Apple Taking Heat for Switching to Custom Screws on iPhone 4 and Portables

[Ca$hflow]

Anyone notice how hot she is?

Boy I sure can tell how many geeks there are here. No one notices how hot she is. She is really worked up over an improper screw.

Ya, ya, blah, blah, who cares apple just want's you to buy another phone. They are a corporation that wants to make money.

 

[GorgonPhone]

Yeah, those screws have been used in the UK marketing photos since the phone was announced. I always thought they were quite pretty myself. I'd just assumed Apple had used them for aesthetics.

Lol. So funny... I have seen the drivers for these screws at home depot I don't see the big dealt all

 

[kiljoy616]

okay let me rephrase.. its not like a "constitutional right" just like the people throwing a hissy fit over airport security... if they dont want to go through it then they shouldnt fly, its not a right to fly, its a privilage.. just like this situation.. so basically im just saying that this overall isnt a big deal at all!!! so if you dont want to put up with apples control, then simply dont buy an iphone and PROBLEM SOLVED!!!

No problem not solve, taking your useless analogy then anything we think is a right is not, our own constitution if we don't protect it would be worthless. Hell anyone and any organization can impose almost anything on us, the problem may be that you may not have any rights but I sure do, I pay full price for my first 2 iphones and did not blink and when it came time to sell them I got back 2/3 of what I paid for them.

I had one fixed because it was having some static sound in the connector, they told me I could get a new one but when I pressured the guy he told me it was a refurb, I told him no I wanted the one I had, so after about 10 minutes he was able to fix the problem and I did not have it again. I wanted service not an exchange that probably substandard.

The issue here is that big asssssssss business has decided with the help of powerful expensive lobbying that the consumer owns nothing at least in their mind and in some way also in real life. Sure you can take an iphone and break it all up for all i care as well as not buy one.

But when I buy something that is been sold I expect not only to own it but do as I see fit, as long as I don't break any laws governing FCC I could care less what overpriced attorney apple has that have come up with some lame 50 page of what they think is what I should bend over and take. If my phone goes to the shop I want it back, not some refurb that may not be as well built or have had who knows changed.

This phone I have now I did not pay full price since I for one have not had any problem with ATT yes others have but I have not I think I have had maybe a few calls fall but hey tunnels will do that. No death grip either.

 

[milani]

My iPhone 4 has Phillips screws... so unless Canadian iPhone 4s aren't considered international, then the video is making a false claim.

 

[highdough]

I dunno. I guess I see their point but I have a really really hard time caring.

I mean, someone will start selling this screwdriver next month on the internet, right? So the problem is we have to wait a month?

It's a problem, I guess, but it ranks slightly below "I need to remember to check my car tires for air pressure soon."

So, like, not something I'm gonna worry about for very long.

I couldn't care less about the iPhone, but I recently had to take apart my MacBook after spilling water on it. Another time I replaced the hard drive myself. My warranty has run out, so I'd rather do it myself and save a lot of money.

And the point is that I already HAD a screwdriver that would do the job. I didn't have to order it somewhere and spend extra money. It's not evil, but it's an unnecessary hassle.

 

[milani]

Oh, and I really doubt this company is actually "mad" about being able to sell you an iPhone liberation kit. How inconvenient for them...

 

[objc]

All I can see is thankfully I live in America as it exists in reality and not in your screwed up fascist version. Sieg heil!

We still have quite a few freedoms, but the government is hard at work on fixing that.

 

[JoeG4]

No, it's a pain in the ass when they use weirdo screws like that because, what if the hard drive in your MBP takes a dump?

Go to frys, grab a hard drive, and a torx bit if you need it (or wherever else), come home, stick new drive in, job done.

With the funky new screws you have to go order the damn screwdriver. Sure, it's only a matter of time before you see it at a store like Frys, but it's going to be some stupid $20 iScrewdriver sold by some damn boutique manufacturer when a 99 cent one worked just fine.

lol those dang 3rd parties are insane, like the ones that sell $20 "clear screen" junk that's essentially a 5 dollar thing of eyeglass cleaner at best lol.

