Technology - Google News

Apple's cheap iPhone battery replacements were wildly popular — 10 times as many people replaced their battery as normal - Business Insider
US judge rules that feds can't force fingerprint or face phone unlocks - Engadget
2020 Toyota Supra has BMW bones, $50,000 price tag - CNET

Apple's cheap iPhone battery replacements were wildly popular — 10 times as many people replaced their battery as normal - Business Insider

Posted: 15 Jan 2019 07:06 AM PST

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In 2018, Apple offered iPhone users a new battery for $29, down from the previous $79 price.
Apple replaced 11 million batteries through the program, up from the 2 million it normally would, according to remarks made by Apple CEO Tim Cook reported by Daring Fireball.
It shows that more people would replace their phone batteries if the price was lower.
Apple's $29 battery program is over, but it has quietly reduced the price for battery replacements: To replace the battery on an iPhone that came out this year costs $69, and older model battery swaps now cost $49.

Last winter, Apple faced one of its toughest scandals yet.

People had discovered that Apple had updated its iPhone software to slow down the top speed of its processor to save battery health on older devices.

The revelation caused an uproar — one of the oldest Apple conspiracy theories, that it slows down old phones through software updates, seemed to be true.

Apple's response was to discount some battery replacements for a limited time, slashing the price from $79 to $29. This was done for many reasons, including to regain consumer trust and to fend off pending class-action suits over the software.

Apparently, people took advantage of the offer. Apple replaced 11 million batteries in 2018 under the program, Daring Fireball's John Gruber wrote on Monday. Citing remarks made by Apple CEO Tim Cook during an internal all-hands meeting, Gruber reported that he said that Apple would only normally replace 1-2 million batteries.

The number of battery replacements isn't surprising. In January, shortly after the program was announced, Apple Stores were slammed by customers looking for cheap new batteries, Business Insider reported. Some stores had to set up triage-like systems, with dedicated stations or tables devoted to helping people who want a battery replacement, retail employees said.

Gruber writes that the battery-replacement program may have impacted iPhone sales, which is one reason why the company said earlier this month that it had collected at least $5 billion less in revenue during the holiday quarter than it had previously told investors to expect. The battery-replacement program was even mentioned in Cook's letter to investors as one reason for the miss.

That's possible if a large percentage of 11 million battery upgraders decided to pass on this year's new iPhone models, figuring that a new battery made their old phones feel like new. But it also underscores that there is considerable consumer demand for smartphone battery replacements, and that Apple's traditionally high prices to swap a battery may convince consumers simply to get a new iPhone.

Apple's $29 battery program is over, but it quietly reduced the price for an out-of-warranty battery replacement. Replacing the battery on an iPhone that came out this year now costs $69 through Apple, and $49 for older iPhone models.

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US judge rules that feds can't force fingerprint or face phone unlocks - Engadget

Posted: 15 Jan 2019 05:21 AM PST

Authorities can't force people to unlock devices with their faces, fingers or irises, a magistrate judge from California has ruled. Forbes has uncovered a nine-page order denying the search warrant for an investigation looking into a Facebook extortion crime. While the judge admits that investigators were able to establish probable cause for the warrant, she called their request to unlock any phone on the premises with biometrics "overbroad." The request wasn't limited to a particular person or device, and authorities would've been able to get everyone in the house to open their devices.

Magistrate judge Kandis Westmore stressed that law enforcement doesn't have the right to force people to unlock their phones even with a warrant, thereby declaring that biometrics are equal to passcodes. Courts commonly allow biometric unlocks, because judges don't consider body parts "testimonial." The reason being, people have to give up passwords and passcodes verbally and willingly, so they're covered under the Fifth Amendment protections against self-incrimination. Westmore wrote in her ruling:

"If a person cannot be compelled to provide a passcode because it is a testimonial communication, a person cannot be compelled to provide one's finger, thumb, iris, face, or other biometric feature to unlock that same device.
The undersigned finds that a biometric feature is analogous to the 20 nonverbal, physiological responses elicited during a polygraph test, which are used to determine guilt or innocence, and are considered testimonial."

