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Apple has long been a target of criticism for how it reduces processor performance on iPhone models with lower capacity batteries. The company said it was doing this to preserve battery life, but this has led to criticism that it is a tactic to force people to buy new models of phones. .
Of course, the CEO, Tim Cook, earlier this year, went so far as to say that iOS would now allow users to disable this feature, but the company has nonetheless been the target of numerous investigations and lawsuits. And now, an Italian antitrust watchdog has been put on the carpet, fining each Apple and Samsung 5 million euros, which equates to more than 11 million US dollars.
As The Guardian notes that the fine was following an investigation into charges that "older operating system updates have slowed them down, thus encouraging the purchase of new phones. In a statement, the antitrust watchdog said "Apple and Samsung have implemented dishonest business practices" and that the operating system updates "have caused serious malfunctions and performance significantly reduced, thus accelerating the replacement of "" phones. "
To give more details on what led to the decision and the ultimate fine, the newspaper adds that Samsung has asked owners of its Galaxy Note 4 to install a new version of Google's Android operating system intended to the most recent Note 7. One effect is that the performance of the old model began to be "slow" after the update of the operating system. Similarly with owners of the iPhone 6, who began to see problems with their model once they installed the operating system designed for the iPhone 7.
The fine of 5 million euros was the maximum allowed. The two companies were also ordered to post on the Italian versions of their website a notice informing the customers of the fine.
The Italian agency did not explain its decision to amend Samsung, but Apple explained what she had done and why. Apple, for its part, has already proposed everything from replacing the battery to the iOS feature, which allows to disable the regulation if users want.
Source of image: Zach Epstein, BGR
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