 

[M33tball]

new screw

You must be referring to the newest and latest models of iphone4, because they iphone4 that I have is the one that was released in June and it has regular standard philips head screws. The phone may be our property once we buy it, but we all know that Apple products are built for perfection. So why alter something that doesnt need altering to begin with? If you want to change the color then get a case! Enough said.

 

[Balooba]

Exaggerate?

Seriously, Apple is evil?
Apple is diabolical?

Seriously?

These screws are harmless Torx pentagrams.

 

[rdupuy]

This prevents a lot of illegal/unauthorized repairs from happening. It also ensures users are going to the retail stores or authorized repair centers for repair.

For each and every iPhone manufactured, i'm sure apple wants to keep a running record of all and any repairs... illegal repairs do not add to a manufactured unit's service history.

apple wants to build a flawless device. when other people are servicing the product w/o providing the manufacturer a diagnosis and repair history, apple loses this vital information. This information is extremely valuable for any kind of manufacturer.

*illegal* you used the word *illegal*

I'm afraid some people don't understand the concept of ownership.

When I buy a device *I OWN IT*

And I can repair it, or destroy it. And you have no intrinsic right to track anything.

 

[el-John-o]

If you lack the gentle enough hand to take a torx driver slowly to ease out these screws, or the ability to find the correct drivers through internet resources, then frankly, you have no business inside an iPhone. For starters, you can't exactly walk into an Apple store and ask for a new glass panel or battery, so you need to be able to find these from legitimate sources online. If you can't locate this screwdriver, then you won't be able to locate the part you are interested in replacing. (As other users have pointed out, the legitimacy of this article is COMPLETELY out the window by making the claim that such drivers do not exist, a simple Google searched revealed SEVERAL. Expensive? If you can't afford a $3.66 screwdriver, you can't afford the part you want to replace, problem solved.)

There is VERY little user-replaceable on this phone. The glass panels I think would be the most common, since the batteries are LiPo (meaning they will retain a full capacity for almost their entire life, LiPos are a sudden-death not a gradual death, and they last for years. So it will be 4 years or more before people need to start replacing this battery.) But beyond that, there isn't much more that you can do. Maybe replace the entire logic board from one on eBay with a cracked screen or something if you had a major failure, I dunno, I just don't see this being an issue for the target audience, i.e. those "in the know".

I'm not any sort of professional technician, yet I can't foresee any problems getting these screws out. $4 screwdriver isn't all that bad, granted, I can't go down to Ace and get one, (I dunno, maybe, those guys can get anything, I wouldn't put it past their ability to order one.), but I buy most things online anyway. Why the heck not?

 

[9Speed]

No, it's a pain in the ass when they use weirdo screws like that because, what if the hard drive in your MBP takes a dump?

Go to frys, grab a hard drive, and a torx bit if you need it (or wherever else), come home, stick new drive in, job done.

With the funky new screws you have to go order the damn screwdriver. Sure, it's only a matter of time before you see it at a store like Frys, but it's going to be some stupid $20 iScrewdriver sold by some damn boutique manufacturer when a 99 cent one worked just fine.

lol those dang 3rd parties are insane, like the ones that sell $20 "clear screen" junk that's essentially a 5 dollar thing of eyeglass cleaner at best lol.

This iFixit blog isn't referring to the MPB; it's referring to the iPhone... the one with NO USER REPLACEABLE OR REPAIRABLE PARTS. Luckily iFixit just so happens to have the $10 cure-all for you to void the warranty on your iPhone should you be so inclined. Way to stick it to Apple iFixit!

As a side note, my MBP (late 2009) doesn't have any Torx screws at all, just standard phillips screws. I know older models did have Torx screws (I have no idea about current models), which leads me to believe that Apple does on occasion make user-servicable hardware easier for their customers to open...

