You might have noticed that there’s no longer an iFixit app in the Apple’s App Store. We are sorry for anyone this has inconvenienced.
Not too long ago, we tore down the Apple TV and Siri Remote. The developer unit we disassembled was sent to us by Apple. Evidently, they didn’t intend for us to take it apart. But we’re a teardown and repair company; teardowns are in our DNA—and nothing makes us happier than figuring out what makes these gadgets tick. We weighed the risks, blithely tossed those risks over our shoulder, and tore down the Apple TV anyway.
A few days later, we got an email from Apple informing us that we violated their terms and conditions—and the offending developer account had been banned. Unfortunately, iFixit’s app was tied to that same account, so Apple pulled the app as well. Their justification was that we had taken “actions that may hinder the performance or intended use of the App Store, B2B Program, or the Program.”
Live and learn.
The good news is we’ve been working like gangbusters on our mobile site. All the functionality you need for mobile is already there. Obviously, we’d love it if our app was in the store. But our small team has limited resources, and for the past months we’ve chosen to improve our mobile website—to benefit all mobile users—instead of making improvements to our app. The app that Apple pulled was outdated, and iOS 9 introduced some major bugs into the system. Fixing them would require a substantial rewrite to a bunch of iOS 4-era code.
Will we rewrite the app? Right now, we’re not planning on it. Our APIs make it easy for anyone else to build one, though. (Our old app is open source if you’d like an example to build upon. Just respect our license and don’t put ads in it.)
In the meantime, we will continue to support our Android app, which includes native guide creation. And you can always access repair guides and troubleshooting help from any mobile device (including iDevices) on our mobile site.
This. THIS is exactly why I’m proud to actually have the iFixit Manifesto as part of our site (which, naturally, links to iFixit.)
People deserve full control of their devices, and damn the company that argues against it was warranties, Terms of Services, and outright banning.
Good for you! One of the reason I abandoned iOS was just that… the desire of Apple to exercise so much control. I always applied jailbreaking technology to my iOS devices so that I could make them work the way I wanted them to.
Don’t get me wrong… I love Apple hardware and admire the company in many ways. But I gave up on iPhones, iPods, and iPads and now have an Android phone and tablet. I have no intention, however, of giving up my MacBook Pro. :)
I’ll use the mobile site, thanks.
You do realize they gave you a test unit to test apps on. Not tear apart and destroy it to post to the world. I like your tear downs as well but you just couldn’t wait and got greedy. That’s not Apples fault. Not saying Apple is the all mighty but they could have given that unit to a real developer to test apps on instead of displaying proprietary details of the innards before it’s even sold. You just gave Samsung a month to copy them :-)
iFixit knowingly violated the terms of agreement with Apple then got busted.
You are lucky you aren’t getting sued.
they give you a test unit and you use it false way , you have done illegal actions . blame yourself instrad of blaming apple
I will continue supporting your web page!
Keep up the good work, iFixit. Apple doesn’t make devices to be taken apart anyway, it’s not like you can really fix their devices. Wear this as a badge of honor. “Repair is noble”, it kind of implies that Apple’s strategies in regards to making their devices and software closed off behind their walled garden something not noble ;)
I’m pleased to see you performed the tear down in spite of the unreasonable terms and conditions. All the Apple fanboys here and elsewhere complaining about it are just being ridiculous. As if Apple would sue them! Honestly, what rot. It’s perfectly fine to take apart a device you own and publish what you find to a wide audience. Anyway, do keep up the good work, it’s always a pleasure to peruse your disassemblies.
Would love it if you took the time you spent on iOS and channeled it into an official Ubuntu Phone app! No need to worry about people getting upset you took something apart there.
It’s not so much “live and learn” as it is “learn to read.” As in, the stipulations you agreed to when you accepted the developer unit.
How is the terms and conditions on this particular case be unreasonable? Dev does pay EXACTLY $1 to get the device. It’s not like they are buying the product!!! Plus, it’s just like any other terms and conditions for unreleased products! Heck, reviewers can’t even publish review for finished products (like games and many other devices from other OEMs) until almost the release of the products.
I love iFixit and I think that they know the risk. It’s the commenters here that’s being unreasonable.
So, the walled-garden app store is using rules/power intended to protect the end-users from malware as a political/punishment tool.
Does the software that was banned from the app store have anything to do with taking apart the TV? No.
So why would apple censor users of the app store from this app? Oh, I see, as punishment to someone who they now see as an enemy. This is in the consumers best interest HOW? Would a savvy consumer agree with this decision? (eg. “oh yes those are bad men for taking apart that TV please protect me from their app”)
Too bad consumers are generally too dumb to take note of this ugliness, but in the end it’s stuff like this that keeps some extremely talented devs and investment away from these walled gardens.
