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<ul class="summary-list"><li>Prophetic, a new startup founded earlier this year, is developing a device to induce lucid dreaming.</li><li>The "Halo," worn at night like a crown, could let engineers code in their sleep, say the developers.</li></ul>A new venture-backed <a target="_blank" href="https://fortune.com/2023/11/30/lucid-dream-startup-prophetic-headset-prepare-meetings-while-sleeping/">startup is capitalizing on the productivity</a> that can be channeled while lucid dreaming, Fortune reports.<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/inside-lucid-dreaming-2014-8">Lucid dreaming is a state of being aware that you are dreaming</a> during your sleep cycle and the ability to control or manipulate the dream narrative. As many as 70% of people <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/lucid-dreaming-how-to-control-your-dreams-2018-1">experience the phenomenon</a> at least once in their lifetime.Prophetic, founded earlier this year, is tapping into a new unconscious market with an innovative headpiece called the "Halo."Allowing customers to tap into lucid dreaming could pave the way for productivity at nighttime— for example, engineers could code in their sleep, per Fortune.People spend approximately <a target="_blank" href="https://www.insider.com/guides/health/how-much-sleep-do-you-need">one-third of their lives sleeping</a>. Prophetic wants to subvert the lack of activity that happens during sleep by inducing a lucid dream state.Working in collaboration with Afshin Mehin, the designer of Neuralink N1 for Elon Musk's brain implant company, Prophetic aims to bring a new level of control to the dream state.The Halo is worn like a crown and aims to give users control over their dreams. Per Prophetic's website, the <a target="_blank" href="https://propheticai.co/pages/approach">device uses a combination of ultrasound and machine learning models</a> created using EEG &amp; fMRI data to detect when users are in REM to induce and stabilize lucid dreams."Together, we will pursue the answers to life's biggest questions," the website teases.With plans to deliver data from the institute in spring 2024 and ship devices in spring 2025, Prophetic is expected to price the Halos between $1,500 and $2,000 each.The product is grounded in ongoing research by the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/brain-may-not-work-regions-scientists-suggest-2022-11">Donders Institute in the Netherlands that targets specific brain areas</a> and ultrasound frequencies for optimal lucid dream induction.The company has seen substantial interest, generating "several hundred thousand dollars in booking revenue" within the first few weeks of opening reservations, hinting at a potentially substantial user base eagerly anticipating the product's release.Some experts are skeptical that you can convert lucid dreams into useful tools.

Forever working: Gadget plans to tap into your productivity while you sleep by inducing lucid dreaming

June has come and gone, but the rains are still eluding us and the mercury is forever on the rise. So we think it’s just the ideal time for an extended summer break, accompanied by a whole new lot of cool <keyword id="5050" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="books">books</keyword>. In fact, we have never been so excited about a publication month. For one, here are two brand new crime thrillers – one from <keyword id="338663" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Stephen-King">Stephen King</keyword> and the other from <keyword id="44360" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="JK-Rowling">JK Rowling</keyword> in her new avatar. And the rest of the listing looks equally impressive – from intriguing memoirs to chilling <keyword id="44461" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Insurgency">insurgency</keyword>, insightful economic solutions to chirpy story-telling. Best of all, they all make for lucid <keyword id="4228" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Reading">reading</keyword>, minus the hard-hitting jargons that will put the readers off. So what are you waiting for? It’s time to take a break from your ice cream outings, beach excursions, <keyword id="6439698" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="80" keywordseo="mountain">mountain</keyword> treks and poolside parties. Get hold of something cool to drink, rush to that cushy seat and enjoy your reading. Let the books do the talking this summer. 
