Mobile phones engineered 'not to last'

[theducks]

Originally Posted by Quexos

My father had a Philips electric shaver which he got in the 70's and I remember how after 20 years it was still working fine. Mine is not even 2 years old and though it sill works, it's already showing signs of diminished performances as I must rub my face much more with it to get the job fully done...

Companies are screwing us with built-in obsolescence, everybody knows it but since we live in a "corporo-cracy" nobody will ever do anything about it. If people try to defend their interests like they do in cases of downloaded stuff (so called piracy), everybody frowns upon them like good little brain-washed consumers that they are.

Some mechanical devices need maintenance even if they claim 'no serviceable parts'. I have repacked the gears in my 20+ year old Norelco shaver a couple of times. The grease had hardened both times causing slowness (and would lead to motor burnout in the long run)

Modern Electronics does tend to run longer without service.
TV's of the 50's had tubes (valves to you folk on the other side ) that deteriorated/failed frequently. Radio/TV stores had frequently 'Tube Checkers' available in the customer area because of this need.
Now days, a 10 year old TV that still works (without service) is not uncommon.
---
A word to those running Permanently Dead Battery devices on the power mains. Those 'dead' batteries can overheat while trying to still charge. remove/replace the battery to be fire safe.

[Cyberman tM]

Originally Posted by drofgnal

Planned obsolescence is a fact in the coporate world. There is always a trade off where one has to consider the cost of a new unit vs the development of a unit that will last longer.

I agree with the second sentence, but not with the first.
"Planned obsolescence" in the conspiracy world means someone in the company sitting behind a desk, twirling his mustache thinking of new ways to create a device that will break one day after the warranty runs out.

[silverraven]

I was told by the refrigerator repair guy that appliances are made to not last as long. I had told him my previous washer/dryer was 35 years old, still chugging along, but getting a little unreliable. OK, a lot unreliable, my husband was doing repairs on it once a month. I had gotten new ones. He told me I would be lucky if they last 12 years, especially the front load models. Fridges have a life span of 8 years. He said the reason behind this is because people want new, they want to redecorate/replace much more often than in the past. So why make appliances to last if they will just be replaced in 8 years anyhow.
Now I have no idea if this is a fact or not, but it does make sense. Think of our parents/grandparents. How often did they get a new couch just because they wanted a gray one instead of a brown one? Or gut their kitchen just to get different cabinets. Same with cars, you kept them till they died. And they were relatively easy to repair. It's not like that any more. People get 3 year leases and a new car at the end of it. I think the 'gotta have the latest greatest' bug is much more prevalent than it used to be.
I don't know if it is good or bad to replace things every few years. On one hand it keeps manufacturers busy. On the other hand, for people like me who want to keep major purchases for a long long time, it ends up costing me more to replace things over and over and over.
Oh, and I drive a 1995 car. It's got 50,000 miles on it. Yup, I don't drive a lot. I'm hoping it will last me anther 10 years. Or better yet, at what age do cars become antiques?
S

[Apache]

Originally Posted by Quexos

My father had a Philips electric shaver which he got in the 70's and I remember how after 20 years it was still working fine. Mine is not even 2 years old and though it sill works, it's already showing signs of diminished performances as I must rub my face much more with it to get the job fully done...

Companies are screwing us with built-in obsolescence, everybody knows it but since we live in a "corporo-cracy" nobody will ever do anything about it. If people try to defend their interests like they do in cases of downloaded stuff (so called piracy), everybody frowns upon them like good little brain-washed consumers that they are.

I bought a Red LED Digital Alarm Clock in 1975. I have been using it continuously since then. It still works like new.
Apache

[RDaneel54]

I can't see a company that wants to stay in business planning for their products to fail. It is illogical especially in the highly competitive world economy of today.

Building cheaply made items is different. More of a rush to the bottom. I can see where some products and manufacturers looking for a quick profit might go there. I cannot see that being a long term strategy for success.

My contrarian example is cars. The cars of today last much longer and go farther than the cars I was buying 30 - 40 years ago. I expect to get at least 200,000 miles out of a new car today. That would have been a preposterous expectation 30 years ago.

My current car has over 140,000 miles at 9 years of age and I have every intention of keeping it for several more years.

I see a disposable mentality in the culture of the United States (where I live). We buy new products not so much for need, but desire. I am that way about my mobile electronics, but little else.

Dean

[Catlady]

Technology keeps getting cheaper and better. Generally, I don't much mind if my devices don't last beyond a few years, because in a few years there's something better available. The TV I bought last year cost less than a TV half the size that I bought seven years ago. Every computer I've purchased has cost less than the previous one, and been a significant upgrade.

With tech I'm often kind of glad that things don't last overlong, so I have an excuse to upgrade! I'm basically frugal and don't generally upgrade just for the sake of having something new and shiny.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by RDaneel54

I can't see a company that wants to stay in business planning for their products to fail. It is illogical especially in the highly competitive world economy of today.

But it happens; and here's a good example.

Back in 2010, Apple released the iPhone 4 (Jun) and the iPod touch 4 (Sep). Both got the same A4 chip, but the RAM was different. The iPhone got 512MB and the iPod got 256MB.

Fast forward to Sep 2013 when iOS 7 was released. The iPhone 4 received the upgrade, but not the iPod touch 4. The reason, it didn't have enough RAM. So the iPod was left behind, stuck on iOS 6.

