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Washington Bill Makes It Illegal To Sell Gadgets Without Replaceable Batteries (vice.com)
Jason Koebler writes: A bill that would make it easier to fix your electronics is rapidly hurtling through the Washington state legislature. The bill's ascent is fueled by Apple's iPhone-throttling controversy, which has placed a renewed focus on the fact that our electronics have become increasingly difficult to repair.
Starting in 2019, the bill would ban the sale of electronics that are designed "in such a way as to prevent reasonable diagnostic or repair functions by an independent repair provider. Preventing reasonable diagnostic or repair functions includes permanently affixing a battery in a manner that makes it difficult or impossible to remove."
Starting in 2019, the bill would ban the sale of electronics that are designed "in such a way as to prevent reasonable diagnostic or repair functions by an independent repair provider. Preventing reasonable diagnostic or repair functions includes permanently affixing a battery in a manner that makes it difficult or impossible to remove."
What's "reasonable"?
Passionately Indifferent
"NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. (1) Nothing in this section applies to 30 motor vehicle manufacturers, any product or service of a motor 31 vehicle manufacturer, or motor vehicle dealers." Cars and tractors are still not included. Still got to go through the dealer for service.
The common sense aspect goes out the window once the bean counters get control.
Of course, if unfettered control were given to the engineers, a phone would probably weight 6 pounds and the battery would last for several months, so it's really a lose-lose situation.
The last time this came up on Slashdot, the objection to forcing replaceable batteries was that having fixed batteries allows for unusual battery shapes and less concern regarding seals so that engineers can design thinner phones.
You know what? Not good enough. If it's so important to have such a thin phone, then the manufacturers need to be required by law to take back their product at the end of its life cycle and REcycle.
I'd argue this would be an expensive but good idea anyway, because 'the environment' isn't just a thing for tree-huggers, we all need it.
You're not smart enough to make an informed decision yourself!
You can't decide whether a completely waterproof design is worth having a non-replaceable battery!
We're the government! And we know what's best for you!
Now, pay a ludicrous tax on your soda, and no, you can't have a drinking straw!
FTB (from the Bill):
2) "Digital electronic product" means a handheld or portable electronic device containing a microprocessor and flat panel computer monitor originally manufactured for distribution and sale in the United States for general consumer purchase. Digital electronic product includes but is not limited to smartphones, electronic reading devices, laptop computers, and tablets.
So no, it will not outlaw musical greeting cards... unless they come with a flat panel monitor. It seems like it will also not outlaw medical or industrial devices, as it says "for general consumer purchase".
I want an iPhone that runs on AA batteries. It will run for days and recharge by just replacing the batteries.
Because American consumers are no longer functionally capable of not consuming. They can't speak with their wallets and simply not buy an iPhone, that's too hard.
If having a non-replaceable battery was key to making devices waterproof, why do the majority of action cameras have replaceable batteries?
(Some) people may know their phone is not repairable. However, they do not consider the environmental cost since the cost is passed on to the rest of the world. This is exactly the kind of situation where you need government intervention. To fix a market failure.
Comment removed based on user account deletion
The bill is barely about how things have to be designed. That just happens to be the one very small part of the bill that TFA picked up on. Mainly the bill is about not allowing OEMs to shut out independent repair shops by hoarding parts and repair manuals. I.e. the bill is mostly about compelling OEMs to share info and parts with independent shops at a reasonable cost.
pacemakers? You really want to replace the battery in that? Yourself?
The definition of "Electronic Device" in the bill includes having a screen, and being for sale to the general consumer. I know of zero pacemakers that meet that definition.
Are Ink cartridges next? Come on, HP/Cannon/Brother et all, cannot seriously think those things cost that much to make.... Shall we make it illegal to create a printer that detects third party or refilled cartridges and refuses to use them?
"File to fit, pound to insert, paint to match" - Aircraft Maintenance 101
"I can do an iPhone in about 10 minutes. I'm sure someone who does it regularly could do it in 5. Seems easy enough."
'Easy' would be 5 seconds, not minutes.
