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https://www.ifixit.com/News/apple-is-locking-batteries-to-iphones-now
By activating a dormant software lock on their newest iPhones, Apple is effectively announcing a drastic new policy: only Apple batteries can go in iPhones, and only they can install them.
If you replace the battery in the newest iPhones, a message indicating you need to service your battery appears in Settings > Battery, next to Battery Health. The "Service" message is normally an indication that the battery is degraded and needs to be replaced. The message still shows up when you put in a brand new battery, however. Here's the bigger problem: our lab tests confirmed that even when you swap in a genuine Apple battery, the phone will still display the "Service" message.
It's not a bug; it's a feature Apple wants. Unless an Apple Genius or an Apple Authorized Service Provider authenticates a battery to the phone, that phone will never show its battery health and always report a vague, ominous problem.
(Score: 5, Insightful) by SomeGuy on Thursday August 08 2019, @01:13PM (34 children)
Why do people put up with this shit? Why do people not only put up with this shit but expect everyone else to buy the exact same worthless abusive stuff they do?
They are consumertards.
(Score: 1, Touché) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday August 08 2019, @01:21PM (8 children)
It is crazy, but when it comes to battery at least I can understand. If you go cheap and get a $5 Chinese battery and your iPhone melts on a coast to coast flight, what will the headlines look like?
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday August 08 2019, @01:28PM (7 children)
I'll take even odds that official Apple batteries are the same as the $5 Chinese battery (except labeling and packaging).
(Score: 5, Insightful) by Immerman on Thursday August 08 2019, @01:39PM (6 children)
Don't forget quality control. The $20 batteries may be the same, the $5 batteries are quite possibly came off the same assembly line as the Apple ones, but failed quality control.
(Score: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday August 08 2019, @01:58PM (5 children)
> Don't forget quality control. The $20 batteries may be the same, the $5 batteries are quite possibly came off the same assembly line as the Apple ones, but failed quality control.
How does that Koolaid taste? Is there enough sugar in it?
(Score: 4, Insightful) by Immerman on Thursday August 08 2019, @02:21PM (4 children)
Hey, I'm no Apple fan, but there's a wide world between drinking the koolaid and wishful thinking in the other extreme. Is a $60 Apple battery worth it? Almost certainly not. But pick pretty much any phone you want and check the battery prices: they probably span around $5-$30 for unbranded models, and the $5 ones are almost always going to significantly underperform. Lower capacity, lower durability, higher failure rates, etc.
There's a minimum cost to building quality components - buy from the cheapest end of the spectrum and you're deep in the brambles of deceptive labeling, remarketing of quality-control rejects, etc. Even amongst the honest manufacturers, you can usually cut manufacturing costs by at least another 20-50% by lowering manufacturing tolerances and generally cutting corners. In which case they'll superficially seem the same at first, but will almost certainly degrade much more quickly. Heck, cheap capacitors are one of the leading cause of motherboard death - not because they perform any worse initially, but because those lower tolerances lead them to mechanically fail much sooner.
The old adage that you get what you pay for isn't always true - there's plenty of bad actors willing to overcharge you for sub-standard merchandise. But what is fairly certain is that you won't get any *better* than you pay for.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday August 08 2019, @02:44PM (3 children)
Some guy in china did a youtube comparing the cheap batteries with the more expensive ones. They were all pretty much the same. The $5 battery may be a used/repackaged one but that's about it.
(Score: 2) by Immerman on Thursday August 08 2019, @03:05PM (2 children)
Ahh yes, some guy on youtube. Always a reliable source. Besides, you wouldn't expect to see any difference between high-quality and low-quality batteries in a brief test anyway, at least not beyond deceptive labeling - it's the long-term durability that's primarily sacrificed by cutting corners. Just like used - when a large portion of the operating life has already been expended.
All I know firsthand is that I've bought several cheap batteries when money was tight - and a lot fewer mid-tier batteries when it wasn't. And that the $5 battery that claimed to have 2x the capacity of the OEM model didn't even reach a full 1x (not that I ever expected it to - but it was super cheap and I was about 50% sure I'd need to replace the whole phone after it sat, charging, in a puddle overnight when I could least afford it).
