¶ 2020 Year in Review | New Tech

This past year has been…well, something else. While a global pandemic certainly threw a wrench in so many things for so many people, it really wasn’t the worst year for me, aside from the longest spring break my kid has ever had. In January, I started a new job at my old flame, 1Password. Being a fully remote job, my day-to-day work wasn’t significantly impacted.

One thing that did go by the wayside was writing here. I just couldn’t muster the wherewithal to write during all this, even though I certainly had plenty fo topics to write about. You see, 2020 ended up being the year I had opportunity to refresh a good deal of my tech. So, in lieu of individual reviews, I’m going to summarize my thoughts on pieces of new tech I added to my collection this year.

AirPods Pro

As a “yay, new job!” gift to myself, I bought a pair of AirPods Pro in January. The regular AirPods were already one of my favorite pieces of tech in years, and the Pro variant set the bar even higher. I absolutely love the noise cancellation, which worked well on the few flights I took before the pandemic lockdown began.

But it is the Transparency mode that is really fantastic. Being able to clearly hear both music or podcasts and my surroundings is game changing, particularly on a walk through the neighborhood.

And the AirPods Pro have continued to get better. iOS 14 and macOS Big Sur allow for seamless automatic transfer between devices, and it works really well. It’s not foolproof, but it is rare for me to experience a hiccup in the transfer. And the new support for spatial audio is astounding. I’ve been watching Star Wars: The Clone Wars on Disney+, which supports spatial audio, and it is such an exciting audio experience. I really couldn’t recommend AirPods Pro enough. They are simply fantastic and remain my favorite gadget.

The Early 2020 MacBook Air

I had been rocking a 2012 MacBook Air until April this year. I loved that MacBook Air, and it was darn near the perfect computer. But it was certainly long in the tooth. Apple refreshed the MacBook Air back in 2018, giving it a Retina display and USB-C ports, but I held off because of the wretched butterfly keyboard. I was determined that my trusty MacBook Air would outlive the much-maligned butterfly keyboard design. That wager happened this year with a refresh bringing scissor switch keys to the MacBook Air.

I literally insta-ordered.

Little did I know I was buying the last Intel MacBook Air, since Apple swapped the brains for their own chips last month. Still, I am comforted knowing I bought the best Intel MacBook Air Apple had ever made. I have no regrets.

It’s a solid Mac, and more than fits my needs. But maybe this time around I won’t wait 8 years to upgrade.

The 2020 iPad Pro 12.9-inch

When Apple announced the Magic Keyboard for the iPad Pro and did a slight refresh on the iPad Pro, I knew this was a system I wanted (note: not needed) to own. I know what you’re thinking: “Chris! What are you doing? You just bought a 13-inch MacBook Air, and now you’re buying basically a 13-inch iPad Pro with a case that makes it a laptop?!”

Yep.

Here’s the deal: I love my Mac, and it is the de facto workhorse. But I also have strong associations of Mac = Work. At the end of my workday, I just don’t really feel like being on a Mac anymore if I can help it.

And the iPad is an exciting computing platform. I love the modularity. It can be a touch-driven tablet, a laptop with a real keyboard and trackpad, of a notepad with the Apple Pencil. And it seamlessly switches between and even combines these contexts.

My Mac is the stable, trustworthy stalwart of computing. My iPad is my personal computer. Everything about it feels very personal and approachable. And this year I decided to go big or go home — quite literally! The 12.9-inch iPad Pro is big, yet balanced.

And like the AirPods Pro, it got even better this fall with iPadOS 14. I find myself using the new Scribble feature with the Apple Pencil all the time. The iPad is a jack of all trades, and I can do most anything I need to on it. In fact, there are things I can do better on my iPad than on my Mac thanks to the versatility of input methods.

Could I go all in on iPad? Yeah, I think I could. But I’m not ready to put the Mac out to pasture yet.

Apple Watch Series 6

In September, I picked up the Apple Watch Series 6. My Series 4 was fine, and not failing me in any way, but I’ve been on a traditional 2-year upgrade cycle with my Apple Watch, and decided to upgrade, gaining the benefits of the always-on display, and also the blood oxygen sensor for kicks.

