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Apple admits slowing older iPhones, says it's to prevent battery issues
CNET ^ | December 20, 2017 | Shara Tibken

Posted on 12/20/2017 10:03:41 PM PST by Krosan

The company says the practice deals with problems -- like unexpected shutdowns -- caused by aging batteries or cold conditions.

If you think your older iPhone seems to run slower, you're not crazy.

Apple on Wednesday said a software feature released last year makes your phone operate more slowly to offset problems with its aging lithium ion battery. As batteries get older, they don't hold their charges as well as newer batteries, and can have worse problems when the charge is low or the temperature is cold.

The aging battery means your phone could have trouble operating or might unexpectedly shut down, like happened to the iPhone 6 and 6S last year. The processors in those devices wanted to hit faster speeds, but their batteries couldn't handle the demand, prompting some phones to simply switch themselves off.

To address that, Apple's iOS software, starting with last year's iOS 10.2.1, included better power management capabilities, the company says. The operating system slows down your device to prevent it from shutting down, Apple says, but only in cases of cold temperature, a low battery charge or very old batteries.

Last year's software applied to the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, 6S and 6S Plus and SE. This year's iOS 11.2 extended the feature to the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus. It will be applied to other Apple devices in the future.

(Excerpt) Read more at cnet.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; Technical
KEYWORDS: apple; iphone; iphonebatteries
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Bastards! If they were really worried about degrading battery they wouldn't slow the phones silently, but rather warn users and tell them they can get the old speed back with a battery replacement.
1 posted on 12/20/2017 10:03:42 PM PST by Krosan
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To: Krosan
It has nothing to do with the iphags wanting you to buy a new phone, honest.
2 posted on 12/20/2017 10:05:56 PM PST by deadrock
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To: deadrock

It has nothing to do with the iphags wanting you to buy a new phone, honest.

ifags are a cult, getting what they ask for.


3 posted on 12/20/2017 10:10:01 PM PST by 867V309 (Lock Her Up)
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To: Krosan

it’s all part of assimilating into the Apple ecosystem...Apple users want Apple to do the thinking for them.


4 posted on 12/20/2017 10:10:35 PM PST by bigbob (People say believe half of what you see son and none of what you hear - M. Gaye)
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To: Krosan
Lithium batteries do not have a life to match their equipment. Thus they should be replaceable. I've had a laptop which lasted long enough to need two replacement batteries. Also, it is convenient to externally charge a cell phone battery and swap it in if it is you are in a situation where you don't have time to sit around and charge it inside the phone.

Easily swappable batteries is a requirement for my next phone - so no iPhone for me.

5 posted on 12/20/2017 10:11:09 PM PST by KarlInOhio (The Whig Party died when it fled the great fight of its century. Ditto for the Republicans now.)
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To: Krosan

I would say there needs to be a Class Action Lawsuit, but the only people who would benefit would be the sleazebag lawyers, they get paid cash and they would probably settle with apple and get everybody else $20 off THEIR NEXT $1,000 IPHONE.


6 posted on 12/20/2017 10:11:18 PM PST by Chainsawj (If you're gonna fight, fight like you're the 3rd monkey on the ramp to Noah's Ark and it's RAINING.)
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To: Swordmaker

Cleanup in aisle 7...


7 posted on 12/20/2017 10:23:51 PM PST by dayglored ("Listen. Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government.")
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To: KarlInOhio; Krosan

The older models they are slowing are a couple years newer than mine. I am Replying on an iPhone 5 that turned five years old this fall. Used heavily every day. No battery issues and no plans to upgrade any time soon.


8 posted on 12/20/2017 10:42:21 PM PST by philled (If this creature is not stopped it could make its way to Novosibirsk!)
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To: deadrock
Honest... Batteries wear out. Early this year, my 5S IPhone was obviously having battery life problems. Never particularly noticed a slow down in operation, just reduced battery life till it reached a trigger point of “this just isn't going to hack it”.

Dropped by the Apple Store and they ran a 1 minute diagnostic that among other things, checked the number of recharge cycles. Over a little over 3 years, my IPhone had run something like 3000 charge cycles. Basically, around the house, in the car or at my desk it has always been my habit to put the phone on the charger whether it is low charge remaining or not, the cycles add up. If I recall right, the Apple tech said the battery is rated for 1000 cycles, Don't know if that means full cycles dead to full or includes the partially depleted charges that were and remain my habit.

