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Apple Taken To Court For Refusing To Fix Devices (bbc.com)

Australia's consumer watchdog has begun legal action against Apple over claims it refused to repair iPads and iPhones previously serviced by third parties. From a report on BBC: It alleges that Apple made "false, misleading, or deceptive representations" about consumers' rights under Australian law. The case follows complaints that users were "routinely refused" repairs after an error disabled their devices. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) began an investigation after users complained about Apple's so-called "error 53", which disabled some users' devices after they downloaded an update to their operating system.

130 comments

  1. Apple's Response by LynnwoodRooster · · Score: 2

    You're repairing it wrong.

    --
    Browsing at +1 - no ACs, I ignore their posts. So refreshing!
    1. Re:Apple's Response by JoeMerchant · · Score: 1

      What they really need to be taken to court over is what they did to the iPad one - obsoleting it within just a couple of years, long before the hardware was "worn out" or even outdated. The OS "upgrades" and mandatory update of all the apps turned the iPad one into a virtual paperweight. A $700 paperweight, less than 3 years after purchase.

    2. Re:Apple's Response by Captain+Splendid · · Score: 0, Flamebait

      As someone who owns 2 iPads older than that, WTF are you talking about?

      --
      Linux, you magnificent bastard, I read the fucking manual!
    3. Re:Apple's Response by Penguinisto · · Score: 1

      You're repairing it wrong.

      In some cases, that's exactly the problem... doubly so if the 3rd-party repair shop uses gray-market, eBay-sourced, or similarly dodgy parts to fix it. Also note that the 3rd-party repair shop may or may not (likely not) have sufficient training and knowledge of how the things are put together. Sure, some of them have former Apple employees of sufficient training or such working there, but I doubt that they all do.

      --
      Quo usque tandem abutere, Nimbus, patientia nostra?
    4. Re:Apple's Response by DontBeAMoran · · Score: 1

      How are we even supposed to repair anything if everything is glued down? In Macs even components like CPU and RAM are soldered to the motherboard.

      --
      #DeleteFacebook
    5. Re:Apple's Response by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

      They probably are. I worked for a Motorola car phone repair shop in 1993, and a lot of the previously repaired phones we tried to fix were simply ruined by repairs at crappy unauthorized places. Most commonly, they'd break tabs on the plastic taking it apart then superglue it back together or bad connections that were improperly disconnected.

    6. Re:Apple's Response by msauve · · Score: 4, Funny

      "As someone who owns 2 iPads older than that..."

      I wasn't aware that there was an iPad before the 1st generation one. WTF are you talking about?

      --
      "National Security is the chief cause of national insecurity." - Celine's First Law
    7. Re:Apple's Response by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Actually, the parts themselves were fine. Likely the same sensors as the OEM used -- they had to be pin-compatible.

      The problem with the Error 53 is that they randomly decided in an update to activate the Brick Me mode if it didn't have some DRM code built into the fingerprint scanner. Why they didn't have this to begin with, or why did they disable the whole OS instead of just the fingerprint scanner? Probably to fuck with the 3rd party fixers (the noobs who don't know would think the 3rd party repairer provided faulty equipment) - they're known for being hostile to people who want to fix their own phones to avoid exhorbitant fees.

    8. Re:Apple's Response by Ichijo · · Score: 2

      The 1st generation iPad was discontinued less than a year after it was released, then Apple stopped the OS updates only a year after that. Now it's stuck with iOS 5 while all later iPads run iOS 9 or 10.

      --
      Any sufficiently unpopular but cohesive argument is indistinguishable from trolling.
    9. Re:Apple's Response by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      As someone who owns 2 iPads older than that

      Unless they're prototypes, how can you possibly own iPads older than the iPad One?

      I think you're misreading the statement.

      JoeMerchant said that his 1st-gen iPad was obsolete within 3y of purchase. You're staying that your newer-than-1st-gen iPads (based on release dates, possibly iPad Air or maybe iPad 4?) that happen to be more than 3y old now are not yet obsolete. Apples and oranges.

    10. Re:Apple's Response by tlambert · · Score: 1

      How are we even supposed to repair anything if everything is glued down? In Macs even components like CPU and RAM are soldered to the motherboard.

      By replacing the motherboard. It's not glued into the case, glued to the battery, or glued to the keyboard.

      What you are complaining about is not the inability to replace parts, it's the granularity.

      You want to replace components *on* the motherboard.

      You're actually able to do this... you just need some pretty expensive and specialized equipment to do it; you do own a reflow oven and an ultrasonic soldering jig, right?

    11. Re:Apple's Response by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vF_tks3z_lY

    12. Re:Apple's Response by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It has some uses, but you need to jailbreak it.

    13. Re:Apple's Response by rbgaynor · · Score: 2

      The iPad 2 shipped just three weeks shy of one year from when the iPad 1 shipped - nothing unusual about a 1 year upgrade cycle. It initially shipped with iOS 3.2 and continued to receive updates for several years through iOS 5.1.1. The primary reason it did not receive further iOS updates was that there was only 256MB of ram, not enough to run iOS 6 or later.

      --
      "Good things don't end with eum, they end with mania or teria." - H. Simpson
    14. Re:Apple's Response by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      He means iPads older than three years, and that his are working OK.
      But you're right, it does read like he has iPads older than the iPad one, (as written by previous).

      When I did my first iOS upgrade, and a few apps, I noticed something right away: things were not how I liked them. ANd some apps crashed or had redesigned the interface to allow ads or other 'added features'. After that I did not upgrade the iOS any more, and would review app upgrades before doing it- just to see if a fave item had been replaced.

      That was an iPod Touch 4 and it still works as fine as the first day- because I did not overburden the damn thing like too much upgrading can do., (which is the plan of course, to make you buy new). ANyway- it still works- circa 2010. Seven years old works like a charm.

