Latest Apple's niceties to its customers - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Balaur
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 21, 2011, 10:27:10 pm
content: Apple started replacing standard screws on iPhone with a new patented design - pentalobular.http://www.networkworld.com/news/2011/012011-the-case-of-apples-mystery.htmlAccording to them, we are all idiots and we don't deserve to open the products we buy. Even already sold devices are retrofit with the new screw if serviced. An excerpt from the article: "Apple Stores now carry a large supply of the Pentalobular screws, and Apple technicians have been ordered to replace the Phillip screws with Pentalobular screws in every device they service..."Of course, it will not take long until Chinese ebayers will provide screwdrivers with replacement batteries, but come on...Cheers,Dan

author: glossywhite
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2011, 10:35:37 pm
content: Hardly a deterrent though, is it?

author: Mechatrommer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2011, 11:10:11 pm
content: i hardly see Apple around here, so should be not much problem here.

author: NiHaoMike
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2011, 11:23:13 pm
content: Won't those stripped screw removers still work? Not going to be an issue for me since I'm not going to buy an Apple product until they stop those bad practices.

author: williefleete
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2011, 11:27:35 pm
content: i'll bet someone will hack up a bit of metal rod to fit them, stick a handle on it and sell em for peanutsanyone with a file should be able to force fit another screwdriver to work

author: glossywhite
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2011, 12:05:59 am
content: Some companies are bound to be selling the screwdrivers for these. If you're a determined hacker like me, there is NOTHING that can stop you breaking and entering equipmentI used to buy every new Apple product out (almost). It makes me ill to think that I spent £429 on an iPad before Christmas (took it back to PC World, btw); it is a "nice" device, but hardly worth that much dosh, and they're just money vacuums for Apple to rinse you dry with. No thanks, Apple - spent enough dough on your stuff, as amazing as it is.I'm convinced this whole app craze is gonna burn out sooner or later, to be replaced by the next superficial fad...

author: tyblu
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2011, 12:12:16 am
content: looks like a regular torx will work on them.

author: saturation
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2011, 12:39:41 am
content: I remember when torx was first invented and I couldn't find a driver head for it. Its just a matter of time before someone in China couldn't care less about Apple's patents to a driver, and makes one for it that works without looking pentalobar, such as a trilobar, see pic.

author: glossywhite
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2011, 01:24:21 am
content: Tis only shaped metal, not AES128

author: KTP
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2011, 01:31:13 am
content: Of course you do realize they have the next screw in the works for when the tool for this penta one becomes widely available. Here is a sneak peak:

author: glossywhite
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2011, 01:47:28 am
content: Quote from: KTP on January 22, 2011, 01:31:13 amThis'll fix it...

author: Mechatrommer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2011, 05:59:56 am
content: wire?! yuks! this is all in one!

author: Bored@Work
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2011, 09:07:07 am
content: Quote from: Balaur on January 21, 2011, 10:27:10 pmThe screwdrivers are already on the market.But the thing with Apple buyers is, they are the type that doesn't care. Apple could weld the enclosures shut after the first repair and claim the whole device needs to be replaced next time if a battery dies, and the Apple buyers would still happily fork over the money for the privilege to own an Apple product.I wounder how much the group of Apple buyers and the group of Audiophools overlap.

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 22, 2011, 09:43:27 am
content: as someone I work with aply put it (stupid as he is so go figure) he would happily get an apple as it all works out of the box and needs no tinkering or rather you can't tinker, but I'd probably be better with MS stuff (he knows nothing of linux) as I like to "tinker"

author: Ernie Milko
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2011, 10:07:33 am
content: Quote from: shafri on January 22, 2011, 05:59:56 amA bird with a hammer!Is this sort of thing allowed?

author: djsb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2011, 10:41:08 am
content: I wish sharp still made thesehttp://www.users.on.net/~hluc/myZaurus/I bought one off Ebay a couple of years ago. Runs Linux (zubuntu,debian,angstrom etc).I'm try to set it up as a pocket terminal for testing RS232 in the lab.David.

author: dimlow
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2011, 12:01:36 pm
content: http://www.ifixit.com/iPhone-Parts/iPhone-4-Liberation-Kit/IF182-019

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 22, 2011, 12:26:55 pm
content: I like the brand spanking new set of mecanics sized spanners in that video of an electronics lab, my spanners live in the car tool box

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2011, 12:36:59 pm
content: Quote from: Ernie Milko on January 22, 2011, 10:07:33 amApparently so...http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Pink-Toolbox-Co-PTC004/dp/B000TLT0UQ

author: Bored@Work
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2011, 05:15:51 pm
content: Quote from: mikeselectricstuff on January 22, 2011, 12:36:59 pmHand me some eye bleach, please.

author: Mr J
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2011, 06:05:29 pm
content: Quote from: BoredAtWork on January 22, 2011, 05:15:51 pmHAHA I should get this for work, people keep stealing my dewalt drill and not returning it!

