Germany Urges EU to Require 7 Years of Updates and Repairs for iOS Devices

[Shirasaki]

Nothing wrong with that mindset, it is after all, 100% correct. We are the BEST. We gave you apple, we shall take apple away. I don't support 3rd party companies repairing our devices either if they can't get the tooling right to adapt, then they die off. Apple should not have to change its design to cater to anyone, or stock/waste money on parts they will never need.

I am just tired of everyone attacking apple. Apple should say, make your own software and hardware if you want a different design and stick to their roots.

Sure, just quit all markets and go back to USA. At the end of the day the choice is here right?

Patriotism at its finest. Might as well apply this to other industries.

 

[alstrike]

It doesn’t specify full capacity though. Is it unreasonable to provide proportionally proper amount of parts for some occasional repair that happens way later?

Just for the heck of it, in Sydney, many times old style lights has been out of production for just a year or two, repairing those lights become infeasible due to lack of parts. That’s lights of all things. Unless the company goes bankrupt, I don’t see why it is that nonsensical, and certainly won’t be the issue for a company like apple.

Well here it was 5 years of spare parts, doubling that without doing proper research will lead to massive problems down the line.

 

[Shirasaki]

Well here it was 5 years of spare parts, doubling that without doing proper research will lead to massive problems down the line.

And you tell me the model we have right now is not causing problems? Rapidly piling up Ewaste due to rapid upgrade cycle and throwaway culture is good? We literally have to destroy the earth before realising what we are doing is wrong?

 

[rp2011]

Not for all people and not everyone wants to give up certain features that only old device has (cough) headphone jack (cough).

Also after all these years there is no globally collaborated recycle initiative and system in place. Dumping is still the main way of disposing electronics. Fewer dumping means better chance for us to not eat food that is poisoned by those dumped electronics.

Lol,
And where will we dump all these parts that were manufactured for no good reason after 7 years or storage costs?

 

[FreedomPenguin]

And you tell me the model we have right now is not causing problems? Rapidly piling up Ewaste due to rapid upgrade cycle and throwaway culture is good? We literally have to destroy the earth before realising what we are doing is wrong?

this is a technology forum, apple pro support. Not a savetheearth forum. please stop with your feelings about waste and such. It isn't warranted, nor do I care to read it, we can agree to disagree on everything, but stick to the topic of parts, not waste and mother earths life. she has no say in what we do. want to blame someone? blame china or something worth while. our iPhones are not going to destroy the damn earth

just a waste of time reading your save the earth comments. I get it, you care too much. move on. back to technology.

 

[Shirasaki]

Lol,
And where will we dump all these parts that were manufactured for no good reason after 7 years or storage costs?

So is dumping all of those perfectly functional device good just because it is “not the latest”?

I have to admit though, without concret number, such argument leads to nowhere and nobody can convince each other.

 

[Shirasaki]

this is a technology forum, apple pro support. Not a savetheearth forum. please stop with your feelings about waste and such. It isn't warranted, nor do I care to read it, we can agree to disagree on everything, but stick to the topic of parts, not waste and mother earths life. she has no say in what we do. want to blame someone? blame china or something worth while. our iPhones are not going to destroy the damn earth

just a waste of time reading your save the earth comments. I get it, you care too much. move on. back to technology.

Got it. Agree to disagree. Move on.
Btw, I do see your last bit of comment.

 

[Abazigal]

And you tell me the model we have right now is not causing problems? Rapidly piling up Ewaste due to rapid upgrade cycle and throwaway culture is good? We literally have to destroy the earth before realising what we are doing is wrong?

I suspect that's what Apple is attempting to address with their trade-in programme. It allows existing users to upgrade their older phones at a lower price, while supplying Apple with a steady stream of used handphones which they can then refurbish before reselling in the gray market.

At the same time, you are able to go to an Apple store to have your iPhone battery replaced, iPhones are made out of fairly durable materials, and Apple is clearly committed to supporting them with software updates for 5-6 years minimum. So iPhones already enjoy a fair amount of longevity compared to cheaper android models which are literally "buy and throw away", not to mention that aluminium is more readily recyclable than plastic at any rate.

