Apple, Inc.: Rotten to the Core

“…If you were Apple, what tricks would you utilize to increase the sales of your latest product? If you know corporations, you’d know they use any possible trick they can as a generality to increase their profit: think of how huge a factor it would make in the sale of new iPhones if the old ones became slower.

“People have made the anecdotal observation that their Apple products become much slower right before the release of a new model. Now, a Harvard University study has done what any person with Google Trends could do, and pointed out that Google searches for ‘iPhone slow’ spiked multiple times, just before the release of a new iPhone each time…” (Did a Study Prove that Apple Slows Down iPhones to Boost Sales of New Ones?).

“Apple has acknowledged what many iPhone owners long suspected: It has slowed older phones.

“The tech giant issued a rare statement of explanation on December 21, 2017, saying that it has used software updates to limit the performance of older iPhones that may have battery issues that would cause them to turn off suddenly.

“Tech analysts and angry customers have reported in recent days that operating system updates had caused older iPhones to slow considerably, with some suggesting that Apple could be using the tactic to encourage fans to buy new phones.

“Apple insists the updates were made with a different goal in mind: It said the performance of lithium-ion batteries degrades over time, which can sometimes cause phones to suddenly shut down in order to protect their components…” (Apple has acknowledged what many iPhone owners long suspected: It has slowed older phones).

From the Class Action Suit against Apple, Inc.:

38. “…Defendant breached the implied contracts it made with Plaintiffs and Class Members by purposefully slowing down older iPhone models when new models come out and by failing to properly disclose that at the time of that the parties entered into an agreement…

42. “Defendant intentionally interfered with Plaintiff and Class Members’ use or possession of their iPhone by purposefully slowing down their phones.

43. “Plaintiffs and Class Members never consented to Defendant interfering with their phones in order to slow their phones down.

44. “Plaintiffs and Class Members have lost use, value, had to purchase new batteries, and had to purchase new iPhones due to Defendant’s conduct…” (Stefan Bogdanovich; Dakota Spears vs. Apple,Inc.).

Commentary:

It is quite difficult to obtain an appointment to replace an Apple iPhone battery. Apple offers only weekly appointments; thus, forcing the consumer to visit their online support several times a day in order to obtain one. There is also little help offered through Apple Care over the telephone, except for a diagnostic check of the battery and, of course, with no opportunity to replace it.