Westmore noted that "technology is outpacing the law" and that the government has other means to solve the case. In this particular instance, investigators can obtain Messenger communications from Facebook itself with a proper warrant under the Stored Communications Act. According to Forbes, Facebook had been willing to hand over messages to authorities for a significant number of previous cases, so there's really no reason investigators can't go that route. While Westmore's decision is out of the norm and can still be overturned, EFF senior staff attorney Andrew Crocker said it's worth noting that "courts are beginning to look at these issues on their own terms."

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2020 Toyota Supra has BMW bones, $50,000 price tag - CNET

Posted: 15 Jan 2019 06:36 AM PST

After what felt like 10,000 teasers and leaks, we finally have the official information about the 2020 Toyota Supra. Following a two-decade hiatus, Toyota's iconic sports car is back, and it's packing BMW bones.

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Toyota repeated what it did with Subaru for the 86, working with BMW to make the new Supra a reality. It uses the same drivetrain and platform hardware as the 2019 Z4, but unlike the Subaru BRZ and 86 clones, the Supra has its own distinct look and performance tuning by Toyota's Gazoo Racing motorsports division. In fact, Toyota says that after agreeing on the 97.2-inch wheelbase, width and A-pillar locations in mid-2014, the two sides went their separate ways and did their own things.

Fittingly, BMW brought inline six-cylinder know-how to the collaboration, which is what powered all previous Supras. In the new car, a turbocharged 3.0-liter with 335 horsepower and 365 pound-feet of torque drives the rear wheels through a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission. It'll hit 60 miles per hour in 4.1 seconds and an electronically limited top speed of 155 mph.

At the Supra's foundation is a lot of BMW DNA.

Toyota

What about a manual gearbox? Disappointingly, one won't be available at launch, but Toyota engineers did say during the prototype drive that a three-pedal version is theoretically possible down the road. If you're a hardcore enthusiast wanting a manual Supra, send your letter demanding one to Toyota now.

Helping the 3,397-pound Supra handle are 50:50 distribution and lower center of gravity compared to the 86. The double-joint front strut and the multilink rear suspension features standard adaptive dampers, aluminum control arms which shave unsprung weight and Brembo four-piston front brake calipers. All Supras also get a torque vectoring rear differential and ride on staggered 19-inch Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires (255/35 front, 275/35 rear) wrapped around forged wheels.

The design, previewed by the FT-1 Concept, clearly borrows inspiration from the fourth-gen Supra for the front fascia, curvaceous long hood line and integrated arching rear spoiler. The double-bubble roof comes from the 2000 GT and the big rear haunches give it a tougher stance. Whether the faux hood and door vents are visual pluses comes down to personal preference. Available paint choices include white, black, silver, blue, red, yellow and matte gray.

A two-seater cabin is a deviation from Supras of old that all had backseats. It features a high-definition digital instrument cluster and supportive Alcantara sport seats in base 3.0 models, while top 3.0 Premium versions get heated leather ones.

A 3.0-liter turbo inline six-cylinder with 335 horsepower sits under the Supra's hood.

Jon Wong/Roadshow

Infotainment equipment consists of a 6.5-inch center display and a console rotary controller shared with BMW's iDrive interface. Base cars can have navigation and a 12-speaker JBL audio system equipped for an additional $2,460. An upgraded 8.8-inch touchscreen comes on 3.0 Premium cars with navigation, JBL sound, wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless phone charging pad. As in BMW products, Android Auto isn't supported.

On the safety tech front, all Supras get forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning and road sign assist. The 3.0 Premium also receives a head-up display. For an additional $1,195, a Driver Assist Package adds adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert and parking sensors to both trim levels.

The 2020 Toyota Supra comes back this summer with a $50,920 starting price.

Jon Wong/Roadshow

The 2020 Toyota Supra goes on sale this summer with a base price of $50,920, including $930 for destination. The 3.0 Premium begins at $54,920, while the first 1,500 units built for the US will be Launch Edition cars with special design touches and numbered carbon fiber dash plaques. The Supra Launch Edition wears a $56,180 price tag.