New iOS 11 Update Will Allow Users To Disable 'Intentional Slow Down'

The next update to iOS 11 will let users disable the feature which intentionally slows down battery, Apple CEO Tim Cook has said.

iPhone users were left fuming when it was finally confirmed that the tech giant was deliberately slowing down older phones when new models were released; something which many iPhone owners had long suspected. Apple said the intentional slow-down to prevent issues, such as unexpectedly shutting down, which can happen as the batteries get older.

But in a recent interview with ABC News, Cook apologised to customers, saying that the move was just so that older phones could keep up with new features and was not about 'forcing' customers to upgrade, as many thought.

"Maybe we weren't clear," he said. "We deeply apologise for anyone who thinks we have some other kind of motivation."

Promising more 'visibility' he said: "We're going to give people the visibility of the health of their battery so it's very, very transparent. This hasn't been done before."

He also told the news outlet that the with the new update, "if you don't want it, you can turn it off." However, he went on to say that the company does not recommend that users switch off the feature. But I think it's a pretty safe bet that many will completely ignore this advice.

via GIPHY

Some iPhone users were so annoyed with the initial announcement, that they filed lawsuits against the company. Stefan Bogdanovich, from LA, told TMZ that Apple's decision to slow down battery was never agreed upon by customers and that it lowered the value of the phone.

Following the backlash, Apple lowered the price for out-of-warranty batteries for a number of older model iPhones to $29/£29. But even this move was criticised with some saying the new batteries should be free.

Speaking to ABC, Cook said it was 'rational' to charge people for new batteries, as 'most people kind of expect to get a new battery at some point'.

The new iOS 11 beta is expected to launch early next month, meaning a public release is likely to happen in March.

Source: ABC News

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: US News, Technology, Apple, iPhone

Claire Reid

Claire is a journalist at LADbible who, after dossing around for a few years, went to Liverpool John Moores University. She graduated with a degree in Journalism and a whole load of debt. When not writing words in exchange for money she is usually at home watching serial killer documentaries surrounded by cats. You can contact Claire at [email protected]

@ClaireReid19