Personally, I might make more money if I released our apps to mobile, but frankly I would just rather not play ball because of BS like this. I make enough money off our desktop apps, and nobody can mess with my distribution chain in the arbitrary way that these gatekeepers could.
So your business model is to create repair guides for product users, a large segment of those are Apple users, but you “blithely” threw the relationship with the company over your shoulder while claiming you don’t need them anyway, like you intended to burn that bridge at SOME point. So do you not need the Apple users? Seems like a far more careless move than this blog post is willing to admit.
I mean… in reality you should be sued and shut down. You just broke someone’s trust and a contract.
Your response is, “Live and learn”? That’s horrible business practice. Maybe you should go learn a little about business ethics and pray you don’t get sued. I love tearing machines apart like anyone here, but following NDA and agreements with companies is important.
If I’m iFixit, I don’t blithely toss the risks over my shoulder, knowing Apple’s history with NDAs and unreleased products. Hell, the success / lifeline of the site is thanks in whole to Apple’s products. Bad business choice. If I’m Apple, I put iFixit on a do-not-fly list years ago.
Thanks Kyle for making it more difficult for hard-working small developers to gain access to pre-release hardware. Your selfish efforts will harm many more people in the end than those whose curiosity was satisfied. Hope you are happy. This is no different than if your website was hacked.
Apple fanboys be like, “That’s what you get iFixit, you should be sued”.
Android fanboys be like, “That’s why I switched to Android”
You intentionally broke your agreement with Apple and you think that’s fine. In the next breath you offer your code to anyone who wants it with this condition, “Just respect our license and don’t put ads in it.” You ask for respect and offer none.
Sorry but I don’t feel sorry for you guys on this. You clearly broke the rules and Apple did the right thing. Apple released hardware to developers before the public which is very rare. Developers breaking the rules will ruin it for the rest of us developers.
“Just respect our license” like we didn’t do with the dev kit we got.
I suspect you could have done a tear down and given a score for repair, without breaking the NDA.
This deliberate snubbing of rules and agreements by a ‘professional company’ is hard to reconcile.
Apple has had to deal with lack of regard for legalities by much larger companies – did you think that they would not notice you ?
As one commenter noted, it is not ‘live and learn’, but ‘learn to read’.
iFixit broke the license terms for the development hardware, and now their account gets deleted. Knowing Apple’s ways, I doubt their legal troubles regarding any breach of contract or NDA are over yet. It was a business decision they made, and now they’re facing the consequences.
Personally, I know how hard it is to keep a secret on something really cool when all you have is a piece of paper telling you not to discuss it. iFixit made the choice, legally wrong but perhaps (in their opinion) morally right, to ignore this and proceeded with the teardown. That was their choice, and everyone else here is just being an armchair critic.
No worries, that is what mobile sites are for – The Apple App store is not that big of a deal anymore. Never asked Apple what I can or cant do once my gadget hits my house, neither should you.
I really don’t know how you can flaunt about how you broke someone else’s license agreement on purpose (because of “your DNA”) and then say “just respect our license” a few paragraphs later…
I hope you’ll reconsider and rewrite the app for iOS 9 and that you can come to terms with Apple for what you did. I’m sure your developer account isn’t banned forever and that after a certain period, you could contact Apple to reinstate it.
I’m a fan of both iFixit and Apple and hope you can come to terms.
When you say ‘teardown is in our DNA’, what should also be part of your DNA is ‘ethics and respect’.
While I used to like this site for its work, i don’t think i’ll continue supporting / respecting their work.
Practice what you preach
(for those commentators who say this is exactly the reason you don’t use apple devices, you’re idiots, go back to primary school and don’t forget to attend Sunday morning church sessions).
You guys violated apple’s policy but as you said that developers can use API to build there app and follow your policy of not publishing ads in it…
I have a question that if you guys cant follow apple’s policy then why expect from the developers
Putting ads in app is also in developers bloodstream
Apple, stop stupidity and your future will be perhaps..
I agree with others who’ve said you’re wrong. I notice you guys have a bunch of legal stuff including a Terms and Conditions. I’m sure if someone violated or sued you about them, you wouldn’t just say “Live and Learn”. And for all those who have abandoned Apple’s stuff because of the “walled garden”, I don’t see you protesting at Mercedes or BMW because they don’t want you to install anything but their parts.
Yes, you CAN, but then you’re on your own. Same with Apple.
What you were doing isn’t what the developer accounts are for. Don’t bother responding to me, as I won’t be back to read the responses.
You state: (Our old app is open source if you’d like an example to build upon. Just respect our license and don’t put ads in it.)