    15. Re:Apple's Response by JoeMerchant · · Score: 2

      The problem with the iPad ecosystem is that the apps (that we cared about) are "cloud connected" so you have to upgrade them to the latest versions to continue to access the cloud content. The content hasn't changed, but the "upgraded" OS required to run the "updated" apps (which, themselves often do little more than deliver a video from a website), bogged the iPad One down to unusability.

      To clarify, this is the original iPad released in 2010, the nice big heavy one with the screen that never cracked, the built-in 3G radio that worked great for non-video content, the long life battery, and the bulletproof back case.

      We got a mini when they came out, and it lasted pretty well, but was not as durable as the iPad one, not by a longshot. Then, when the first mini died, we replaced it with another mini and that one self-destructed within less than a year - same kids using it, more gentle with it than they ever were with the iPad one, but the new minis are made like tissue paper in comparison to the original iPad.

    16. Re:Apple's Response by JoeMerchant · · Score: 1

      The updates it did receive were enough to make the iPad one virtually useless.

    17. Re:Apple's Response by rbgaynor · · Score: 1

      I had an iPad 1, the updates made it far from useless.

      --
      "Good things don't end with eum, they end with mania or teria." - H. Simpson
    18. Re:Apple's Response by AmiMoJo · · Score: 0

      The iPod Video holds the record. Superceded three months after introduction, the only firmware update it ever got was to add some more DRM.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    19. Re:Apple's Response by dgatwood · · Score: 0

      I think you mean "worse than".

      --

      Check out my sci-fi/humor trilogy at PatriotsBooks.

    20. Re:Apple's Response by rbgaynor · · Score: 1

      Nope, I mean exactly what I said.

      --
      "Good things don't end with eum, they end with mania or teria." - H. Simpson
    21. Re:Apple's Response by JoeMerchant · · Score: 1

      Good for you. Our iPad one was used by our elementary school children. Updates to the OS and apps made things as simple as "Brain Pop" stop functioning.

      You can blame the app authors for abandoning iPad one support - they were out there supporting it in 2010 and 2011 - but, without Apple driving the "ecosystem" ever forward, the app authors could have left their apps as they were, functioning wonderfully, until about 2013. After that, virtually everything we used crawled to a useless halt - including Safari.

      So, if you use your iPad one for something that wasn't impacted, great for you. Ours ended up as a black mirror.

    22. Re:Apple's Response by JoeMerchant · · Score: 1

      Agreed, but if I wanted to play like that, I'd buy Kindle Fires for 1/3 the price and jailbreak them...

    23. Re:Apple's Response by rtb61 · · Score: 1

      In a school environment, I am surprised you did not pursue this dysfunction against Apple as hard as possible, collectively across as many schools as possible. Clearly this failure by Apple should have been broadcast loud and wide, to protect others and seek a more reasonable outcome for yourselves.

      --
      Chaos - everything, everywhere, everywhen
    24. Re:Apple's Response by TheFakeTimCook · · Score: 1

      The iPad 2 shipped just three weeks shy of one year from when the iPad 1 shipped - nothing unusual about a 1 year upgrade cycle. It initially shipped with iOS 3.2 and continued to receive updates for several years through iOS 5.1.1. The primary reason it did not receive further iOS updates was that there was only 256MB of ram, not enough to run iOS 6 or later.

      Wrong.

      The iPad 2 was supported to the end of iOS 9, which just happened late 2016. In fact, the iPad 2 on which I am typing this is actually running the last rev. Of iOS 9 (9,3,5, IIRC). That's 5 years of OS Updates, for those who are paying attention.

    25. Re:Apple's Response by JoeMerchant · · Score: 1

      This was our personal device, and we have better things to do with our time...

      Lots of schools did get iPad ones when they came out, I imagine Apple made them "good deals" on new mini replacements. After our 2nd mini bit the dust, an Apple rep comped us a new one - as if we had paid the AppleCare, though we hadn't.

    26. Re: Apple's Response by rbgaynor · · Score: 1

      I was talking about the iPad 1, not the iPad 2. Sorry if that wasn't clear.

      --
      "Good things don't end with eum, they end with mania or teria." - H. Simpson
    27. Re:Apple's Response by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      Some people get off on their wives bearing them, that doesn't mean everyone enjoys painful experiences. My iPad one went in the trash heap after turning into a slow barely functional piece of shit after an update. Devices wait on me not the other way round.

    28. Re: Apple's Response by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Time to upgrade man! What would Steve think?

  2. Apple has never been consumer friendly by aurispector · · Score: 3, Interesting

    They are more like a boyfriend who is really good looking but kind of an asshole when you really get to know him.

    --
    I have mod points. The reign of terror begins now.
    1. Re: Apple has never been consumer friendly by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Exactly this. The worst part is when their iPhone /iPad breaks, they think Apple gave them a brand new one,and they start boasting and telling everyone that Apple did.

      They often didn't. They replaced it with someone else's refurbished one most of the time and you paid a huge premium on your device which you could have spent on insurance instead.

      Furthermore, they often only do so because the device is unserviceable

    2. Re:Apple has never been consumer friendly by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Really? They replaced my iPod that was over 1100 days out of warranty for nothing. HP wouldn't replace a system board that was replaced under warranty less than 6 months earlier. Guess why I stopped buying HP laptops and guess who has my business today? BTW, my 2800 USD MBP outlasted my 2500 USD HP laptop four fold and is still chugging away today with no issues.

      I know I'm a single case but if my MPB fritzed on me today guess where I'd be going for my new laptop?

    3. Re: Apple has never been consumer friendly by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      BS. Had an iPhone and a MacBook replaced, one for dead pixels (which happens I guess) and one because of an issue with the NIC.

