Apple Bans iFixit Developer Account and Removes App After Apple TV Teardown

[Rogifan]

This is incredibly petty of Apple. It's not like iFixIt showing us the guts of the Apple TV hurt them in any way.

It sounds like this is them "making an example out of" iFixIt to scare other devs into following the agreements to the letter. Still, pretty petty in my opinion. iFixIt contributes a lot to the community.

IFixit knew exactly what they were doing. It seems they just wanted this for publicity. And how can their app be "riddled with bugs" because of iOS 9? It sounds to me like they couldn't be bothered to update their app to be compatible with the latest software but want to make it sound like iOS 9 is the problem.

 

[WRX-SRQ]

They didn't do anything that hurts Apple. They received a developer unit, then posted a teardown. They likely reassembled it and it probably still works fine, so I doubt they "destroyed" something they were given for free to show the teardown.

If this had been a free pre-release iPhone and they had filmed drop tests and other obvious things to show they only got it to destroy it and not to use it for development, that would be different. But all they did was take it apart and snap some photos.

I believe strongly in the mantra of "If an activity doesn't hurt anyone, it shouldn't be disallowed."

Perhaps this unit was to be sent back to Apple after the testing period. Regardless though, the device is technically Apple's and to receive one, you have to abide by their rules, hence the NDA. iFixit, as we have clearly identified, ignored this rule and has owned up to that. So stop defending them.

 

[vintimus]

Apple did the right thing. Had they waited until the new aTV was released to post, or did the tear down on a production model, not an issue I think. There was an NDA, which they even said in their statement "got tossed over the shoulder."

 

[Elbon]

"the app was outdated and riddled with bugs caused by iOS 9"

Nice attempt at a slam. If the app was outdated and buggy, it was the developer's fault, not Apple's.

 

[cmChimera]

I believe strongly in the mantra of "If an activity doesn't hurt anyone, it shouldn't be disallowed."

Who is "anyone" in your example? Clearly, Apple feels like this hurts them, which is exactly why they created a non-disclosure agreement. If you disclose information anyway, then you are hurting Apple's interests. They have a right to keep things private if they wish to.

 

[tomnavratil]

Really? I bet you give your life for Apple. The Holy Grail.

How is that relevant? How many NDAs have you signed? I've signed pretty serious NDAs covering strategic information and I would never even think about disclosing that information, especially not for profit's sake. They should have known better.

 

[tombiscuit]

Way to totally contort the story to meet your agenda. This has nothing to do with repairing and reusing and everything to do with not releasing information about pre-release equipment after signing an agreement saying you wouldn't.

 

[tito2020]

Apple "Teared Down" on them

 

[MikhailT]

Also, don't forget that the AppleTV devkits were free (after a $1 handling fee).

There are zero excuses for what iFixit did and they've admitted it, there's nothing else to say. Apple responded correctly (they could've sue them and win as well) and iFixit will never get any more devkits from Apple.

Frankly, this will hurt iFixit more in the long run. I would not send them any hardware if they do not respect the NDAs.

 

[GoodWatch]

They've broken the NDA for an unreleased product, they are a big company now, they should really know better, what did they think? Getting extra views and ads money through violating the NDA, not cool.

Yes, poor, poor Apple. With >200 billion in the bank they are really, really hurt by the 'extra money' generated by iFixit. Man, this is 1984 times 100!

 

[Rogifan]

how petty of apple.

Yes because iFixit couldn't wait until AppleTV was available for sale to do their teardown, they just had to do it the minute they got a developer unit. And why are they asking for a developer unit in the first place? I don't going to be developing an app for it.

 

[WRX-SRQ]

iFixIt is part of quite a nascent movement of makers and fixers. There's a groundswell building up of people who aren't happy with the disposable culture we have here in the west.

This movement may come to nothing, who knows, but it'd be a mistake to write off iFixIt as a bunch of cranks or geeky specialists pursuing a narrow agenda.

I think iFixIt is invaluable in exposing how Apple puts its hardware together, and showing that it again goes against this tide of people wanting to fix, repair and reuse, rather than dispose of. Who knows, maybe Apple might like to tune-in and take onboard some of the criticisms rather than taking such a hard line. Maybe this is why Apple banned them -- they can't handle the truth!

Like 4% (completely made that number up) of the iPhone owning population have probably never even heard of iFixit. That site is a nerd haven and only caters to them. Normies don't care what they do or how a phone comes apart. They are as useful as Will it Blend.

