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Apple will now replace your MacBook's bottom
Apple has debuted a new support program called (quite reasonably) the MacBook Bottom Case Replacement program. As 9to5Mac notes, there's been an issue with the rubber bottom part on some recent MacBook models where some glue problems may separate the rubber pad from the actual MacBook case. If you have had such an issue with a MacBook sold in the past few years, Apple will be happy to replace it at any Apple Store. And if you don't want to bother with coming in, you can even order a replacement kit online, then just put the new case on yourself. It's not a huge deal, of course, and Apple says that if you're not having the problem, you obviously don't need to replace your case, but it's good to know that Apple's got a way to deal with even a small hardware issue like this.
Some Xbox 360s won't read discs; Microsoft to comp owners with a new system, year of XBL (Update)
There may have been a good reason for that wide beta test Microsoft ran to test out its new disc format for the Xbox 360. While it will allow for an extra 1GB of storage space for new games and (it hopes) stop piracy, apparently some consoles contain drives that cannot read the new XGD3 discs. The details can be seen in the email pictured above posted by Reddit user Avery Penn and were verified as real by the Xbox Support Twitter account, but now it's responding to inquiries by saying the replacements are in response to a previous update and not the upcoming one that has been in beta. Adding to the confusion, Microsoft Europe confirmed the initial report and points affected users towards the support page to get sorted out. One way or another, affected owners can expect to be mollified by getting their Xbox 360s replaced with new 250GB Xbox 360S models plus a free year of XBL for the trouble. We haven't gotten an official response about the plan yet but are still checking, so your plan to hoard old consoles and get free replacements en masse is probably equal parts premature and Seinfeldian genius. Update: Microsoft has responded, confirming that the earlier statement was incorrect and this is not related to the update being beta tested. If you're wondering how many people are in for a swap, all we could find out is that something less than 10,000 of the 50 million or so Xbox 360s sold worldwide are affected. Check after the break for the official word, but if you have one of the boxes and are connected to XBL you should expect to receive a notice in your email.
iMac frees you from the tyranny (and convenience) of servicing your own hard drives (update: not exactly a new problem)
Letting Apple control most facets of your computing experience is just a fact of life for the Mac faithful, but if you want to swap out the hard drive for a bigger or faster one with the most recent iMac refresh, well, you have somewhat limited options. Rather than a 4-wire SATA configuration Apple uses a 7-wire configuration that keeps you from hooking up just any old hard drive, lest a temperature sensor go batty and your system refuse to cooperate. There are ways around it, but your warranty may not apply afterward... Update: We've revised this post to clarify that this isn't exactly a new issue. The same problem existed in previous revisions, but the big issue now is that the separate thermal cable has been integrated into the SATA cable. It's similar to what was done before, just a little harder to get around now. But, you can get around it. Update 2: Hardmac has a detailed analysis of the situation which we'd recommend you check out. It verifies OWC's findings, and recommends you short pins 2 and 7 to basically circumvent the issue. Why does Apple do this? The separate temperature monitor enables OS X to more regularly check the temperature of the system's drives without compromising overall bandwidth provided by SATA. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Disney is swapping out flawed Pinocchio Blu-ray discs
While the Pinocchio Blu-ray's Disney View fill-in artwork wasn't a problem, apparently enough owners were affected by an audio glitch to initiate a replacement program by Disney. If your 70th Anniversary Edition copy is missing two lines in the "Give a Little Whistle" song, Blu-ray.com says to call 1-800-723-4763 and they'll send an envelope for your copy before mailing out a fixed version. According to commenters, some are experiencing issues with the DVD version only which is not being replaced, while the UK version of the Blu-ray is not affected at all. They also mean you can request a replacement through their contact form, linked below.
