I really, really like this idea. Every time you drop your iPhone, you'd pick it up slowly and carefully and wait for the "abuse 8-ball" to show whether you got away with it or not!
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Apple Researching Methods to Detect 'Consumer Abuse' in Portable Devices
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I really, really like this idea. Every time you drop your iPhone, you'd pick it up slowly and carefully and wait for the "abuse 8-ball" to show whether you got away with it or not!
Really? How many millions of dollars are spent every single year on useless "extended warranties". I mean, Sears makes a killing off providing their warranty which covers the same time period as the manufacturer's warranty, and they sell it to the customer without even mentioning the manufacturer's warranty (or by saying that to get service on the manufacturer's warranty they'd need to ship that refrigerator to Indonesia for servicing and back again so it's effectively worthless ... which, before anyone chimes in that that's a valid argument: it's pure BS ... every halfway reputable appliance manufacturer will allow for local diagnosis and repair or replacement on warranty claims).
I think you misunderstand why people buy "extended warranties". It's usually not an informed decision. It's usually a POS decision, looking at their shiny new gadget, and the sales weasel asking them if they want it to stop functioning in 90 days or three years.
Who's fault is that then? Apple's? I make sure I go into my decisions educated. You have until the original warranty ends to read up and decide if you want the extended warranty.
If people don't read what they sign they lose out. Always has been that way.
There's an app for that.
Well one would hope if it ever happens.
It'd be really easy to make even with existing iPhone hardware.
New feature for iPhone OS 4.0!
Seems like some pre-existing condition clause for Health Insurance.
I wouldn't trust any corporation to be honest about product "abuse", especially when the bottom line is for them to be profitable.
Oh sorry, that will be $1000 because this secret file you have no access to says that you damaged it. Tough break.
I wouldn't trust any corporation to be honest about product "abuse", especially when the bottom line is for them to be profitable.
Oh sorry, that will be $1000 because this secret file you have no access to says that you damaged it. Tough break.
What planet are you living on? You think they allow themselves to be scammed-- like they're a poor victim that randomly has many billions of cash on hand (and growing)?
That was worth a laugh.
It's the chance of back room log reading, warranty voiding abuse that bugs me.
It's all too tempting when the bottom line is profit.
By the way... the liquid sensors on current Apple laptops are pretty easy to beat. Just apply a little bleach to them with a Q-Tip and no more tripped sensor.
I agree, and AppleCare isn't worthless. I just don't agree with the logic "if a warranty didn't cover anything, people wouldn't buy it".
In other words, people buying Applecare is not PROOF that it is worth anything, and if Apple changed the terms of AppleCare significantly to make it effectively worthless then I suspect a significant portion of people would still buy it just because the guy at the store suggested it.
Proof of that assertion is the number of people who do currently buy absolutely worthless warranties from retail outlets currently. There's no way you can tell me that having a "Sears Authorized" repairman diagnose a Magnavox TV should something go wrong in the first year is $150 more valuable than having a "Magnavox Authorized" repairman do the same thing under the built-in factory warranty.
Actually, a drop four months ago could certainly wait until today to begin showing symptoms, so that's not a good example. The reason? A crack in a silicon board doesn't necessarily cause the connections to be broken immediately, but over time, especially with heat and stress to the device, that crack can separate and the problem will appear, suddenly or gradually.
Quite frankly, if you've ever dropped your computer significantly enough to trigger one of these types of sensors, you should be expecting problems with the computer anywhere from immediately to a year down the road.
jW
Right. I should have been more clear. It's not that people won't buy it. Smart people won't. They'll still make money off of fools.
And allow me to pontificate even further
for an iPhone, corrosion on the contacts of the interconnect/sync port is a sure sign of liquid contact even if the LSIs are not triggered. I would even venture to say that if I were to lift the screen on it, the internal LSI would be triggered and or obvious liquid damage to the MLB would be evident. The same would be applicable for MB or MBP. on previous gen. MB or MBP the LSI was not installed, but once the top case is removed you can see residue and corrosions on the MLB, HDD, ODD, the bottom case, etc. with the newer gen MB and MBP it just confirms what is already probably known when your notebook or iphone doesnt POST or does'nt power on or the battery isn't recognized by the system and or doesnt charge or mantain a charge or if the LCD displays nothing or there no not backlight, or if...need i go on further? 
