- cross-posted to:
- android@lemdro.id
- tech@kbin.social
- technology@lemmy.ml
- cross-posted to:
- android@lemdro.id
- tech@kbin.social
- technology@lemmy.ml
The Android phone maker says go ahead, fix your own phone.
The right-to-repair movement continues to gain steam as another big tech company shows its support for letting people fix their own broken devices.
Google endorsed an Oregon right-to-repair legislation Thursday calling it a “common sense repair bill” and saying it would be a “win for consumers.” This marks the first time the Android phone maker has officially backed any right-to-repair law.
The ability to repair a phone, for example, empowers people by saving money on devices while creating less waste,” said Steven Nickel, devices and services director of operations for Google, in a blog post Thursday. “It also critically supports sustainability in manufacturing. Repair must be easy enough for anyone to do, whether they are technicians or do-it-yourselfers.”
In the Oregon repair bill, manufacturers will be required to provide replacement parts, software, physical tools, documentation and schematics needed for repair to authorized repair providers or individuals. The legislation covers any digital electronics with a computer chip although cars, farm equipment, medical devices, solar power systems, and any heavy or industrial equipment that is not sold to consumers are exempt from the bill.
Google has made strides in making its Pixel phones easier to fix. The company enabled a Repair Mode for the phones last month allowing the protection of data on the device while it’s being serviced. There’s also a diagnostic feature that helps determine if your Pixel phone is working properly or not. That said, Google’s Pixel Watch is another story as the company said in October it will not provide parts to repair its smartwatch.
Apple jumped on the right-to-repair bandwagon back in October. The iPhone maker showed its support for a federal law to make it easier to repair its phones after years of being a staunch opponent.
…match Apple? I think you’re confused.
Apple recently dropped their longstanding opposition against right to repair.
I think they saw the writing on the wall in the EU.
They absolutely have not. They have, however, pretended to do so on numerous occasions. It’s a fucking bamboozle every time.
When I see original OEM components available on Apple’s websites, and the option to download software to register/calibrate the new components, I’ll eat my fucking hat.
Until then, Apple can lick my balls.
E: turns out this person was correct, though not in the way they thought, but because Google is also doing a bamboozle.
Their components are still software locked. Regardless of which way you take, if you want to do it correctly, you gotta go through apple.
They said that with a wink and a nod. In truth, they are still very against the right to repair.
They still have “parts pairing” (aka, hardware DRM) that prevents you from repairing your own devices. And as it’s DRM, you would have to have laws written that would allow you to break the copyright protection baked into each piece, which won’t happen as Apple (and mostly every other company) will fight it claiming that X lawmaker supports piracy, wants to water down IP protection, etc…