Macfixit Australia Blog

1. First, you will need to log into your user account.
https://www.macfixit.com.au/customer/account/login/

If you placed your order as a guest, you’ll need to follow the link below in order to create an account.
https://www.macfixit.com.au/index.php/GuestAccount/Front/AccountForm

2. Once you have reached the user dashboard, you will need to click on the product return link on the left hand side of the screen.

3. From this section you will be able to see your returns history and request a new product return. You can do this by clicking on the grey button that we’ve highlighted on the screenshot below.

4. Select the order that the item that you wish to return belongs to.

5. Once you’ve reached this area, you will find two information fields. Please check that the personal details in the “main information” box are correct. In the “products” box you will need to specify how many units you wish to return, the reason for returning them, and a quick description of the issue that you’ve encountered.

6. Click on the “Submit request” button.

7. Once this is done, a member of our staff will get back to you to confirm that you're eligible for the return. You will also receive an email asking you to log back into your account to print the appropriate documents.

Please note: we try to review all return requests within 48 hours. If you haven’t heard back from us after a week, please login to your account to check the status of your return. Alternatively you’re more than welcome to contact our support team at helpdesk@macfixit.com.au.

8. Once the status of your return has switched to “product return accepted”, please click on the “view” link on the right hand side.

9. Click on the “Print Product Return Form” button.

10. Please read the terms and conditions carefully, tick the “I Agree” box, and then the “Submit” button to print the documentation.

11. Pack your item safely with the relevant paperwork, and ship it to:

Return Department
Macfixit Australia
2 Lothian Street
North Melbourne
Victoria 3051

Please keep in mind that all returns must be sent out within the RMA validity period.

As always, please let us know if you have any issues doing this and we’ll be more than happy to give you a hand!

The release of iOS7 has given iCloud users the ability to prevent anyone from erasing or activating their iDevices without entering their Apple ID and password first.

This feature is designed to prevent mobile devices from being stolen and it has helped to reduce iPhone-related theft in Major cities. However it turned out to be an issue for the iPhone's second hand market. The feature must be disabled before a device is passed on or sold to another person. Failure to do so, renders the device unusable for the new owner.

From now on you can very easily check online if the device is locked before your purchase it. Just enter the IMEI or Serial number on this page. If the lock is ON you'll need to make sure the current user disable it by going to Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings. If the lock is OFF, you're good to go as the device can be erased by anyone.

Once again our good friends at iFixit have come all the way down to our office in North Melbourne to do their famous iPhone teardown.

Thanks to the magic of time zones,  Australia is the first country to have the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus release worldwide.  This is why iFixit flew from California to get their hands on the new phones on the very first hour of release.

You can follow their live teardown here.

If you need a case to protect yours you can find some here for the iPhone 6 or here for the iPhone 6 Plus.

Apple has begun an iPhone 5 Battery Replacement Program to replace the batteries of a small percentage of iPhone 5 units that have a faulty battery resulting in a shorter battery life and longer, more frequent charging times.

iPhone 5 devices exhibiting battery issues were sold between September of 2012 and January of 2013 and are eligible for a free battery replacement.

"Apple has determined that a very small percentage of iPhone 5 devices may suddenly experience shorter battery life or need to be charged more frequently. The affected iPhone 5 devices were sold between September 2012 and January 2013 and fall within a limited serial number range.

If your iPhone 5 is experiencing these symptoms and meets the eligibility requirements noted below, Apple will replace your iPhone 5 battery, free of charge."

Apple says the issue affects only a "limited serial number range." iPhone 5 users can input their serial numbers on Apple's replacement site to find out whether their phones need a new battery. Those who do have a faulty battery can get a replacement through an Apple Authorized Service Provider, an Apple Retail Store, or through Apple Technical support.

Users who already paid to replace their batteries will be eligible to receive a refund for the cost of the battery from Apple. Apple's support site says the program covers iPhone 5 batteries for two years after the first retail sale of the unit or until March 1, 2015, whichever provides longer coverage. Replacements will be available in Australia on August 29.

In addition to the new Battery Replacement Program, Apple also has a replacement program for iPhone 5 units that have a faulty sleep/wake button, which also provides repairs at no cost. Some iPhone 5s units have also experienced faulty battery life but Apple opted to reach out individually to affected users rather than implementing a replacement program for those devices.