      No chance they were refurbished because they were still sold out for months and I had to wait a day to get one from the next delivery in each case. Presumably they have some contingency in each shipment I guess.

    4. Re:Apple has never been consumer friendly by tlambert · · Score: 2

      Apple is actually quite consumer friendly.

      Repairmen aren't consumers. They aren't very repairman friendly, outside repairmen who go through their authorization process.

      It's like a building that's friendly to general contractors and union construction workers, but has no tolerance for the average "handyman" or the truckload of "sheetrock people" you pick up at the Home Depot parking lot at 7:30 AM to work for you for one day.

    5. Re:Apple has never been consumer friendly by sexconker · · Score: 1

      Was your iPod affected by a recall that was forced under threat of suit / government action? (I'm guessing: Yes.)
      Was your HP laptop? (I'm guessing: No, but it should have been.)

    6. Re:Apple has never been consumer friendly by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Ah, you mean they are never single and nice guys clean up their messes... and yet they are still never single?

    7. Re: Apple has never been consumer friendly by bobbied · · Score: 3, Interesting

      You don't figure that Apple doesn't have a small army of technicians refurbishing returned equipment because they have long lead times for warranty replacements?

      If they were "sold out for months" my guess is that it's even more likely your device was replaced by a refurbished unit, likely built from serviceable parts from multiple returned units by some technician/contractor who has minimal training and equipment. If the units are hard to obtain new, you can bet they are likely to be refurbishing them as fast as they can for warranty claims.

      But what difference does it make? You apparently got a serviceable unit for your replacement and Apple honored the warranty on the replacement. That's what they said they would do.

      --
      "File to fit, pound to insert, paint to match" - Aircraft Maintenance 101
    8. Re:Apple has never been consumer friendly by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Apple is consumer friendly? They continually break consumer protection laws in multiple jurisdictions. Look them up. Italy, someone else in Europe, and now likely Australia (I'll say likely since the case isn't over, but it sure sounds like they violated the rules there too).

    9. Re: Apple has never been consumer friendly by Tharkkun · · Score: 1

      You don't figure that Apple doesn't have a small army of technicians refurbishing returned equipment because they have long lead times for warranty replacements?

      If they were "sold out for months" my guess is that it's even more likely your device was replaced by a refurbished unit, likely built from serviceable parts from multiple returned units by some technician/contractor who has minimal training and equipment. If the units are hard to obtain new, you can bet they are likely to be refurbishing them as fast as they can for warranty claims.

      But what difference does it make? You apparently got a serviceable unit for your replacement and Apple honored the warranty on the replacement. That's what they said they would do.

      Most businesses create parts as well as the units so they have replacements right off the bat. Unless it's a touch screen issue the delays are due to demand for the overall unit.

    10. Re: Apple has never been consumer friendly by bobbied · · Score: 1

      True.. But the post claimed the new units had been "out of stock" for months, obviously Apple undershot demand with their build capacity for new units, which implies they had some kind of limit in their production. This would also imply a limited parts supply, because you don't want parts sitting in inventory for long. A manufacturer like Apple would be prioritizing their parts inventory to build as many new units as possible to meet sales demand first and then meet warranty repairs second. Sales is where the profit comes from, warranty work only costs money.

      So... My educated guess is outlined in the pervious post.... Apple may be unique and do things differently in their warranty department, but I don't see any evidence they are really that different..

      --
      "File to fit, pound to insert, paint to match" - Aircraft Maintenance 101
    11. Re:Apple has never been consumer friendly by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      But we don't refer iPad as 'he' or 'him' but rather 'she' or 'her if not 'it'. So you should have told that "They are more like a girlfriend who is really good looking but kind of an asshole and dumb when you really get to know her."

    12. Re:Apple has never been consumer friendly by mjwx · · Score: 1

      They are more like a boyfriend who is really good looking but kind of an asshole when you really get to know him.

      Apple is more like the woman who conforms perfectly to the Vougue/Cosmo image of feminine beauty (stupidly thin and coated in make up), but has an eating disorder and a full cavalcade of mental and anger control issues.

      Google is the cute clued in girl who tells her friends everything about you, including that mole you have just above your arse.

      Microsoft is the ugly girl, but is so desperate she'll let anyone do anything to her.

      --
      Calling someone a "hater" only means you can not rationally rebut their argument.
    13. Re: Apple has never been consumer friendly by david_thornley · · Score: 1

      If Apple replaces my device with one that works just as well, why should I care if it's new or refurbished? I'd care about badly refurbished, but if I can't tell it isn't new I don't care.

      --
      "When you have eliminated the unacceptable, whatever is left, however improbable, must be the truthiness" - Holmes
  3. Your corruption don't work here Apple! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Unlike America where you just buy your congressman/president.

  4. Apple "Sales" Are Not Sell To Own! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Apple Ink's user license agreement has nothing to do with ownership.

    Apple Ink does not confer ownership of any of its products. Apple Ink retains ownership of all its products after sell. The buyer only buys the user license agreement document, nothing more.

    Therefore, if Apple Ink does not want to fix a product, it is well within its ownership of the product to do nothing.

    Ha ha

    1. Re:Apple "Sales" Are Not Sell To Own! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Only applicable where the law permits Apple, MS, etc... to use such wordage, ie the U.S.. In the rest of the world, where people and governments are civilized, ie outside the U.S.. Consumers are protected from such corruption. Those consumers, actually own their products they purchased or were transferred ownership.

    2. Re:Apple "Sales" Are Not Sell To Own! by The+Grim+Reefer · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Actually, in the US, the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act makes it illegal for any company to void your warranty if you open up a device and repair it yourself, or have a third party do so. Or using third party replacement parts. It covers any item that costs over $15. But since most people don't know this, most companies have gotten away with it.

