The Week in Repair: Feb 20-27
Dealer consolidation by John Deere leaves farmers hog tied and fed up. Also: Apple says it can fix FaceID without replacing entire phone. West Virginia looks to ban over the air updates to cars.
‘Hog tied and fed up!’ How John Deere dealership consolidation makes farmers’ lives harder
A new Illinois PIRG Education Fund report, “Deere in the Headlights II,” demonstrates the extent of the dealership consolidation problem, looks at the specific impacts on Illinois farmers, and shows how Right to Repair reforms could dramatically increase farmers' repair choices.
Our research found that John Deere, which controls 53% of the country’s large tractor market, has more consolidated and larger chains than competitors Case IH, AGCO and Kubota. Eighty-two percent of Deere’s 1,357 agricultural equipment dealership locations are a part of a large chain with seven or more sites. In Illinois, there is one John Deere chain for every 5,925 farms and every 2,250,000 acres of farmland. (illinoispirg.org)
Apple says it can now fix FaceID without replacing whole iPhone
Almost four years after introducing the Face ID-laden notch with the iPhone X, Apple has finally come up with a way that will make it easier for Apple-authorized technicians to repair Face ID without replacing the entire iPhone. This change, as MacRumors reveals, has been introduced to Apple employees as part of a new internal memo.
Apple will start providing Apple Stores and Authorized Service Providers a new TrueDepth Camera service part for Face ID repairs. This part will contain all the Face ID and front camera components, which the technicians can use for same-unit repairs.
This, in turn, will dismiss the need for replacing the entire iPhone, which is the case at present. So, while saving technicians the hassle of a whole-part repair, it will also reduce the carbon footprint of Apple. It will be another step in the company’s “commitment to reduce the carbon footprint of its products.“ (beebom.com)
Maryland farmers, equipment dealers clash on right to repair
Farmers are asking Maryland lawmakers to remove a costly barrier to equipment repair, but dealers say the move would have unintended consequences.
The farmers are backing a bill from Del. Kevin Hornberger, R-Cecil, that would allow them to complete repairs that involve parts connected to an implement’s computer system. Currently, farmers may be able to replace the parts themselves, but they need a dealer technician to “flash” the system so that the computer recognizes the part.
“That effectively establishes a monopoly for the manufacturer dealers over the agricultural service industry,” Marshal Cahall, a Kent County farmer, told members of the House Economic Matters Committee on Feb. 23. (lancasterfarming.com)
Right to repair bill heads to hearing in Missouri
Missouri state Rep. Barry Hovis of Whitewater (R-146), who took office in the state General Assembly in 2019, will see his "Right to Repair" legislation, House Bill 2402, get a hearing Tuesday before the House Agriculture Policy Committee. It's Hovis's second attempt to get such a measure through the legislature. A previous try in 2020 never emerged from committee.
A trade group, Associated Industries of Missouri, opposed Hovis's first bill, calling it "damaging to manufactures and consumers."Hovis, a retired City of Cape Girardeau police officer, said Thursday the new bill is close to his heart.
"I grew up on a family farm and we still raise cattle and hay as our main operations and we used to repair everything," Hovis said. (semissourian.com)
Nebraska farmers face 89% increase in service costs, look to right to repair for help
A Nebraska farmer spoke out on Thursday about the lack of options when it comes to repairing equipment.In a panel discussion, experts explained the challenges farmers face when equipment fails. In most cases, they have to go to dealerships or manufacturers or wait for a certified technician to come to their farm.
According to Madison Denis, coordinator of the right to repair effort, many farmers are seeing an 89% increase in repair costs, leaving them with one of two options. Farmers can either use decades-old equipment and miss out on advancing technology or wait hours, sometimes weeks, for technicians to repair their equipment. (klkntv.com)
Google starts Chromebook Self Repair for Schools
Google is working to make Chromebooks easier for schools to repair with a new self-repair program guide.
Interested schools can set up repair programs using Google’s “playbook.” The programs could include students working on devices as an elective. A Google blog post said 50 million students and teachers use Chromebooks made by manufacturing partners. “With such a large community of Chromebook users, we want to work with our partners to build towards a more sustainable device ecosystem – starting by helping schools find information about repairable devices,” the post said. (resource-recycling.com)
Vodaphone allows you to repair, refurbish your phone
European Vodafone users will be able to repair, reuse, and recycle their mobile devices more easily as part of a series of steps to save money and minimise their environmental footprint. According to the operator, it currently provides trade-in and repair programmes on a number of markets, but it intends to use a uniform strategy throughout Europe as well.
With the introduction of a new digital platform, the trade-in procedure will be streamlined, and users will have the option of getting insurance, quick repairs, and the opportunity to properly dispose of old equipment. A new agreement with Recommerce will allow the firm to sell a variety of high-quality reconditioned products in its retail outlets. (bestgamingpro.com)
Listen: Does your phone really belong to you if you can’t repair it?
Elizabeth Evitts Dickinson joins Violet Lucca to discuss her article on the Right to Repair movement, which seeks to empower users to fix ailing devices rather than consign them to the trash heap. Dickinson and Lucca discuss the scope of the problem, which pertains to everything from smartwatches to dishwashers to tractors, and how corporations have progressed from ceasing to publish technical manuals to using nonstandard parts that render their products impenetrable black boxes.
They delve into the environmental impact of these corporate decisions and trace the progress of the Right to Repair movement from small online tinkerer communities to federal legislation and executive orders. (harpers.org)
West Virginia Wants To Ban Tesla & Others From Sending OTA Updates To Customer Cars
West Virginia wants to ban Tesla and other automakers from sending out over-the-air updates, among other things, to vehicle owners. In a letter from the Alliance for Automotive Innovation (Auto Innovators) obtained by CleanTechnica, the group lists all of the issues it has with this problematic bill that was initially designed to benefit dealers.
