Apple Researching Methods to Detect 'Consumer Abuse' in Portable Devices

[Ericatomars]

WOW.. this is really the stupidest thing, I've ever heard so basically I wanna thank all those people that abused the system that got a new phone after they got drunk the night before and dropped it in someone drink, and those that dont know how to take care of anything..

So basically now if you jailbreak your phone your screwed, drop it and it cracks your screwed, and of course anyother things that would happen to anyother phone one may use...

 

[VicMacs]

Upper case replace that took 3 weeks and they claimed the MacBook hadn't been given to them in the first place. They had to track it down.

Dell on-site next business day is a wonder to have when you need it and are willing to pay for it. Working in education was great.

Apple has this on site service, but you have to pay for it, becoming an Apple Technician is not easy nor is it cheap, I deal with customers abusing their Macs everyday, this patent is great, it will save Apple some huge amounts of money, theyll save like a billion hard drives and optical drives to start with... then come hinges and logic boards... I stop people in their tracks when they spill something, I just tell them get a new computer and buy some keyboard cover, or lets exchange the part$! food and drinks are not to be around computers.... silly rabbit....

people need Computer Usage Learning Course 101, when they get to 102 they should be elegible to buy an Apple Computer.

:

 

[Eidorian]

Apple has this on site service, but you have to pay for it

For the Mac Pro or the iMac if you really, really arm twist Apple.

Otherwise it's in store or to the Laguna based mothership.

 

[talkin73]

So much hostility against Apple for trying to protect themselves from having to make warranty repairs for damage caused by the user. People have this entitlement attitude with their Apple products where they believe Apple should repair their laptop/iPhone/iPod if they drop it, pour water on it, or otherwise cause damage to it. This isn't actually how warranties work. Shocking, I know. I don't blame Apple and in fact, encourage them to implement these sensors. If they don't have to pay as much for user-caused damage, their operating margins would be higher and they could lower the prices for the rest of us.

I couldn't agree more. Our country has reach epic proportions of the "Me! Me! Me!" mindset. The only people that have anything to worry about are the folks that want to be able to damage their products and have the rest of us absorb the cost of their bogus return, "Gee, Apple Genius' I don't know how it happened?!?!"... and the people who do this know exactly who they are! Apple stands to gain nothing by adding sensors or any technology that overcalls user damage because myriad YouTube videos will get promptly posted demonstrated this. Adding features that better assist them in denying inappropriate warranty claims sounds like a win for every honest user. Sadly, this is more a testament about our society than anything else... technological innovation driven wholely by consumer dishonesty

Before any of the woodbe con-artists out there decide to attempt slogging us down an igdignant "Well, Apple is a big, greedy corporation!" shadow path to justify their behavior, I recommend you don't even go there. The "I'm just sticking it to the man!" mantra is both shallow and self-serving. The only "man" you stick it to is the next customer in line because those are the people absorbing the cost of your greed

I can just see the ultra-simplified warranty claim process of the future... cue some nervous guy talking to a skeptical-looking Apple Genius at the store, sputtering about how he has no idea why his iPhone 3GSPx2000 isn't working. The Genius plugs the iPhone into a cable which projects an image on a huge flatscreen for the entire store to see... it pictures the scamming customer caught in the act throwing his iPhone on the ground after getting a call from his girlfriend who dumped him. Also included is a display screen showing the velocity of the iPhone, angle of impact, and level of ambient light in the room at the time of the incident. Warranty claim denied!!!

 

[AbblePC]

imagine...

John Dick and Jane are on a hiking trip. John, while walking with the small group, decides to check his trusty iPhone for map coordinates and pulls out his device while walking the upward trail to the already routed course the iPhone laid out for them earlier. They used it seeking the best way to the days prize, a buried cache at the top of the mountain.

Jane and Dick are still walking at a hurried pace as John lags behind and fails to see the ledges loose stone he is about to step on. He intently looks at the device through the sun glare on its reflective surface and finds that they are indeed making good time and also have only 500 yards to the treasure.

The day was already beginning to overcast and thunder storms were appearing evident john thought as he was also checking weather using an app from the iPhone. The Sun was still there, only appearing less through clouds at certain intervals. When it happens, his foot plants directly on the stone and instantly is tossed over the edge with the help of gravity and his already forward movement where the trail curved there.