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday August 08 2019, @03:15PM (1 child)
Just let the guy have his quadriple bypass at Havanna General Hospital.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday August 09 2019, @02:49AM
> ... have his quadriple bypass at Havanna General Hospital
You might want to re-consider the example you chose?
http://en.granma.cu/cuba/2015-10-09/cuban-medicine-achieves-over-95-heart-surgery-survival-rate [granma.cu]
Certainly other services in the "third world" may not be up to "Western standards", but many are as good or better. YMMV, do the research in advance!
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday August 08 2019, @02:01PM (4 children)
Labeling people that way solves absolutely nothing and only causes the people who want the gear to ignore anything you might possibly say, even if it brings some sense of emotional superiority or satisfaction to you. It also proves you aren't interested in knowing the answers. Which brings up the question of why I am writing this....
But it is reasonably simple: It gives greater perceived utility to the purchaser (who may or may not be the user). Going back to the Apple vs. PC wars, for a long time the justification of Apple users (and still is for many who remember those days) is that Apple gear works. There are exceptions to that, but Apple has always been the better choice for persons who want to actually use their gear and not spend time configuring or fixing it and the only thing that has changed is that Microsoft has caught up, somewhat. Because Apple has the closed ecosystem and can exert a greater degree of control. Is that universally true across every device / every single machine? Nope. But it's true enough on average.
They give the customer what the customer wants, and the customer is willing to pay a premium for that. Might as well as why do people fill themselves up with crap fast food, overpay for their living quarters, or hire people to do work that they themselves could do if they were willing to take the time to learn whatever the skill is... or label those people as tards too.
Apple has always been hostile to the notion of anybody but Apple itself modifying or repairing the hardware in any way. People still buy it. Maybe because they have the resources to get a new unit every 2 years and don't want to fuck around with changing batteries anyway?
(Score: 1, Touché) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday August 08 2019, @02:11PM (3 children)
> Apple gear works.
LOL! "It just works!"
> They give the customer what the customer wants,
LOL again!!
If you want all of the hardware and software problems and privacy issues that come with Apple's walled garden, then certainly, Apple gives you what you want.
Enjoy your Crapple!
However, if you think that Apple hardware or software is somehow superior to most of the alternatives, then the question becomes, "would you like more sugar in your Koolaid?"
(Score: 2, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday August 08 2019, @05:12PM (1 child)
I didn't say that I believe that it "just works." I said those who buy Apple gear believe that. Your same attempt at lame insults on every reply on this thread doesn't change that.
And yes, those who buy Apple gear are apparently getting what they want out of it. How else, moron?
See what I did there? Like being called a moron? Did that change or persuade you differently? Why not?
Yes, I like Koolaid. By the way, did you know that in Jonestown it was Flavor-Aid that was primarily used [wikipedia.org] so your comment is factually incorrect? Oh. Not so smart after all, are we?
The thing is those who buy Apple gear see Apple as superior to the alternatives. That's why they pay inflated prices to it compared to the alternatives. Now i could continue the snark from my side and say, "yeah, enjoy spending all night long debugging why your Windows WSD printer definition keeps disconnecting and you have a print queue the size of Bayonne waiting." But point is not to be snarky but rather to get you to see that those who believe in Apple enough to purchase do in fact enjoy their gear and hope you enjoy your uninstallable Linux mess, your shitty windows, or your OS/2 or CP/M install. Whatever you believe in, somebody will find a way to make it wrong for you. So why be a dick?
(Score: 2) by hendrikboom on Thursday August 08 2019, @10:18PM
Right. For those who want what Apple provides, Apple product are worth paying for.
For those who want something else (which includes me), Apple products are no good at all.
(Score: 1, Touché) by Anonymous Coward on Friday August 09 2019, @12:49AM
Another little basement dweller who's never even touched an apple device and just regurgitates all the anti-apple crap he's read on the Interwebs, thinking he's so smart.
