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Apple Stores Removing Security Tethers From iPhone Display Models
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That's not the reason they do it. They obviously aren't condoning theft, nor "accepting it happens". It is ok if people just steal it, we can afford it.. common now.
Circumventing the security features of an iPhone is only possible if you jailbreak it. This gets harder with every update. That's why exploits for iOS are worth hundreds of thousands of Dollars.
I never understood why they didn't have the security cables automatically retract like one of these things:
Because wrestling with a cord that's pulling on you is just awful.
Carriers have done it for ever and it's a terrible experience.
Because the weakest link are those tiny round connectors between clip and wire. Wear and tear of three bends break those which is also easy to do when you leverage against the device it's connected to.
Boy do the Note 7 jokes get old quick. 4 Note-7-related joke posts in the first 2 pages, and this is about iPhones in an Apple Store. 
This is just a money grab. Apple thinks by making the buying experience more pleasant, they will sell more iPhones. Greedy jerks.
Seriously, the optimum level of of shoplifting is not zero. It's the point where the costs of preventing the theft are more than the costs of the theft itself. Apple could body cavity search on every customer who leaves the store, but it would probably not be a popular move, and it would be expensive to do. The occasional missing iPhone case or even the occasional missing iPhone is a cost of doing business.
This isn't to say that they won't prosecute you if they do catch you stealing. It just means that in the big picture, some theft is expected, and the costs of preventing 100% of theft are too high to be practical.
Seriously, the optimum level of of shoplifting is not zero. It's the point where the costs of preventing the theft are more than the costs of the theft itself. Apple could body cavity search on every customer who leaves the store, but it would probably not be a popular move, and it would be expensive to do. The occasional missing iPhone case or even the occasional missing iPhone is a cost of doing business.
This isn't to say that they won't prosecute you if they do catch you stealing. It just means that in the big picture, some theft is expected, and the costs of preventing 100% of theft are too high to be practical.
If they use a low enough tension device, or one that locks when extended to a certain distance, this problem would be mitigated.
The struggle is real.Boy do the Note 7 jokes get old quick. 4 Note-7-related joke posts in the first 2 pages, and this is about iPhones in an Apple Store.
Fortunately for thieves, they could always part out the locked phone, a display could be sold for $75, battery for $50, other misc. parts for another $50. It's more work, but you grab a couple at a time could be a couple hundred dollars worth of sales.
Be really simple to secure these:
- wifi base station at the back of the Apple Store
- iPhone locks if it goes out of coverage of the Apple SSID
- iPhone starts screaming "I'm a stolen iPhone" at top volume if it goes out of coverage of the Apple SSID
- iPhone has always on location services - mall security nabs the guy with the screaming phone before he gets past the food court...or in the parking lot
As for a source for parts...who's to say these have to have the same connectors internally? Just for fun, they could have done a limited run (in whatever line they have setup to create prototype devices).
- wifi base station at the back of the Apple Store
- iPhone locks if it goes out of coverage of the Apple SSID
- iPhone starts screaming "I'm a stolen iPhone" at top volume if it goes out of coverage of the Apple SSID
- iPhone has always on location services - mall security nabs the guy with the screaming phone before he gets past the food court...or in the parking lot
As for a source for parts...who's to say these have to have the same connectors internally? Just for fun, they could have done a limited run (in whatever line they have setup to create prototype devices).
The reason they don't remove the security from the Macs, is because they can't afford to lose any more... It's the last ones they have... They're vintage!
Retractable cords with low tension and locking?
It would be like those awful pull-down projector screens that no-one can ever get to behave.
And can you imagine the dropped iPhones being dragged across the tables.
A retractable cable would just be so much worse. You couldn't place the phone down, put it in your pocket without it being pulled out, you couldn't even properly feel the weight of the thing, and a locking solution would be impractical.
Don't confuse a stupid purchase with a courage purchase
Aaaand the joke officially goes too far.
Having bought a Note7 did not make one stupid. Buying one now does.
Yes, I am a Note series fanboy, albeight not a stupid one.
Does no one read the article anymore? It says that alarms will be sounded if devices are removed! They're using beacon technology, not this crazy Wi-Fi idea! Jeez.Be really simple to secure these:
- wifi base station at the back of the Apple Store
- iPhone locks if it goes out of coverage of the Apple SSID
- iPhone starts screaming "I'm a stolen iPhone" at top volume if it goes out of coverage of the Apple SSID
- iPhone has always on location services - mall security nabs the guy with the screaming phone before he gets past the food court...or in the parking lot
As for a source for parts...who's to say these have to have the same connectors internally? Just for fun, they could have done a limited run (in whatever line they have setup to create prototype devices).
Apple retail store annual loss rates average 1.3%, amongst all products. Average retail loss rates in electronic stores is 2.8%. There is far more security in an Apple retail store than that which is visible, which is nearly none.
Aside from employees dressed in plain clothes, stop and think that almost every product around the location has a camera, and is connected to the Apple network via wifi. Very possible to have photos and video from 50+ different products being stored on a remote server photographing a customers every move.
Last but not least, there's so much that can be done when the hardware manufacturer is also the software manufacturer. Much customization can be done that's not apparent to the demo user, but serves to protect the company.
Aside from employees dressed in plain clothes, stop and think that almost every product around the location has a camera, and is connected to the Apple network via wifi. Very possible to have photos and video from 50+ different products being stored on a remote server photographing a customers every move.
Last but not least, there's so much that can be done when the hardware manufacturer is also the software manufacturer. Much customization can be done that's not apparent to the demo user, but serves to protect the company.