 

[rdupuy]

This iFixit blog isn't referring to the MPB; it's referring to the iPhone... the one with NO USER REPLACEABLE OR REPAIRABLE PARTS. Luckily iFixit just so happens to have the $10 cure-all for you to void the warranty on your iPhone should you be so inclined. Way to stick it to Apple iFixit!

As a side note, my MBP (late 2009) doesn't have any Torx screws at all, just standard phillips screws. I know older models did have Torx screws (I have no idea about current models), which leads me to believe that Apple does on occasion make user-servicable hardware easier for their customers to open...

I've heard this false argument about warranty tons of times - nobody in their right mind, with a warranty repair available, opens up their iPhones for no reason.

This little fantasy you have, is just plain not thought out. What you don't realize, is Apple's warranty doesn't cover everything (nor should it).

If you break your screen, and it was your own fault, that isn't a warranty repair, and you have every right to fix the phone yourself. The phone isn't even worth repairing, often, unless you fix it yourself.

This isn't a warranty buster...average joe isn't opening up the device just to see what's inside - generally they have an out of warranty repair, and that is the reason to open it.

This doesn't "stick it" to apple at all. Other than exposing some of their anti-consumer practices.

 

[doctor-don]

I find it hard to believe that people are having a hard time with these screws due to lack of tools... manufacturing an appropriate screwdriver shouldn't exactly be a challenge, I mean really, this is a mass produced basic fabrication part that's not complicated at all...

The point is that the screwdriver with this point is NOT readily available.

This prevents a lot of illegal/unauthorized repairs from happening. It also ensures users are going to the retail stores or authorized repair centers for repair.

For each and every iPhone manufactured, i'm sure apple wants to keep a running record of all and any repairs... illegal repairs do not add to a manufactured unit's service history.

apple wants to build a flawless device. when other people are servicing the product w/o providing the manufacturer a diagnosis and repair history, apple loses this vital information. This information is extremely valuable for any kind of manufacturer.

It is ridiculous on the part of Apple to resort to replacing the screws that came on the phone originally. My Mac Pro has several screws that are inside the case and must be removed in order to remove the fan to connect eSata. Those screws are standard BUT they are not all the appropriate screw for those who have to remove them later. The fan screw in particular is located in a position that makes it easy to drop into the case. It also is a size that is difficult to find. These things should be standard in the country where they are sold, and, as hardware, readily available.

Flawless device? Or is it an attempt to prevent the OWNER from making modifications?

Evil?

Seriously?

Seriously?

Seriously! The stupidity of ANY company in attempting to prevent the owner of a device from making any kind of internal inspection or repair / replacement is the reason it is evil. Seriously!

And, seriously, if I have to open a device with such a screw head, I'll make my own driver the same way I made my own star driver 40 years ago so I could replace my OWN seat belts.

 

[rdupuy]

Guys I fixed my iPhone 2g screen years ago, and then someone heard about it, asked me if I could do theirs and then someone else, and someone else.

I ended up fixing about 10 screens - all these people coming to me, because they have a real need.

That's what I see, that you heartless apple automotons can't see.

Real people with a real need. A broken phone, they need it fixed, they don't have the $200 (or more) in cash to go to the Apple store. Everyone isn't you - some people are poor. These *are not covered by warranty* even if they have a warranty.

when you drop your iPhone, sometimes only 1 foot - if you aren't lucky, it's going to crack the screen. and it's an accident, not a manufacturing defect.

Seriously, it happens all the time.

Apple saying - pony up $200 or just be stuck without a phone. Well some of apple's fan's are college students, that frankly would just be stuck without a phone.

Ridiculous, let them fix their phone.

 

[Eidorian]

Creepy actions as usual from our overlords. Time to invest in some intelligent metal omni driver tool or sonics!

 

[doctor-don]

Lol. So funny... I have seen the drivers for these screws at home depot I don't see the big dealt all

Really?

Unbelievable!

 

[Bubba Satori]

$50 iScrewyoudrivers.
Comes with a tube of Vaseline.
Trillions in the bank.
Magic.