Source : macrumors.com

This is a question that our customer service representatives get asked almost every week and there is a reason why. While most people know what SATA is, it get's quite confusing to differentiate between the different revisions of the interface, here is a quick explanation :

SATA I (revision 1.x) interface, formally known as SATA 1.5Gb/s, is the first generation SATA interface running at 1.5 Gb/s. The bandwidth throughput, which is supported by the interface, is up to 150MB/s.

This morning we've received some more photos of what should be the next iPhone (iPhone 6).

We believe the photos to be genuine, they are from a reliable source in China that has previously sent us photos of products that have proven to be legitimate after official Apple product launches.

In line with the previous shots, the Apple logo is cut out of the back cover.

This is probably to be used for an antenna and avoid interferences from the metal case.

The front side photos clearly show the Touch ID home button as well as what seems to be a relocated Power/Mute button. Moving it from the top to the edge make its accessibility easier as the device gets larger.

www.macfixit.com.au

Bit - A binary digit (either 0 or 1); it is the most basic unit of data that can be recognised and processed by a computer. 

Byte - A group of adjacent binary digits that a computer processes as a unit to form a character such as the letter "C". A byte consists of eight bits.

Cache - A small, but fast memory that transparently improves the performance of a larger, but slower memory or storage device.
The bigger the cache, the faster the drive.

Cookie - A small piece of information you may be asked to accept when connecting to certain servers via a web browser. It is used throughout your session as a means of identifying you. A cookie is specific to, and sent only to, the server that generated it.

Digitiser - A device used to convert analog signals into digital signals. In the case of a mobile phones, this device would be the glass that covers the LCD.
If the glass is shattered but the image underneath is still good then you just need to replace the Digitiser, not the LCD.

HDD (Hard Drive Disk) - A data storage device used for storing and retrieving digital information using rapidly rotating disks (platters) coated with magnetic material.
The most common form of storage out there. You can get inexpensive, large storage capacities using this technology.

LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) - Refers to the flat panel display, electronic visual display, or video display that uses liquid crystals to display an image with the help of a backlight.
The part that actually displays the image.

LED (Light-Emitting Diode) Display - A flat panel display, which uses an array of light-emitting diodes as a video display. It can also be used as the source of light to backlight an LCD.
The part behind the LCD that is needed to see the picture.

OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) - Designates a replacement part made by the manufacturer of the original part.

Refurbished - Refers to products that have been previously returned to a manufacturer or vendor for various reasons. Refurbished products are normally tested for functionality and defects before they are sold, and thus are the approximate equivalent of certified pre-owned cars. Synonymous with "used", "reconditioned", "remanufactured", "refreshed", "recycled", or "repaired”.

• Cases and Bags: Usually returned to the distributor after a change of mind return. Checked and repacked; warranty may vary.
• Computer, iPhone and iPad Replacement Parts: Usually the only parts we’re able to source. Either returned to factory, repaired and tested or removed from machines that have been deemed faulty for some other reason not related to the refurbished part. May have scratches and/or small dents.
• External Storage: Usually returned to the distributor after a change of mind. Tested and repacked; warranty may vary.
• Internal Hard Drive: Usually returned to the manufacturer after a fault, repaired and tested. Comes re-certified with a new warranty.

RMA (Return Merchandise Authorisation) - Also called Return Goods Authorisation (RGA) is a part of the process of returning a product in order to receive a repair, replacement or refund during the product's warranty period. The purchaser of the product must contact the manufacturer (or distributor or retailer) to obtain authorisation to return the product. The resulting RMA or RGA number must be displayed on or included in the returned product's packaging; no returns are accepted without this number.

RPM (Revolutions Per Minute) - A measure of the frequency of a rotation. It annotates the number of turns completed in one minute around a fixed axis.
The higher the RPM, the faster the drive. Lower RPM will be more quiet and preserve power.

SSD (Solid-State Drive) - A data storage device, sometimes called a solid-state disk or electronic disk, that uses integrated circuit assemblies as memory to store data persistently.
Very fast drive that will speed up any new or old computer.

Third Party - Designates a replacement part not made by the manufacturer of the original part.
A cheaper option than the OEM parts yet almost impossible to see any difference once installed.