 
Image: Thinkstock/Getty Images

June Releases: 8 Cool Books To Enrich Your Summer Reading

<ul class="summary-list"><li>I'm a long-time Swiftie and bought tickets to see her in Dublin during the Eras Tour. </li><li>However, weeks before I was supposed to go, I was in an accident and badly injured.</li></ul>I've <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/taylor-swift-swifties-white-millennial-suburban-democrat-50k-eras-tour-2023-11">been a Swiftie</a> since 2007, so you can imagine my absolute euphoria at getting my hands on tickets to the Eras Tour. When I envisioned things that could go wrong — ticket issues, missed flights, dehydration — none of my imagined scenarios included an ambulance and surgery mere weeks before the show.Taylor's previous tours never came to South Africa, where I live, and the Eras Tour was no exception, with Africa left off the roster completely. However, for the first time, I could afford the splurge of making my way to Europe to join the tour there. My best friend and I decided to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/taylor-swift-eras-tour-concert-went-10-times-4-countries-2024-6">get the best tickets</a> we could. We got VIP pitch-standing tickets for her June 30 show in Dublin, and we couldn't wait.<h2 id="f7411558-054c-4245-acf6-0bf7fceb601a">Weeks before the concert, I was thrown off a horse</h2>At the time of booking, the concert was almost a year away. Plenty could happen — and plenty did. I left teaching to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/side-hustle-cured-my-burnout-2024-4">go full-time with writing</a>. My friend got pregnant and had her first baby. And then, with just weeks to go, I was thrown off a galloping horse on what was meant to be a scenic walking ride. I was left with a broken collarbone, broken ribs, and a massive hematoma in my right hip and thigh.One of my first lucid thoughts in the ambulance, strapped into a neck brace as the medics initially feared a fractured C-spine, was that there was no way this tortured poet was going to make it to the concert. The reality of what those injuries might mean for the rest of my life hadn't even set in yet.Luckily, the angels are Swifties, too, and my spine was miraculously spared. Within 24 hours, I was transferred to Johannesburg, where I was operated on and left with a hefty piece of titanium securing my collarbone, which had shattered into three pieces. The hematoma was so painful I couldn't put weight on my right leg. My broken ribs hurt when I breathed deeply or laughed. I had no clue how I would 'shake it off' and get to Dublin when I could barely get up the stairs in my home.<h2 id="71317711-f421-4677-82cc-b0fa0e413140">I did everything I could to recover and was given the all clear</h2>Despite the pain in those initial weeks, my surgeons remained optimistic that I'd recover faster than I thought. With every rehabilitation and physiotherapy session, I made tiny gains. As the days passed, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/improve-mobility-build-muscle-longevity-exercise-personal-trainer-2023-11">my mobility improved</a>. And I was fanatical about doing everything I could to (safely) speed up recovery. I had a concert to go to.Mere days before my flight was scheduled, I was given the tentative all clear. I could travel — with caution. To celebrate, I had an outfit made at the last minute. I hadn't been keen on the frivolous cost of a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-music-fans-are-making-concert-fashion-sustainable-2023-8">custom concert look</a> beforehand, but there's something about narrowly avoiding a broken neck that makes you want to seize the day. And this day demanded tassels and sequins, with a little extra fabric to bedazzle my sling.<h2 id="d8483808-bf13-456c-8d41-caa35c9af7ae">I was in pain during the concert, but I'd do it again</h2>The concert was tough — we were lined up for six hours outside the venue, right after a three-hour train trip from Cork to Dublin. Then, we watched Paramore for an hour before the three-and-a-half-hour Eras Tour. Painkillers didn't do much to dull my body screaming at me, but it was all worth it.<div type="image" title="Taylor Swift on stage during the Eras tour." height="2268" width="3024" msid="111513803" hostid="261" sizebytes="357658"></div>The rainbow of confetti, the heat from the fire, the eye contact with a woman whose music has <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/taylor-swift-music-helps-anxiety-cancer-screening-mri-2024-3">narrated my life</a> since I was 14 — I'll never forget any of it. During the acoustic set, we didn't even need the zoom on our phones; she was that close.And in those moments, I felt invincible.The Swifties around us were delightful. Throughout the concert, a stranger let me balance a hand on her shoulder while I stood on tiptoe to see Taylor. While it was a tight squeeze, no one shoved me in the hopes of edging closer for a better view.There were times before the concert when I thought I was out of my mind to go. Now that it's over, I'd do it all again. Taylor can do it with a broken heart — and I did it with broken bones.

I was in an accident that broke my collarbone and ribs. It didn't stop me from flying to Europe to see Taylor Swift.

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Staff said Judge Pauline Newman, 96, was "losing it, mentally" after 39 years on the bench.</li><li>Newman fought against the investigation. Some colleagues said she's as sharp as ever.</li></ul>A group of 11 judges barred a long-serving US appellate judge from hearing new cases for a year after failing to cooperate with an investigation into whether health issues prevent her from keeping up with the job's demands.<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/95-year-old-federal-circuit-judge-losing-it-mentally-paranoid-2023-5">Pauline Newman, who is 96 years old</a> and has served as a judge on the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/judge-pauline-newman-investigation-law-clerk-jobs-errands-2023-8">Federal Circuit appeals court since the 1980s</a>, was sidelined in a unanimous decision of her colleagues that came down on Wednesday. She has insisted that the investigation is factually and legally baseless, a claim the new decision forcefully rejects."Judge Newman and her counsel have aggressively sought to discredit this entire process by trying their case in the press while conjuring a narrative of 'hostile,' 'disrespect[ful],' and 'appalling' treatment marked by exercises of 'raw power,' all borne out of 'personal animosity' for Judge Newman," the decision said. "There is no evidence to support these claims."Since March, Judge Newman's unusually public dispute with her fellow judges has rocked the Federal Circuit. She claims that they tried to cajole her into retiring before formally launching an investigation. She also said she couldn't trust that the process would be fair because other judges had already concluded that she had to go.But the court — acting mostly through a three-judge committee led by Chief Judge Kimberly Moore — has said it had good reasons to dig into Newman's health. They said Newman <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/95-year-old-federal-circuit-judge-losing-it-mentally-paranoid-2023-5">threatened to have one of her assistants arrested</a>, and courthouse staff reported signs of paranoia and memory loss in their interactions with her. One said she was "losing it, mentally.""She accused staff of trickery, deceit, acting as her adversary, stealing her computer, stealing her files, and depriving her of secretarial support," Wednesday's ruling said.Greg Dolin, a lawyer for Newman, said two physicians have said she is still mentally sharp. He has said disagreements between the judge and staff don't come close to showing "disability."The decision also faulted her for her interactions with <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/judge-pauline-newman-investigation-law-clerk-jobs-errands-2023-8">law clerks</a>. One of them quit because they didn't like the "drama" created by the investigation, and another invoked the Fifth Amendment and refused to answer dozens of basic questions posed by the investigating panel of judges.The Federal Circuit appeals court, where Newman has been a judge since 1984, was created to hear cases in niche areas of federal law, like patents and government contracts. Newman has become known for writing thorough dissents, especially in patent disputes.The judge has gone on the offensive, suing to stop the investigation and doing interviews with the Washington Post and Bloomberg Law. Two former judges have publicly said Newman is still lucid and sharp and faulted their former colleagues for not transferring the case to another group of judges who would seem more neutral.The Judicial Conduct and Disability Act doesn't allow judges to remove one another — only Congress can do that — so Wednesday's decision is a harsh reprimand. At the same time, it left the door open for Newman to cooperate with the court's probe and for the one-year suspension to be shortened if she did.Dolin, the lawyer for Newman, said she planned to press forward with her lawsuit and appeal the sanction to the Judicial Conference Committee on Judicial Conduct and Disability. He wants the case transferred to another circuit."They've rejected each and every attempt at cooperation we've floated, each and every one," he said. "We believe the sanction is flatly unlawful."

