually fix anything.
Oh, and Apple sells the boards to "authorized" repair places for the same price they charge for the part and the service time at the Apple Store. You CANNOT make any money being Apple authorized.
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I mean, the iPhone is glued shut and it's not at all hard to replace the screen.
I'm an IT guy, I only occasionally do hardware repairs. But I've probably changed a few dozen iPhone screens over the years, it's always been pretty easy.
What's really annoying is the glued-in battery on a 2015 MacBook Pro. It's a real pain to get those out, I've done a few of those.
Re:apple pricing (Score:5, Insightful)
The part they don't mention is the Apple pricing. Also, don't expect to keep any warranty.
In the USA it is illegal to void warranty for repair using compatible parts. If the parts come from Apple then they are by definition compatible. If Apple is providing parts and instructions then they really have no defense if the instructions don't work.
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Only time will tell. With the number of unknowns on Apple's side when you flub a repair, Apple is always going to blame the customer. Only high prices will make up the difference for things that stay in warranty. I'd bet its cheaper to pay Apple for the repair than it is to repair yourself - Apple gives an option here but doesn't say its a good one. Since you are getting a kit of parts, instructions, and tools here it will cost more than the part itself.
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The instructions could easily include "perform only in hypoallergenic clean room" or "clean contact with hydrofloric acid" or something like that -- legit instructions with legit tools still doesn't guarantee that Apple has no way to end warranty. The "dust free environment" is how Casio ended warranties on their smart watches despite legit repairs back in the late 1990s.
Re: apple pricing (Score:2)
Glove boxes are simple enough.
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Sure, but how many people are going to build a glovebox in order to do a battery change for a watch? And if you do build one, how many people are willing to fight with jeweler's tools to unscrew screws while wearing gloves -- gloves tightly locked to a position through a glovebox wall? The warranty text was a clever scam, in my opinion.
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It's literally in the summary.
Performing these tasks at home won't void the device's warranty, though you might if you manage to further damage the product in the process of repairing it -- so hew closely to those manuals.
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This is Slashdot, who reads beyond the headline. Reality has a way of being different than the fine print in contracts, we'll see.
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It should not be up to Tim Cook to decide what software i run on my iphone. ... in case you did not know yet.
He is not deciding what software you run on your iPhone.
You are free to install what ever you like
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The massive friction involved means that Tim is absolutely dictating what software can be ran.
You probably did not get my pun: you can install what ever you want, from the app store.
Requiring Xcode and an AppleID to install the software is a huge barrier.
It is not. An AppleID is a damn email address - and XCode is free.
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oh, you can only reply with made up shit? fuck off.
Oh, you can only reply as an AC? Who the fuck are you and why should I care what you think, coward? If you had the courage of your convictions you'd post with your account name attached.