“The chairman of a U.S. Senate committee overseeing business issues asked Apple Inc to answer questions about its disclosure that it slowed older iPhones with flagging batteries, according to a letter seen by Reuters on Wednesday,” David Shepardson reports for Reuters. “The California-based company apologized over the issue on Dec. 28, cut battery replacement costs and said it will change its software to show users whether their phone battery is good.”
“Senator John Thune, a Republican who chairs the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, said in a Jan. 9 letter to Apple Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook that ‘the large volume of consumer criticism leveled against the company in light of its admission suggests that there should have been better transparency,'” Shepardson reports. “Thune asked if Apple considered making free battery replacements available or if it explored offering rebates for customers who paid full price for replacement batteries.”
“He also wants to know if Apple notified consumers of the throttling feature in software updates, which slows the phone, and if customers had the option of declining the update. The letter also asked if similar software was used in earlier iPhone models,” Shepardson reports. “Thune wants Apple’s answers by Jan. 23.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: As do we.
Why didn’t Apple publicly disclose CPU throttling of iOS devices with aging batteries so that consumers would know that an inexpensive battery replacement would restore performance vs. buying a whole new device? – MacDailyNews, January 9, 2018
As has almost always been the case with Apple, unfortunately, transparency comes later, not sooner, and usually as a reaction to negative publicity. A simple Knowledge Base article would have preempted all of this Reddit sleuthing and the attendant handwringing and erroneous presumptions. — MacDailyNews, December 20, 2017
Apple should provide a toggle switch in Settings where users specify if they’d like to keep running at high processor speeds even if it means rapid shutdowns or if they’d like to run at lower processors speeds to accommodate an aging battery that requires replacement. — MacDailyNews, December 27, 2017
Again, it’s Apple’s lack of communication that is the problem here. If Apple had clearly explained what was going on in the software, we’d know to recommend a battery replacement when users complained their older iPhones were getting “slow.” As it was, we were pretty much left to assume that the processor/RAM wasn’t up to par with demands of newer iOS releases and we’d naturally recommend getting a new iPhone. – MacDailyNews, December 29, 2017
SEE ALSO:
French prosecutor launches probe into Apple planned obsolescence – January 8, 2018
Apple’s design decisions and iPhone batteries – January 8, 2018
Apple now faces over two dozen lawsuits for ‘purposefully’ or ‘secretly’ slowing down older iPhones – January 5, 2018
Why aging batteries don’t slow down Android phones like Apple iPhones – January 5, 2018
Apple’s $29 replacement batteries expected to hurt new iPhone sales – January 4, 2018
How to see if Apple’s throttling your iPhone – January 4, 2018
Brazilian agency requires Apple to inform consumers on batteries – January 3, 2018
Analyst: Apple’s ‘batterygate’ solution may mean 16 million fewer iPhones sold this year – January 3, 2018
An Apple conspiracy theory blooms – January 2, 2018
Apple clarifies policy on $29 battery replacements: All iPhone 6 and later devices are eligible – January 2, 2018
Why Apple’s response to iPhone ‘batterygate’ is brilliant – December 30, 2017
Australian lawyers to launch largest-ever class action against Apple over iPhone ‘batterygate’ – December 29, 2017
The most annoying things about Apple’s iPhone ‘batterygate’ apology – December 29, 2017
iFixit discounts iPhone battery replacement kits as Apple cuts prices, apologizes for the confusion – December 29, 2017
15 class action lawsuits filed against Apple for throttling iPhones with aging batteries – December 29, 2017
Apple apologizes for poor communication about iPhone batteries and performance; slashes battery replacement cost from $79 to $29 – December 28, 2017
No, Apple’s throttling of iPhones with aging batteries is not planned obsolescence – December 28, 2017
Apple execs face jail in France after lawsuit over slowing down iPhones – December 28, 2017
Korea seeks explanation from Apple for slowing down devices without warning – December 28, 2017
Apple now facing 8 lawsuits over throttling processors in iPhones with aging batteries – December 27, 2017
Apple tarnished their brand with clandestine iPhone battery management and processor throttling – December 27, 2017
Should Apple replace aging iPhone batteries for free instead of throttling processor speed? – December 21, 2017
Apple confirms iPhones with older batteries will take hits in performance – December 20, 2017
iPhone performance and battery age – December 18, 2017
Apple met with Chinese regulators to discuss iPhone 6s unexpected shutdowns – February 10, 2017
Rumor: Apple may extend iPhone 6s battery replacement program to iPhone 6 – January 17, 2017
A message from Apple about iPhone and unexpected shutdowns – December 2, 2016
Apple offers free battery replacement for ‘very small number’ of iPhone 6s units with unexpected shutdown issue – November 21, 2016
Thune is a tool, no use sending a reply because he’s to stupid to understand it.
