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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."
Sounds like both slashdot and hothhardware are using the iPhone to get clicks. The regulation is not targeting the iPhone. The iPhone would just have to meet any new regulations that come out. Just like any other electronics device that uses batteries.
Unbelievable isnt it. $85.95 to have your paid for and under contract toy taken away from you for 3 days and have the data wiped while you get the battery replaced and have to re sync everything. How have Apple managed to persuade people this is what passes for "it just works" in this day and age?
Do not try to read the dupe, thats impossible. Instead, only try to realize the truth
What truth?
There is no dupe
How? As soon as Apple releases a EU version with replaceable batteries, your point will become moot. They did the same thing with Windows XP, and it's not like Microsoft has any competition that needs protection.
Apple should have designed both devices with removable batteries. Not doing so was a disservice to the consumer as well as being eco-unfriendly.
I'm actually quite surprised at Apple's decision to lock the batteries in the device. The only thing I can think of is planned obsolescence to spur more sales. Which would be a pretty sleazy thing to do. [Or maybe a pretty profitable thing to do.]
While it may be a cash cow for the company, isn't an official battery replacement program a "good thing" environmentally?
Placing the responsibility to replace batteries on the corporation allows it to be monitored and regulated. Leaving battery replacement in the hands of users makes it easy to throw out the old battery with your weekly garbage collection. I have to be honest - I'm not sure what sort of battery programs are in my area and it seems like going out of my way considerably to find out. Besides, I doubt most people have any awareness of how its bad to dispose of batteries in the garbage... Until its made a priority on a large scale, what worth exists in wasting my time to do some small part?
Overclockers
It gives Apple plenty of time to work out how to build an iPod with a removable battery. They have until 2012.
Or it's a design thing. You know. No extra hinges, lines, anything.
Apparently after 400 recharges the battery is down to 80% of its life (I don't know how they've tested this). http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=327614
Given I've had to charge the battery twice a day on occasions and if you attach to a computer for itunes then that counts as a recharge, you can see how this would run out quicker than a normal battery.
Then again, you replace your phone every 18 months, why would you want a new battery when you're going to get rid of it soon?
Apple is obsessed with thin packaging. Look at the iPhone, nano, or iPod touch. A removable battery would add a good 2mm of thickness, which may not sound like much, but thats a good 30% increase in thickness.
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And it's not what the EU's looking for anyway. It has to be easily removable (I'm assuming with common or garden tools) by the end-user or any old electronics recycling facility. They're not going to take "you can send all the phones to us and pay us to take the batteries out" as an acceptable solution.
No kidding!!! What do you say at this point?
Don't get confused, what the EU are after is a removable battery that can be safely disposed of. It is not the same as replacable.
ie, it might be perfectly acceptable to have the battery fitted in such a way it can easily be ripped off the surface mount on the motherboard for disposal but in the process destroying the ipod/iphone.
What we (the ipod using public) have wanted is a user-replaceable battery - but we're unlikely to get this because not only does it add to the cost, complexity and size of the product, it also more importantly makes it less easy for Steve to sell us a newer ipod in 2 years time when the battery is still working but at that annoying "just not quite enough battery to last me the day" level.
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So? Nothing stops you from buying a replacement battery from Apple.
That's why you back up idiot.
Yes, and no.
While they can spin it very positively, the truth is, at that price you're better off buying a new player... and that's probably what they're hoping too (they are a business, after all...). And what do you do with your old player when you get a new one? ... chuck it. Very environmentally friendly.
If you want people to do the "right thing", you don't charge them through the nose to do it, you have to give them the fewest reasons *not* to do it... and in my book, an outrageous replacement price = reason not to replace.
Besides, when Apple had that massive battery recall a few years back, they sent my gf her new battery but with no way to return her old one (we're on Canada here). When she contacted them to ask how she could return it, they just responded "do whatever you want with it". Nice.
I agree about the lack of easily-accessible programs for recycling :( Our local enviro-coop has their own, but its not obvious...
Great, good for you. Typical American, only thinking of their specific situation. Just like Jobs, "if it's good for me, it's good for everyone!"
Ever think of someone that needs to carry a spare? A built-in battery on a phone is Busch League and I can't believe anyone ever bought... Oh wait, it's Apple junk, of course people bought it.
What do you think Apple does? Recycle batteries?
They ship them off to the cheapest "recycling" center they can find, and they in turn ship them off to Asia where they pay the local government a few bucks to dump toxic waste back by the river.
When this comes to light, Apple acts shocked, puts out some press about a new program to recycle batteries and shit, sends out some free return mailers for broken iPods, and then finds a new cheap "recycling" center to contract with.
This is what they ALL do (not just Apple), people.
As far as extended warranty programs, most are a rip off. The apple programs, however, at least on the pro laptops and the iphone, have shown value to me. These are expensive pieces of gear, and even 20% over a few years is not out of line. It takes care of the battery, and any damage. When you consider that ATT will charge you $175 in the US to break a contract, the $69 applecare is put into perspective, though it does not cover loss.
In general I would hate to see laws that required or forbade removable batteries. What I would like to see is more retailers forced to take back electronics that they sell, perhaps with a small discount if you buy an equivalent device. Straight money back might encourage theft. Non replaceable batteries are not an environmental problem, they are an engineering decision and customer preference. The envronmental problem is that consumers throw batteries and electronics away because there is no easy way to dispose of them properly.
