Apple's Giving its Customers a New Kind of Screw
Apple's got a new way to screw your iPhone 4.
There's a new type of screw that Apple is putting to its customers. We'd like to call it the iScrew, but the technical name for it is the "pentalobe" or "pentalobular," which is a rounded, five-pronged screw.
While most electronics with tamper-proof screws use the Torx head – which is available for purchase, but not readily available in most households – Apple has gone a step further with something completely new that even DIYers can't get.
The new screw first appeared in the mid-2009 MacBook Pro to prevent battery swaps, and now it's also standard on the new MacBook Air.
The iPhone 4 originally shipped with the Phillips head screws, but now those who have brought their phones into Apple for repair are getting their devices back with the pentalobe screw. Apple's certainly taken additional measures to make sure that customers can't freely open up their own property.
iFixit's posted some additional information and even makes a kit available with screw that will roughly fit the iPhone 4 to swap out for a Phillips.
- Apple,
- iPhone,
- Build Your Own,
- ifixit ,
- phillips ,
- pentalobe ,
- pentalobular ,
- screw
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Awesome. Stealing customer rights and blocking access to their own property.
What's Apple got to hide?
If you buy something you should be able to do whatever you want with that object even if it means pulling it to pieces.
A simple gem set screw driver with a extra small point can get it if you apply enough pressure and get the angle just right.
What's Apple got to hide?If you buy something you should be able to do whatever you want with that object even if it means pulling it to pieces.
You forget. Apple is all about control. That's why they control the hardware in a Mac, the software on their hardware and even the little components in each device. Going Apple means you don't have control over pretty much anything. Notice how they don't allow Flash on iOS? I'll bet they soon block it from being developed for OSX.
That's one of the biggest reasons why I don't have a single Apple product in my home. That and I can't justify paying 2x or more the price. My LG Ally with FroYo can do everything the iPhone 4 does and it only cost $25 bucks.
Give it time. Someone will develop a screw driver (apple priced, of course) in a little while.
This is why I built a PC...
On another note, Torx is better than Phillips. It's designed NOT to strip out, as opposed to phillips, which is actually meant to strip after a certain torque load.
The Apple "torx" is just a douchy move.
Best. Headline. Ever.
You can already by the correct screwdriver on ebay for 8.99. Just search for Pentalobe.
You're screwed..... now that for sure
Giving a whole new meaning to the screwing the customer business
And later they will not permit to use their products without our finger print.
Apple is a big joke.
Just lucky for now to have no competition.
But they will stay like that forever even when they will have less than 1 bilion in the pucket searching for what they sell no more products.
Smile
And they are people who think JObs is a genius.
Hahaha
And other they are generous.
Sure miserly people are generous.
You're screwed..... now that for sure Giving a whole new meaning to the screwing the customer business
In apple speak they'd say you're helically wrapped around an incline plane.
plain*
SCREW YOU!!
Does this make anyone else really really mad?
No, plane was the correct spelling.
They probably have a patent on the pentalobe screwdriver and gonna start prosecuting people who try to sell it... What a huge turd apple is.
Does this make anyone else really really mad?
No, I have other things that are much more pressing.
Wait a few months and you'll be able to buy the screwdrive for .99 on ebay from China.
Some one will creat a tool suitable to this iScrew like ifunia develops video converter for ipad's limitation of video supporting.
detailed information of the solving process in theory:
http://www.ifunia.com/video-to-ipad-converter-mac.html
I thought I saw it before but it was simply a Torx head. Oops.
On a side note, those screw heads look like the cherry flower emblem of Japan
plain*
You were right the first time with 'plane'.
Wow. This adds a whole new dimension to screwing.
This is just one of the reasons why I, despite loving every bit of my friends' iPod Touches can't bring myself to buy one. The other being that Apple sells 50 cent rubber pieces for $30.
And guess what they're going to call that Pentalobe Patented sscrewdriver out into the market.......
iScrewU.........
oops.... without the U but it's understood right????
Big Brother making life difficult for iZombies
I wonder what happens if they say in court (I know who sues for a screw) but imagine this "You don't own the iphone we do" pfft I'll laugh
People need to start screwing Apple by not buying their screwed-up products.
The Jobs Totalitarian Regime continues.
Insane. If *my* device had Phillips screws, but after being repaired had something else, you can bet I'd be pissed.
But really, Apple products already have dealbreakers (e.g. non user-replaceable batteries), so this does not make me any less likely to buy one.
there is enough room for a small flat head screwdriver...not a big deal
A flat head will strip it.
This is not hard to figure out. A little clay, some resin make a mode.
Not to hard.
But it sure will make a case to see what is under.
Loved the headline!
Cheers!
Apple is seeming more and more like China. No wonder they like doing business there.
Anyway, why is this news? The press really likes to talk about anything Apple ...next they'll describe Steve's lunch ...