Apple Can Now Repair Bottom Microphone on iPhone 15 and 15 Plus

[Shirasaki]

You left out the part where it is possible to repair through authorized channels. I actually do prefer to be able to repair my own equipment, but I understand why they would want to serialize some key parts in the security chain. What I find strange is that some people can only see black and white, and like to hyperbolize everything.

Also strange is the fact that some people didn’t seem to get that the original post you responded to was sarcasm, even though it was pretty obvious and the OP said as much in the comment two posts before yours.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/apple-can-now-repair-bottom-microphone-on-iphone-15-and-15-plus.2403993/post-32545870

Authorised channels are no different from apples in terms of how it’s being done, sometimes even harder to deal with as they are only sponsored by Apple, but not working directly for Apple.

Serialise key parts for security is acceptable by most. Serialise even every capacitor and resistor is another matter entirely. I’m not saying Apple is doing it, but Apple would very likely do it given the opportunity.

Sarcasm is tricky to deliver based on the viewer base, in this case, reader base. There Is also a chance OP wants to walk back his comment by saying “no, it’s just sarcasm”. Call me hyperbole, but the world is very much not black and white, even though some issues, like repairability, is pretty much black and white: you either support or not support it.

 

[bgillander]

Authorised channels are no different from apples in terms of how it’s being done, sometimes even harder to deal with as they are only sponsored by Apple, but not working directly for Apple.

Serialise key parts for security is acceptable by most. Serialise even every capacitor and resistor is another matter entirely. I’m not saying Apple is doing it, but Apple would very likely do it given the opportunity.

Sarcasm is tricky to deliver based on the viewer base, in this case, reader base. There Is also a chance OP wants to walk back his comment by saying “no, it’s just sarcasm”. Call me hyperbole, but the world is very much not black and white, even though some issues, like repairability, is pretty much black and white: you either support or not support it.

Just FYI, I fully support repairability, and stuck with my 2011 mini and MacBook Pro and stopped buying new Macs for 8 years after Apple started making user upgrade of RAM and HD difficult. Only Apple being able to repair it does not make it unrepairable, though, and the lack of user repairability is actually enough of a pain/issue that you do not need to exaggerate and say that it is unfixable and it just goes in the scrap. I have done (and prefer) my own repairs, but I have also had Apple (and, quite long ago, authorized repair centres) repair my equipment. It doesn’t just turn to scrap (except, possibly when it drops off the “currently supported” list, which is another issue, as my 2011s still work, and I’ve upgraded RAM and SSD, but it’s not likely my M1 Air will have the same chance to be functional for over 12 years.)

I simply found your initial question implied that serialization had no impact on security or theft appeal, and that struck me as an oversimplification. If you go back and check, I ended my reply with a question mark, because none of this is as simply one sided as many try to make it out to be. Even you, while saying it is black and white, agreed that serializability key parts is acceptable, and that is a shade of grey.

That said, if Apple did actually start to serialize every capacitor and resistor, it would make their own production workflow almost impossible, and they would have to be completely insane (though if they really did add new features to the AirPod Pro 2 without renaming it, maybe Apple are dumber than I realized.)

 

[Shirasaki]

the lack of user repairability is actually enough of a pain/issue that you do not need to exaggerate and say that it is unfixable and it just goes in the scrap

I didnt quote the rest of your message but It’s just another example of word being hard to interpret from text alone. As you already see, I staunchly hate anything that’s against repairability, and no, I don’t mean users who opens their phone without knowing what they are doing. What I mean is users seeking for repair from third party repair shops for a lower repair bill than Apple quotes them, or in some cases, refuse to perform the repair. For those people to make broken device working again without the hassle of setting up a brand new one, having the option to let someone professional and skilled to repair the device to working order is a far better option than going through Apple, got refused or be told to buy a new device.

That said, if Apple did actually start to serialize every capacitor and resistor, it would make their own production workflow almost impossible, and they would have to be completely insane

Being Apple, they are more than happy to go down extreme length just to make certain other people (no, I don’t mean just thieves) life miserable and hellish. On iPhone 15 Pro Max, they have found a way to essentially serialise the back glass. I will not be surprised if they ARE insane and serialise resistors and capacitors if there is a way to do so.

 

[bgillander]

Being Apple, they are more than happy to go down extreme length just to make certain other people (no, I don’t mean just thieves) life miserable and hellish. On iPhone 15 Pro Max, they have found a way to essentially serialise the back glass. I will not be surprised if they ARE insane and serialise resistors and capacitors if there is a way to do so.

Sorry, I missed that back glass feature. Can you clarify the serialization process, or link an article? That sounds very interesting. Thanks!

As for the serialization of all low level parts, I guess anything is possible, but the overhead involved (the pain to Apple themselves) would make it seem improbable to me, if not strictly impossible.