It all happens so fast that neither had noticed Johns almost instant disappearance, and Jane was listening to her playlist on her iPod Touch and discussing the days music she had planned for their cache finding trip. They turn to ask how close they were to the intended target, they noticed that John was not there. Instead he was 20 feet below on another less sturdy ledge, lying on his back. They run back to find him there conscious but waning and confused as he must have been obviously hurt from the fall and may not be able to help himself. It's become almost instantly obvious to Dick and Jane that he will indeed need them to help him and fast. Only if they could call for help but they had not brought their phones and no one else was in sight for the last few hours they were on the mountain side.

Yelling to John they asked if he could get on the iPhone to make a call for help. John half dazed and still finding his bearings gropes about for his iPhone he previously was holding in his hand while still on the trail above.

He is able to see the device lying against a rock and immediately can see that its lying there almost facing him and notes the crack on its face but otherwise looks to be in one piece. Thinking he can just rotate his body about to reach for the device, he attempts and feels instant and aggravating pain even more quickly indicating he is hurt to the point his body isn't going to allow such movement and lies his head back on the dirt in frustration.

He feels his left ear where the Bluetooth headset was last and expecting to feel it there to make use of its maybe life saving attempt at invoking the call using the iPhone it was paired to. Nothing, only a beep, which indicating normally it was ready for a voice prompt or that it was prepared to function like usual. He holds it again pressing harder and longer this time waiting for the iPhone to prompt for a voice command and again nothing.

He thinks back, wondering if he actually left the default settings on his iPhone for "auto disfunction on abuse", is it actually powered, was it damaged in the fall? He can't tell as he looks again eagerly, it lays there looking back at him, its bright face as he sees only the sun above peering back at him through the devices surface. It appears promising as it stands at its ready looking somewhat normal but otherwise cracked corner.

Dick remembers he has his iPod Touch and thinking intuitively that perhaps he can interface with John's iPhone and invoke an emergency call using his Apple device, surely this is something do-able he states to Jane. Jane too has her iPod Touch and looks into the devices settings to see if this is possible. Both desperately looking into their Touches for something and having no WiFi to attempt any networking with Johns iPhone begin to feel the need for such a thing and how can it not be possible with both being such capable devices too. If only they had use of the Bluetooth to pair with Johns, perhaps then they could do such a thing, "but that would only be possible" Dick states to Jane if Apple allowed an app to communicate between the devices although possible in theory, John would also have to have this app installed on his iPhone for both to function together. Since its not something Apple already includes as a standard capability within each unit.

Meanwhile John is starting to feel even more agitated and is too wondering what he can do and if only his iPhone was indicating something to show it was functioning. Thinking of a way to get to the device he notices something on his cheek and immediately thinks "No!" not rain, not now. Thinking again of the iPhone and its possibility of certainly shutting down if it thinks it is getting abused from water or moisture.

He also thinks of the hot sun hitting the iPhone and hopes it doesn't shut down, if not from the fall but from heat sensing and if not from that, certainly the impending rain wont help either.

What could the three do if not individually but as a group all having Apple devices, to make something possible to make any attempt at contacting emergency services.

Could Apple include within the standards of "shut down on abuse" ask owner if this is an emergency - is someone hurt? "Would you like a call placed to Emergency Services or 911?"... If so, could they include options to allow the end user to set the iPhone to automatically call emergency services within a set time limit after an "abuse" function and only after the device was done protecting itself? Should the phone even protect itself over first helping the owner or its situation? How fast of a time frame between shutting down the device does it run diagnostics and return itself to a "ready state"? How would it indicate this to the person if they are unable to reach it as john cant, which brings up a point that the iPhone has no power indicator to the user other than when touching the screen.

Could more devices be made that normally communicate with iPhone's to be made to have features such as invoke emergency call or indicate function or connectivity to the other device or prepare and run diagnostics and or show battery life on both devices simultaneously either through the phones interface or the communicating device. Can Apple make the iPod Touch or other Apple devices to have a "standard" bluetooth communication for such purposes. Even if it was something as a remote control from another less capable device or keyboard function to make use of the iPhones communications via cell network or otherwise even if only in an emergency situation?

Many possibilities here some that I could discuss in length but not without taking entire forum pages to go over all the circumstances or situations this one function of "Abuse Protection" that Apple could easily implement even into existing iPhone models making use of the compass and accelerometor and such.