Come on now, what technology item does a person have that lasts forever. 11 months ago, I chose to put a new battery in the 5S at the Apple Store for about $85 instead of buying a new phone at that exact time. Sprung for an IPhone 8 a few months ago and retired the 5S.

9 posted on 12/20/2017 10:54:57 PM PST by Hootowl99
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To: KarlInOhio

Yep—you’ve hit it exactly.

Except a good chunk of the market opts for the authoritarian iPhone environment, somehow thinking it shows how hip they are.


10 posted on 12/20/2017 11:21:37 PM PST by 9YearLurker
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To: dayglored

Cleanup in aisle 7...

Too late, the bleach has already stained the tile...


11 posted on 12/20/2017 11:43:55 PM PST by 867V309 (Lock Her Up)
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To: Krosan

This is the primary reason I stopped buying apple phones. I had to upgrade every 2 years due to the speed issue. I switched over to the note 2 and it ran like a champ for 8 years. I replaced the battery twice and it still ran very well before it finally croaked.


12 posted on 12/20/2017 11:54:05 PM PST by JohnyBoy (The GOP Senate is intentionally trying to lose the majority.)
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To: Hootowl99

My wife and I use refurbished 5s iPhones. I invested in Belkin cases with a builtin backup battery. My wifes phone easily lasts the day. I use mine heavily for WIFI and application access. So I occasionally have to throw a charge on late afternoon.

As the phone gets older, The battery is clearly acting strangely. But I have no complaints.


13 posted on 12/21/2017 12:02:33 AM PST by the_Watchman
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To: Krosan

Slowing down the 6’s? Seriously?


14 posted on 12/21/2017 12:13:20 AM PST by Reno89519 (PRESIDENT TRUMP, KEEP YOUR PROMISES! NO AMNESTY AND BUILD THAT WALL.)
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Battery duration totally sucks on my 6s. The 4 & 5 would last at least a day.


15 posted on 12/21/2017 12:43:29 AM PST by Gene Eric (Don't be a statist!)
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To: 867V309

Bada bing


16 posted on 12/21/2017 12:46:40 AM PST by wardaddy (As a southerner I've never trusted the Grand Old Party.....any questions?)
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To: Reno89519

My son and I both noticed our 6plus slowed after recent iOS upgrades

Now we know

How convenient to claim it’s for our own good and not so well upgraded to an 8

Progressives always say it’s for our own good

I own 20 plus pads and phones and 75% are apple from 5s to 8

I’ve got my beefs...no question and this is now one more

And it is a fetish especially for folks under 40


17 posted on 12/21/2017 12:50:47 AM PST by wardaddy (As a southerner I've never trusted the Grand Old Party.....any questions?)
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To: bigbob

>> the Apple ecosystem

Our way or the highway — makes sense when their’s no appetite for supporting competing ecosystems.

Save the recent battery issue, I’m very happy with the iPhone. But I prefer the Surface to the iPad. Windows to MacOS. And generally linux for headless server requirements.

>> Apple users want Apple to do the thinking for them.

Are you still relying on paper maps to locate that unfamiliar destination? Rhetorical question.

Regardless of one company’s innovations and market dominance, the consumers demand competition and variety. And I love this aspect of capitalism — no one owns the market... where the govt isn’t involved.


18 posted on 12/21/2017 1:13:49 AM PST by Gene Eric (Don't be a statist!)
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To: Hootowl99

The phones are valued at $800. Shouldn’t be necessary to change out the battery at the owner’s cost within 3 years.


19 posted on 12/21/2017 1:15:59 AM PST by Gene Eric (Don't be a statist!)
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To: Hootowl99

Yeah, I use my phone to listen to audio books via Bluetooth through my cars sound system, so every time I’m in the car I hook the phone up to a recharger, even when it’s fully charged. I wonder if this is what has degraded the battery life of my 6S Plus.


20 posted on 12/21/2017 1:59:32 AM PST by jalisco555 ("In a Time of Universal Deceit Telling the Truth Is a Revolutionary Act" - George Orwell)
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