New EU directive pushes toward replaceable iPhone batteries

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  • Reply 61 of 155
    sxt1sxt1 Posts: 11member
    When I go biking or hiking I usually find tons of iPods and iPhones in the wild hiding behind the trees and bushes all coloring the landscape in a tripy mood...



    Oh, come on ! ... give me a break !!!!!

    seriously
  • Reply 62 of 155
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by monstrosity View Post


    Problem is , what we find quite often with the EU is that their regulation often causes more harm than good to the very cause these regulations portray to be supporting.

    I'm not saying that is definitely the case in this particular piece of legislation as I dont have the time to research it, but just because something masquerades as 'green' or 'environmentally friendly' in reality does not always mean it is so.

    Being 'green' is big business, and subject to the same exaggerated truths as any other industry.



    I understand your point, but that doesn't mean that every regulation does more harm than good. I don't believe the goverments goal is to profit from these regulations, sure they make mistakes, but hopefully they learn from them.

    In this case I don't see how making hazardous waste more easy to recycle would be a bad thing? At a certain point in time the millions of iPod/iPhone users do want to get rid of their old or broken device and I'm sure a large quantity of them will just end up in the garbage bin. It wouldn't do any harm to at least take out the battery for recycling before doing so.

    "Whaaat you cannot even take out the battery! that is sooo 2008..."
  • Reply 63 of 155
    hattighattig Posts: 860member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by vagvoba View Post


    You totally misunderstand the issue. It's not about the iPhone or the removable battery. The problem is that the EU should stay out of this very healthy competitive market and let the market/consumers decide what they want. The EU tries to over-regulate the free market by making non-sense rules.



    This is exactly the type of thing that should be regulated. Batteries are harmful when disposed incorrectly. Regulation to create behaviour that benefits everyone that wouldn't occur in normal competitive business (which is all about cutting costs) is often required.



    I don't think Apple have an issues here anyway, the battery is accessible with screws, so as long as the old phone is handed in to a phone recycling centre (which many people do because they get money back) or an Apple store, etc, there's no issue.
  • Reply 64 of 155
    hattighattig Posts: 860member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by monstrosity View Post


    That is NOT an urban myth.



    The urban myth is that it is an urban myth!



    From COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 2257/94...

    This is as someone else put it ""The regulation that Eurofanatics always deny exists"" which includes the lines...



    "free from malformation or abnormal curvature of the fingers"

    "defects of shape"



    Do you know what 'abnormal' means? Bananas normally curve.



    Now I agree that the regulation is absolutely pointless (selling malformed bananas would be a failed business proposition, and my malformed I mean malformed like a three eyed fish, not 'slightly more curved'), but that's not the point here.
  • Reply 65 of 155
    monstrositymonstrosity Posts: 2,234member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Hattig View Post


    Do you know what 'abnormal' means? Bananas normally curve.

    .



    oh so STRAIGHT bananas should be banned because they are NOT 'normal' ? I get ya!



    Who is to say what is or is not 'normal' in regards to a piece of fruit? and that is my point.



    Lots of fruit n veg was chucked in the bin because it was not 'normal', in this day and age of food shortages (or even when this legislation was first passed) is damn stupid and thats that.



    I will decide when I buy a banana at the store if it is normal or not thank you very much meddling EU.
  • Reply 66 of 155
    monstrositymonstrosity Posts: 2,234member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by monkeystation View Post


    I understand your point, but that doesn't mean that every regulation does more harm than good. I don't believe the goverments goal is to profit from these regulations, sure they make mistakes, but hopefully they learn from them.

    In this case I don't see how making hazardous waste more easy to recycle would be a bad thing? At a certain point in time the millions of iPod/iPhone users do want to get rid of their old or broken device and I'm sure a large quantity of them will just end up in the garbage bin. It wouldn't do any harm to at least take out the battery for recycling before doing so.

    "Whaaat you cannot even take out the battery! that is sooo 2008..."



    Just as an example of a possible reverse consequence (and this is only for the point of discussion)..



    The casing may have to be manufactured from multiple parts, increasing wastage, increased energy usage to make those parts.

    The recycling process may use much energy, and utilize toxic chemicals to extract the recyclable materials, if they are ever actually recycled.

    There have been cases in the UK of recyclable waste that people have gone to the effort of separating just getting chucked in the landfill with everything else.



    Another example of green idiocy was greenpeace in the 80's slamming nuclear power at every opportunity. We now know that nuclear power is actually the 'greener' solution, or at least the lesser of evils, which I and many other could have told greenpeace 20 years ago, but at the time we would have been (and were) labeled 'horrible polluting monsters' for suggesting such a thing.
  • Reply 67 of 155
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by monstrosity View Post


    Just as an example of a possible reverse consequence (and this is only for the point of discussion)..



    The casing may have to be manufactured from multiple parts, increasing wastage, increased energy usage to make those parts.

    The recycling process may use much energy, and utilize toxic chemicals to extract the recyclable materials, if they are ever actually recycled.