I agree that all devices should be repairable (by the end user, even!).
But this should not be law.
It should be up to the customers to decide what devices they want and with what features or anti-features.
Because innovation is always a trade off: want a slim phone? Well you'll have to sacrifice some durability to get it etc..
So it should be up to the customers to decide what a good trade off is.
I'll second that. My waterproof Camera has a replaceable Battery AND SD card !!! And a bunch of cable access ports (USB etc).
It's simply equipped with a Waterproof Door !! I carry several batteries with me to swap during the day and charge them at night.
Same with my waterproof Watch -- the back screws off and has a gasket. Which I have to open every 8 years to replace the battery.
It took me about 15 minutes to replace an "unreplaceable" iphone battery and the kit came with all the tools for 25USD.
It's fine if you don't like it. Just don't buy it. Why are Americans so bent on needing laws to prohibit anything they don't like even if they're not subject to it?
Also note, this law does nothing to the auto industry. My understanding from all the voices chattering on about owners' rights is that they're the prime offenders. So why is this getting high praise? A phone with a reasonably replaced battery and all the tools needed to do it for less than the cost of a single month's cell plan versus highly inflated parts prices (due to monopoly abuse) plus minimum mechanic fees for an object that costs tens of thousands of dollars.... I wonder who was bought here.
> Why does the government have to limit my choice?
To protect everyone else who is not an idiot. That's why.
I feel sorry for you that the stupid government doesn't allow you to buy toasters that burn down your house. Or drugs that poison you. Or foods that make you sick. It's such a shame really. But if you put your mind to it, I'm sure you can find ways to burn down your house, poison yourself or make yourself sick despite the nanny government trying to protect the rest of us from being f***ked by corporations.
I'll see your senator, and I'll raise you two judges.
" the bill would ban the sale of electronics that are designed "in such a way as to prevent reasonable diagnostic or repair functions by an independent repair provider." Would that include all the Home Theater equipment out there that is designed to be thrown away, not repaired? I have been repiaring audio gear for over 40 years. Since the advent of Home Theater scenarios, most of the junk available is not worth repairing, even if it CAN be repaired. Will that be covered under the bill?
Emissions regulations are not for safety, and non-replaceable batteries wasteful and bad for the environment.
love is just extroverted narcissism
When the government has to regulate things it is generally because the corporations brought it on themselves.
I'll see your senator, and I'll raise you two judges.
People know what they're getting into when they buy a phone.
LOL no they don't, most people are dumb as a box of rocks when it comes to technology, all they know is it's shiny and new and they can play Candy Crush (or whatever) and watch movies on it, they have no idea what's under the hood and they give little-to-no thought as to whether the battery can be replaced or not or anything else service-related. Besides which do you think marketers want people to care about things like that? Hell no, marketers want people to throw the thing away in a year and buy a brand new one regardless of whether it's dying or not.
I cannot think of a single faucet of life, a human endeavor, or anything that we might seek to do, accomplish, or perform that isn't made better by legislation and governmental control and regulation.
See, that's the problem. They regulate my faucets to stupid-low flow levels! I can barely get enough pressure to deal with hard water and soap. It's almost like by controlling our faucets, they want to control all facets of our life!
Browsing at +1 - no ACs, I ignore their posts. So refreshing!
You really need to find a new smartphone dealer. You might try the iPhone if that's what you've been finding for sale.
"When you have eliminated the unacceptable, whatever is left, however improbable, must be the truthiness" - Holmes
Engineers are doing what the market seems to be demanding.
Market wants sleek phones. Engineers make phones sleeker by removing options for battery swaps.
Market want water resistant phones. Engineers seal up phones nice n tight, preventing water to key components.
Market wants sleek, water resistant phones with swappable batteries. Those phones are 2-3x the cost of just sleek phones with water resistance. Market say nope. Liberal whiner complains about corporate greed.
Agent K: A *person* is smart. People are dumb, stupid, panicky animals, and you know it.
Norelco Philips, Black and Decker, I was especially referring to YOU, you filthy greedy bastards.