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Hyundai will replace 75,680 Kona EV batteries over potential fire risks
Hyundai will replace the batteries in 75,680 Kona EVs and 82,000 electric vehicles in total at a cost of around 1 trillion won ($900 million).
Fitbit will replace some Sense smartwatches due to ECG problem
The company says the bug affects a few hundred units.
An AirPods Pro replacement costs $89 per earbud
Perhaps unsurprisingly, given their higher price than the standard AirPods, it'll cost more for you to repair or replace the new AirPods Pro through Apple Support. Out of warranty, the price this time around is $89 per earbud, and it costs the same to have the wireless charging case repaired or replaced. If you lose an AirPods Pro earbud, Apple charges $89 for a new one or $99 to replace a misplaced case.
GoPro's replacement camera plan comes to the UK and Canada
GoPro is bringing its no-questions-asked device replacement guarantee to 25 more countries as part of its GoPro Plus subscription service, the company announced. Buyers in the UK, Canada, Australia, France, Germany could already get for the $5 per month service, which includes unlimited video and photo cloud storage, automatic content uploading and half-price accessories. Now, they'll also get a replacement guarantee that's handy for devices often used in extreme circumstances.
Apple offers $50 credit if you paid for a new iPhone battery last year
After admitting that it was sometimes slowing processor speeds on older iPhones, Apple discounted its out-of-warranty battery replacement from $50 to $30 starting at the tail end of last year. But for anyone who bought one at any point in 2017 for iPhone 6 or later devices, the tech giant is offering a $50 credit.
Microsoft will replace your Surface Pro 4 if the screen flickers
Since Microsoft released the Surface Pro 4 in 2015, many owners have wrangled with a maddening screen flicker. Two and a half years later, Microsoft still can't fix the issue on "a small percentage" of Pro 4s through firmware and driver updates, so the company is offering customers refurbished replacements.
Even genuine replacement Apple displays can mess with iPhones
Following the news that the latest iOS update can break phones with non-official replacement screens, repairers are encountering a different, more subtle problem: If you put a genuine Apple replacement display into an iPhone 8, 8 Plus or X, it'll no longer be able to adjust its brightness automatically. If Apple or one of its authorized partners were to put the same display in the same phone, though? No problem. The aftermarket repair community has verified the behavior in phones from the US all the way to Australia. It's confirmed to be an issue with phones running iOS 11.1, 11.2 and 11.3, which led sources to suggest it's been a problem since the launch of the latest batch of iPhones last fall. I was able to confirm that even swapping the displays of two brand-new iPhones causes the ambient light sensor to stop working, despite it not being altered or touched in any way. Experiments have shown that the sensor is disabled by iOS during the boot process.
Apple CEO: iPhone owners will be able to disable 'power management'
About a month ago, Apple explained that slower performance of older iPhones is intentional, implemented as a "power management" plan through an iOS update. While it was ostensibly intended to prevent phones from crashing in situations when their worn-out battery couldn't supply enough juice to support demanding functions, owners are upset they weren't notified it was happening. In fact, it was only discovered through benchmarks. In an apology, Apple lowered the price of battery replacements and promised an iOS update that would inform users when the phone detects battery problems. Tonight, in an interview with ABC News, CEO Tim Cook said that not only will owners be able to check the health of their battery, but they can also turn off the performance-slowing power management, with a warning that it could lead to unexpected restarts. Cook said "maybe we should have been clearer," and that Apple's motivation is always the user, making sure their phone is available for an important photograph or making an emergency call. Will this tweak be enough to head off a slew of lawsuits? Only time will tell, but our first peek at the feature will come in a developer preview later this month.
Apple apologizes for confusion over slowdowns with older iPhones
Apple has been in hot water for the last few weeks after the company admitted that it sometimes reduced processor speeds on iPhones with aging batteries as a way to balance performance and battery life. Today, the company is apologizing for not being more transparent with its customers and released more details on how exactly iOS manages battery and performance. For starters, the company says that "we have never — and would never — do anything to intentionally shorten the life of any Apple product, or degrade the user experience to drive customer upgrades." That's been perhaps the biggest point of contention among unhappy owners who feel that Apple has reduced their phone's performance as a way to drive more sales.
Can an iPad Pro replace your PC?
In 2016, Apple believed its professional-grade tablet, the iPad Pro, was ready for the big time. Phil Schiller even described the machine as "the ultimate PC replacement" when describing the product onstage. The company's own advertisements claimed that the device could do everything a desktop or laptop could do. But that wasn't really true until the launch of iOS 11, when the company really let the iPad off the leash.
Some Google Pixel phones are having microphone issues
Following hundreds of user complaints, Google has confirmed that some of its Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones are having microphone problems that require a warranty replacement. Owners have reported failures of one or more of the three mics on the devices, resulting in either no audio input at all or failure of the camera app's audio recording function. "The most common problem is a hairline crack in the solder connection on the audio codec," said Google employee Brian Rakowski. "The other related problems are due to a faulty microphone."
Apple replacing a small number of iPhone 6s batteries
Apple has let a cat out of its bag, the cat in this case being that there's a problem with some iPhone 6s models. According to the company, a fault with the battery is causing a "very small number" of handsets to randomly shut down. If you're rocking a device that was manufactured between September and October 2015, then you're eligible for a replacement. Simply head down to your local Apple Store or authorized service provider to have your serial number checked and, if you qualify, you'll get a replacement battery.
