Apple Is Locking Down Both New And Old iPhone 4s With Tamper-Proof Torx Screws

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The new MacBook Air is Apple’s least self-repairable notebook yet, thoroughly bolted down by proprietary Torx screws, but if you thought that was just an anomaly, think again: Apple’s so averse to you cracking open your iPhone that they are actually retrofitting proprietary screws into iPhone 4’s brought in for in-warranty servicing.

When the original iPhone 4 was released, the screws on the bottom of the device were easy to remove. Combined with the white iPhone 4’s indefinite delay, this has helped allow a cottage industry of DIY white iPhone 4 conversion kits to thrive.

Apple’s now stamping down on that by making the iPhone 4 that much harder to take apart. Not only are they fitting the screws into old iPhone 4s taken in for servicing, but new iPhone 4s being purchased in stores also now contain their own anti-tampering screws.

The trend seems cynical: not only does Apple not want you to be able to repair or upgrade your Apple products without paying them an overly high servicing fee, but they don’t even want you to be able to get the white iPhone 4 that they in all probability will never release.

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