Expecting to be one of the first people in the world to buy the iPhone 4, I was dispatched to Japan for its release last June. Much to the dismay of thousands of Japanese with similar intentions, my mission was thwarted: FedEx delivered hundreds of iPhone 4 boxes in California two days early.
We’re quick to adapt, and the rest of our teardown team got their hands on one of these early units. Rather than waiting in line at the Ginza Apple store, I worked on the teardown virtually from my Tokyo hotel room. The teardown was quite straightforward—the iPhone 4 was electronically complex, but easy to disassemble and work on. Opening the phone entailed removing the two Phillips #00 screws on the bottom and then sliding off the back cover. The ease of disassembly gave me plenty of time to analyze the internals.
Once we finished the teardown, I hit the streets of Tokyo to watch the actual iPhone release and then hang out with the Apple community. I didn’t need to buy a phone for myself, but I wanted to see the new iPhone firsthand.
I immediately noticed something odd about the Japanese phones: they had different screws on the bottom! These new screws looked like very small Torx (I guessed T3 at the time) but were actually something far more insidious.
Apple is switching to a new type of tamper-resistant screw. This is not a standard Torx, and there are no readily available screwdrivers that can remove it. This isn’t the first time they’ve used this type of screw—it first appeared in the mid-2009 MacBook Pro to prevent you from replacing the battery—and Apple is using a similar screw on the outer case of the current MacBook Air. This screw is the primary reason the 11″ MacBook Air earned a lousy repairability score of 4 out of 10 in our teardown last October.
Apple chose this fastener specifically because it was new, guaranteeing repair tools would be both rare and expensive. Shame on them.
It’s similar to a Torx—except that the points have a rounder shape, and it has five points instead of six. Apple’s service manuals refer to them as “Pentalobular” screws, which is a descriptive enough term. It’s certainly better than what I came up with, which was “Evil Proprietary Tamper Proof Five Point Screw.” It’s best I stay out of the naming business.
Contrary to what has been widely reported elswhere, this is not a security Torx screw. Security Torx have a post in the middle. Apple would never use a real Torx security screw with a post for two reasons: they’re ugly, and the posts break off easily with screw heads this small. To further complicate matters, Apple occasionally refers to these as “Pentalobe security screws.” Please don’t confuse them with security Torx.
This screw head is new to us. In fact, there isn’t a single reputable supplier that sells exactly the same screwdrivers Apple’s technicians use—which is Apple’s point. They picked an obscure head that no one would have. This new screw defeats even our vaunted 54-bit driver kit, which until now we’ve been able to claim that it’s all you need to disassemble just about any consumer electronics. Alas, no more. Thanks a lot, Apple!
Now that we’ve got the background out of the way, what’s Apple doing with these new fasteners?
Making things worse, Apple has used three different sizes of this screw head so far. Here’s the rundown:
The largest 5-point Pentalobe screw used thus far was deployed in the Mid-2009 MacBook Pro. Apple calls this a “Torx Plus Tamper 6.” For reasons known only to them, Apple has switched away from these screws and is using Tri-Wing screws on current MacBook Pro models. A compatible Tri-Wing bit is included in our toolkits, so you don’t need to worry about this if you have the latest MacBook Pro.
The iPhone 4 has one of the smallest screw heads we’ve seen, probably for cosmetic reasons. This 5-point Pentalobe screw is actually slightly smaller than a Torx T1. Yowsers that’s tiny. The shape looks a little rough because this tiny screw is giving Apple’s manufacturing process a run for its money.
The new Air uses a significantly smaller 5-point screw than the MacBook Pro, but it’s still larger than the one in the iPhone 4.
This screw head clearly has one purpose: to keep you out. Otherwise, Apple would use it throughout each device. Instead, they only use it at the bulwark—on the outside case of your iPhone and MacBook Air, and protecting the battery on the Pro—so they can keep you out of your own hardware.
Fortunately, our always-creative hardware acquisition team has been on this problem for a while. It’s our responsibility to provide you with all the tools you need to work on electronics, and we have a solution for you!
The real solution is to get rid of these pesky screws so you can use a normal Phillips screwdriver on them. We now have replacement Phillips screws so that you can reverse Apple’s dastardly handywork. We have found a driver that works for the 5-point “Pentalobe” fasteners on the iPhone 4 case. It’s not a true Pentalobe driver — the tip is more star shaped than “flowery,” so there may be some slight play in the fit when using. This screwdriver gets the job done, but we don’t recommend it for repeated use. It’s really just a hack to get the screws out and then replace them with standard screws.
So go ahead, set your iPhone free with our iPhone 4 Liberation Kit! Rid your phone of those terrible Pentalobe screws forever. The $9.95 kit includes a Pentalobe driver, 2 replacement PHILLIPS screws, and a regular #00 Phillips screwdriver.
iPhone 4 Liberation Kit
We’ve got a 5-point MacBook Air screwdriver in stock that unlocks this machine! Now you’ll be able to do your own repairs or upgrade your SSD.
MacBook Air 5-Point Torx Screwdriver
Use the MacBook Pro 5-Point Torx Screwdriver if you’d like to remove your laptop’s battery. It’s the best way to ensure you don’t fry any sensitive components on machine while performing a repair.
MacBook Pro 5-Point Torx Screwdriver
[…] on the team blog, the intrepid disassemblers note, “This is not a standard Torx, and there are no readily […]
[…] shop iFixit has pentalobe bits available for sale, both in iPhone and MacBook sized models. Their […]
[…] guys at iFixIt explain that, originally, the iPhone 4 shipped with standard, albeit very small, phillips screws in […]
I’m sure someone has already thought of this, but I feel like it should be asked anyways. Has anyone tried the “star” bits that are found on the bottom row of the 54-Bit driver kit?