That always-on display is really nice. I didn’t think it would be a huge deal to me since I had been accustomed to having to tilt my wrist up to activate the screen, but it is a noteworthy addition to the watch. I think most people rocking a Series 4 are fine to wait another year before considering an upgrade, but if you have a Series 3 or older, the Series 6 would be a huge quality of life improvement.

iPhone 12 Pro

Being on the Apple Upgrade Program has the benefit of getting a new phone if I want it. The new industrial design of the iPhone 12 Pro had me sold straight away. The iPhone 4 was my all-time favorite iPhone design (and still is), and the iPhone 12 Pro feels like the modern reinterpretation of that design. The flat sides won me over instantly.

This also marked the first time I did not get an iPhone that was either black or space gray. I decided to branch out and get the Pacific Blue model, and I do not regret that one bit. It is a delightfully gorgeous color. I’ve never been one to use cases, and this phone is no different. I love seeing that blue.

I was concerned that the increase in the screen size from 5.8-inches to 6.1-inches was going to be ungainly, but it’s been a non-issue. Apple made the overall body of the phone very comparable in size to the iPhone 11 Pro, and it really doesn’t feel any larger in the hand (or pocket).

HomePod mini (x2)

The final piece of tech I picked up from Apple this year was a pair of HomePod minis. One for the living room, one for the kitchen. They’ve been a very nice addition to the house that everyone in the family have enjoyed.

I’m not an audiophile by any stretch of the imagination, so it doesn’t take much to impress me when it comes to audio quality. Needless to say, I’m impressed. At about 70% volume, the living room is filled with nice sound. I can’t believe how much sound a device the size of a softball can put out. And while it’s easy to pick on Siri, more often than not Siri works very well on both of our HomePod minis. Siri distinguishes easily between me, my wife, and my son, and hasn’t once been confused by who is talking.

If you’re skeptical about the HomePod mini, don’t be. It’s a nice little device to have around the house.

The New Year and Beyond

Only Apple knows what lies ahead for the coming year in its product line. There are some easy guesses: more Apple Silicon-based Macs, probably a more remarkable revision to the iPad Pro, new iPhones and Apple Watches, etc. But I’m thinking 2021 will be a quieter year for tech purchases for me. I updated most of my arsenal this year because the stars aligned just so. I’m not chomping at the bit to replace anything anytime soon at this point. But I am excited to see what is in store, especially on the Mac side with this architecture change to Apple Silicon.

Have a happy new year.

¶ AirPods, Siri, and Her

If you have read this site for some time, followed me on Twitter, or have known me personally in the last few years, you know that I am a really big fan of AirPods. In fact, I think AirPods may be my favorite gadget in the past 5 years.

One thing AirPods reminded me of when they were originally released is the 2013 movie, Her — which is a strange movie in many ways, but has stuck with me ever since I watched it. My main takeaway from Her is that it is ultimately about loneliness, and how we as a society are ever-increasingly trying to substitute real connection with technology, but it isn’t a satisfactory substitute. That’s a whole essay for another day.

By far the main thing that stuck with me all these years about Her was the way everyday computing is portrayed. Computers are the size of a business card case and the primary interaction is through a small earbud. People take calls, read and reply to messages and email, and compose entire documents through voice. When at a desk, these small computers interface with a larger desktop monitor.

It’s all rather cool.

The first AirPods felt like an initial step towards this portrayed future. With a couple taps on an earbud you could summon Siri and dictate a message, among many other commands. But it was still a first step.

The second-generation AirPods have a newer chip in them, and brought along “Hey Siri” support. No more reaching up and tapping at your ear to get the attention of our favorite assistant. Just say the phrase and roll with your command, and Siri happily obliges — most of the time.