What do you think? Is it something that Apple should be personally responsible for implementing into its possible plans of using this feature to allow intervention of the device protecting itself and allowing the user to still force it to function for emergency situations? How could this also possibly be abused by Apple, Hacking or other 3rd party apps or functions? Is there more that Apple should be including to make this a less obtrusive function?

Many questions many possibilities but looking at it from a technicians point of view as I have, it seems good business sense but ethically AI is not all that well at thinking after programming and hardware implementation in these uncertain situations as I attempted to lay out above.

I have seen many "abused" electronics in my years of working with everything from consumer portable devices to business class hardware and how easily people or "acts of God" as some manufactures have stated within their warranties put it and how this effects warranty claims that would other wise not be covered or a responsibility of the manufacture. But when you have a communication device such as the iPhone and its popularity, disabling it with somewhat automated and less than human intelligence when coming to making a shut down situation and how, when, why or where not to do this is not an easy task. There would have to be set procedures that only through great experimentation would allow an outcome of a device that would be able to make a better "decisive" good outcome for all parties involved.

Does i in iPhone mean "I" or "Intelligent"?

 

[killerrobot]

So I got John, Dick, Jane and I for intelligent...

Maybe I'll try reading that post in the morning when I'm sober.

 

[Evangelion]

Zune HD here I come...

Why? because with the Zune you could abuse the hardware and lie to the company to give you a replacement?

It's pretty damn simple: If your computer breaks down during normal use, nothing changes. You are covered under the warranty. If the hardware breaks because you abuse it, you are not covered by the warranty. So what are you whining about here? Do you whine because you want to throw your hardware around, and still get it replaced? Do you whine because you want to lie to the company and get away with it?

If anything, this research (if the ever actually implement it) improves the service-level for those people with genuine problems, since Apple doesn't have to waste their time fixing computers for people who treaty their machines like crap.

I said this before and I'll say it again: only people who could get annoyed by this are the people who abuse their hardware, and then lie to the company in hopes to getting it fixed/replaced. Are YOU one of those liars?

 

[knightlie]

WOW.. this is really the stupidest thing, I've ever heard so basically I wanna thank all those people that abused the system that got a new phone after they got drunk the night before and dropped it in someone drink, and those that dont know how to take care of anything..

So basically now if you jailbreak your phone your screwed, drop it and it cracks your screwed, and of course anyother things that would happen to anyother phone one may use...

Of course you're "screwed" if you drop it and crack it - that is not covered by Apple's warranty. Why should the warranty cover your clumsiness?

Presumably all those voting negative to this want the freedom to get a free replacement when they spill beer on their MacBooks, or drive over their iPhones rather than pay for it themselves. Funny how those guys get a bad response with their "I spilled tea on my MB, what do I do??" threads, but when Apple takes action against this it gets voted negative.

I said this before and I'll say it again: only people who could get annoyed by this are the people who abuse their hardware, and then lie to the company in hopes to getting it fixed/replaced. Are YOU one of those liars?

+1.

 

[Thex1138]

...as One Rumour User once said...... Viva La Jobsy!

 

[hugothomsen]

On what? The Zune?

We're talking about hardware abuse. From these forums you have probably seen all the people that talk about Apple giving them a new phone for something that the user obviously did. Why should they be getting new phones or iPods or whatever? It's not included in the warranty.

Apple shouldn't have to pay for the stupidity of a user. You break your device at no fault of Apple, then you are SOL. The only issues come from when they blame obvious defects on unrelated damages, but we'll have to see where this goes.

I think it's a good idea. It'll put less strain on Apple to replace unwarranted damages and allow them to operate at a lower cost. Who knows, maybe we'll see a drop in costs. Doubtful, but a man's gotta dream!

Yeah - as a company, you have to protect yourself against customer abuse. Sad that society is becoming more and more litigative - we asked for this, when users abuse warranties, companies protect themselves, and that hurts all of us. I think it is fair enough that Apple protects themselves - that being said, I have to reconsider what I buy : Apple devices are very expensive, compared with the PC world, and Apple extended warranties even more so. So the question is, do I compromise with my demand for quality, and buy cheaper stuff that I can just throw away and replace when they break, or do I accept that my total cost of ownership will incur more cost and risk because I do want an Apple device ? The jury is out on that one, but I think that when I take a hard look at what I earn and compare that to my computing needs, I sway towards the viable financial solution ... back to PCs for me. I know they break, and that they are crap compared to Macs, but at least they are cheap, so I can work it into my budget to replace at regular intervals. Bad for the environment, bad for me as a user, bad for Apple, but hey ho ...