NVIDIA's faulty GPU class action settlement challenged, but time's running out
Remember when NVIDIA was caught selling defective mobile graphics chips, and agreed to provide bargain-basement replacement laptops to make a class-action lawsuit go away? At least one gentleman wasn't happy with how that went down, and is suing to see that affected customers get a fair shake. Ted Frank of the Center for Class Action Fairness says that NVIDIA has no business passing off cheap laptops, and we think he might have a case -- after all, the judge ordered that NVIDIA provide "a replacement computer of like or similar kind and equal or similar value," and it doesn't take a lawyer to see that the $400 Compaq Presario CQ56-115DX that the company's offering doesn't come close to compensating owners of faulty machines. We joked that you might be better off selling your old laptop for parts on eBay, and that might not be far from the truth. The thing is, whether Ted Frank and company win or lose in court, defective laptop owners have only two weeks remaining to sign up for whatever NVIDIA ends up handing out, as March 14th is the final deadline to have settlement claims postmarked. Read the arguments at our more coverage link, and decide for yourself.
AppleCare Adventures: How to get a faulty MacBook battery replaced
The old saying about cars depreciating the moment you drive them off the lot goes double for notebook batteries, which lose a bit of their maximum capacity with every charge cycle. The battery is the one component of your portable Mac that is all but guaranteed to fail eventually... though especially in the case of the newest integrated batteries, it may take as long as a decade to die out completely, depending on your usage habits. How can you tell if your battery is close to failing? More important than that, if it is close to failing, how can you get it replaced? Click "Read More" to find out.
TechRestore offers MacBook Air matte screen replacements for $249
The new MacBook Airs may have a lot of things going for them, but a matte screen unfortunately isn't among them. The folks at TechRestore now say they have a solution to that shortcoming, however, and will gladly rip apart your shiny new Air and install a matte screen for $249. That screen will supposedly give you the same resolution, color depth and LED-backlighting as the factory installed one, and TechRestore promises to install a custom black bezel that "matches the look of the unibody MacBook Pro systems and looks, well, pretty awesome." Of course, they don't provide an actual image of the finished result, but they do promise a 24-hour turnaround time if you want to try it out yourself -- the service will apparently be available "soon." Head on past the break for the full press release.
NVIDIA reaches settlement in class action suit affecting Apple, Dell, HP laptops
Some folks may have long forgotten about the issue by now, but anyone that was hit by those defective NVIDIA GPUs a couple of years back will likely want to take notice -- the company has finally reached a settlement in the class action lawsuit spurred on by the issue, and anyone with an affected Apple, Dell or HP laptop is eligible for some form of compensation. In the case of Apple and Dell laptops, that includes a replacement of the GPU or MCP, while users of an affected HP laptop will actually get a full replacement laptop "similar in kind and value." Anyone that has already paid to have their laptop repaired due to the GPU issue is also entitled to a full reimbursement provided they have the necessary documentation for the repairs. Even if you are covered, however, you'll still have to wait a bit longer to actually get any compensation -- a final hearing is scheduled for December 20th, and claims will only begin sometime after that. In the meantime, be sure to hit up the source link below for the complete details, including a list of all the models affected. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Apple offers first generation iPod nano replacements in Japan
After two years of pushing and shoving by the Japanese government, Apple has finally relented, agreeing to replace those first generation iPod nano music players sold in Japan at risk of overheating. The player exchange goes beyond the battery replacement program already in effect for consumers concerned enough to complain directly to Apple. According to Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, of all the plastic black and white iPod nano players sold between September 2005 and December 2006, it confirmed 27 overheating incidents that occurred during recharging, including 6 fires that left four people with minor burns. On Sunday, Apple added 34 other "non-serious" overheating incidents to the tally -- a delay in disclosure that Japanese officials called "truly regrettable." Of course, today's news begs the question of how Apple will handle this issue for all the affected iPod nanos sold outside of Japan.
