Techmeme
December 29, 2017, 4:15 PM

Top News

Apple:
Apple apologizes for inadequately communicating battery management practices that slowed down iPhones with older batteries, will offer $29 battery replacements  —  We've been hearing feedback from our customers about the way we handle performance for iPhones with older batteries and how we have communicated that process.
Victor H. / PhoneArena:
Samsung, LG, HTC, and Motorola say that they do not slow down phones with older batteries  —  Two of the biggest Android phone makers - Samsung and LG - have just confirmed that they do not slow down phones with older batteries, a tactic that Apple has admitted it uses on some iPhones …
Apple Support:
Apple posts explainer of its device battery power management practices and their noticeable effects for users, like longer app launch times, slower scrolling  —  Our intention for iPhone is to deliver an experience that is simple and easy to use.  Doing so requires a lot of engineering and many advanced technologies.
Nilay Patel / The Verge:
Apple says it will issue an iOS software update in early 2018 with new features that give users more visibility into the health of their iPhone's battery  —  Batteries are “consumable components” now  —  Apple just published a letter to customers apologizing for the “misunderstanding” …
Justin Sink / Bloomberg:
In a tweet, President Donald Trump calls on the United States Postal Service to charge Amazon “much more” in postage fees  —  Latest criticism of online retailer and its CEO Jeff Bezos  —  Amazon stock opens as much as 0.6 percent lower after tweet
Nichole Manna / Wichita Eagle:
Gamers say deadly shooting of a man Thursday night by Wichita police was the result of a swatting prank  —  Online gamers have said in multiple Twitter posts that the shooting of a man Thursday night by Wichita police was the result of a “swatting” hoax involving two gamers.
Robby Payne / Chrome Unboxed:
Android apps in the upcoming Chrome OS 64 update will be able to run in the background  —  Thanks to some reader input, we've been made aware that a missing feature we discussed not long ago that is now coming soon to a Chromebook near you.  —  That feature?  Android Parallel Tasks.
Mike Isaac / New York Times:
SoftBank agrees to buy at least 14% of Uber from shareholders at a $48B valuation, will invest an additional $1.25B at a $67.5B valuation, documents show  —  SAN FRANCISCO — A group of Uber's largest shareholders have agreed to sell a significant stake in the ride-hailing giant at a steep discount …
Dylan / Hacker Noon:
LastPass fixes vulnerability in Authenticator Android app that let you bypass PIN/fingerprint lock to access 2FA codes; flaw was reported to LastPass in June  —  UPDATE: The issue has been fixed.  Please see below.  —  I've found a really easy way to bypass the fingerprint/PIN authentication that protects all of your 2FA codes.
Anjali Athavaley / Reuters:
AT&T says all 50 states will participate in FirstNet wireless broadband network for emergency responders, funded with $6.5B over 5 years by federal government  —  NEW YORK (Reuters) - AT&T Inc said on Friday that all 50 U.S. states had decided to participate in the nationwide broadband network …
More: Axios and Seeking Alpha
Ryan Whitwam / Android Police:
Google removes Pixel C, released in December 2015, from the Google Store; Pixel C was the only Android tablet the company sold  —  Google started selling the Pixel C about two years ago as an Android flagship tablet.  The price was high, but it was a good Android tablet.  Well, as good as Android tablets could be.

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Raymond Zhong / New York Times: