Apple is working on a new technology that could simplify the replacement of iPhone batteries, according to a new report from The Information, citing people involved in the iPhone’s manufacturing.

Apple is developing a removable battery for iPhone 16

This proactive move by the Cupertino giant is a significant step towards a more sustainable future. It comes in response to the upcoming European Union (EU) regulations that require smartphone manufacturers to develop phone batteries that their owners can replace with easily accessible tools by 2025.

For those unaware, the European Council last year adopted a waste-reducing regulation that mandates manufacturers of portable appliances feature batteries that can be easily removable and replaceable by end-users. Electric vehicles (EV), light means of transport (LMT), and industrial batteries should also be easily removable and replaceable by independent professionals. This requirement will be imposed from February 18, 2027.

Currently, ‌the iPhone‌ battery requires removing the adhesive strips that secure it using tweezers, making it challenging. If these strips break during the removal process, heat or a solvent is used to displace the adhesive. After removing the old battery, a specialized machine and tray are required to install a new battery securely into place.

Under the new EU regulations, changing a battery must not require heat or a solvent to disassemble it,  nor shall the user have to resort to special tools.

To comply with the new regulations, Apple must use “electrically induced adhesive debonding,” a method that administers a small jolt of electricity to the battery to dislodge it from the chassis. This new method involves encasing the battery in metal rather than foil as it is currently.

According to The Information, Apple could test out the new battery technology in at least one iPhone 16 model later this year and is likely to bring all iPhone 17 models in 2025. If this move is successful, users would still need to open the iPhone themselves, which would be challenging due to the device’s sealed design. As a result, they would also need to continue relying on Apple stores or other repair shops.

Not just Apple, many other manufacturers use similar adhesive pull tabs, which requires them too to alter their designs to comply with the new EU regulations. This could significantly change the repair industry as we know it.

 Earlier this month, there were reports of HMD Global, the company behind Nokia smartphones, working on a new mobile device that could have a design reminiscent of the classic Nokia Lumia line.

Not just this, a leak even suggested that the company’s upcoming Android smartphone inspired by the Nokia Lumia line-up, would called the HMD Skyline.

HMD is working on a second Nokia Lumia-inspired phone

It now appears that HMD might have already started working on a second Skyline device, the HMD Skyline G2, revealed reliable leaker @smashx_60, who is known for HMD-related information.

Currently, it is unclear if HMD Skyline G2 is a direct successor to the first Skyline or a completely different device. With HMD yet to officially share any information on the first Skyline device, the launch of G2  may still be a long way off.

With the G2, HMD aims to appeal to photographers. Like the first Skyline, the G2 is rumored to feature a triple camera setup on the back with four possible configurations for the camera system, the leaker says. One of the possible configurations even includes a 200MP primary camera.

All the setups could also include telephoto, ultrawide, and Time of Flight (ToF) sensors to improve the photography experience. However, the exact configurations of the cameras for G2 are yet to be known.

NOT YET CONCLUDED FOR SKYLINE G2, AND WE STILL HAVE A LONG TIME TO CREATE THIS MODEL BUT THE ONE THING THAT WE CAN CONFIRM IS HMD WANT TO PRESENT SKYLINE-SERIES TO BE AN ATTRACTIVE OPTION FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS. PIC.TWITTER.COM/VGGRPVM3TE

— HMD_MEME'S (@SMASHX_60) JUNE 22, 2024

As one can see from the above, the most prominent difference between the original Skyline handset and the G2 is the bezels of the display. While the first Skyline showed a prominent chin and relatively thin bezels on the sides and top, the G2 model features large bezels on both the top and bottom, giving it a more dated look.

Currently, there is scarce information on the hardware, software, and release date of the HMD Skyline G2. Keep watching this space for more updates, as we expect more leaks or official announcements about the device coming our way in the near future.

 A faulty update from the U.S.-based cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike caused a massive outage for Microsoft Windows-based desktops and laptops around the world on Friday.

Massive Microsoft outage hits flights, banks, stock exchanges, broadcasters

The issue is related to CrowdStrike’s Falcon Sensor, a software designed to prevent computer systems from cyber-attacks, which broke PCs running Windows, causing them to crash and display the Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) error message. Users around the world have been unable to reboot and are stuck in a recovery loop.

This widespread outage has affected banks, airlines, hospitals, media companies, IT institutes, TV broadcasters, supermarkets, and many other businesses worldwide.

CrowdStrike has acknowledged the problem and identified the update affecting its Falcon Sensor product. It has since rolled back the changes and released fixes to address the crashes. However, some Windows hosts continue to encounter the BSOD error message related to the Falcon sensor, leading to unexpected computer shutdowns or restarts.

“CrowdStrike is actively working with customers impacted by a defect found in a single content update for Windows hosts. Mac and Linux hosts are not impacted. This is not a security incident or cyberattack. The issue has been identified, isolated and a fix has been deployed,” George Kurtz, President and CEO of CrowdStrike, said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

“We refer customers to the support portal for the latest updates and will continue to provide complete and continuous updates on our website. We further recommend organizations ensure they’re communicating with CrowdStrike representatives through official channels. Our team is fully mobilized to ensure the security and stability of CrowdStrike customers,” he added.

CROWDSTRIKE IS ACTIVELY WORKING WITH CUSTOMERS IMPACTED BY A DEFECT FOUND IN A SINGLE CONTENT UPDATE FOR WINDOWS HOSTS. MAC AND LINUX HOSTS ARE NOT IMPACTED. THIS IS NOT A SECURITY INCIDENT OR CYBERATTACK. THE ISSUE HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED, ISOLATED AND A FIX HAS BEEN DEPLOYED. WE…

— GEORGE KURTZ (@GEORGE_KURTZ) JULY 19, 2024

Further, CrowdStrike has provided a workaround for affected Windows users to resolve the issue:

* Boot Windows into Safe Mode or the Windows Recovery Environment

* Navigate to the C:\Windows\System32\drivers\CrowdStrike directory

* Locate the file matching “C-00000291*.sys”, and delete it.

* Boot the host normally.

Meanwhile, Microsoft said it is aware of the issue affecting Windows desktops and laptops caused by a recent update to CrowdStrike Falcon Sensor software.

“We anticipate a resolution is forthcoming. We’re aware of an issue affecting Windows devices due to an update from a third-party software platform,” a spokesperson said.