Apple are unhappy with the way people treat their works
of art, their iPhone and iPods. They're not sure why they should
supply people with replacements these amazing gadgets are getting
abused.
So today the firm has filed a patent on a kind of spy system
that sits inside gadgets to record "consumer abuse events" and
reveal them to Apple staff when you ask for a replacement.
"Often, particularly at a point of sale, personnel receiving the
returned device may be unqualified or untrained to determine
whether or not a device has failed due to manufacturing defects or
due to consumer abuse," the company explains in
US patent application 20090195394.
Apple's plan is to use sensors that can detect liquid exposure,
high temperatures, high g-force shocks, and the opening of the
sealed casing for the "adding, removing, or altering of the
internal components".
The filing comes as Apple is taking some flack for
alleged overheating of some models of the iPhone 3GS. The firm
has countered that the machines have probably been operated in hot
conditions beyond its design capability; perhaps after being left
on a car dashboard in the sun. The technology in this patent could
help it support that case.