The General Technology Thread

[WebSnyper]

Apple just caved. They tried doing a euro only model with USB-C when that mandate was passed. That lasted one model. They announced recently that starting with iphone 15, ALL will use USB-C. They tried making 2 and threw in the towel.

I expect them to do the same with this. If they wanted to make two of each model, they would have continued with status quo.

Agreed, and I figure it will go that way this time as well. Economies of scale, etc.

 

[indyblue]

I was quoted that price for my 12 mini. But the last time I tried to get a new battery they just swapped phones because it was easier.

They do it because it's more efficient to get you going and out the door. They will be sent to a central shop where the batteries will be swapped en masse by techs good at doing it with minimum damage.

I've successfully swapped the battery on my SE, but I probably wouldn't do it again, it's a PITA and the $75-90 it cost to get replaced is worth the time.

Except for one phone that had a defective battery from the start, mine last over 5 years. Just try to keep it charged between 20 & 80% only, it will have much longer life.

 

[Cameramonkey]

The only thing I dont like about moving to C is how brittle the lightning blade is. (thats a good thing) WHEN my wife and kids put too much lateral stress on the cable, they just snap the blade off in the port. Kindof a PITA but with a pick I can usually pry it out and the jack is fine. I suspect they do that with a C and they are gonna trash the phone connector.

 

[indyblue]

The only thing I dont like about moving to C is how brittle the lightning blade is. (thats a good thing) WHEN my wife and kids put too much lateral stress on the cable, they just snap the blade off in the port. Kindof a PITA but with a pick I can usually pry it out and the jack is fine. I suspect they do that with a C and they are gonna trash the phone connector.

I just wish they would bring back the phono jack. Their stupid little pigtail that converts it to analog causes feedback in some things I plug it into.

 

[KLB]

The only thing I dont like about moving to C is how brittle the lightning blade is. (thats a good thing) WHEN my wife and kids put too much lateral stress on the cable, they just snap the blade off in the port. Kindof a PITA but with a pick I can usually pry it out and the jack is fine. I suspect they do that with a C and they are gonna trash the phone connector.

Get wireless chargers

 

[radar8756]

Get wireless chargers

I like Magnetic charge connections - stress and it just pops off

They have been using them on laptops & Watches for years

 

[Hawkeye]

I was quoted that price for my 12 mini. But the last time I tried to get a new battery they just swapped phones because it was easier.

Never heard of that happening. Maybe because my XR is older. Dunno

 

[Cameramonkey]

Never heard of that happening. Maybe because my XR is older. Dunno

Ive done 3 batteries total over the years. I think only the first one (5?) was actually swapped while I waited.

 

[Hawkeye]

Ive done 3 batteries total over the years. I think only the first one (5?) was actually swapped while I waited.

I've done 4 as well, two on my on (different iPhones), one on my wife's and one on my son's. Three of these were done under the program (maybe 4 years ago?) where Apple did it at no charge, IIRC. All were battery changes on the original equipment. No phones were "swapped". YMMV.

 

[BugI02]

Ive done 3 batteries total over the years. I think only the first one (5?) was actually swapped while I waited.

The question that comes to mind for me is, are you comfortable with them having possession of your original phone, and doesn't the process of migrating your data to the new phone mean they end of with a copy of same?

Apple may be scrupulous (I wouldn't bet on it) but that doesn't mean all the techs are

 

[radar8756]

Previous iPhone-8 Battery Management "recommended" Replacement - covered under Verizon Warranty -- done in Michigan City dropoff 9am - pickup at Noon

 

[bobzilla]

About damn time. I need a new battery for my iphone and its going to cost me $80. Either I buy the battery and pay somebody to crack it open, or go to the apple store and trade it in for an identical new one. That swap is Apple's way of replacing the battery without actually cracking it open while you wait. They charge you the fee to replace the battery, but give you a whole new phone instead.

I've replaced a half dozen iPhone batteries. They're not hard to do.

