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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: 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.