    3. Re:Apple "Sales" Are Not Sell To Own! by TheFakeTimCook · · Score: 2

      Apple Ink's user license agreement has nothing to do with ownership.

      Apple Ink does not confer ownership of any of its products. Apple Ink retains ownership of all its products after sell. The buyer only buys the user license agreement document, nothing more.

      Therefore, if Apple Ink does not want to fix a product, it is well within its ownership of the product to do nothing.

      Ha ha

      Prove it.

      Case law says otherwise.

    4. Re:Apple "Sales" Are Not Sell To Own! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Actually, in the US, the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act

      Doesn't apply here since the damage voided the warranty in the first place.

      The federal minimum standards for full warranties are waived if the warrantor can show that the problem associated with a warranted consumer product was caused by damage while in the possession of the consumer, or by unreasonable use, including a failure to provide reasonable and necessary maintenance.

    5. Re:Apple "Sales" Are Not Sell To Own! by AmiMoJo · · Score: 1

      No problem. iPhones were just bricking themselves if unauthorised third party repairs are made. Only stopped due to bad publicity.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    6. Re:Apple "Sales" Are Not Sell To Own! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Actually, in the US, the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act

      Doesn't apply here since the damage voided the warranty in the first place.

      The federal minimum standards for full warranties are waived if the warrantor can show that the problem associated with a warranted consumer product was caused by damage while in the possession of the consumer, or by unreasonable use, including a failure to provide reasonable and necessary maintenance.

      Actually your quote doesn't apply here as the damage wasn't caused by the 4rd party repair. Apple simply charged money "IF" any 3rd party repair work had been done which is in direct violation of the laws around consumer protection.

    7. Re: Apple "Sales" Are Not Sell To Own! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      WRONG MORON

      The original damage that caused it to be taken to third party in the first place voided the warrnety in the first place. Apple is under no oboligation to fix anything in this case.

    8. Re:Apple "Sales" Are Not Sell To Own! by scdeimos · · Score: 1

      Apple stopped selling Ink when they killed the Stylewriter printer line.

    9. Re: Apple "Sales" Are Not Sell To Own! by thesupraman · · Score: 1

      No, you appear to be the RIGHT MORON.

      Firstly, damage does not void a device warranty, only on the part that is damaged (if you break the usb connector, the screen will almost certainly still be covered by warranty for example).

      Secondly, really? you checked ALL these cases? made sure the refusal to repair was on warranty voiding damage? Thats quite impressive as this case is about a large number of cases.

      In other works, stop shilling you moron.

    10. Re: Apple "Sales" Are Not Sell To Own! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Man, you are right about one thing... Apple really don't have any "oboligation".

      Now, obligation... Yes, that it has.

    11. Re:Apple "Sales" Are Not Sell To Own! by david_thornley · · Score: 1

      Do you actually have a source for that? I have bought numerous Apple products, and have never been told such a thing. Nor have I ever seen it in a EULA (and I do occasionally read them all the way through). In the US, an exchange of a thing for money, without further ado, is generally considered a sale.

      --
      "When you have eliminated the unacceptable, whatever is left, however improbable, must be the truthiness" - Holmes
  5. Issue in USA too! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Apple won't do ANY service on a device that's had 3rd-party repair previously. I had my screen replaced by a 3rd party, and they ended up damaging and replacing the touch sensor in the process. Due to Apple security restrictions/controls, that touch sensor won't work... and Apple won't even touch the device because it has "unauthorized parts" on it now. I'd have to rip off the new screen and button, and put broken Apple parts back on for them to even look at it.

    Ridiculous... even if I pay for a new Apple TV and Apple button, they still won't touch it. Now I have a permanently broken home button.

    1. Re:Issue in USA too! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Auto-correct or distraction... that's supposed to say that even if I pay for a new Apple SCREEN and button they won't touch it.

    2. Re: Issue in USA too! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's only a problem if you buy Apple products. :)

      Seriously though any manufacturer will call the warranty void if you use 3rd party components.

    3. Re:Issue in USA too! by Alumoi · · Score: 1

      So, your next phone will be from Apple, right?

    4. Re: Issue in USA too! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Seriously though any manufacturer will call the warranty void if you use 3rd party components.

      Yes, but the point GP was trying to make is that their device wouldn't function even with the 3rd party components.

      Not because of a fault with the 3rd party components, but because of Apple anti-features.

      Apple shouldn't be allowed to double-dip; they should either have to honor the warranty without restriction, or stop preventing third parties from repairing it.

    5. Re: Issue in USA too! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Seriously though any manufacturer will call the warranty void if you use 3rd party components.

      Yes, but the point GP was trying to make is that their device wouldn't function even with the 3rd party components.

      Not because of a fault with the 3rd party components, but because of Apple anti-features.

      Apple shouldn't be allowed to double-dip; they should either have to honor the warranty without restriction, or stop preventing third parties from repairing it.

      Damaged caused by a third party repair would not generally be covered under a manufacturer's warranty.

      Does Australian law actually require Apple to offer repair services beyond what's required for a standard warranty?

    6. Re: Issue in USA too! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Nobody's asking for a warranty service.

      They're just asking for the right to repair from anyone else. If you happened to have a friend in the business and they offered to do it for free, there should be no reason why you'd turn them down.

    7. Re: Issue in USA too! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Nobody's asking for a warranty service.

      Then apple has zero obligation to repair it. End of story.

    8. Re: Issue in USA too! by earnil · · Score: 1

      But why? I'm sure that when you buy Apple device you agree to a license agreement that you will repair that device only in Apple authorised places. Regardless of what you may think of it, that's the agreement and I don't understand why Apple shoud be forced to do anything. If you disagree, the solution is simple. Don't buy Apple.

    9. Re: Issue in USA too! by gravewax · · Score: 1

      because you cannot enter into an illegal contract. Apple cannot put items that override laws into the consumers contract and hence such an acceptance or agreement is null and void.