The removal of the charging brick also means slimmer packaging which means less carbon emissions from shipping them around the planet, plus less e-waste generated if people already have existing chargers they can use.

Granted, I acknowledge that all these also bear some financial benefit to Apple, but that's not to say they are completely without merit.

 

[Blowback]

Security, yes. Repair parts, maybe not so much. Apple could probably do it, but android makers don’t build in the same quantity that Apple does.

I really dislike the EU dictating to American companies.

Std: Unelected/Pols who lost last election etc. bureaucrats looking to ‘have power/a say’ and show their ‘worth’. SOP.

 

[Shasterball]

The sad part is the society as a whole would probably only acknowledge that well until it is way too late and we are approaching ultimate extinction.

Let's have more faith. We can each do our little part. I have young kiddos -- trust me, it makes a difference

 

[D_J]

I have no idea where you're getting that logic from? Firstly 7-10 years for a smartphone? No way. Technology advances way too fast to expect a smartphone to be usable for that length of time. Perhaps a basic non-smart phone but the common smartphone with today's technologies is kind of over-the-top to expect a 10 year usage out of it other than perhaps checking the weather and making basic calls.

In terms of a vacuum they will only last as long as the money spent on them. I have a Miele vacuum which I've had for 13 years running and it's perfect but I spent over $1200USD for it. I spent that much because cheap vacuums $200USD and under lose suction and break down. And don't get me started with Dyson's overpriced junk or those Shark crapvumes.

11 year-old Dyson here. No issues.

 

[Solomani]

I doubt the EU has the courage to impose these laws to ANY Chinese tech company like Huawei or Xiaomi..... they'd be bankrupted if they were legally forced to "support" (tech support, material support, parts and labor repairs) their old devices from 4 years past.

Again, the EU being selective hypocrites... they are singling out the big successful US companies. No surprise here.

 

[mrex]

Is anyone in the EU smart enough to realize that older, less capable devices with little memory cannot run the newer OS?
Why should newer, more capable OS be required to be dumbed down to run on outdated hardware?

iphone 6s still working like a charm being an old phone. Less capable? for selfies? sure, for sending messages, communicating..? no, twitter, snapchat, whatsapp, instagram blablabla works still the same.

If the new os is too much, then it is too much - it doesnt mean that they cannot make security fixes for old os.

did you already forget how optimized the ios was said to be - running with 1gb when android needed 4gb.. oh wait.. my iphone 12 today, cannot do the same my 1gb android did a decade ago. optimized? for sure… for surveillance.

At least apple has a good marketing people to be able to sell you a new (same) iphone on every year.

 

[frenchcamp49er]

And the average Mercedes lifespan in an EU country is probably 15. Case closed. Repairable products and available spare parts are a cornerstone of that industry.

So the warranty and OEM parts from a dealer should be available for 15 years, case is now closed.

 

[Tuba]

I doubt the EU has the courage to impose these laws to ANY Chinese tech company like Huawei or Xiaomi..... they'd be bankrupted if they were legally forced to "support" (tech support, material support, parts and labor repairs) their old devices from 4 years past.

Again, the EU being selective hypocrites... they are singling out the big successful US companies. No surprise here.

EU laws apply to all companies wishing to do business in the EU. No one is being singled out by anyone but journalists and internet commenters.

 

[alstrike]

And you tell me the model we have right now is not causing problems? Rapidly piling up Ewaste due to rapid upgrade cycle and throwaway culture is good? We literally have to destroy the earth before realising what we are doing is wrong?

This is a really bad take.

So according to you Apple (or Samsung or whatever) should produce at least another 30-40% (random number) of screens, batteries, logic boards, screws, buttons etc and just keep them in storage for 10 years "just in case".

I'm not against recycling and refurbishing. What really rubs me the wrong way is that the law that was passed (in my country) is really stupid and it's just to keep the consumer "happy", but those same customers don't realize that the bulk of those warranty extensions and storage costs are gonna end coming out their own pockets.

Go from 5 years of spare parts (which in electronics is long time) to 10 years, what could go wrong? Not to mention this was approved unilaterally by the coalition government, manufacturers and retailers had no say whatsoever.

