Topic: Apple Battery

The hosts point out that Hawaii previously tested its siren system for nuclear attack warnings, contradicting claims that they are only for tsunamis. Governor Josh Green’s comments about the state potentially acquiring fire-damaged land for "workforce housing" are met with skepticism. In a separate tech update, Apple is beginning to pay out $500 million to settle the "battery-gate" lawsuit, with eligible users receiving roughly $65 each.

A Florida man reported that his Apple AirPods began smoking and then exploded while he was working out at a gym. This incident adds to a growing number of reports concerning lithium battery failures in small consumer electronics. The show concludes with a musical mix by Doug Long and a reminder of the next broadcast from Amsterdam.

The Democratic Republic of Congo declared cobalt a strategic substance, tripling the royalty rate for miners from 3% to 10%. While tech companies like Apple claim to monitor their supply chains, much of the world's cobalt is sourced from "artisanal miners" who work in hazardous conditions without safety equipment. This labor often involves children separating ore by hand, yet the term "artisanal" is used by corporations to sanitize the reality of the extraction process.

Apple issued a formal apology for slowing down older iPhone models to prevent unexpected shutdowns caused by aging batteries. The company announced a discount on battery replacements, dropping the price from $79 to $29 for affected users. Legal experts anticipate class action lawsuits that could force Apple into the discovery phase, potentially revealing internal memos regarding planned obsolescence.

Geekbench discovered that Apple intentionally reduces the processing power of older iPhones as their batteries degrade. While Apple claims this prevents unexpected reboots, critics argue it is a form of planned obsolescence designed to force users to upgrade to newer models. The segment contrasts this with Android phones, where batteries were historically easier to replace.

Samsung has issued a massive recall for the Galaxy Note 7 following reports of exploding batteries. The hosts deconstruct how ABC News used the story as a "native ad" for the upcoming iPhone release, seamlessly transitioning from Samsung's failure to the high anticipation for Apple's new product.