Precisely. These mobile devices are quite sophisticated in 2022. They're not just a casing around a simple logic board with rudimentary input toggles/switches. These aren't the Nokia candybar cellphones you grew up with...
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iFixit Says Apple's Self Service Repair Program is Great Step, But Has a Catch
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Being indignant doesn't make you credentialed sufficiently to have an informed opinion either.
iFixit had a more credible voice before they also had a financial interest in this.
Very simple. The battery is made of rolled layers of lithium covered foil and insulator. These provide a compact, flat package. The compromise is that the pack is very easy to damage if you flex it because of the layers being compressed and sliding across each other. The effect of damaging a pack is a "thermal event" as they call it in the service manual. So the key requirement is that the pack is kept stable and flat. That can be entered in the design process for the phone resulting in (most likely) the following requirements:
1. Stable mounting -> decrease thermal event risk.
2. Easy to assemble with automation -> lower TCO of manufacturing, increase throughput
3. Thinness -> smaller devices, less mass, less material cost.
4. Relative ease of replacement -> 0 to 1 times per device lifespan at average.
When you put those in, an adhesive tab strip attached to the rigid frame comes out as the best engineering solution (do a Kepner-Tregoe decision analysis or throw some Six Sigma in there if you're that way inclined).
You don't have to believe me. I mean I could upload my graduation photo but it's terribly embarrassing. Better to show me lying in a gutter in Cambridge afterwards... actually no probably not. I'm lying on a kebab.
I'd argue the other way - that designing a product around existing tools just adds design constraints. Yes, it's bad for right-to-repair, but I don't think it's bad design unless self-repair is part of the design brief, which it clearly isn't at Apple.
“Take it to Apple” could mean an 8-hour one-way drive in some parts of the country (yes, even to an AASP).
you're happy now iFixit? bunch of...
1. To counter anecdote with anecdote I've never had a problem with iFixit parts, nor has anyone else I know, their parts are consistently good quality in my experience.
2. iFixits teardowns and guides have been invaluable to me over the years.
3. iFixit is doing fine, I think they're actually higher profile now than they used to be, and they just inked a deal with Google for Pixel parts and repairs.
And it also prevent legitimate 2nd hand used devices with certain broken parts to be used for repair parts...
iFixit is a lifestyle business (they make money when you buy iFixit kits and made $21 million in 2016 which was the last year that was disclosed), they need a hill to die on (company mission to attract active employees and be in the news), which keeps them relevant (and getting featured in all the different YouTube videos).
Pure negative speculation just to make a good thing Apple is doing look bad. And it’s a total strawman.
Apple does it well. Linking to serial numbers makes it pointless to steal or sell a used iPhone with counterfeit parts. This is great for buyers of second-hand well-repaired devices.
On the other hand... if returning it to the owner is not possible, reusing the parts is still better than throwing the whole device away.
That sounds more like a problem for iFixit and non-authorized Apple-repair shops and not so much a problem for customers.
Yes. Because if there's something that is very well known for not being a blatant cash grab, it's extended warranties.
My previous Samsung Note 8 phone is exactly one of those phones. It is easily just as portable, light, and well designed as anything that ever came out of Cupertino.
Yup...'Right to Repair" is total BS. I mean, you can certainly preform your own gallbladder removal too. Just maybe, I'd propose that there are times and situations when 'right to repair' is meaningless. As devices get smaller and more advanced, crazy uncle Joe (Who 'just knows' how to fix things with tape and rubber bands) out in his garage shouldn't touch the devices.
If phones are marked as stolen, why should that prevent you from repairing them? Presumably, it would be far better to still be able to repair whatever was broken on the phone by whomever stole it, and then have that phone returned to its rightful owner, wouldn't it?
There is zero reason to tie out-of-warranty repairs to a serial number.
If you read the actual article, it's more of a praise on Apple stepping up than anything else.
So essentially, if you own the tools already, replacing your battery is $20 cheaper than taking your device in, or mailing it in. If you don't already have the tools, the cost of parts plus the tool kit rental means a repair cost significantly higher than just having Apple do it.
Plus, you then get to assume ALL of the risk when something goes wrong during the repair.
When we were a repair center, there were plenty of times when things would go wrong, such as a screen cracking when taking the device apart, ribbon cables getting damaged during the repair, etc. And this is with experienced technicians.
It's cool that this option exists now, but people are going to freak out when things don't go as planned, that's for sure!
The economics of being an authorized service center have gotten pretty crazy. As Apple stated, the price they are charging to end users is the SAME price they charge their authorized repair centers. ie, zero margin available for the repair shop, and $20 of room to charge for labor, plus they get to deal with all of the risk of doing the repair.
It's no wonder that legit phone repair shops are flash in the pan younger kids that think it's a great opportunity until reality kicks in.
Plus, you then get to assume ALL of the risk when something goes wrong during the repair.
When we were a repair center, there were plenty of times when things would go wrong, such as a screen cracking when taking the device apart, ribbon cables getting damaged during the repair, etc. And this is with experienced technicians.
It's cool that this option exists now, but people are going to freak out when things don't go as planned, that's for sure!
The economics of being an authorized service center have gotten pretty crazy. As Apple stated, the price they are charging to end users is the SAME price they charge their authorized repair centers. ie, zero margin available for the repair shop, and $20 of room to charge for labor, plus they get to deal with all of the risk of doing the repair.
It's no wonder that legit phone repair shops are flash in the pan younger kids that think it's a great opportunity until reality kicks in.
I see where you are coming from.
As an automotive engineer myself, we can take apart the whole ICE vehicle with socket set, basic garage tools and a lot of muscle.
But here is the thing though. What if this is intentional to prevent ordinary people from opening it up?
Some good points there.
Also worth pointing out that when they replaced the faulty screen on my iPhone 6s, they had to put two new screens on it before one worked. The repair bill at the time was nearly £700 written off on warranty.
YMMV but there are risks to consider here. For me the option is only:
1. Buy the thing up front in cash new, with AppleCare.
2. Use it until the AppleCare period is up.
3. Buy the next thing to replace it.
4. Sell the old thing directly on eBay to someone.
No repair risk and lowest TCO of ownership then.