Active Obscelecense

[Drago]

Looks as if Apple have been caught deliberately manipulating the performance of older handsets as a means to encourage users to rush out and buy a new one...

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/dec/19/apple-iphone-reduce-speed-old-batteries

Think about this next time you rush out to give you dollar to one of these companies, simply because your device is a year old and no longer red hot cutting edge - you are being taken for a ride. I've said it all along, and it's gratifying to finally see some evidence emerging.

 

[AndyRM]

I don't particularly see an issue here, it's not really a new thing or a surprise.

Yeah, the prices can be extortionate, but if I was into tech and could afford it I'd be OK with it.

 

[Cycleops]

I understand that sales of the latest iPhone have been less than stunning.

 

[Drago]

I don't particularly see an issue here, it's not really a new thing or a surprise.

Yeah, the prices can be extortionate, but if I was into tech and could afford it I'd be OK with it.

You don't see an issue with a firm deliberately winding back the performance of an old product to encourage people to buy a new one? How would you feel if your car came back from its service 10mpg thirstier, or at X years old your TV deliberate loses half its channels?

 

[brucers]

Anyone who thinks (large) companies do best by it's consumers is living in dreamland.

 

[AndyRM]

You don't see an issue with a firm deliberately winding back the performance of an old product to encourage people to buy a new one? How would you feel if your car came back from its service 10mpg thirstier, or at X years old your TV deliberate loses half its channels?

Well yeah, but I'm not sure those are relatable examples. Batteries degrade, as do other components, OS updates introduce features which require more power. There's a whole range of factors at play.

 

[Cycleops]

Apple havent tried to hide their abandonment of the older 32 bit architecture in some of their older phones and tablets. They will no longer be supported or update to iOS 11.

Anyone who thinks (large) companies do best by it's consumers is living in dreamland.

The worst example of which has to be the US motor industry who produced many unsafe cars which was exposed and highlighted by Ralph Nader.

 

[AndyRM]

First link in the article, written by the same guy a couple of months ago...

https://www.theguardian.com/technol...one-5s-iphone-6-iphone-6-iphone-7-ios-updates

I'm no Apple fanboy btw.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

How would you feel if your car came back from its service 10mpg thirstier, or at X years old your TV deliberate loses half its features?

Then I'd guess it was a post-software update Sony, like mine.

 

[J1888]

Samsung are as bad in my experience

 

[John the Monkey]

Samsung are as bad in my experience

OTOH, the same company did a warranty repair on my Note 4 in the "grace" period they give after the warranty has actually ended. Mainboard replaced (ordered in from Germany, apparently), phone as good as new, no charge to me.

 

[Drago]

Well yeah, but I'm not sure those are relatable examples. Batteries degrade, as do other components, OS updates introduce features which require more power. There's a whole range of factors at play.

And none of those things physically force a processor to slow down. Its a deliberate function introduced with a particular, identified OS upgrade, that never previously exhibited itself.

 

[Tin Pot]

You don't see an issue with a firm deliberately winding back the performance of an old product

This bit may be true, and is supported by the article.

to encourage people to buy a new one?

This bit is speculation.

You might be right, but you might not. Performance costs power, so reducing performance slightly could counter the declining battery life...for example.

The main reason I’m not bothered is that the product is meant to be replaced every two* years. That’s the Apple paradigm, and always has been. Devices are made obsolete by lack of support, iOS versions it can’t run, features it can’t have, apps that no longer work...even if the battery thing were deliberate, it’s a drop in the ocean.

They claimed to have dropped the white goods approach years ago but they haven’t. Your washing machine has a warranted period of two* years and falls apart after two* years and three weeks like clockwork. iPhones are the same.


*Or whatever time period it’s meant to be.

 

[mustang1]

They should ste price levels of when the consumer would like their phone to have obsolescened (what kinda screwed up word is that anyway?):
£50 per month gets you planned obsolescence after 1 year.
£70 after 2 years.
£40 after 6 months.
£35 aft... wait are you kidding, you cant get an apple for 35 can you?

I wonder if this happens on computers too, both Windows and OSX.

 

[Tin Pot]

They should ste price levels of when the consumer would like their phone to have obsolescened (what kinda screwed up word is that anyway?):
£50 per month gets you planned obsolescence after 1 year.
£70 after 2 years.
£40 after 6 months.
£35 aft... wait are you kidding, you cant get an apple for 35 can you?

I wonder if this happens on computers too, both Windows and OSX.

My wife got a replacement style contract so she gets the new phone whenever it’s released and trades in the old one.