(Score: 4, Interesting) by RS3 on Thursday August 08 2019, @02:08PM (8 children)
Status symbol. Bragging rights. Kewlness.
It's like owning a luxury car. Rich people trade it in before it develops problems which require a 2nd-mortgage to pay for. Some people learn that lesson the hard way.
(Score: 3, Informative) by ElizabethGreene on Thursday August 08 2019, @05:22PM (5 children)
My spouse's first smartphone was an iPhone and not having to learn a new UI or learn new apps is what keeps them on the platform. It's a PITA too, because we want a headphone jack. That's easy to find in Android, but on crApple we're stuck with the (aging) 6s.
(Score: 2) by RS3 on Friday August 09 2019, @02:34AM (4 children)
1) If your name really is Greene https://www.flyfrontier.com/deals/green [flyfrontier.com]
2) Yes, being familiar with something has strong value in decision-making.
3) Android really is easy to learn and use.
4) I'll gladly install a headphone jack in your new iPhone, like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OyHmJz84og [youtube.com]
Oh, you wanted it to work too? Well, it has been done as proof of concept, but maybe this would work for you: https://thewirecutter.com/blog/incipio-ox-headphone-jack-case/ [thewirecutter.com]
(Score: 2) by ElizabethGreene on Friday August 09 2019, @04:10PM (3 children)
Thanks for the pointer to the flight deal; yes, it's my real name. Cool!
The guy that runs the 'Strange Parts' YouTube channel added a headphone jack to an (IIRC) iPhone 7 but it was a serious hack. I'm not willing to commit the effort to it though. It's time for my sweetheart to learn Android. :/
(Score: 2) by RS3 on Friday August 09 2019, @06:30PM (2 children)
IIRC some Androids are dropping 3.5mm jacks... I don't get it. I wish nobody would buy a thing without that jack. Anyway, what I value the most is the hands-free microphone that hangs close to a mouth so that you can understand the talker, esp. when there's a lot of background noise. I guess someone could invent a phone holder that would keep it near a person's mouth...
(Score: 2) by ElizabethGreene on Friday August 09 2019, @09:32PM (1 child)
The new Samsung doesn't have one. :( It's too bad, that's a nice phone.
I'm not being a luddite about the headphone jack, fwiw. We have a 2011 Equinox and a 2009 Town and Country. The former has bluetooth that works for calls, but not audio, e.g. Pandora or Audible. The latter has an aux port and that's it.
I'm not going to drop $8k on a newer car just so I can listen to audiobooks when I'm driving. :/
(Score: 2) by RS3 on Saturday August 10 2019, @01:12AM
You can buy simple BlueTooth receivers that have 1/8" jack / plug. I'm not recommending this, it's just an example: https://www.microcenter.com/product/418608/istream-dockfree-bluetooth-audio-receiver [microcenter.com]
Audiobooks will live on!
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Friday August 09 2019, @03:01AM (1 child)
> ...luxury car. Rich people trade it in before it develops problems
This is a bet that can be hedged:
A friend took his wife's Smart car in for service and the dealer got him to test drive a used S-Class Mercedes. He bought it, and knew enough to also buy an extended warranty that could be used at dealers, for an additional 50K miles. Warranty paid for itself several times over with one major repair to the semi-active suspension system. He was the third owner, starting at something like 75K miles--it was his retirement present to himself and the two of them really made good use of that car visiting extended family all around the USA, for several years. Of course he sold it when the extended warranty ran out.
(Score: 2) by RS3 on Friday August 09 2019, @04:43AM
Yes, excellent point. I've never bought an extended warranty, well, because I usually fix it myself, and my cars are usually older and not worth it. But yes, especially if you buy a German car, buy an extended warranty. I've been skeptical of them, so I'm glad to hear it worked out for him.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by broggyr on Thursday August 08 2019, @02:41PM
Some companies issue them to their employees.
Taking things out of context since 1972.
(Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Thursday August 08 2019, @02:44PM
No, not really. They are just following the ways of the Great Demigod Steve. Steve knows what is best for all of us. And, Steve isn't really dead, either. He is watching all of us from - uhhh - that's heaven, isn't it?
