At this moment almost 20 states are considering or implemented so-called “Right to Repair” legislation, which should require device manufacturers to make repair parts, tools, guides, and diagnostic software available to the public. While tech giants are fighting this legislation as public records showed; Apple is lobbying against the bill in New York, and many other states.
People should be able to choose where they want to get their devices repaired. Right to repair decreases the amount of e-waste while people retain their devices much longer. However from 1976 this company wanted to keep repair technicians away from their computers providing tools for their authorized shops. One of the anecdotes from early days says Jobs wanted to make computers available to wealthy only priming this attitude company continues to promote to these days.
Likely yet another attempt to use FIPS as an excuse and lockout 3-rd party repair shops Apple is getting ready to lock their devices for 3rd party techs. Failure to run Apple’s proprietary diagnostic software after a repair will result in an inoperative system and an incomplete repair. The software lock will kick in for any repair which involves replacing a MacBook Pro’s display assembly, logic board, top case (the keyboard, touchpad, and internal housing), and touch ID board. On iMac Pros, it will kick in if the logic board or flash storage are replaced. The computer will only begin functioning again after Apple or a member of one of Apple’s Authorized Service Provider (AASP) repair program runs diagnostic software called Apple Service Toolkit 2.
However, iFixit testing has found that Apple’s software locks are not yet operative? So companies that make complicated devices—from smartphones to farm equipment to cars—want a monopoly on repairing those devices. Apple, Tesla and John Deere, are good examples, charge good money to repair what they manufacture, and make it hard for third parties or customers themselves to do the repairs. Similar to how Walmart closed small businesses, disabling repair options hurts end-users, the environment, and small businesses. Having said that in 2012, Massachusetts passed a law forcing automotive companies to share diagnostic information with third party repair shops. It seems we will need similar legislation to prevent Apple to enable their “kill switch” in the new MacBook Pros. The service bulletin Apple sent to AASPs is genuine, stated this policy will apply to all Apple computers with the “T2” security chip, which is present in 2018 MacBook Pros as well as the iMac Pro.
Apple is known for unethical business practices such as anti-competitive behavior, rash litigation, and dubious tax tactics, their production methods involve use of sweatshop labor, surveillance, misleading warranties, insufficient data security, intellectual property theft and concerns about environmental destruction. Steve Jobs has been ordered multiple times to attend a court hearing regarding antitrust violations specifically with iPods and iTunes. It appears the saga continues with their new CEO who, like his predecessor receives significant criticism regarding Apple’s labor practices, their environmental and unethical business practices, including anti-competitive behavior, as well as the origins of source materials.
Should you buy Apple device? Think twice!