Apple issuing free repairs or replacements of wonky 2008 Time Capsules
It takes quite a lot to get Apple (or any of the other big timers) to swallow its pride and admit a faulty product, but the random deaths of its Time Capsules seem to have fit that bill. Of course, in classic corporate fashion, we're not told that there's a problem at all, but if you bought one of the earliest batches of Time Capsules -- between February and June 2008 -- and it has since suffered a fatal malfunction, you may now be entitled to a free repair or replacement. This new coverage is also being extended to people who've already had to pay to deal with a less than reliable Capsule; they'll get full refunds of their money, but we doubt their hearts will heal that quickly, and let's not even talk about the lost data that was supposed to be getting backed up on the thing.
The saga of changing from an iPhone 2G... to an iPhone 2G
My wife's iPhone 2G is broken. The power switch always thinks it is being pushed down, which means that the iPhone turns itself off fairly regularly. As you might expect, it's fairly annoying. Because I have a lot of nice, good, and generous friends, many of whom are also gadget folks, I asked on the Twitter if anyone had an iPhone 2G that was sitting in a drawer after they had upgraded. My friend Jim Ray sent me his. Did I say "friend"? I mean best friend. I took both iPhones home, swapped the SIM cards, and we all lived happily ever after. Ha ha! No, not really. Of course it wasn't that easy! As soon as I swapped the SIM cards, the phone showed the "connect to iTunes" logo. When I did that, iTunes said "Hey, congrats! You bought an iPhone! Let's get you setup with a two-year contract with AT&T!" Well, as you may have heard, there are some pretty strong suspicions that a new iPhone is going to be released soon, and the last thing I wanted was a new 2-year contract with a 3 year-old iPhone. Read on for the rest of the story...
Survey: Consumers are replacing other computers with iPad
So, now that both versions of the iPad are out and available, it's probably time to ask the question: does a device like this replace another computer, or is it an entirely new category? Back during the announcement, Jobs was adamant that it was definitely a netbook replacement ("Netbooks aren't better than anything," he said then), but could it even replace notebook computers? According to a new survey, 44% of iPad purchasers say they won't be buying a notebook because of the device. That's not the only computing category taking a hit, either. The same survey found that 41% said they didn't need an iPod touch because of the iPad, and 27% said they wouldn't even need a desktop computer. Now, obviously a survey is a temporary screenshot of people who have just spent $500 on a computer. Just because people say they won't need a new computer in a few years doesn't mean that they won't. Likewise, netbook sales are supposedly dropping off already. After reaching a high last year, they crashed in January after the announcement and then again when the iPad released. The statistics student in us points out that cause doesn't necessarily imply effect, though (and sure enough, the iPad wasn't actually announced until 17 days after the NPD data citing the netbook drop in interest). This is early, early research, and the actual effect the iPad will have on other markets isn't clear yet. As a trend, however, it certainly appears that the iPad will do its best to take a bite out of as many computing markets as it can (and possibly even some of Apple's own device markets). While anecdotal data tells us that the iPad is still mostly a "satellite" computer rather than a full-fledged workstation, this customer survey says that all sorts of users are ready to jump ship on their older technology. [via MDN]
Apple launches Headphones with Remote Replacement Program
Apple has launched a replacement program for third-generation iPod shuffle headphones with remote controls that exhibit performance problems. The symptoms of the issues, which have led to some lengthy discussions in Apple's Support Forum, include controls that are non-responsive or work intermittently, unexpected volume increase or decrease, and unexpected playing of voice feedback. The serial number ranges of the iPod shuffle with the affected headphones are xx909xxxxxx to xx952xxxxxx and xx001xxxxxx to xx004xxxxxx. A very small percentage of iPod shuffle owners have experienced the problems, according to Apple. The issue is apparently limited to headphones that were included with the 3rd gen iPod shuffle made between approximately February 2009 and February 2010. Apple also notes that any Apple earphones with built-in remote, like the ones that ship with the iPhone, are covered under this replacement program as well. Full details on the replacement program, including how to locate your serial number and the steps to go through to obtain your new headphones, are on the Apple Headphones with Remote Replacement Program page. Thanks to reader Michael B. for the tip.