"She's a scientist and a lesbian. She's not going to let it slide." Orphan Black
Except that most phone batteries I've seen (at least those sold by the original manufacturer as replacement parts or upgrades) are significantly more expensive than $20.
And the big issue is that if you want the battery to be user replaceable, you have to design the case to be easily openable by the end user. This puts constraints on the design of both the case and resulting battery that would likely make the current designs impossible to replicate. And it's those designs that are a substantial fraction of the devices' desirability in the marketplace. An iPhone that had a user replaceable battery would be an iPhone that sucks a little more than the current one, and IMHO it would not be a net benefit.
Have you met kettle? Just because it doesn't suit your personal needs, doesn't mean it's junk. Clearly Jobs was able to divine what would be good for a lot of people—I'm sure he's fine with losing out on your business because it sounds like you don't value the same types of features.
~ I am logged on, therefore I am.
...back up? No amount of backing up will allow you to talk on a cellular phone with no battery power. Some people go longer in between having access to a charger than the iPhone will operate, especially while talking (doubly so with the 3G). An extra battery would allow them to keep using it as, you know, a phone. It's a design flaw, pure and simple, and if you're feeling conspiracy-minded, it was a very deliberate design "flaw" to add an additional profit stream. I personally think it's just form and company control taking way too much precedence over function.
My blog. Good stuff (when I remember to update it). Read it.
It's why I'll never buy an ipod, or an iphone for that matter. In any case, I still fail to see why I should pay a premium for an mp3 player and a phone....
-- Fuck Beta
bullshit. every other cellphone has removable batteries and the european iphone market is very weak anyway.
"It's such a fine line between stupid and clever" -- David St. Hubbins, Spinal Tap
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Ewww... BAD beer.
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Let me guess... You live in the EU? I live predominantly in Asia and sell into the US and the EU. And as a source from Asia (China, South Korea, Taiwan, and Malaysia predominantly) the rules and regulations and taxation of the EU are EXTREMELY protectionist. Much more so than the US.
Browsing at +1 - no ACs, I ignore their posts. So refreshing!
>How have Apple managed to persuade people this is what passes for "it just works" in this day and age?
Because Apple buyers dont care. Geeks might care, but they dont.
If they did, they would not have bought the phone. Apple is a fashion statement first and a computer/phone/music company last. The idea of replacing something on a fashionable device is silly. The fashionistas wouldn't be seen dead with a 3 yrd old device. That's like wearing last years fashion.
Apple buyers also demand smooth and thin hardware. Adding a battery door will make the device slightly wider and fatter.
You need to stop thinking logically when it comes to Apple's popularity and start thinking of all this like a fashion show's ready to wear line.
Is it really that much of a burden to resync your device?
No, but having to mail it in for something as trivial as a battery replacement is.
"You can't allow somebody to commit the crime before you detain them." [Condoleezza Rice]
Wow, so instead of letting Apple replace the battery for free within the one year warranty, you bought a new device - yeah, you sure showed us what an clever, money-conscious guy you are.
Lars T.
To the guy who modded me down from perfect to terrible Karma - Apple haters still suck
Wow, so instead of letting Apple replace the battery for free within the one year warranty, you bought a new device - yeah, you sure showed us what an clever, money-conscious guy you are.
He ended up spending 'a few bucks more' to get a device with twice the storage & three times the battery life.
Its called not throwing good money after bad.
There are shills on slashdot. Apparently, I'm one of them.
This is positive legislation. It is going to ensure that customers have cheaper and competitive ways to replace batteries.
And just throw the old ones in the trash.
Lars T.
To the guy who modded me down from perfect to terrible Karma - Apple haters still suck
I believe it.
1) Adding a battery compartment would raise failure rates when dropped or manufactured as it would require additional parts such as a latch/catch, cover, battery bay, and battery clip.
2) Adding additional parts would entail a larger design, which pushes up packaging costs, reduces product density, and increases shipping costs.
3) A larger design makes the phone less attractive; as it stands the 3G iPhone is already slightly larger than the 2G iPhone.
4) The lack of the battery compartment is a design plus as the case is more rigid, more sound, and stronger, which means it is necessarily less complex, less heavy, and less fragile for the end user.
This holds true for any equipment which is user accessible vs non user accessible. Imagine how awkward/clumsy a laptop would be if the LCD were user removeable/replaceable? Hinges, latches, and connectors would be substantially weakened. The same would be true in a flip-phone too.
So it isn't merely a bug, the lack of replaceable battery is definitely a feature.
GPL Deconstructed
At least you provided some arguments that show how you believe the lack of an user serviceable battery is a feature, but I'm sorry, I think they are all BS. No offense, I hope. You could be right if a removable battery wasn't such a trivial thing to add. Even the position of the battery in the current iPhone design doesn't need to be changed: they just needed to provide a conector and latches. Heck, Apple didn't invent mobile phones, people been doing this since, like, forever. It wouldn't add much to the cost, weight, or bulk of the iPhone.
I will concede that the case as it is is more rigid though. But honestly, I would exchange that for a replaceable battery anytime. Someday the battery will die, and I will be forced to either exchange that on my own or pay a lot for it.
Where is that guy who'd die defending what I had to say when I need him?
I guess you have never tried a Nokia E61 or, for that matter, the many Windows Smartphones where even if youy don't like mobile IE, there is always Opera.
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