 

[ksec]

While there may be an exchange rate addition, Apple can hedge most exchange rate risk so 8.5% would be, IMHO, high for just exchange rate fluctuations; which is why I think at least some % is to account for legal requirements. Since it is amortized across all units sold it needed be too high. I suspect the delta is higher for Macs given the higher repair costs.

It was exchange rate and pricing numbers ( As it always has been even before iPhone era ) i.e Apple always round it "up" to their preferred pricing number. The factor / calculation changed sometime during mid 10s when there was a massive change of exchange rate in short period of time. Either Strong US or Weak Euros. The subsequent year Apple has since changed that calculation to better reflect on those risk. Which was documented somewhat in one of their Annual report or investor meeting.

The legal requirement aren't actually that much different mostly because in the US you have class action which is in someway substantially costly than any requirement in EU or other market like Japan or China.

 

[Wildkraut]

this is a technology forum, apple pro support. Not a savetheearth forum. please stop with your feelings about waste and such. It isn't warranted, nor do I care to read it, we can agree to disagree on everything, but stick to the topic of parts, not waste and mother earths life. she has no say in what we do. want to blame someone? blame china or something worth while. our iPhones are not going to destroy the damn earth

just a waste of time reading your save the earth comments. I get it, you care too much. move on. back to technology.

I see, your country really should stop fracking, drinking that gas water isn’t good for you.

 

[whatgift]

Nothing wrong with that mindset, it is after all, 100% correct. We are the BEST.

Lol that’s highly debatable - being more successful doesn’t make it the best.

 

[nexusrule]

Security, yes. Repair parts, maybe not so much. Apple could probably do it, but android makers don’t build in the same quantity that Apple does.

I really dislike the EU dictating to American companies.

Nobody forces them to operate and sell in Europe, being American doesn’t make them special or above the regulation of the countries they want to be in.

 

[nexusrule]

Nothing wrong with that mindset, it is after all, 100% correct. We are the BEST. We gave you apple, we shall take apple away. I don't support 3rd party companies repairing our devices either if they can't get the tooling right to adapt, then they die off. Apple should not have to change its design to cater to anyone, or stock/waste money on parts they will never need.

I am just tired of everyone attacking apple. Apple should say, make your own software and hardware if you want a different design and stick to their roots.

what’s hilarious about the mindset if that it doesn’t take into account that the company you cheer for would never leave Europe because it only cares about profits and they couldn’t care less about this kind of nationalist pride. Lots of employees of American tech companies are not even Americans, they produce their products in China, and have no issues at all keeping their money overseas to not pay taxes to the American government.

 

[Benjamid]

5 years of OS & security updates and 5 years of parts for electronics; sounds like a great idea to me. If it is six or seven. Even better.

Maybe manufacturers will start to standardize some of their parts design and sizes a little, as to not have all different parts per model.

So what you’re saying is it will slow down innovation? (Insert Kathy Newman voice)

 

[poi ran]

EU laws apply to all companies wishing to do business in the EU. No one is being singled out by anyone but journalists and internet commenters.

Yes, if anything, this is good for Apple. And possibly Samsung and some other big companies. Manufacturers focusing on many cheap models will have a harder time (or try to ignore rules).

This whole story makes me think of when the US "forced" European car makers to add expensive catalytic converters to the cars, reducing horse power from (example) 325 to 311, a complete disaster, nobody could drive Mercedes or BMW anymore. Right? No, it was a good decision, a few years later all new cars in the EU as well had catalytic converters.

 

[Xenden]

Don’t enter EU market if EU policy is not with your liking. Ezpz. Otherwise, deal with these problems.

Again, my problem is that EU countries seem to have a problem with American tech companies.

A great example is Spotify complaint to the EU about Apple. Even though both were competing in the American market. Spotify went to the legal venue they thought they would have the best luck in

Nobody forces them to operate and sell in Europe, being American doesn’t make them special or above the regulation of the countries they want to be in.

If Apple were to exit the market, the EU would lose more than Apple would.

 

[ericwn]

So the warranty and OEM parts from a dealer should be available for 15 years, case is now closed.

Nope but it goes to show that repairable products lead to a much longer product life. Getting that concept into the throwaway smartphone society is the real challenge for innovation but is definitely possible in a maturing market that has long plateaued.