    There have been cases in the UK of recyclable waste that people have gone to the effort of separating just getting chucked in the landfill with everything else.



    Another example of green idiocy was greenpeace in the 80's slamming nuclear power at every opportunity. We now know that nuclear power is actually the 'greener' solution, or at least the lesser of evils, which I and many other could have told greenpeace 20 years ago, but at the time we would have been labeled 'horrible polluting monsters' for suggesting such a thing.



    With nuclear power at least the radioactive waste is collected and stored (you could call it recycled). This process also uses energy but just dumping it in the ocean is not really a good alternative

    In my opinion the recycling of batteries is not so different from this. They contain heavy metals which are dangerous for the environment and people when directly exposed to. I believe it's common knowledge that the recycling of batteries is the better alternative than throwing them in the garbage.

    Also, I don't believe that adding the option on a device to replace a battery would be such a big waste of material and energy. If it would be, why would 99.9% of the portable devices allready have this option?
  • Reply 68 of 155
    I'm curious what you think most people do with old cell phones. Hint: they don't dispose of them "properly"... People don't dispose of CFL's properly either, or regular AA batteries either. Most people just pitch them in the trash and call it a day. Actually, now that I come to think of it this would actually INCREASE the # of improperly disposed of batteries. As it is now when a person is done with their phone a lot of people take their old phone into the store and switch it out (at least in the US) and that lets AT&T/Verizon/Sprint/et al take care of it. However, if you let everyone replace their own batteries with the cheapo one they buy off the internet they are just going to pitch the old one in the trash...



    The road to hell is paved with good intentions...
  • Reply 69 of 155
    monstrositymonstrosity Posts: 2,234member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by monkeystation View Post


    With nuclear power at least the radioactive waste is collected and stored (you could call it recycled). This process also uses energy but just dumping it in the ocean is not really a good alternative

    In my opinion the recycling of batteries is not so different from this. They contain heavy metals which are dangerous for the environment and people when directly exposed to. I believe it's common knowledge that the recycling of batteries is the better alternative than throwing them in the garbage.

    Also, I don't believe that adding the option on a device to replace a battery would be such a big waste of material and energy. If it would be, why would 99.9% of the portable devices allready have this option?



    It's not uncommon for 99.9% of the world to be wrong, I should know, I'm an atheist and a mac user. But yeah, sure, I'm just playing devils advocate on this one.

    But what I do disagree with is legislation such as this, because it will most definitely stifle innovation. There must be room for maneuver, to say "you cant do A, you must do B because its better" is wrong as all innovation with A is then halted.

    There may be (and probably is) equal if not better environmental solutions using method A that nobody has thought of, and if they DO think of them its now not possible to put the ideas into practice because of red tape, which is very hard to remove.

    A deposit on each iphone, with Apple footing the recycle bill, may or may not be a better solution, but we will never know thanks to the silly ole EU.



    Will fuel cells fall under the same legislation? and will it hamper the adoption of this technology into mobile phones? If history is anything to go by.... probably
  • Reply 70 of 155
    monstrositymonstrosity Posts: 2,234member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by bigmc6000 View Post


    The road to hell is paved with good intentions...



    I like the quote.
  • Reply 71 of 155
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by monstrosity


    From COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 2257/94...

    This is as someone else put it ""The regulation that Eurofanatics always deny exists"" which includes the lines...



    "free from malformation or abnormal curvature of the fingers"

    "defects of shape"

    http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/...4R2257:EN:HTML



    That link conveniently doesn't work, but the directive didn't ban anything - it just classified the fruit into classes: Class I bananas must be "free from malformation or abnormal curvature". And what is wrong with that? Class II bananas can be any shape you like. It's the same story for cucumbers and apples. If you buy Tesco Value banas, you'll probably find they are labled as class II - and strangely they are cheaper! Get over it!



    Back on topic, I'm glad to hear that someone's doing something to address this issue. A phone battery has a working lifespan of about two years of moderate use. Maximum. To manufacture something like a phone with all the precious resources it requires, and then chuck it away in two years because it is old fashioned or can't hold a charge is a shocking waste. I've had my mobile for 3 years maybe 4, and my ipod mini longer. I had to change the battery on the mini myself and it was fairly straightforward, but I can't imagine a novice doing it. On the phone, I just unclipped the back and put in a new battery I bought in Tottenham Court Road...
  • Reply 72 of 155
    teckstudteckstud Posts: 6,476member
    To all those who pounced on me for months and said the iPhone would never get nor need a replaceable battery- HA!
  • Reply 73 of 155
    solipsismsolipsism Posts: 25,726member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by teckstud View Post


    To all those who pounced on me for months and said the iPhone would never get a replaceable battery- HA!



    As usual, your comprehension of the topic is wanting.
  • Reply 74 of 155
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by solipsism View Post


    As usual, your comprehension of the topic is wanting.



