Hi. In today’s episode, we look at Planned Obsolescence, the resulting mountains of e-waste, and why companies don’t want you to be able to fix their crummy products.

If you expect Cody to be nice to Apple, you will be very disappointed.

  • @filister
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    111 year ago

    I am sorry but what about creating new charging standards so that you can sell your own charging cables, adapters, etc. Don’t tell me that Apple is good, no they are not. Why do you think even today, you cannot use their headphones with Android or MS devices? They are actively trying to create extra hurdles and they only adopted the USB-C because of the pressure the EU put on them. Aren’t all those incompatible parts not increasing the e-waste?

    Oh and if I am not wrong they were the first to introduce the non replaceable battery, and eventually the rest of the pack followed suit.

    • @mean_bean279
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      -31 year ago

      AirPods can be used with any other device that has Bluetooth. Your Android (technically falls under Linux) device, windows device, Linux device, chromeOS, and others.

      The charging method they used was created for a different time period. During the first era of 30-pin they used it because it’s what the iPod used. During 30-pin to lightening there still wasn’t a standard. Android was starting to utilize Micro USB, but the amount of times that Micro USB just broke after a few uses was insane. A ton of devices I worked on back in the 10-13 time period with Micro USB ended up tossed because Micro USB was often attached to the board and people weren’t going to pay to have a new one attached.

      Apple pushed hard into USB-C in the beginning. The MacBook Pro was the first device to basically have all USB-C ports and they got absolutely trashed for it. Heres just one of the many articles complaining about the new MBP. If you were around during the switch from 30-pin to lightening then you might also remember the PR nightmare Apple faced with people saying they were only changing the standard because of money and wanting more accessory sales. Without realizing that 30-pin broke like crazy and just sucked.

      Apple listed several reasons for have a built in battery. I was a huge believer back in the day of user replaceable/swapable batteries. However over time after working on devices I’m on the side of internal batteries. The size can be slightly reduced. You gain better dust and water resistance, and quite frankly the cost to replace the battery in an iPhone for instance is almost the same as buying the battery if you wanted something OEM. I use to buy a ton of Zero Lemon 10,000maH batteries for my note phones and those batteries CONSTANTLY failed and I was buying new ones.

    • @[email protected]
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      -51 year ago

      Lightning was leaps and bounds better than anything else on the market. Fully reversible, sturdier connector, sturdier plug. The only drawback was the apple tax, and that is easily overcome with third party cables.

      USB C was released a full 2 years after Lightning, and Apple was part of the group that helped develop it.

      And by “headphones” are you talking about EarPods? Because those things are garbage and most people wouldn’t even notice that they don’t work with other devices. Or are you talking about their AirPods, which all work with virtually any device that realistically supports Bluetooth headsets.

      I started this comment intending to play devils advocate, then realized you’re just an uninformed individual with a hard-on for a company you don’t like. At least try to know what you’re talking about next time?

      • @filister
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        71 year ago

        The question is are you always a **** and is your life so miserable that you feel the need to insult unprovoked, people just because the latter doesn’t share your opinion.

        I see you are clearly an Apple fanboi but this doesn’t change the fact that Apple had fought furiously over the years to make their devices less repairable. They are even preventing you from changing their parts unless you do it in authorised centres. https://www.idoc.eu/blog/en/problems-after-iphone-repair/, battery gate, to name a few. Or are you so delusional. Fact is that Apple is on purpose creating closed standards that only their devices are supporting. Heck even their official apps are not compatible with other devices. If that’s not anti consumer practice, what is?

        • @[email protected]
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          -41 year ago

          I notice you’ve dropped your original complains and moved on to completely different talking points. Was the goalpost heavy when you moved it?

          The question is are you always a **** and is your life so miserable that you feel the need to insult unprovoked

          Insult? I was a little hostile because you’re talking about something you obviously don’t have a firm grasp on. But I never insulted you.

          Can’t same the same about you though…

          just because the latter doesn’t share your opinion

          Opinion? Those were facts friend. Unless you can tell me where I was wrong?

