California to Introduce 'Right to Repair' Bill Requiring Smartphone Manufacturers to Offer Repair Info and Parts

[HobeSoundDarryl]

Okay so I have the right to repair. I try to repair and damage the device further without knowing. What then? Crazy slippery slope.

Absolutely right. It's so much better to limit potential repair services to a single entity striving to be the world's first trillion dollar company making decision after decision that seems to grow profitability even at consumer expense/disadvantage/hassle. No slippery slope there.

Consumers would have a choice and choices are good. The problem you worry about could be addressed by one of those choices- pay up for Apple to fix something or risk further damage by using someone else offering much lower pricing. Choice is good for consumers. No choices are generally only good for corporations.

 

[brdeveloper]

Please add "Right to install other operating system and its previous versions" to the act. It's like repairing, but on the software side.

 

[fairuz]

Ehhh. So all our devices are going to have some annoying compromises for this regulation. How often are people breaking internal components that this is an issue?

 

[bladerunner2000]

GOOD.

And a big LOL @ APPLE. About time these pinheads had to do the RIGHT THING.. jesus christ, can't believe it's been this long for consumers to repair what they own.

 

[brdeveloper]

Okay so I have the right to repair. I try to repair and damage the device further without knowing. What then? Crazy slippery slope.

Repair the bad repairing?

 

[citysnaps]

As long as people are responsible for any damage they do to their phone while attempting a repair. That shouldn't be on Apple.

 

[OldSchoolMacGuy]

This bill is very unlikely to pass. If it does, kiss places like iFixIt goodbye. And just because they need to detail how to repair something means little. Doesn't mean they'll make anything more repairable.

 

[brdeveloper]

This bill is very unlikely to pass. If it does, kiss places like iFixIt goodbye. And just because they need to detail how to repair something means little. Doesn't mean they'll make anything more repairable.

If someone proved that the manufacturer was providing less information than they was providing to an official repair service provider, this would become a lawsuit, I guess.

 

[ouimetnick]

I like the overall concept, but how far does it go? I’m fine with selling replacement components and diagnostic tips, but will this require Apple to release circuit board diagrams, schematics, component values, and other confidential proprietary information?

Some manufactures I know will not release the schematics for their products while in production or supported. After it’s discontinued and no longer under warranty, they might release schematics. Boston Acoustics is an example, Fishman is another.

But if I was Apple, Microsoft, Samsung, etc, I wouldn’t be releasing any schematics or anything related to engineering fearing it would be stolen.

Also what if a customer replaces their iPhone’s battery with a 3rd party that later overheats and catches on fire like those hover boards did? Hopefully Apple will be held harmless.

 

[brdeveloper]

I like the over all concept, but how far does it go? I’m fine with replacing components and stuff, but will this require Apple to release circuit board diagrams, schematics, component values, and other confidential proprietary information?

Some manufactures I know will not release the schematics for their products while in production or supported. After it’s discontinued and no longer under warranty, they might release schematics. Boston Acoustics is an example, Fishman is another.

But if I was Apple, Microsoft, Samsung, etc, I wouldn’t be releasing any schematics or anything related to engineering fearing it would be stolen.

I think that information shared with third party service providers isn't critical. That would only affect the repair business, bringing more competition.

 

[Delgibbons]

Mr cat.....meet pigeons

 

[ouimetnick]

I think that information shared with third party service providers isn't critical. That would only affect the repair business, bringing more competition.

I still wouldn’t want proprietary schematics and circuit diagrams, etc in the hands of 3rd party repair shops. Even Apple Stores do not have access to that information. That information is closely guarded and really shouldn’t be shared (unless Apple wants to)

 

[mikethemartian]

What does Apple do with spare part inventory on vintage products it no longer services?

 

[Delgibbons]

While I understand the interest in the idea, this will be poorly executed.

What's next? Allow repair laptops to the component level?
If manufacturers will be required to provide every part to replace that will only drive the cost up.

I think Apple to go around this will say device needs to be repaired at Apple or authorized center. Other repairs will void all warranties.

You assume Apple refurbish to a better state than independents can. Sadly, not always the case.

"APPLE use water damaged boards in a refurbished iPad Mini"

 

[SeattleMoose]

Choice is good, but shoddy repair shops could do damage to consumers and Apple.

In today's world with forums for rating all types of service/repair outfits the bad ones would be weeded out quickly.

 

[nilcoalescingoperator]

Besides security implications, I think a problem is that people don't realize how dense electronics have become. These same people might think that it's fine to replace and not repair a CPU, but that you should be able to repair any part of the phone. It doesn't quite work that way, there are only a handful of discrete parts in the thing.