    Funny....
  • Reply 75 of 155
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by vagvoba View Post


    You totally misunderstand the issue. It's not about the iPhone or the removable battery. The problem is that the EU should stay out of this very healthy competitive market and let the market/consumers decide what they want. The EU tries to over-regulate the free market by making non-sense rules.



    Aside from the fact most of the world are now actively managing economies to save them from total collapse -I'm not convinced markets work magically by themselves, without rules, morality or principles- environmentally this rule makes sense and is a logical and progressive step by the EU.



    It ensures that when products are recycled at the end of their life, the batteries can be removed so they don't end up in the environment. Likewise consumers are given the choice to extend the life of the product - that gives people more options, not less. Companies can't make this decision themselves as they can't guarantee their competitors will skimp or perhaps save money in the short term, but hand local governments the cost of disposal at their end of things. The regulation provides a level playing-field.



    I don't see Apple's insistence on sealing the battery into the device as particularly innovative. The fact you have to take it back to Apple, a third party or buy a special tool to replace the battery reminds me of the way we used to go to a jeweller to fix our clockwork watches, or replace watch batteries for that matter. That seems like a retrograde step.



    I'm sure Jonathan Ive or Apple can come up with a good design solution that works aesthetically. The claim they can't suggests they are trying to hookwink people so there's a faster product turn around and replacement cycle - not very green (but a lot to do with their bottom line).



    I look forward to iPod with a user replaceable battery. Who would've thunk it? What will they come up with next?
  • Reply 76 of 155
    teckstudteckstud Posts: 6,476member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by solipsism View Post


    As usual, your comprehension of the topic is wanting.



    Just because you can't admit that you're wrong on the topic don't take it out on me with your warped distortions. It was the NY Times not me that said "Unless Apple does something about its battery problem, the iPhone will always be more a toy than a tool. "

    Sorry- you loose.
  • Reply 77 of 155
    wizard69wizard69 Posts: 13,377member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by TenoBell View Post


    I agree this ruling makes a few assumptions that are not clealy backed with evidence.



    You should not be surprised as much of the regulation in the EU is with out scientific evidence. Even the RoHS is of questionable value as there is little in the way of evidence that lead on PC boards was harming anybody.



    Now I'm not against improving tech and making the world a better place but you need real alternatives before passing laws. As it is nothing has effectively replaced lead solder. So now we have more electronics going into the waste stream, sad!

    Quote:



    Do people remove the battery before they discard a phone?



    Not likely! Moreso people discard phones by throwing them into a recycling box.



    Besides that who is saying that people can't replace an iPhone battery? The directions are right on the net. This sort of regulation is a fine example of government treating people like imbiciles.



    Well that and the issue of pervasive corruption in the EU. I have no doubt that some of Apples competition is behind this.



    Quote:



    Do electronics with integrated batteries end up in the trash more often than electronics with removable batteries?



    I'd say no. In the case of Apple products I'd say it is less than average. Mainly because people like the iPod line and tend to keep the product or resell.



    As a side note I don't like Apples integrated battery approach for other reasons. One big issue is that if you discharge the battery you are basically screwed until you can plug into a recharger. This unfortunately eliminates iPod Touch and IPhone from a lot of potential industrial uses. On the otherhand I still believe Apple has the right to market it's product as it sees fit. As others have already pointed out iPhone is a more durable device due to it's construction.





    Dave
  • Reply 78 of 155
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by w00master View Post


    Imho, I'm hoping the EU passes this. I know I'm among the minority here, but imho there's no good reason why Apple has never had replaceable batteries for the iPods and iPhones. iPhone & iPods should have had replaceable batteries A LONG D*MN TIME AGO.



    Disagree with me all you want folks, but come back to me a year after this happens and then tell me if this was a good or bad thing.



    There's simply no excuse for Apple on this one. Flame away folks.



    Being that you are such an expert at industrial design, waste recycling, product engineering, etc, I am sure that you have great ideas. :-(



    Did it ever occur to ANYONE that rather than making cheap throw-away JUNK like most of the phone manufacturers, Apple makes long lasting quality stuff that is designed to help the environment. You use their product over and over and over and over and then if there is an issue, you return the product to them so they can safely remove and process the battery rather than let you (the industry expert user) throw it in the trash.



    Hmmm, just a thought. PS. while I applaud people trying to make things better, there are way too many people today just trying to make things SOUND like they are getting better. Many times, things that SOUND good really suck when applied across the board with out reason and expertise. Like this EU thing. Maybe they should list WHY they want this law enacted so that it can be correctly ignored when it does not apply. Just a reasonable thought. :-)



    en
  • Reply 79 of 155
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Lictor View Post


    Will they also do that *past* the end of life of the product?



    Who cares if the life is past or prologue. As long it has been paid for, Apple (or whomever they authorize) would be compelled to remove and dispose of it (once) on behalf of whomever asking for it when they ask for it.
  • Reply 79 of 155
    teckstudteckstud Posts: 6,476member
    In addition- how would you throw out a MacBook Air? Would you need to get the battery out with a can opener ?
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