People like you are the reason Apple has to implement measures such as this.
The morally bankrupt ruin it for everyone.
Well, it seems you're assuming a worst case scenario that Apple will determine whether or not to cover a product under warranty based entirely upon what has been recorded by sensors.
I think they will continue to evaluate units on a case-by-case basis and unless they see evidence of either: a.) serious abuse (i.e. unit submerged in liquid, visible corrosion on circuit boards, or cracked display) or b.) continuous, frequent abuse (i.e. unit being thrown around, dropped on numerous occasions, serious dents), they will continue to provide coverage.
It just provides Apple with an additional layer of protection from customer abuse. I frequently see Apple cover products damaged by obvious customer abuse now, and I don't see why that would change with these sensors. I think they would more likely be used to determine why a customer who has had two optical drives replaced, or two hard drives replaced, needs a 3rd one within a year.
It would enable Apple to say: "Look, this unit has clearly been dropped and this likely caused the problems you are experiencing with your optical drive. We will replace it under warranty this time, but if this part fails again and your sensors show additional physical abuse, we will have to deny coverage."
If Apple does end up using such sensors as an end-all determination for warranty coverage, I agree you'd have every reason to be upset. I just don't see it happening, as someone who works with Apple on warranty jobs everyday.
You do know that you're defrauding Apple right?
Your public admission of FRAUD deserves to be quoted again.
Don't always believe what you see in surveys and polls. It is well-known that surveys can be "fixed". By this I mean, the group performing the survey can target specific people that which they already know what to expect in the results. Companies themselves will pay for surveys, that which just happens to show favorable results. Also, the sample size is very important.
I am not speaking about the survey you referenced specifically, it could be a legit, I am just speaking in general.
Your last remark is unfounded and untrue. If a tech further damages a repair, rest assure apple will make good. Its the Way of the
Further more I hope that these accusations are based on fact and not presumption.By the way... the liquid sensors on current Apple laptops are pretty easy to beat. Just apply a little bleach to them with a Q-Tip and no more tripped sensor.
WRONG!
APP pays for itself once or twice over for a minor and or major repair respectively.
First post that is SPOT ON! But now you've let one of our secrets out of the bag. Damn you...
I have mixed feelings about this.
First I think it is a good thing from a business perspective that Apple will be limiting their losses due to fraud, if it were to become a reality.
I also like that it would make it so people couldn't rip Apple off as easily, no one likes a liar.
However, I think that this system will need to be highly refined for it to be both useful and accurate. First if it were to ever go bad or malfunction it would essentially ruin all of the warranties for every single Apple product, because they will all have been "abused". Also, Apple would need to lay out some very specific guidelines for what it would consider to be abuse (i.e. would dropping your MacBook onto your bed be abuse?) or else it would lead to some very pissed of customers.
If Apple were to make a method to detect consumer abuse it would need to be perfect- nothing could go wrong.
First I think it is a good thing from a business perspective that Apple will be limiting their losses due to fraud, if it were to become a reality.
I also like that it would make it so people couldn't rip Apple off as easily, no one likes a liar.
However, I think that this system will need to be highly refined for it to be both useful and accurate. First if it were to ever go bad or malfunction it would essentially ruin all of the warranties for every single Apple product, because they will all have been "abused". Also, Apple would need to lay out some very specific guidelines for what it would consider to be abuse (i.e. would dropping your MacBook onto your bed be abuse?) or else it would lead to some very pissed of customers.
If Apple were to make a method to detect consumer abuse it would need to be perfect- nothing could go wrong.
Translation : "I have no idea what I am saying and am just talking out my a**"
I am guessing you have absolutely no evidence whatsoever on how many people are and are not, abusing Apple's return policy. I can't believe people are for this sort of thing. Basically, Apple is saying they don't trust you. They're telling you that right from the moment they sell you something, they think you are an underhanded scammer who will be abusing their warranty; I can't understand all the "rah rah, go Apple!" talk from some people over this. Personally, I am insulted by it.
