Apple faces pressure over replaceable batteries
updated 01:35 pm EDT, Tue October 7, 2008
Apple battery controversy
Developing European Union guidelines could force Apple to adopt a more user- and environmentally-friendly approach to batteries, reports say. The legal body is currently in the process of drafting a "New Batteries Directive," which would expand on the present set of guidelines designed to make it easier to remove, dispose of and/or recycle old batteries. The present directive indicates that companies must make it simple to remove batteries from electronics; the proposed one would insist that batteries can be "readily removed" for replacement or disposal.
If such a ruling is passed in 2009, it could force Apple to revise the design of the iPod and iPhone, both of which use internal lithium-ion batteries which typically demand specialized tools and knowledge to remove. Apple and others offer recycling programs for the handhelds, but this may not dissuade concerns that some players are being thrown out with their batteries inside.
Apple is also known to be willing to change or eliminate its products in order to accommodate regulations. In 2006, the EU's Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Directive made the external iSight camera illegal, and the company subsequently decided to scrap the product entirely, if partly because it was beginning to duplicate built-in iSights.
Hard resets
10/07, 01:59pm (1 reply) reply
I want a replaceable battery for one reason: hard resets. Twice I've run into a situation on the iPhone where it was still functioning however it seemed to be "confused" as far as touch screen functionality was concerned. It's a very weird situation where it's sort of responsive (double clicking the home button would bring up the ipod controls on the lock screen) but the backlight would not turn on, nor would it respond to any other buttons.
It was impossible to force a reset by holding down the power and home buttons at the same time. The thing is, it reset on its own eventually after about an hour of just sitting in this state. A removable battery would have saved that whole frustrating hour.
(BTW, two different iPhones, with different application sets. This only started happening with 2.0 OS so it's software related.)
cmoney
Dedicated MacNNer
Joined: Sep 2000
recycle
10/07, 02:03pm reply
So instead of having one company be responsible for replacing the batteries, thus insuring that they get recycled, we should let anyone do it... Cause you know damn well that everyone would remove the old battery and take it to a recycling center.. HA! Sheer brilliance!!!
eldarkus
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Feb 2004
Only Outside The US
10/07, 02:06pm (1 reply) reply
If the EU were to make this requirement it would only affect iPhones outside the US and would result in a bulkier less featured iPhone for the European marketplace. US users would retain the sleek feature-laden iPhone and be the envy of the European iPhone owners. That's ok with us.
OS2Guy
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jun 2006
f*** the Euros
10/07, 03:36pm reply
The place is overrun with Muslims. Let them sort THAT problem out before bitching about their precious "environment".
Monstermind
Junior Member
Joined: May 2000
Design vs. Function
10/07, 03:57pm reply
Blackberries and other devices have removable batteries. One HUGE advantage is that the user can keep an extra (charged) battery to replace when the other is low. For example, if you are at Disneyland or someplace without a charger nearby.
Blackberry's (blackberries??) are relatively sleek with removable battery, as is the abysmal to use blackjack. I am not sure that a removable battery on the iPhone would make it significantly thicker.
I for one would prefer a removable battery; That said, not sure that this would be the best feature for the environment, since users may be encouraged to consume more batteries.
Oh, Monstermind should be ashamed for the embarrassed and ashamed of his horrible statement. I truly cannot believe that there are people like that in the world.
dynsight
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: May 2005
Replaceable batteries
10/07, 04:04pm reply
With the batteries fixed in place as per the current iPods and iPhones many people throw them out and buy a new one rather than just replacing the battery. I think this is a good thing. Having an easily replaceable battery in no way means the product will no longer be sleek.
rytc
Mac Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2001
Apple
10/07, 04:04pm reply
And stop acting as though anything that means Apple will have to do something someone else says is a bad thing.
rytc
Mac Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2001
Wait, the iSight?
10/07, 04:16pm reply
Wait, THAT is why Apple dropped the iSight, and instead started putting useless internal iSights into everything? I thought it was just another case of style over substance. Apologies, Apple, you're not guilty this time.
resuna
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jan 2005
deliberate decision
10/07, 06:41pm reply
The non-replaceable battery was a deliberate decision. The iPhone would have been bigger/thicker for the same sized battery. Apple looked at how many people actually replaced batteries in cell phones (pretty close to 0) and decided it was not worth it. I agree.
chadpengar
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Oct 2001
lol
10/07, 10:16pm reply
C'mon...zero people replace their phone batteries. Then thank goodness Apple doesn't make flashlights, remotes, cordless phones, clocks, etc. Because I'm sure Apple would find everyone replaces these when their batteries run flat. Honestly, some of the comments you come across.
revco
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: May 2005