If you cannot read and respect the documentation associated with your developers license, why would you expect people to afford you the same privilege?
It wasn’t iFixits device it was Apple’s. This is obvious. It was supposed to be used for development and testing not for iFixits sales and marketing. They should have had it and their app pulled.
This is not Apple being “overly controlling.” I’m sorry: They gave iFixit a device meant for a specific purpose (app development), and under strict non-disclosure and purpose conditions. They broke the terms of the agreement –they could (and should) face legal consequences.
You violated an agreement. What’s more, you admitted above that you knew that you were violating an agreement. If you can’t be trusted to honor an agreement with Apple, how can your customers trust that you will sell quality merchandise, and honor your obligations to us when there is a problem? Why couldn’t you wait until the product was released? I’m very disappointed in iFixit. This was bad judgement on your part. You deserved to have your app yanked. You put your desire to be the first to post a tear down of the Apple TV ahead of doing the right thing. That was very childish and selfish. That Apple TV could have went to a developer who really had the intent to develop Apple TV apps. Instead, it went to a bunch of guys who wanted to exploit it.
Unless I’m using an unofficial version, you guys also have a Unified Windows App.
So, you wants us to respect your license and agreements but you can’t respect the others?
I like your site, I love your teardowns, I love your guides, but what you did was wrong, and you should regret it and make a public apology to Apple and say what you did was wrong not “live and learn”.
Do you HAVE a lawyer at all? Did he approve you guys to admit publicly that you broke Apple’s agreement? Because basically Apple can save this webpage, sue the crap out of you guys, show a judge, and INSTANTLY WIN so you are put out of business.
It’s like giving a known murderer a loaded gun and saying “Here you go. But please don’t shoot me.”
Dumb.
I suppose it would be okay if I took all of iFixIt’s copyrighted work, put it on my own website, stole a good part of their traffic, and said “live and learn.” Don’t think so. Not cool, iFixIt. Not cool at all.
“Repair is noble”.
But violating pre-release terms and conditions isn’t.
You’re either noble, or you’re not. Pick one.
So… The comments here are funny. Though, as I’m finding lately, the Android fanboys are more over the top. Commenters. The Apple TV wasn’t purchased, It wasn’t Owned. It was licensed under an NDA. This was not a Retail unit that can be purchased from a store. If it was.. then Yes, Apple would be totally in the wrong. Unless you guys just want to say “Shame on Apple for opening up a pre-release program to attract developers”. Secondly, Apple didn’t Ban the App specifically. They banned the account that requested the unit and broke the contract. Side effect, the App was also attached to that account. Google does the same thing. If you create an Android app that breaks the terms of service, your developer account can get banned, taking down any other apps you have..
As for everyone else.. Yes, iFixit knew what they were getting into. As a site committed to teardowns, I doubt they really felt they had much to lose in their relationship with a company who’s built products that have the lowest repair ratings in modern tech. I’m neutral. Apple did their job. No evil intent. If something is given with an NDA, they can’t NOT enforce it. Like if I created an app using iFixit’s API, and put ads in it.. their job is to request that it be pulled. Or else it says that everyone can do it. And in many countries, will legally allow anyone to disobey.
iFixit did their job as well. They had the opportunity and took it. Was it foolish? Yeah. Could iFixit have done the teardown and released it the day the embargo was dropped? Yeah… probabbly would have been much smarter. But it’s done. And Stuff happens. They felt the reward outweighed the risk.
So when you’re saying that when you sign an agreement, you’re not really agreeing? Not very ethical, in my opinion.
“Our old app is open source if you’d like an example to build upon. Just respect our license and don’t put ads in it.”
So you basics want developers to respect your license…isn’t that ironic!
*You are a real dummy dude
I love your videos but you guys really f****d up with this Apple TV tear down. Apple’s policy was crystal clear and you guys chose to ignore it. Not only did you violate their trust but then you decided to insult them even further by saying oh well “Live and learn.” Well I hope Apple takes your “Live and learn” asses to court and teach you knuckleheads the consequences of breaking the rules and how to follow them.
Yeah you guys broke the terms of service. But this is a pretty severe overreaction on Apple’s part, and not what I would expect. Apple’s policies support self-repair, even though increasingly their manufacturing processes do not. I’d send Tim Cook a letter asking for reinstatement. What did the developer admins who were screening the Apple TV demo unit applications think was going to happen when they sent a unit to iFixit?
Wow. To say iOS is full of bugs when Apple took down your app and banned you for life just sounds so childish and butthurt. You’re lazy with your development of your app so dont go blaming something else for your bug-infested work.
Its funny how you ask people to respect your license when using your API, yet its OK to disrespect your agreement with Apple? Weve been eagerly waiting for us to be selected in the lottery to test our apps and here you are wasting the good graces of the company providing it to you for free. Shame.