    10. Re: Issue in USA too! by HiThere · · Score: 1

      IIRC, back when I bought Apple products I never even SAW the EULA until after I'd paid for it. And they altered the EULA in a "Security update" to something I found unacceptable.

      Since then I haven't bought or recommended any Apple products. And I'm not likely to unless they make a legally binding promise to never alter the EULA of something that is purchased from them. Even then I probably wouldn't because enforcing the "legally binding promise" isn't cheap or easy, and I wouldn't trust them to keep the promise unless it was enforced frequently and expensively.

      P.S.: This is *not* an argument in favor of Microsoft. I stopped trusting them before I stopped trusting Apple.

      --

      I think we've pushed this "anyone can grow up to be president" thing too far.
    11. Re: Issue in USA too! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You bought apple... enjoy your lemon.

    12. Re: Issue in USA too! by david_thornley · · Score: 1

      In what way is Apple not allowing third-party repairs? TFS says they refuse to repair devices that already have third-party repairs. Not the same thing.

      --
      "When you have eliminated the unacceptable, whatever is left, however improbable, must be the truthiness" - Holmes
  6. previously serviced by third parties? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I hate apple as much as the next guy, but i dont see a problem with this. Someone else screw with the device and mess it up worse, you are out of luck.

    1. Re:previously serviced by third parties? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Problem is not just this particular case. It's the fact that when you device is broken. Like something with the mainboard. Apple charges you almost the same for a new device to fix it. Where as most 3rd party shops, that do Apple repairs, will successfully fix it for pennies to Apple's dollar. However when such shops do so. Apple takes those shops to court forcing them to close down.

    2. Re:previously serviced by third parties? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The only one here who has messed up is apple.

    3. Re:previously serviced by third parties? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The device specifically messed up because they told it to mess up -- out of the blue no less.

      The fingerprint sensor works perfectly fine and so does the rest of the device -- tl;dr: NO HARDWARE IS BROKEN..

      The OS is the only thing that doesn't work anymore. Most people would agree that if the issue was the fingerprint sensor, there's no reason to disable the rest of the device... simply don't trust the sensor (i.e. disable just the fingerprint scanner)?

    4. Re:previously serviced by third parties? by scdeimos · · Score: 1

      I agree that third party repairs should invalidate an Apple warranty, but refusing to repair a device at all (even at the owner's expense) is completely wrong... especially when it was an Apple software update that bricked the device.

    5. Re:previously serviced by third parties? by fj3k · · Score: 1

      The law in Australia is (as far as I understand it) that the original manufacturer is not obliged to fix problems related to a third-party repair under warranty. That is, problems with the third party part, problems with bits which are using the third party part, or problems caused by damage caused by the repair, are all exempt from warranty fixes. But anything that can't be considered one of those is still the manufacturers responsibility. And I'm guessing the courts will consider an OS update bricking a device that's had a third party repair something which Apple should fix.

      --
      Two men claimed to have walked into a bar. Only one had the bruises to prove it.
  7. Dodgy logic by stevez67 · · Score: 0

    So, they broke their iPhone. Then, to try to get it fixed on the cheap, they voided the warranty by taking it to an iFixit shop where it was repaired using unauthorized parts of unknown quality and suitability that turned out to be incompatible with an OS upgrade they knew was bound to happen. And now the complaint is Apple won't fix it after the unauthorized fix which voided the warranty. This is compounded by the reality that if Apple were to do the fix, the cost of the repair would probably be more than the phone is worth. Yeah, not so much Apple as bad actor as customer getting caught in dodgy behavior linking up with a lawyer hoping to make a name for themselves, and it appears to be working, for the lawyer. No sympathy for them here. I would expect Samsung and Google to react just like Apple if a customer did the same to their phones.

    1. Re:Dodgy logic by omnichad · · Score: 4, Insightful

      they voided the warranty by taking it to an iFixit shop

      No matter what their TOS says, that's illegal. See Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act in the US.

      turned out to be incompatible with an OS upgrade they knew was bound to happen

      Incompatible = Apple deciding to block fingerprint readers with a different ID than originally came with the phone. A security move that only makes sense during the initial design - not when done after the phone is out there. It was a valid repair and the iPhone offers no way to pair with a new fingerprint reader except by Apple (which is just as bad as putting a chip on a printer cartridge and should be illegal).

    2. Re:Dodgy logic by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Whilst it's not exactly clear in the summary, consumers aren't taking Apple to court, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is, which is a government funded body. As far as I know they rarely lose too, especially high profile cases.

      Australians have strong consumer protections allowing us to actually own the device we purchase to do with that we will, ignore vendor warranty length and use a reasonable expectation on both cost and expected lifetime of product. That is if an Apple phone is $1200, where that price is at a premium and one would reasonably expect the devices lifetime to be 3 years, then you'd likely get warranty up to this time (assuming Apple only have 1 year warranty).

    3. Re:Dodgy logic by tlhIngan · · Score: 1

      Incompatible = Apple deciding to block fingerprint readers with a different ID than originally came with the phone. A security move that only makes sense during the initial design - not when done after the phone is out there. It was a valid repair and the iPhone offers no way to pair with a new fingerprint reader except by Apple (which is just as bad as putting a chip on a printer cartridge and should be illegal).

      Or how about to easily prevent hacking via the fingerprint sensor?

      Consider this scenario - FBI acquires your phone. They remove the display and replace the touch sensor with their own special fingerprint sensor they designed. They they go "hey Apple, I just replaced the screen on my phone, care to re-pair the fingerprint sensor?", thus putting their fake fingerprint sensor on your phone. Their fake sensor then proceeds to hack until it can unlock your phone.

