Warranty -- Engadget

Apple patent application promises means to detect gadget abuse

by Donald Melanson posted Aug 6th 2009 at 4:06PM

Apple's already put liquid submersion sensors in some of its recent products, but a recent patent application seems to suggest that it has some considerably grander plans in mind to detect and prevent gadget abuse. Described as a "Consumer Abuse Detection System and Method," the new system would apparently make use of a whole range of sensors to various issues that might void the warranty of the device, like exposure to extreme cold or heat, drops, or submersion in liquid. What's more, unlike the current liquid sensors that simply change color when something bad happens, the new system would apparently store the damage digitally in memory which, presumably, wouldn't be as susceptible to damage as the device itself. The system would also apparently do its best to protect the devices by disabling them if it detects some imminent danger, although Apple doesn't make any bones about the fact that it's primarily designed to save money on returned products that have been abused by the user.

Xbox 360's class-leading warranty extended again to cover E74 errors

by Tim Stevens posted Apr 14th 2009 at 7:59AM

While long warranties are a strong selling point in the automotive world -- a sign of confidence from the manufacturer -- in gadget land bonus repair coverage usually comes along with some chronic problem. Most notable was the Xbox 360's iconic RRoD, and now a new failure is continuing that console's reliability black eye: the E74 message. It's said to be caused by a bogus AV connector or graphics chip, and while the message doesn't necessarily result in the same ring of crimson that caused Microsoft to extend the warranty the first time around, the company has announced it will cover E74-afflicted consoles for that same three year period, and will refund any money already spent by those fixing this issue. It's another classy move by Microsoft, but another worrying failure in an already disconcertingly fragile box.

[Via Gamezine.co.uk]

MacBook Air hinge defect not covered by Apple's warranty?

by Paul Miller posted Feb 26th 2009 at 3:03PM

Our rocky history with the MacBook Air Rev. A has been well documented, and while Apple would very much like us to forget all about it and plop down another $1,800 for the much-improved Rev. B, not everybody has that sort of birthday money to throw around. Reports of cracked hinges on the laptop are nothing new, but we always assumed Apple would eventually 'fess up to the problem and comp those repairs. Sadly, that doesn't seem to be the case, and we just got another report of a hapless MacBook Air owner who has a broken hinge that Apple says will cost $800 to repair, despite the fact the laptop is under warranty. Our own MacBook Air Rev. A had the exact same problem -- the hinge becomes loose over time, then suddenly catches and cracks from normal use, it's not from undue stress -- and Apple did the repair for free, but only after we escalated the issue to a manager, who let us know how very nice of them that was. From reading various reports, that seems the exception to Apple's repair policy, which lists this sort of damage as "accidental," and we're wondering how widespread this issue may be. If you or a loved one has been affected, hit up the poll below and pour out your heart in comments. If you're unscathed or MBA-free, feel free to show very little compassion to your fellow man. Wiggle hinge and broken hinge video is after the break.

[Thanks, Alex, and sorry for your loss! Photo courtesy of LanDung2008]

Read - Apple Discussions forum thread

Read - MacRumors forum thread

Read - Crashzone's link roundup

Continue reading MacBook Air hinge defect not covered by Apple's warranty?

Fujitsu-Siemens offers Lifebook4Life laptop replacement warranty, has some land in Florida it would like to sell you

by Joseph L. Flatley posted Nov 28th 2008 at 1:36PM

Fujistu-Siemens in the UK has recently announced their Lifebooks4Life program, which at first sounds a bit like some sort of gang tattoo, but turns out to be a new program that entitles you to a new laptop of the same value (adjusted 10 percent for inflation) every three years for the rest of your life. Granted, you'll be obliged to purchase a three year warranty with each new machine, and the machine must remain in warranty (you know what that means -- no cheap, off-brand RAM upgrades and absolutely no mods). But still -- a new notebook every three years for the price of a warranty? This doesn't sound like a disaster waiting to happen. Not at all. And one more caveat: you can't pass this contract on to your next of kin. Those of you in high-risk professions -- Dare Devils, Soldiers of Fortune, and contributing editors at Engadget -- might want to pass this one up.

