Vintage camera repairers, mostly older and nearing retirement, are facing a future where their skills may be lost as fewer new technicians enter the field, raising concerns about the preservation of film camera repair expertise. Younger repairmen like Daniel Ward are optimistic about technological solutions like 3D printing to address parts shortages, and some believe film photography will persist even as digital fades.
Williams Racing has announced a new livery for the Las Vegas Grand Prix, despite rumors they might miss the race due to a shortage of spare parts following multiple crashes in recent races. The team, supported by sponsor Keeper Security, is determined to participate and will offer fans customized tote bags and VIP appearances. Team Principal James Vowles acknowledged the challenges but remains hopeful about their performance in Las Vegas.
Google has announced that it will stock spare parts for the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro for seven years, in addition to providing seven years of upgrades. This commitment aligns with the potential right-to-repair law in California, which would require companies to offer spare parts for at least seven years. Google's promise also includes OS, security, and Feature Drop updates until 2030.
Russian airlines, including Ural Airlines, Norwdind Airlines, S7, and Aeroflot, have imported $1.2 billion worth of spare parts for Western aircraft from third-party suppliers between May 2022 and June 2023, despite sanctions aimed at restricting such imports. The parts, including devices made by Northrop Grumman, cabin pressure valves, cockpit displays, landing gear, and water filters, are crucial for maintaining the airworthiness of Russia's fleet of 541 Boeings, Airbuses, and other Western-made planes. The suppliers are located in China, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Moldova, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan. The initial shock of the sanctions led to the development of new supply channels, reducing prices and delivery times, and mitigating some of the issues faced by Russian airlines in maintaining their aircraft.
Sweden plans to provide a new military support package to Ukraine worth $313.5 million, consisting mainly of ammunition and spare parts for previously delivered weapon systems. This will be Sweden's 13th aid package to Ukraine since the start of the war, bringing the total value of their assistance to approximately $1.8 billion.
Logitech has partnered with iFixit to launch a self-repair program that will allow customers to repair their devices using genuine Logitech replacement parts and batteries. The program will begin this summer in the US with support for two popular accessories. The initiative is part of a broader trend in recent years, with companies like Apple, Google, and Samsung launching similar programs to cut down on e-waste and potentially save customers money.
Logitech has partnered with iFixit to reduce e-waste and help customers repair their own out-of-warranty Logitech hardware by supplying spare parts, batteries, and repair guides for select products. The iFixit Logitech Repair Hub will house everything, with parts available to purchase as needed or within Fix Kits that provide everything needed to complete the repair. Starting this summer, Logitech's MX Master and MX Anywhere mouse models will be the first products to receive spare parts.
Fairphone has launched its user-repairable wireless headphones, Fairbuds XL, with a modular design that allows easy access to spare parts. The headphones have 11 modular parts, including left and right speaker modules, a cable connecting the speakers, and a headband cover. Fairphone may start selling spare printed circuit boards, buttons, and microphones if demand warrants. The company will sell Fairbuds XL modules through the Fairbuds App and work with customers to provide support or contact with a repair partner. However, Fairphone is unsure how long it will have parts for the headphones in stock and has opted for a two-year warranty instead of its typical five-year warranty for phones.
Ukrainian troops have repurposed captured Russian T-80 tanks from the 1st Guards Tank Army, but face logistical issues as Russian tanks are designed for Russian forces and require a stream of parts from Russian factories to keep them running. While Ukraine needs tanks, ammunition and other spare parts are higher priorities. Ukraine also needs armored vehicles to carry infantry into battle, as large numbers of immobile infantry might work for a defense-in-depth strategy but not for going on the offensive. Ukraine does need Western tanks, for which a reliable supply of spare parts and ammunition will be available.