A 96-year-old judge has been suspended after a bitter fight that rocked a key federal court

Ousted Tesla cofounder Martin Eberhard sounds off on Elon Musk, how the company has changed, and the EV wars

Welcome to 10 Things Before the <keyword id="11907548" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="opening-bell" source="Orion">Opening Bell</keyword>.If this was forwarded to you, <a href="https://newsletter.businessinsider.com/join/4np/10-things-opening-bell">sign up here.</a> Plus, download Insider's app for news on the go – <a href="https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-store/id554260576?pt=385758&amp;ct=06292021_newsletters&amp;mt=8">click here for iOS</a> and<a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.freerange360.mpp.businessinsider"> here for Android</a>.Join us TODAY for an exclusive Insider webinar: The future of crypto and its path to mass adoption. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/crypto-investing-webinar-bitcoin-ethereum-altcoin-regulation-and-opportunities-ahead-2021-10">Sign up here.</a>Let's jump in. 1. Americans are ramping up spending into the holiday season. The latest <a href="https://www.census.gov/retail/marts/www/marts_current.pdf">Census Bureau</a> report tells us consumer spending in October saw the biggest jump since March, to the tune of $638.2 billion. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/retail-sales-october-record-delta-wave-americans-spending-economic-recovery-2021-11">The spending spree has not yet buckled under surging prices</a> and COVID-19 fears.Shoppers are out en masse even as <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/milk-gallon-cost-expensive-kennedale-texas-inflation-cnn-viral-interview-2021-10">the price of just about everything is going up</a>. Yesterday, <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/stocks/wmt-stock">Walmart</a> reported strong third-quarter sales, saying it increased prices amid early-holiday shopping. Analysts also expect Target to beat earnings estimates on Wednesday. The data suggest the economic recovery is gaining momentum, but the general feeling of Americans seems to suggest otherwise. Data shows <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/consumer-sentiment-10-year-low-stocks-housing-economy-hit-records-2021-11?utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets">consumer sentiment just hit a 10-year low</a>, but pessimism over the economy hasn't prevented people from getting out and spending money, at least for now. Here are some key numbers: <ul><li>Spending at US retailers and restaurants rose 1.7% in October, hitting well above expectations.</li><li>The October jobs report showed <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/october-jobs-report-531000-payrolls-unemployment-rate-falls-labor-market-2021-11">the US added 531,000 new payrolls,</a> beating the forecast of 450,000 and furthering the narrative that the labor market has mostly regained its footing.</li><li>The stock market will continue to benefit, as <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/stock-market-outlook-2022-rising-corporate-profits-drive-sp500-gains-2021-11">Goldman Sachs estimates US household spending and corporate earnings growth could drive stocks up 10% next year.</a></li></ul>All this spending should help propel the economy into 2022 — even as Americans continue to fret over inflation. 2. The retail sales tailwind is giving another lift to US stocks. Over in the UK, inflation shot up to a 10-year high, and that puts a BoE interest rate rise more firmly on the cards. <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/stock-markets-today-futures-inch-up-after-record-us-retail-sales-2021-11">Here are the latest moves on the market</a>.3. Ivy Zelman told Insider why home prices will tank far sooner than Wall Street thinks. She called the top of the housing market before the 2008 crash, and now Zelman is warning sellers about a coming market shift. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/housing-market-crash-correction-home-sales-trends-predictions-ivy-zelman-2021-11">"We could see a pretty sizable correction."</a>4. Earnings on deck: Target, Nvidia, Cisco, and Lowe's Companies, all <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/earnings-calendar">reporting.</a>5. Tesla has shed around $200 billion in market value since Elon Musk started selling stock. The Tesla chief has been <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/elon-musk-michael-burry-tesla-twitter-spat-the-big-short-2021-11">vocal on Twitter</a> lately, hitting back at critics and calling 'The Big Short' investor Michael Burry a "broken clock." <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/tesla-market-cap-fall-elon-musk-stock-sales-tweets-twitter-2021-11">Here's where Tesla stands now. </a>6. Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund has made a fortune on Lucid Motors. The fund now owns about $46 billion worth of the <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/lucid-motors-stock-price-q3-reservations-ev-production-target-2022-2021-11">surging EV company</a>, up from an initial $1.3 billion investment three years ago. T<a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/saudi-arabia-pif-lucid-motors-tesla-stock-portfolio-electric-vehicles-2021-11">he fund missed out on big gains though by selling its stake in Tesla.