Apple users angered over 'staingate' screen damage - BBC News

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "Apple users angered over 'staingate' screen damage - BBC News"

Nathaniel Black
5 years ago
Views:

News Sport Weather Shop Earth Travel More Home Video World US & Canada UK Business Tech Science Technology Apple users angered over 'staingate' screen damage By Zoe Kleinman Technology

1 News Sport Weather Shop Earth Travel More Home Video World US & Canada UK Business Tech Science Technology Apple users angered over 'staingate' screen damage By Zoe Kleinman Technology reporter, BBC News 8 hours ago Technology The "staingate" group is building up a gallery of damaged screens Thousands of Apple Macbook owners are campaigning for 1 of 9 7/10/15 11:20 AM

2 action over reported issues with the laptop's retina screen. They are reporting "horrific stains" spreading across screens, in the forms of spots and patches. Phi Chong, a software engineer, told the BBC he has had to replace his screen twice in the last two years. He said he had been told Apple would not carry out further screen repairs. The firm told the BBC users should contact its Apple support centre. One Macbook repair specialist indicated that this was not a common problem. But users who have been affected are concerned they will face expensive service fees once their warranties and/or extended AppleCare protection plans expire. "My last screen replacement had its anti-reflective coating start peeling off within a month," said Phi Chong. "I'm worried it will start peeling again after my AppleCare has expired." Campaign group A website called "Staingate" has been set up by a group unhappy with Apple's response. Some of them say they have been told they will have to pay $800 ( 519) for repair work, the Staingate website states. A Facebook group formed by people experiencing problems with their Macbook screens has 1,752 members, and Staingate claims to have been contacted by more than 2,500 people so far. US legal firm Whitfield Bryson & Mason has contacted the Facebook group offering to investigate. 2 of 9 7/10/15 11:20 AM

The group has also set up a petition on the Change.org website which asks Apple chief executive Tim Cook to "take immediate action" to address the issue.

3 The group has also set up a petition on the Change.org website which asks Apple chief executive Tim Cook to "take immediate action" to address the issue. Some people say problems with the screen can start appearing within a few months of purchasing the laptops, with the 13in (33cm) screen version retailing at ($1,181 - $1,575) on the Apple UK website. While many people on the Facebook page are reporting that Apple stores around the world - including in Berlin, Hong Kong, Jersey and New Zealand - are agreeing to carry out free screen repairs outside the warranty period, others said they had been told it was "cosmetic damage", which is not usually covered. Apple has not confirmed whether there is an issue with the screens, or what might be causing the damage. Its 2013 models seem to be worst affected, but there are online forums discussing the problem dating back to "Customers who experience problems with their Apple products should contact AppleCare," a spokesperson told the BBC. 3 of 9 7/10/15 11:20 AM

4 AJ Forsythe, founder and chief executive of the Silicon Valley-based screen repair firm icracked told the BBC it was not an issue that had come to his company's attention in the 11 countries in which it operates. "We generally see that when people buy a $2,000 computer or a 700 ipad they take really good care of it for the first couple of months and then it becomes an extension of their lives," he said. "It's not necessarily the user's fault... but it's incredibly hard to build a product that can withstand millions of real-world usages. "I'd be interested to see what happens on the manufacturer's side." Share this story About sharing More on this story Computer museum seeks BBC Micro fixers 29 June 2015 Apple says bent iphones are 'rare' 25 September 2014 HP recalls more than six million power cords 27 August 2014 Dell users: Latitude 6430u laptops 'smell of cat urine' 30 October 2013 Batman: Arkham Knight PC sales suspended 25 June of 9 7/10/15 11:20 AM

The BBC is not responsible for the content

Teenager sentenced over web attack Top US

campaigner Bowden mourned 54 minutes ago 1

2015 Technology More Videos from the BBC

dock Building a Spitfire with ebay parts

5 Related Internet links Apple icracked Whitfield Bryson & Mason Staingate group The BBC is not responsible for the content of external Internet sites Technology Teenager sentenced over web attack Top US official quits after hack UK privacy campaigner Bowden mourned 54 minutes ago 1 hour ago Technology US & Canada 10 July 2015 Technology More Videos from the BBC US judge recognises old school friend in dock Building a Spitfire with ebay parts Tsipras: 'We need an agenda for growth' 5 of 9 7/10/15 11:20 AM

