Editor Blogs

    Apple's CEO Admits to PR Blunder With Battery SNAFU

    01/18/2018
    Jason Lomberg, North American Editor, PSD
    Tag: @apple @applenews #timcook #battery #ios #psd
    Apple's CEO Admits to PR Blunder With Battery SNAFU
    Apple CEO Tim Cook

    Apple’s CEO knows they committed a major faux pas, and he’s penitent … sort of.

    My colleague from across the pond, Ally Winning, previously reported that Apple admitted to intentionally slowing down older iPhones to reduce the power draw from overtaxed batteries. Last year’s iOS update added the “power management” feature to the iPhone 6, 6 Plus, 6S, 6S Plus and SF, while iOS 11.2 covered the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus.

    And it’s entirely understandable … to a point. Batteries are expensive (especially the sort that usually requires a trip to the Apple Store). But for Apple to slip in a whopper like that surreptitiously reeks of the sort of Big Brother machinations the company railed against in the ‘80s.

    In a recent interview, Apple CEO Tim Cook admits they could’ve been a tad more forthcoming about tinkering with users’ devices. But he wasn’t entirely apologetic.

    "When we did put it [the software update] out, we did say what it was, but I don't think a lot of people were paying attention," Cook said.

    Sorry, but ... not sorry. Your fault for not hiring a lawyer to peruse the TOS agreement.

    "Maybe we should have been clearer, as well," he said.

    To their credit, the Cupertino giant did initiate a $29 battery replacement program, but in the future, they might avoid taking PR lessons from the Ministry of Truth.

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    Power Systems Design is a leading global media platform serving the power electronics design engineering community. It delivers in-depth technical content, industry news, and product insights to engineers and decision-makers developing advanced power systems and technologies.

    Published 12× per year across North America and Europe, Power Systems Design is distributed through online and fully digital editions, complemented by eNewsletters, webinars, and multimedia content. The platform covers key areas including power conversion, semiconductors, renewable energy, automotive electrification, AI power systems, and industrial applications—supporting innovation across the global electronics industry.