Author Topic: Apple locking down camera replacements  (Read 3781 times)

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Offline tooki

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Re: Apple locking down camera replacements
« Reply #25 on: November 03, 2020, 11:19:11 am »
That’s exactly it. I don’t have the time to tinker with my essential gadgets: they have to just work.
 

Offline SilverSolder

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Re: Apple locking down camera replacements
« Reply #26 on: November 03, 2020, 02:26:41 pm »
I have an iPhone because I got sick and tired of constant software bugs with Android devices.

My "new" (2020 generation) iPhone SE cost me fairly little second hand as flagship phones go, but the software is stable, Siri works well, battery life is excellent (2+ days with my usage profile.)  Maybe I can be tempted away from the walled Apple garden, but I don't want much from a phone.  I don't care that it's customisable,  I'm past that

You haven't used a modern Android in quite a while have you? ;-)

In all seriousness, what you describe is basically the target market Apple is going for (that and those who like pretty packaging). If you just want a phone without the latest bells and whistles, that does a reasonable job of being a phone, then Apple devices are perfect. The moment you want to do something a little different or start customising things, that's when you start looking at alternatives.

This is why I don't get Android...   Why are there so few suppliers that are "different" by having headphone jacks, replaceable batteries, SIM cards, and the rest of the good stuff that makes for a good long term experience with the device?
 

Offline edy

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Re: Apple locking down camera replacements
« Reply #27 on: November 03, 2020, 02:39:18 pm »
Do you actually "own" your Apple device? I haven't looked at the EULA carefully enough but is it possible perhaps for a phone manufacturer now and in the future to grant you license to use the hardware and platform but not really own anything (like downloadable books and music). I don't know what kind of legal framework there is for that or if it's happened already.

Note that I am not complaining or arguing for/against it, as long as consumers know what is happening. I have a number of Apple devices going back to 4S, 5C, 6... my wife has an 8... all but the 8 were given to me for FREE... I managed to successfully repair them using cheap eBay parts (or sometimes just opening and closing them and reseating connectors or letting moisture out) and they work great. I wouldn't have paid for these devices but considering the 4S is still functioning it would be a good deal.

My 4S actually is a case for what Apple is doing with batteries because it happened to me:

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Offline bd139

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Re: Apple locking down camera replacements
« Reply #28 on: November 03, 2020, 02:45:00 pm »
It usually depends if you're renting the device or buying it which is set out in your contract terms. If you're buying it, at least in the UK, you own it and it is covered by the consumer rights act 2015 which gives statutory warranty for everything that a consumer buys for 6 years against defects. Yes 6 years.

When you walk into an Apple store with an issue here you get to choose if you want to use your AppleCare extended warranty (which covers stupid things you did for 2 years), limited warranty (which covers anything apple did for a year) or statutory warranty (which covers anything apple did for 6 years if they like it or not).

Consumer legislation should establish this in whatever region you are in. It might not. In that case, best to buy it on a credit card. They own it then.

As for batteries, here in the UK they are considered consumable which is fair. They do wear out. They charge £49 for the replacement. Sounds like a lot? Well until something goes wrong at which point you walk out of the Apple Store with a brand new handset. The dodgy guy down the market you literally have no idea what will happen. A friend of mine discovered that the guy in the market stall he got to repair his phone had actually swapped the entire front with a no brand part from China and was selling his front on ebay afterwards as a genuine part  :-//
« Last Edit: November 03, 2020, 02:48:41 pm by bd139 »
 

Offline tom66

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Re: Apple locking down camera replacements
« Reply #29 on: November 03, 2020, 03:11:26 pm »
I mean, do I care whether I "own" it or not?  I hate to sound thick but it sits in front of me, of course I own it.  I licence the software, as part of the purchase, but that licence is indefinite (for the life of the device.)

My phone is not going to fly out of the home on some kind of Apple-drone.  And I highly doubt Apple will make the decision to brick devices remotely - the PR would be a disaster.
 
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Offline SilverSolder

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Re: Apple locking down camera replacements
« Reply #30 on: November 03, 2020, 04:24:43 pm »
Do you actually "own" your Apple device? I haven't looked at the EULA carefully enough but is it possible perhaps for a phone manufacturer now and in the future to grant you license to use the hardware and platform but not really own anything (like downloadable books and music). I don't know what kind of legal framework there is for that or if it's happened already.