Fast forward again to now and this thread --> Orphaned apps on iOS6. Now developers are leaving iOS 6 behind. That's only natural as technology advances. Unfortunately for iPod touch 4 owners, many apps are now requiring iOS 7 and up. Older versions remain available, but without updates.

So, planned obsolescence? You bet, Apple deliberately made the decision to have the iPod touch 4 stop receiving iOS updates sooner than the iPhone 4. It made that decision when it shorted the iPod 256MB of RAM.

[Penforhire]

That software upgrade complaint is mostly bogus to me. Look at the added functions, that require more processing power (e.g. transparency) or specific hardware (e.g. motion coprocessor), and it isn't so surprising that older handsets are incapable.

The only real bogus software issue to me is when older revisions do not get security updates, leaving them vulnerable to new exploits. Otherwise those older smart phones could keep on keeping on with their end-of-life OS.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by Penforhire

That software upgrade complaint is mostly bogus to me. Look at the added functions, that require more processing power (e.g. transparency) or specific hardware (e.g. motion coprocessor), and it isn't so surprising that older handsets are incapable.

The only real bogus software issue to me is when older revisions do not get security updates, leaving them vulnerable to new exploits. Otherwise those older smart phones could keep on keeping on with their end-of-life OS.

Whose post(s) are you referring to?

[RDaneel54]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

But it happens; and here's a good example.

Back in 2010, Apple released the iPhone 4 (Jun) and the iPod touch 4 (Sep). Both got the same A4 chip, but the RAM was different. The iPhone got 512MB and the iPod got 256MB.

Fast forward to Sep 2013 when iOS 7 was released. The iPhone 4 received the upgrade, but not the iPod touch 4. The reason, it didn't have enough RAM. So the iPod was left behind, stuck on iOS 6.

Fast forward again to now and this thread --> Orphaned apps on iOS6. Now developers are leaving iOS 6 behind. That's only natural as technology advances. Unfortunately for iPod touch 4 owners, many apps are now requiring iOS 7 and up. Older versions remain available, but without updates.

So, planned obsolescence? You bet, Apple deliberately made the decision to have the iPod touch 4 stop receiving iOS updates sooner than the iPhone 4. It made that decision when it shorted the iPod 256MB of RAM.

I can see what you mean, but does the iPod Touch 4 still work as it was designed? I'd think that the answer is yes.

I have an old iPod Nano (2nd generation). No OS upgrade, but it still does everything it was designed to do - very well. I'm perfectly happy with it and have not seen a reason to upgrade. That is a product that was not designed to fail. It is not obsolete for me; it still plays music, podcasts, etc. Since I never expected any upgrades to its software, I am not disappointed. I got an excellent device that has lasted longer than I had hoped. Apple still provides troubleshooting literature, manual, etc on their website. While several generations of more complex iPod Nanos have been produced, this early Nano still continues working. Planned obsolescence/failure is not even close to what Apple's design plans appear to be to me.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by RDaneel54

I can see what you mean, but does the iPod Touch 4 still work as it was designed? I'd think that the answer is yes.

It does; but less than the iPhone 4. As long as older versions of the apps remain available, it'll still function; but it'll be missing the newer features that app upgrades provide.

My point was Apple's decision to release the iPod touch 4 with less RAM than the iPhone 4. That guaranteed that the iPt4 would be stopped on the upgrade path sooner than the iPh4.

[Cyberman tM]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

My point was Apple's decision to release the iPod touch 4 with less RAM than the iPhone 4. That guaranteed that the iPt4 would be stopped on the upgrade path sooner than the iPh4.

It also guaranteed lower build cost. Not giving it twice the memory may not be much, but how many devices did apple sell? Summed up, it probably is enough to make someone somewhere decide that it's worth saving.

Being able to give customers another reason to switch device after a few years (when most will switch anyway) is just the icing.

[Barty]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

It does; but less than the iPhone 4. As long as older versions of the apps remain available, it'll still function; but it'll be missing the newer features that app upgrades provide.

My point was Apple's decision to release the iPod touch 4 with less RAM than the iPhone 4. That guaranteed that the iPt4 would be stopped on the upgrade path sooner than the iPh4.

A new iPhone costs, what, $600+ unsubsidized. An iPod touch costs a little less, no?

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by Barty

A new iPhone costs, what, $600+ unsubsidized. An iPod touch costs a little less, no?

An additional 256MB of RAM is just a few dollars. Remember, the iPod touch was already inferior to the iPhone 4. It had a cheaper display, cheaper cameras, cheaper build, no GPS, etc.

[crich70]

Originally Posted by mpeg2

This may not be solely due to corporate planning. It seems that we've had a part in this too - with the primary trend in deciding what to buy based primarily on lowest price. If we put emphasis on price rather than longevity in our purchase selections, then companies will engineer the price point of their products downwards to remain competitive. The primary way to do this is in less expensive components that simply don't last as long.

Rich

And we've gotten spoiled for new gadgets every yr or so. And some of it is the fact that the new has to be brought out eventually as a finished product. Before you even get that new computer out of the store, much less out of the box there is already going to be a new computer that does the same job faster being designed if not shipped out to a warehouse in time for the next time for the 'new' computers to be delivered to the stores. Back when typewriters were still the big thing they had the same time delays. By time the typewriters were in the stores their platens (the round cylinder that the paper is held against while you type) was already getting hard because rubber hardens over time. So the 1st thing you had to do with the new typewriter was to take it in to have it treated with Fedron (I think I spelled it right but it's been a while since college) to soften up the rubber on the platen again.