Apple to Let iPhone Users Disable Throttling for Aging Batteries in Coming iOS Update

Speaking to ABC News, Apple CEO Tim Cook revealed the company will soon release an iOS update which will enable users to disable intentional CPU throttling of devices with aging batteries.

Cook spoke with Rebecca Jarvis from ABC News in Reno, Nevada, where the CEO helped break ground on Apple’s latest data centre expansion.

Tim cook reno

On top of speaking about Apple’s $350 billion investment over five years in the U.S., Cook was asked about the iPhone slowdown fiasco, which affected users with aging batteries. The CEO was asked if they “fumbled” to announce the software move which slowed down iPhones with older batteries, to prevent unexpected shutdowns.

Cook replied the company did tell users about these iOS updates and what was happening, “but I don’t think many people were paying attention” when they were released. Again, Cook says “we deeply apologize” to any users who were misled by the iOS updates.

He also detailed how next month, Apple will put out a developer release which will give people the visibility of their iPhone battery health so it’s transparent, while iOS will also inform users if performance is being throttled by a certain amount, to prevent unexpected shutdowns.

Cook also adds “and if you don’t want it, you can turn it off.” He says Apple doesn’t recommend it, but the option will be there for users.

Again Cook expressed “Our actions were all in service of the user—we can’t stress that enough.” He went on to say “If anyone out there believes we did something nefariously, we apologize for anything we did or didn’t do.”

Check out the video below (battery talk starts just past the 4 minute mark):

Apple currently is allowing discounted out-of-warranty battery replacements for owners with an iPhone 6 or newer, priced at $35 CAD (instead of $99 CAD), whether or not devices pass diagnostic tests.

Have you replaced your iPhone battery through Apple’s discounted out-of-warranty program?

[via 9to5Mac]

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