Apple Backs Off Punishing Those Who Repair Their Own iPhone Screens

As originally discovered by iFixIt, new iPhone displays contain a tiny controller chip, which acts as an integrated circuit responsible for translating screen taps into signals the phone can understand. This is a change, as prior to the iPhone X, this chip was stored in the logic board within the body of the device. As it stands today, a serial lock requires that the display chip remain connected to the rest of the phone in order to retain use of FaceID, which is Apple’s facial recognition feature.
The display chip’s placement has historically thrown a wrench into any attempts to replace iPhone screens through third parties. The chip has to be transferred to the new display, which heavily complicates repairs. While Apple and its authorized repair partners possess a special software tool that helps to maintain pairing between the device and its display during and following repairs, third party shops are left in the dust. iPhone users are therefore forced to choose between paying the steeper repair costs at Apple or losing FaceID, Apple’s only non-passcode unlock method since getting rid of TouchID with the iPhone X redesign.

Apple now says it will eliminate this issue in a future iOS update, giving iPhone users more choices when they need to get their display repaired. While Apple hasn’t yet stated which update will deliver the fix, there will eventually come a point when iPhone users can stress a little less over breaking their screens. “A solution will be available in an upcoming software update,” said an Apple spokesperson to The Register. How quickly this occurs depends on how soon Apple is willing to give up the revenue it makes from screen replacements (which, by the way, are the most common type of iPhone repair).
In the meantime, iFixIt is celebrating the victory—with a healthy dose of skepticism. “Apple — and the many companies it inspires — will advance again with more part lock-downs, more feature reductions, more reasons why only their profitable repair centers can do this work,” says iFixIt writer Kevin Purdy. “This is the kind of thing that keeps us fighting for the right to repair, in the press and everywhere else we can.”
Continue reading

Third-Party Repair Shops May Be Blocked From Servicing iPhone 12 Camera
According to a recent iFixit report, Apple's hostility to the right of repair has hit new heights with the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro.

Nvidia, Google to Support Cloud Gaming on iPhone Via Web Apps
Both Nvidia and Google have announced iOS support for their respective cloud gaming platforms via progressive web applications. Apple can't block that.

Google Uncovers iPhone Exploit That Can Steal Data Over Wi-Fi
According to Ian Beer of Google's Project Zero security team, the flaw allowed him to steal photos from any iPhone just by pointing a Wi-Fi antenna at it.

Stadia Is Now Playable on iPhone Thanks to Google’s New Web App
Google promised iPhone support, but Apple's App Store policies got in the way. Now, there's finally a way to play Stadia on iOS — just fire up Safari and go to the Stadia site to use the new progressive web app.