Several days ago, iFixit posted a teardown of the next-gen Apple TV. This product goes for sale later this year; the only access to the hardware was via the Apple TV Developer Kit program, via which Apple shipped Apple TVs to developers who entered a lottery.
Turns out, Apple isn’t the hugest fan of this move, as Kyle Wiens is the co-founder and CEO of iFixit explains:
Not too long ago, we tore down the Apple TV and Siri Remote. The developer unit we disassembled was sent to us by Apple. Evidently, they didn’t intend for us to take it apart. But we’re a teardown and repair company; teardowns are in our DNA—and nothing makes us happier than figuring out what makes these gadgets tick. We weighed the risks, blithely tossed those risks over our shoulder, and tore down the Apple TV anyway.
A few days later, we got an email from Apple informing us that we violated their terms and conditions—and the offending developer account had been banned. Unfortunately, iFixit’s app was tied to that same account, so Apple pulled the app as well. Their justification was that we had taken “actions that may hinder the performance or intended use of the App Store, B2B Program, or the Program.”
As MacRumors points out, many developers shared photos and information about the device (including a source we had for a recent episode of Connected).
I think Apple’s move here is probably a touch harsh, but what did iFixit think was going to happen? While I’m sure Apple is unhappy about any leaks, taking a device apart weeks before it goes on sale is more than just some Instagrams of the crazy new remote.