With the advent of iOS 13.2, Siri gained another new feature that brings us another step closer to the technology in Her — Announce Messages with Siri. This feature requires newer headphones from Apple that have the H1 chip. These currently include:

• AirPods (second generation)
• AirPods Pro
• Powerbeats Pro
• Beats Solo Pro

What this feature does is eerily conversational. While the AirPods (or other compatible headphones) are in your ears, and you receive a text message, Siri will fade out whatever you are listening to, give a delightful chime, and tell you something like, “Karen sent you a message: ‘Which flavor of ice cream would you like me to pick up?’”

At this point, there is just silence for a few seconds, which is your cue to say something like, “Reply. Definitely cookies and cream.”

And then she just sends it and returns your audio right where you left off. There is an option to have Siri read your reply back to you and ask for confirmation to send, just in case you don’t trust her ability to transcribe your dictation well.

But this whole process is surprisingly interactive and quick once you get the hang of it. The other day I was getting ready for a workout and carrying out a conversation via text with a friend, completely hands-free, without looking at my phone once.

For kicks and giggles I even had Siri read an email to the other day and then I composed the reply right from my AirPods. It worked great for a short reply.

I doubt this will be the last time I bring up AirPods or the comparisons to the tech in the movie Her, but it is fascinating to me how quickly AirPods and Siri are becoming a decent interaction model with the iPhone, and how the proliferation of AirPods are normalizing speaking to these little devices in our ears.

The cautionary tale, though, is the same as we see in the film: we shouldn’t let these conversations with our devices overshadow real relationships with other people. Sometimes you need to take the earbuds out, put them away, and talk to another person.

The Hunchback of Cupertino Goes to 11 with New Camera Button

Today Apple released updated Smart Battery Cases for iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max. When the first Smart Battery Case came out in 2015, I dubbed it the Hunchback of Cupertino due to its…hunchiness.

Apple has since refined that design a little by lowering the battery pack portion to the bottom edge of the case, which certainly helps the case appear a little less bulky.

New to the case this year is a dedicated camera button along the power right edge of the case. Apple’s product page notes:

The case features a dedicated camera button that launches the Camera app whether the iPhone is locked or unlocked. A quick press of the button takes a photo and a longer press captures QuickTake video. It works for selfies, too.

That’s actually a nice touch that I wouldn’t mind being on the iPhone itself. Imagine a flush button, much like the side button on an Apple Watch Series 4 or 5. Sure, the volume button work as a manual shutter, but they can’t launch the camera. A dedicated camera/shutter button would be a great addition to 2020’s iPhone lineup.

Beyond that, the Smart Battery Case functions the same as it always has and still includes the ability to use Qi wireless chargers.

I won’t say I am completely surprised by the announcement of this case, because we all know there are some folks who want or need as much battery as they can eek out. But I did almost think that with this year’s stellar battery life improvements in iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro it may not have been necessary.

Hyperaware

“Are you crazy?! Why don’t you have a case on that?!”

I’ve heard it many times. The wide-eyed disbelief that I typically do not have a case on my phone. It’s not that I haven’t tried the status quo before. I just don’t like it. I prefer the look and feel of my phone with no case.

I do own an inexpensive case — that I picked up on sale, no less — that I will put on if I am doing something like helping someone move, just because it gives me the peace of mind that I won’t bash it through my pocket while working with my hands.

I think what surprises people the most is that I’ve never shattered or cracked a phone over all these years. I better knock on some glass. Seriously though, I just enjoy my phone more without a bulky case. I appreciate the material feel of the thing.

My friend Ryan has said for years that the reason I get away it is that I am hyperaware of my gadgets. There is definitely truth to that. I am very conscious of where things are at. I’ve got a knack for spatial awareness, likely a byproduct of my detail-oriented nature.

Is there anything you do that others look at you in disbelief over?

Apple Opens Up 3 Health Studies with New Research App

Apple launched a new app called Research yesterday as a follow up to the Apple Watch Heart Study from a couple years ago, which I imagine was a key influence on the Apple Watch Series 4 including a built-in ECG.

US-based users can participate in any of the three studies offered so far:

• Women’s Health
• Heart and Movement
• Hearing

9to5Mac summarizes:

The Women’s Health study draws data from the Cycle Tracking app on watchOS 6 with the aim to improve scientific understand of menstrual cycles. The Heart and Movement Study uses a variety of signals from the watch, including movement and health rate information. The Hearing Study examines the impact of sound exposure on hearing health and stress levels.

