Yep...because this is what the POTUS should be concerning himself with.......
United States President Joe Biden plans to direct the U.S. Federal Trade Commission to create new right to repair rules that would affect tech companies like Apple, reports Bloomberg.
The rules would prevent manufacturers from limiting consumers' options for repairing products at independent repair shops or on their own, and the presidential directive is expected to mention mobile phone developers as an area for possible regulation. The FTC will be able to decide on the size and the scope of the order, so it is not yet clear how Apple might be impacted.
Multiple states have proposed right to repair legislation, which Apple has continually lobbied against. Apple claims that allowing independent repair shops to work on Apple devices without oversight would lead to security, safety, and quality issues. Many of the right to repair bills that have circulated call on tech companies to provide repair manuals and easy access to device components for repair purposes.
Apple does its own repairs in house at Apple retail stores and repair centers around the world, but it also works with Apple Authorized Service Providers to provide repair options. AASPs are managed by Apple and must meet Apple requirements, with some repairs and components limited.
When Right to Repair bills began surfacing, Apple also launched a worldwide Independent Repair Program that is designed to provide repair shops that are not AASPs with genuine parts, tools, repair manuals, and diagnostics for performing out-of-warranty repairs on Apple devices.
Repair shops have complained that Apple's program is too limited as it requires an Apple-certified technician to perform the repairs (available under a free program), and some parts are not provided to independent repair shops.
Biden's executive order is expected to be released in the coming days, and White House economic adviser Brian Deese on Friday said that it is meant to spur "greater competition in the economy" as well as lower prices for American families.
Back in November, the European Parliament also voted to develop new Right to Repair rules that will require companies to provide explicit information about the repairability and lifespan of products on consumer packaging. Under the terms of this order, manufacturers will need to provide a repair score, something that France has already enacted.
Article Link: U.S. President Joe Biden to Direct FTC to Draft Right to Repair Rules
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U.S. President Joe Biden to Direct FTC to Draft Right to Repair Rules
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Don't agree. Currently devices are getting harder and harder to repair and that's wrong. if it dies you have to buy a new one, creating e-waste. Right to Repair allows one to be able to repair their device if it breaks. if you buy something, you own it and can do what ever the hell you want meaning if it breaks you can fix it. With the right guide from iFixit you can repair just about anything or if you don't feel like repairing it yourself, you can send it to Rossmann Group or iPad Rehab. It's all about keeping devices around longer.
The "scammers" are already out and about now and yesterday regardless of the regulation. The Right to repair gives proper components and tools to the legit repairers, instead of everybody relying on black market.
Repair shops would like to be able to purchase OEM batteries, even Louis of Rossmann Group said he would love to be able to purchase directly from Apple for a subscription or some kind of fee.
I got the battery replaced in my older phone (iPhone X) recently at an Apple store, while I waited. It took a bit longer than expected, but they did a fine job; from what I asked, the water resistance is still good; and it's normal that they have to replace a speaker as part of removing and replacing the battery - so the cost ($69 US), with reliable parts, seems reasonable enough to me. And in case there had been a problem, they'd have replaced the phone at no additional cost.
Could I get all that for less from an independent or semi-independent place? Maybe; but if not, the savings wouldn't be worth it to me.
Could I get all that for less from an independent or semi-independent place? Maybe; but if not, the savings wouldn't be worth it to me.
I see. So people who are more tech savvy and knowledgeable or even capable of performing the repairs themselves should be punished because some people you know got scammed or taken advantage.
The "harder to repair" is not wrong, it is inevitable due to the miniaturization and integration of technology. But independent repairers are resourceful as well. I'm still amazed at how they can manually remove microchips from a board. So the best course of action is for companies to at least allow access to schematics and proper parts instead of locking those down.
Apple has no Apple stores in my country, and the official distributor doesn't have much interest in supporting (they cared more about selling). It ends up being the independent repair shops helping customers out, to the point that some of them provide much better customer service than the official channels.
You can install a new water resistant seal but agree that it will never be like from the factory but don't agree with your other point. It just creates more e-waste. Repairing devices allows them to stay around longer which is a good thing.
What I meant by "herder to repair," for example Apple uses pentalobe screws and once the device is open, they use many different size screws and heads and battery pull tabs just to make it harder for the average technician. They could make it easy by using one screw size and a battery that is easy to remove.
Yes, in your country inependent repair shops are crucial and there are many places that don't have an Apple store or the store is 2 or 4 hours away.
Apple is actually the better one. Pull tabs are standard on Apple devices, that makes it easier to take out the old battery. Samsung OTOH doesn't do that, making it much harder and more dangerous trying to take out the potentially explosive battery. I give Apple credit where it's due.
The problem here is that Apple doesn't provide schematics (even if people want to pay for it) and prohibits their component makers from selling the parts to anybody else other than Apple. Basically, independent repairers have to resort to the dark web for leaked schematics, and have to recycle parts themselves (or obtain them from the grey market) just to help Apple's own customers (who are usually ignored by Apple because they have old devices, or are forced to pay too much money for a simple problem).
The most successful consumer electronics company in the history of the planet has created a problem by engineering their product offerings as they think is best?
We should all be so lucky to have created these kind of "problems" for ourselves.
To answer @poematik13 post. You just have to go with a reputable third party repair place. The kiosks aren't the ones to go to especially in a mall. Here are a few good ones. Louis of Rossmann Repair Group or Jessa of iPad Rehab. They know their stuff.
So to sum it up, I hope it does pass. We need less e-waste and devices to stay around longer which is better for the environment and you as a consumer.
I truly don't understand your point. If there was right to repair, you would still be able to do what you did. Nothing changes for you. ????????