Toshiba launches Satellite Pro S300 / S300M laptops

by Darren Murph posted Oct 13th 2008 at 11:34PM

Toshiba's never been one to really pump out laptops with oodles of sex appeal (a few Portégé machines notwithstanding), and its latest two are decidedly drab. Aimed squarely at business users, the 15.4-inch Satellite Pro S300 and the 14-inch Satellite Pro S300M (shown after the break) both include a 2-year warranty, support for docking, a business card reader, a USB Sleep-and-Charge / eSATA combo port and face recognition software. As for the S300, you can snag it with your choice of a Core 2 Duo CPU, up to 3GB of DDR2 RAM, a 160GB 5,400 RPM hard drive, dual-layer DVD burner, WiFi / Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, Intel's GMA4500MHD graphics, a built-in webcam / microphone and a 9-cell battery pack; the S300M gives you pretty much the same options but with a smaller screen and chassis. Take your pick, as they're both available to order right now starting at $899 / $829 in order of mention.

[Via Notebooks]

Continue reading Toshiba launches Satellite Pro S300 / S300M laptops

Dell offers 1-year limited warranty enhancement for NVIDIA GPU issues

by Darren Murph posted Aug 18th 2008 at 6:15PM

Details are slim at the moment, but one thing's for sure: Dell customers affected (or not affected... yet) by those wonky NVIDIA GPUs will have their warranties extended by 12-months to compensate. The 1-year "limited warranty enhancement" will add coverage for this issue to everyone who recently purchased one of the 15 NVIDIA-equipped machines listed in the read link, and we're told to expect further details about the whole ordeal in short order. Breathe easy, folks -- you'll be taken care of somehow or another.

Optimus Maximus survives coffee spill test... or does it?

by Darren Murph posted Aug 1st 2008 at 4:02PM

Maybe it's the ambiguity and possible masking of truth that just adds to the allure here, but whether it really lived or not, you now know what an Optimus Maximus looks like after an impromptu greeting with lukewarm java. Sir tema clearly states that the keyboard "survived" its first recorded coffee spill "thanks to the construction of the upper tray," but judging by the looks of this thing... um, we're not so sure. Oh, and he also mentions that spilling liquids on the 'board is not only "stupid," but it obviously voids any applicable warranties. Thanks for the memo.

TechForward and NEW sparking trend of gadget buyback services

by Darren Murph posted Jan 17th 2008 at 1:59PM

It's no secret that gadget aficionados like ourselves have mounds of kit that was hot stuff in its heyday, but figuring out what to do with it once its prime has passed is still a mystery to some. 'Course, the entrepreneurs in the crowd simply offer their previously loved wares up to the world via eBay (or similar), but for those lacking the time / motivation to do so, rest assured, companies are on the prowl to totally take advantage of you. TechForward and NEW are two firms that are looking to make a mint from entering the gadget buyback realm, and as you'd probably expect, the cash doled out to ~~suckers~~ individuals who bite on this is woefully less than market value -- but then again, it's ultra-convenient, shipping is free and it's guaranteed, hassle-free money. Sounds like the pawn shop just got with the times, eh?

[Image courtesy of PlanoPawnShop]

Asus sez Eee PC warranty still valid if you break seals

by Darren Murph posted Dec 10th 2007 at 7:14AM

Ever noticed that "Warranty Void If Removed" label over the access door to the single SODIMM slot in your Eee PC? Apparently, Asus wants you to just ignore those four little words. In a warranty update posted to the firm's website, it plainly states that "merely breaking or removing this kind of seal will not void the Asus Limited Warranty," and while it recommends that customers use company-approved service facilities, it wants to ensure that buyers "are free to make appropriate hardware and software modifications and upgrades, regardless of whether the service is performed by an approved facility, a non-approved service provider, or by the customers themselves." Going forward, it seems that Asus will be using a label that simply informs users that it won't be held responsible for any damages that may occur as a result of any tinkering, but yes, you can indeed feel free to piddle around till your heart's content knowing Asus still has your back.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Poll: Extended warranties, necessity or shakedown?

by Ryan Block posted Dec 6th 2007 at 3:08PM

As former tech retail geeks in another life, we know better than anyone the kind of pressure salespeople at the big box retailers put on adding extended (often 3rd party) warranties on gadget purchases. Oh sure, it preys on uninformed customers' fears that their expensive new toys will break down a exactly 91 days after purchase and they'll be left in the lurch -- but sometimes those warranties can actually come in handy. That is, if you can convince the warranty people to pony up, which is just a step below the frustration of dealing with most HMOs. So, what's your take on extended warranties?