I don’t have the new screws in front of me, but from the pictures it looks like they *might* work. I suppose this change brings up another question, when is iFixit going to release the 55-bit driver kit! :D
[…] In realitate Apple a implementat suruburi pentalobulare in noul iPhone 4, suruburi pentru care, conform celor de la iFixit, este foarte greu sa gasesti o surubelnita. Apple a implementat acceste noi […]
[…] http://www.ifixit.com/blog/blog/2011/01/20/apples-diabolical-plan-to-screw-your-iphone/ […]
[…] does Apple screw up your iPhone? With screws, of course! But as the good folks at iFixit point out, these are no ordinary […]
[…] notes that, although it looks similar, it’s not a standard Torx screw. Worse, there are no readily […]
Will these bits now be part of the driver kits?
The chick in video is extremely annoying and she squints a lot.
Nice how you’ve turned the rant into a pitch to sell screw drivers and screws… talk about screwing your readers.
[…] video that they’ve put together to illustrate Apple’s underhanded attempts at replacing iPhone 4 screws with Pentalobe screws while phones are in for repair.iFixit has not only released the awesome video (attached below), but they have also put together an […]
Sadly, Apple is not the first to use these dastardly connectors. I have several (older) Seagate 2.5″ external USB hard drives which use these. I’ve literally looked for a driver for a couple of years to open them up and upgrade the internal drives to higher capacities, but with no luck. iFixit’s Macbook driver fits and works wonderfully.
So, when will the supplemental bit set for the 54 bit driver set be available?
AL
@Steven: The five-pointed “star” bits in the 54 bit driver kit are too large for even the largest of the three Pentalobe screws (MacBook Pro’s battery screws). The other problem with the “star” drivers is that even if they did fit, they could potentially strip the screws — leading to one unhappy repair experience.
so much for standard screwdriver shapes. what a pain.
Removal and replacement of these screws is guaranteed to void your device warranty.
They always know when you’ve opened them up.
“guaranteeing repair tools would be both rare and expensive”
So that makes your $12.95 “MacBook Air 5-Point Pentalobe Screwdriver” cheap? Stop sensationalizing Apple’s decision to change the screw so you can sell more of your cheap tools. Apple is doing you a favor by all these changes, sending more to see the tear downs and buying your tools… don’t be a hypocrite.
[…] kyle at ifixit.com […]
[…] Apple’s Diabolical Plan to Screw Your iPhone […]
[…] comprarlo para abrirlo y ofrecernos su despiece completo, ponen el grito en el cielo esta vez para criticar una política encubierta que Apple está llevando a cabo delante de nuestros propios ojos.Apple’s Diabolical Plan to […]
Apple devices should be more serviceable. I want to be able to replace the back or battery more easily if needed. They should make replacing the glass an easy 5 minute operation. That would be ideal. No reason something should be so fragile, made of glass, and hard to replace. That is just a bad combo.
I think of repairing things as very green. Akin to reduce, reuse, recycle. Repair is part of that.
I wonder what they are concerned about.
[…] complete article can be found HERE, courtesy iFixit. Related posts:iPhone 4 repair manual posted by […]
[…] [iFixit] […]
I, also, hate anything new.
There was this one time, like really, when Apple did something that, like, was mildly inconvenient for me, so I, really, wrote a long blog post about it, with a long rant and plenty of references to evil conspiracies, and guess what happened? Well, nothing, but I did sell a lot of screwdrivers.
iFixIt, stop scamming your readers. Secure Torx will do the trick.
Don’t be retarded, 007.
[…] exists. Yeah, Apple's effectively making it impossible for you to open up your iPhone. Here, according to iFixit, is what's going down. When the iPhone 4 launched, the dock connector was flanked by standard […]
This article is a blatant scam, an attempt to sell overpriced screwdriver kits. Torx Plus Secure (five-lobed) drivers are widely available; all you have to do is a Google search. I bought mine from Amazon last year, before any of this fuss started.
Stop scaremongering. Stop acting like jerks. The only “evil plan” here is your own lame attempt to whip people into a paranoid frenzy and then sell them tools they don’t need. Your readers deserve better from you.
Oops, my bad. Ignore comment 24. Need to improve my counting skills…
Is it just me or are you all ignoring the real issue here. Emjay is the hottest tech journalist I’ve seen in my life!
Holy Jeez!
This can easily be remedied with a rubberband pulled over the screw and using a screwdriver with the same number of points as the screw in question.
This is what people do for stripped screw heads FYI
[…] those screws, you can get them out with something else. That something else is a part of iFixit's "iPhone 4 Liberation Kit," which contains replacement Phillips screws and a driver that will remove Apple's Pentalobular […]
WHo is this emjay? Where is her facebook..I’d watch news from her any day.
somebody help me out..Where is this beauty on the web?
I’ll tell you why this is not Apple “screwing” the consumer. I developed some problems, I thought, with a Bluetooth headset for my iPhone 4. I took it to the Apple store. About five minutes later, I had a new iPhone. It fixed the problem.
So, take a wax or Silly Putty impression of the slot, make a head to fit it, and you’ve come up with a DIY solution. Congrats. The technologically expert will always be able to monkey around with their gear. The technologically inept — 98% of consumers — would rather have their iPhone replaced, no questions asked.
[…] Apple’s effectively making it impossible for you to open up your iPhone. Here, according to iFixit, is what’s going […]
Come to me my darling, where is your web portfolio? Where can you be found on the web?
Drink some water woman!!! That smacking dry sound from your mouth is driving me insane!
[…] [iFixit] Previous Topic: flying shoes are the future for martial artists […]
[…] guys at iFixIt explain that, originally, the iPhone 4 shipped with standard, albeit very small, phillips screws in […]
Video girl is quite cute. In a chasing amy sort of nerdish-girl way.