          Apple had fought furiously over the years to make their devices less repairable.

          Yes, a well known tactic that should be illegal. And oddly the only real issue in your comments.

          Or are you so delusional.

          What?

          Fact is that Apple is on purpose creating closed standards that only their devices are supporting.

          Hardware? Software?

          The only hardware standard they had in place that actually affected anything like cross device support would be the lightning cable. Unless you’re talking about the fact that you can’t put an iPhone mainboard into an android phone?… which would make no sense.

          Software makes just about as much sense though, since you’ve always needed to rewrite (or at the very least recompile) code between architectures.

          Heck even their official apps are not compatible with other devices.

          What does this even mean? Are you mad you can’t use the Phone app from your iPhone, on an android?

          Or are you talking about the fact that iMessage is locked into the Apple ecosystem, which is a legitimate complaint but not at all what you said.

          My entire point was, if you’re going to try to call out a company, list real issues. The only thing in all your complaining that is an actual problem is the fact that they have hardware pairing, and potentially that they explicitly lock out users from iMessage without an Apple device. Though that last one was me being generous with my interpretation of what you said.

          • @filister
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            31 year ago

            Okay, since you seem to still insist that I don’t know what I am talking about:

            Apple apps are incompatible with any other OS apart from Apple’s one.

            Batterygate, when they started slowing down devices with degraded batteries

            Not replaceable batteries on their devices.

            Not replaceable SSD, RAM, etc. in their devices, everything is soldered.

            Lightning cable: “According to AppleInsider’s rough calculations, the “Apple tax” (MFi certification + chip + cut) on a Lightning cable can account for half of the price of the cable. According to media estimates, Apple makes $5 billion a year by selling Lightning cables and MFi certificates.”

            MagSafe is another example of proprietary standard, that’s not open to the public.

            You cannot change the default browser or maps applications in iOS.

            You can also check https://youtu.be/RIFQC8iA65k?si=T8ZAumHF29gZF0wc and maybe google Louis Rosmann

            iPhones till today are not able to play MPEG-DASH or decrypt any other than AES & Fairplay encryption, which by the way belongs to Apple and surprise surprise is not free. Dash on the other hand can work with different encryptions, work on pretty much every device other than Apple and is more ubiquitous.

            Heck up until recently they were not allowing their scientists to publish their research papers.

            Spotify is suing Apple, because they are subject of the 30% tax, while Apple music is exempt, giving them an illegal advantage.

            Did you know that in order to write apps targeting iOS you need to use MacOS, so it is not possible to do it on Linux or Windows.

            Do you remember who started the smartphone patent wars as well?

            Is this enough to prove how ignorant I am and technology illiterate or do you want more?

            So yeah, I dare say I know a thing or two about Apple.

            • @[email protected]
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              -21 year ago

              Apple apps are incompatible with any other OS apart from Apple’s one.

              Name an OS this is not true of.

              Batterygate, when they started slowing down devices with degraded batteries

              The alternative being the phones literally turning off and not turning on because the batteries could not support the device at full power.

              The problem with this wasn’t the actual slowing down of phones, it was that this was a stealth update that was neither optional, nor was the user informed.

              Not replaceable batteries on their devices.

              They are actually fairly easily replaced. I assume you mean “easily removable without tools” to which I’d point out that while I agree it’s kinda shit, it’s also pretty unnecessary. If you want more battery power, bring a battery bank.

              Not replaceable SSD, RAM, etc. in their devices, everything is soldered.

              While I can agree that this is an issue of repairability, this also how 99% of the market works.

              Lightning cable: “According to AppleInsider’s rough calculations, the “Apple tax” (MFi certification + chip + cut) on a Lightning cable can account for half of the price of the cable. According to media estimates, Apple makes $5 billion a year by selling Lightning cables and MFi certificates.”

              One of the main arguments that makes sense to go against lightning. And while I am happy, for the most part, that usb c is coming, there are many points you’re ignoring with that selective quote.