Libya jet skims heads in very low fly-by Recommended by Outbrain 'Vauxhall cannibals' caught on CCTV 'Chemsex' drug: 'I felt so ashamed'

museum jug smash boy's family 'thrilled' BBC News The office rules that drive us crazy BBC Capital Live tiny, save big BBC Capital The

killing nine black churchgoers in South Carolina last month was able to buy a gun due to a background check failure, the FBI says.

6 Libya jet skims heads in very low fly-by Recommended by Outbrain 'Vauxhall cannibals' caught on CCTV 'Chemsex' drug: 'I felt so ashamed' Elsewhere on BBC 'How I found out my partner was gay' BBC News Damon Albarn removed from stage after five-hour show BBC News Ipswich museum jug smash boy's family 'thrilled' BBC News The office rules that drive us crazy BBC Capital Live tiny, save big BBC Capital The hydrogen BMW i8 is pure evil BBC Autos Recommended by Outbrain Top Stories FBI: Mistake allowed Roof to have gun The man accused of killing nine black churchgoers in South Carolina last month was able to buy a gun due to a background check failure, the FBI says. 34 minutes ago Greece EU debt plan to go before MPs 1 hour ago Film star Omar Sharif dies aged 83 3 hours ago Features & Analysis 6 of 9 7/10/15 11:20 AM

Cockney rebels Confederate flags spotted

blew up Quaalude menace The prescription

7 Cockney rebels Confederate flags spotted around the world The ketamine fortress How a Chinese village flooded the world with a lethal drug Harper Lee fever Will Go Set a Watchman live up to the hype? International rescue How dogs from California are saving lives around the world Under attack When the UK was bombed nightly for eight months 3:21 Living the dream The young entrepreneur with Down's Syndrome 7 days quiz Which country has warned against taking dangerous selfies? 'Never threaten!' How an Iranian diplomat's outburst blew up Quaalude menace The prescription drug that was misused and then disappeared Most Popular Read Watched Top US official quits after hack 1 Faulty checks on Charleston suspect 6 7 of 9 7/10/15 11:20 AM

8 S Carolina rebel flag taken down 2 Crowds honour US football heroes 3 Film star Omar Sharif dies aged 83 4 The rise and fall of Quaaludes 5 'Baby Doe' photo captivates millions 7 Confederate flags spotted outside the US German man held over double shooting 8 9 Militants killed in Tunisia mountains 10 From Around the Web Young Millionaires Flock to Wealthfront (Wealthfront on TechCrunch) Reviewer Can't Find the Catch with Dell's XPS 13 (Gizmodo) Attendees Where Blown Away By a Drone Company Competing at the Northside Innovation Festival (Dell Power More) 30 feet & over 600 pounds - don't mess with this animal! (National Geographic) Reinventing Google for a Mobile World (The New York Times) Here's The Insanely Popular Sweatshirt that has 4-Month Wait List (Slate) Promoted content by Outbrain BBC News Services On your mobile On your connected TV Get news alerts Contact BBC News 8 of 9 7/10/15 11:20 AM

9 Explore the BBC News Weather Earth Capital Autos TV CBBC WW1 iwonder Music Local Sport Shop Travel Culture Future Radio CBeebies Food Bitesize Nature Terms of Use Privacy Policy Accessibility Help About the BBC Cookies Parental Guidance Contact the BBC Copyright 2015 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. 9 of 9 7/10/15 11:20 AM

Sage software firm hit by data breach

News Sport Weather Shop Earth Travel Home Video World US & Canada UK Business Tech Science Business Market Data Markets Economy Companies Sage software firm hit by data breach 14 August 2016 Business Share