</a>7. AMC's chief executive said the theatre chain will accept shiba inu coin by next quarter. Soon you'll be able to buy tickets online with the meme-token, according to a tweet from CEO Adam Aron. <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/currencies/amc-shiba-inu-online-payments-quarter-adam-aron-dogecoin-crypto-2021-11">The move is the latest example of the AMC CEO's embrace of meme culture. </a>8. Meme-stock watch list: Tesla leads the way with the most mentions on Wall Street Bets this week, with newly-public rival Lucid close behind. <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/tesla-rivian-stock-most-mentioned-reddit-wallstreetbets-meme-retail-2021-11">See the full list of the 10 most talked about stocks on the famous subreddit. </a>9. UBS explained why beaten-down stocks will shine in early 2022. Growth stocks have outperformed since 2009, but UBS analysts predict this trend will flip in the near future. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/stock-market-outlook-2022-growth-outperforms-value-long-term-ubs-2021-11">Here's how to take advantage of the pattern.</a>10. TV-famous house-flipper Pace Morby doesn't think you need large sums of money to get started in real estate investing. For beginners, he recommends working with sellers to get creative with your financing strategy. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/real-estate-investing-strategies-buy-rental-properties-no-money-morby-2021-11">Here are two strategies he's using to acquire property without a bank. </a>Compiled by Phil Rosen. Feedback? Email <a href="mailto:prosen@insider.com">prosen@insider.com</a> or tweet <a href="https://twitter.com/philrosenn">@philrosenn</a>.Sign up for <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/subscription/newsletter">more Insider newsletters here</a>.

10 things before the opening bell

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Snakes are a common dream symbol that may shed some light on challenges in your life.</li><li>Snake dreams could mean you're afraid of something, facing a change, or dealing with a toxic person.</li></ul>If you have snakes on the brain — or rather, in your dreams — don't worry. You're not alone there. In fact, snakes are one of the <a href="https://www.dreamdictionary.org/meaning/snake-dreams/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">oldest dream symbols</a> in the world. Seeing a random snake in your dreams once in a while might not mean anything at all. But if you frequently dream about snakes, it's possible your <a href="https://affiliate.insider.com?amazonTrackingID=biauto-61690-20&amp;postID=63ebd882d013960a491f133e&amp;site=in&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FSubliminal-Your-Unconscious-Rules-Behavior%2Fdp%2F0307472256" target="_blank" rel="noopener">subconscious</a> wants you to <a href="https://www.insider.com/science-behind-what-dreams-mean-2016-10">pay attention</a> to something.In general, recurring dreams about snakes often point to something you're neglecting in your waking life, says <a href="https://lightningtreetherapy.com/about-me/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Linda Mastrangelo</a>, a psychotherapist specializing in dreams and executive director of the <a href="https://institutefordreamstudies.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Institute for Dream Studies</a>.According to Mastrangelo, snake dreams aren't meant to scare you, but rather, to inform you about unattended areas in your life and inspire you to take action. Discover five possible explanations behind your snake dreams below — and learn what you can do about them in the waking world. <h2>1. There's someone toxic in your life</h2>Does someone in your life act <a href="https://www.insider.com/signs-a-toxic-person-is-manipulating-you-and-what-to-do-about-it-2018-4">downright venomous</a>? If so, they could take the form of a snake in your dreams, according to <a href="https://www.lauriloewenberg.com/about/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lauri Loewenberg</a>, certified dream analyst and member of the <a href="https://www.asdreams.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">International Association for the Study of Dreams</a>.Your subconscious may be showing you this person's behavior in the form of a <a href="https://www.insider.com/stilleto-snake-is-capable-of-striking-sideways-2019-3">venomous snake</a> so you can better understand their role in your life, Loewenberg says.If you're unsure exactly who the snake represents, the context surrounding the dream might give you a clue. For instance: <ul><li>The snake biting you: "If the snake bites you, it can mean you have been on the receiving end of someone's <a href="https://www.insider.com/passive-aggressive-signs-2018-9">biting remarks or criticism</a> in real life," Loewnberg says. </li><li>The snake trapping you: If the snake <a href="https://www.dreamdictionary.org/dream-dictionary/python-dreams/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">squeezes or traps you</a>, it might represent someone making you feel trapped — like a <a href="https://www.insider.com/guides/health/mental-health/toxic-relationship">toxic partner</a> or <a href="https://www.insider.com/guides/health/sex-relationships/toxic-family">family member</a>. </li><li>The number of snakes: According to Loewenberg, multiple snakes in your dreams could represent several toxic people in your life — like a <a href="https://www.insider.com/signs-you-have-a-bad-boss-2016-2-4">toxic work environment</a>. </li></ul>What to do next: "If the snake is a threat to you in the dream, ask yourself who — in your real life — makes you feel the same way," Loewenberg says. If you dream about chopping the snake's head off or cutting it in half, Loewenberg says, your subconscious might want you to <a href="https://www.insider.com/why-i-cut-contact-with-brother-sibling-estrangement-2020-5">cut this person out</a> of your life. If that's not possible, you could consider <a href="https://www.insider.com/guides/health/mental-health/dating-a-narcissist">limiting your contact</a> or scheduling some <a href="https://www.insider.com/work-from-home-tips-self-care-2019-4">self-care time</a> after interacting with them. <h2>2. You're afraid of something </h2>The snakes in your dreams may also represent a <a href="https://www.dreamdictionary.org/meaning/snake-dreams/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">more abstract fear</a> — like rejection or the unknown. Human beings are hardwired to have a <a href="https://www.dreamdictionary.org/meaning/snake-dreams/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">genetic phobia of snakes</a>. Researchers think you might inherit this fear <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01710/full" target="_blank" rel="noopener">from your ancestors</a>, since snakes <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02094/full" target="_blank" rel="noopener">posed a significant threat</a> to the survival of early humans. While you probably don't face boa constrictors or pythons on a regular basis today, that primal fear could still live inside you — and slither into your dreams.According to The Dream Dictionary, the <a href="https://www.dreamdictionary.org/meaning/snake-dreams/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">specific type of snake</a> that slides into your dreams might clue you into your particular fear. For example: <ul><li>Anacondas: These may represent emotional or unconscious fears, like a <a href="https://www.dreamdictionary.org/dream-dictionary/why-anacondas-appear-in-your-dreams/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fear of rejection</a>. </li><li>Black snakes: These may point to a fear of the unknown. </li><li>Cobras: These could represent a fear of provoking an enemy.</li><li>Rattlesnakes: These could suggest a minor fear, or something that shakes you up — symbolized by the rattling tail. </li><li>Pythons: These could mean you're afraid of something that's metaphorically <a href="https://www.dreamdictionary.org/dream-dictionary/python-dreams/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">trapping or suffocating you</a>.</li></ul>What to do next: It may help to start by pinpointing any fears or worries that tax you while you're awake. Then, consider some techniques you can use to <a href="https://gsas.harvard.edu/student-life/harvard-resources/managing-fears-and-anxiety" target="_blank" rel="noopener">manage these fears</a>, such as:<ul><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/guides/health/mental-health/how-to-meditate">Practicing mindfulness</a> by starting a <a href="https://www.insider.com/guides/health/mental-health/meditation-tips-for-beginners">daily meditation practice</a></li><li>Keeping your <a href="https://www.insider.com/guides/home/how-to-keep-busy-when-stuck-at-home">mind busy</a> with tasks, like <a href="https://www.insider.com/hoarding-technician-shares-six-cleaning-hacks-for-a-spotless-home-2021-10">cleaning</a> or <a href="https://www.insider.com/how-to-declutter-your-home-2019-4">reorganizing your home</a></li><li>Making time for <a href="https://www.insider.com/guides/health/mental-health/how-to-practice-gratitude">gratitude</a>, like writing down three things you're grateful for each day</li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/guides/health/sex-relationships/how-to-start-a-conversation">Reaching out</a> to a friend, in person or via video chat</li><li>Talking with <a href="https://www.insider.com/guides/health/mental-health/how-to-find-a-therapist">a therapist</a></li></ul><h2>3. You have something new to learn</h2>Snakes aren't always negative symbols in dreams. In fact, some dream interpreters believe they can be <a href="https://www.dreamdictionary.org/meaning/snake-dreams/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">good omens</a> in some cases. For example, <a href="https://www.jung.org/who-is-carl-jung" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Carl Jung</a>, one of the pioneers of psychoanalysis, viewed snakes as a <a href="https://www.google.com/books/edition/Dreams/67UEEAAAQBAJ?hl=en&amp;gbpv=1&amp;dq=snake+dreams&amp;pg=PA3&amp;printsec=frontcover" target="_blank" rel="noopener">symbol of transcendence</a> — an experience that <a href="https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/transcendence" target="_blank" rel="noopener">goes past your usual limits</a>, like a personal or spiritual breakthrough. According to Mastrangelo, you may dream of snakes if you're drawn to knowledge or about to embark on a path of learning and discovery. Snake-related images in your dream could also carry transcendent meanings. For instance, the <a href="https://www.dreamdictionary.org/symbolism/ouroboros-symbolism/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ouroboros</a> — an <a href="https://www.google.com/books/edition/Dreams_that_Change_Our_Lives/C24zDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&amp;gbpv=1&amp;dq=ouroboros+dreams&amp;pg=PT172&amp;printsec=frontcover" target="_blank" rel="noopener">alchemical symbol</a> of a snake eating its own tail — represents a cycle of <a href="https://www.dreamdictionary.org/symbolism/ouroboros-symbolism/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">transformation and rebirth</a>, so it could point to a <a href="https://www.dreamdictionary.org/meaning/snake-dreams/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">personal transformation or discovery</a> in your own life. In fact, the German chemist August Kekulé is said to have <a href="https://www.google.com/books/edition/NeuroScience_Fiction/uQO5DwAAQBAJ?hl=en&amp;gbpv=1&amp;dq=snake+bite+dream+knowledge&amp;pg=PT173&amp;printsec=frontcover" target="_blank" rel="noopener">dreamt of the ouroboros</a> before discovering the ring-like structure of benzene. What to do next: These types of snake dreams might have something important to teach you, Mastrangelo says, so aim to stay open, playful, and curious. A few ways you might welcome or <a href="https://www.insider.com/millionaires-build-wealth-personal-goals-manage-distractions-2019-1">encourage personal growth</a> include: <ul><li>Reading more books, from <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/learning/eckhart-tolle-books#practicing-the-power-of-now-essential-teachings-meditations-and-exercises-from-the-power-of-now-3">books on spiritual growth</a> to your <a href="https://www.insider.com/guides/learning/best-fantasy-book-series">favorite fiction series</a>.