Louis Rossmann’s video is a good take on this. Basically the anti-repair stance they have held for so long is evolving into a passive approach where it is either too costly or too difficult to repair
this post was submitted on 25 Aug 2023
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Yea I'll believe it when I see it
What they are saying is that Apple is now fine with people repairing their own devices because the cost of the equipment/parts to replace parts in their own devices likely is more expensive than the average Joe is willing to sink into a DIY project, with none guaranteed results, as opposed to just send it to Apple for a repair.
Sure people can now send it to a third party for a fix but if the cost for a repair at a third party shop is marginally lower than an Apple repair, Apple is betting that a customer will likely choose them vs. a third party.
Apple will be gatekeepers over NEW replacement parts for their devices so it’s a win win win for them. They win if you buy their parts to replace parts, they win if you take it to a third party and you buy their parts and they win if you take it to Apple for service and repairs.
and they also win because they now get good PR as being “supportive” of the right to repair movement
Same as oil companies claiming they care about going green now after denying the mere existence of climate change tooth and nail for decades. Apple even already confirmed that they'll weasle their way out of the EU law for replacable phone batteries with the waterproof loophole.
Re Weaselling from EU rules: do you have a source? I am very interested.
I could only find a rumour that they were trying to circumvent it.
Which loophole is that again?
i hadn’t heard of it before but i found a verge article that says
The battery regulation contains an exemption for devices “that are specifically designed to be used, for the majority of the active service of the appliance, in an environment that is regularly subject to splashing water, water streams or water immersion.”
the actual legislation (linked in the verge article) says
… this Regulation should provide for a limited derogation for portable batteries from the removability and replaceability requirements set for portable batteries concerning appliances that incorporate portable batteries and that are specifically designed to be used, for the majority of the active service of the appliance, in an environment that is regularly subject to splashing water, water streams or water immersion and that are intended to be washable or rinseable. This derogation should only apply when it is not possible, by way of redesign of the appliance, to ensure the safety of the end-user and the safe continued use of the appliance after the end-user has correctly followed the instructions to remove and replace the battery. Where the derogation applies, the product should be designed in such a way as to make the battery removable and replaceable only by independent professionals, and not by end-users.
im far from being a legal expert and i know apple has its own private army of lawyers, but it seems like it will be an uphill battle to say the iphone qualifies for that exemption.
that would be quite a spurious argument, that exemption looks like it's for stuff like Go-pros.
Never believe mega corporations.
“The big exceptions are video game consoles and alarm systems.”
Why specifically exclude game consoles?
Because they lobbied hardest.
Not saying this is a good excuse, but I suspect it's related to DRM / cheating.
Video game consoles exist for the sole purpose of playing protected content, and they rely on part on verifying things haven't been tampered with to discourage creating.
Video game consoles exist for the sole purpose of playing protected content,
Consoles have never been good at handling protected content. I'm pretty sure they have higher piracy rates than PC, purely because PC will emulate them.
Pretty sure the main reason has always been form factor and self-contained. People get consoles because they don't want the setup that a PC entails. That and up until around 10 years ago maybe, PCs were prohibitively more expensive than consoles.
But hell, even back in the 90s my first experience with Pokemon was on no$GB
Why alarm systems???
Legal and liability nightmare I'd guess. Imagine someone dies in a house fire so they sue the repair shop, or insurance refuses to pay because you modified your alarm.
Nobody talking about fire alarms still
I'm guessing because then states would need to heavily modify code laws on things like fire alarm requirements. Those regulations are for anyone who might have to walk into your house.
There aren't regulations on security systems to my knowledge. Fire alarms work independent but they can optionally operate with a security system. Security systems are consumer devices, you can buy them yourself anywhere without any licensing or regulation.
For the same reason you need a licence in most places to install fire and security systems. If you make a mistake, people can die.
Who said fire?
The proposed legislation:
https://legiscan.com/CA/text/SB244/id/2832427
(ii) A product or component of an “alarm system” as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 7590.1 of the Business and Professions Code. Code, including a fire protection system, as defined in the California Fire Code.
That makes sense then. When you search alarm system anywhere else you will get results for security systems which these days are simple consumer devices that lock customers into sketchy proprietary "ecosystems" that require subscription services that prevent users from operating and repairing by themselves.
I would assume because at that point you have a PC.
Also, the EU is currently adopting a right-to-repair bill that will require all companies, including Apple, to only offer home-repairable devices starting 2027.
Apple just sees which way the wind is blowing and decided to hop on the bandwagon. Better to own and somewhat control it.
I couldn't really give two flying fucks what any business supports for legislation.
However, I do care that their opinions weigh more heavily than anyone else's.
Labor is too expensive, better to push it back on to the consumer and make bank on the parts
They've found a way for it to be more profitable than less, so now they're on board.