 

[jamil]

About damn time. I need a new battery for my iphone and its going to cost me $80. Either I buy the battery and pay somebody to crack it open, or go to the apple store and trade it in for an identical new one. That swap is Apple's way of replacing the battery without actually cracking it open while you wait. They charge you the fee to replace the battery, but give you a whole new phone instead.

no, it's not. I'd rather have a replaceable battery but i don't want a law to force it either. And what pisses me off more about it, it's not even our law. phone companies will offset the cost by passing it on to the customer. Not that it will matter a lot. People will pay just about any price for an iphone anyway. Whatever. Now I'm in a foul mood. I'm gonna have to get a cat just so I can kick it.

 

[radar8756]

Self Repairs Void any remaining Warranty ( usually already Expired by time Battery Fails ) ...
also unless done Correctly- phone is no longer IP68 compliant ( water resistant to ?? meters ) - which you don't find out until it's too late

 

[KLB]

no, it's not. I'd rather have a replaceable battery but i don't want a law to force it either. And what pisses me off more about it, it's not even our law. phone companies will offset the cost by passing it on to the customer. Not that it will matter a lot. People will pay just about any price for an iphone anyway. Whatever. Now I'm in a foul mood. I'm gonna have to get a cat just so I can kick it.

I doubt there will be much more cost to implement it. Lost revenue from future sales of phones is what they will want to make up.

 

[jkaetz]

I wonder if they will continue to pair the batteries after they are easily replaceable. For those who may not follow such things Apple started pairing the batteries, and other things, to the device it was sold in a while ago. This means that even if you swap an identical battery from one phone to the other you'll get software restricted errors and reduced functionality.

IMO all devices with a battery should have a consumer supported method to replace said battery. It has a limited life span and shouldn't need to be sent off or taken in to replace it. While I'm generally against governments imposing laws on products, in this case I think it may actually be beneficial to consumers as it will apply to more than just phones.

 

[jamil]

I am against making laws that tell companies to make stuff like people want. I would welcome a trend of making phones that have user replaceable batteries. Even standardizing batteries so that they’re universally compatible regardless of brand. I don’t want the government to force it.

I also don’t like that a government in a jurisdiction outside of my representation can make a law that becomes a de facto law within my jurisdiction. That happens a lot with California. It’s worse when that jurisdiction is outside the US.

 

[KLB]

I am against making laws that tell companies to make stuff like people want. I would welcome a trend of making phones that have user replaceable batteries. Even standardizing batteries so that they’re universally compatible regardless of brand. I don’t want the government to force it.

I also don’t like that a government in a jurisdiction outside of my representation can make a law that becomes a de facto law within my jurisdiction. That happens a lot with California. It’s worse when that jurisdiction is outside the US.

Standardized wouldn't be good, since they design batteries to fit into the phone where they can squeeze it. Replaceable really boils down to making it easy to access where the battery is. You can thank Apple for the way things are today.

 

[jkaetz]

Standardized wouldn't be good, since they design batteries to fit into the phone where they can squeeze it. Replaceable really boils down to making it easy to access where the battery is. You can thank Apple for the way things are today.

This, they actually did good by net specifying the type or size of battery, only that it needs to be replaceable. People didn't used to care that the battery could be replaced as they didn't keep devices longer than a year or so. Now that devices cost anywhere from $500 - $1100 and beyond it should have a battery that can be replaced without having to resort to extreme measures.

A comment on the IP rating, plenty of devices have an IP6x rating without sealing everything down so that you can't open it.

 

[bwframe]

Just discovered that WIBC is now being live video broadcast on X (formerly Twitter). Seems to run pretty smooth on the desktop and phone, so far. Not sure how much more data is used by virtue of the X video vs non-video sites like Iheartradio and TuneIn?

https://twitter.com/i/broadcasts/1zqJVqwdmPdGB

On a side note, I may start another thread on getting X (formerly Twitter) tips. I'm pretty awkward about navigating the site. It's how I stumbled onto the live WIBC broadcast.