</li><li>Getting in more physical activity, like going on <a href="https://www.insider.com/health-benefits-of-running-2018-4">a walk or run</a> to clear your mind.</li><li>Eliminating unnecessary distractions, like taking a break from <a href="https://www.insider.com/guides/health/mental-health/taking-a-break-from-social-media">social media</a>. </li></ul><h2>4. Your life is changing</h2>"Snakes are often associated with change and transformation because they shed their skin," Mastrangelo says. So, dreaming about snakes might relate to a big change in your life — like a <a href="https://www.insider.com/new-job-tips-first-month-2018-1">new job</a> or <a href="https://www.insider.com/guides/health/sex-relationships/green-flags-in-a-relationship">relationship</a>.Perhaps you're feeling anxious about a new life stage, such as <a href="https://www.insider.com/5-things-that-surprised-me-about-moving-to-the-midwest-2022-4">moving to a new city.</a> Or, if you've already embarked on a new path, your snake dreams could represent old memories or trauma <a href="https://www.google.com/books/edition/Dreams/67UEEAAAQBAJ?hl=en&amp;gbpv=1&amp;dq=snake+dreams&amp;pg=PA3&amp;printsec=frontcover" target="_blank" rel="noopener">rising to the surface</a>. What to do next: If you think your snake dreams stem from anxieties about a life change, try techniques that could make the transition period <a href="https://www.insider.com/5-ways-to-help-you-deal-with-change-2018-10">easier on yourself</a> — like <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/learning/best-guided-journals">writing down your anxious thoughts</a> or chatting with a trusted friend. The more you're conscious of these changes, the better you can work through them mindfully, Mastrangelo says. <h2>5. Your health is on your mind</h2>"If you are dealing with a physical ailment, you may find snakes slithering into your dreamscape," Loewenberg says. While you might not actively associate snakes with doctors and medicine, your subconscious certainly might — especially since snakes and healing have been synonymous <a href="https://hekint.org/2021/08/13/the-snake-the-staff-and-the-healer/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">since ancient times.</a> For example, Asclepius, the Greek god of medicine, used <a href="https://hekint.org/2021/08/13/the-snake-the-staff-and-the-healer/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a snake-entwined staff</a> as a healing instrument, and medical associations across the globe have adopted this symbol. You'll find it on the sides of hospitals, ambulances, and even on the <a href="https://www.fotw.info/flags/un-who.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">World Health Organization (WHO) flag</a>. Because of this subconscious association, Loewenberg says, snake dreams could mean your body needs to heal or is already going through a <a href="https://www.insider.com/healing-inner-child-work-transgender-adult-identity-2023-2">healing process</a>. The way you interact with the snake could help you tell the difference. According to Loewenberg, signs of active healing include: <ul><li>Touching or picking up the snake</li><li>Letting it crawl on you</li><li>Talking with the snake</li></ul>On the other hand, seeing the snake, but not interacting with it, could indicate that you still need to heal, Loewenberg says. What to do next: Consider anything in your life that might be taking a toll on your physical or mental health — like <a href="https://www.insider.com/dealing-cancer-diagnosis-2015-12">a recent health diagnosis</a> or a <a href="https://www.insider.com/how-to-deal-with-anxiety-at-work-2016-6">stressful project</a> at work.Negative thoughts or emotions brought on by <a href="https://www.insider.com/guides/health/mental-health/how-to-deal-with-uncertainty">life difficulties</a> may sometimes <a href="https://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/how-do-thoughts-and-emotions-affect-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener">upset your body's hormone balance</a> or <a href="https://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/how-do-thoughts-and-emotions-affect-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener">affect your immune system</a>. However, a better awareness of any factors stressing you out or harming your health makes it easier to take steps to manage them. For instance, you might:<ul><li>Step up <a href="https://www.insider.com/guides/health/mental-health/i-dont-want-to-do-anything">your self-care routine</a></li><li>Make more time for rest and relaxation</li><li>Schedule an appointment with your doctor </li></ul><h2>How to handle unusual or distressing dreams</h2>If you're still scratching your head over the meaning behind your snake dreams, consider <a href="https://www.insider.com/why-we-remember-some-dreams-but-forget-others-2017-11">jotting