I’m curious how many commenters railing about Apple’s supposed unfairness realize that this was a development unit given to select developers for $1, that came with an explicit agreement. An agreement that was accepted when ordering this pre-production hardware.
Can’t really see how Apple is wrong here. iFixIt accepted an agreement and then knowingly broke it. Did they really think there wouldn’t be any reprecussions? Do all of you complaining about Apple’s reactions regularly break contracts without any expectation of action by the other party?
This isn’t about Apple so much as it is about integrity and trust. What is it worth and how much is a company or individual willing to sell it for. For iFixit and the individuals within it, the answer is not very much. Why should anyone, whether customer or vendor, trust any product or service, indeed any promise made by an iFixit representative, if it willfully breaks a freely entered, legally binding agreement. If you won’t live up to your obligations, excuses and rationalizations are meaningless.
Fixit not only failed to fulfill its contractual obligation, but did so willfully. Even more damning is that iFixit likely considered breaking the agreement before even entering into it as that is the only legal way it could acquire access to the product. The onus isn’t on Apple to fulfill iFixit’s obligation, and the argument that Apple was aware, or should have been aware, that product teardowns are part of iFixit’s business isn’t a valid argument. Teardowns aren’t the issue, the issue is about product disclosure and the timing of such disclosure. Breaking a non-disclosure agreement reveals confidential and proprietary information which places the aggrieved party in competitive jeopardy.
Rather than a flippant mea culpa, iFixit should examine it business practices and decide whether it stands for fair, honest and ethical behavior.
iFixit, I love what you do, so please don’t compromise your integrity by breaking license agreements that companies try to get you into. You have the power to refuse those agreements and post them for the world to see. If you find yourself breaking them, please don’t post blog posts with witty remarks and ask that people abide by your own licenses.
Your mission is so important. You have gone so far in holding companies accountable for e-waste and sustainability of their products. Please don’t screw it up with stupid mistakes like this.
“People deserve full control of their devices, and damn the company that argues against it was warranties, Terms of Services, and outright banning.”
Exactly, except that it was Apple’s device that was temporarily given to them ONLY because they were on Apple Developer Program and because they signed NDA! Since iFixit weighted all the risks (or so they said) I wonder why they complained about consequences that they got after they violated the NDA?
So what you’re saying is Apple did you a solid by pulling a buggy under developed app from the store. Saved you from soo many 1 stars ;)
BTW Love iFixit. Way to take one for the team. But you may want to setup any Apple accounts you have with under a different company so they can’t associate the two.
In a strong society we have a glue called honesty and law. You don’t get that apparently, and it’s your loss. Sued or not, punished or not, you will lose until you learn better.
IFIXIT … i am fully support yours team, for whole of my life in digital device fixing… don’t easily get down be strong and by pass it, reverse it… there will a solution to getting through it… reborn in IOS, although i am windows phone fans.
yours team are awesome and do a lot and huge contribution for those interested in this kind of work… or as a hobby for them.
some more what yours team had done is more and more advance than the current college or training school had done, to train the new generation in this repairing field.
Although i own ACMT, but i admit yours team are skilful and knowledgeable than the notch fruit brand had given us.
iFIXit iLOVEit
I think it is borderline to make a business out tearing down other people’s hard work. You used to do it to help people out, but now it is just to get traffic. You lost your soul and this shows it.
I think you own an apology to your public or remove your rights and conditions.
i fix it but this was not about fixing anything. Teardown reality show
By now I assume you’ve realized you just badly hurt your reputation and threw your integrity out the window with your post. Hoping the inevitable mea culpa is truly sincere since I’ve always liked your site.
While your website has a valuable task and knowledge base you should know better. You don’t want people to wrongly use your code yet you ignored Apple’s warning sign. This leads us to believe that you guys lack of the professionalism needed in this situation. Write an honest apology and get your act together. You want respect over your code, you have to respect others. Easy. Have a great day!
Apple certainly knows how to tick off the wrong people.
Keep up the good work iFixit!
I’ve never understood iFixit’s manifesto mentality nor their “right to tear down” rhetoric. If things are repairable, then fine provide a nice service. But if you agree to terms and conditions for a vendor that doesn’t want you to tear down their device, why don’t you respect their rights!
And then ironically in closing you ask any would be users of your code and API to respect your terms and conditions.
Live and learn indeed.
Well i think if you get an developer unit straight from Apple her self and before every consumer you should keep this alert on mind…
With all the consideration that you want to be first that unveiled what’s under the hood sometimes it’s not worth it….
The App was highly usable for iPad users and make repair more comfort.