Software update will annoy Galaxy Note 7 owners into a return
While Samsung continues its quest to retrieve every Galaxy Note 7, a software update that reduces how much the phone's battery can be charged is finally rolling out in the US. Even though it's still apparently unclear exactly what caused so many of the phones to overheat, smoke and/or start fires, the idea is that this will increase participation in the recall. Another "feature" of the update is a system of pop-up notifications about the recall anytime an owner reboots, charges or turns on the screen of the device
Apple will reportedly accept damaged iPhones for trade-in
Apple's iPhone recycling program is handy for getting rid of your old handset when you buy a new one. However, the initiative doesn't allow customers to trade in older models if they have screen damage, a broken camera or buttons that don't work. 9to5Mac reports that the policy is about to change. Apple is reportedly prepping to expand the recycling/trade-in program to accept iPhone 5, iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus phones with a reasonable amount of damage. The company is said to offer credits of $50, $200 and $250 for those devices, respectively.
HTC's 'Uh Oh' program will replace your busted One M9 once for free
HTC's two-toned M9 hasn't landed in the US yet, but the company's already champing at the bit to give you more reasons to buy one. Just as earlier reports suggested, HTC is fleshing out its Advantage program with a little something called "Uh Oh Protection," and it's a little more impressive than that tongue-in-cheek name implies. Long story short, if you crack the phone's Gorilla Glass-swathed screen, take it for a swim in the Pacific or pledge allegiance to another carrier within your first year of ownership, HTC will overnight you precisely one replacement unit totally gratis. On the off-chance that your M9 survives that first year without incident, you'll get $100 to apply toward the purchase of a new One down the road.
Apple offers battery replacements for some early iPhone 5 units
It's hardly uncommon for smartphone batteries to lose some of their oomph over time, but Apple just might be able to help if your iPhone 5's battery has been flakier than usual. The folks in Cupertino have figured out that some of the iPhone 5s sold between its launch in September 2012 and January 2013 have batteries that may "suddenly experience shorter battery life or need to be charged more frequently" and has kicked off a program to replace them free of charge. Mosey on over to Apple's support page to see if your iPhone 5 is one of the affected units -- if it is and you live in the United States or China, you can reach out and claim your replacement battery right now. What's that you say? You're one of those proactive types and already shelled out money for a replacement? Reach out anyway, because Apple may have a refund waiting for you. Alas, the rest of the world will have to wait just a little bit longer -- Apple plans to launch the program in other countries on August 29th.
Apple will replace your iPhone 5's faulty power button for free
If you've noticed that your iPhone 5's sleep/wake button isn't working reliably, you're not alone -- and you'll be glad to hear that Apple is doing something about it. The company has started a free program in Canada and the US (worldwide on May 2nd) that will replace buttons on phones made through March 2013. Should you qualify, you'll get your phone back four to six days after it reaches an Apple repair center; there will be a loaner on hand if you can't afford to be incommunicado for that long. We're sure that some would have liked the program to start earlier, but it's no doubt a relief if you otherwise faced paying for an out-of-warranty repair.
Tesla will give Model S owners safer wall charging adapters to prevent fires
Tesla isn't relying on software alone to reduce garage fire risks for Model S owners. The automaker will soon offer drivers a free, upgraded wall charging adapter with a thermal fuse. The new device will cut electricity when it detects overheating, even if circuit breakers in the car or house don't intervene. Both new and existing Model S owners should start receiving new adapters within weeks, Tesla says. While the company doesn't believe that the chargers are necessary to minimize the danger to customers, it doesn't want to leave anything to chance -- even if it's prepared for the worst.
AppleCare+ to cover international iPhone replacements, starting September 27th
A welcome bit of news for globe trotters, as Apple is widening the safety net of AppleCare+ to include hardware repair or replacement while abroad. According to a leaked support document obtained by Sonny Dickinson, replacement coverage for the iPhone will become effective on September 27th. Separately, customers may also initiate repairs of the iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Apple display and Apple TV while traveling. This move follows a recent expansion of AppleCare+ within western Europe, and easily beats Apple's previous requirement that customers initiate repairs in the same country where AppleCare+ was first purchased. As an important caveat, Apple isn't guaranteeing that model-specific replacement hardware will be available in all countries, but this is a step in the right direction.
iFixit offers clear case 'revelation kit' for iPhone 4/4S at discount
iFixit is offering its clear case "revelation kit" for iPhone 4 and 4S at a discount. At US$19.99, saving you $10 off the normal price, the kit is on sale until the end of August 16. What's more, the kit is finally available for the white iPhone. iFixit's revelation kit basically provides you with a replacement back panel that is clear, revealing the insides of your iPhone 4 or 4S. The kit includes the transparent panel, a pentolobe and Phillips screw driver, Phillips screws to replace your pentalobe ones and iFixit's iPhone 4/4S epic screen protector. Replacing the back panel of your iPhone 4/4S looks really easy. iFixit rates the procedure as "easy" and provides a step-by-step guide as well as YouTube video (shown below) to show you just how to do it.