[…] iFixit […]
[…] “They chose this ‘Pentalobe’ fastener specifically because it was new, guaranteeing repair tools would be both rare and expensive,” said Kyle Wiens, iFixit’s CEO. “The iPhone 4 originally shipped with Phillips screws, but Apple has transitioned completely to this new security screw. Shame on them.” […]
[…] “They chose this ‘Pentalobe’ fastener specifically because it was new, guaranteeing repair tools would be both rare and expensive,” said Kyle Wiens, iFixit’s CEO. “The iPhone 4 originally shipped with Phillips screws, but Apple has transitioned completely to this new security screw. Shame on them.” […]
[…] “They chose this ‘Pentalobe’ fastener specifically because it was new, guaranteeing repair tools would be both rare and expensive,” said Kyle Wiens, iFixit’s CEO. “The iPhone 4 originally shipped with Phillips screws, but Apple has transitioned completely to this new security screw. Shame on them.” […]
[…] you can get them out with something else. That something else is a part of iFixit’s “iPhone 4 Liberation Kit,” which contains replacement Phillips screws and a driver that will remove Apple’s […]
[…] you can get them out with something else. That something else is a part of iFixit’s “iPhone 4 Liberation Kit,” which contains replacement Phillips screws and a driver that will remove Apple’s […]
[…] a Pentalobe, almost impossible to find outside of Apple after-sale repair centers.According to iFixit, the last iPhone 4 delivered also carry that type of screws in order to make them harder to take […]
Who is the girl in the blog pic. She is HOT!
[…] to the folks at iFixit, Apple has replaced these screws too. Newer iPhone 4s now come standard with a screw that has a […]
Man, MJ, you’re the cutest geek I’ve ever seen! And you’re selling screwdrivers? Enter a modelling contest or something: you’re so wasting your talents ;-)
This seems like a non-issue to me.
I mean come on, how long do you think it will be before eBay has Chinese sellers providing drivers for this screw. LOL.
You could probably print the driver bit using one of the metal 3D printers.
Fuck apple, fucking fascists.
For you fans of MJ – this is what google has come up with: lifewithabean.com and http://www.facebook.com/melissajenna
When I said that this business of calling the screws by the wrong name is “making me crazy,” I meant it. How are people /still/ calling them Torx/Torx Plus? *big sigh*
More MJ rants!
[…] Apple’s Diabolical Plan to Screw Your iPhone « iFixit Blog […]
Opening your Air or similar will *NOT* void your warranty. That would be illegal under the various laws governing warranties in the US and other jurisdictions. Apple can only decline the warranty if they can show the damage was caused by your actions. This means that, say, opening a Hard Drive will void the warranty on that drive, as dust will kill it, but simply taking the cover off of your MacBook Air can not.
It’s Apple’s phone, it they want to use an obscure screw then it’s their right to do so. Live with it.
[…] on the team blog, the intrepid disassemblers note, “This is not a standard Torx, and there are no readily […]
[…] [via iFixit] […]
Greedy Apple at it again.
I want to be able to replace the back or battery more easily if needed. They should make replacing the glass an easy 5 minute operation. That would be ideal. No reason something should be so fragile, made of glass, and hard to replace. That is just a bad combo.
“Easy to replace” in this context means “bigger and heavier”.
If you don’t like Apple’s tradeoffs that make a task most users will never contemplate harder… buy a non-Apple product.
I assure you that your “should” would be a tradeoff most people don’t want in their phone.
(Remember “battery doors”? Yeah, they sucked and still do.)
[…] shipped with Phillips screws, but Apple has transitioned completely to this new security screw. Shame on them.” It’s not unusual for manufacturers to use obscure screws and strict software security on […]
The REAL insidiousness is pretending Apple is being evil when in fact the whole controversy is a sales pitch for a screwdriver set.
[…] “They chose this ‘Pentalobe’ fastener specifically because it was new, guaranteeing repair tools would be both rare and expensive,” said Kyle Wiens, iFixit’s CEO. “The iPhone 4 originally shipped with Phillips screws, but Apple has transitioned completely to this new security screw. Shame on them.” […]
[…] screws much earlier, as iPhone 4s shipped to Japan on launch had the strange new screw. A little investigation revealed that “it is not a standard Torx, and there are no readily available screwdrivers […]
[…] screws on its iPhone and MacBook products. The screws, according to customer advice site iFixIt, are being used on all new units — and are also being placed on all existing devices brought […]
Great job ifixit! I mean, youfixit. You at iFixit.
You know who you are. Thanks.
At one level, these screw thingies are pathetically petty and small, cheesy little ways to make sure they keep their hand in our pockets. $90 to replace a battery.
Think about that for a second? Two if needed.
At another level, this is evil. It is insidious, controlling, dogmatic, mundane routine
evil.
I will prevent from ever having this problem by never buying anything from apple.
I already knew that.
But Thanks for the reminder. And keep up the good fight.
[…] la historia en iFixit // blog comments powered by Disqus […]
You wrote, “It’s similar to a Torx—except that the points have a rounder shape, and it has five points instead of six. Apple’s service manuals refer to them as “Pentalobular” screws…”
That’s interesting, because the six-point Torx screws are known generically as “hexalobular.”
Torx offers a system called Torx TS that uses five points. I wonder if that’s what Apple is using?
[…] you can get them out with something else. That something else is a part of iFixit’s “iPhone 4 Liberation Kit,” which contains replacement Phillips screws and a driver that will remove Apple’s […]
Just another example of Apple and their completely closed source approach to products. I think it would just take someone like Nokia to adopt Apple’s ideas on design and then over take them using Open Source style software…
[…] MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, or iPhone 4 and taking a look inside? Good luck. According to a Thursday blog post from gadget site iFixit, Apple is now using a new type of screw on some of these devices that are […]
[…] Apple’s Diabolical Plan to Screw Your iPhone (iFixIt) […]
[…] chicos de iFixit han publicado un vídeo en el que apuntan a una posible conspiración encubierta de Apple -hasta que ha salido a la luz- con el fin de evitar […]
[…] you can get them out with something else. That something else is a part of iFixit’s “iPhone 4 Liberation Kit,” which contains replacement Phillips screws and a driver that will remove Apple’s […]
After watching the video, I’m convinced. I’m convinced that Apple has the right to do what they want to their product. Let’s review a few facts from the video above shall we?
