iPhone returns from service with 'official iPhone tool'
By Darren Murph 
posted Aug 3rd 2007 2:46PM
posted Aug 3rd 2007 2:46PM
[Thanks, Matthew V.]
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lol...that's absolutely amazing. I hope to goodness that's actually true...
It is. They've come with all 3 of my replacement iPhones.
You've had to replace three iPhones already? I'm glad I didn't buy one!
I hear Rambus will sue Apple for stealing their secret technology.
Yeah, they kept sending me ones with bubbles in the glass. >:(
can we please ban palooz? all he does is troll...
If you call that trolling there are deep-seated problems involving the brown-nosing of Apple. Bubbles in the glass screen is not acceptable for an Apple product.
Trolling? :-(
http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z201/paloooz/IMG_0015.jpg
That was my first iPhone, then they sent me another with one big bubble which I didn't get a picture of. After that my replacement had 4 bubbles. I could take a picture of that one for you, as I am holding it right now ... but I don't see any reason to provide any more evidence that I am telling the truth...
This was like the ONE instance where I didn't make some sarcastic insulting comment, and the ONE time I get knocked for being a "troll."
But that's okay ... think what you want, but comments in this thread at 100% truth. I do see how it could be misunderstood as trolling ... I could have worded it better, left an explanation and pictures, but ... if you guys are that uptight about stuff like this, then you can feel that way.
what exactly do you need to do that for?
Opening the tray to swap SIM cards.
I think I'm going to wait for the 3rd party models...
My question is.....what does the tool ultimately reveal?
The same thing the tools that bought iPhones reveal:
The gullibility of the American consumer.
i wonder what exactly is being serviced
Designed by Apple in California. Assembled in China.
sorry about the double post, i didn't think it went through!
That is one really amazing, high tech tool. /sarcasm
I wonder if Macgyver patented his famous do it all tool. Maybe he gets commission from Apple to use Mac in his name.
No, Apple was first with this.
>Maybe he gets commission from Apple to use Mac in his name.
like how Apple got the promission BEFORE they started calling their phone "IPhone"? ;)
I heard that Office Depot is selling these Apple-Clones parts in bulk. I guess they'll be hearing from Apple's legal department soon!
I smell a Keepin' it real fake coming on
Clippy?
Oh no, they shouldn't do this to Office Depot, on top of all the other burdens.
Remember, "The problem with Office Depot is, they have absolutely no taste." -- Steve Jobs
what?
This iClip will certainly be superior to all other paperclips!
Hrmm.... It needs a white finish.
No, its obviously one of those iClip Pro's.
Be careful of the first wave iClips. I heard a rumor that plans of the iClip Mini and the iClip Shuffle are currently being discussed. I think personally they should forget the Mini and Shuffle the iClip Nano would sell alot more and maybe pass by the iClip Photo prototype and move straight in to the Video version.
I call this one a fake..I'm not an Apple fanboy but there is no way they would send a customer a paper clip.
It's official bro. Go into any apple store and ask them to see a loaner phone...there'll be one of those tools in the box and it also comes with a 3 pieces of tape. I got one when I had to send my phone back. Pretty great!
Madness! You can't just hand out paperclips! Those things cost money you know.
These things will probably be available for $50 from the Apple store w/free laser engraving.
Ha ha, very true. If someone sues, we can start getting a carrying case, too.
Meizu MiniOne, think on that...
I call prior art! I was using this very same tool to open dead CD ROM drives even before MacGyver fashioned his. (I think)
I will one up you. Ejecting 400k floppys from a Mac 128k!
Spyvie: MacGuyver was on TV before CD-rom drives were available.
pfft. I've got you beat. I was using it to eject floppies.
Kieran Coghlan,
You are incorrect.
MacGyver debuted in September of 1985 and the CD-ROM drive made it's first appearance in June of 1985. The CD-ROM drive predates Mac by four months. I remember both very well.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compact_disc
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MacGyver
Perhaps they should have tooled it from titanium so everyone could complain how out of touch Apple is.
