Apple Pencil functionality compromised with third-party iPad parts
Apple has migrated a "feature" from the iPhone to the iPad that results in the loss of Apple Pencil functionality when repaired with third-party parts, tossing a wrench into the Right to Repair movement.
Third-party repairs affect iPad Pro functionality
The "serialization" method complicates the process for third parties to substitute components in damaged Apple gadgets effectively. That's because these parts are linked to the device's logic board using special chips. Apple has used the technology with iPhone parts to verify that its smartphones are using verified components.
However, the company has been undergoing the same controversial practice with iPad Pro models. Serialization makes it challenging to use non-genuine Apple parts in the company's products, limiting customers' ability to repair their gadgets in cases where they may not want -- or can't afford -- genuine Apple components.
According to Forbes, the practice has now been applied to the screens of the fifth and sixth generations of the iPad Pro 12.9-inch, as well as the third and fourth generation 11-inch iPad Pro. A repair expert found that when he repaired a customer's iPad, the Apple Pencil wasn't drawing straight lines after the iPad's display was swapped with a screen from a different iPad.
"We found with the newer versions of the iPad that when you put a new screen on, even if it's taken from another iPad, the pencil strokes don't work perfectly," Ricky Panesar said. "They have a memory chip that sits on the screen that's programmed to only allow the Pencil functionality to work if the screen is connected to the original logic board."
Panesar believes serialization poses a significant issue for consumers. He suggests that Apple is penalizing users by establishing a monopoly, implying that in the future, repairs will have to be exclusively done by Apple.
According to Panesar, the concern is the substantial cost difference between getting repairs from Apple and third-party repair services, which use authentic components from other damaged models. He says the issue currently affects the displays of fifth and sixth-generations of the iPad Pro 12.9-inch and third and fourth-generation 11-inch tablets.
It's likely that Apple's concern around third-party displays revolves around Face ID, a security feature for logging into specific iPhones and iPads. If the device detected a new screen, especially one not authorized by Apple, the Face ID feature would be automatically disabled.
Apple similarly disabled Face ID on third-party screen repairs. It has come around some on this matter, but not entirely.
The company also has a Self Service Repair Program for some of its devices. Apple currently does not offer tools or components for the iPad.
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Comments
The source video was posted 2 months ago.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sWmBNj6Eok&t=7s
Could it just be a software issue that could be corrected by Apple? Jumping to the immediate conclusion that Apple has nefarious motives makes for great headlines (good job, Forbes!), but could not be the actual factual issue. Has anyone asked Apple?
It is possible for third-party parts to compromise security. A replaced fingerprint reader, just as a mild example, could not only send your biometrics elsewhere, but could also conceivably compromise the Secure Enclave.
The only culpability Apple has in this matter is their expensive repair price structure. It's a bit like going to your local mechanic instead of your car dealer for an oil change.
How about you read the rest of the article? In fact, the failure of journalism here is to even mention "third party" parts in the first place, because the only examples given are of genuine Apple parts being used* to attempt a repair, and it doesn't work properly because of serialisation.
* If you take a working screen from an otherwise broken/faulty iPad, that is not a "third party" part, it is a genuine Apple part. If Apple actually cared about the environment or their customers, they would make the necessary tools available to allow parts to be "re-paired", allowing screen swaps like this to work again.
This allows third parties to provide repair services, so if you don't have the skills to repair something yourself, you can take it to an independent repair shop instead of direct to the manufacturer. This often represents a significant saving, as independent repair shops can for example replace one broken component on a motherboard, instead of just replacing the entire motherboard (as Apple would do).
Just because someone knows how to solder some components doesn't mean they understand the design and hence how to repair something.
But, you know, it makes me question the veracity of the whole claim.
It's your choice not to, but don't insult those who do.
Too many seems to think that the only reason why Apple serialize parts, is to prevent third parties from repairing the device with the failed part. .
There are zero technical reasons why Apple could not provide such tools; they choose not to because it’s (superficially at least) good for their bottom line.
When it comes to consumer electronics this has pretty much happened already; there is no choice.