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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."
You mean this iPhone battery replacement program?
$85.95! That's a lot of milk.
Slightly disreputable, albeit gregarious
A lot of times I'd agree with you (the EU is HIGHLY protectionist) but in this case it doesn't work. Go to any cell phone outlet in Asia - look at even the Chinese-only or Korean-only cell phones. ALL have removable batteries. Samsung, Motorola, LG, Palm, RIM, pretty much everyone uses replaceable batteries. Except Apple.
Browsing at +1 - no ACs, I ignore their posts. So refreshing!
The flip side of the coin is then Apple handheld products, like everything else, will be subjected to the usual flood of crappy, knock-off, sub-standard aftermarket batteries we've all come to know and hate passionately. Apple may have designed these devices in such a way that they've created a monopoly on battery replacement, but on the other hand at least you know you're getting a proper battery.
My Sansa E2?? doesn't have an easy popout battery that I can find. I haven't looked close enough but it has a few screws on the back.
To some people what's the difference between a tiny screwdriver and a case splitter for the iPod. If I did get inside it's not like the battery is something I could go down to Best Buy and get. So how is it any more easily replaced?
Fractional charges only count as fractional charges. If your iphone is at 80% and you plug it into your computer and it charges up to 100% that is only 1/5th of a charge. You can do that 5 more times before you have even used a single recharge.
"In America, first you get the sugar, then you get the power, then you get the women..." -H. Simpson
I assume you are talking about the e2xx series. The battery is very easy to replace. The replacement kit even comes with instructions and a screw driver. Only costs $20. http://go.shopsansa.com/content/batterykit Both my wife and I have e2xx series players. We love them. One of the big draws was the replaceable battery for $20.
Could you please point me to the model you have? I can only find 4-8GB flash players. One review even has It's bulky for a flash player. as a "The Bad".
I just went to Insignia's website and found 2 models. A 4GB MP3 player and an 8GB Video/MP3 player. (Aside from their website seemingly written by 2 completely different groups, both had different units, 4GB in metric, 8GB in English)
4GB
Dimensions:
15mm X 46mm X 102mm (.59" X 1.8" X 4.0")
Weight: 0.068 kg (2.4 oz)
8GB
Dimensions:
10.16mm X 40.65 mm X 83.83mm (0.4" X 1.6" X 3.3")
Weight: 0.060kg (2.1 oz.)
This is the specs for the current Nano (which comes in 8 or 16 GB).
Dimensions:
6.2mm X 38.7mm X 90.7mm (0.24" X 1.5" X 3.6")
Weight:
0.037 grams (1.3 ounces)
And here's a "big ole" iPod Classic. .140 kg (4.9 ounces)
Dimensions:
10.5 mm X 61.8 mm X 103.5 mm (0.41" X 2.4" X 4.1")
Weight:
So by "not making the device any larger" you mean making the device larger? Not to mention the for the difference between the Nano and the Insignia, you could go up to a Classic and have 15X the storage space.
What tool with mod points modded this informative?
I believe it. 10 years of Apple products is more than convincing:
iPod->iPod touch (notice how thin it got)
iBook->MacBook Air (notice how small/thin it got)
And you use the word "anticompetitive" in a funny way. You make it sound like Apple's business motive is making money off battery replacements. Apple sells iPods/Macs/iPhones, not batteries. The battery is an incidental, and probably even less profitable than the iTunes store.
The thin design has multiple benefits for Apple:
Higher product density (therefore higher profits per cubic foot storage)
Smaller products are cheaper to ship (lower costs per cubic foot shipping)
Smaller products require less packaging (lower cost per unit)
Smaller products require less material (lower cost per unit)
So there are many reasons beyond design or anticompetitive to make things small/thin
GPL Deconstructed
That's a business decision designed on purpose to make people want to upgrade more often than they need to. "oh well, this battery sucks now and the new models are out anyway, and..." That's how that works. Even larger ticket items with batteries like laptops that still have a good used market are almost invariably sold when the built in batteries are mostly hosed, it's a psychological deal there. Especially when the OEM replacement battery is half what the unit is worth, or even more. A variant on planned obsolescence. Anytime there is a hassle for user serviceability with any appliance or gadget, look in that direction. Look at cellphones, this is common as anything, the batteries can typically cost more than another brand new cheap phone of similar make/model. Here's a better analogy, inkjet printers and replacement carts. I don't know how many people just go get another cheap as heck printer once they get sticker shock on a black and white and color cartridge, compared to the cost of yet another cheap inkjet. I know it is false economy, but these manufacturers always seem to do this with parts and so on. I've never done the study but it would be intertesting to say take a car, and see how much it would cost to recreate it all with replacement parts at normal car parts store and then at dealers retail prices. I bet a 20 grand car would cost over a hundred grand if you tried to build one that way.
Anyway, I like that they are forcing the issue, sealed blackbox gadgets are not any sort of fav for me, just gives me the creeps being a long time nerd and tinkerer. If I can't open it up and play, I don't want the dang thing (probably why I don't own an ipod or iphone). I remember a long time ago going out and getting a long torx screwdriver just so I could take my mac (first computer I owned) 512k apart (still have it, BTW). That was annoying. Couldn't just use a normal phillips or anything. Just wanted to see the inside, hated not being able to do it easier without a special tool. Hate that "special tool" nonsense that manufacturers love..anything to gouge a few more pennies out of you or make it a hassle so you use their "special" repair shops.