Apple has said that it will reduce the cost of replacement batteries as a result of its iPhone slowdown controversy. However, according to a new lawsuit leveled against Apple this practice could wind up destroying valuable evidence.
In a motion filed in Los Angeles by lawyer Adam Levitt of DiCello Levitt & Casey, the claimant says that it is important to, “maintain and preserve any data [Apple] collects through diagnostic testing in order to protect the claims of all affected consumers.” In other words, stop throwing away batteries!
“Given the ever-changing nature of Apple’s battery replacement program and the critical importance of that diagnostic data to this lawsuit, Apple should be required to preserve that data and produce it to Plaintiff’s counsel,” Levitt said in a statement.
“Apple has a policy of getting rid of batteries it pulls out of phones, and we want the diagnostics. We want to make sure everything is preserved,” he told USA Today in an interview.
Apple hasn’t yet commented on the lawsuit.
A PR nightmare for Apple
Apple has previously admitted to issuing a software upgrade for iOS which causes older iPhones to slow down. However, Apple has said that it did this to prolong the life of their lithium-ion batteries, rather than anything intended to push users to upgrade.
In the aftermath, the company notified customers that it will reduce the price on out-of-warranty iPhone battery replacements by $50, putting the cost at just $29. The offer covers anyone with an iPhone 6 or later whose battery needs to be replaced. Customers can take advantage of the new price starting later this month. It will be available worldwide until December 2018.
While it’s possible to argue that Apple has done nothing wrong here (apart from possibly not being as clear as it should have from the start), the ensuing PR nightmare has echoed around the world. At present, a plethora of lawsuits have been brought against Apple, while demands for explanations have been made by officials in countries including Brazil, South Korea, and France.
In South Korea, 370,000 individuals — or the equivalent of one out of every 138 people who live in the country — have signed up to join a class action suit against Apple. This week, a Chinese consumer group also added its name to the list by requesting more information from Apple about its purposeful slowing down of older iPhones as their batteries degrade.
Source: USA Today
Luke Dormehl is a U.K.-based journalist and author, with a background working in documentary film for Channel 4 and the BBC. He is the author of The Apple Revolution and The Formula: How Algorithms Solve All Our Problems … and Create More, both published by Penguin/Random House. His tech writing has also appeared in Wired, Fast Company, Techmeme and other publications.
8 responses to “iPhone slowdown lawsuit wants to examine Apple’s battery data”
“iPhone slowdown lawsuit wants to examine Apple’s battery data”
This non-issue ranks as one of THE dumbest “nothing-gates” ever to plague Apple. Here’s how it goes down:
1. Apple ships phones with EVERYTHING turned on (push notifications, eye-candy, unnecessary sounds, etc.), in order to wow users and give them connectivity that most don’t require.
2. Users are too ignorant or lazy to even read how to use their phones, and therefore turn these battery-robbing “features” off. Yes, the features are cool, but again, they rob the battery and most people don’t need them.
3. Users always demand more battery power in thinner phones (which always means a trade-off), not only because of the “features” Apple turns on by default, but also because users are addicted to the biggest power drainer of all, Facebook.
4. In an effort to keep users phones whose batteries are naturally aging from shutting down prematurely or without warning, Apple uses a strategy of slightly slowing down the phone. (Oh the humanity!!)
Antenna-gate, bend-gate and now battery-gate are silly non-issues driven by uniformed and spoiled users, and of course, the tap and click-hungry press. If you an iPhone 6 or 6s with an aging battery and want it to perform like new, then the solution is simple: get a new battery installed (by Apple or any one of the many, many cellphone repair shops, turn off some or all of the features you don’t need, and enjoy your phone for another two years without a battery problem.
Way to blame the users, that you Steve?
Way to ignore the facts. I did not blame users, as you can clearly re-read.
Two things are certain. First, with current technology, batteries last two years in normal use; everything after that is a gift. Second, your attempt to invoke whatever behavior you think Steve Jobs exhibited is childish. You didn’t know Steve Jobs, and are not qualified to pontificate about him. However, I’m sure that won’t stop you.
2. Users are too ignorant or lazy to even read how to use their phones, and therefore turn these battery-robbing “features” off. Yes, the features are cool, but again, they rob the battery and most people don’t need them.
I can read just fine, thanks. My point stands.
Not surprisingly, you have missed (or ignored) the entire substance of my post. You may be able to read, but not comprehend, or apparently even parse.
—30—
I missed nothing. There really was no substance to your post. Mostly blaming users.
Mr. Last Word, I suggest you look up the meaning of ‘—30—’, then go pester someone else.
Over… and out.
Yawn. Do you think I care what it means? No, clearly you’re a pathetic troll.