Among the great amount of news announced today, it is natural that some of them ended up not finding time in the keynote to win an ad with pomp and circumstance in front of the audience. One was a change made by Apple to its extended warranty plan, the AppleCare +.
Only the plan for iPhones has changed, and now a unitary repair of accidental damage costs $ 129 for the iPhones 7/7 Plus and $ 99 for all other iPhones on sale – in the past, older or cheaper models, like the iPhone SE, could be repaired for $ 79, a price option that no longer exists.
Despite the price increase, Apple added a new modality of repair referring exclusively to the replacement of the iPhone screen in question for just $ 29. Considering that most AppleCare + repairs have to do with broken screens, these are good news for those who choose to insure their precious new devices.
Apple stresses that AppleCare + does not cover liquid damage – not even on the new iPhones, which are water resistant. This is because, of course, the iPhones 7/7 Plus are not entirely waterproof like, for example, the Apple Watch Series 2; Apple even adds a related notice to the end of your promotional video. So, no taking underwater photos with that wonderful new dual camera system, with or without extended warranty.
Recalling that AppleCare + is not yet available for purchase in Brazil, but is already officially serviced in Apple stores nationwide.
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On a related topic, Apple needs to talk to us about the new and visually amazing shiny black color (jet black) of iPhones 7/7 Plus. And the news is not exactly encouraging: according to Tim Cook and his gang, the device in this finish “can” scratch.
A warning added to the footer of all pages related to iPhones 7/7 Plus on the Apple website states that, even though the back surface of shiny black devices is as hard as that of other ordinary aluminum iPhones, it is possible for the shine to show minor wear and scratches over time:
The high-gloss finish of the glossy black iPhone 7 is achieved through a specialized nine-step anodizing and polishing process. Its surface is as hard as that of other Apple anodized products; however, its shine may show fine micro-abrasions with use. If you are concerned about this, we suggest using one of the many cases available to protect your iPhone.
It’s an unexpectedly sincere attitude from Apple, but the information was certainly something to be expected – anyone who has owned an iPod with a stainless steel bottom, like me, knows that this type of surface scratches with a breath.
Putting a case on such a beautiful device, on the other hand, may be a bit of a nonsense (unless it is transparent, like the Nuance sold in the MM Store); so we’ll see if the impressive iPhone jet black will be successful with consumers even after this outbreak of Apple’s honesty.
[via MacRumors, 9to5Mac]
