iPhone Slowdown Will Soon Be Optional

Apple has somewhat good news for users of older, slower iPhones who don't want to go out and buy a new battery. Tim Cook tells ABC News that a new iOS update—expected in early February, per the Verge—will allow iPhone users to disable Apple's deliberate slowdown of older devices. "If you don't want it, you can turn it off," Cook says, though he doesn't recommend the move. Apple previously said the slowdown was meant to prevent surprise shutdowns caused by aging batteries. Apple also said it would sell fresh batteries at a reduced cost of $29. Explaining why the batteries aren't being supplied for free, Cook tells ABC that "most people kind of expect to get a [new] battery at some point in time." (More Apple stories.)