down</a> any snippets you can remember in a dream journal. Once you have a few entries, you can look for specific patterns or symbols that might indicate overarching themes or meanings. According to Mastrelengo, factors to pay attention to include: <ul><li>Your emotions and overall feelings</li><li>Certain settings or characters</li><li>Your behavior in the dream</li></ul>In addition, teaching yourself <a href="https://www.insider.com/scientists-just-came-up-with-a-way-to-control-your-dreams-2018-3">how to lucid dream</a> might help you <a href="https://www.insider.com/guides/health/how-to-lucid-dream">take charge of the narrative</a> — for instance, by imagining yourself with an industrial-strength snake repellant. <h2>When to work with a professional</h2>Sometimes, you might find it fairly straightforward to work out the meaning of your dreams and address them on your own. But if you have intense <a href="https://www.insider.com/can-you-wake-up-from-a-dream-on-purpose-2018-4">nightmares</a> or recurring dreams that affect your <a href="https://www.insider.com/guides/health/mental-health/lack-of-sleep-effects">sleep</a> and <a href="https://www.insider.com/guides/health/sleep-cycle">mental health</a> — or leave you scared to <a href="https://www.insider.com/guides/health/conditions-symptoms/why-cant-i-sleep">fall asleep</a> — it might be time to reach out to a therapist or professional dream interpreter. "Recurring nightmares, in particular, can point to underlying factors like unattended <a href="https://www.insider.com/guides/parenting/generational-trauma">trauma</a>," Mastrangelo says — so, it may help to work through these with a professional who has a background in <a href="https://www.insider.com/meaning-of-dreams-interpreting-dreams-2018-4">dream interpretation</a>. <h2>Insider's takeaway </h2>If you're afraid of snakes, they may show up in your nightmares — but snakes aren't always a negative symbol in dreams.For example, snakes could represent healing, personal change, or transformation in your life. A venomous snake in your dreams could even offer a warning by pointing you toward a toxic person in your life.By keeping a dream journal or working with a professional, you can map out the potential meaning behind your dreams — and take action in the waking world to deal with them. "Snake dreams have something to teach us about ourselves and humanity on a universal level — if we would only listen and face our fears," Mastrangelo says.

5 explanations for dreams about snakes, from upcoming changes in your life to health concerns

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image">Reuters/Erin ScottGeorge Kent, the deputy assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian affairs listens to William Taylor, the top U.S. diplomat in Ukraine, testify during a House Intelligence Committee public hearing in the impeachment inquiry against U.S. President Donald Trump on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., November 13, 2019.</div></div></div><ul class="summary-list"><li>Two career foreign service officers laid out a devastating portrait on Wednesday of President <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/who-is-donald-trump-bio-age-family-key-positions-2019-4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Donald Trump's</a> efforts to strong-arm an ally into delivering political dirt on a rival.</li><li>Bill Taylor, the US's chief envoy in Ukraine, said that in his decades-long career of public service, he'd never seen anything like this before.</li><li>George Kent, a top State Department official overseeing Ukraine policy, blew a hole through all of Trump's main defenses.</li><li>Democrats' strategy for Wednesday's <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-impeachment-major-players-timeline-what-comes-next-2019-11" target="_blank" rel="noopener">impeachment hearing</a> was to keep it simple. Republicans' strategy was to throw everything at the wall and hope something sticks.</li><li>Scroll down to read more key takeaways from the first public impeachment hearing.</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/">Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories</a>.</li></ul>Two top foreign service officers laid out a damning portrait for the public on Wednesday of President <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/who-is-donald-trump-bio-age-family-key-positions-2019-4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Donald Trump's</a> efforts to strong-arm a critical US ally into delivering political dirt while holding up military aid and a White House meeting.Bill Taylor, the US's chief envoy in Ukraine, and George Kent, a top State Department official overseeing Ukraine policy, were the first two witnesses to testify in Congress' bombshell <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-impeachment-major-players-timeline-what-comes-next-2019-11" target="_blank" rel="noopener">impeachment hearings</a> into whether Trump abused his public office for private gain.Kent testified to the former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani's efforts on Trump's behalf to get dirt on former Vice President <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/who-is-joe-biden-bio-age-family-key-positions-2019-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Joe Biden</a> from Ukraine. Kent told lawmakers Giuliani's campaign was not part of official US foreign policy but instead a personal mission to get the president damaging information on a political rival ahead of an election.Taylor, meanwhile, directly <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-impeachment-hearings-what-we-know-ukraine-quid-pro-quo-2019-11">confirmed a quid pro quo</a> in which Trump withheld security assistance and a White House meeting while demanding Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky publicly commit to investigate the Bidens and baseless allegations of Ukrainian interference in the 2016 election.