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Apple begs iPhone users over glitches, offers discounted battery
Apple has apologized to its customers for slowing down performance of older iPhone models and said it would discount replacement batteries for some of its handsets.
The move by Apple was a response to an uproar from iPhone users — and a series of lawsuits — after news of the battery problems stoked concerns the company was unfairly nudging consumers to upgrade.
In a message to customers on its website, Apple said “We know that some of you feel Apple has let you down, We apologize”.
“We’ve always wanted our customers to be able to use their iPhones as long as possible.
“We’re proud that Apple products are known for their durability, and for holding their value longer than our competitors’ devices.”
Apple said it was reducing the price of an out-of-warranty iPhone battery replacement from $79 to $29 for anyone with an iPhone 6 or later whose battery needs to be replaced, starting in late January through December 2018.
The company said it also would issue a software update to make it easier for customers to see if an aging battery is affecting performance.
“As always, our team is working on ways to make the user experience even better, including improving how we manage performance and avoid unexpected shutdowns as batteries age,” the statement said.
The controversy erupted last week after Apple acknowledged a feature to “smooth out” spikes in demand for power to prevent iPhone 6 models from shutting down due to the cold or weak batteries.
Rumors had persisted for years at tech news websites devoted to Apple products and among fans of the company’s products that iPhone performance was being intentionally slowed, perhaps to push users to buy newer models.
Apple’s latest statement said that “we have never — and would never — do anything to intentionally shorten the life of any Apple product, or degrade the user experience to drive customer upgrades.”
But it noted that “batteries are consumable components that become less effective as they chemically age” and that factors such as heat can affect performance.
Apple said a software update last year “manages the maximum performance of some system components when needed to prevent a shutdown” and that “in some cases users may experience longer launch times for apps and other reductions in performance.”
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NCC, MCSN Collaborate on Copyright Enlightenment
The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) in collaboration with Musical CopyrightSociety of Nigeria (MCSN) organised a stakeholders’ engagement and awareness event in Kaduna on November 20, 2024.
The event, themed “Enjoy Music, Respect Copyright, Protect your Business,” according to the State Coordinator, NCC Kaduna office Mrs Rukayya Yeldu was aimed at educating music users about copyright laws and the importance of paying royalties to support musicians in the creative industry.
Mrs. Yeldu in her address at the event noted that copyright laws help protect the livelihood of musicians and other stakeholders while emphasising that paying royalties is both a legal and moral duty for business operators in the creative sector.
Director-General, MCSN Mr. Mayowa Ayilaran in his presentation spoke about MCSN’s role in the creative sector and encouraged business owners to obtain proper licences for the music they use.
Broadcasting
90% of Global Constituents Support AI Agents in Public Service, Salesforce Finds
Public trust in government has been lagging for years but new Salesforce research reveals AI agents could help rebuild it.
Constituents around the world agree there’s room for improvement when it comes to government service. Forty percent struggle with government interactions, and over a third are unsure of available programs. However, the research indicates overwhelming public support for AI solutions — with 90% of global constituents saying they’d use an AI agent to engage with their government.
The arrival of AI agents presents governments with an exciting opportunity to strengthen public trust by streamlining services and speeding up response times. And in the face of tightening budgets, agents can augment public servants and better serve their constituents — without having to add headcount.
“It is clear from our research that there is a need for AI solutions like Salesforce’s Agentforce that help governments streamline and scale services to better meet the needs of their constituents,” said Nasi Jazayeri, EVP and GM of Public Sector at Salesforce.
“As global leaders gather in Davos, we have a tremendous opportunity for the public and private sectors to come together and explore how major advancements in technology like AI agents can improve how governments support citizens.”
Public calls for improved government service
40% say it’s difficult to interact with the government when they have questions or need help.
Less than half of survey respondents find it easy to understand what public services (42%) and public assistance programs (46%) are available to them.
Top service delivery improvements desired by global constituents include:
Reducing the number of steps to address needs
Responding to their needs faster
Constituents eager to engage with agents
90% of global respondents said they’d use an AI agent to interact with the public sector.
Constituents in Brazil, Spain, Singapore, and Italy are among the most willing to use AI agents to interact with the public sector, providing these countries with the opportunity to be trailblazers in the agentic AI era.
20% of German and American respondents say they’re very likely to use an AI agent to help fill out government forms (e.g. filing taxes, completing applications).
Three factors global respondents said they prioritised when considering using AI agents in the public sector:
24/7 access to information and services (47%)
Helping them efficiently access government resources (44%)
Reducing the number of websites and steps needed to address their needs (40%)
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NCC, NBTE to formulate IP Policy for Polytechnics, Technical Institutions
The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has expressed its commitment to partner with the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) for the creation of a robust Intellectual Property (IP) Policy tailored for Polytechnics and Technical Institutions across Nigeria.
This collaboration was agreed upon during a courtesy visit by the Director-General, NCC, Dr. John O. Asein to the Executive Secretary NBTE, Prof. Idris Muhammad Bugaje, in Abuja. The visit aimed to enlighten NBTE on the mandate of Commission and areas of possible collaboration.
Dr. Asein, represented at the meeting by Director Nigerian Copyright Academy (NCA), Mrs. Funmi Adewale and Director Planning Research and Statistics (PRS), Mr. Collins Nweke, emphasised the importance of a functional IP Policy and the need to incorporate Copyright Education into the curriculum of Technical Institutions.
The ES-NBTE who was represented by the Director, Abuja Liaison Office, Dr. Yahaya Bande gave assurances that the proposed partnership will yield results and lauded NCC’s initiatives of raising public awareness about IP and Copyright, emphasising that such efforts are crucial for enhancing the nation’s economic development.
The Commission’s representatives presented copies of the Commission’s publication “What Is Copyright” and “Copyright Act 2022” to the Executive Secretary, NBTE.
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