Apple Proposes Way to See if a Device Has Been Tampered With

Apple has already implemented means of detecting if its devices have experienced liquid submersion – liquid sensors. However, through a recently published patent application, the Mac maker is now proposing a new way to let vendors know what exactly that returned device has endured.

"The system may include an interface by which a diagnostic device may access the memory to analyze the records and determine whether a consumer abuse event occurred, when the event occurred, and, in some embodiments, what type of abuse event occurred," the patent reads. "By providing the capability to quickly and easily detect whether consumer abuse occurred in an electronic device, a vendor or manufacturer diagnosing a returned product may be able to better determine whether or not to initiate a product return under a warranty policy."

In short, the new system would save information of damage, digitally, into memory. Seemingly, Apple has had just about enough hassle with defective iPhones, iPods and MacBooks that consumers have returned to the company, under warranty, citing malfunction.

"A problem arises when a device has failed due to consumer abuse which may not be readily apparent upon a cursory inspection, but a consumer attempts to return the device for repair or replacement under the warranty," the patent application reveals. "Often, particularly at a point of sale, personnel receiving the returned device may be unqualified or untrained to determine whether or not a device has failed due to manufacturing defects or due to consumer abuse."

Apple continues to outline that, in such a case, personnel often exchanges the returned product with a new one, “regardless of the cause of failure in order to avoid potential conflicts with the customer.” Apple even points out that customers receiving replacement products or repair services on abused products not covered under the terms of a warranty is not at all unheard of. As such, Apple proposes that these costly scenarios (for vendors) be eliminated through the implementation of said sensors to detect shock, humidity, temperature, etc.

What do you think of Apple’s initiative? Would you be alright with a device that records even the smallest bump, eventually giving you away with Apple’s support desk?