1) Who is “sabotaging” the iPhone? Apple? Why would/how could Apple sabotage an iPhone by swapping screws? If anything Apple is idiot proofing their phone so some jackass doesn’t screw it up on the inside, thus rendering it out of warranty.
2) Apparently Apple intended to ship the phone with the special screws in the first place. Look at any promo image of the iPhone. Does it show phillips screws? Also, according to MJ, the phone already has the screws in other countries. So apparently this hasn’t been an issue until now.
3) “Apple won’t sell me the driver I need to fix my phone.” Where to start with this one. First, Apple is not a hardware store. You need a screwdriver? Go to Home Depot. By the way, I’m not stupid. I know you can’t buy ESD safe equipment at Home Depot. I said that to be facetious. Moving on, Apple provides trained service personnel at all of it’s retail locations, or you can send your phone to a AppleCare certified repair facility to get it fixed.
4) “For what ? To keep people from modding their phones to make them different colors?” Apparently what MJ doesn’t seem to grasp is that once the phone is open all kinds of debris can float in. Now debris in the phone is no big deal, except for the fact that the camera is 100% exposed. So you could unknowingly decrease picture quality. Now I know picture quality is not that important to some. Let’s say you get a non-Apple approved battery to do a little DIY fix. The antenna cable, the one responsible for that whole antenna-gate thing, is not only right next to the battery connector, but runs right along the battery housing. One wrong move could ruin the whole phone.
5) While it is true you don’t need to pass a test to vote, that same theory should not be applied to DIY iPhone repair. Take it from me, I’ve dealt with people that I wouldn’t trust with a ping-pong ball, let alone a prepaid Tracphone. It amazes me that some would-be iPhone users can breathe and blink at the same time.
6) A liberation kit? You’re gonna have the balls to charge me to replace screws? Not only replace them, but do it with a “cheap” solution? So if this incorrect driver screws me (no pun intended), I’ve stripped my screws, and now have an out of warranty phone.
7) Oh joy, they have a liberation kit for computers too!!! Listen, I’d rather risk my phone than my computer.
8) MJ is pretty hot (that one was just filler. I was hoping to have an eighth reason).
Get over it that Apple is doing this! You know why they are doing this right?! Apple will now do one replacement on your phone free of charge, wether it’s liquid damage or if you take it apart and mess it up since some people just don’t know what they’re doing! With the more easily purchased mod pieces for your iPhone, Apple probably said: “We don’t want people to mess up their own device by doing something they shouldn’t do in a static, dusty environment, and then have to replace their phone since now it’s policy.”
So here’s your choices:
1. Apple can put in screws to prevent stupid people from messing up their phone, but will give you a new iPhone for free, even if you accidentally dropped it in water.
2. No funky screws. No free replacement.
I’ll choose option 1.
[…] iFixit reports that the iPhone 4 will now feature new tamper resistant screws called “Pentalobular” screws, that are similiar to screws used in the New Mac Book Air called Torx screws. These new pentalobular screws, means that Apple wants to limit the public’s access to their iPhone’s “innards”. The interesting thing is that the iPhone 4 originally shipped with standard, albeit very small, phillips screws in its base. Removing those two screws meant easy access to the phone’s innards. Now however, Apple is switching to a completely unique screw, with rounded inside edges, dubbed, as we said before, the “Pentalobular Screw”. […]
[…] order to prevent users and stores from modifying or repairing their Apple products, Apple has been progressively rolling out proprietary “Pentalobe” security screws —…. Apple originally experimented with Pentalobe security screws in 2009 in order to deliberately […]
It seems the folks at MacPalace.com don’t seem to have a problem including a Pentalobe screwdriver with the battery cover kit for the new MacBook Air
http://www.macpalace.com/mac-parts/p/076-1372-battery-cover-kit-with-pentalobe-screwdriver/
Why don’t the iFixIt folks ask them where they got their screwdriver from?
[…] ?They chose this ?Pentalobe? fastener specifically because it was new, guaranteeing repair tools would be both rare and expensive,? said Kyle Wiens, iFixit?s CEO. ?The iPhone 4 originally shipped with Phillips screws, but Apple has transitioned completely to this new security screw. Shame on them.? […]
[…] Apple's Diabolical Plan to Screw Your iPhone « iFixit Blog […]
MJ, that was excellent. Just excellent. A clear and concise summary of a perspective I wholeheartedly subscribe to.
To those people who hold a different perspective, it’s all good — no problem-o. We can agree to disagree, and our respective opinions are no worse for wear. Together, we remain, after all, totally jazzed with our Mac gear.
I think, however, hurling guff and attitude at iFixit for offering a solution to those people who share in their perspective serves only to erode the joint respect for differing opinions and to undermine the weight of your personal opinion.
From my perspective, iFixit is about a community giving each other the cognitive tools to demystify, understand, and return ownership to our devices that are too often veiled to keep us hostage to the service shop.
That iFixit also sells physical tools and supplies is merely a convenience to those people who need them and a means to offset the cost of running the website. Last I checked, there are no hopping bunnies, spinning monkeys, weight loss discoveries, nor erectile dysfunction solutions littering the site. Also, unless I missed something, iFixit’s repair manuals are free, and of far, far grater value than any screwdriver or repair kit they sell. I see no conflict of interest. I see liberation.
