Apple is a well-known for its product quality and brilliant designing. Apple's Senior Vice President Jonathan Ive once said,"Apple focuses on quality products, not money."; however, the quality of Apple products seems slipping recently. On January 29, Apple issued a global recall for AC power adaptors for electrical shock risk. Two weeks later, Apple launched another replacement of USB-C Charge Cable.
Photo courtesy: Kcida10 Retrieved Feb 15, 2016 from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:USB_Type-C_macbook.png
According to Apple, a "limited number" of USB-C cables of Retina MacBook that sold between April of 2015 and June 2015 could fail due to an unspecified "design issue." As a result, a MacBookmay not charge or only charge intermittently when it's charged with the affected cable. Hence, Apple launched a replacement with new, redesigned USB-C charge cable to all eligible customers.
Affected cables can be identified by the labeling“Designed by Apple in California. Assembled in China.” Redesigned cables can be identified by the same text and followed by a serial number.
Affected cable
Redesigned cable
Photo courtesy: Apple Retrieved Feb 15, 2016 from http://www.apple.com/support/usbc-chargecable/
Customers will automatically receive new cables if they supplied a valid address, while the other eligible MacBook owners can contact Apple Support, or find an Apple Authorized Service Provider, or visit an Apple retail store to get their cables replaced. Affected USB-C charge cables can be replaced under this program until June 8, 2018.
Electronic devices should be trustworthy, safe and issue free; however, even leading companies like Microsoft and Apple cannot avoid having faculty products. The potential reason may result from outsourcing. The product manufacturing often take place in developing countries such as India and China, and entrusted manufacturers there would outsource their work to the other manufactures. After several outsourcing, the product quality decreased to the minimum. This phenomenon may can explain several product recalls recently. To solve this, we have long way to go.
Reference:
http://www.macrumors.com/2016/02/12/macbook-usb-c-cable-replacement-program/
http://www.engadget.com/2016/02/12/apple-is-replacing-usb-c-cables-that-shipped-with-early-macbooks/
https://www.apple.com/support/usbc-chargecable/