• Contact
  • Advertising
  • Submit an Article
Computer & Apple, iPhone, iPod, iPad news, reviews, tutorials & hacks Watch TechGeec on YouTube Follow TechGeec on Twitter Like TechGeec on Facebook Donate via PayPal Subscribe via RSS Image Map

Computer, Jailbreak & iPhone, iPod, iPad tutorials, hacks, reviews & news

  • Home
  • Articles
  • Videos
  • iOS Info
screwgate

Screwgate: Apple Begins Changing Screws on iPhone 4

Posted on January 20, 2011 by David

Apple has always preferred their products to remain their products even after they have been sold. For example, Apple continues to play the “cat and mouse” game with the iPhone Dev-Team to try to prevent jailbreaking as well as pouncing on companies who sell white iPhone 4 conversion kits. This common behavior in Apple has shown once again as they now replace the common #00 Phillips screws used in many of their products, specifically the iPhone 4, with new 5-pointed tamper-resistant pentalobe screws. These are extremely uncommon and are meant to keep iPhone 4 users out of their phones. Some might argue that it’s their products and that they should use whatever products they feel work best. The problem isn’t necessarily that they are producing new iPhone 4s with these screws, but that when customers bring their iPhone 4s into Apple stores for repairs, they are returned with these new screws in place. Also, if your warranty has expired or had been voided, you will need to perform these upgrades yourself. While in some cases you shouldn’t be tampering with the internals of your iPhone, it’s your phone and if you need to do a repair on it, with these new screws you simply can’t.

If for some reason you need to remove these tamper-resistant screws, the drivers are not only rare but expensive. In response to this, iFixit has created a $9.95 “iPhone 4 Liberation Kit“, which contains a Pentalobular driver to remove the new screws, two #00 Phillips screws to replace them with, and a corresponding Philips driver. The only downside, however, is that removing the Pentalobular screws may cause them to be unusable; but in the end, that’s essentially the whole point of replacing them.

  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
This entry was posted in Uncategorized and tagged 2009, apple, driver, iphone 4, macbook pro, mod, new, pentalobe, remove, replace, screw, torx. Bookmark the permalink

3 Responses to Screwgate: Apple Begins Changing Screws on iPhone 4

  1. Joshua says:
    February 7, 2011 at 5:41 AM

    If a star screw keeps you out of the iPhone then I wouldn't recommended opening it in the first place. :)

    Log in to Reply
    • TechGeec says:
      February 7, 2011 at 6:54 AM

      I understand what you're saying. It's the idea that's getting people upset, though.

      Log in to Reply
  2. A10 says:
    July 12, 2011 at 1:37 AM

    it just happen to me for starting up a contract not even servicing the phone

    Log in to Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

  • Watch Our Technology Videos on YouTube!

  • Donate


    Help support the TechGeec platform by dropping us a little donation. Every penny counts!

  • Affiliates

  • Tech Tip

    If you ever lose your iPhone's USB Cable or wall charger, check for the cell phone accessories online as they're often much less expensive than in retail stores.
  • Tags

    1g 2g 3g 3gs 4 4.0 4g 2010 2011 app apple application case cydia easy event fast firmware free hack how to ios ipad iPhone ipod ipod touch itunes jailbreak mac new news os pc protect redsn0w release review steve jobs techgeec touch tutorial update verizon wifi windows
  • About

    TechGeec is a producer of technology related videos and articles within the fields of news, reviews, tutorials and hacks. The subject matter has a strong focus on computer (Mac and Windows) tutorials and hacks as well as iDevice jailbreaking content.
  • Featured Video

  • On YouTube

  • Connect with us:
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • YouTube
  • Subscribe
  • © Copyright 2012 TechGeec.com. All Rights Reserved.
  • Log in