• FILE - In this Monday, June 5, 2017, file photo, a person takes a photo of an Apple logo before an announcement of new products at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference in San Jose, Calif. Apple’s next major update of its mobile software will include an option that will enable owners of older iPhones to turn off a feature that slows the device to prevent aging batteries from shutting down. The free upgrade will be released in spring 2018. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File) Photo: Marcio Jose Sanchez, STF / Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Photo: Marcio Jose Sanchez, STF
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FILE - In this Monday, June 5, 2017, file photo, a person takes a photo of an Apple logo before an announcement of new products at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference in San Jose, Calif. Apple’s next major update of its mobile software will include an option that will enable owners of older iPhones to turn off a feature that slows the device to prevent aging batteries from shutting down. The free upgrade will be released in spring 2018. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File) less
FILE - In this Monday, June 5, 2017, file photo, a person takes a photo of an Apple logo before an announcement of new products at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference in San Jose, Calif. Apple’s next ... more
Photo: Marcio Jose Sanchez, STF
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tax1124A woman on her Apple iPhone outside Government Buildings in Dublin today as Taoiseach Enda Kenny reiterated that Ireland does not negotiate specific tax deals with individual companies amid mounting criticism of Apple's corporate tax arrangements and its relationship with Ireland. (Photo by Julien Behal/PA Images via Getty Images) less
tax1124A woman on her Apple iPhone outside Government Buildings in Dublin today as Taoiseach Enda Kenny reiterated that Ireland does not negotiate specific tax deals with individual companies amid mounting ... more
Photo: Julien Behal - PA Images, Contributor
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Apple acknowledged its recent software updates had been secretly slowing older iPhones when batteries weakened. 
Apple acknowledged its recent software updates had been secretly slowing older iPhones when batteries weakened. 
Photo: Paul Chinn, Staff
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SAN FRANCISCO - Apple's next major update of its mobile software will include an option that will enable owners of older iPhones to turn off a feature that slows the device to prevent aging batteries from shutting down.

The free upgrade announced Wednesday will be released this spring.

The additional controls are meant to appease iPhone owners outraged since Apple acknowledged last month that its recent software updates had been secretly slowing down older iPhones when their batteries weakened.

Many people believed Apple was purposefully undermining the performance of older iPhones to drive sales of its newer and more expensive devices. Apple insisted it was simply trying to extend the lives of older iPhones, but issued an apology last month and promised to replace batteries in affected devices at a $50 discount, lowering the price to $29.

Despite Apple's contrition, the company is still facing an investigation by French authorities , a series of questions from U.S. Senate and a spate of consumer lawsuits alleging misconduct.

Besides giving people more control over the operation of older iPhones, the upcoming update dubbed iOS 11.3 will also show how well the device's battery is holding up. Apple had promised to add a battery gauge when it apologized last month.

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