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iFixit gives you thousands of repair manuals in your pocket
The iFixit app (free) is a handy little app that gives your Do-It-Yourself repairs a big boost. This app comes from the teardown experts at iFixit, who delight in exploring the inner secrets of your favorite tech (or not-so-techie) hardware. The iFixit app helps you repair just about anything from toilets to garage door openers, cameras, cars, and of course, PCs and Macs. iFixit is divided by categories, or you can search by type of repair or brand name. When you get to Mac, for example, there's a choice of desktops, laptops, or other Mac hardware. You work your way down the list for a specific model, and then the repair options appear. The app tells you what parts you may need and any tools required. Repair steps are in short sections that you swipe to go to the next step and the instructions are usually accompanied by photos. The app reaches out to the internet for much of the information it needs, otherwise iFixit would be an unwieldy and huge app. If you like to do repairs yourself, saving money and extending the life of what you own, the iFixit app is a must. In addition to repair instructions, you can often download a PDF product manual. Any repair can be marked as a favorite for future reference. If you need to order parts, the app tells you where they can be purchased. You can even order tools from iFixit if you don't have them on hand. iFixit works well, and covers thousands of brands and repairs. The app requires iOS 6.1 or later, and it is optimized for the iPhone 5. The app is universal. Free is always good, and iFixit is a really worthwhile app to have.
iFixit teardown of iPad Air 2 reveals 2GB of RAM, smaller battery
As soon as Apple's iPad Air 2 started landing in retail stores on Wednesday, the teardown experts at iFixit got a hold of Apple's newest tablet to examine its internal hardware. According to iFixit, the Air 2 sets a new bar for thinness with a 6.1mm profile that measures even less than the iPhone 6. The iPad Air 2 also includes a Touch ID sensor that is similar to the iPhone and a new 8-megapixel iSight camera that shares similar specifications, but is different from the module in the iPhone 6. As mentioned in reviews, battery life in the iPad Air 2 is decreased due to a smaller battery. The iPad Air 2 ships with a 27.62 Whr and 7,340 mAh battery, while last year's iPad Air included a 32.9 Whr/8,827 mAh module. The teardown also confirmed the presence of Apple's new A8X processor and 2 GB of Elpida RAM, which is split across two 1 GB modules. The iPad Air 2 is available now from Apple with a starting price of US$499 for the 16 GB WiFi-only model. Options include cellular for $129 more and capacities of 64 GB and 126 GB, each of which adds $100 to the price of the device.
See what makes the iPad Air 2 so skinny
It's safe to say that you don't buy most Apple devices these days with the expectation that you can open them up, and it looks like the iPad Air 2 is no exception. Do-it-yourself repair shop iFixit has torn down the new tablet and found that it's even tougher (or at least, more expensive) to fix than its predecessor in a few respects. That bonded display may be great for cutting back on reflections, but it increases the risk of breaking the panel when you're prying things open -- and it'll cost more to replace if you do break it, since you can't separate the glass from the LCD. Problems from last year persist, too, such as the use of glue to hold seemingly everything together instead of clips or screws. Another change from its predecessor is the battery -- the 27.62 Wh unit is smaller than the original Air's 32.9 Wh capacity, although a more efficient design should keep battery life close between the two. Is any of this a deal breaker if you're set on getting an extra-slim iPad? Probably not, but it's something to consider if you normally prefer to fix gadgets at home instead of taking them back to the store.
iFixit takes a peek inside Apple's new '5K' iMac
Sure, we were only just introduced to Apple's 27-inch iMac with Retina 5K Display, but the folks at iFixit are already tearing one apart. Inside they found a screen made by LG Display, and a setup similar to previous iMacs, including easily-accessed RAM slots for memory upgrades. Overall, the layout is almost exactly like last year's 27-inch iMac, plus that new display controller Apple bragged about and a slightly wider display data cable, enhanced to feed all those pixels. Repairing things might be tricky given its design, but you should check out the teardown for more details and a look at the carnage.
