iPhone returns from service with 'official iPhone tool'

Call us crazy, but it certainly appears that Apple's unofficially official iPhone tool has ripped off MacGyver's lifeline. According to an iPhone user that sent his handset in for warranty service, it arrived back with this here piece of equipment, complete with Apple's famed display label and plastic bag. Heck, if having a malfunctioning iPhone is the only way to snag one of these bad boys, we're definitely crossing our fingers for an excuse to send ours in.

[Thanks, Matthew V.]

[Arathon @ Aug 3rd 2007 2:51PM]

lol...that's absolutely amazing. I hope to goodness that's actually true...

[paloooz @ Aug 3rd 2007 2:52PM]

It is. They've come with all 3 of my replacement iPhones.

[johnzilla @ Aug 3rd 2007 5:04PM]

You've had to replace three iPhones already? I'm glad I didn't buy one!

[I LOVE THE CAPS LOCK KEY @ Aug 3rd 2007 5:09PM]

I hear Rambus will sue Apple for stealing their secret technology.

[paloooz @ Aug 3rd 2007 6:02PM]

Yeah, they kept sending me ones with bubbles in the glass. >:(

[tom @ Aug 3rd 2007 6:59PM]

can we please ban palooz? all he does is troll...

[Jamar @ Aug 3rd 2007 11:06PM]

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.

[paloooz @ Aug 4th 2007 3:35AM]

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.

[MrSayao @ Aug 3rd 2007 2:52PM]

what exactly do you need to do that for?

[paloooz @ Aug 3rd 2007 2:53PM]

Opening the tray to swap SIM cards.

[derek @ Aug 3rd 2007 2:52PM]

I think I'm going to wait for the 3rd party models...

[common209 @ Aug 3rd 2007 2:52PM]

My question is.....what does the tool ultimately reveal?

[strider_mt2k @ Aug 3rd 2007 6:31PM]

The same thing the tools that bought iPhones reveal:

The gullibility of the American consumer.

[MrSayao @ Aug 3rd 2007 2:53PM]

i wonder what exactly is being serviced

[adam moss @ Aug 3rd 2007 2:53PM]

Designed by Apple in California. Assembled in China.

[MrSayao @ Aug 3rd 2007 2:54PM]

sorry about the double post, i didn't think it went through!

[Elaine @ Aug 3rd 2007 2:56PM]

That is one really amazing, high tech tool. /sarcasm

[3rdsun @ Aug 3rd 2007 2:56PM]

I wonder if Macgyver patented his famous do it all tool. Maybe he gets commission from Apple to use Mac in his name.

[Argot @ Aug 3rd 2007 3:12PM]

No, Apple was first with this.

[kingofwale @ Aug 3rd 2007 11:32PM]

>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"? ;)

[joe23521 @ Aug 3rd 2007 2:57PM]

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!

[Brandon @ Aug 3rd 2007 3:18PM]

I smell a Keepin' it real fake coming on

[Gene Holman @ Aug 3rd 2007 3:03PM]

Clippy?

[walter9999 @ Aug 4th 2007 12:12PM]

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

[Daniel @ Aug 3rd 2007 3:01PM]

what?

[paul34 @ Aug 3rd 2007 3:18PM]

This iClip will certainly be superior to all other paperclips!

[vikingbastich666 @ Aug 3rd 2007 3:21PM]

Hrmm.... It needs a white finish.

[Glazun @ Aug 3rd 2007 4:14PM]

No, its obviously one of those iClip Pro's.

[Chris Murphy @ Aug 3rd 2007 6:25PM]

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.

[jalapeno @ Aug 3rd 2007 3:27PM]

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.

[Andrew @ Aug 3rd 2007 9:12PM]

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!

[john @ Aug 3rd 2007 10:01PM]

Madness! You can't just hand out paperclips! Those things cost money you know.

[primetime4 @ Aug 3rd 2007 3:27PM]

These things will probably be available for $50 from the Apple store w/free laser engraving.

[ejordan @ Aug 3rd 2007 4:35PM]

Ha ha, very true. If someone sues, we can start getting a carrying case, too.

[Spyvie @ Aug 3rd 2007 3:31PM]

I call prior art! I was using this very same tool to open dead CD ROM drives even before MacGyver fashioned his. (I think)

[macona @ Aug 3rd 2007 3:58PM]

I will one up you. Ejecting 400k floppys from a Mac 128k!

[Kieran Coghlan @ Aug 3rd 2007 4:06PM]

Spyvie: MacGuyver was on TV before CD-rom drives were available.

[rip @ Aug 3rd 2007 4:16PM]

pfft. I've got you beat. I was using it to eject floppies.

[I LOVE THE CAPS LOCK KEY @ Aug 3rd 2007 5:07PM]

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

[Señor Swanky @ Aug 3rd 2007 3:34PM]

Perhaps they should have tooled it from titanium so everyone could complain how out of touch Apple is.

[benjamin @ Aug 3rd 2007 3:44PM]

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.

[mapin0518 @ Aug 3rd 2007 3:48PM]

it just works !

[Matt @ Aug 3rd 2007 3:48PM]

did they patent it?

[Jack @ Aug 3rd 2007 3:49PM]

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.

[Loonie @ Aug 3rd 2007 3:52PM]

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.

[JJ @ Aug 3rd 2007 3:53PM]

Looks like Clippy was hired by Apple.

[Kamal @ Aug 3rd 2007 3:54PM]

i think this is apple's way of calling the customer an idiot for not resetting the iphone before sending it in for repairs.

[Kieran Coghlan @ Aug 3rd 2007 4:04PM]

That's SO *innovative* of Apple!

[michas_pi @ Aug 3rd 2007 4:11PM]

I wonder how much AppleCare warrenty is for this...

[Se?Diddy @ Aug 3rd 2007 4:15PM]

Any smart Apple customer will be holding off on this until the 2nd revision is released, although the included wireless is tempting.