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday August 08 2019, @03:34PM (2 children)
I put up with Apple's shit because I think Google's shit (via Android) is even worse.
(Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday August 08 2019, @05:55PM (1 child)
you're supposed to be buying the most open thing on the market. nothing else matters.
(Score: 3, Touché) by hendrikboom on Thursday August 08 2019, @10:20PM
Here's hoping the Purism phone will turn out to be useful.
(Score: 4, Interesting) by Immerman on Thursday August 08 2019, @03:54PM
>Why do people put up with this shit?
Brand loyalty, in part. Augmented by platform lock-in, and marketting and design departments that have managed to convert tools as into fashion accessories. And fashion has always been a stupid waste of money, in any medium.
I've never especially cared for Apple, but they haven't always been so service-hostile - and in fact have occasionally set the bar on user serviceability - such as with the pre-intel Mac Pro where the whole motherboard folded out when you opened the case - a pinnacle of serviceable case design, and it's a pure tragedy that there have been so few cases to follow that lead.
They also deliver a very polished, well-tested, and well-integrated user experience... provided you are content with their very limited software ecosystem. But then how many people do you know that really only ever use a web browser, media library, and *maybe* some office software? Most of them, in my experience. And of course a great deal of professional design software was born on Apple, and continue to treat it as a high-priority platform. And of course their decision to build OSX on top of Unix has given them access to a vast library of more technical professional software. It's really only the home power-user and PC-centric office scenarios where they're severely lacking. Which pretty firmly excludes me, but I can appreciate the appeal for those for who the weaknesses are irrelevant and the premium if affordable. The thriving second-hand market doesn't hurt either, and greatly reduces the actual impact of those premiums - I wish my old PCs and phones retained their value half so well as Apple products.
These days... Well, I've always thought of them as primarily targeting the "computer as an appliance" crowd - it doesn't do much, but it does it really well, and in a slick package. Ever since the success of the iPod and then iPhone though Apple has seemed to be sliding from "serviceability is an afterthought" to actually service-hostile. Presumably because they've realized just how profitable disposable tech culture can be. And sadly they seem to be luring many of the major PC/Android /etc. manufacturers into testing those waters as well. Me, I refuse to participate in that kind of waste, but then I refuse to participate in a lot of popular insanity.
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday August 08 2019, @04:46PM (2 children)
Show me a laptop with the same quality and features as the MacBook Air and I'll gladly switch. I don't require OSX, Linux will do just fine but I've yet to find one that is as light weight, dead silent (despite the Air having a fan), has a full workday of battery life and then some, flawless suspend/resume, excellent wifi range/speed, etc... all at the $1300 price point. That's why I put up with their shit. As a bonus, I didn't contribute to Microsoft by purchasing a Windows license I'll never use. But hey, you sound like delightful fella with all the answers...
(Score: 2) by hendrikboom on Thursday August 08 2019, @10:29PM
Purism Librem 13. 1.4 kg. $1399. https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/librem-13-review/ [makeuseof.com] Close yo the price you mentioned. And focused on freedom and security.
Macbook Air. 3 pounds. Price $999 or $1199. https://www.macworld.com/article/3200368/macbook-air-specs-release-faq-price-features-tips.html [macworld.com] Seems to be cheaper.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday August 09 2019, @04:45PM
here's the worlds most lovable laptop "^_^"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTS-MD2Gm6Y [youtube.com]
beats the crap outtada apple cuteness!
HDD can be replaced. same with RAM. Linux works!
(Score: 1) by fustakrakich on Thursday August 08 2019, @05:11PM
Why do people put up with this shit?
Why do corrupt politicians win reelection 5 or 6 times? People play the same game for everything, and if you don't play along, you are evil.
But iPhones? They're for people who don't want to be seen with anything their maid can afford. In some countries that's no joke.
La politica e i criminali sono la stessa cosa..
(Score: 3, Insightful) by fido_dogstoyevsky on Thursday August 08 2019, @10:59PM
Stockholm syndrome.
It's NOT a conspiracy... it's a plot.