Perhaps one of the loudest talked-about tech scandals in history, "iPhone Batterygate" was about Apple allegedly deliberately throttling its older iPhones' charge, which ignited public outrage and lawsuits around the world. But in a big twist, the whole technical problem was solved by a 20-byte patch!
What Was the Cause of the Batterygate Scandal?
In 2017, users complained that older iPhones (especially the iPhone 6, 6s, and 7 series) would shut down randomly or slow down performance. It later came to light that Apple had implanted its iOS software with some code to slow down the processor when battery performance deteriorated. The company claimed it was "to protect the battery", but to the users, it looked like an intentional downgrading of performance just to coax them into buying a new iPhone.
Apple's 20-byte Magic Patch
Recent studies show that 20 bytes of code were the technical fix to put to rest a worldwide problem. What was done is a short patch to a function in the iOS system, for it to allow for one of two things: either adjusting the speed of the CPU relative to the state of the battery, or, more simply said, not restricting the speed of the entire processor, but letting the device run temperature relative to battery capacity.
Importance?
The very fact that such a small patch reminds one of the great saying; A stitch in time saves nine. At the right time and manner, small solutions can get enormous problems solved. A big lesson for tech companies is that transparency and user trust are the keys.
The narrative behind Apple's scandal and its solution becomes exemplary within the lanes of technology. The entire idea behind how a billion-dollar headache was laid to rest, courtesy of a mere 20 bytes of code, is mind-boggling. From here on, users must be informed about any course of updates or issues with their devices and demand absolute transparency.
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