Take a look at the guts of the iPhone 6+ with the iFixit teardown video
The iPhone 6 and 6 Plus were released today, creating long lines at stores as eager Apple fans waited to pick up their new phones. But what is inside those phones? To answer that question the fine folks at iFixit have released a new teardown video review of the iPhone 6. Carefully pulling out its insides, iFixit walks you through the machine's guts, explaining how everything is held together and what changes have been made since the previous generation. You can watch the video below.
iFixit cracks open an iPhone 6 Plus to get at the massive battery inside
Need something to make today's wait for your new iPhone easier? Watching the crew at iFixit go at a brand new iPhone 6 Plus with their screwdrivers, spudgers and iSclacks probably won't help, but at least it will pass the time. They're in the middle of pulling Apple's XL-sized phone apart, and while there's not a lot new to report (it's a phone, and it has 1GB of RAM) the pics are always entertaining. The 6 Plus' 5.5-inch display also leaves room for a larger battery, and now we know that it's a 2915 mAh unit. That's about twice the size of the one in the iPhone 5s, slightly bigger than the battery in the Galaxy S 5, but smaller than the swappable 3,220mAh unit slotted inside the 5.7-inch Galaxy Note 4.
Moto 360 teardown reveals ancient chips, clever tech and a small battery
Motorola has been willing to offer a quick peek at the Moto 360's inner workings, but let's face it: that doesn't really go deep enough to sate your curiosity, does it? You don't have to worry, though, as iFixit has torn apart the circular smartwatch to examine every last detail. In the end, the hardware is an odd mix of the latest technology with surprisingly old components. While that round LCD and inductive charger are pretty forward-thinking, the teardown also confirms the presence of TI's OMAP3630 processor -- a chip that hasn't been cutting edge since that Droid 2 you rocked back in 2010.
Project Tango tablet teardown reveals its custom 3D mapping gear
If you've been wondering just what parts let Google's Project Tango tablet work its 3D mapping magic, iFixit is more than happy to show you. The DIY repair outlet has torn down the experimental Android slate to reveal a truly unique sensor array. While it resembles a Kinect at first, Google notes that it had Mantis Vision build a custom infrared projector (which bathes the world in a light grid) that works in tandem with the 4-megapixel IR camera; there's no way you'd replace either with off-the-shelf parts. The big, dual-cell 2,480mAh battery was also made to order, since the ATAP team wanted to let developers draw as much power as necessary for their 3D-savvy apps. The Tango tablet is undoubtedly a very clever design, then, but you'll have to handle it with kid gloves if you ever try it -- you probably won't get another one if it breaks.
iFixit opens up the new 16 GB iPod touch
Apple quietly released a new $199 16 GB iPod touch this week with no fanfare. Naturally, the folks over at iFixIt have already acquired one and ripped it apart. So what's new inside the iPod touch's "latest" model? There are only two new additions. The 5th gen iPod Touch now has the same 5-megapixel iSight camera found in the 32 and 64 GB models. Now the 16 GB model comes with a wrist-strap peg, although users will have to buy their own wrist strap. The 16 GB iPod Touch still has plenty of features to sway you into buying one for your kids who aren't ready for a smartphone but could use a mini computer/media player. It comes with 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0, with a 4-inch widescreen Retina display. The iSight camera is capable of taking 5 megapixel photographs and shooting 1080p HD video. Head over to iFixIt to check out their complete photographic rundown of the new 16 GB iPod Touch's guts, including a look at at what chips it's packing and how easy it is to repair.
The Surface Pro 3 is nigh-on impossible to repair, just like its ancestors
If you had dreams of upgrading your shiny new Surface Pro 3, you'd better shelve them. The crew at iFixit has torn down Microsoft's latest slate, and it proves just as daunting to repair as both of its predecessors. About the only replaceable part is the solid-state drive, and there's a good chance that you'll destroy your tablet trying to reach that component -- even iFixit cracked the glass while removing the display. Just about everything (including the screen) is held in place with adhesives, and unconventional connectors only add to the challenge. You may not mind the unrepairable design given that the Pro 3 is much thinner and lighter than earlier Surfaces, but this definitely isn't the tablet for tinkerers.
Project Tango teardown reveals the wonders of the phone's 3D sensing tech
Want to get a better understanding of Google's 3D-sensing Project Tango smartphone beyond the usual promo videos? iFixit is more than happy to show you now that it has torn down the device for itself. The close-up identifies many of the depth mapping components in the experimental handset, including the infrared and fisheye cameras (both made by OmniVision), motion tracking (from InvenSense) and dual vision processors (from Movidius).