I had participated in the Apple Watch Heart Study when it was available, so I went ahead and signed up to contribute data to the Heart and Movement study, and I’ll likely participate in the Hearing study, as well, since I wear an Apple Watch Series 4, which has the ability to measure decibels with its microphone.

I think these studies are very beneficial to helping devices like the Apple Watch truly help people in regards to their health. (And yes, they will undoubtedly be beneficial to Apple’s bottom line, too).

I, for one, am a sucker for the videos Apple sometimes puts out about how the Apple Watch has really saved people. It makes me happy that I wear a device that monitors my heart and can detect a fall (especially living in a climate that is covered in ice for months). You never know when you may need the extra insight, and it could vastly improve or even save your life.

So if you feel inclined, download the Research app and check out the different studies offered. If you feel comfortable with the privacy policy, contribute your data.

US Veterans Can Now Access VA Health Records with iPhone Health App→

Apple Newsroom:

Apple and the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) today announced that veterans across the nation and surrounding territories now have access to the Health Records feature in the Health app on iPhone. The VA gradually launched Health Records to select patients this summer, and now veterans who are iOS users and receive their care through the Veterans Health Administration can see a fuller, more comprehensive picture of their health that includes information from multiple providers.

The Health Records feature of the Health app on iPhone isn’t new, but it is interesting and still gaining traction. For instance, there are a few specialty clinics in my city that offer access, but none of the major healthcare providers do. Go an hour northeast to Omaha and some of the larger healthcare providers there have embraced Health Records integration.

Partnering with the VA is a big leap in bringing this feature to more people, and hopefully this move will get even more providers moving toward offering this as an option to their patients.

Getting it set up looks to be very straightforward, too.

By signing into their providers’ patient portals in the Health app, veterans can see all of their health records in one place, including medications, immunizations, lab results and more. The Health app continually updates these records giving VA patients access to a single, integrated snapshot of their health profile whenever they want, quickly and privately.

¶ Last Week’s iPhone and Watch Event

Apple held their annual iPhone — and now Apple Watch — event last week on September 10. This is easily Apple’s biggest event of the year where they roll out the latest and greatest iPhones and other hardware, just in time for people to begin thinking about the Christmas shopping season.

Apple has posted the full event on YouTube, along with a humorous 2 minute summary that is worth watching. I have some quick thoughts on everything that was announced, so let’s get started.

Apple Arcade

On September 19th Apple Arcade will ship within iOS 13. Apple has worked with a lot of game developers to launch 100+ new games exclusive to Apple platforms this fall. And these aren’t just for iPhones and iPads. They’ll be available on Mac and Apple TV, too. And this year’s new operating systems support pairing Playstation and Xbox One controllers, which is great news for gaming.

While gaming on iOS is popular, it’s rife with sleazy grifts of in-app purchases and sketchy ads that are probably harvesting all sorts of data. Apple Arcade solves this with high-quality games without ads or in-app purchases. And the price is extremely compelling: $4.99 per month, and it covers up to six people with Family Sharing.

I don’t play many games on iOS (even less on Apple TV and none on Mac). My son, however, loves gaming on his iPad mini. I’m often reluctant to install new games on his iPad because they are often, for lack of better words, crappy. While my family may not hop on Apple Arcade right away, I can see it being a peace of mind alternative to all these games with questionable motives.

Apple TV+

As if anyone needs yet another TV subscription, Apple is coming out with their own. The big difference between Apple TV+ and contenders like Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+ is Apple does not have a vast content back catalog to lean on. All they have is all-new original content. But that content looks good. And the price is pretty great, too. $4.99 per month for the whole family. And, starting now, if you buy an iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, or Mac, a whole year of Apple TV+ is included. Boom.

iPad

The iPad lineup has settled into having something for everyone. The iPad as the entry level, the iPad mini for folks who like petite tablets, the iPad Air for people wanting a bit more productivity, and the iPad Pro for those looking to use an iPad as a laptop replacement.