 

[Xgkkp]

Actually, some of this sounds pretty useful.

If there is a sensor that instantly cuts power to the device on detecting contact with water, then that could save the device from frying.

 

[Boxer757]

The patent application also suggests that the device could turn off individual components or the entire device in response to an abuse event in order to reduce the potential for damage to the device.

Article Link: Apple Researching Methods to Detect 'Consumer Abuse' in Portable Devices

I do not like that idea. I get into a situation where my iPhone gets roughed up and so it automatically shuts off components? What if I need to use the phone for an emergency? What if the damage is from a car accident? I can't use my phone to call for help because Apple wanted to be sure it wouldn't be damaged further?

I think this technology has some usefulness but they should be very careful how they apply it...

 

[doctor-don]

check again

If Microsoft would do this everyone would go crazy, but since it is Apple.. I'm sure nobody will complain

Micro$oft has been doing this for years with its software, so it is not too far-fetched to believe they might have done something like this with their hardware.

WAIT! They don't make computers!

 

[doctor-don]

Treat it like YOU paid for it.

Yeah - as a company, you have to protect yourself against customer abuse. Sad that society is becoming more and more litigative - we asked for this, when users abuse warranties, companies protect themselves, and that hurts all of us. I think it is fair enough that Apple protects themselves - that being said, I have to reconsider what I buy : Apple devices are very expensive, compared with the PC world, and Apple extended warranties even more so. So the question is, do I compromise with my demand for quality, and buy cheaper stuff that I can just throw away and replace when they break, or do I accept that my total cost of ownership will incur more cost and risk because I do want an Apple device ? The jury is out on that one, but I think that when I take a hard look at what I earn and compare that to my computing needs, I sway towards the viable financial solution ... back to PCs for me. I know they break, and that they are crap compared to Macs, but at least they are cheap, so I can work it into my budget to replace at regular intervals. Bad for the environment, bad for me as a user, bad for Apple, but hey ho ...

Buy what you believe to be the best that you can afford. Do not expose the computer / phone / mp3 player to what might damage it. Why pay good money for planned obsolescence?

Work it into your budget to buy the best, and then work it into your lifestyle to take care of what you have spent your hard-earned dollars to buy.

 

[Journojulz]

Zune HD here I come...

And I am sure you will get whatever you deserve.

If anyone has a pc out there and wants a laugh - download the zune palyer hardware and try to get it to play video full screen.

 

[xhambonex]

This is where knowing an Apple employee comes in hand. I also have a lady friend who flirted her way into a super discounted ipod.

I've gone through 7 iPods in total since the original mini. They have always been pretty good at replacing my stuff for free. And I continue to buy their products because of great customer service, hopefully this doesn't change anything. I'm already annoyed with my choices in notebooks, glass covered screen I'm talking about you.

 

[Veri]

So, I go into an Apple store and report my iProduct as having a broken iPart. They spend two minutes checking the iSensor and declare that it has sensed that I broke the iPart. I leave the store.

I walk back into the Apple store and explain that my iProduct has two faults. Firstly, the iPart is broken. Secondly, the iSensor is wrongly reporting that I broke the iPart.

The iSensor is just another iPart. It can malfunction like all other parts: indeed, because it has some mechanical or chemical component to it, it is a lot more likely to malfunction than the main electronics of the device. If Apple claims that the iSensor cannot malfunction, then it is with certainty denying valid warranty claims, which is precisely what has been claimed as Apple's intention in fitting the iSensor. If Apple admits that the iSensor can fail as any other part - and why would it not fail in a genuinely problematic device that may have not passed stringent quality control in the first place? - then its output certainly has no more validity than the word of the consumer.

To make honest consumers aware of the latter, all that is needed is a single regularly updated site to demonstrate flaws in all these "abuse detection" mechanisms. The iPhone is a general consumer device built to general consumer specifications, not a military or law enforcement specification tool for gathering environmental data for use in a court of law.