Nobody uses mobile web, it’s just too much of a hassle, get serious and fix the app.
So you took apart prerelease hardware meant for *DEVELOPERS*, in clear violation of the short plain-language NDA you agreed to right on the order page, and are surprised that it pissed off Apple?
Never mind the “B-b-but it’s MAH HARDWARE!!!!1!” morons who clearly don’t understand that this was one of the prerelease developer kits you took apart.
You deliberately break your NDA with Apple, and blame them for sending you a prerelease Apple TV for app development, because they should have KNOWN better (since your are a teardown company, not a software developer). Then ask us to honor you API license. Wow! Unbelievable.
Great job taking a box out of the hands of a developer who would actually use it and trying to make money and drive web traffic from it. Class act ifixit.
People here are overreacting. It’s true they violated Apple’s terms, Apple is right about pulling the app and their developer account because they just violated a contract. However, there’s no need to get too trivial about it, they knew the risks involved, I won’t stop supporting the site just because of this wrong decision, we aren’t perfect, so ill continue to support iFixit
I love you guys; great work – very interesting, and really helps to keep all those technical products running. I even see it as an important service to society to keep up from throwing still usable products in the bin.
But here you made a stupid error; not the tearing apart itself, but the publishing before the product was officially released.
I really hope you have the courage to admit you’re wrong, apologise to Apple and review your internal decision making.
Why would Apple even send a developer unit to a site that does not develop but only tear down?
What exactly did they expect would happen?
The order page says “Availability and supplies are limited.” Then how about setting up a screening process? Before just shipping units left and right. Anything else just seems lazy.
Also, calm the f*** down, people. They tore apart a gadget, they didn’t kill refugees.
What I find is that it is a joke to have a license necessary with open source. As soon as the license you lost the open. Is this whole world gone insane? License = closed source! Open means I do what I want. Ads virus you name it! You can’t and should not even be able to sue because you are the one who open the source. Rediclous how stupid and greatly software developers have gotten. So much for the freely elaborating world and the way of the intellect to work in collaboration and not just fight and biker like children. Grow up all. Open source means all add cool stuff and anyone use. It does not mean one entity claim rights and force all to use as they wish. If you opened the source you cannot expect one to work for hours adding to your code their work and not place adds in to recoup their time. And it may not have anything to do with revenge for you apple fiasco.
While I am a big fan of iFixIt, Apple had no choice but to do what they did. Here is why: Apple is a big company with the largest combined stock value in the world. Much larger then anyone else- bigger then Exxon, Walmart or Microsoft. Small movements in stock price means billions in values. It is against the law to trade stocks based on not publicly available information. You can go to jail for doing this.
IFixIt had an Apple device that was NOT available to everyone. Component manufacturers will benefit from their stuff in the Apple TV and so will their stock price. More importantly companies who don’t have stuff in it will lose. Currently this is insider information as the Apple TV product is not available to all stock pickers who want to take it apart.
IFixIt has reveled that the Apple TV has a A5 processor instead of an A9. This makes the Apple TV considerably less of a threat to the entire gaming industry. This has stock price consequences.
Now, does everyone understand?
I think that apple has no right as a company to enforce anything given their ethical history as a company. The whole company started on stolen plans from Xerox. The hard ware side. The software side started on stolen BEOS. I don’t even care if they had the permition of the few developers in control at the time since the software was developed by millions of contributors who worked in their spare time to benefit fanatic a-holes who constantly are bent on punishing anyone for littlest of things severe. I am preatty sure if it was up to apple ifixit deserves a fireing squad! Also the fanboys but Apple has not got a leg to stand on. Not anymore. They start all the law suit wars after stealing from all the innovators around them and exploiting every intellectual around them. As far as I am concerned Apple is a modern day sweat shop. Children working, I mean slaving in China over stupid Apple devices. Here is an i opener. You iPhone plus manufacture cost 264 your price 1000 so this is near 80 percent profit yet they can’t afford to pay children well. And they want to act as the Spanish Inquisition. We got here rotten apples. The worms are just the side effect.
Roblo, you’re just mixing up history to suit your opinion. Apple paid Xerox for the rights to employ the technology, so stop with the “stolen” meme; it’s tiresome and only shows your incompetence.
iFixit – let’s talk about you now.
Like you, I’m a developer. We sign NDAs so that we have early access. The agreement is not to limit you to looking at the hardware or reporting on it, only to do so on final, released hardware. You made an agreement with Apple and then, for some self promotion, you decided to break it. Not only did you display hardware that was under NDA, you dissected it.