One of the lines got a little more blurred with last week’s update to the entry-level iPad. Going from a 9.7-inch screen to a 10.2-inch screen and gaining a Smart Connector for use with the Smart Keyboard Cover makes the iPad a close contender with the 10.5-inch iPad Air. And the iPad maintained its $329 starting price. That’s pretty fantastic.

It’s definitely a no-brainer for someone’s first iPad.

Apple Watch Series 5

The Apple Watch remains one of my favorite devices. Like the rest of the internet, I was struggling to think of what exactly could be improved on from last year’s Series 4. I had settled on the idea of improved power management to enable sleep tracking. I wasn’t wrong on improved power management, but I was dead wrong on what it would be used for.

The Apple Watch Series 5 has an always-on display, which is a really nice touch. Anyone who has ever worn an Apple Watch knows that it needs a certain amount of tilt and motion to figure out you want to see the display and light it up. There’s no way to really sneak a casual peek at the time. Now that won’t be a problem.

Apple also added a built-in compass and the cellular communications work better in more places, but other than that there isn’t much new on the technology side.

On the materials side the lineup expands from aluminum and stainless steel to include titanium and the return of ceramic. Titanium and ceramic bear the Edition name, which translates to a giant sack of money for a watch. While I will never own an Edition model, I must admit I yearn for that white ceramic case. I’ll satiate that desire by trying one on at the Apple Store for a few moments.

I’ll be sticking with my Series 4. It does its job amazingly well and will be even better with watchOS 6. But if you have a Series 2 or older, definitely consider the Series 5. Apple is keeping the Series 3 around at $199, which I imagine made some Fitbit execs lose sleep.

iPhone 11

I love my iPhone XS and it was the right choice for me, but it certainly is not the right choice for most people. For the past year the iPhone for most people has been the iPhone XR, but Apple’s initial marketing seemed to position it as the lesser sibling of the XS. And that seemed to stick among people I know. They felt the iPhone XS was the good phone, and the XR was an also-ran, even though I greatly encouraged folks to check out the XR.

Apple’s marketing is on point this year with the iPhone 11, which is the spiritual successor to the iPhone XR, but positioned as the standard iPhone. Naming matters. And it’s truly a great phone with a great camera, a second ultra-wide camera, and a Night Mode that, combined, I think will be very popular. And it has an extra hour of battery life compared to the already impressive XR.

I’ve already heard from friends and family that they think it’s time for them to upgrade and they have their eyes on the colorful lineup of the iPhone 11. Especially since the price is $50 less than the iPhone XR’s previous price point.

iPhone 11 Pro

Whereas the iPhone 11 is a great phone and camera for everyone, naturally there are some people who want a little more. iPhone 11 Pro is for these people. The wide camera lens is joined by not only the new ultra-wide lens from the iPhone 11, but also a telephoto lens á la the iPhone XS. And like the iPhone XS it has an OLED display. It has better water resistance than the 11. For most other specs, though, it has the same guts as the iPhone 11.

It does not, however, have the rainbow of colors of its sibling. The iPhone 11 Pro sticks with the very “pro” colors of silver (white), space grey, and gold — along with a new midnight green. The best description of the new color I’ve seen comes from John Gruber: “Boba Fett-y”.

One spec that is remarkably impressive is battery life. The iPhone 11 Pro boasts 4 more hours than the iPhone XS, and the iPhone 11 Pro Max 5 more hours than the iPhone XS Max. That’s insane for a year-over-year jump.

Now, let’s talk about the naming here. iPhone 11 Pro is the perfect modifier for the luxury model of iPhone this year. The name positions itself as a step up from the iPhone for most everyone, rather than last year’s naming positioning the more affordable option as a step down. There’s a difference.

But iPhone 11 Pro Max? That’s a mouthful. I get that Apple wants to differentiate the smaller and larger screens of iPhone 11 Pro, but do they need to? I would have rather seen both be named simply iPhone 11 Pro, and then talk about the different screen sizes separately, as they do with iMacs, iPad Pros, and MacBook Pros.