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2011, 06:52:07 pm
content: Quote from: Mr J on January 22, 2011, 06:05:29 pmWhy stop at the drill?

author: tyblu
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2011, 07:29:16 pm
content: Well, I know what the company mechanic is getting for Valentine's Day. Only question is "Who should it be from?"

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 22, 2011, 07:34:19 pm
content: hm, from everybody ? but how will she take it ?

author: Longhair
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2011, 07:51:52 pm
content: I wonder how much the upgraded screw is going to raise the price on all Apple products

author: tyblu
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2011, 08:15:22 pm
content: Quote from: Simon on January 22, 2011, 07:34:19 pmWho said it was a she?He's a crusty old maritimer.

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 22, 2011, 08:36:17 pm
content: oh right, i see what your aiming for now. hm how will he take ?

author: Mechatrommer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2011, 10:05:37 pm
content: Quote from: mikeselectricstuff on January 22, 2011, 06:52:07 pmhaha you funny guys. hand bored more eye bleachesQuote from: Simon on January 22, 2011, 07:34:19 pmfrom who has put the "Apple" with the present.

author: Mr J
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 23, 2011, 05:20:12 am
content: WHY?WHY? put any type of weird obscure "security" screw. It really doesn't keep people out, any one with a shred of technical knowledge can go on to the Internet or e-bay and get the correct bit that fits or even make one with basic tools. It was probably some dick-head in marketing that said wow if we use these patented screw it will keep the hackers out. WRONG, look atnintendo tri wing....FAILXBOX controller center pin torx....FAILcable box reverse torx.....FAILPS3 center pin torx....FAILthe list can go on and on, why bother, it will just increase the cost, tooling. What are they protecting? most stuff is off the shelf components nothing special and in most cases published!It also takes away the fun, they wonder why kids aren't interested in electronics because they can't take the shit apart as easily like in the old days when I was a boy. Man I can remember I just needed a couple of philips head and a flat head could do 95% of the stuff I need to.well that my rant I hate security screws

author: Mechatrommer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 23, 2011, 08:52:31 am
content: looking at the Pentalobular, if they think to put hacker out, then really they are bunch of dickheads. and i dont think thats a real challenge, as saturation said, we can use torx for that, with proper size, heck i opened torx screw with a flat screwdriver! if they want to really make it hard, why dont they use some other existing temper proof type screw. canon charger use some type of one way screw where you can use flat screwdriver to close it (cw rotation), but will slip if you try counter clock wise rotation to open (cannot find the reference in the net), it really sux. and another option is gluing the part together with no visible screws! i've done them couple of times, mostly with a flat screwdriver as file, and the hammer. thats the last thing man can do.

author: Bored@Work
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 23, 2011, 09:19:35 am
content: Quote from: Mr J on January 23, 2011, 05:20:12 amI once talked to an elevator tech while he was fixing a panel with some tamper proof screws. My remark was "yeah, as if those protect from tampering". This response was they know, but they have to do it to keep the lawyers and insurance happy. Using these screws they can claim they did reasonable measures to keep people out.

author: sonicj
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 26, 2011, 04:42:32 am
content: i find security screws on consumer products insulting. who they %*$# do they think they are making me,the customer, unnecessarily jump through hoops to make better use of a product thatI OWN?buffalo is good example... they advertised compatibility of a new router with dd-wrt but made a running change to some region codes in later batches that broke dd-wrt firmware upgrades. in order for me to be able to read the u-boot console output to provide to the developers for a patch, i had to drill out the screws on my brand new router!how are you gonna do something so pro-consumer rights like offer a product with open source compatibility, and then go and do something lame like put security screws on the case?-sj

author: saturation
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 26, 2011, 01:07:03 pm
content: FWIW, if you read the fine print, you own the hardware under terms of sale, which includes not opening the case. You only have a license for the firmware which can be rescinded by Apple.Its one reason despite some awkwardness, stuff from China is attractive to EE folks, it lacks the locks you find in western electronics and they make goofs that allow us to exploit the hardware to our benefit, the Rigol 1052E is a good example. China has been doing it to the west, and now that China is emerging capable of their own designs, others are hacking them as they did to western productsThere are a lot of counterfeit iPhones in China that are exact work alikes, including illegal firmware copies that remove all the restrictions we experience in the west. You don't see them in the west as they are illegal to import, sell and possibly own.http://osxdaily.com/2010/12/31/fake-iphone-4-is-freakishly-similar-to-real-iphone-4/Quote from: sonicj on January 26, 2011, 04:42:32 am