We have just received from our contact in China a photo of what seems to be the back of an iPhone 6.

We believe the picture to be genuine as we have previously received leaked product pics in the past from the same source that have also proven to be legitimate after official Apple product launches.

Rumours claims that the iPhone 6 (due to be release later this year) is going to come in a larger size of 4.7" which fits the proportions of this photo.

As always Macfixit Australia will provide replacement parts and advices to help you fix your Apple device, so stick around people.

Other World Computing recently added a new 10TB capacity for the Mercury Elite Pro line of external dual-bay high performance storage enclosures, in addition to OWC’s existing collection of Thunderbolt interface storage products.

High Performance Two-Bay Design

The drive is available in up to a 10TB total storage capacity, adding tremendous storage and throughput to any computer with a Thunderbolt. Applications such as A/V post-production, music, graphics, data management, and Time Machine backups are bolstered, with data boosted to sustained rates of 442MB/s to read and 424MB/s to write.

Flexible To Your Needs

The drive supports individual access for two previously installed drives. This provides hardware RAID and works nicely with RAID 0, RAID 1, Span and Independent Modes. You have the option of choosing the best combination of speed, storage room and performance to fulfill your needs.

Convenient, Flexible RAID Settings

The Mercury Elite Pro Dual comes equipped for Plug-and-Play use in RAID 0, allowing it to “stripe” information across the two drives to create the highest-speed backup possible. A selector switch allows you to move into three other modes; RAID 1(real-time writing of information for live activity redundancy); Span (combines both drives into a one convenient volume); and Independent Mode (manage booth drives individually).

Compatible With Brand-New and Older Macs and PCs

With a USB 3.0 port included with two Thunderbolt ports and high-quality cables, the drive is easy to install and ready to go for most older Macs, along with 2013 models, and a variety of PCs. Transfer speeds of up to 442MB/s are provided and can be moved to different systems. This takes advantage of both its supported interfaces and its interoperability, which provides maximum backup performance and flexibility.

There are six Prosumer Models available with this product :

• 2.0TB 7200RPM ( 2 x 1.0 TB)
• 4.0TB7200 RPM ( 2 x 2.0 TB)
• 4.0 TB HDD/SSD Hybrid (2 x 2.0 TB Hybrid Drives)
• 6.0 TB 7200RPM (2 x 3.0 TB)
• 8.0 TB 7200RPM (2 x 4.0 TB)
• 10.0 TB 7200RPM (2 x 5.0 TB)

There is also an "Add Your Own Drives"available.

All Pro Dual models come ready for use with connecting cables, a disk utility software bundle and an industry-leading three-year warranty.

Both the Apple Mac and the Personal Computer blueprint are doing away with optical drives. Computers are beginning to look different, instead of all the integrated equipment that one usually associates with a computer, computers are becoming merely screens, keyboards, a charging ports and one Universal Serial Bus (or USB) port. Some users may believe that they need nothing more. However, as with most technological ‘advances’, you may lose much by discarding the old completely and rushing to embrace the new and may want to add a little something to your cutting edge computing technology.

There is a way to enjoy using a computer, which combines the best of the old with some exciting new features. The Newer Tech Mini Stack MAX has an optical drive, which you can use as a Blu-ray DVD/CD drive. It also features an enclosure, housing a hard drive, with a huge capacity, a USB hub and an SD card reader. Those wanting storage, connectivity easy transfer for photos and video, simple plug and play, ability to quickly charge iPhones and other digital devices and the convenience of an optical drive will find it all in the Mini Stack MAX.

Although originally designed to accompany Apple Mac mini, the Mini stack MAX also offers personal computer owners similar advantages. It is small and compact. Its chic design complements any PC or Mac. The Mini Stack MAX allows you to completely reboot and back up your data. The three USB ports allow you to power and charge external digital devices and the SD card reader gives you a quick and easy way to transfer photographs and video from digital cameras or smart phones.

Owners of new computers, needing greater hard drive space, a DVD, CD, or Blu-ray computer connection or more ports would be advised to consider the Mini stack MAX. It provides the only four in one solution currently available. The Newer Tech Mini Stack MAX provides all the necessary technology in a compact, practical way. Personal computers and Macs continue to evolve and you can throw out the bathwater and keep the baby or in other words have the new technology along with the best of the old.