[…] Apple's Diabolical Plan to Screw Your iPhone « iFixit Blog […]
[…] [via iFixit] […]
[…] complement as good as the app store, consider again. According to the hardware hackers over during ifixit, Apple is switching to latest kind of tamper-resistant screw that aims to keep we from dismantling […]
Apple Starts Using Nasty New Screws on New iPhone 4s…
Do you like taking apart your gadgets? Soon, it will be more difficult to take apart your iPhone 4. Why? It seems that Apple has decided that standard Phillips screws are far too easy to take out, and will be replacing the ones in future iPhones with s…
[…] iFixit Partager […]
[…] screw post has stirred up a hornet’s nest. The folks in the MacRumors forums think we’re Apple […]
[…] you can get them out with something else. That something else is a part of iFixit’s “iPhone 4 Liberation Kit,” which contains replacement Phillips screws and a driver that will remove Apple’s […]
[…] over its operating system and its app store, think again. According to the hardware hackers over at ifixit, Apple is switching to new kind of tamper-resistant screw that aims to keep you from dismantling […]
[…] of related: http://www.ifixit.com/blog/blog/2011/01/20/apples-diabolical-plan-to-screw-your-iphone/ Article about Apple, now using security screws on the […]
[…] people that the screws on their device have been altered during the repair process. This iFixit video has more information on the […]
[…] a tweak at the most basic of levels: the screws that hold Apple gadgets together. According to iFixit, Apple has progressively shifted to a new type of tamper-resistant screw that isn’t a regular […]
[…] over its operating system and its app store, think again. According to the hardware hackers over at ifixit, Apple is switching to new kind of tamper-resistant screw that aims to keep you from dismantling […]
[…] verkauft diese nur an speziell lizensierte Reparaturbetriebe. Angebprangert wird diese Tatsache von iFixit. Allerdings verkauft diese Seite auch gleich ein “iPhone Liberation Kit” […]
[…] a tweak at the most basic of levels: the screws that hold Apple gadgets together. According to iFixit, Apple has progressively shifted to a new type of tamper-resistant screw that isn’t a regular […]
[…] [via] Tweet Stefan D.Ich bin Stefan, 20, MacBite-Schreibsklave. Wenn ich mal Freigang kriege bin ich Student, Gitarrist, schiebe Pixel von A nach B, treffe mich mit Freunden, lese gute Bücher, höre gute Musik, schaue gute Filme, sehe selbstredend fantastisch aus und rieche nach Old Spice. […]
[…] Angeprangert wird das neue “Schraubendesign” von iFixIt, die mit dem Repair Manifesto für das Recht der Kunden eintreten, gekaufte Waren und Hardware selbst reparieren zu können. Auch Apple erschwert das einmal mehr ohne Not und mit offensichtlich erkennbarer Methode. Schraubenzieher für die Schrauben, die Apple als “Pentalobular” beschreibt, sind selten und teuer. Ziel: Apple-Geräte sollen nicht vom Kunden oder von Apple unabhängigen Reperaturwerkstätten geöffnet werden können. […]
[…] se cambiase o filamento cando se fundise ¿están verdadeiramente seguros? Sen tanta especulación, neste artigo explícase cómo Apple trata de dificultar a reparacións dos seus productos empregando…. Non é a única. (via @opaco). O problema ven cando se compara este punto co anterior ¿cómo […]
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I think this has got to do with Lobotomy, does anybody need that?
[…] share iFixIt’s view of Apple’s intentions (their blog post announcing this was entitled Apple’s Diabolical Plan to Screw Your iPhone), I share their ideals of being able to tinker and break with your device if you want to. Even if […]
[…] Apple's Diabolical Plan to Screw Your iPhone « iFixit Blog […]
[…] übrigens an seinem iPhone 4 rumbasteln will, brauch einen Pentalobe Schraubendreher um es zu öffnen. verwandte Artikel: App: 12 Tage Geschenke von iTunes […]
MJ – you really need a taller chair or a lower table! :-)
[…] Read Kyle’s article, with photos of the different Pentalobe screws on various Apple products, and learn about iFixit’s iPhone 4 Liberation Kit here. […]
[…] un vídeo de iFixit en el que una chavala muy maja nos lo explica todo muy clarito.— Dani Burón [iFixit][SW-Box] http://www.vimeo.com/18764019 […]
[…] iFixit] Article source: […]
How many of you would like to pay the warranty support costs for customers tampering with their phones (or computers) while they are under warranty? That is exactly the position you are forcing Apple into. And guess what that means? Higher prices for all of us! So by all means – stick it to Apple! Just don’t come back here later bitching about price increases on the Apple products you love.
So no, MJ, you do NOT get to do what you want just because you ‘bought’ it. You entered into a contract with Apple and had to agree to that contract as part of the activation process. It’s called a warranty. It’s legally binding. And you agreed to it, so you are bound by law to uphold it. Very few – if any – Apple 4’s are out of warranty. If someone wants to mod or work on their out-of-warranty iPhone we have no quarrel. If it is in warranty, then thanks a billion MJ and iFixit for your participation in driving up prices for all of us!
[…] Ma anche questa volta Apple fallisce la sua missione, infatti iFixit ha trovato il modo per svitare le viti. La soluzione è un kit apposito per lo smontaggio completo dei dispositivi che utilizzano tali viti, che è già stato reso disonibile. Maggiori info qui. […]
[…] [Link] tweetmeme_style = 'compact'; tweetmeme_url = 'http://www.techfieber.de/2011/01/21/apple-neuartige-schrauben-behindern-nutzer-reparaturen/'; Share […]
@ pat Dissent: A imple internal warranty void sticker would solve that issue. How’s about someone who wants to replace their screen after the warranty has expired?
A consumer conscious decision would be to not buy an iPhone in the first place. Recently I did not buy a Lenovo laptop because they wouldn’t refund the windows license on it which I wanted to donate to a linux related project.
[…] Apple’s Diabolical Plan to Screw Your iPhone >> iFixit Blog […]
Love you guys!!!!