Like the vendors writing your name on a grain of rice, I'm sure there are silkscreen instructions printed on the head of the iclip
Apple think that theyre smart, for using a paperclip as a user-manual/faq, but in reality microsoft did this for year. Though clippy died an unfortunate death recently in vista, we see that his legacy lives on with apple.
it just works !
did they patent it?
This is most assuredly real. If you questions apples ingenuity - need I remind everyone about the "Custom Macmini Tool"
That would be a paint scrapper with edges that have been angle ground to prevent gouging. Apple actually contracted someone to produce those for all the apple retail and repair locations.
All of us Genii were laughing our A#?'s off that day.
We should have taken a picture and posted it back in the day.
At least the packaging still looks nice.
Class!
It reminds me of the ROM update I received for my ESi-32 sampler. The ICs came with a special "IC removal tool", which was actually just the metal handle from a bulldog clip.
Looks like Clippy was hired by Apple.
i think this is apple's way of calling the customer an idiot for not resetting the iphone before sending it in for repairs.
That's SO *innovative* of Apple!
I wonder how much AppleCare warrenty is for this...
Any smart Apple customer will be holding off on this until the 2nd revision is released, although the included wireless is tempting.
I didn't think it was possible to have so many funny comments in one article.
you've just witnessed the unveiling of the "Jesus Clip"
This photo is obviously a Photoshop fake. The perspective is all wrong, and Apple would never release a UI as terrible as that one! I'm sure that the genuine Apple iPhone Tool released this Tuesday will be far superior to this crude forgery.
You should save your money. The rumor is Apple is planning a cheaper scaled down version.
At least Apple's not like Sony who charges sixty bucks for a screw...
That sounds more like my Ex.
iClip
I heard there are lines forming outside of office supply stores around the country!
Hopefully they paid royalties to Al Gore. He invented that tool, right?
Photoshopped!
We all know Apple is moving away from brushed metal.
This is definitely a real tool. You have to use the paper clip t take out the sim card and then put that sim card into a replacement (8gb) applecare Iphone until your repair is completed. I called on Sunday for repair; the loaner 8gb iphone was received Tuesday with the paperclip and apple also provides scotch tape to reseal the box for shipping back your broken phone. I received a brand new Iphone on Thursday with a note from apple saying that my original phone couldn't be repaired. They sent an extra paperclip the second time around too. All packages were sent overnight Fedex for shipping and receiving at no cost to me.
That's pretty damn good service!
Kudos to Apple. I'm going to by the apple care warranty, I definitely like Apples customer service.
i'd put this paper clip up for auction - unopened lol :D
He's got it up on ebay.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290146083291
What's even funnier are the questions:
http://contact.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ShowAllQuestions&requested=lab802&iid=290146083291&frm=284&redirect=0&ShowASQAlways=1&SSPageName=PageAskSellerQuestion_VI
Haha, the guy selling it is a riot. Funniest thing I've seen on Engadget in a long time.
Who holds the patent? I bet apple gets sued.
It comes with a mini-box too.
Check it out at: http://web.mac.com/michael.baran/iWeb/Site/iPhone%20AppleCare.html
AND the actual Sim Card Guide on the inside of the box!!!!
I still have one of the original MacTools before it became an iTool from when I had an original Macintosh 128. It was cleverly designed and often hidden amongst other similar tools but I could tell which was my macTool by the "bong" sound it made when I used it clean other devices of the day!
Multi-tasking multi-functional tools of the Apple Garage days... ah... the good old days... Everyone thought the rainbow Apple logo was purely psychedelic.
I'm disappointed it doesn't come pre-bent. It seems like the least they could do...
Found the NON-OEM version on eBay. I wonder if it'll void my warranty?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=180145809291
Looks like it's all in good clean fun. Just funny how the littlest things that Apple does gains them great publicity!
And they don't send it pre bent?!?!?!
What the hell is wrong with them!
That's expecting far too much out of their loyal fanboys!
GR
Why are you surprised? The "special tool" is used since the first macintosh!!! If you go waaayyy back, since the Apple //e / //c!!! :oD
this thing is going for 31 bucks right now on ebay... wtf is wrong with people
You can get it pre-bent as a BTO option at the Apple Store online.
Just select "pre-bent (Add $1.99)" and wait 7-10 business days. Boom.
Crazy!!