Apple Sued by North Texans, After Company Admitted to Slowing iPhones

North Texan iPhone users have sued Apple, saying the tech giant should have admitted sooner that software updates slowed down customers' older smartphones. The three iPhone users, who are from McKinney, Dallas and Grand Saline, filed the lawsuit Wednesday in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas in Sherman. It is one of nearly a dozen similar class-action lawsuits filed by iPhone users across the country.Angry customers began filing lawsuits against Apple after it disclosed last week that older smartphones slowed after software updates. But the Silicon Valley company said the slower processing speeds fixed another problem: a flaw in the lithium-ion batteries that could cause some phones to shut down. Company officials said they had released the fix for iPhones 6, iPhone 6s and iPhone SE and had recently extended it to the iPhone 7. The software upgrades came soon after Apple debuted its newest and most expensive iPhones: the iPhone 8 and iPhone X.In its statement last week, Apple said its "goal is to deliver the best experience for customers, which includes overall performance and prolonging the life of their devices." "Lithium-ion batteries become less capable of supplying peak current demands when in cold conditions, have a low battery charge or as they age over time, which can result in the device unexpectedly shutting down to protect its electronic components," it said.For skeptical consumers and techies, however, the disclosure fueled a different theory — that Apple slowed down smartphones so frustrated customers would buy new, faster ones. In a public statement today, Apple apologized to customers and explained the reason for the battery fix. Company officials said they "have never — and would never — do anything to intentionally shorten the life of any Apple product, or degrade the user experience to drive customer upgrades." The company said it was committed to earning customers' trust.In response to concerns, Apple said it would reduce the price of out-of-warranty iPhone battery replacements by $50 for anyone with an iPhone 6 or later. It said it will offer a software update in early 2018 that gives customers more information about the condition of their iPhone battery.Two Dallas attorneys, Kenneth Johnson and Robert Gifford, represent the three North Texans' class-action lawsuit. They also represent Apple customers in similar cases in Louisiana and Mississippi.Gifford compared Apple's software updates to a car mechanic who promises to fix a problem with a car's engine, only to leave the car unable to drive faster than 40 mph. He said Apple's disclosure may indicate that the tech company has used "planned obsolescence" as a way to keep up sales. He said it also raises questions about other tech companies' practices. Apple has been contacted for comment about the lawsuit.Read the lawsuit below:  Continue reading...