I wouldn’t do business with any company that decides to betray an agreement for it’s own momentary gain. But then again your business is in decline, so this only stinks as a self-serving attempt at promotion.
iFixIt, you’re basically idiots, and the people who back you blindly are complete tools. For the few loud ones, enjoy your moment. But basically, iFixit, you’re dead to me.
I didn’t get a developer unit of Apple TV and you did and you tear it down! Serves you right! Getting a developer unit of Apple TV is a PRIVILEGE!
*clap clap clap* Hurrah iFixit!
Apple is stupid if they sent it to this particular website and expect you to NOT open it. That is what this website does.
I didn’t even realize there was an app. I’ve always just come here with my browser.
I am surprised at how many people try defending apple on a site that helps the end user. I hope they pay full retail pricing to apple to replace the batteries in their iphones instead of buying a battery for $30 and changing it themselves (with knowledge they could get from here.)
Ban the users and IPs of everyone being negative towards you so they may never make use of this most useful website again. They do not deserve to receive what this site offers.
Apple gave you that device in good faith and you acted like morons …. and you are surprised there are consequences to your actions …. the HORROR!!!!!
…but will it blend?
Apple are the true communist leaders of this generation.
Well now I’m bummed.
Just got my new iPhone and can’t even re-download the iFixit app for it. I question whether those throwing those risks over your shoulder was the correct move to take.
BUT, your business not mine.
“(Our old app is open source if you’d like an example to build upon. Just respect our license and don’t put ads in it.)”
HAHAHA, respect our license. Why should anyone respect your license when you clearly didn’t respect Apple’s? “Live and learn”? No means no, guys.
This is so funny.
Apple sends a unit to a Repair / Teardown company.
Said company tears the product down to report on repairability.
Apple wets its diapers and fanboys are out in full force?
Grow up.
Fanboys are saying “OMFG IT SERVES YOU RIGHT!!!!#$QE$EW”
Does it look like iFixit cares about an old app that was pulled when people can just use a browser to do the same thing?
You signed a legally binding agreement with Apple, then violated the terms.
1. Did you (or your lawyers) even read the agreement? And understand the consequences for violations?
2. Did you expect anything less for violating it?
3. Stop whining, grow up and act like an adult about this.
While I agree that the repairability of things is less than it used to be, I’m willing, though not always excited, to make that trade-off in exchange for devices that are smaller, lighter and more capable. And if people weren’t willing to make that trade-off, they can purchase from another company.
Cheers,
Jon
It sounds like they weren’t familiar with your website, and perhaps the developer unit was offered based on how many downloads your application had.
At any rate, would it have hurt anyone to have emailed Apple to ask if you can take the device apart? Nope – and that arrogance cost you your appstore presence.
Ideally you really should remove all your Apple tear downs over this, IF, you’re really serious about things with ‘weighing your risks’.
I suspect though the Apple kit (and it’s traffic) will still be here when I next look, so your personal risk convictions are probably a bit hollow.
Mission or not, I’ve lost a lot of respect for iFixit. I love what you do and you’ve probably saved me hundreds on repairs over the years, but if you can’t honor a simple agreement just for the sake of saying “First!” I’m not sure I want to give you any more of my money.
When you say “Live and learn” I feel like all you learned is to be sneakier the next time you decide to break an NDA. You’ve always made it clear about your disdain for sealed devices and proprietary fasteners so your actions don’t surprise me, but you violated a trust with me a many other iFixit users. What are you going to do to repair that?
I had a pretty high level of respect for iFixit before this mess, yet my respect has actually gone up significantly as a result of this silly response from Apple. Keep on doing what you do — we love it!
you could have waited until the product was released. You knowingly violated your NDA you deserved it. And don’t blame a new OS release for introducing bugs, that’s just a lazy excuse to not keep your app current. Those developer units were to go out to developers to create apps, not tear apart. Why should any developer follow your TOS for your API when you clearly don’t care about others TOS? I know I will be getting my repair parts from elsewhere from now on
I’ve always loved iFixit but have lost a large measure of respect for you. First you knowingly violated Apple’s terms of service and then you act like you’re being victimized. If you thought their ToS was unreasonable, then you should have declined to accept it. Not really sure how I feel about you guys now. You provide a valuable service but what you did was not okay.
Personally IFIXIT was set up as a patsy, Apple used them, Apple knows what the ” iFixit Manifesto ” is about.
They want full control not less not more. Apple forgets Steve and Woz learn to stick it to the Man and learn buy hacking hardware and software to fight the suits off. Now the leg is on the other foot (what), yes the Man now wears bluejeans.
IFIXIT was just in the juggernauts way. IFIXIT in helping to teach the rest of us what to try and lead the way, not less not more. This does not fit Apple’s model
As a Technologist/Maker of Things, who has had to reversed engineered devices and products for companies and research groups for decades. Then re/document those designs, lost from any of the original design information. Most of the time I have no information at all. Sometimes there is not even a part number on the device or on the board, all kinds of products i.e. wire wrap designs or hardwired pin to pin prototypes all very challenging.