 

[Fionn2003]

Pretty simple.. If someone that is not Apple Certified and using non Apple Parts replaced anything on your phone it breaks your warranty and Apple will no longer service it. So sure.. get it fixed by self or a repair shop. You no longer have a warranty.

 

[elvisimprsntr]

The problem is liability. These devices are a highly volatile Li-Ion batteries with a small circuit board. When a third party performs a repair and the device later catches on fire, it would be extremely difficult for Apple to prove they were not at fault because any evidence would be destroyed. If the bill passes, I would not be be surprised if Apple implements some sort of tamper detection, assuming they don't already have it already.

 

[Karma*Police]

This is great news (unless your Apple), and something I hope continues. I can understand Apples point of view but on a somewhat separate note, they are charging an over the top Apple premium for not only (some) products but essentially all repairs.

No, this is horrible news for everyone. Companies should have the right to decide how their products are repaired. If they do a poor job, or do it in a way that doesn’t satisfy the market, they go out of business. Very simple. Let the market decide, not some govt official trying to look good for re-election while accomplishing nothing. In the long run this will only increase costs to businesses which will get passed down to consumers.

 

[Brandhouse]

This is just dumb, but that it's coming out of California, it's not surprising.

Repair at your own risk or get some backyard kid to do so, you won't get any sympathy from me. And as soon as you break that seal mate, then Apple rightly have no more do with your device/hardware and there is no longer any claim to a warranty.

 

[Murphintosh]

Okay so I have the right to repair. I try to repair and damage the device further without knowing. What then? Crazy slippery slope.

Do you mean a slippery slope to the way everything else works? Don't attempt to repair something if you don't know what you're doing and you can't accept the risk, whether it's your phone, your car, or your house. I can do plumbing repairs, but if I damage something that I can't fix, I pay someone who can. Why should your phone be any different? "Right to repair" gives you new choices, it doesn't mean you have to do it yourself.

 

[Praesto]

For those so concerned about Apple and their bottom line. This is no different then an automobile. If I get into an accident and have a 3rd party repair my car, the manufacturer’s warranty still applies. If the manufacturer determines a future defect was due to an improper repair, then they are under no obligation to take care of that part on my car. Though they’re still responsible for the rest. Putting in an aftermarket radio doesn’t mean they aren’t liable for everything else!

Works the same for Apple. If I repair my screen with a 3rd party, that shouldn’t void Apple from any future repair except those pertaining to the screen.

This is 100% correct and I agree with it. Long story short, if OEM parts are not there, or there is damage to an OEM part due to another repair. The warranty is void and repair no longer covered.

 

[brdeveloper]

I still wouldn’t want proprietary schematics and circuit diagrams, etc in the hands of 3rd party repair shops. Even Apple Stores do not have access to that information. That information is closely guarded and really shouldn’t be shared (unless Apple wants to)

This is called security by obscurity, a concept that is highly criticized these days.
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This is just dumb, but that it's coming out of California, it's not surprising.

Repair at your own risk or get some backyard kid to do so, you won't get any sympathy from me. And as soon as you break that seal mate, then Apple rightly have no more do with your device/hardware and there is no longer any claim to a warranty.

No one should fix it by himself as it would (should) void the warranty. After warranty expires, who cares?

 

[macduke]

You know what should be illegal? We had a vacuum break a couple years ago after only a few years of service (and we don't vacuum heavily because we don't have pets). I called up a local reseller to find information on ordering the part and they straight up told me that the part was made to break so that we would need to buy another vacuum. THAT is what should be made illegal FIRST. I'm hoping that 3D printers will put an end to that crap.

As for this story, I think it's good to offer repairs from third parties. However, I've seen some really bad repair jobs. My grandparents several years ago took their iPad to a local shop after they broke the screen and it was never the same again. The glass wasn't seated properly so there was a gap around the edges that you could actually see into if you pried it slightly and the home button was sunken in about 1/8" and was all mushy. There needs to be quality control on who gets to do the repairs. And eventually these devices might not be repairable anyway because you'll need a multimillion dollar nanotech robot to fab the motherboard that fits on the head of a pin with all the tiny carbon nanotube wires or whatever. It's barely doable now—just wait a few more years!

 

[ouimetnick]

This is called security by obscurity, a concept that is highly criticized these days.
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No one should fix it by himself as it would (should) void the warranty. After warranty expires, who cares?

Its more of a property issue in my mind. If I designed a complex circuit or had people working for me who designed it for me, it's my property, and I'm selling you the finished product, NOT the design. You can try and reverse engineer it and do what you want, but Apple paid their engineers to create the schematic, figure out what value components are needed, design the board layout, figure out how and where to place the small SMD components. If you want to try and figure it out yourself, go ahead, but I wouldn't want to release the schematics or blueprints to the public.