 

[drewyboy]

Ban this, Ban that.... Apple the Locked Down Walled Garden.

Certainly no surprise but more of a blatant in your face thing.

("thing" replacing the word I really wanted to use )

Freedom?

Oh please, it's called a contract. Deal with. Just like if you break any contract you make in your life, there are consequences. "Yeah, my mortgage, I just don't think I'm going to do that anymore." See how that one goes.

 

[matjamca]

I have no sympathy whatsoever. They agreed to an NDA and broke that NDA. They even acknowledge that themselves.

Also, to blame iOS 9 for 'breaking' their app and causing them to consider removing it from the App Store anyway, is, in my opinion a feeble attempt to save face.

 

[modemthug]

That's completely untrue and is only your point of view. If Apple had iFixit on their proverbial **** list they wouldn't have selected them to receive a dev unit at all. The people who received one where picked, by Apple, so your argument holds no water. Stop trying to make Apple the villain here, iFixit screwed up by not honoring the NDA, which they clearly have admitted.

Everything someone posts in a forum is their point of view, that's the whole point.

I admire Apple for standing their ground, but being punitive is immature and unbecoming of a big company, particularly one that always claims to be on high moral ground.

 

[SgtPepper12]

Sounds like they knew exactly what they were getting into. I don't really see that Apple had any other choice. They knowingly violated the NDA, and that's the consequence. What was Apple supposed to do anyway?

 

[adam9c1]

I did not know ifixit app existed. :-(
I do like the site.
They should have known better.
At least wait until the device is available to the masses.

 

[tomnavratil]

Yes, poor, poor Apple. With >200 billion in the bank they are really, really hurt by the 'extra money' generated by iFixit. Man, this is 1984 times 100!

This has absolutely nothing to do with Apple's cash at all. iFixit generated that cash based on the NDA they have violated and technically, they didn't even apologise for it. NDAs are very common in business world where strategic and tactical information is shared all the time. This has nothing to do with sympathy, if Apple broke an NDA with Samsung or Microsoft, it would be their fault. In this time, this is all on iFixit, they have no ground to stand on whatsoever.

 

[drewyboy]

Yes, poor, poor Apple. With >200 billion in the bank they are really, really hurt by the 'extra money' generated by iFixit. Man, this is 1984 times 100!

What does what Apple has earned have anything to do with respecting an NDA they signed? So let me get this right, you're saying depending on how much a company has in the bank, will respectively show whether or not you will abide by the contract you signed with them?

Sorry pal, you missed your occupy wall-street mentality by a few years.

 

[639051]

This was just dumb of iFixit. They have a solid business and they did not need to do this.

 

[WRX-SRQ]

Everything someone posts in a forum is their point of view, that's the whole point.

I admire Apple for standing their ground, but being punitive is immature and unbecoming of a big company, particularly one that always claims to be on high moral ground.

Opinions fall into the gray area, there is no gray area here. Did iFixit sign an NDA to get the Apple TV? Yes, did they violate the contract they signed, Yes. Did they knowingly violate the contract and not care, Yes, they said they did.

So Apple, was in the right and correctly disciplined the offender.

Again, there is no wavering here. Apple simply dealt with an issue in the appropriate manner. Period.

 

[Shlooky]

iFixit must respect the NDA. So they deserve what happened to them.

 

[Digital Skunk]

I usually don't go full bore in regards to Apple's decisions but iFixit should've known better. Should've just waited until they purchased a unit not under NDA.

 

[Bryan Bowler]

Yes, poor, poor Apple. With >200 billion in the bank they are really, really hurt by the 'extra money' generated by iFixit. Man, this is 1984 times 100!

Obviously, you're missing the entire point. Your post clearly displays your jealousy, self-pity, and insecurity. It has nothing to do with money, it has to do with not following the Non-Disclosure Agreement which is in-place to protect Apple's intellectual and physical property.

 

[Rogifan]

I have no sympathy whatsoever. They agreed to an NDA and broke that NDA. They even acknowledge that themselves.

Also, to blame iOS 9 for 'breaking' their app and causing them to consider removing it from the App Store anyway, is, in my opinion a feeble attempt to save face.

This is a site that still dings companies for using pentalobe screws even though one can easily purchase the proper screwdriver. Why they still matter to people is beyond me. Plus their teardowns are usually full of snark so it's clear they're just looking for page views.