Note that I am not complaining or arguing for/against it, as long as consumers know what is happening. I have a number of Apple devices going back to 4S, 5C, 6... my wife has an 8... all but the 8 were given to me for FREE... I managed to successfully repair them using cheap eBay parts (or sometimes just opening and closing them and reseating connectors or letting moisture out) and they work great. I wouldn't have paid for these devices but considering the 4S is still functioning it would be a good deal.

My 4S actually is a case for what Apple is doing with batteries because it happened to me:



I had a 4s, and I liked it.  Then, not knowing any better, I accepted an Apple OS update.  It basically made the phone useless...  and that's when I discovered that Apple won't let you downgrade back to what you had.   

That was my last Apple phone...
 

Offline edy

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Re: Apple locking down camera replacements
« Reply #31 on: November 03, 2020, 08:18:00 pm »
I had a 4s, and I liked it.  Then, not knowing any better, I accepted an Apple OS update.  It basically made the phone useless...  and that's when I discovered that Apple won't let you downgrade back to what you had.   

That was my last Apple phone...

I'm up to the last update that Apple was able to push to the phone... or I think I may have stopped around the time I heard they were "throttling" them down because they want to manage the life of the batteries (although I'm not sure it even applied to the 4S as they were already on a newer OS that couldn't even work on 4S). Anyways, my 4S still works absolutely fine, aside from having a crappy camera and tiny screen, most apps still work. A few apps don't install at all as they need a newer OS to work. The Apple 4S was circa 2011-2012.

My daily driver is an iPhone 5C which is circa 2013. It replaced my other daily driver which was a BlackBerry Z10 (also circa 2013). As an app developer I got both of these phones for free, and I still use them. The only reason I'm not on BlackBerry Z10 anymore is because a bunch of companies stopped supporting apps for that platform... Facebook, WhatsApp, LinkedIn, Instagram, etc... all dropped out. For a while I was "side-loading" Android apps into the BlackBerry Z10 as it could run it, but it was a very old android runtime.

I still use the BlackBerry Z10 for various things as a secondary screen on WiFi, and if not for the crappy battery life, I would still be using it as my daily driver.... because I don't care much for those apps anymore anyways (and I can just use the browser-version). However, since BlackBerry stopped supporting BB10, there have been no browser updates either and so now I can't even load certain websites properly (same happened with their Playbook). Sad since these devices still work beautifully.

So a colleague of mine had an iPhone 6 that developed a screen issue... there were vertical lines in the display which would also affect the touch-screen typing (so certain keys on the virtual keyboard didn't work either). Apparently the wife was in the habit of using the phone right out of the shower, they suspected humidity in it. They were in for an upgrade from their carrier so they were nice enough to give me the phone for keepers as they know I like to tinker with stuff. I opened it up and inspected it, nothing looked damaged. I let things dry out for a week or more, it still gave some sporadic lines and then one day it went back to normal and has never given me any problem since.

I am still using my iPhone 5C but I have the iPhone 6 ready and waiting... which I use for taking photos and filming most of my YouTube videos, on WiFi with various apps, but not my daily driver (although I should eventually switch, I like the smaller 5C in my pocket). So as far as I'm concerned I am happy just collecting old iPhone's from my friends who are ready to toss them out and using them another 5-6 years. That's the best recycling program you could ever have.  :-DD

Here's a video I did comparing some of the iPhones we have. The iPhone 4S, 5C, 6 are all freebie hand-me-downs and only the iPhone 8 is my wife's that she upgraded to with her phone plan (after complaining about the second free 5C that I gave her to use prior to it). Both of us prior to these were on BlackBerry Z10's, both of which I still have and use almost daily as well:



If I were to suggest... although I'm not an "Apple" person by any means, the fact that I was fortunate enough to have friends/colleagues who bite the bullet on the initial cost but then pass them on to me and now still using them 6 or 7 years later says something. I can't say that for all brands.
« Last Edit: November 03, 2020, 08:25:25 pm by edy »
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"Ye cannae change the laws of physics, captain" - Scotty
 
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Offline SilverSolder

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Re: Apple locking down camera replacements
« Reply #32 on: November 03, 2020, 08:29:49 pm »

After the fatal OS update, my 4s would simply get very hot and drain the battery in half a day (lasted several days before the update).  Ruined a perfectly working phone, basically.

Let's just call it a "very negative user experience"! :D
 


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