Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

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

Peace said:
Now THIS one goes too far.
Click to expand...
How so? If they're actually testing for those things legitimately it would allow them to help in some cases when something happened that looks like abuse, but isn't actually abuse. Liquid damage, extreme heat, and extreme shock are cases of abuse for all electronic manufacturers.

I take issue with what they're doing in the app store, but things like this are just fine. They've already got one liquid abuse test in many of their devices.
 
Sad news for people with sweaty hands. Apple can in such a case say: You've exposed our product to too much water, so it's not part of our warranty. Yeah, I see the headlines coming XD
 
the vj said:
I have been sending my apple products to repair several times 4 years after the warranty expires and without apple care by just photoshoping the receipts.
Click to expand...

photoshopping the receipts? I believe what you just described is called "fraud" and it's most definitely illegal. I hope someone defrauds money from you. you certainly deserve it.
 
acidfast7 said:
Until you idiots start voting with your wallet, why should Apple change it's philosophy?

Everyone here saying that Apple "has gone too far this time" would never purchase a Zune, and will probably continue to purchase iPods until they (the purchaser) die.

lol
Click to expand...

I don't know. That HTC Diamond II with Windows Mobile 6.5 don't look too bad.
Look for it on YouTube

And these hardware changes should help increase the price of the next model of iPhone.
 
Arethey out of their mind?

Looks like they are just looking for excuses not to fix the products.
If I drop my phone they are going to say that the failure is likely to be due to the drop and as such it is not covered, when it reality the failure is completely unrelated.

Also just because the device may have gotten wet due to humidity or a drop of sweat coming in contact with the ear part, does not mean that the electronics have been touched or damaged by the liquid.

Sorry but this got me steaming here.

What is the purpose of a warranty?
 
I actually figured the iPhone probably did that with its motion device. When I have had my iPhone replaced for cracks and they were running tests on it, I figured they were checking drop sensing/tracking???

I think too many people damage their own product and expect Apple to fix the owner's mistake/abuse. If Apple uses this and allows us to track it also via software reporting every time an abuse sensor is tripped, it could be advantageous to explain the situation. If however Apple doesn't share the information, I think it goes over the top.

I just expect fairness. This could show Apple that MBAs weren't dropped causing hinges to break, or wasn't a drop causing a crack in casing parts. I think Apple could do it the wrong way too, and that could cause lost sales. Apple really has changed drastically over the last few years becoming less friendly and honorable with its customers, so it needs to be careful not to go too far with thease concepts.
 
Xian Zhu Xuande said:
How so? If they're actually testing for those things legitimately it would allow them to help in some cases when something happened that looks like abuse, but isn't actually abuse. Liquid damage, extreme heat, and extreme shock are cases of abuse for all electronic manufacturers.

I take issue with what they're doing in the app store, but things like this are just fine. They've already got one liquid abuse test in many of their devices.
Click to expand...

Because it will undoubtedly be used against people who simply replace the inferior thermal paste in all Apple products. I've done it on nearly every store bought computer I have ever owned.

Replace the hard drive on a 17" MBP, warranty void.

Replace the thermal paste on a Macbook Air, warranty void.

etc. etc.

And what happens when the sensors or triggers malfunction and register a tamper when there is none? Those things are nowhere near being infallible.
 
ActionJax said:
I understand. iPods and iPhones don't suddenly stop working when the temperature is out of their spec. But what if something does mysteriously go wrong with your iPhone, and it's really unrelated to temperature, but you take it to Apple and they say they won't replace it because their data shows that the iPhone was exposed to high temperatures in the past so it's no longer covered?

Would they do this? Who knows. They're just opening that door at this point.
Click to expand...
That's a fair point. But at the same time, if you use your device in a way that goes against the manufacturers specs then said manufacturer (in this case Apple) has the right to void warranty, even if the product is damaged because of something unrelated.

The bottom line is, you are using your product in a way that Apple told you not to, although when you purchased the product you agreed to use it to within Apple's specs or else lose your warranty coverage. That's part of the AppleCare agreement, it's all in the T&C's.
 
I think Apple is getting too greedy (and far too Microsoft-like) in its quest to increase margins.

From this to trying to gag those whose iPods have blown up to the often shambolic app store approval process... even to being tight on the dividend despite $30bn cash in the bank.. it all goes towards building a very sinister Apple, and one that is ultimately going to damage the brand.
 
anubis said:
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.
Click to expand...

Not necesarly. If the data is actualy used after the device has been opened and the technician has determine the nature of the failure, then it makes perfect sense. But.... If all they do is connect the device to a USB cable, see that the device was dropped 2 days agon and hand it back to the customer with a refusal to repair, then this is not right, the drop and the failure maybe unrelated. After all the phone does not a have a hard disk that would be damaged by a drop.