 

[Full of Win]

Talk about full circle. Apple Computer (may it rest in peace) started out selling motherboards and allowed the users to fashion their own cases to enclose them. Now, Apple Consumer Electronics trust the user so little that use special screws to keep them out.

 

[SavMBP15]

This prevents a lot of illegal/unauthorized repairs from happening.

There is nothing illegal about me opening up any Apple product. I might and probably will void my warranty depending on what I'm doing, but it is definitely not illegal.

 

[JAT]

Wouldn't it be "super sweet" if I could buy a logic board and replace the darn thing myself without having to special order expensive screwdrivers?

Yes, a $200 logic board is ok to buy, but a $5 screwdriver is offensive.

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It's the mentality of a free people that would prefer to stay that way. Besides when I do something myself I know it is done right. A common example here is servicing the brakes on ones car. It is not uncommon at all for local mechanics to take short cuts when servicing critical parts, Gail to inspect the whole thing or decide that fishing is more important than doing a quality job.

As to iPhone do you seriously believe that doing something like changing the battery is beyond most people?

LOL, the experts do a better job far more often than DIYers. And yes, changing the battery in an iPhone is beyond most people. Far beyond, and I'd put it at over 95% of people.

So the ones of you that are ok with this change, and ok with Apple replacing the screws on existing customers' products without consent, you'd all also be perfectly fine if you took your existing car (which has a standard oil plug that the average owner can take out if he/she chooses) to the dealership for an oil change (say you didn't have time to do it yourself this occasion), and got it back with a special drain plug in place that only the dealership has a wrench for? And have done this without your permission?

The permission part is an issue. But I'd just get the tool, anyway, if I needed it. Geez. (but hell, who wants to change oil, anyway?)

Forget pentalobular. I think Apple screws should be shaped like "".

That would be hilarious.

Obviously you take-my-phone-apart-geeks are not actual DIYers. Not really. Because DIYers WANT new tools. God, give me a reason. I had a friend that still lived in his parent's attic at 25, his money went to thousands and thousands of dollars worth of SnapOn hand tools. Barely used.

"What, there's a 6.7" circular saw, now?! That's better than the standard 6.5" because [insert bizarre/fake technical reason here], I'm going to upgrade everything!" <<---This is a DIYer. You people are just whiny geeks.

And Apple has been using "specialty" screws for decades, so have many other companies. Big deal, get over it. Again, DIYer: just gets the tool he needs. Whiny geek: goes on internet and complains about something that doesn't actually affect him.

 

[designgeek]

God why can't I find a girl like her. Beautiful AND smart? two seemingly mutually exclusive qualities these days...

 

[Mactrillionaire]

I don't get the big deal about this. As if any one of you running a multi-billion dollar enterprise wouldn't be looking to protect your products from unauthorized modification.

Doesn't mean nobody other than Apple will be able to disassemble but now I can cut down on external costs associated with having readily-open devices for sale.

The problem is that your logic doesn't follow. Once a person buys a physical thing that physical thing is no longer the property of the seller. It's true that the seller may still have intellectual property in what is being sold, but the intellectual property applies intellectually to a kind of product, not specifically to a physical product that has already been sold. The only exception to this would be if you agree to product/service licensing as you do with software. Apple should really decide if they want to be in the hardware or software business because the philosophy of control over hardware isn't appropriate if that hardware is being sold. It is only appropriate if the hardware is being leased. Likewise, control of software is only appropriate if its use is being licensed. It would be nice to see when Apple makes up its mind on the matter. For some strange reason, I think Apple will take the profit from selling hardware even though Apple does have a hard on for controlling it after the fact of the sale. The high prices and annoying tactics are just compensation from Apple's point of view for having to tolerate user's doing what they want after the sale. Well, that, and voiding warranties (which is generally understandable).

 

[blackberrypilot]

I'm happy Apple is taking heat. They changed their screws for more control, plain and simple.