      Without allowing easy re-pairing, the fake sensor data is simply ignored - the secure enclave knows someone tampered with the sensor and can consider all data being sent to it as attempts to hack in. Of course, the proper way to do it is to re-pair the sensor and secure enclave only after a full system wipe and restore.

      Of course, it's also a given Apple didn't know how many people got affected by this - all the people who brought in their phones had the repair done properly and there was no sense of the scale to which people were using third party unauthorized repair shops.who were not doing the proper steps.

    4. Re:Dodgy logic by omnichad · · Score: 2

      The PIN is more secure than fingerprints - fingerprints are everywhere. All it takes is requiring the PIN to pair a new fingerprint sensor.

      In fact, the FBI has no trouble getting fingerprints - what they have trouble with is bypassing the PIN.

      There's no such thing as an "unauthorized repair shop." They're just repair shops. Apple calling theirs "Authorized" does nothing to de-legitimize repair shops. Do you think the only place to get your car repaired is the dealer? Or do you take your car to an "unauthorized" repair shop?

    5. Re:Dodgy logic by gravewax · · Score: 2

      No they didn't. The law is very explicit, you DO NOT void a warranty by using your own repairer unless the damage that was done is a direct result of that repair which in this case it was NOT. In Australia a company cannot change a consumers rights under the law regardless of what they say in EULA's, warranty statements etc.

    6. Re: Dodgy logic by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Because it would be so impossible for FBI or NSA to spoof the serial of the original scanner?

    7. Re: Dodgy logic by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      WRONG they voided the warranty by breathing it in the first place.

    8. Re: Dodgy logic by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The fact that it was damaged in the first place reqiring that initial repair is what voided the warranty. Apple is under no obligation to fix anything.

    9. Re:Dodgy logic by Maritz · · Score: 1

      it was repaired using unauthorized parts of unknown quality and suitability that turned out to be incompatible with an OS upgrade they knew was bound to happen.

      I see what you're doing there. Maybe you should work in Apple's PR or something.

      You make it sound obvious that they should know an update would brick the device, for having 'unauthorised' parts. Not so.

      --
      I do not want your cheap brainburning drugs. They are useless for work. And I am a working man today.
    10. Re: Dodgy logic by Maritz · · Score: 1

      What?

      --
      I do not want your cheap brainburning drugs. They are useless for work. And I am a working man today.
    11. Re:Dodgy logic by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      BS. Apple gives the finger to its Australian customers - Apple is not in any fear of the Australian government. My 1.2 year-old Mac Air died while on vacation in Hawaii. Apple authorized center said it would only honor a US one-year warranty period. They did an analysis and said a $400 flat-fee repair (board replacement) would restore 100% function. Since the replacement board wouldn't arrive until returning to Oz, I opted to take it into a Genius bar in Sydney, where it would still be within 2-year warranty. The Genius declared the Air to be unrepairable at any cost and Apple would not honor Australian 2-year warranty. Taking the issue several levels up the Apple chain found Apple smug in their refusal to honor Aussie law.

      Previously, 25-year customer (and institutional buyer). Presently, ex-customer. Apple's middle-finger. My middle-finger. It didn't used to be like that - that's why I bought from them for 25 years. Never again.

    12. Re:Dodgy logic by EndlessNameless · · Score: 1

      they voided the warranty by taking it to an iFixit shop

      This is factually incorrect.

      In the US, a warranty cannot be voided due to third-party repairs.

      If the third-party damages anything, those damaged components are ineligible for warranty repairs just as if the owner had damaged them. But absent any damage to the item, warranty coverage remains.

      Manufacturers may authorize certain shops to perform work under their warranty and refuse to cover expenses for unauthorized work, but they cannot refuse coverage to items simply because they have been repaired elsewhere before.

      E.g., if my fingerprint sensor fails and I pay iFixit to replace it, Apple is still obligated to replace the screen if it fails later. They can only refuse to fix the screen if they can demonstrate that it was damaged (and it doesn't matter whether the damage was caused by me or iFixit).

      --

      ---
      According to the latest ruleset, this post should be modded as Vorpal Flamebait +5.
    13. Re:Dodgy logic by david_thornley · · Score: 1

      They should know that an update might be incompatible with parts of unknown quality, suitability, and source. The OS is designed to work on unmodified Apple devices. One of Apple's advantages is being able to design for a limited hardware range, and they use that. After you get dodgy repairs on a device like that, your best move is to refuse any OS updates.

      --
      "When you have eliminated the unacceptable, whatever is left, however improbable, must be the truthiness" - Holmes
  8. They are working as designed by jfdavis668 · · Score: 1

    They aren't broke. They are designed to work that way, so we can't fix them.

    1. Re:They are working as designed by TheFakeTimCook · · Score: 1

      They aren't broke. They are designed to work that way, so we can't fix them.

      Wrong. It's a Security Feature.

      Error 53 is what happens when you don't transfer the Home button from an original display/digitizer assembly to the new digitizer/display assembly, and cause a mismatch between the serial number for the home button's controller that is written to the SoC at product manufacture. Apple can reconcile that; but won't, for obvious reasons (because someone could then steal your phone, replace the Home button which has THEIR fingerprint stored in it, and then break into your phone.

      Sorry some poeple get caught up innocently by repair shops that don't bother to read the ENTIRE ifixit article, that explains why you have to transfer the Home button to a new display assembly.

    2. Re:They are working as designed by omnichad · · Score: 2

      And if an end user breaks the home button and knows their PIN (which is more secure than a fingerprint), then they should be able to replace that. Apple put that roadblock end only for their own bottom line.

    3. Re:They are working as designed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      (because someone could then steal your phone, replace the Home button which has THEIR fingerprint stored in it, and then break into your phone.

      No, No they can't. The fingerprint hash is stored on the SoC not the reader.