The problem is that they are not likely to open the device and determine the actual cause of the failure if they have any indication of "abuse". One type of "abuse" may have nothing to do with the device failure to work as designed.
 
"Did you drop your iPhone?"
"No"
*looks down at the shattered iPhone screen*
"Did it get smashed or leaned on?"
"No"
"What happened that caused the screen to crack?"
"...Dunno, it just happened"

.......and so the story goes. This is why there is so much fine-print in warranties. Customers will lie about anything and everything to avoild having to pay for repair/replacement. Honest people are far and few between. This sort of "black box" inside the device is a way to keep the company protected from these people who abuse their stuff and want the company to replace it.

Newer cars have similar systems already set in place to monitor overheating/oil levels/overrevving/etc. to keep the dealerships from having to spend thousands out of pocket to replace a part that the customer abused.

I hope all companies follow suit.
 
Why don't they just hookup and register EVERY iPhone to the US Geological Earthquake Center and if a fall registers on the Richter Scale, then have the iPhone self-destruct and then disappear into a cloud of smoke....:mad::eek::p

Sounds like they are going after JB iPhones as well.....

Wouldn't this also violate the requirement to utilize the phone for 9-1-1 or emergency calls?
 
GOOD.

When I break something, I buy a new one.

I see a LOT of posts around here from people who expect companies to buy them a new toy if they break theirs.

They don't deserve it and we all end up paying for it.

Apple should replace faulty devices. This news will not affect those people in the least.
 
Small White Car said:
GOOD.

When I break something, I buy a new one.

I see a LOT of posts around here from people who expect companies to buy them a new toy if they break theirs.

They don't deserve it and we all end up paying for it.

Apple should replace faulty devices. This news will not affect those people in the least.
Click to expand...

I agree. Honest people have nothing to worry about.
 
Great! It's not like the Geniuses aren't asses already. Now lets give them another way to make crap up, so they can refuse to replace defective hardware. Apple why are you being such a jackass today?

Don
 
Peace said:
Now THIS one goes too far.
Click to expand...

i'm sorry but to me this is as helpful as the rental car company putting GPS on their cars to make sure no one is speeding and fining them if they do.

Apple ought to be happy with their Billions in profits... not create reasons for consumers to hate them when their devices fail. remember, manufacturing costs are only a portion of an iphone's cost, so for apple to take in defective devices and refurbish them to sell in that market... it ought not be the worst thing in the world.

Apple seems to be taking a harsher line view in the current incarnation. not to happy to see this, will be interesting to monitor the situation and see how badly this manifests itself.
 
This is a good idea guys. It will stop people from wrecking their devices and saying it failed, which right now isn't that hard to do and you always read about people doing it.
 
sishaw said:
You mean "cite," and I owned a Dell with accident protection once upon a time. Never ended up using it, and I haven't been back on Dell's site to see if they still offer it.
Click to expand...

Yeah, you can't really compare Dell to Apple. It's just not fair. Dell has way better customer service, taking much better care of its customers (at least its business customers anyway). But Apple has way better hardware, and of course a way better OS.
 
theheadguy said:
Yay for Apple! Be sure to define abuse so you can fix less, make them buy more!! Screw people so you can add 50 cents to the stock price!!! :apple:
Click to expand...

Wrong. This means that those of us who are honest will not have to subsidize costs for those who abuse their stuff. Every time some scams apple for a new laptop because they spilt soda on it, Apple loses money. They make that money back by building it into the cost of new laptops, making them more expensive for all of us.

I have seen people at the genius bar with iPods that look like they were drop kicked across a football stadium saying "it just broke" and demanding a replacement. Sucks for the rest of us.
 
Dmac77 said:
Great! It's not like the Geniuses aren't asses already. Now lets give them another way to make crap up, so they can refuse to replace defective hardware. Apple why are you being such a jackass today?

Don
Click to expand...

Sorry Don,

I've routinely witnessed people spill on their electronics, sit on their electronics, throw books on tables where they forgot they had electronics, to routinely dropping their electronics while jogging, walking or some other movement that requires basic coordination. My favorite is the idiot who angrily reacts to the device by throwing it.

I imagine they are researching the difference between freefall and acceleration beyond, to fracture patterns [externally applied force] from large loads to quick bursts, to patterns of new product releases while still being under Apple's Extended Warranty.

Apple does a solid job replacing parts that are defective. They should not be required to replace deliberately damaged parts.
 
UNSAT, Apple. UNSAT

User failed to wash hands before typing on MacBook Pro keyboard. Service Denied.

Wow. Let's see...... Lower the prices just enough to say "Look, they're more affordable!" while still maintaining the highest industry margins. How do they make up for that perceived loss in revenue?? By coming up with new and inventive ways to deny service repairs and/or service replacement. :rolleyes:

This new initiative should come under intense scrutiny from the public at large and tech news sites alike, and rightfully so.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back