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0 pointssnuxoll6y ago0 comments

> It would be simple for apple to extend the system by allowing recyclers to ask apple to send a message to the previous owner of the device. This would be extremely pro-consumer, because it would allow lost devices to be returned via an official channel. It would also allow users to release their claims on hardware they meant to give away.

It would also make recovery of stolen devices easier. Refurbisher has Apple contact the owner, owner says it was stolen, person gets their equipment back.

I don't see the downside here, literally everyone gets what they want - people can sell or dispose of their old devices as they see fit, refurbishers and third-party repair shops can get parts and devices they need to run their business, Apple gets to continue touting the security of the platform, and victims of theft have a better chance of recovering their often expensive gadgets.

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jmull6y ago

> I don't see the downside here

You are an honest person.

StanislavPetrov6y ago

>I don't see the downside here

The downside for Apple is that they want people to be forced to buy new phones from them, not one on the secondhand market from someone else.

fortran776y ago

This really can't work. They'd get unscrupulous people taking phones they sold back, or a couple who broke up where it's not clear who "owns" the phone. Nobody wants to put himself in the middle of these things.

snuxollOP6y ago

> They'd get unscrupulous people taking phones they sold back

Money doesn't get paid until activation lock is verified as disabled. T-Mobile does this every time I trade in a phone, it's nothing new.

> or a couple who broke up where it's not clear who "owns" the phone.

There's no good way to ever handle this, ever - even without activation locks. Not worth worrying about, send the device to the registered owner and let the courts deal with it if people want to get bitchy with their former partner.

aeturnum6y ago

I mean, people can currently sell phones and make them useless for the new owner (on purpose or on accident) and the new owner has new recourse. Surely allowing communication about it would be better.

chasil6y ago

I do not agree.

Apple could play the go-between. They could alert the previous owner that the device has been found, and provide a grace period where a user could request return, for a fee, including Apple's S&H, and a finders' fee for the reporting agent.

At the expiration of the grace period, Apple could provide a device reset code.

llampx6y ago

I fail to see why Apple would do this. Is this going to bring them more money?

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Gorbzel6y ago

Why is Apple required to act as law enforcement? Moreso, even if they could, why as consumers and technicians should we want them to?

HNers go on and on about big brother Cupertino all the time, but ooh some (well intentioned but misguided) refurb/recycling shop writes an article and all of a sudden critical thinking goes out the window.

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0 pointssnuxoll6y ago0 comments

It would also make recovery of stolen devices easier. Refurbisher has Apple contact the owner, owner says it was stolen, person gets their equipment back.