Samsung's Galaxy S5 is trickier to repair than its ancestor
An easily expandable phone isn't always an easily repairable phone. If you need proof, take a look at iFixit's newly completed teardown of the Galaxy S5. While Samsung's latest flagship gets some kudos for its removable battery and microSD slot, it's considerably tougher to take apart than its GS4 predecessor. You now have to remove the display if you want to replace any of the internals, and the removal process is especially tricky; part replacements are only easy once you're past this daunting hurdle. There aren't any surprises under the hood, although it's worth noting that Samsung is using a Maxim heart rate sensor chip and a Synaptics fingerprint reader. From all indications, the GS5 is still easier to fix than some phones we know -- it's just not the walk in the park that we saw last year.
Samsung Gear 2's battery is pretty easy to replace
After having their way with Amazon's Fire TV last week, the tool-wielding maniacs educators at iFixit are back, this time inspecting the insides of Samsung's Gear 2 smartwatch. While iFixit neglected to give the original Gear the teardown treatment, its sequel garners immediate favor by moving the camera module from the strap to the watch's main body, making band replacements trivial. A screwdriver and "a bit of light prying" were all that was needed to crack the thing open, and following the initial breach, most components were found to be easy to remove (and therefore replace), particularly the battery. The only sticking point, really, was a fused display assembly that would require replacing in its entirety if damaged or defective. Overall, though, the Gear 2 scored an impressive 8 out of 10 on iFixit's repairability scale, though we doubt your local jewelry store horologist would agree.
Daily Roundup: 5-year-old hacks Xbox Live account, Amazon Fire TV teardown and more!
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
Amazon Fire TV teardown reveals an easily accessible media hub
We've already established that Amazon's Fire TV is a capable (if imperfect) set-top box, but how hard is it to replace components if they conk out? Not very, if you ask iFixit. The repair outfit has torn down the device and discovered that it's very simply built -- there are very few parts, and a regular screwdriver is enough to take apart the internals. The power supply is separate, too. Amazon's media hub isn't quite a fix-it-yourself paradise, though. It's tricky to remove the outer case, and the single circuit board inside will be expensive to replace. Still, it's good to know that the Fire TV isn't much more difficult to maintain than its big rival.
RunKeeper announces regional localization, and more product news
You know how hard it is to believe that some people are speaking the same language -- allegedly English -- that you are? Bostonians are probably the worst manglers of the Queen's English, although some of the New York/New Jersey dialects can be horrible. And let's not even talk about the Southern US, where I don't think the root language spoken is English. At least those of us in the West speak clearly and enunciate properly... Well, enough of that. RunKeeper has announced regional localizations of the verbal prompts in their fitness tracking app, starting with RunKeepah, the Boston/New England version of the app. The company promises versions of the app in midwest, New York and Southern dialects over the course of the next year. You can read all about RunKeepah heah ... I mean "here" and listen to the Bostonian version as well. Moo.com -- You know those classy business cards you can get from Moo? The company today announced their new delivery option in Boston, Providence, and London. Pug Post will "add a little warmth to our delivery service and give people a reason to smile." Who needs delivery drones when you can have something much cuter delivering your biz cards? Beginning tomorrow, the Canine Courier Pug Post option will be available as a delivery option for any orders including Luxe products. Pad and Quill's Field Bag has been a huge hit with those who love the high-quality handmade luxury of P&Q's product line. Now the company has announced the Micro Field Bag for iPhone, bringing the same leather details, waxed canvas body, and even a cherry wood "ampersand" logo. It's on Kickstarter, and for as little as $50 you can own one of these cute little bags. I'm planning on backing at the $70 level so I can get one that will match my Navy Blue Field Bag... As the company says, "Again we think it's amazingly practical way of carrying your iPhone, multiple credit cards, ID and cash. You can even stuff your charger cube and cable...in your other pocket." One day after iFixit CEO Kyle Wiens griped about how Apple is doing its best to put repair shops out of business, the company announced that it is being acquired by Apple. Said Wiens, "Everyone has a number. I didn't think there was a reasonable number that would make me say, 'You know I was going to change the world with repair documentation but here's a number.' In the end, Apple gave us a number that we couldn't refuse." Our very own Erica Sadun is working on an iOS 8 book for an October release -- iOS 8 Development for the Really Impatient is available for pre-order on Amazon.com. And right here in the State of Colorado, case manufacturer OtterBox has licensed the rights to the official colors and flag of its home state. To quote Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper, "By adopting the OtterBox brand image, Colorado strengthens its creative, playful and outdoorsy reputation on a global scale," said Gov. Hickenlooper. "Plus, now I get to ride the slide at OtterBox headquarters whenever I want. Who doesn't love a slide?"