The group is taking a stand against the bill since, if made into law, it would harm consumers in order to benefit auto dealers. The letter was sent to me by an anonymous source who explained that the bill, HB 4560, was introduced by the dealership trade association. It is essentially designed to protect dealership interests. However, it overreaches to a point where it would harm both customers and dealers by blocking online car purchases, over-the-air updates, and even advertising by auto manufacturers. (cleantechnica.com)
As Transistor Technology Plateaus, Will the Repair Industry Become More Important?
If semiconductor technology gets to the point where it cannot be reliably or practically improved, then replacing electronics for the purpose of improved performance no longer becomes a possibility. In this scenario, replacing electronics would only make sense for the sole purpose of replacing hardware that has failed catastrophically.
The ability to repair electronics will continue to play an essential role globally, and the semiconductor shortage demonstrates just how vital semiconductors are. Designing devices to fail after a few years and stopping software support will not be allowed for long as government regulation continues to growConsidering the trends in repairability and privacy, it is likely that future products which win consumer trust and love will be those that can be repaired and protect customer privacy. Therefore, engineers of consumer products may need to start considering making their devices easier to repair and maintain. (electropages.com)
Right to repair could be key to Democrats fate in rural counties
The door is wide open for any political party to build trust with voters by substantively prioritizing people over corporations. Rural communities are under the thumb of the oppressive, consolidated power of corporate monopolies that have stripped away local power. “A nationwide poll [last] year revealed that a striking 81 percent of rural voters would support a candidate who said, “A handful of corporate monopolies now run our entire food system. We need a moratorium on factory farms and corporate monopolies in food and agriculture.”
Sen. Jon Tester’s Right to Repair bill offers farmers a concrete, bottom line deliverable that also hits a lot of rural folks right in the feels by honoring the widely cherished value of scrappy self-reliance while putting people before corporate profits. “They need to be able to repair their own equipment, and this legislation will secure them that right.” (bluevirginia.com)
Right to Repair Plus Recycling May Be Key to Slashing E-Waste
By 2030, experts estimate that 67 million tons of electronic waste (e-waste) will be produced globally. E-waste has been inherently linked to the repairability (or lack thereof) of today’s electronic devices. A surging pandemic, consumer behaviors, and changing legislation have impacted how we handle electronics at scale. Additionally, increased integration at the design levels has made profound impacts on a device's repairability and recyclability.
We chatted with Mark Kasper, COO of Clean Earth, an environmental and regulated waste management service, to hear his perspective as an industry insider. Aside from supporting a stronger right to repair momentum, Kasper also highlighted the importance of another practice—recycling—in the battle to slash e-waste accumulation. (allaboutcircuits.com)
'Right to repair' key to a circular economy
An important tool that can help solve the e-waste issue is a ‘right to repair’ law. Right to repair is currently a movement that calls for governments to formulate policies that allow consumers to repair electronic products on their own. For this to ...
Read more at: https://www.deccanherald.com/opinion/in-perspective/right-to-repair-key-to-circular-economy-1084189.html (deccanherald.com)
'Right to repair' bill in CA could save families $330 a year
Sander Kushen of the consumer group CALPIRG says manufacturers limit the availability of parts and even service manuals to outside vendors, forcing the prices of repairs up. Adding to the difficulty in getting repairs done, some manufactures will void your warranty if you use a third party repair shop.
"The research shows that opting for repair over replacement could save California families $4.3 billion per year," said Kushen. That's an average of $330 per family.
"It's about having the option. If you own it, you should be able to fix it," Kushen said. (abc7news.com)
Irish Government approves new bill to protect consumer’s digital rights
The Irish Government has given approval to publish a new bill to strengthen consumer rights, with a focus on digital services and content. The new Consumer Rights Bill will offer protections on digital goods and services, while cracking down on dishonest online business practices.
The planned Consumer Rights Bill 2022 will offer rights and protections in relation to streaming, downloads and cloud products, as well as traditional products and services. Some of these new rights include the right to a full refund, exchange or repair when an online product or service is not as described or not fit for purpose. (siliconrepublic.com)
How Planned Obsolescence is Created and What it is
Have you ever wondered why major purchases like vehicles or major appliances always break immediately after the manufacturer’s warranty expires? Or have you ever wondered why an advanced society can produce materials durable enough to fly into space, but not a car tire that lasts more than a few years? The answer lies in planned obsolescence.
Planned obsolescence means that technology companies develop devices with a specific lifespan. This is to ensure future sales and demand, as the technology often fails when new products are launched or at the end of the agreed warranty period. On paper, planned obsolescence sounds reprehensible, if not criminal. But it is by no means a new tactic used only by tech companies, and has been around in one form or another for decades. (bollyinside.com)
Other Repair News...
Podcast: decision in Massachusetts right to repair expected by end of month (fenderbender.com)
This DIY Motorcycle Runs on Swamp Gas (vice.com)
A Software Engineer Upgraded an Old iPod for 2022 (vice.com)LB 543 seeks to give farmers the power to repair their equipment (ksnblocal4.com)
A Software Engineer Upgraded an Old iPod for 2022 (vice.com)
New Right To Repair Bill Targets Obnoxious Auto Industry Behavior (Techdirt.com)
3G network shutdowns likely to have greater impact on vehicle features than repairability (repairerdrivennews.com)
Chesterfield welcomes repairers at first regional Fixfest (derbyshiretimes.co.uk)