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Making repairs much easier is still a huge win. We're also constantly moving the goalposts on Apple. The iPhone 11 had no public repair manuals and only specia

by varenc 4y ago

Making repairs much easier is still a huge win. We're also constantly moving the goalposts on Apple. The iPhone 11 had no public repair manuals and only special authorized repair centers could purchase genuine parts or perform the "System Configuration" pairing step. With the iPhone 12, 13, and SE we suddenly we got public repair manuals[0] and public access to genuine parts[1]. The "System Configuration" step still exists, but it's accessible to anyone and requires chating[2] with Apple/SPOT (their self repair subcontractor). Now the new iPhone 14 has been expensively re-engineered to make self repair easier. But you're saying because the same self-serve "System Configuration" step is required for some components it's all moot? Let's take a win when we get one. It could still be better, but the trend is definitely moving in the right direction. edit: Also not all repairs require motherboard pairing step, albeit the most common ones do. But you can replace the iPhone SE camera, taptic engine, SIM tray, and speaker without any System Configuration step. See the the SE repair manual [0]. -- [0] https://manuals.info.apple.com/MANUALS/2000/MA2049/en_US/iphone-se-3gen-07300333A-repair.pdf https://manuals.info.apple.com/MANUALS/2000/MA2049/en_US/iph... [1] https://selfservicerepair.com/order https://selfservicerepair.com/order [2] https://selfservicerepair.com/support https://selfservicerepair.com/support

_V_ 4y ago
I'm not moving goalposts at all. All I'd want is a way to get most of the parts from OEM & be able to install them. At the very least I'd expect to be able to swap: 1) Battery (consumable) 2) Front (LCD) 3) Back (either just the glass or the whole frame) But we have to be honest with ourselves here: what good is it to have a repair manual when you cannot buy genuine parts? I mean yeah, this is a small-ish win, but it will not help to say it is "good enough". Sorry, but that is just not good enough. The thing that pisses me the most is that I genuinely think that iPhones are amazing phones. They are quite nicely engineered and they easily could last you 5-8 years. Why put so much engineering effort to artificially cripple the device? Most of us will buy the new model anyway. And those who cannot (or don't want) should be able to keep theirs for as long as possible. It seems wastefull and unnecessary to fight it.
- varenc 4y ago
  > what good is it to have a repair manual when you cannot buy genuine parts? You can absolutely buy genuine parts for recent iPhones: https://selfservicerepair.com/order https://selfservicerepair.com/order (that website looks random, but it's actually Apple's official self repair supplier) Yes, the System Configuration step is still required to pair many of those parts. This has been discussed ad nauseum. Perspectives vary between it being a necessary security precaution and an entirely self-interested move by Apple to control their supply chain. I suspect the truth is somewhere in between. I've never done the System Configuration step, but it requires chatting with a support agent and it sounds much easier than the repairs themselves. I absolutely agree things could still improve. But I also think we should recognize this new iPhone 14 re-design as a huge improvement that shows a promising trend.
  - _V_ 4y ago
    The last time I tried it I had to put in the SN of the device I wanted to repair in advance to get the part. Maybe they fixed it from then, have not checked. If you cannot get parts in stock (meaning in advance), you might as well send it to the Apple and not bother with repair shop at all. I also think this is the main reason for making it like that. Display, battery and vibration motor has absolutely no security implications. I would be very happy to see Apple not screwing with individual repair shops. Don't get me wrong, I'm a huge fan of their HW (be it iPhones or MBPs). But I'm not a fanboy and I'm not going to bend backwards to praise this corporate entity when it is not deserved. If you compare the ease of getting part for Samsung and Apple, it is like night and day. That System Configuration step is also a middle finger. Having to chat with some support agent just for changing a consumable item like a battery? Or a vibration motor? What the actual f? edit: Checked and they still want the SN of a target device before selling you anything - even a battery! From the site: The serial number is required and will be shared with Apple. This number must be from the device that is being repaired or you may encounter issues that prevent the completion of the repair. Yeah, thanks but no thanks.
    - newtritious 4y ago
      Why are you upset about giving Apple the serial number of your device?

by varenc 4y ago

_V_ 4y ago

I'm not moving goalposts at all. All I'd want is a way to get most of the parts from OEM & be able to install them. At the very least I'd expect to be able to swap: 1) Battery (consumable) 2) Front (LCD) 3) Back (either just the glass or the whole frame) But we have to be honest with ourselves here: what good is it to have a repair manual when you cannot buy genuine parts? I mean yeah, this is a small-ish win, but it will not help to say it is "good enough". Sorry, but that is just not good enough. The thing that pisses me the most is that I genuinely think that iPhones are amazing phones. They are quite nicely engineered and they easily could last you 5-8 years. Why put so much engineering effort to artificially cripple the device? Most of us will buy the new model anyway. And those who cannot (or don't want) should be able to keep theirs for as long as possible. It seems wastefull and unnecessary to fight it.

varenc 4y ago
> what good is it to have a repair manual when you cannot buy genuine parts? You can absolutely buy genuine parts for recent iPhones: https://selfservicerepair.com/order https://selfservicerepair.com/order (that website looks random, but it's actually Apple's official self repair supplier) Yes, the System Configuration step is still required to pair many of those parts. This has been discussed ad nauseum. Perspectives vary between it being a necessary security precaution and an entirely self-interested move by Apple to control their supply chain. I suspect the truth is somewhere in between. I've never done the System Configuration step, but it requires chatting with a support agent and it sounds much easier than the repairs themselves. I absolutely agree things could still improve. But I also think we should recognize this new iPhone 14 re-design as a huge improvement that shows a promising trend.
- _V_ 4y ago
  The last time I tried it I had to put in the SN of the device I wanted to repair in advance to get the part. Maybe they fixed it from then, have not checked. If you cannot get parts in stock (meaning in advance), you might as well send it to the Apple and not bother with repair shop at all. I also think this is the main reason for making it like that. Display, battery and vibration motor has absolutely no security implications. I would be very happy to see Apple not screwing with individual repair shops. Don't get me wrong, I'm a huge fan of their HW (be it iPhones or MBPs). But I'm not a fanboy and I'm not going to bend backwards to praise this corporate entity when it is not deserved. If you compare the ease of getting part for Samsung and Apple, it is like night and day. That System Configuration step is also a middle finger. Having to chat with some support agent just for changing a consumable item like a battery? Or a vibration motor? What the actual f? edit: Checked and they still want the SN of a target device before selling you anything - even a battery! From the site: The serial number is required and will be shared with Apple. This number must be from the device that is being repaired or you may encounter issues that prevent the completion of the repair. Yeah, thanks but no thanks.
  - newtritious 4y ago
    Why are you upset about giving Apple the serial number of your device?