Apple has distributed an internal document to the Apple stores and Apple Authorised Service Providers. The document has revealed that the third party DIY repair will no longer be possible on the 2018 MacBok Pros , the iMac and other future devices. The proprietary software is run on the repaired devices while it is connected to the Apple’s password protected servers or else it will be bricked and rendered inoperative.
Soon after getting the reports in hand Motherboard put the iFixit CEO Kyle Weins on phone, who explained “there’s two possible explanations: this is a continued campaign of obsolescence and they want to control the ecosystem and bring all repair into the network they control. Another is security, but I don’t see a security model that doesn’t trust the owner of the device making much sense.”
This was tested as iFixit went out and brought a brand new MacBook Pro and put it to test. It swapped the displays and logic board with the MaxBook Pro from the tear down but nothing happened. It was thus concluded that the secret repair kill by Apple is not yet activated. The document by Apple was first obtained by Motherboard and Mac Rumours and detailed that any device with the Apple’s new T2 security chip , the 2018 MacBook Pro and the iMac Pro will require the proprietary Apple Service Toolkit 2 (AST 2) system configuration Suit of Apple to function.
The repairs that require the AST 2 software to work include any that will replace the display assembly, keyboard, logic keyboard, touchpad, TouchID board of MacBook Pro and the logic board and flash storage of an iMac Pro. It will cover any serious repairs and all upgrades. The AST 2 software is given out very carefully under strict legal agreements and the repairer must connect to Apple’s Global Service Exchange cloud server to complete the repair.
Photo Credits: gadgets