 

[ViViDboarder]

I do not like that idea. I get into a situation where my iPhone gets roughed up and so it automatically shuts off components? What if I need to use the phone for an emergency? What if the damage is from a car accident? I can't use my phone to call for help because Apple wanted to be sure it wouldn't be damaged further?

I think this technology has some usefulness but they should be very careful how they apply it...

My MBP already does this to protect the HDD from shock. We're talking disabling things to prevent damage here. Shutting off power on a phone doesn't protect it from shock.

If it was dropped in a pool (or anything wet), maybe the phone could shut off and refuse to turn on until dry in order to make sure that you had a working phone when you needed it. Rather than just frying and never being able to make a call? Savvy?

 

[*LTD*]

Until we see it in action, how it i checked, how it will be implemented, this is all just a big guessing-game and people getting stirred up for no reason.

 

[Eidorian]

Until we see it in action, how it i checked, how it will be implemented, this is all just a big guessing-game and people getting stirred up for no reason.

That's how it normally is with Apple.

 

[Bjohnson33]

Actually, some of this sounds pretty useful.

If there is a sensor that instantly cuts power to the device on detecting contact with water, then that could save the device from frying.

That's a good point. I think too many people are jumping to the conclusion that Apple are doing this to annoy or cheat their customers. I think we should wait until something actually happens before we start flying off the handle.

 

[*LTD*]

That's a good point. I think too many people are jumping to the conclusion that Apple are doing this to annoy or cheat their customers. I think we should wait until something actually happens before we start flying off the handle.

Makes sense. Just what the doctor ordered.

 

[crackbookpro]

That's a good point. I think too many people are jumping to the conclusion that Apple are doing this to annoy or cheat their customers. I think we should wait until something actually happens before we start flying off the handle.

I agree with you, but at the same time... I would like Apple to implement a temperature/safety sensor that distinguishes abnormal temperature change (or internal malfunctions) that could harm the Apple product. In my opinion, they should work on that particular sensor before they work on a consumer abuse sensor!!! Personally, I truly believe they will make their consumer have a different feeling when you purchase an Apple product with a CONSUMER ABUSE sensor.

I think it is a bad idea for Apple. First, you work out your own kinks....When you do that, then you can entitle yourself apple to be making a 'consumer abuse' sensor. With too many faults already in Apple products, I really think they should be worrying about making their products for the consumer. Right now, the way I have been reading the patent application and article - they are defintely worrying about themselves.

I'm not getting a good vibe here! I think it will hurt them, more than help them. My perception of Apple is changing, but on the whole, I am going to wait until I know everything about this particular situation to make a clear decision on what is right and wrong for Apple

CrackBookPro

 

[PrismaticRealms]

Sounds like a good idea to me. Should take care of dishonest people trying to return something that they broke, claiming the problem was a defect.

 

[kdarling]

The patent is not titled, "Happy joy-joy system to ensure warranties are honored".

It's called "CONSUMER ABUSE DETECTION SYSTEM AND METHOD".

"One key benefit provided by the embodiments described herein is the capability to determine whether or not consumer abuse has occurred in a given device.

This is particularly useful when considered alongside warranty and guarantee policies which are important aspects in the sale of products. As discussed above, warranties are meant to provide an acknowledgment by the manufacturer or vendor that a given device is being sold free from defects. However, if a consumer later discovers that the device does indeed have a defect, the manufacturer or vendor, under the terms of the warranty policy, will generally replace or repair the device 10 at little or no charge to the consumer. Warranty policies, however, generally exclude, often explicitly, damage or failure due to consumer abuse.

Therefore, aspects of the present invention are particularly useful when a consumer returns a product knowing that the failure is due to damage caused by consumer abuse, whether the abuse is intentional or not, but attempts to pass off the return as a defect of manufacture. "

On the good side, the patent suggests that if a self-test passes after an abuse incident, it could be inferred that the abuse didn't cause any problems other than cosmetic. Of course, if they were going to listen to tests, then why have an abuse system at all?

As for being a unique idea... sheesh. For decades, casino systems have had abuse monitors built in. You wouldn't believe what people use to try to influence slot machines. Hammers, magnets, even cattle prods and Tazers. The reason we used capacitive screens in fact, was to avoid knife abuse on resistive versions.