Apple hit with class-action antitrust lawsuit over bricked iPhones

by Joshua Topolsky posted Oct 8th 2007 at 4:44PM

Apple has obviously made some enemies over this whole iPhone firmware situation, and clearly not everyone wants to follow the straight-and-narrow when it comes to the company's factory-limited and locked device. Now, at least one California resident named Timothy Smith has decided to bring the fight to the Cupertino monolith's doorstep -- and he showed up with lawyers. According to papers filed last week, the angry iPhone owner is suing Apple in hopes of barring the company from selling locked phones, and forcing the Mac-maker to provide warranty service for customers even if they've bricked their phones via third-party software -- though there seems to be no definitive evidence that Apple's update is the source of the brickings. The suit claims that, "Apple forced plaintiff and the class members to pay substantially more for the iPhone and cell phone service than they would have paid in a competitive marketplace either for the iPhone or for AT&T's cell phone service," and that the company, "Acted in defiance and without sufficient consideration of consumers' rights to unlock their iPhones because it knew that the probable result of its update would be to render unlocked iPhones inoperable." The lawyers in the case have set up a website where owners can join in on the suit -- so if you're feeling slighted, maybe they can help.

Apple not looking to 'proactively disable' unlocked iPhones

by Darren Murph posted Sep 25th 2007 at 1:39PM

Shortly after Apple released a brief statement yesterday regarding iPhone modifications and their impacts on warranties, the firm's senior vice president of worldwide product marketing has stepped up to clarify a few issues. In a recent interview, Phil Schiller was quoted as saying that the upcoming software update "has nothing to do with proactively disabling a phone that is unlocked or hacked." Furthermore, he added that it was "unfortunate that some programs have caused damage to the iPhone software," but he noted that "Apple could not be responsible for... those consequences." All in all, it doesn't sound like Apple is changing its stance, but it seems safe to say that Cupertino won't be listening to any crying should subsequent updates render your hacked iPhone useless.

[Via AppleInsider]

Apple finally weighs in on iPhone hacks, unlocking

by Darren Murph posted Sep 24th 2007 at 5:50PM

Merely three days after hearing of one user's run-in with Apple over his unlocked iPhone, the company has released an official statement warning users that "unauthorized iPhone unlocking programs" could cause "irreparable damage to the iPhone's software." Furthermore, the firm stated that these apps could result in the handset becoming "permanently inoperable when a future Apple-supplied iPhone software update is installed" -- you know, like the one coming "later this week" that includes the iTunes WiFi Music Store. As if that wasn't bad enough, the release also notes that "unauthorized modifications to the iPhone's software" violates the iPhone software license agreement and "voids the warranty." Ouch.

[Via MacNN]

Apple voiding warranties, blacklisting hacked iPhones?

by Darren Murph posted Sep 21st 2007 at 12:15PM

We don't foresee Apple chasing folks down that have modified their iPhone or anything, but at least one case has proven that you may want to return your handset to stock before attempting to have it serviced. According to a recent report, a handset running "some third-party apps" and operating on T-Mobile was flat out rejected when it entered an Apple store for service. More specifically, the employee reportedly said that "the warranty was voided," and added that the mobile was "blacklisted" against future service or return. 'Course, the owner did manage to coerce the Apple store manager to allow a return (albeit with a 10-percent restocking fee added on), but we'd highly recommend reverting your iPhone to AT&T mode before begging for service just in case.

[Via Digg, image courtesy of HamptonRoads]

Microsoft launches US Xbox 360 service website

by Darren Murph posted Aug 6th 2007 at 1:17AM

Amidst all of this not-exactly-forthright price cutting going on with the Xbox 360, it looks like Microsoft has finally launched a more organized method of detailing and tracking the process of sending your faulty US-based Xbox 360 back in for repair. Reportedly, the new web portal allows American console owners to register their machine, attach a Windows Live ID, schedule a repair, and track the status of said mending. Additionally, users who register will supposedly receive a five dollar credit towards out-of-warranty repair service should they need it, but considering that the warranty was just extended to three full years, you should be covered for a good while yet.

[Via Xbox 360 Fanboy]