Apple changes iPhone screws to deter DIY repairs, mods

[Matthew DeCarlo]

It's no secret that Apple frowns on customers performing DIY repairs and mods, and it seems that stance won't be changing in the near future. According to iFixit, the company has started using proprietary tamper-resistant "Pentalobe" screws that sort of resemble the familiar Torx format except they have five rounded points instead of six sharp ones.

"This screw head is new to us. In fact, there isn't a single reputable supplier that sells exactly the same screwdrivers Apple's technicians use -- which is Apple's point. They picked an obscure head that no one would have," iFixit said. "Apple chose this fastener specifically because it was new, guaranteeing repair tools would be both rare and expensive."

Apple reportedly began using Pentalobe screws to secure the mid-2009 MacBook Pro's battery and they're used on the lower case of the latest MacBook Air models to prevent users from accessing the system's internals. Additionally, many non-US iPhone 4s shipped Pentalobe screws from day one and new US versions use the obscure fasteners.

iFixit also notes that if you bring your iPhone to Apple for "any kind of service," they'll swap your Phillips screws with the new proprietary type. As much as we hate intentional roadblocks, the average user isn't going to dissect their smartphone. For you DIYers, iFixit is selling a new "iPhone 4 Liberation Kit" with everything you'll need to get inside.

Permalink to story.

https://www.techspot.com/news/42070-apple-changes-iphone-screws-to-deter-diy-repairs-mods.html

 

[Guest]

Try defending this one apple zealots

 

[princeton]

How did ifixit get their hands on the screwdrivers so fast if they're supposedly "rare and expensive"?

 

[Matthew DeCarlo]

The iPhone 4 has been out for nearly seven months. Seems like enough time to make arrangements if you ask me.

 

[princeton]

Matthew said:
The iPhone 4 has been out for nearly seven months. Seems like enough time to make arrangements if you ask me.

So these screwdrivers were intended more for the EU iphones that started with the screws. That makes more sense.

 

[SNGX1275]

There is probably a factory in China already mass producing these, so they won't be rare and expensive for long.

I bet you can take the right size flathead screwdriver and unscrew these new heads anyway. I've been opening dead hard drives for years that way. If they really wanted to make it difficult to open they would have created a "pentalobe security" head.

 

[Leeky]

I'm guessing the "average" user won't consider using a flat-head screwdriver instead of the real tool.

Seems a bit pointless really, as it'll be easily overcome - the Chinese are good at that! :haha:

 

[Jibberish18]

Nintendo did it and still does it. Lots of companies use special security bits. They're easy enough to find. By now, I'm sure there are Chinese makers selling them on ebay, as mentioned before. Because it's Apple, everyone has to point the finger and say "That's the bad guy!" <--See what I did there?

 

[TomSEA]

Sheesh...any kid in high school metal shop could make one of those. I honestly don't know why Apple is so paranoid about DIY repair attempts. I'd bet half the people trying a DIY repair end up permanently breaking their iPhone rather than fixing it anyway.

 

[Leeky]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/5-Spoke-Star-...UK_Mobiles_Accessories_RL&hash=item25609ef234

See, didn't take long - even appears to be a UK seller and UK stock. :haha:

 

[gwailo247]

Yeah, but people aren't going to "chip" their iPhone they way you'd "chip" your game console.

This isn't a move to stop people from playing pirated games on their consoles, its to prevent people from making small fixes to their phone so that they can instead charge them an arm and a leg to do the same thing themselves.

Smart from a business standpoint, but I see a difference between console makers trying to stop loss of profits due to piracy rather than Apple trying to make even more profits by forcing its users to go to them for repairs.

 

[negroplasty]

One more reason I'd never own an Apple product.

 

[Relic]

Jibberish18 said:
Because it's Apple, everyone has to point the finger

I see people pointing out this nonsense from other companies too, but it does seem like Apple gets the bigger headlines.

