Tag: repair
New John Deere agreement is a win for the ‘right to repair’ movement
John Deere will let US farmers repair their own equipment
John Deere has been one of the stauncher opponents of right to repair regulation, but it’s now willing to make some concessions. Deere & Company has signed a memorandum of understanding with the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) that lets US farmers and independent repair shops fix equipment, rather than requiring the use of authorized parts and service centers. Users will have access to official diagnostics, manuals, tools and training. Deere will let owners disable electronic locks, and won’t bar people from legally obtaining repair resources even if the company no longer offers them.
The agreement includes some protections for the equipment maker. John Deere won’t be required to “divulge trade secrets,” or to allow repairs that might disable emissions controls, remove safety features or modify power levels. Unsurprisingly, fixes also can’t violate the law.
The memorandum is effective as of January 8th, although John Deere didn’t detail exactly how or when it would alter its practices. We’ve asked the company for comment. In a statement, senior VP Dave Gilmore said the company was looking forward to working with customers and the ABFB in the “months and years ahead” to provide repair facilities.
The pact is characterized as a “voluntary” private arrangement. However, it comes alongside mounting political pressure that effectively gave John Deere little choice but to improve repairability. President Biden ordered the Federal Trade Commission to draft right to repair regulation in 2021, while states like New York have passed their own (sometimes weakened) legislation. If Deere doesn’t act, it risks legal battles that could limit where and how it does business in the country.
As it stands, the farm equipment maker isn’t alone in responding to government action. Apple, Google, Samsung and other tech brands now have do-it-yourself repair programs in place. Microsoft will offer Surface parts to users later this year.
The Wall Street Journal: Deere will allow customers to repair their own farming equipment
Here’s What the First US “Right to Repair” Law Actually Does
The right to repair your own devices has been a growing issue around the world, as some companies make self-repair increasingly more difficult. The US state of New York just passed the first modern Right to Repair law, but what does it actually do?
Read This Article on How-To Geek ›
First comprehensive Right to Repair law in US becomes toothless at last minute
Apple adds M1 Mac desktops and Studio Display to the Self Service Repair program
Apple has expanded its self-repair program once again. As noted by Six Colors and The Verge, folks in the US can now try to fix issues with the M1 iMac, M1 Mac mini, Mac Studio and Apple Studio Display themselves with genuine parts, repair manuals and tools.
The self-repair program is designed for those who have the time, patience, skills and confidence to carry out fixes at home, rather than taking their busted device to an Apple Store or third-party repair shop, or shipping it to Apple. You can buy all the parts and rent the tools you need, but at checkout you’ll need to enter a code from the relevant manual to show that you’ve actually read the document.
Apple debuted the Self Service Repair program in April by offering manuals and parts for select iPhone models in the US. Since then, it has expanded the program to Mac laptops and more territories.
Apple introduced the program ahead of right-to-repair rules likely coming into force in the US and Europe. In 2021, President Joe Biden signed an executive order focused on bolstering competition in the US economy, partly in the tech sector. Among other things, it urged the Federal Trade Commission to ban “anticompetitive restrictions on using independent repair shops or doing DIY repairs of your own devices and equipment.”
The agency has taken a stronger stance on such issues. In July, it announced settlements with three companies (including Weber and Harley-Davidson), which it accused of threatening to unlawfully void warranties if consumers used third-party repair parts or independent repair shops.
Apple Will Let You Repair Your Own Desktop Mac
Apple’s self-repair program launched earlier this year, but so far, you could only really repair iPhones with it. It was recently extended to Macs, and now, more of Apple’s computers are joining the fray.
Read This Article on How-To Geek ›
Apple Expands Do-It-Yourself Repair Program to Desktop Macs With M1 Chips and Studio Display
Availability of parts for Mac desktops and the Studio Display is limited to the U.S. for now, despite the program expanding to Belgium, France, Italy, Germany, Poland, Spain, Sweden, and the UK earlier this month. Repair manuals for Mac desktops with Apple silicon and the Studio Display can be found on Apple’s website.
Tool kits for Mac desktops and the Studio Display can be rented from Apple’s self-service repair store for $49 each and must be returned after seven days.
The program first launched in the U.S. in April, providing customers with access to genuine Apple parts, tools, and manuals to complete do-it-yourself repairs of iPhone 12, iPhone 13, and third-generation iPhone SE models. The program was expanded in August to include MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models with the M1 series of chips.
Apple says the program is intended for individuals who are “experienced with the complexities of repairing electronic devices.” For the “vast majority” of customers, Apple says visiting a “professional repair provider” like an Apple Store is a better choice.
This article, “Apple Expands Do-It-Yourself Repair Program to Desktop Macs With M1 Chips and Studio Display” first appeared on MacRumors.com
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Tuesday’s top tech news: Apple’s DIY repair service comes to Europe
And Meta faces off with regulators over news… again.