      The feature is likely to prevent man in the middle attacks with a hardware device that listens to the communication between the reader & SoC and can then replay the attack. Another possibility is brute force but cannot say for sure as I'm not that familiar with Apple Touch ID.

    4. Re:They are working as designed by TheFakeTimCook · · Score: 1

      And if an end user breaks the home button and knows their PIN (which is more secure than a fingerprint), then they should be able to replace that. Apple put that roadblock end only for their own bottom line.

      Bullshit.

    5. Re:They are working as designed by omnichad · · Score: 1

      Great argument.

    6. Re:They are working as designed by TheFakeTimCook · · Score: 1

      Great argument.

      It is the only one needed.

  9. Touch Disease by ArchieBunker · · Score: 4, Informative

    If your phone has the "touch disease" Apple will admit its their fault and fix it for you for $149. Of course you get a refurbished board and minimal warranty. Apple cheapened up the phone and didn't solder a metal shield to the board that reinforced against flexing. Now they used some foil tape as a shield. However 3rd party companies will fix it the right way, reflow the chip and solder on a shield. They even offer a better warranty than Apple!

    --
    Only the State obtains its revenue by coercion. - Murray Rothbard
    1. Re:Touch Disease by Nidi62 · · Score: 1

      If your phone has the "touch disease" Apple will admit its their fault and fix it for you for $149.

      If they are admitting fault then why are they charging you for the repair?

      --
      The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for it to be pitted against a slightly greater evil
    2. Re:Touch Disease by TheFakeTimCook · · Score: 1

      If your phone has the "touch disease" Apple will admit its their fault and fix it for you for $149. Of course you get a refurbished board and minimal warranty. Apple cheapened up the phone and didn't solder a metal shield to the board that reinforced against flexing. Now they used some foil tape as a shield. However 3rd party companies will fix it the right way, reflow the chip and solder on a shield. They even offer a better warranty than Apple!

      This wasn't that. Error 53 is the "Unrecognized Touch ID" error, from changing the Home Button. And it is fully intentional as an anti-theft/anti-breaking-in deterrent.

    3. Re:Touch Disease by sexconker · · Score: 0

      Because Apple sheep will pay it and thank the ghost of Steve Jobs for the privilege.

    4. Re:Touch Disease by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Can confirm. Am sheep. Have thanked the ghost of Steve Jobs.

    5. Re:Touch Disease by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      because apple will claim it is either out of warranty or that the warranty is void as some non authorised by them person has done repair work on the device (albeit completely unrelated to the fault. Luckily in Australia arsehole companies like Apple can't legally refuse such a claim unless the damage or fault was caused by the unauthorised repairer which in the case of the error 53 it isn't.

    6. Re:Touch Disease by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Basically because apple knows their sheep and they know them well. They will toe apples line without a second or even first thought.

    7. Re:Touch Disease by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Wrong! It was fully intended as apples method of punishing people who did third part repairs. Obviously or the mismatch would have just disabled touch id.

    8. Re:Touch Disease by ArchieBunker · · Score: 1

      The touch disease is flashing grey bars at the top of the screen and the screen stops responding while this is going on. Flexing the phone slightly makes it go away.

      --
      Only the State obtains its revenue by coercion. - Murray Rothbard
    9. Re:Touch Disease by TheFakeTimCook · · Score: 1

      The touch disease is flashing grey bars at the top of the screen and the screen stops responding while this is going on. Flexing the phone slightly makes it go away.

      I thought TFS mentioned "53". What does the "touch disease" (a/k/a "de-balling", which many other devices have also suffered from) have to do with Error 53?

    10. Re:Touch Disease by mjwx · · Score: 1

      If your phone has the "touch disease" Apple will admit its their fault and fix it for you for $149.

      So Apple admits its a design flaw... And Apple users still have to pay to have it fixed.

      Man, you guys have been whipped.

      --
      Calling someone a "hater" only means you can not rationally rebut their argument.
    11. Re:Touch Disease by ArchieBunker · · Score: 1

      Error 53 has to do with replacing the touch sensor. They have encryption built in and can't be moved from one phone to another. You can replace the button itself without a sensor but swapping from a parts phone gives error 53.

      --
      Only the State obtains its revenue by coercion. - Murray Rothbard
    12. Re:Touch Disease by TheFakeTimCook · · Score: 1

      Error 53 has to do with replacing the touch sensor. They have encryption built in and can't be moved from one phone to another. You can replace the button itself without a sensor but swapping from a parts phone gives error 53.

      I know that. Read the thread. The person above my post started talking about "Touch Disease", which has nothing to do with the Error 53 lawsuit TFA is about.

      Which is what I was pointing-out.

  10. disgusting by jediborg · · Score: 1

    They refuse to repair devices in Australia, while at the same time fighting to take away our rights to have third-partys repair apple products in America.

    Basically Apple never wants any iDevice repaired, they just want you to keep buying the latest, newest version.

    1. Re: disgusting by earnil · · Score: 1

      I don't think you have that right. You have the right not to buy Apple device if you disagree with their license agreements though.

    2. Re: disgusting by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Actually you have both the right to not buy them and even if you do buy them you have the right to demand reasonable lifetime/repairs and warranty under Australian laws regardless of what they put in warranties or disclaimers, manufacturers cannot waive those consumer rights here. you can stamp your product only has a 1 year warranty but under consumer law you could be forced into 3 years and sued if you refuse. You can't say no 3rd party repairs or refuse warranty if a 3rd party has done unrelated repairs.

    3. Re: disgusting by fnj · · Score: 1

      You have the right not to buy Apple device if you disagree with their license agreements

      Oh, thank you. NOT. You cannot defy governmental consumer-protection regulations by writing onerous license agreements. Not successfully. The laws which society settles on rule.