Why is it important for your headline to state that it is a “Republican” senator, MDN? This is exactly the sort of questions that Al Franken would have raised, and he was a Democrat.
Click bait. Shame on you.
uh, but he is a republican.
If you go back an look, they did put Democrat in the headline when Franken questioned Apple.
Geez, take a minute and search first
Which they also shouldn’t have done. Just because I’m calling them out this time doesn’t mean it’s the only time they are at fault. Geez, use your common sense.
This is not an isolated event, but it was preventable.
Yea…Apple should give out free batteries when they are exhausted and worn out ….Just like the Car Mfg’ers give us free tires when they are worn out….??? I’m sure some idiot is saying ” yea but when we have worn out tires we can still drive as fast as the car can go…yea…with an idiot at the wheel!
I believe most of these lawsuits have less to do with old batteries and slowdowns than some greedy consumers wanting a fat payday. I’d have to see what they’ll settle for. Would they actually accept a free battery replacement for the life of their iPhone? Will they accept getting their money back for buying a new iPhone instead of replacing the battery? If that’s all they want, then the lawsuits seems reasonable. However, if they want $50,000 from Apple for a slow iPhone, then that’s just pure greed. Any judge that would grant some settlement like that doesn’t belong in his chair.
Apple likely showed poor judgment in not telling consumers what their iOS updates were doing to their iPhones but plaintiffs asking for an excessive amount of compensation where no physical or property damage has been caused seems just as bad in terms of judgment.
I don’t understand very much about the law so I’m only giving my opinion on the subject and not basing it on any legal data. I feel certain Apple will be able to settle these lawsuits quickly if the judge is a fair one.
No, but one the same not I believe that Apple is hiding the fact that the issue is the aging battery because Apple care provides for a replacement battery for free if you have it. It is in there financial interest to hide this until Apple Care has run out so they can then charge you for a new battery or a new iPhone your choice.
For instance my iPhone 6s has 2 to 3 months left on Apple Care has slowed down quite a bit in the last 2-3 months I took it to Apple and they say the iPhone is just fine, I beg to differ I would not have made to 2 hour drive and spent money on Gas if it was just fine. I have recharged it more than 500 times (Daily run down and charge) so I know the battery has to be at least a factor, but unless they say it is an issue they won’t give me the free replacement battery.
So pony up $29 and get a new battery and all should be fine. Batteries wear out and so aren’t a warranty item unless the battery was defective. If yours wasn’t defective but you just wore it out, Apple is cutting you a great deal for $29.
I think that’s the current problem with Apple’s ‘fix’. How would you determine your battery is defective if the fix is ‘hiding’ the condition of your defective battery out of the box or within a very short time?
So, what do you think would be fair compensation in your case regardless of what Apple did? Would a free battery and gas money spent be good enough or do you also require a $50,000 check for pain and suffering?
Fair compensation is all I’m really trying to determine to get an idea how Apple might easily settle these lawsuits.
What is the point of having a toggle switch? Phones with good batteries don’t need it. Older phones with bad batteries would just shut down. Apple is already providing an automatic toggle switch which monitors the phones battery condition. How many thousands of calls to support, would Apple get if iPhones started randomly shutting down again? A toggle switch is a waste of time.
Battery warnings are all that is needed, but I thought Apple had been providing a battery replacement warning in battery usage settings for some time now.
sen, Thune:
why did you give a tax break to your rich buddies?
Why did you vote to end net neutrality?
Why did you vote against every healthcare bill, harming the constituents whoi voted you in?
Why do you continue to support tritor and cocksucker donald trump?