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EU Wants Removable Batteries In iPhones

MojoKid writes "Current regulation, introduced with the Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive (RoHS) in July of 2006, primarily sought to prevent the unnecessary use of toxic metals in batteries as well as making it easier to recycle and dispose of used batteries. The updated 'New Batteries Directive,' as discussed in New Electronics by Gary Nevision, would go much further. Article 11 of the directive, as currently written, would require that devices must be made in such a way as to allow batteries, either for replacement or at end of life for disposal to be 'readily removed.' Of course, Apple's iPhones and iPods wouldn't meet this requirement, as it stands. It's obvious that an iPhone battery replacement program could be considered a cash cow for Apple as well."

3 of 320 comments (clear)

  1. Re:iPhone users by couchslug · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    "Have you ever been in a car with an Apple product user?"

    Yes, and the way the backs of their heads hit the bottom of the steering wheel is quite distracting!

    --
    "This post is an artistic work of fiction and falsehood. Only a fool would take anything posted here as fact."
  2. Re:Good point by repvik · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    If that's the reasoning they're following, I hope they also look at the iPhones bluetooth (for not being able to do *shit*, while all other phones can).

  3. Those silly EU nuts by A440Hz · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    Slightly OT, so mod away.

    RoHS is just one of those outgrowths of a nanny-state mindset, but one that has bitten Apple before, ironically enough. One of the chips that was a display driver famously would become desoldered. This was a mechanical/packaging/board layout issue, but some good old lead-based solder would have been much more flexible. D--n that RoHS!

    The EU also implemented a standard for products that mandates the harmonics that a power supply can reflect back onto the power lines. This affects power supply design. Of course, it makes supplies for the EU market more expensive because of the need for an added series choke on the mains wiring.