Apple fined for slowing down older iPhones

[Eldorado]

"Apple has been fined €25 million (£21m) for secretly slowing down older iPhones.

"The penalty was imposed by France’s competition and fraud watchdog, which found customers were not warned about the measure.

"iPhone users, the watchdog DGCCRF said, "were not informed that installing iOS updates (10.2.1 and 11.2) could slow down their devices".

"Apple, which in 2017 admitted to the practice, said it had resolved the issue with the regulator."

Full monty at the UK Independent: https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/apple-fined-iphones-slowing-down-battery-life-france-a9324806.html

And at Extra (Ireland): https://extra.ie/2020/02/09/tech/apple-fined-millions-iphones-slower

[ExpandMyMind]

They actually weren't fined for slowing down the phones; they were fined for not telling their customers about it. Apparently it's perfectly legal to hamstring a product that people have paid near enough £1000 for. A fleecing of customers from which Apple probably made billions.

[Grim Reaper 6]

2 hours ago, Eldorado said:

"Apple has been fined €25 million (£21m) for secretly slowing down older iPhones.

"The penalty was imposed by France’s competition and fraud watchdog, which found customers were not warned about the measure.

"iPhone users, the watchdog DGCCRF said, "were not informed that installing iOS updates (10.2.1 and 11.2) could slow down their devices".

"Apple, which in 2017 admitted to the practice, said it had resolved the issue with the regulator."

Full monty at the UK Independent: https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/apple-fined-iphones-slowing-down-battery-life-france-a9324806.html

And at Extra (Ireland): https://extra.ie/2020/02/09/tech/apple-fined-millions-iphones-slower

I wonder if also effected their IPADS also, the OSI updates are the same for both for the most part. In any case this is really bull****.

Peace

[+and-then]

15 minutes ago, Manwon Lender said:

I wonder if also effected their IPADS also, the OSI updates are the same for both for the most part. In any case this is really bull****.

Peace

I agree... and it's also BS that governments fine corporations, then take the $ and use it like a slush fund.  The fines should reflect the damage done to consumers and the money the corporations pay should benefit those consumers directly.  The previous president had what I can only think of as a scheme to benefit political friends.  His departments would hit a corporation with an incredibly large fine, then offer to settle and then they'd give the money to favored political groups.  I have no idea if it was illegal but it damned sure was sleazy.

[Grim Reaper 6]

3 minutes ago, and then said:

I agree... and it's also BS that governments fine corporations, then take the $ and use it like a slush fund.  The fines should reflect the damage done to consumers and the money the corporations pay should benefit those consumers directly.  The previous president had what I can only think of as a scheme to benefit political friends.  His departments would hit a corporation with an incredibly large fine, then offer to settle and then they'd give the money to favored political groups.  I have no idea if it was illegal but it damned sure was sleazy.

I do agree that the money should bennifit the consumers, but I doubt the day will come that Governments don't continue to the use the money for what they wish. Unfortunately it's the nature of beast, and greedy individuals within governments will always take advantage of the people they are suppose to serve. It's no different now, I would bet it continues to this very day.

Peace

[Eldorado]

Update:

"Apple inc. has agreed to pay a settlement of up to $500 million, following a lawsuit accusing the company of intentionally slowing down the performance of older phones to encourage customers to buy newer models or fresh batteries.

"The preliminary proposed class action lawsuit was disclosed Friday night and would see Apple pay consumers $25 per phone, as reported by Reuters."

Full report at Tech Crunch: https://techcrunch.com/2020/03/02/apple-agrees-to-settlement-of-up-to-500-million-from-lawsuit-alleging-it-throttled-older-phones/

And Reuters: https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-apple-iphones-settlement-idUKKBN20P2E7