The naming of the iPhone 11 Pro Max aside, I think the 2019 lineup of iPhones is stellar. I know a lot of iPhone 7 owners that have held on to them, skipping the iPhone 8/X, and XR/XS. Now in their third year of ownership, they are noticing the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro, and considering upgrading.

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While I am keen toward the iPhone 11 Pro, I’ll be recommending the iPhone 11 to most people. It has an impressive feature set, a variety of colors, and a more affordable price that is in line with the iPhone 7 of a few years ago. iPhone 11 is the default iPhone, and it deserves to be.

¶ The Aluminum Anniversary

July 11, 2008. 4:45 AM. My alarm goes off. In four days at almost this exact minute my son would draw in his first breath. But in this moment, now, I am groggy and slightly hesitant to leave home knowing he could arrive at any time. In retrospect, it was more than a little foolish to be doing what I was doing.

I quickly dressed, gave my wife a kiss on the forehead while she slept, grabbed my Motorola RAZR, and then got in the car and drove an hour to Omaha.

Why?

You know why. That’s where the Apple Store is.

I arrived at [Apple Store Village Pointe] around 6:00 AM. There was a line. I expected a line. Thankfully it wasn’t too long. I was 22nd in line.

After a little while some Apple employees began walking up and down the line, chatting up folks, offering donuts, coffee, and bottled water. I recognized one of them. A few days prior, Apple had posted some tutorial videos about the iPhone 3G, the App Store, and MobileMe ([remember that?]). The guy I recognized was the guy from the MobileMe videos. When he got to me, I pointed this out, and he confirmed it and told me his name was John. He still works in the Omaha store, and whenever I’m there we catch up. I still call him MobileMe John.

After standing in line for a few hours, the store finally opened. It didn’t take long before I was paired up with an employee. I bought a 16GB iPhone 3G, in black, naturally. Of course, AT&T’s activation servers had already turned into molten slag, so setup didn’t get very far. The employee offered that I could stay and finish setup there whenever the servers connected again, or if I was comfortable with it I could finish the process of activating and porting my number at home via iTunes.

I thanked him, he gave me a high five, and I left the store, got more coffee, and drove home. Once I got back to my apartment I plugged my new iPhone into my MacBook, and started the setup process on iTunes. Activation was still unsuccessful, but trying. I decided to sleep while it did its thing. A couple hours later I was awoken by the shimmering sound of an iPhone connecting. Bleary-eyed, I looked at the screen. Activation successful.

I set up my iPhone from my iPod touch’s backup, and it worked flawlessly. I started installing apps: Twitterrific, Facebook, AIM, and a lightsaber app.

Fast-forward to the early hours of July 15. My wife tells me it is time to go to the hospital. I begin using the Clock app’s stopwatch to time contractions, using the lap function. When our doctor arrived at the hospital, he remembered my iPhone from our last visit with him the day before, and he cracked a joke asking if I would use the lightsaber app to cut the cord in a little while. No one thought it was funny.

A few hours after Jonathan was born, I took a photo of him with my iPhone, shared it to Mail, filled out a little message with the time, his length, weight — all that stuff people ask about when a baby is born — and then sent it to a bunch of people.

And ever since then some iteration of the iPhone has always been in my pocket. As strange as it sounds, the iPhone has been a part of my family. As the hardware became better, it has become my primary camera. I’ve taken more photos with the iPhone over the past ten years than I had taken at any other time in my life. I’ve made friends through this screen, both near and far. I’ve chronicled joyful and painful times of my life into it. My son and I have pointed it at the sky and seen constellations light up.

This object of glass is the technology I dreamed of as a kid watching Star Trek. It is my tricorder, my communicator, and my captain’s log. In many ways, it’s more than that — because it can become anything I need it to be.

How to quickly fix sideways video clips on iPhone or iPad→

Serenity Caldwell on iMore has a fantastic tip on how to rotate videos on an iOS device:

This one's easy to miss, but a must-have for filming fiends: iMovie for iOS is a free app for more complex video editing projects, but it also offers a quick-fix extenison in Photos for iOS. This extension lets you trim a clip, silence it, or add filters, text, or music — but it also lets you flip video with a gesture.

