iOS 10.1.1 Battery Problems: Apple Admits To Defect As First Reference To Project Titan Emerges

Recently, numerous iPhone users started complaining about several problems on their smartphones seemingly as a result of flaws in iOS 10.1.1. For one, iPhone 7, 6S and 5S owners reported that their smartphones’ Phone Apps have started freezing seemingly for no reason. Apart from this, iPhone 6S owners also extended their concerns to Apple after it was found that their devices were experiencing sudden shutdowns even if battery levels were still 30 to 40 percent. Much to the surprise of many, the Cupertino-based tech giant actually admitted that some of its handsets were prone to malfunctioning as a result of iOS 10.1.1.

What was more surprising, however, was the explanation given by Apple. According to The Express, the tech giant stated that some of its devices, especially iPhone 6S units that were manufactured between September and October 2015, might be prone to sudden battery drains after upgrading to iOS 10.1.1. The reason? During the manufacturing process, the iPhone 6S units were exposed to too much air. While the explanation sounds almost unbelievable, that was the actual explanation given by Apple. If any, the tech giant at least stated that the manufacturing flaw is not a safety issue.

“We found that a small number of iPhone 6s devices made in September and October 2015 contained a battery component that was exposed to controlled ambient air longer than it should have been before being assembled into battery packs. As a result, these batteries degrade faster than a normal battery and cause unexpected shutdowns to occur. It’s important to note, this is not a safety issue.”

In order to address issues that were brought forward by users, Apple has launched a free repair and replacement program for affected iPhone 6S units. A nifty tool that enables users to check if their phones are at risk of sudden battery drains as a result of the manufacturing flaw has also been made available. Unfortunately, Apple has not released an official statement regarding the concerns of iPhone 7, 6S, and 5S users who complained about their Phone Apps freezing. For now, it appears that the tech giant is simply asking those who are affected by the iOS 10.1.1 problem to wait it out until iOS 10.2 rolls out.

Considering that iOS 10.2 Beta 5 has already been released to developers and members of the public beta sample group, it would appear that it would not be long before Apple initiates a mass rollout for the newest iteration of its mobile operating system. With the tech giant still tight-lipped about the official reason behind the freezing Phone Apps of iPhone 7, 6S and 5S devices running iOS 10.1.1, users of the affected smartphones could only hope that iOS 10.2 would address its predecessor’s flaws.

As iPhone users await the release of iOS 10.2, the tech giant also released what could be the first confirmation of its Apple Car initiative. While the Apple Car project, codenamed Project Titan, has been around in the rumor mill for a long time now, the tech giant has yet to issue an official announcement confirming or denying its existence. That is, of course, until now.

In a recent letter to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the tech giant urged the organization to be a bit more lenient when it comes to restrictions on the testing of autonomous vehicles. According to the Apple, artificial intelligence, especially those utilized in projects such as self-driving vehicles, require different real-time scenarios in order for true machine learning to take place.

“Apple uses machine learning to make its products and services smarter, more intuitive, and more personal. The company is investing heavily in the study of machine learning and automation, and is excited about the potential of automated systems in many areas, including transportation.”

With the seeming confirmation of its self-driving car project, as well as the impending release of iOS 10.2, it appears that Apple is at least getting a handle on its present and future products. The iPhone is arguably Apple’s most important device on the market right now, and the rumored Apple Car would most likely be its biggest bet yet. With each step that Apple takes, from rolling out iOS 10.2 as a means to address the problems in iOS 10.1.1 to seemingly referencing the Apple Car in its letter to the NHTSA, the tech giant seems to be taking a significant step forward towards its goal of becoming the world’s most dominant tech conglomerate.

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