(swoons over MJ)
[…] Consumerist tells us that Apple is switching to a special new screw called by some a Pentalobe, by iFixit an “Evil Proprietary Tamper Proof Five Point Screw” (or the EPTP5PS). It is designed to […]
[…] Gracias a la gente de iFixit con un kit de 10 dólares podremos cambiar los tornillos por unos más normalitos y una tienda está vendiendo “destornilladores piratas” por poco más de 2 dólares. Os dejo con los links y un vídeo de iFixit en el que una chavala muy maja nos lo explica todo muy clarito.— Dani Burón [iFixit][SW-Box] […]
[…] “They chose this ‘Pentalobe’ tie privately given it was new, guaranteeing correct collection would be both singular and expensive,” pronounced Kyle Wiens, iFixit’s CEO. “the iPhone 4 creatively shipped with Phillips screws, but Apple has transitioned utterly to this new confidence screw. Shame on them.” […]
[…] CEO Kyle Wiens went so far as to title a blog post on the matter “Apple’s Diabolical Plan to Screw Your iPhone.” “Apple chose […]
[…] CEO of iFixit. ‘If you take your iPhone 4 into Apple for any kind of service, they will sabotage it by replacing your Phillips screws with the new, tamper-resistant screws. We’ve spoken with the Apple Store geniuses tasked with carrying out this policy, and they […]
My iPhone, bought in Portugal a couple of months ago has normal Phillips (“+”) screws.
get an HTC ;)
[…] CEO Kyle Wiens went so far as to title a blog post on the matter “Apple’s Diabolical Plan to Screw Your iPhone.” “Apple chose […]
This screwdriver is a protection circumvention tool. You will get DMCA’ed!.
[…] de gebroken zegels, en weigeren een reparatie onder garantie als dit van toepassing is.Via iFixit iFixit, Liberation Kit, reparatie, schroefjes, schroevendraaier Gerelateerde Apple iPhone […]
[…] in their new devices, and what’s more if you take your current device in for repair they will stealthily swap out THOSE screws as well! What can you do about it you ask? Well let me just tell […]
Really disappointed at this post, guys. iFixit has always been a reliable source for good-quality technical information and parts, but this is Faux Nooz-style garbage journalism that’s clearly an attempt to wind up fanboiz and sell your “liberation” kits. Exactly how “diabolical” can it be when you’re ALREADY SELLING the bits to solve the problem?
[…] tool that can be used to remove them, iFixit reports. The idea, of course, is to prevent […]
youve got some hot people working at ifixit
[…] who stand to lose money because of it. Kyle Wiens, CEO of third-party Apple repair company iFixit, responded with a blog post titled “Apple’s Diabolical Plan to Screw Your iPhone.”Here’s some of what Wiens […]
[…] ostensibly to prevent you from fixing the phone you paid hundreds of dollars for. Slate quotes the CEO of iFixit, who rails about Apple’s plan to keep consumers from repairing their own devices by […]
[…] seien, die das Recht haben, ein iPhone zu reparieren, klagen allen voran die Profi-Bastler von ifixit.com. Sie haben sich längst einen Namen damit gemacht, dass sie leicht nachvollziehbare […]
[…] nowhere in a Ars Tech essay or a hysterical source on iFixit is a suggested “simple DIY repair” for iPhone 4s mentioned. […]
[…] most earlier, as iPhone 4s shipped to Japan upon launch had a bizarre ultimate screw. A little investigation suggested which “it is not a customary Torx, as well as there have been no straightforwardly […]
[…] an iPhone, according to the lengthy blogpost by iFixit co-founder as well as CEO Kyle […]
[…] of it. Kyle Wiens, CEO of third-party Apple repair company iFixit, responded with a blog post titled “Apple’s Diabolical Plan to Screw your […]
[…] to the folks at iFixit, Apple has replaced these screws too. Newer iPhone 4s now come standard with a screw that has a […]
[…] 4s shipped to Japan upon launch had the bizarre new screw. A tiny investigation suggested which “it is not the customary Torx, and there have been […]
[…] a post on the iFixit blog railing against a five-point “pentalobe” screw that Apple has started using on their Macbook Air and is swapping into the iPhone during repair, […]
[…] de la ifixit m-au facut sa zambesc cu solutia lor: iPhone 4 Liberation kit. http://www.ifixit.com/blog/blog/2011…w-your-iphone/ Defapt e un kit ce contine o surubelnita cu un cap asemanator pentalobului cu care poti desface […]
[…] quanto hanno scoperto i ragazzi di iFixit, Apple sta apportando delle modifiche alle viti che vengono utilizzate per assemblare i nuovi […]
this probably violates european legislation on recycling.. recycling centers are supposed to be able to easily remove batteries from devices…
There’s nothing new about this. Back when I wa a kid in the 70s, electronics devices frequently had colored paint on the boards & screws, & if a licenced repairman saw that the board or screws had been tampered with, he wouldn’t touch it.
I have no doubt the Chinese will be offering pentalobe screwdrivers soon, if they aren’t already.
[…] [iFixit] […]
[…] a screws which reason Apple gadgets together. According to iFixit, Apple has gradually shifted to a latest sort of tamper-resistant screw which isn’t […]
My iPhone came with pentalobe screws. Purchased @ AT&T November 2010.
I like how all the pro-Apple drones come out in these comment boards to blindly support even the most insipid things that Apple tries to foist on us. Such blind loyalty reminds me of Germany in the early 30s.
[…] is commencement to use specialized screws to sign the outward box of the iPhone 4, according to the latest report. Arguing that the pierce […]
[…] folks at Technologizer, where I first read about this, note that the iFixit is selling a $10 “iPhone Liberation Kit,” that comes with the screwdriver needed to remove these special […]
[…] Consumerist tells us that Apple is switching to a special new screw called by some a Pentalobe, by iFixit an “Evil Proprietary Tamper Proof Five Point Screw” (or the EPTP5PS). It is designed to […]
[…] Apple's Diabolical Plan to Screw Your iPhone « iFixit Blog […]
[…] a demeanour inside? Good luck. According to a Thursday blog post from tool site iFixit, Apple is right away using a new […]
[…] to the quick-reacting toolmakers at ifixit: “This screw head is new to us. In fact, there isn’t a single reputable supplier that sells […]
[…] Apple's Diabolical Plan to Screw Your iPhone « iFixit Blog […]
[…] também estão sendo trocados por ele.Antes de pregar a mania de controle da Apple e seu “diabólico plano para detonar seu iPhone“, é preciso analisar de onde começou todo o burburinho: da iFixit, ótimo site de […]
[…] info: http://www.ifixit.com/blog/blog/2011/01/20/apples-diabolical-plan-to-screw-your-iphone/ Written by Munny in: Computers […]
[…] is beginning to use specialized screws to seal the outside case of the iPhone 4, according to a new report. Arguing that the move […]
[…] screw, says the story, indicating to an ifixit (maker of the above-mentioned ransom kit) post which […]
Try “Torx Plus Tamper Resistant” or “Torx Plus TR” on google
[…] to the quick-reacting toolmakers at ifixit: “This screw head is new to us. In fact, there isn’t a single reputable supplier that sells […]
There are other screw heads like this around. See e.g. http://www.instructables.com/id/When-a-Phillips-is-not-a-Phillips-Plus-So-Much-Mor/
[…] dem Online-Reparaturdienst iFixit sind derzeit nur wenige – und teure – Werkzeuge auf dem Markt erhältlich. Geschäftstüchtig wie die Reparaturfreaks sind, haben sie eine Lösung für das Problem parat. […]
[…] According to the quick-reacting toolmakers during ifixit: […]
[…] to the quick-reacting toolmakers at ifixit: “This screw head is new to us. In fact, there isn’t a single reputable supplier that sells […]
Also see http://www.dealtime.com/tamper-security-torx-ts-star-bit/products
[…] to the quick-reacting toolmakers at ifixit: “This screw head is new to us. In fact, there isn’t a single reputable supplier that sells […]
This is crap amazon sell the correct screwdriver for only $7 The lib kit is $9 I think I’d buy the correct one.