      Do you suppose some low-life corporation could get away with selling you something cheap as long as it sticks you with an "agreement" that you forfeit your life for organ harvesting as of one year post-sale?

  11. Re:The touch sensor is tied to the CPU. by Bill+Hayden · · Score: 2

    Do you think all those "fixit" shops were buying their parts from Apple? Apple only sells to authorize service persons, and they only sell to them because they have been trained in proper repair techniques.

    They're not buying stolen parts, if that's what you're implying. There is more than enough demand for 3rd parties to manufacture replacement Apple parts. I just bought a brand new replacement LCD for an iPhone 6 for all of $25.

    --
    Protect your browser with the Force Safe Search add-on
  12. Re:The touch sensor is tied to the CPU. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You are suggesting that the entire market of screen replacement and phone repair shops are all only using stolen parts? There aren't enough stolen phones out there for this statement to be true. Do you also believe that cars not bought from a dealership are all parts from chop shops. Damn Tesla trying to sell illegal automacars without an honest dealership to keep them fair!

  13. EU Law by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Isnt this covered under EU law? Austria needs to sort it out pronto.

    1. Re:EU Law by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You missed reading the 'l' there.

  14. Re:The touch sensor is tied to the CPU. by Tharkkun · · Score: 2

    The touch sensor is tied to the CPU.

    That's all the "error 53" issue is.

    It's intentionally tied so that some asshole who steals you iPhone, and then parts it out on eBay for grey market repairs now has a worthless piece of junk.

    This discourages assholes like that from stealing your iPhone in the first place, because they can maybe sell the battery and a couple of other parts ... and that's it.

    Do you think all those "fixit" shops were buying their parts from Apple? Apple only sells to authorize service persons, and they only sell to them because they have been trained in proper repair techniques.

    Can someone figure out how to repair something with no training? Probably. But that won't cause Apple to sell them legitimate replacement parts.

    Electronics aren't some mystical voodoo that just works. Many parts such as the home button can be disassembled and duplicated. They don't need access to Apple to make replacement parts for these items that work just fine. It's Apple that added software deterrents to using after market parts by implementing proprietary codes to their parts.

  15. err-disabled (Easy Fix!) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Remove the cabling/logical loop and you'll fix Spanning-Tree! Then all of you Apple zombies can live happily ever-till-next-device-launch-in-30msec after, THE END!

  16. Apple are happy to fix some things. Prices ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ... for instance.

  17. Re:The touch sensor is tied to the CPU. by tlambert · · Score: 2

    They're not buying stolen parts, if that's what you're implying. There is more than enough demand for 3rd parties to manufacture replacement Apple parts. I just bought a brand new replacement LCD for an iPhone 6 for all of $25.

    Given that Apple has a vertical monopoly on between 6 and 11 parts for each of their devices, you either bought a use part, likely from a stolen iPhone, or you bought a new part, stolen from the factory that makes the parts exclusively for Apple, or you bout a part that was from a repair center (and either it's a repair center which is violating its contract with Apple not to sell parts to third parties, or it was stolen from the repair center).

    Apple intentionally controls the market to prevent "third shift" style product forgery, which is otherwise pretty common in China: run two shifts to build product for the contracted company, and then run a third shift, using the same employees, and parts sourced from different suppliers, to manufacture knock-off which you can then sell as if they were products from the company to which you are contracted.

    Apple intentionally established vertical market monopolies on certain parts to prevent them being available, other than through sourced from Apple, or from parting out Apple products with the genuine part (sourced from Apple).

  18. Re:The touch sensor is tied to the CPU. by tlambert · · Score: 0

    You are suggesting that the entire market of screen replacement and phone repair shops are all only using stolen parts?

    No, of course not.

    There are also parts provided to Apple authorized repair centers. By Apple. And there are iPhones which are legitimately parted out, after having been purchased legally for that purpose.

    It's only the many of third party repair places that are using stolen parts. Not all of them.

  19. Re:The touch sensor is tied to the CPU. by tlambert · · Score: 1

    Electronics aren't some mystical voodoo that just works. Many parts such as the home button can be disassembled and duplicated. They don't need access to Apple to make replacement parts for these items that work just fine. It's Apple that added software deterrents to using after market parts by implementing proprietary codes to their parts.

    The Home button is cryptographically tied to the CPU.

    Good luck making a home button ripped out of another iPhone correctly identify itself without having the correct cryrptographic codes. It'll work as a button; it won't work as a fingerprint unlock.

  20. Re:The touch sensor is tied to the CPU. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The point your missing is it didnt work as a button, it bricked the phone.

  21. Re:The touch sensor is tied to the CPU. by tlambert · · Score: 1

    The point your missing is it didnt work as a button, it bricked the phone.

    The "error 53" display was turned off in the next update.

    The phone isn't bricked. "Bricked" means that it's no longer usable as a phone.

    Although if your only way in was the fingerprint sensor, because you didn't also set a passcode: that's a problem for you, but it's fixed with a factory reset.

  22. Does Apple own Slashdot? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Maybe not. Maybe they sub-contract out the job of removing my posts of my Apple experiences.

  23. Toast but great toast by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The days of internal repairs on iPads and iPhomes and all the other tablets and phones out there ought to be looked at as one does a slice of all grain bread..enjoy it and when it is finished it is gone. I am using a retina tablet. The first one of its ilk. It is slowish but it works and it has been safe which is. I small thing and considering its huge use over the years, it owes me nothing. A computer of that age is more likely to be endangered by Non upgradable Flash or no OS support. It is a utensil and not device meant as in the old days to add or subtract its individual components like older desktop computers. In order to miniaturize and make more dependable it is essentially a sealed device and I suspect the newer ones will be waterproof ,ole the iPone7 and as such will have no repair possibilities at all. In my experience, most of the supposed problems with Pple hardware is in fact software related and thus solvable.