 

[princeton]

Relic said:

Jibberish18 said:
Because it's Apple, everyone has to point the finger

I see people pointing out this nonsense from other companies too, but it does seem like Apple gets the bigger headlines.

Because apple has more nonsense to point out

 

[Mikymjr]

Why not search for screw drivers made for nitro RC cars, cause they have a lot of accessoires. They have like almost all configurations of screwdrivers =P

 

[Leeky]

Because apple has more nonsense to point out

They don't help themselves admittedly, but I tend to find the biggest basher of their products haven't ever even used them.

I'm not by any means a Apple fanboy, but I do own Apple products, and they are quality items, and last very well. In a sense I find myself caught between two worlds.. The world of Apple (and its expensive ways), and the world of the PC (Windows and Linux), and its infinite extensible ways.

I have to say Linux is winning out of all of them now. My iMac gets rarely used, and my PC's Windows install is really only used for gaming these days as well.

Though I'll be the first to admit I much prefer Android to the iPhone (and I own both, though my wife now uses the 3GS since her phone broke!).

 

[Relic]

Princeton said:

Relic said:

Jibberish18 said:
Because it's Apple, everyone has to point the finger

I see people pointing out this nonsense from other companies too, but it does seem like Apple gets the bigger headlines.

Because apple has more nonsense to point out

I find it to be pretty equal, just that what they do tends to sting more with the geeks than mainstream.

 

[princeton]

Relic said:

Princeton said:

Relic said:

Jibberish18 said:
Because it's Apple, everyone has to point the finger

I see people pointing out this nonsense from other companies too, but it does seem like Apple gets the bigger headlines.

Because apple has more nonsense to point out

I find it to be pretty equal, just that what they do tends to sting more with the geeks than mainstream.

Yah. I wasn't being completely serious. I think what people dislike is how apple feels they should be allowed to control a product that YOU own. But what these people don't acknowledge is that nobody forces them to buy an iphone or ipod touch.

 

[HaMsTeYr]

I fix Apple products for a living and I find this one particularly irritating. It just means that they want everyone to send the products back to the apple "geniuses" or something, and have them charge 10000 bucks extra while laughing themselves silently.

Leeky said:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/5-Spoke-Star-...UK_Mobiles_Accessories_RL&hash=item25609ef234

See, didn't take long - even appears to be a UK seller and UK stock. :haha:

This is the 5 Spoke Star, not the pentalobe. Arguably however, you could use a small sized 5 star spoke to open this one um...

Btw, I have this:
http://img.alibaba.com/img/pb/092/555/303/303555092_020.jpg

And nothing really stops me from opening stuff up. You can't really use a flat head screwdriver however to open the 5 star pentalobe. Notice that there wouldn't be any good places to "catch" onto the screw.

At most, you risk damaging the head of the screw, and voila, you have a screw that can't be removed. Forever. Well, not forever, but you get the drift.

 

[aj_the_kidd]

Damn Apples getting into the hardware industry lol, throw away your flathead and phillips head screw driver, the iPentalobe is the future. Ahh Apple, you're for good for a laugh, thankyou.

 

[Trillionsin]

SNGX1275 said:
If they really wanted to make it difficult to open they would have created a "pentalobe security" head.

That's a good point. I bet you could open it with a different security bit still.

 

[Nima304]

Just another reason I'd never own an Apple product.

 

[Guest]

While I understand and respect Apple's business decision and also acknowledge their branding expertise [Steve Jobs], I think this might be a bit much. Many of the iSheep I know, through various Computer Science classes, have modified their Apple products. This type of marketing will be harmful to this specialized segment which will go on into the professional world.

Different strokes for different folks. I'm a Windows guy because I like having options. If you want to be told what to do, pick Apple! I jest... the build quality is awesome... but I personally don't think that it it worth the saturated hardware prices.

 

[Sarcasm]

Apple "screwing" people, who's surprised. har har har

 

[Kibaruk]

And Apple continues to give more money to external companies that make hacking products =)