iFixit CEO Kyle Wiens: Apple is doing all it can to put third party repair shops out of business
Like clockwork, anytime Apple releases new hardware, the good folks from iFixit are first in line to pick one up, take it home, and skillfully pry it wide open for the world to see. Over the past few years, Apple has taken ever greater steps (such as using pentalobe screws) to ensure that opening its products is a challenging task not feasible with ordinary tools. With that as a backdrop, iFixit founder and CEO Kyle Wiens, while speaking at Macworld last week, articulated that Apple is doing "everything they can to put" third party repair shops out of business. [Wiens] said that not only does Apple make fixing its fiddly electronics extremely difficult, but doing so with the blessing of the company is practically impossible: Apple's authorized technician certification apparently only applies to Mac computers, rather than iThings, and even that qualification is becoming more difficult to obtain. Apple prefers to have all product repairs done in-house, and thus advises users to take iDevices in need of repair to local Apple stores. The problem with this, Wiens explained, is that not everyone lives near an Apple retail store, and even those that do often struggle to book Genius appointments at convenient times. While increasingly rare, some states, like North Dakota for instance, have no official Apple retail store presence whatsoever. For more insight into the iFixit business, make sure to check out Chris Breen's 47-minute Macworld interview with Kyle Wiens and Scott Head, both from iFixit, over here. Lastly, it's worth highlighting one notable excerpt from Wiens on the philosophy behind iFixit. Apple would prefer that you buy the product from them, use it for a while, and then if something breaks, either you pay their repair price or you go and get a new one. And while we respect that perspective we disagree with it. We really think all of you should be able to fix everything that you have. And so we're doing our absolute darndest to make it easy for people to get into these things. We don't want it to just be possible to do a repair, we want it to be easy. And that's the idea with these repair guides...
New HTC One teardown reveals it's a pain to repair, just like the last One
While most people would be happy to have a new HTC One (M8) to play with, our friends at iFixit aren't "most people," and they're back doing what they do best: reducing gadgets to component confetti. Having said the necessary prayers and got to work, iFixit was delighted to find screws holding the main body together -- an omen of repairability, perhaps? The situation quickly "turned ugly," as a mass of tape and copper shielding had to be removed, only to expose a glue-fixed motherboard. Other components and the battery were found to be glued just as liberally, and having finally reached the display, iFixit accidentally cut the digitizer cable, essentially breaking it. It'll probably be of no surprise, given the narrative, that the new HTC One scored a measly two out of ten on the repairability scale, due to teardown difficulty and risk of damage. It's an improvement, at least, over the old HTC One's score -- iFixit didn't have the super-secret tool, mind -- but it's probably best you keep your M8 out of trouble all the same.
The original Macintosh 128K gets torn asunder by iFixit
The disassembly ninjas at iFixit are usually focused on splitting open the newest gadgets to see what's inside. Today, in honor of the Mac's 30th birthday, they've turned their tools on a thing from the past: the original Macintosh 128K. As is to be expected, there weren't any wild revelations regarding the 128K's innards when given the full teardown treatment. However, iFixit found that the old machine, perhaps unsurprisingly, is much easier to tinker with than its modern counterpart, the iMac, thanks to an uncomplicated interior design and the fact that it doesn't have any adhesive, anywhere. Before you go diving into your old machine, however, be careful, as both the power supply and CRT run at voltages high enough to fry careless would-be modders. Want to see all of the OG Mac's innards for yourself? The source has got what you need.
Daily Update for December 31, 2013
It's the TUAW Daily Update, your source for Apple news in a convenient audio format. You'll get some of the top Apple stories of the day in three to five minutes for a quick review of what's happening in the Apple world. You can listen to today's Apple stories by clicking the player at the top of the page. The Daily Update has been moved to a new podcast host in the past few days. Current listeners should delete the old podcast subscription and subscribe to the new feed in the iTunes Store here.