I have been taking thing apart since I was three years old, the clock I took apart was not salvageable. That is the way it goes sometimes.
Let us all hope that Apples punishment has fits the crime. If Apple realizes that some of us want to follow iFixit (Makers) Manifesto! It is our right!
Teardowns may be in your DNA, but they certainly aren’t… ummm, weren’t… in your NDA. Could you not have simply waited until release and used a duly purchased unit (or bought one and said that you used it)?
What’s done is done, but you can be sure other companies are taking note.
Curious what was in the terms and condition. All the idiots above who scream iFixit deserves what Apple did probably have no idea what these terms imply, neither was it clear whether or not these terms apply in the first place. There’s no indication whether iFixit signed anything, or how the terms were delivered.
However, what was stated clearly is how apple justified closing of the account, “actions that may hinder blah blah…”. How anyone with half a brain cell can argue that explains it and is not a deliberate dick move from Apple is beyond me.
The internet is full of idiots theses days.
Bernard,
You don’t know what you’re talking about, and we’re not idiots. EVERYONE who has an Apple developer membership has an agreement that they are obligated to follow. That agreement contains certain terms and conditions that are clearly spelled out. iFixit VIOLATED that agreement. I don’t understand why this is so unclear to you, but the rest of us are not idiots because we believe in being honest and honoring our agreements. Obviously, you don’t believe in honoring an agreement, so you are probably not a good person to do business with.
The problem here is not the Apple TV’s teardown itself, is that iFixit posted the whole process before the product is available to the consumers and showed its components and internal design to everyone, including its competitors. Sorry iFixit, you are trying to lessen the blow, but as a costumer it makes me think professionalism and trust is not part of your DNA.
I respect you guys.
Tear down for your (something) is OK. But open that to the world before its release is BAD. You know this definitely.
That´s the reason that so many people have Android on his own.
I dont know if Apple have a very estricted rules on his politics, but with this is unnecesary read it all.
Apple dont have the best security as they say, if they dont want the people open or disarm they devices, dont sell it then.
We have all the right to upload the videos that we want, even the devices still not at sale.
I dont know it this its a make up.
But as a user , i dont like these thing about Apple., Sorry Apple, I have an Ipad and all the time i used it , i was fine , but with this shit, i say NO to Apple.
It’s not only a violation of terms to break these NDAs, it creates unfair publishing advantages (I.e., revenues) vs other tech journalists who abide by them.
iFixit just cheated their way to massive exposure, Web hits and ad-revenue. If they were running the Boston Marathon, it’d be as if they jumped the start gun by an hour, with Apple stripping them of their race bib. But they still collected the 1st place prize money.
So Apple sends a unit to Ifixit and they tear it down. What a shocker, about as shocking as the level of which you Apple fanbois are defending them. I have never seen such a bunch of mindless sheep screaming “you should be sued and shut down” in my life. Use your brains, think for yourself and stop just being Apple’s mindless sheep army.
“It’s not only a violation of terms to break these NDAs, it creates unfair publishing advantages (I.e., revenues) vs other tech journalists who abide by them.”
“It’s not so much “live and learn” as it is “learn to read.” As in, the stipulations you agreed to when you accepted the developer unit.”
I still like ifixit but if you’re willing to do that to Apple, I wonder if smaller companies have any chance you’ll abide by any agreements you make with them.
“Just respect our license and don’t put ads in it”
Like you respect it also? :D
I think it is a tough but fair decision.
I’ve loved you guys at iFixit since you first started putting guides on the ‘net, and I’ve purchased piles of parts and tools from you in the past.
I think I have to stop that now.
I run a small business, and my word and my reputation are at the heart of it. If I decided to ignore agreements I’ve made with suppliers, partners, and customers, my business wouldn’t last very long, and I would deserve to go out of business. Likewise, I only deal with suppliers and partners I can trust.
I’m extremely disappointed to see that iFixit has sacrificed its integrity this way.
To all the folks saying that this was “illegal” please be aware that there is a difference between failing to abide by the terms of a contract or agreement, and breaking the law. It’s NOT “illegal” to fail to live up to the terms of a contract. It may get you sued, but that’s a civil dispute between two parties, not a matter of one party breaking the law. iFixit may have violated some terribly misguided laws such as DMCA, but that’s another matter.
All the people screaming at Apple.. are you ignorant??
You do realize that if Warner Brothers sends you an *early copy* of an unreleased movie for your theatre and you decide to upload it online for the world to see, they’re gonna come after your asses. Same applies here. Same applies everywhere.
