‘Limited number’ of non-Touch Bar 13-inch Apple MacBook Pros need to have batteries replaced

Apple has just launched a free battery replacement program for some non-Touch Bar-toting Apple MacBook Pros. The company claims a “limited number” of these units have had their batteries expand. These supposedly affect those that were manufactured between October 2016 and October 2017 and is due to a fault component that causes the battery to expand.

The linked page above will ask you to submit your computer serial number to check if you’re eligible for a replacement. Those that qualify can bring their MacBook Pro to an authorized dealer or retail store or mail the unit to Apple’s repair center. If you’ve already gotten the battery replaced, you can contact Apple to see if you can get a refund. Apple notes that any damage that might inhibit the battery’s replacement will need to be fixed first and this program does not extend the computer’s standard warranty.

New Surface Laptop firmware update improves battery reliability

Surface Laptop users are getting a firmware update today that improves battery reliability but not necessarily improving battery life.

“Today we’ve released a new firmware update for Surface Laptop,” Microsoft’s Brandon Records writes. “This update includes new firmware for Surface System Aggregator Firmware which improves battery reliability.”

Surface Laptop, which shipped with Windows 10 S boasted up to 14 hours of use on that specific version. The update should be visible and available via Windows Update. You can also access it here the Surface Laptop Drivers and Firmware download set..

Source: Thurrott.com

Apple issues apology for performance throttling, offers discounted battery replacement service throughout 2018

By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

Apple broke the silence about the issue that iOS 10.2.1 causes performance on older iPhones to slow down, ostensibly to counteract battery degradation. It's an issue that created a lot of confusion, with some pundits claiming that Apple is purposely throttling performance to push users to upgrade to newer devices. Apple issued a statement on its website explaining the issue in detail. The company, who makes most of its profits off the iPhone, is also offering discounted battery replacement services for older iPhones throughout 2018.

Responding to increasing confusion and even lawsuits from disgruntled users, Apple took to posting an open letter on its website.

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Apple says iPhones with older batteries will experience slower performance

It isn't uncommon for older iPhones to feel a tad sluggish after a few years. New iOS updates do bring new features as well as make things more efficient but, as we've recently learned, they also throttle performance. Apple says there's a good reason for this.

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