Tag: repair
Logitech Joins the iFixit Repair Revolution
Thanks to a new partnership, iFixit will provide genuine replacement parts and repair guides for Logitech devices. The companies will begin with Logitech’s MX Master and MX Anywhere mice before moving on to other products, including keyboards, headphones, speakers, webcams, and gaming peripherals.
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France Investigating Apple Over Alleged ‘Planned Obsolescence’ Arising From Serialized Repair Parts
Apple’s self-service repair program requires customers to enter a device’s serial number when ordering parts for devices like iPhones and Macs, and any parts ordered need to be paired with the same device after installation. HOP said this policy gives Apple the potential to restrict repairs to approved technicians only, and limit the functionality of devices repaired with uncertified parts. The organization added that Apple’s self-service repair program is bad for the environment given that Apple ships large and heavy tools to customers.
Do-it-yourself repair website iFixit also expressed disappointment about the serial number requirement when Apple’s program launched last year.
“Integrating a serial number check into their checkout process is a dire omen and could allow Apple the power to block even more repairs in the future,” said iFixit’s Elizabeth Chamberlain. “Building the technology to provision individual repairs easily sets Apple up as the gateway to approve—or deny—any repairs in the future, with parts from any source.”
The Paris Public Prosecutor’s office is handling the investigation, and has yet to formally accuse Apple of any wrongdoing in relation to HOP’s complaint. The organization previously filed a complaint about Apple throttling the maximum performance of some older iPhone models with aging batteries when necessary in order to prevent the devices from unexpectedly shutting down, leading to a €25 million fine in France.
This article, “France Investigating Apple Over Alleged ‘Planned Obsolescence’ Arising From Serialized Repair Parts” first appeared on MacRumors.com
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Chromebook Expiration Date, Repair Issues ‘Bad For People and Planet’
“The 31 million Chromebooks sold globally in the first year of the pandemic represent approximately 9 million tons of CO2e emissions,” the report says. “Doubling the life of just Chromebooks sold in 2020 could cut emissions equivalent to taking 900,000 cars off the road for a year, more than the number of cars registered in Mississippi.” The report says that excluding additional maintenance costs, longer lasting Chromebooks could save taxpayers as much as $1.8 billion dollars in hardware replacement expenses.
The US PIRG said it wants: Google to extend its ChromeOS update policy beyond current device expiration dates; hardware makers to make parts more available so their devices can be repaired; and hardware designs that enable easier part replacement and service. […] According to US PIRG, making an average laptop releases 580 pounds of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, amounting to 77 percent of the total carbon impact of the device during its lifetime. Thus, the 31 million Chromebooks sold during the first year of the pandemic represent about 8.9 million tons of CO2e emissions. “We think that Google should extend the automatic update expiration to 10 years after launch date,” said Lucas Gutterman, who leads US PIRG’s Designed to Last campaign. “There’s just no reason why we should be throwing away a computer that still is otherwise functional just because it passes a certain date.”
“We’re asking Google to use their leadership among the OEMs to design the devices to last, to make some of the changes that we list, to have them be more easily repairable by actually producing spare parts that folks can buy at reasonable prices,” he added. “And to design with modularity and repair in mind, so that you can, for example, use the plastic bezel on one Chromebook on the next version, rather than having to buy a whole new set of spare parts just because a clip has changed.”
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Colorado Approves First-Ever Agricultural Right to Repair Bill
To support Right to Repair legislation near you, find your state on Repair.org — or, if you’re outside the US, look for your country’s advocacy network here. The summary of HB23-1011 reads: “Starting January 1, 2024, the bill requires a manufacturer to provide parts, embedded software, firmware, tools, or documentation, such as diagnostic, maintenance, or repair manuals, diagrams, or similar information (resources), to independent repair providers and owners of the manufacturer’s agricultural equipment to allow an independent repair provider or owner to conduct diagnostic, maintenance, or repair services on the owner’s agricultural equipment.
The bill folds agricultural equipment into the existing consumer right-to-repair statutes, which statutes provide the following:
– A manufacturer’s failure to comply with the requirement to provide resources is a deceptive trade practice;
– In complying with the requirement to provide resources, a manufacturer need not divulge any trade secrets to independent repair providers and owners; and
– Any new contractual provision or other arrangement that a manufacturer enters into that would remove or limit the manufacturer’s obligation to provide resources to independent repair providers and owners is void and unenforceable; and
– An independent repair provider or owner is not authorized to make modifications to agricultural equipment that permanently deactivate any safety notification system or bring the equipment out of compliance with safety or emissions laws or to engage in any conduct that would evade emissions, copyright, trademark, or patent laws.”
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
The Repair Shop’s Jay Blades in tears over heartbreaking restoration of ‘precious’ item
Nintendo expands Joy-Con repair program to more European countries
Along with tips for troubleshooting the issue before repair, the support page mentions that UK, Switzerland, and the European Economic Area users can now take advantage of the free repair offer regardless of warranty status. Previously, users could only get their controllers repaired gratis if they had a valid warranty,…
Canada Is Working To Implement a Right To Repair
“When it comes to broken appliances or devices, high repair fees and a lack of access to specific parts often mean Canadians are pushed to buy new products rather than repairing the ones they have. This is expensive for people and creates harmful waste. Devices and appliances should be easy to repair, spare parts should be readily accessible, and companies should not be able to prevent repairs with complex programming or hard-to-obtain bespoke parts. By cutting down on the number of devices and appliances that are thrown out, we will be able to make life more affordable for Canadians and protect our environment.”
The budget also insinuates that right-to-repair legislation can make third-party repairs cheaper than getting a phone, for example, repaired by the manufacturer, where it could cost “far more than it should.” Canada’s 2023 budget also revealed the government’s interest in introducing a standard charging port for electronics. The budget says the government “will work with international partners and other stakeholders to explore implementing a standard charging port in Canada.” It says a universal charging port could help residents save money and e-waste. “Every time Canadians purchase new devices, they need to buy new chargers to go along with them, which drives up costs and increases electronic waste,” the budget says.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.