Balkninja, there is a difference between taking apart a device and uploading a movie for everyone to see. The iFixit teardown does not at all replace the utility of the device at issue, only provides a potential guide for someone who has bought and owns the device to potentially repair it when it breaks. Uploading an unreleased movie is a completely different animal, as it is copying the entire content and thus providing an illegal alternative to purchasing a ticket to view the content, or down the road, purchasing a hard-copy of said movie.
I will never get the whole brand-loyalty some people have. Apple makes good products, but so do others. I’ve been looking at Apple laptops, but no. I have an iPhone, love it, but I think that’s it. People wanting to defend a corporation and it’s contracts but ignore that this is who iFixit is? Yeah, no thanks.
I’ve been on the edge of leaving Apple’s mobile ecosystem over this kind of fascist nonsense, and now Apple themselves have made up my mind for me. By this time next year, I hope to have our two iPads, two iPhones and Apple TV replaced with Android devices.
As William said, this is not the same as “uploading” a movie, it’s more like, perhaps, posting some stills/screen grabs of a movie.
To everyone hating iFixit: What text of the said agreement did iFixit violate? Was it, “You cannot open the case”? “You cannot make images of it available online”? “You cannot discuss or talk about it online”? “You agree that ‘Fair Use’ does not apply”?
Do we live in a world where ANY and ALL Licenses — no matter their words — MUST be adhered to completely and in all cases? Do we WANT to live in such a world? Should a License that violates general business practices/laws REALLY be valid?
If my License says that you must give me your first born child, will you adhere to it? Of course not. DUH!
Guys,
I love your work and how useful your website and app have been to me, and many of my friends.
While I disagree with Apple in making an example out of you guys for the license violation, I want to point out that you’re asking developers to respect yours…which seems a bit hypocritical eh!
Quote: (Our old app is open source if you’d like an example to build upon. Just respect our license and don’t put ads in it.)
I think in general you guys are doing a great job – I’ve been using your excellent repair guides several times and could not have done what I did without them
However, in this case I agree with many other comments that you f****d up big time, thus harming also other developers, and that you should apologize to Apple and to all of us instead of arrogantly sitting there and saying that you “blithely tossed [the] risks over [your] shoulder.”
Nothing would have been lost if you would have opened the Apple TV a couple of weeks later. However, you are, of course, the great Robin Hoods from iFixit, and you, of course, always have to be the first who can make an assessment of the inner workings of new Apple devices.
That you then seriously are asking that app developers respect your software license for the pulled App Store app shows that you are not only arrogant but also very stupid and indeed tremendously unaware.
Hay you guys just violated one side of two side agreement and now crying it foul? Come on, do you expect others to respect if you not respect theirs ?
You and Apple both are doing a business. Why not wait till the official units come out? As someone says in the forum. You just gave Samsung a month in advance just to copy them. It’s it their sweat and blood I don’t think any business entity would like to give their competitors and edge doing something like this.
Your tear downs are nice but it does not mean you can violate these kind of this. I just lost all the respect I had for you!
Haha, the argument that Apple’s competition gets it’s info from iFixit is hilarious.
Are you people for real?
Wow, look at all the people in this thread who always drive the speed limit.
What is stopping you from compiling your app without apple’s dogmatic control? Just link us to the .ipa.
“Haha, the argument that Apple’s competition gets it’s info from iFixit is hilarious.
Are you people for real?”
Competitors should take Apple designs as a warning of what not to do.
A healthy business relationship takes years to foster and can come crashing down in an instant. Most companies that provides pre-release hardware do so under NDA. You don’t publicly disclose information until after the official product launch. Again this is not Apple specific. Comparing a speeding ticket to knowingly and willingly violating an NDA and threatening a long-standing business relationship is not particularly contextual. Apple and Google are both huge corporations, iOS and Android both have their faults and merits. This has nothing to do with that though. If you stop being blindsighted by your Apple or Android fanboyism you will see this is a story of one company violating another companies trust, breaking a standard NDA contract. A standard NDA contact. Used throughout the tech industry.
Haha I really like the ppl getting angry and telling you that you did something illegal. That is such a close-minded view of the world and I love you guys ‘n gals for helping this world to unite in a process towards a human future.
Companys like apple make use of the limited knowledge and resources of common ppl to press the last $$ out of them and repairing, altering, using things in a way we want doesn’t work out for them so well because they cannot make more money out of our stupidity.
I hope one day everyone can possess things (or doesn’t have to anymore) and use them in the way that is USEFUL and makes SENSE despite a big company making more money.
Thanks for your work, you are the ppl that make our planet a place I’d like to raise children and to live in!