              Main one being that Apple footed the bill to develop lightning, which again is a much better connector than what was available prior to usb c coming to market.

              That said, they really should have phased it out in favor of usb c.

              MagSafe is another example of proprietary standard, that’s not open to the public.

              I don’t see a problem with this. Where else do you want it?

              You cannot change the default browser or maps applications in iOS.

              This is not true. Hell, you can uninstall Apple Maps.

              You can also check https://youtu.be/RIFQC8iA65k?si=T8ZAumHF29gZF0wc and maybe google Louis Rosmann

              I’m well aware of Louis, and the right to repair movement. I also agree with the vast majority of legitimate issues with Apple.

              I keep telling you that my issue is you talking about non-issues. I’ve never claimed Apple is good.

              iPhones till today are not able to play MPEG-DASH or decrypt any other than AES & Fairplay encryption, which by the way belongs to Apple and surprise surprise is not free. Dash on the other hand can work with different encryptions, work on pretty much every device other than Apple and is more ubiquitous.

              This is a decent complaint. I wasn’t aware of this actually, and the fact that Mac supports (or did at one time) it for Netflix and nothing else is telling.

              Heck up until recently they were not allowing their scientists to publish their research papers.

              Isn’t this normal for the industry?

              Spotify is suing Apple, because they are subject of the 30% tax, while Apple music is exempt, giving them an illegal advantage.

              <.<

              How exactly does one charge themselves a 30% tax?

              “Apple, you owe Apple 1 kajillion dollars.”

              “Oh okay, here’s a check from Apples bank account. Be sure to cash it into Apples bank account!”

              Did you know that in order to write apps targeting iOS you need to use MacOS, so it is not possible to do it on Linux or Windows.

              Yes, well aware. Did you know you can install MacOS on a windows PC, within a VM?

              Is this enough to prove how ignorant I am and technology illiterate or do you want more?

              I don’t think this question is the one you meant to ask. 🤭

              • @Eldritch
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                41 year ago

                Name an OS this is not true of.

                Not the person you’ve been replying to. However it’s not true of most any other major OS. There are always outliers. But there’s plenty of software that can be compiled to run on any major OS. As long as it wasn’t written by Apple. Windows apps can run under Linux. Linux apps can run under Windows. Android apps can run under both. And both with a bit of work can function in android. That’s not even mentioning BSD. Whose shoulders apple is standing on while giving next to nothing back.

                Now that isn’t to say that all that is possible because the makers of all those systems are working together. Far from. Microsoft has done next to nothing themselves to facilitate their software to run elsewhere. And someday perhaps apple software might enjoy the same ability. However that does not detract from the fact that Apple currently is acting in the worst ways Microsoft used to act. And are working to build an impenetrable user hostile Walled Garden.

                • @[email protected]
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                  01 year ago

                  I suppose I can agree with that, but as you said that has nothing to do with the companies themselves, and more to do with third party communities working towards intercompatibility. I wouldn’t really count that as a point against Apple, nor a point for any of the other OSs.

                  I will, however, admit that Linux distros tend to be cross compatible, but that’s more because they haven’t diverged “enough” from core Linux.

                  Though what I really meant by that, was that you can’t take a compiled executable from one OS and move it onto another, and have it work without some sort of compatibility layer.

                  • @Eldritch
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                    1 year ago

                    Apple is actively trying to stop interoperability. Hardware and software with no valid justification. They’ve become worse than the monsters people once perceived them to stand against. The company has built some decent hardware and software. None of that justifies their behavior.

                    Also linux/bsd/ plan9/ haiku etc etc etc all tend to be interoperable because they generally adhere to The posix Standard. Which is also why windows can run Linux binaries Etc. There is no such thing as core Linux. Indeed Darwin the neglected underpinnings of OS X is posix compliant itself being a bastardized version of BSD. The incompatibility is only start where Apple begins. The fact that Apple created its own separate apis called metal etc instead of using the widely used and proven standards taking after Microsoft. Proves they are out to quash.