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Portables (Apple) Software iMac Apple Hardware Technology

iFixit Confirms You Can Still Repair Your Own iMac Pro Or MacBook Pro -- At Least For Now (engadget.com) 44

Posted by BeauHD from the nothing-is-impossible dept.
After it was reported that proprietary diagnostic software was needed in order to replace key parts on computers equipped with Apple's T2 chip, iFixit decided to put that claim to the test by replacing a part on a brand-new 2018 MacBook Pro. They found that after pulling it apart and replacing the display, it still worked -- even without the software. Engadget reports: As they put it, any "secret repair kill switch hasn't been activated -- yet." So far, it has limited approaches that limit repairs based on security to the TouchID and FaceID sensors that require specialized software, as I noted yesterday, even though people have reported trouble with the ambient light sensor after replacing iPhone displays. While it's possible that a future software update could change things and make it require specialized software that only official Apple Stores and authorized service centers have access to, we're not there yet. Passing "right to repair" laws currently under consideration could be a big step to guaranteeing things stay that way.
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iFixit Confirms You Can Still Repair Your Own iMac Pro Or MacBook Pro -- At Least For Now More

iFixit Confirms You Can Still Repair Your Own iMac Pro Or MacBook Pro -- At Least For Now

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  • Magnuson-Moss warranty act.. (Score:5, Informative)

    by The Grim Reefer ( 1162755 ) on Sunday October 07, 2018 @02:40PM (#57441982)
    The Magnuson-Moss act covers this kind of crap. By law Apple can't require only Apple branded parts or their repair shops be the only option to repair or keep a warranty in force. While Magnuson-Moss does allow for them to make certain terms be part of keeping the warranty, it expressly forbids what TFS states they are doing by requiring all repairs be done only by Apple. Further more Apple also has to prove that the repairs caused an issue in order to be able to void a warranty. Granted, this was passed in 1975 and was intended mainly for cars at the time, but as written any item over a certain dollar amount is covered. Since that dollar amount is anything over $5, I'm pretty sure that it covers anything that Apple makes that has any kind of warranty.

    • Re:Magnuson-Moss warranty act.. (Score:5, Interesting)

      by BronsCon ( 927697 ) <social@bronstrup.com> on Sunday October 07, 2018 @02:54PM (#57442010) Journal
      Why, yes, they can't invalidate the warranty due to unauthorized repairs or modifications that didn't cause the problem. However, what has been reported is that they've designed a system such that any (or at least most) unauthorized repairs will cause a problem... which, then, will invalidate the warranty, at least as far as that problem is concerned. If the battery puffs up after your SSD replacement causes the system to refuse to boot, they'll still be on the hook for the battery, but they'll have no obligation to make the system bootable again.

      We'll have to wait and see if they've actually implemented what was reported, but it's not a violation of MMWA if they did... even if it's shitty and underhanded.
      • Except they have to explain in the warranty that this will happen before they can do it. And such things are expressly forbidden bring Magnuso-Moss.
      • One could make the argument that this is just an electronic "Warranty Void If Removed" sticker, which was found to be illegal.
        • Except that it's more of a "you broke it when you installed an incompatible part" situation, which MMWA explicitly allows to invalidate a warranty.
          • I'm not sure how it would apply if the company made it break on purpose, I think that would be one for the lawyers to decide.

            The best option is to avoid any companies doing this sort of thing.
            • It wouldn't apply; Apple didn't make it break due to the use of an incompatible part any more than Ford made your brakes stop working because you used Mopar parts instead of Motorcraft. Agreed, however, that it's all kinds of shitty for the system to refuse to even attempt to use a part it doesn't recognize; if a bad part is used, it would benefit them to try and use it, then sell a new laptop when it fries (thereby voiding the warranty).

    • Where do you seem them voiding the warranty? (Score:4, Insightful)

      by raymorris ( 2726007 ) on Sunday October 07, 2018 @04:50PM (#57442402) Journal

      As you correctly stated, they can't void the warranty regarding unrelated problems because a customer used unauthorized parts. In other words, if you put in a knock-off keyboard, then later have a problem with the screen, they can't say the screen isn't warranteed because you replaced the keyboard.

      Where do you see them trying to do that? The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act is about warranties (hence the name). It doesn't say "manufacturers mist make it easy to repair products". It doesn't say "manufacturers must somehow make sure that knock off parts always work right". It only says that the warranty on part A can't be conditioned on using OEM part B.

    • but as written any item over a certain dollar amount is covered. Since that dollar amount is anything over $5, I'm pretty sure that it covers anything that Apple makes that has any kind of warranty.

      Apple, being Apple, "anything over $5" is 100% guaranteed to always cover absolutely everything in their inventory down to every single last SKU.
      Even if Apple started producing items as simple as "single use iAss-wipes", it's going to cost at least 50$. per unit.

  • Wild guess, things get tricky when you install your next OS update - expect a complaint that you're installing on 3rd party hardware. If so, expect to hand over money at an Apple store to fix it.

  • It'd be interesting to know what if a hacker could exploit this kill switch to ransom an Apple user.

    Well, the answer is obviously "yes". The real question is "when".

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