http://www.amazon.com/Pentalobe-Screwdriver-iPhone-generation-Silverhill/dp/B004IU9EDM
Hang your head in shame IFIXIT
Mike.
[…] According to the quick-reacting toolmakers at ifixit: […]
[…] via iFixit] Like This? – You May Also Like These …Another Korean Movie Shot On iPhone – [VIDEO]Various […]
[…] to a special new screw called by a small a Pentalobe, by iFixit an “Evil Proprietary Tamper Proof Five Point Screw” (or the EPTP5PS). It […]
[…] continua a complicare la forma delle viti con le quali chiude i suoi Macbook ed iPhone […]
This practice goes back to the very first Macintoshes Apple made. So it should not be a surprise. There are a number of other electronic companies that do this. It’s primary goal is to not stop hardworking folks like ourselves from repairing their stuff (usually), but rather to keep out the uneducated consumer.
Also the complaints about ifixit selling screwdrivers are undeserved. Kudos to ifixit for offering up relevant tools that take care of this problem – regardless of who else happens to sell them.
yes kudos to ifixit for making manuals and selling screw drivers through what ever publicity they want to do, but ifixit does not appear to understand why Apple does this…. they are in the business to make money, sure, but to make the MOST money, this can only be done by making the customer happy,
the best way apple has found to make the customer happy is to make the phone lighter, thinner, WITH LONGER BATTERY LIFE than any other phone along with a joy to use, this requires a battery that is built in… and none replacable… AND that when people have a problem, make sure people get a competent fix for that problem quickly, usually for free because if the product fails, it is usually within the warranty period…
it is Apple’s experience that most consumers SCREW UP THEIR PHONE MORE, when they open up their phones, or laptops… I’ve seen this first hand, because i do fix Macbooks and macbook pros, most are from people who openned up their computer, damaged it further and even lost some of the screws… this is what Apple is seeing..
now ifixit and the people who are competent can fix a macbook or iphone, but that is by far the smallest percentage of people, most people screw their computers more than before they first opened their computer….
THAT is what apple is seeing and how they’ve determined to keep happy consumers…
Some Chinese company will make a negative of the screw, a mold from that and then start selling them soon enough.
[…] is beginning to use specialized screws to seal the outside case of the iPhone 4, according to a new report. Arguing that the move […]
by the way ifixit, the reason that apple is replacing the screws on repairs is that they are now shipping new iPhones with the pentalobe screw… if the older iPhone had regular screws before, they are simply using the newer part for it… the pentalobe screw.
also the screw drive will soon become very available anyway. if you are competent, a person will be able to get the screwdriver and do their repairs again, and some consumers will still screw up their iphones… and the circle continues…
Or you could just go into your nearest Apple Store and ask politely to have regular Phillips screws installed.
[…] sie eingesetzt, dass Anwender nicht so leicht Teile, wie z.b. den Flash Speicher wechseln können. iFixit verkauft für knapp 10 $ einen Schraubenzieher und neue Schrauben für das iPhone […]
[…] artykuł na: Apple's Diabolical Plan to Screw Your iPhone « iFixit Blog Tags: business, calling-the, calling-the-screws, has-come, january, screws, the-wrong, […]
[…] iFixit […]
Mountain, molehill, mountain, ha ha molehill in my neighbor’s yard, mountain, MOUNTAIN IN MY YARD…no-o-o-o. Oh, its a molehill.
[…] sees self-replacement as a threat, and they are working on making it harder to open your own phone. That’s a battle that the iFixit community is prepared to fight. Comments […]
So much bitching – seriously, how many times have you needed to open your phone before? Thought so.
[…] ：名刺は切らしておりまして：2011/01/21(金) 14:56:31 ID:HKx2gmE http://www.ifixit.com/blog/blog/2011/01/20/apples-diabolical-plan-to-screw-your-iphone/ […]
I thought this was epected from the very begining !!!
[…] tells us that Apple is switching to a special new screw called by some a Pentalobe, by iFixit an “Evil Proprietary Tamper Proof Five Point Screw” (or the EPTP5PS). It is designed to […]
[…] [via iFixit] […]
[…] [via iFixit] […]
[…] to the quick-reacting toolmakers at ifixit: “This screw head is new to us. In fact, there isn’t a single reputable supplier that sells […]
I have not tried the Apple screws, but here are some steps that worked for me in similar situations:
(1) Take at about 2 inch length of steel wire with diameter about equal to the outer diameter of the lobes.
(2) Bend about 1/2 inch of the wire at one end at 90 degree.
(3) File down the 1/2 inch end of the wire in a triangular shape, so it fits into the head somehow. The exact shape is not important, but tighter fit is better.
