6 ms·

How Apple lost $3000 trying to extort extra $4 from a returning customer

4 points by TooSmugToFail 11y ago

zimpenfish 11y ago
Anecdotes are not data but I've got plenty of mileage from Lightning cables bought from the local Poundland - since they cost £1, I'm more than reasonably sure they're not paying the $4 license fee for MFi. Sounds more likely that his cheap cable broke (as they do) and just plain didn't work any more.
- TooSmugToFail 11y ago
  Actually it did not break. It is still in mint condition. I have maybe used it a dozen times.
- TooSmugToFail 11y ago
  Source: http://www.mobileburn.com/22031/news/ios-7-blocks-uncertified-lightning-cables-but-theres-a-way-to-bypass-it http://www.mobileburn.com/22031/news/ios-7-blocks-uncertifie...
  - zimpenfish 11y ago
    I've had every Lightning-enabled iPhone (bar the 6+) and iPod since their introduction and I've never experienced this problem with unlicensed cables. But trading anecdata is going to get us nowhere...
paulpauper 11y ago
why does walmart occasionally pay $100,000 in an injury lawsuit from tacking a shoplifter who stole $10 of stuff? because the accumulative effects of doing nothing will cost far more than $100,000
andymoe 11y ago
I've made a product under the Apple MFi program and let me tell you the people that are making uncertified cables and accessories likely are doing a lot more than "not paying the license fee to Apple." Unless you are in China bribing someone to sell you stolen IP I can't imagine how you would produce a knock off cable. The lighting connectors and auth chips are really tightly controlled. Plus, it's doubtful that any of the rigorous certification testing takes place on these knockoffs and the spec is really easy to get wrong. So yeah, I've got no sympathy for this guy at all.
clinton_sf 11y ago
I actually don't see a problem with Apple's MFi program. Back in 2013, a woman in China was electrocuted by her iPhone 4 due to a non-OEM charger: http://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1283818/woman-electrocuted-while-answering-iphone-may-have-been-using-fake?page=all http://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1283818/woman-electro... To quote from the article: “Knockoff chargers sometimes cut corners,” Xiang said. “The quality of the capacitor and circuit protector may not be good, and this may lead to the capacitor breaking down and sending 220 volts of electricity directly into the cell phone battery.” Apple trying to enforce its quality standards on the charging system seems completely reasonable -- yes, even if it means that the end-user has to pay for the quality. Most Apple customers are actually looking for that quality and willing to pay for it. There is a great teardown analysis of Apple and knock-off chargers at Ken Shirriff's blog: http://www.righto.com/2014/05/a-look-inside-ipad-chargers-pricey.html http://www.righto.com/2014/05/a-look-inside-ipad-chargers-pr... http://www.righto.com/2012/05/apple-iphone-charger-teardown-quality.html http://www.righto.com/2012/05/apple-iphone-charger-teardown-...
snyderize 11y ago
Does it actually not charge, or just warn that it might not work reliably?

4 points by TooSmugToFail 11y ago

Anecdotes are not data but I've got plenty of mileage from Lightning cables bought from the local Poundland - since they cost £1, I'm more than reasonably sure they're not paying the $4 license fee for MFi. Sounds more likely that his cheap cable broke (as they do) and just plain didn't work any more.

TooSmugToFail 11y ago
Actually it did not break. It is still in mint condition. I have maybe used it a dozen times.
TooSmugToFail 11y ago
Source: http://www.mobileburn.com/22031/news/ios-7-blocks-uncertified-lightning-cables-but-theres-a-way-to-bypass-it http://www.mobileburn.com/22031/news/ios-7-blocks-uncertifie...
- zimpenfish 11y ago
  I've had every Lightning-enabled iPhone (bar the 6+) and iPod since their introduction and I've never experienced this problem with unlicensed cables. But trading anecdata is going to get us nowhere...

paulpauper 11y ago

why does walmart occasionally pay $100,000 in an injury lawsuit from tacking a shoplifter who stole $10 of stuff? because the accumulative effects of doing nothing will cost far more than $100,000

andymoe 11y ago

I've made a product under the Apple MFi program and let me tell you the people that are making uncertified cables and accessories likely are doing a lot more than "not paying the license fee to Apple." Unless you are in China bribing someone to sell you stolen IP I can't imagine how you would produce a knock off cable. The lighting connectors and auth chips are really tightly controlled. Plus, it's doubtful that any of the rigorous certification testing takes place on these knockoffs and the spec is really easy to get wrong. So yeah, I've got no sympathy for this guy at all.

clinton_sf 11y ago

I actually don't see a problem with Apple's MFi program. Back in 2013, a woman in China was electrocuted by her iPhone 4 due to a non-OEM charger: http://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1283818/woman-electrocuted-while-answering-iphone-may-have-been-using-fake?page=all http://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1283818/woman-electro... To quote from the article: “Knockoff chargers sometimes cut corners,” Xiang said. “The quality of the capacitor and circuit protector may not be good, and this may lead to the capacitor breaking down and sending 220 volts of electricity directly into the cell phone battery.” Apple trying to enforce its quality standards on the charging system seems completely reasonable -- yes, even if it means that the end-user has to pay for the quality. Most Apple customers are actually looking for that quality and willing to pay for it. There is a great teardown analysis of Apple and knock-off chargers at Ken Shirriff's blog: http://www.righto.com/2014/05/a-look-inside-ipad-chargers-pricey.html http://www.righto.com/2014/05/a-look-inside-ipad-chargers-pr... http://www.righto.com/2012/05/apple-iphone-charger-teardown-quality.html http://www.righto.com/2012/05/apple-iphone-charger-teardown-...

snyderize 11y ago

Does it actually not charge, or just warn that it might not work reliably?