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Apple Says Sorry For iPhone Error 53 and Issues IOS 9.2.1 Update To Fix It (betanews.com)
Mark Wilson writes: Apple has a lot of support at the moment for its stance on encryption and refusing the FBI access to an iPhone's contents, but it's only a couple of weeks since the company was seen in a less favorable light. There was quite a backlash when users found that installing an update to iOS resulted in Error 53 and a bricked iPhone. Apple initially said that Error 53 was caused 'for security reasons' following speculation that it was a bid to stop people from using third party repair shops. iFixit suggested that the problem was a result of a failure of parts to correctly sync, and Apple has been rounding criticized for failing to come up with a fix. Today the company has issued an apology, along with an update that ensures Error 53 won't happen again. But there's more good news ... If you were talked into paying for an out of warranty replacement as a result of Error 53, you could be in line to get your money back.
OK... Before I get savaged.... They ARE refunding anybody who has paid Apple to repair their phone.... No mention of those who just purchased a new phone though...
"File to fit, pound to insert, paint to match" - Aircraft Maintenance 101
The other great part about this is ... its because people are cheaping out on a repair for a $650+ device. People are idiots. Buy a cheap repair, you deserve your phone bricked for stupidity.
You are travelling and in some 3rd world location, it might be for your job. You might need your phone for survival (trust me, if you travel in out of the way places a smart phone really can be a survival accessory). The screen breaks. Shipping it to a certified Apple repair place might take months and cost rather a lot, what with secure shipping etc. So you get it repaired locally. It happens and its not 'cheaping out'.
In the free world the media isn't government run; the government is media run.
If you are depending on an iPhone for your life then you might want to reconsider your life.
I regularly work with these kinds of devices and technologies. A few tiny screws, heat sensitive adhesive, and some flat flex cables will not and have not deterred me from fixing the phone for $2-12 instead of a ridiculous $100 and a long wait or some just as ridiculous maintenance plan.