(4) Put a small (!) drop of super glue or epoxy on the screw head. Epoxy is stronger, but super glue can be remove more easily later.
(5) Insert triangular end of wire into head and wait for glue to set.
(6) Use long arm of wire to turn screw.
(7a) To reuse screw dissolve super glue in nail polish remover, but you have to find your own screwdriver to tighten it.
(7b) Discard that epoxied screw and replace it with your choice of Phillips/Torx/Hex/Slotted
What are the thread sizes of the Apple pentalobes?
cC0sYN http://chfEd38MkKsw7cXv0x3Dlc3b7.com
[…] Apple's Diabolical Plan to Screw Your iPhone « iFixit Blog […]
[…] Gracias a la gente de iFixit con un kit de 10 dólares podremos cambiar los tornillos por unos más normalitos y una tienda está vendiendo “destornilladores piratas” por poco más de 2 dólares. Os dejo con los links y un vídeo de iFixit en el que una chavala muy maja nos lo explica todo muy clarito.— Dani Burón [iFixit][SW-Box] […]
Nerd central over here
[…] heeft als reactie de “iPhone 4 Liberation Kit” samengesteld. Een setje voor wie Apple’s nieuwe hardware innovatie niet accepteert. Het setje […]
[…] […]
[…] currently used to attach the case to the chassis of the MacBook Air. Kyle Wiens at iFixIt, who was first to publicize this issue, accuses Apple of doing this “because [the screw] was new, guaranteeing repair tools would be […]
[…] Apple's Diabolical Plan to Screw Your iPhone « iFixit Blog This entry was posted in Apple and tagged apple, first-appeared, new-type, the-first, type. […]
[…] Apple's Diabolical Plan to Screw Your iPhone « iFixit Blog […]
[…] ifixit.com […]
[…] screw in their service manuals. Unable to resist the obvious pun, he recently wrote a blog post calling the new tamper-resistant screw "a diabolical plot to screw your iPhone." […]
If you’re to stupid to think about an easy way to open such screws, you’re screwed anyways…
http://tinyurl.com/6dpg25d
find the proper size and it will work perfectly without destroying the screw.
[…] I present to you… Links! Wheelchair Modern Warfare 2 Second Sun Starbucks Dead Space 2 IPhone […]
[…] screw in their service manuals. Unable to resist the obvious pun, he recently wrote a blog post calling the new tamper-resistant screw “a diabolical plot to screw your iPhone.” […]
[…] message company iFixit, professional service and maintenance of various portable equipment, smartphones, […]
[…] Apple's Diabolical Plan to Screw Your iPhone « iFixit Blog […]
[…] to the quick-reacting toolmakers at ifixit: “This screw head is new to us. In fact, there isn’t a single reputable supplier that sells […]
The reason that Macbook Airs as well as iPhones use these screws is to protect someone that is incapable of repairing electronics from trying to. If you were to do any research on the battery technology in both the iPhone 4 and Air you would quickly notice that they use soft lithium ion batteries with no shell. This means they could potentially vent/catch fire and seriously injure whoever is working on them. Apple has a requirement that stores have specific safety equipment to deal with these types of fires should they occur during a repair. If a tech needs a firesafe, special powders, gloves, tongs, masks, and other misc tools to safely repair these products would you really want to chance a home user dissecting this on their desk?
Thank you so worked this/23.01.2011 18:45:07
Well, I’m on the fence with this issue. Seems like a mountain out of a mole hill actually…
I self repaired my iPhone 3GS, and in the process stripped my screws a bit. The same thing actually when I’ve replaced my ‘user serviceable’ unknown MBP. Phillips screws don’t work well … ever.
A few years ago I stopped using any Phillips head screws for all my home maintenance, repairs, and projects and I’m basically 100% square head and while I skeptical at first, I haven’t stripped one screw since. Ya, not even 1! (2or 3 have broken however).
My only issue is with Apple not offering drivers for these screws and making the easy and inexpensive to obtain.
Why is your 54-piece bit driver kit so “vaunted?” It doesn’t include security Torx bits! If instead of the standard Torx bits you had included security Torx bits it would be much more versatile, and more likely to live up to your claim that “it’s all you need to disassemble just about any consumer electronics.” Perhaps you should come out with a version 2.0 with the above described change, in addition to pentabular bits.
Also, if you are truly pro-customer, you will release a set of pentabular bits for your current kit at a reasonable price.
Uhh… so how come Gizmodo found a pentalobular driver for $2.35, while The Register claims to have found loads more of them online?
http://gizmodo.com/5739389/stop-panicking-you-can-still-open-up-your-iphone-with-a-235-screwdriver
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/01/24/apple_screws/
Did you not think this would come out eventually?
With this new screw,, the iphone can’t open anymore.. hahaha
Probably Torx Plus tamper-resistant. Five lobes. Usually includes a post, but the drivers won’t mind if there isn’t one. Check against this to see what you’ve got. http://www.acument.com/licensing/pdfs/standards/torxplus/inchdriverstandards/NID-602-1.pdf
This place lists several sources to get this screwdriver:
http://www.pentalobular-screwdriver.com
Tolle Blogseite die ihr hier online gestellt habt. Macht weiter so!
When will you add in a pentalobular screwdriver to your awesome 54-piece set?
So you buy an iphone just to get through this hell of replacing screws? And not being able to make a decent call because of their fucked up antenna? When there’s so many fairer manufacturers? Very good for you! Very clever! :LOL Where’s this world going to?
Apple is known for terrible engineering and also known for never following any standards, even with their own hardware and software.
This is what MacTards want. Think Different.
It’s easy to be Apple; Just take any well-engineered and thought-out product and do the opposite. Then refer to it as “different”, refer to the losers that glean their identity via marketing, as “cool”.
Apple is the absolute opposite of Engineering.
Look it up, it’s in the dictionary.
Sorry but, Apple consumers deserve this, and ALL the rest of the incompatibility they get!
Great post. Thank God my MBP doesn’t have those evil screws, but I’d seriously consider the Liberation Kit for my other iWares.