AppleCare without Apple stores... still worth it
Once upon a time, I worked for a major American retailer in its electronics department. The manager of that department, above and beyond all other considerations, wanted us to push extended warranties to customers. These warranties represented almost pure profit for the company, because they cost nearly nothing to implement while costing the customer anywhere from 10-40% the value of the item they were buying. The profit margin on a $2500 LCD TV was very slim, often gaining the company no more than $100 of profit; by contrast, the $549 extended warranty was nearly 100% profit for the retailer. From the retailer's perspective, it's easy to see why they push these extended warranties. From a customer's perspective, though, it's a potential source of confusion or even animosity toward the retailer -- I had more than a few customers (usually older ones) ask me why they needed this warranty in the first place, why the company wouldn't just "stand behind their products." More interested in helping people than trying to BS them for either my own profit or the retailer's, often as not this meant I ended up not selling those extended warranties... it also meant I wasn't a salesman for very long. I won't say which retailer I worked for, but I will say that the memory of working there sears my mind to this day. Most purchasers seem to think that extended warranties are a huge waste of money, and in many (if not most) cases they're correct. Like an idiot, I bought an extended warranty for my Wii back on launch day in 2006 -- that was $60 down the drain. I'll blame that one on standing in line all night in sub-freezing temperatures outside of Target to snag one. But when it comes to AppleCare, I have no hesitation about laying money down for that. We've hit on the value proposition of AppleCare a few times on TUAW before. Sang related Megan's story of a dead MacBook, complete with a detailed analysis of why AppleCare is worth it. Robert made the case for AppleCare, and Cory's answer to the question, to buy AppleCare or not, was a resounding "Yes." I'll add my voice to the chorus of TUAW writers in support of AppleCare -- not because I'm trying to sell it to you (despite the word "Apple" in "The Unofficial Apple Weblog," our only affiliation with the company is as fans and buyers of their products), but because AppleCare has saved me literally hundreds of dollars in repair costs, even though I live in a country without a single official Apple store. Read on to find out how AppleCare saved my bacon, and then decide for yourself whether it's worth it for you.
Apple announces iPad battery replacement service
Apple's new iPad battery replacement service is actually an iPad replacement service. Apple announced this week that if an IPad requires service due to a dead or dying battery, it will replace that iPad entirely with free shipping. The service itself costs US$99. Note that the battery must have died on its own accord; if you dropped it, spilled Mountain Dew inside or otherwise damaged the iPad in a way that diminished the battery's functioning, it's not covered. Also, the iPad you receive will not contain any of your data, so make a full backup before you send the defective unit off to Apple (and do a factory restore to remove all of your data if you're the paranoid type). You can get the process started at an Apple Retail Store or Apple Authorized Service Provider. Apple says to expect the whole exchange to take about 1 week. [Via MacUser]
Dead iPad battery? Never mind replacing it, Apple just sends another iPad for $99
Whoa, Nelly! Isn't this something? Apple has just posted details on its iPad battery replacement service, which is really not a battery replacement service at all. Check out the company's opening line: "If your iPad requires service due to the battery's diminished ability to hold an electrical charge, Apple will replace your iPad for a service fee." Now, let's compare that to the verbiage found in the iPhone's battery replacement program details: "If your iPhone requires service only because the battery's ability to hold an electrical charge has diminished, Apple will service your iPhone for a service fee." We can see the puzzled look on your face from here, and we're sharing in the same disbelief. Apple is actually saying that it won't bother cracking open your withered iPad, replacing the battery and sending it back your way; instead, you'll pay $105.95 (including shipping) for a completely different iPad, which certainly has its pros and cons. On one hand, you're getting a new (or potentially refurbished, actually) iPad in around "one week," but on the other, you'll be waving goodbye to every morsel of personal data on the device that you send in -- unless you backup beforehand, of course. Here's Apple's take on answering "will the data on my iPad be preserved?" "No. You will receive a replacement iPad that will not contain any of your personal data. Before you submit your iPad for service, it is important to sync your iPad with iTunes to back up your contacts, calendars, email account settings, bookmarks, apps, etc. Apple is not responsible for the loss of information when servicing your iPad." Lovely, don'tcha think? Head on past the break for the full text. [Thanks, David]
How to: Get your 1984 Mac running Snow Leopard
Because of that, his instructions get a little technical (he actually replaced the innards rather than just trying to fit a Mac mini in there or something similarly easy). So this isn't a very good project for a first-timer for sure. But if you've got a little DIY experience, or just want to see what it looks like to take apart an old Mac and refill it with modern PC parts (he went Hackintosh on the OS), you should definitely check out his writeup. I wouldn't use the computer as a workstation any more -- because, come on now, who can really do any serious computing on a 9-inch screen? -- but as a music server or just a conversation piece, it's great.