The rest of the article has a step-by-step guide worth checking out. This tip was news to me, but it’ll be invaluable for those times when my iPhone doesn’t orient itself before I hit record.

¶ iPhone Batteries and Performance

A little over a week ago Apple addressed the perception some users had about their iPhones running slower. Apple’s statement then:

Our 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.

Last year we released a feature for iPhone 6, iPhone 6s and iPhone SE to smooth out the instantaneous peaks only when needed to prevent the device from unexpectedly shutting down during these conditions. We’ve now extended that feature to iPhone 7 with iOS 11.2, and plan to add support for other products in the future.

Put simply, Apple stated (admitted?) that they began limiting the power draw on the battery during peak performance in January 2017 on iPhones with aged batteries that couldn’t handle the load.

I believe Apple in that the goal of this software feature was to prevent unexpected shutdowns, thus extending the useful life of an older iPhone, even if that meant it wasn’t as performant as it was when brand new.

The rest of the Internet seemed to disagree, and took this as proof of the age-old conspiracy theory that Apple intentionally plans the obsolescence of iPhones to drive sales of newer models.

That idea is folly, and ridiculous. Full stop.

This evidence is in the history. Apple offers software and hardware support for older models of phones far longer than anyone else in the industry. They also sell older models brand new at more affordable prices to make sure there is an iPhone model for almost anyone.

It simply does not make any sense that Apple would plan to slow down a brand new older model to push someone to buy a newer, more expensive model. That works directly against Apple’s best interests for itself and its customers.

That said, the perception that Apple intentionally hobbles devices out of greed is one that is rampant, and has been for years. I have family who outright believe it. And Apple’s lack of communication and clarity at the outset of rolling out this feature only helped to sow more distrust.

This afternoon, Apple blinked. They issued an open letter apologizing for their lack of clarity.

We’ve been hearing feedback from our customers about the way we handle performance for iPhones with older batteries and how we have communicated that process. We know that some of you feel Apple has let you down. We apologize. There’s been a lot of misunderstanding about this issue, so we would like to clarify and let you know about some changes we’re making.

First and foremost, we 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. Our goal has always been to create products that our customers love, and making iPhones last as long as possible is an important part of that.

I very much believe Apple in that second paragraph. It fits in line with the history of their actions. To drive the point home further, Apple concludes with action.

We’ve always wanted our customers to be able to use their iPhones as long as possible. We’re proud that Apple products are known for their durability, and for holding their value longer than our competitors’ devices.

To address our customers’ concerns, to recognize their loyalty and to regain the trust of anyone who may have doubted Apple’s intentions, we’ve decided to take the following steps:

• Apple is reducing the price of an out-of-warranty iPhone battery replacement by $50 — from $79 to $29 — for anyone with an iPhone 6 or later whose battery needs to be replaced, available worldwide through December 2018. Details will be provided soon on apple.com.
• Early in 2018, we will issue an iOS software update with new features that give users more visibility into the health of their iPhone’s battery, so they can see for themselves if its condition is affecting performance.
• As always, our team is working on ways to make the user experience even better, including improving how we manage performance and avoid unexpected shutdowns as batteries age.

At Apple, our customers’ trust means everything to us. We will never stop working to earn and maintain it. We are able to do the work we love only because of your faith and support — and we will never forget that or take it for granted.

Apple is making the right moves here. They are carving themselves off a giant piece of humble pie. The forthcoming update to iOS with greater transparency for battery health is how this feature should have been introduced. The $29 battery replacement fee should probably be permanent instead of just for 2018. We’ll see what happens there.

I can’t sum up my thoughts about Apple’s misstep with communication better than John Gruber did earlier today:

The funny thing about Apple is that their communication problems tend to happen only when they don’t communicate at all. This whole iPhone battery controversy erupted only because Apple had never explained what was going on, which opened them up to accusations of nefarious intent. When they do communicate, they do so with clarity, plain language, and honesty. And, when called for — as in this case — humility.