Yesterday it was USB power bricks. Today it's labels for repairability. Tomorrow something else. At some point I hope Apple just removes their product for sale from troublesome jurisdictions. Without notice.
The difference between right-to-repair on cars and right-to-repair on Phones is that if an iOS "private signing key" is compromised by some third party shop, ALL phones are compromised, since these private keys are on all iOS devices, not just on the phone that was repaired at that shop. I don't expect the average person in the unwashed masses to understand this, and Apple hasn't made this argument yet.
Why would they make such an argument against legislation for labels communicating repairability?
If Apple need to keep certain aspects non-servicable outside of an Apple authorised repair centre for security reasons, that would seem to be fine. I'm not aware of any proposed rule that would force them to do otherwise. But there are plenty of repairs that don't require private keys or secure elements, just commodity parts.
The trouble with straw men is that they fall apart so easily.
The law is about making it easier to do your own repairs, not saying that you have to. It’s also about making it easier for third-party technicians to do repairs.
No one is forcing you to repair your device on your own.
The problem is that after the third party does the repair, Apple still has to support that device, including all the software updated that happen after the repair. Let's say a third party replaces the battery, and then due to an Apple software update, which didn't take into account the replacement battery with different properties, the CPU gets fried. Whose fault is that, Apple's? Or the third party repair shop?
Depends where the fault lies. If the battery had insufficient safeguards,. then the repair shop (or the battery manufacturer). If the software had insufficient safeguards, then the software. Maybe both.
So what's the problem, apart from having to investigate the root cause of the problem, as you do in practically all situations like this?
Apple could simply put a pentalobe screwdriver in the box with every device. Have at it and good luck. Some of these devices aren’t really repairable without what is more akin to manufacturing equipment than repair tools.
I have a gas fireplace. And a gas stove. The potential danger for both of these is thousands of times greater than a phone, yet somehow it’s not a problem to have an independent repairman come in and fix my stove and no one is yelling and bellyaching that these repairmen are putting the neighborhood at risk for gas explosions.
I take my car to the neighborhood repair shop and get a new battery. And brakes. And alternator. If the computer gets fried they tell me I need to go to the dealer to have them reprogram it. And my car is working perfectly despite all these incompetent hacks working on it that are clearly a menace to society because they don’t work for Honda. Hmmm. I assume everyone complaining here never goes anywhere except the dealer to get their car fixed? And they never use anything except OEM parts?
Nope, they don't care about facts. They are Apple shareholders, interested in maximizing the profitability of the company named Apple. That's all to it. They don't care about impact to customer or environment.
Does the right to repair require companies to design and manufacture to repair?
The whole scheme is flawed. There are no consumers who want a right to repair. Consumers can change a lightbulb, and fill their cars with gas. Asking them to do anything else is a waste.
The demand has been manufactured by businesses who want customers.
No. The crux is non-replaceable batteries. That’s it. Since we’re actually talking about lithium batteries, that’s an issue on several fronts.
My Grandson has replaced two iPhone screens on his own since he can't afford to buy a new phone when the current one is still being paid off with the carrier Why someone with no regular job and zero savings insists on getting the best available iPhone when he buys is another issue altogether, but yeah there are iPhone owners who would make their own repairs given the opportunity. Maybe kids aren't as scared of it as adults are.
Yesterday it was USB power bricks. Today it's labels for repairability. Tomorrow something else. At some point I hope Apple just removes their product for sale from troublesome jurisdictions. Without notice.
The difference between right-to-repair on cars and right-to-repair on Phones is that if an iOS "private signing key" is compromised by some third party shop, ALL phones are compromised, since these private keys are on all iOS devices, not just on the phone that was repaired at that shop. I don't expect the average person in the unwashed masses to understand this, and Apple hasn't made this argument yet.
And yet Apple are saying removing USB bricks is a good idea. They even talked about the savings in waste by not having to produce adaptors that most people have, reductions in packaging and shipping costs since they were able to make the boxes much smaller. What about consumer choice? If you have a device which needs a higher power you can buy a more powerful adaptor and use it for both devices.
Of course if a mechanic repairs all cars in the same way using faulty replacements or methods that could compromise a large number of devices. That’s the risk and choice of the consumer.
Apple already provide repair or replace programs. You think they won’t take advantage of a requirement for right to repair to sell more repair plans?
Yesterday it was USB power bricks. Today it's labels for repairability. Tomorrow something else. At some point I hope Apple just removes their product for sale from troublesome jurisdictions. Without notice.
The difference between right-to-repair on cars and right-to-repair on Phones is that if an iOS "private signing key" is compromised by some third party shop, ALL phones are compromised, since these private keys are on all iOS devices, not just on the phone that was repaired at that shop. I don't expect the average person in the unwashed masses to understand this, and Apple hasn't made this argument yet.
I think repairability labels would be great. I wouldn’t do this on a Phone or MacBook Pro because they are too integrated and have too few parts, but it would certainly be good to know when buying other products.
Repairability labels for every EU country, in every different language in the EU? That’s a big label.
Logos are a thing. Like the EU logo for WEEE compliance applied to all electricals. Or the CE mark certifying products as compliant with EU regulations.
Yesterday it was USB power bricks. Today it's labels for repairability. Tomorrow something else. At some point I hope Apple just removes their product for sale from troublesome jurisdictions. Without notice.
The difference between right-to-repair on cars and right-to-repair on Phones is that if an iOS "private signing key" is compromised by some third party shop, ALL phones are compromised, since these private keys are on all iOS devices, not just on the phone that was repaired at that shop. I don't expect the average person in the unwashed masses to understand this, and Apple hasn't made this argument yet.
I think repairability labels would be great. I wouldn’t do this on a Phone or MacBook Pro because they are too integrated and have too few parts, but it would certainly be good to know when buying other products.
Repairability labels for every EU country, in every different language in the EU? That’s a big label.
You think it'd be one label with all the languages? Do you think all products sold in the EU have the exact same packaging with the product name in all languages?
I struggle to understand the weird ideas some Americans have about the world outside America.
Comments
If Apple need to keep certain aspects non-servicable outside of an Apple authorised repair centre for security reasons, that would seem to be fine. I'm not aware of any proposed rule that would force them to do otherwise. But there are plenty of repairs that don't require private keys or secure elements, just commodity parts.
The trouble with straw men is that they fall apart so easily.
So what's the problem, apart from having to investigate the root cause of the problem, as you do in practically all situations like this?
Nope, they don't care about facts. They are Apple shareholders, interested in maximizing the profitability of the company named Apple. That's all to it. They don't care about impact to customer or environment.
Apple already provide repair or replace programs. You think they won’t take advantage of a requirement for right to repair to sell more repair plans?