Don't agree with the first paragraph at all. Not sure if you've repaired a phone before but based on experience pull tabs are a pain in the ass. What happens if the pull tab breaks when you try to pull it out, then what? It's just as dangerous as one has to pry out the battery and hope that it doesn't get punctured. Apple could easly solve this by making it easier to remove the battery like what the first person said which you quoted.
Second paragraph, spot on Apple needs to provide schematics even if they were available to repair shops like Rossmann groups for a fee, it would be a lot better and easier to obtain.
Adding my anecdote here...
Got an iPad (brand new, engraved) about a month or two before the next gen model was released. 2 weeks after the new unit was received, the display started acting weird. Sent into Apple, and they sent me a replacement. Replacement unit had a year old battery in it, that after about 14 months later was showing <80% health remaining. I just had it replaced again a week ago. I have old iPads and iPhones (4-5 years old now) that still have battery health at 90-94%. So, having one at <80% after owning it for only 14 months is kinda bad.
I post this here not in support of Apple, but to illustrate that Apple can still ship out crappy quality products to its customers. It's not something unique to just third-party repair shops.
Lotta posters here need to bring Apple down off the proverbial pedestal. They aren't perfect.
Got an iPad (brand new, engraved) about a month or two before the next gen model was released. 2 weeks after the new unit was received, the display started acting weird. Sent into Apple, and they sent me a replacement. Replacement unit had a year old battery in it, that after about 14 months later was showing <80% health remaining. I just had it replaced again a week ago. I have old iPads and iPhones (4-5 years old now) that still have battery health at 90-94%. So, having one at <80% after owning it for only 14 months is kinda bad.
I post this here not in support of Apple, but to illustrate that Apple can still ship out crappy quality products to its customers. It's not something unique to just third-party repair shops.
Lotta posters here need to bring Apple down off the proverbial pedestal. They aren't perfect.
I'm all for right to repair. But not a free for all, unregulated nonsense. The shop needs to show they are qualified (pass Apple's certification) and the need to be held accountable. That means people complaining about a crappy phone repair should not be allowed to blame Apple. Unless Apple screwed up.
Mechanics have to be certified. I don't see why it should be different with computers and devices. I would add a higher level certification as well, like in other industries. I've seen the difference in quality between an electrician's and a master electrician's work to merit the extra expense on certain jobs. I would want an Apple Master Technician working on my machine if it's a major issue.
Mechanics have to be certified. I don't see why it should be different with computers and devices. I would add a higher level certification as well, like in other industries. I've seen the difference in quality between an electrician's and a master electrician's work to merit the extra expense on certain jobs. I would want an Apple Master Technician working on my machine if it's a major issue.
I would settle for a provision that requires user serviceable ram and storage in all computers.
Lol louis rossman the guy who got caught smuggling a bunch of counterfeit batteries and whos entire web presence revolves around monetizing apple hateboyism? No thanks
Service should be directly through apple only. These are precision devices that only the mothership should touch, and its better for $AAPL that way too.
Im not taking my ferrari to jiffylube
It is true. If you're a certified Apple repair shop which Rossmann is not. He is in-fact the source of my very post about the onerous terms Apple puts on repair shops and how they cannot acquire stock beforehand for certain parts (like displays, logic boards etc). This is why I said the problem with Apples official program.
Since he isn't working within Apples system he can do what he likes and is able to acquire parts from any source. Those within Apples official program don't have that same luxury. If Apple finds them acquiring parts, chopping up purchased systems for spares and so forth they will be dropped from the program.
That's not going to be useful if Apple prohibits anyone from getting those components. That's the actual problem. Independent repairers are creative and resourceful people, and they can get around whatever Apple designed, but their efforts usually ends because they simply cannot get the replacement parts since Apple prohibits the component makers from selling those parts to anyone else other than Apple.
If you force Apple to have user serviceable RAM and storage, Apple then can simply use proprietary connectors for their RAM and storage with the excuse of performance, making it impossible for users to upgrade them other than buying BTO from Apple.
The Veil of Apple is slowly being taken away and more and more people are finally waking up to just how badly Apple's been ****ing them over for years.
It'll be ok Apple Faithful. Those of us who woke up years ago will be here to help you
It'll be ok Apple Faithful. Those of us who woke up years ago will be here to help you
In addition to this I want to say something to people who are always defending Apples behaviour regardless of facts.
If you love Apples products then you should want them to do better. Think back to any time Apple added a feature to a product and you said to yourself "finally, I've wanted that for ages!". This is really no different to those times.
If you applaud Apples focus on racial equality, ecological protection, manufacturing sustainability, workers rights and tracing the creation of their products right from the raw material mines through to manufacturing and delivery then you like when Apple makes positive changes.
Apple hasn't been doing all of these things from day 1. It has taken decades for each of these things to happen. The right to repair movement just wants access to accurate repair information and spare parts. The movement is not asking for Apple to redesign their products with a focus on making them easier to repair. The movement isn't asking for easily removable batteries and bulkier enclosures. That ship has long since sailed.
So just think and consider how making things more repairable (through repair manuals and spare part availability) whether by yourself or independent repair shops will help the world just as Apples focus on renewable energy and their closed-loop manufacturing ambitions will help the world. Less waste, less things thrown away instead of being repaired and kept for longer that is the goal.
Got it, I was considering working for Apple at one point and even got Apple certified and then learned my hands would be tied behind my back and it would be very limited in what I could do so decided not to pursue it. I wish Apple could be more open but time will tell and let's see how this progresses.
Why shouldn't he? A president needs to safeguard the country and its citizens, whether it be from missiles or unfair business practices.