DownUnderDan
macrumors 6502a
I'm sure you are right and one of the requirements, is the final product can't be user repairable.
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Engineer Brings Functional USB-C Port to AirPods Pro
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So what? Disposable does not mean they go in the garbage. Every single material in them is recyclable, and will be used to make more AirPods cases.
AirPods Pro are not designed to be serviced or repaired since their charging case is not openable without damage to the device, effectively making them a disposable item.
But, but, they reduced the size of the brochures inside the case! Woohoo! Go green!
They can advertise it as "recyclable" (great PR) but what percentage of them get returned, cracked opened, and all components properly dealt with? And what additional resources are consumed to do that?
Never said Apple doesn’t use USB C. I wouldn’t be surprised if Covid supply chain issues delayed the set up of production lines at scale. Beats line already uses USB C but they don’t sell as much as AirPods. I can see Apple setting up at mass scale for IPhone USBC first and then roll to AirPods.
You actually think Apple lacks the know-how of getting USB-C on the Airpods?
Comes with compactness. Gone are those days you could repair TVs, most appliances. It’s cheaper to replace than go through expensive repairs.
Considering the fact the beats buds already come with USB C. But the case is lot bigger and uglier.
That's ******** though. The Surface pen has replaceable batteries (the traditional AAA ones even, not lithium ones), and the size is comparable to an Apple Pencil.
Of course more compact devices are HARDER to repair, but it doesn't mean they have to be impossible to repair!
No way you can put a AAA in Apple Pencil I use with my iPad Pro. The AAA is thicker than the pencil.
Technically, you are correct. The Apple pencil 2 has a diameter of 8.9 mm, whereas an AAA battery has a width of 10.5 mm. So, Modifying the Apple pencil to use a regular AAA battery would MAYBE add 2-3 millimeters to the Apple Pencil.
I personally think it's not that much, but...
SUPPOSE you REALLY want a slimmer pen. Instead of using an AAA battery, you could use 1-2 AAAA batteries, which have instead 8.3mm. So, it's a bit smaller than the Apple Pencil.
I think just one rechargeable AAAA battery would do, because the internal battery of the Apple is around the size of an AAAA battery (maybe slightly longer, even):
If a Microsoft surface pen can last 15 hours per charge (double the charge of the Apple pencil, 7-8 hours), I don't see why Apple wouldn't be able to pull this.
Apple is not microsoft, if replacable battery is the deal breaker or repairability, Microsoft is better bet.Technically, you are correct. The Apple pencil 2 has a diameter of 8.9 mm, whereas an AAA battery has a width of 10.5 mm. So, Modifying the Apple pencil to use a regular AAA battery would MAYBE add 2-3 millimeters to the Apple Pencil.
I personally think it's not that much, but...
SUPPOSE you REALLY want a slimmer pen. Instead of using an AAA battery, you could use 1-2 AAAA batteries, which have instead 8.3mm. So, it's a bit smaller than the Apple Pencil.
I think just one rechargeable AAAA battery would do, because the internal battery of the Apple is around the size of an AAAA battery (maybe slightly longer, even):
If a Microsoft surface pen can last 15 hours per charge (double the charge of the Apple pencil, 7-8 hours), I don't see why Apple wouldn't be able to pull this.
That's a generic statement that you can apply to anything as an excuse.
- Microsoft Word in Apple Silicon doesn't have all features as the x86 version.
- Apple is not Microsoft. Apple is Apple.
- Apple locks the SSD firmware on the Mac studio.
- Apple is not Microsoft. Apple is Apple.
- iPad's Stage Manager is severely limited.
- Apple is not Microsoft. Apple is Apple.
Now, of course Apple is not Microsoft. But that doesn't mean that Apple cannot or should not do better. In that particular example, they absolutely can make design a product that is more easily repairable by the user, but they deliberately chose not to because they think users will just purchase a new Apple Pencil and a shiny new iPad when their Apple Pencil goes bad (whereas they might instead get fed up and go for the competition).
You are wasting time with a wrong brand. Apple does its way, dont like it dont buy it. Every one freaked out when Iphone was introduced without an easy way to open battery or replace it. Pretty much whole industry went that way after iPhone. There is no end to opinions and wants of individuals. Apple doesnt owe anything to anyone, Apple has their own definition of doing better, and they follow their own strategy.
Like I said, you cant have it all, pick what is important and buy the right product.
You argued that adding an AAA battery in an Apple Pencil was impossible, and I proved it is possible.
Then you switched to saying Apple is right because they are Apple.
This is a forum where people who disagree will discuss ideas, not a forum to worship Apple.
Corporations aren't above the Law, free to do as they please. So much so that the UE is after Apple for anticompetitive practices and sideloading will soon be allowed.
I wouldn't be surprised if Apple were eventually sued for creating products that can't have their battery replaced, making them disposable.
There's even a precedence for that, when they made old batteries throttle without warning on the iPhone 6 / 6s.
szw-mapple fan
macrumors 68040
It's not that Apple wants to but can't make USB-C happen, they simply don't want to until they have to. There are plenty of engineers who can create these types of solutions at Apple.
I don’t know, I’d say hire the person that can show you something truly new, not just making a fairly minor tweak to someone else’s existing product.
Interesting. USB C should become standard port soon.
maerz001
macrumors 68030
Well u were asking if apple can mass produce usbc ports.
I just said that apple already does exactly this for 8 years in multiple products.
So i dont understand your point why covid should hinder them in putting usbc into airpods.
There is much more to making hardware changes than doing one offs. Nothing done by Apple is arbitrary.
Apple ships way more iPhones and AirPods than other devices with USBC. Changes at that scale don’t happen overnight or in vacuum. Last 2-3 years supply chains have been constrained with zero Covid policy in china. Apple wasn’t gonna rush to USBC for devices which sell in tens of millions.
There are cost considerations, yield from manufacturers, and other factors. Apple doesn’t have infinite resources, they do have to prioritize what features to roll out given their production, supply chain and sales channels capacity. Imagine being constrained for USBC components and not able to sell enough iPhones or an AirPods.
maerz001
macrumors 68030
Well if u believe.
Usbc is of the shelf component for a decade in the billions by all kind of manufacturers.
what can be more challenging for a product: integrate such a simple „old“ component or much more sophisticated parts like the camera system who have to be designed from scratch and customized just for apple?
Imho apple sticks to lightning just cos they make more money with licensing
iPhones have been manufactured for more than a decade. Yet there are yield issues, supply constraints when new models, components are introduced. Heck Macs have been there for ever, yet they are constrained by scale at times.Changing a production line isn’t easy as speculating on the macrumors site. Apple may not consider changing the whole production line for millions of devices to USB C as priority or feasible than some of the posters here. You need to look up how manufacturing, supply chain works.
Apple sure considers financial implications of changing a port, but not the only consideration.
I personally don’t See big deal about USB C, and I spend 25-30 weeks on the road in a year. Ton of hotels already have lightening ports to charge phones in the rooms, but I always carry 1 Cable for my Max/iPad pro and another lightening cable for iPhone. It makes no difference with USB C, I need to carry two cables anyways.