iBuyPower Battalion Touch laptop lid draws blood, prompts replacement
Sure, you might expect your laptop to overheat or explode at any moment -- but cut you with a seemingly harmless logo? That's the strange but true case of iBuyPower's Battalion Touch CZ-10, at least, which left one Laptop Magazine reviewer with a nasty gash (that may or may not have required Band-Aid attention) after he decided to inspect a sliver of the "W" that appeared to be peeling off. For its part, iBuyPower says that it has since stopped using the aluminum logo in favor of a plate-style label with rounded edges, and that less than 1% of shipped systems used the troublesome logo. Anyone stuck with one of those is advised to contact iBuyPower for a replacement before it's too late.
iPad hands-on: Not a full desktop replacement, but the keyboard works
For all of the back and forth about the iPad over the last week, only a handful of people (including Stephen Colbert) have gotten to actually touch one. Fox News, of all the outlets out there, posted a pretty clean and objective hands-on with the iPad earlier this week, and you can get a pretty good idea of what it's like to actually hold the device in your hands from them. They say that it works well -- the keyboard is about the same as an iPhone keyboard (though they don't say whether they try the hunt-and-peck of the iPhone, or actually try to lay their hands down as if on a laptop), and they agree to what we've heard elsewhere: that while the iPad is a nice computer, it's much more of an iPhone extension than a full laptop or even desktop replacement. One of the most interesting notes is that the much-discussed camera might not be the biggest omission from Apple's tablet -- Fox says that an SD slot or a USB port is a much bigger exception, meaning that if you want to actually do anything with files (view photos or print PDFs) from the iPad, you'll have to transfer them to and from another computer first. Of course Apple is introducing an SD addon with the device, and I thought that I'd heard the Bluetooth connection would print from the iPad, but then of course you've got to have a Bluetooth-enabled printer, and as you already know if you've ever depended on Bluetooth, even then it may be a crapshoot. Still, the device sounds about like what we all predicted a tablet would be: a MacBook Air sort of satellite extension to your household web browsing and minor computing. I still can't wait to get my hands on one -- hopefully we'll get to see a unit in person at next week's Macworld. [via MacDailyNews]
T-Mobile USA offers free BlackBerry Pearl trackball replacement
If you're Pearl's pearl has lost some of its luster -- and indeed some of its control -- we've heard that T-Mobile USA is stepping in to help sort that out. As of the 15th February, BlackBerry Pearl 8100, 8120, and 8320 owners can apparently pop into a T-Mo shop and have it replaced for $free. The only catch is your device has to have been purchased from T-Mobile -- and, we assume, have troubles. Sadly other BB owners with problems can't get this in-store service -- as they require more than a simple pin for the same service -- but we'd imagine enough noise to customer support could help your cause if you're having trouble. We're liking the trend we've seen of late with carriers offering up these random acts of kindness and do hope we'll continue to see more.