<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image">Reuters/Joshua Roberts Ambassador Bill Taylor, charge d'affaires at the U.S. embassy in Ukraine, testifies during a House Intelligence Committee hearing as part of the impeachment inquiry into U.S. President Donald Trump on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., November 13, 2019. </div></div></div><h2>Here are the biggest takeaways from Wednesday's impeachment hearing:</h2><ul><li>The Democrats' lawyer ran circles around the Republicans' lawyer<ul><li>Daniel Goldman, a veteran former federal prosecutor who asked questions for the Democrats, used the 45 minutes allotted to him to draw out a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-impeachment-hearings-schedule-how-to-watch-live-updates-2019-11#george-kent-blows-a-hole-through-trumps-main-talking-points-5" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cohesive line of questioning</a> and a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-impeachment-hearings-schedule-how-to-watch-live-updates-2019-11#taylor-says-hes-never-seen-anything-like-this-in-his-decades-of-public-service-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">vivid narrative</a> from Kent and Taylor of Trump's pressure campaign in Ukraine.</li><li>Goldman's performance contrasted starkly with that of Steve Castor, the lawyer for the Republican side who veered off course, was unable to establish a clear line of inquiry, and who often tried - and failed - to bait the witnesses into caving to GOP talking points.</li><li>Twitter <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-impeachment-hearings-schedule-how-to-watch-live-updates-2019-11#republicans-fail-to-pick-up-traction-with-a-confusing-line-of-questioning-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">noticed the difference</a>, too.</li></ul></li><li>The Democratic strategy: keep it simple.<ul><li>Goldman kept his questions short and sharp and let Taylor and Kent do all the talking.</li><li>The result was a dramatic and lucid account of Trump's conduct from the two career officials, both of whom have no skin in the game and have a decades-long history of nonpartisan public service.</li></ul></li><li>The Republican strategy: throw everything at the wall and see what sticks. The following is a sample of the various defenses GOP lawmakers trotted out.<ul><li>There was no quid pro quo.</li><li>Even if there was a quid pro quo, countries do that all the time.</li><li>It doesn't matter that Trump initially withheld military aid, because Ukraine eventually got it.</li><li>Trump was justified in holding up the aid because he wanted Ukraine to investigate itself for corruption.</li><li>The Democrats colluded with Ukraine.</li><li>The witnesses have never spoken directly to Trump, so they're not credible.</li><li>The entire impeachment inquiry is a sham.</li></ul></li></ul><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image">(Photo by Anthony Devlin/Getty Images)Rudy Giuliani.</div></div></div><ul><li>Giuliani got thrown under the bus.<ul><li>Both Kent and Taylor detailed at length Giuliani's close involvement in getting Ukraine to give Trump what he wanted, as well as his smear campaign against Marie Yovanovitch, the US's former ambassador to Ukraine.</li><li>Republicans have recently begun defending Trump by saying Giuliani went rogue and was acting of his own accord with respect to Ukraine. This defense is bogus for a few reasons:<ul><li>Giuliani has said he was acting as Trump's agent: "The investigation I conducted concerning 2016 Ukrainian collusion and corruption, was done solely as a defense attorney to defend my client against false charges, that kept changing as one after another were disproven," he <a href="https://twitter.com/RudyGiuliani/status/1192180680391843841" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tweeted</a>.</li><li>When Trump asked Zelensky during a July 25 phone call to investigate the Bidens, he specifically told Zelensky to work with Giuliani.</li></ul></li></ul></li><li>Taylor said he'd never seen anything like this in his decades of public service.<ul><li>"Ambassador Taylor, in your decades of military service and diplomatic service representing the United States around the world, have you ever seen another example of foreign aid conditioned on the personal or political interests of the president of the United States?" Goldman asked.</li><li>"No, Mr. Goldman, I have not," Taylor replied.</li></ul></li><li>Taylor: Leveraging a White House meeting to get what you want is one thing. Withholding military aid puts "lives at stake."<ul><li>At one point, Taylor highlighted that there's a difference between leveraging a White House meeting to force the Ukrainians to publicly commit to investigating the Bidens, and using military aid for that same reason.</li><li>"The White House meeting was one thing," Taylor said. "The security assistance was much more alarming" because withholding that money puts "lives at stake."</li></ul></li><li>Kent blew a hole through all of Trump's talking points.<ul><li>In a telling exchange with Goldman, Kent emphasized that there's "no factual basis" to support allegations that Ukraine interfered in the 2016 election.</li><li>He reiterated that it was Russia, not Ukraine, that meddled in the race.</li><li>He also said there's no evidence "whatsoever" backing up Trump's claim that Biden got a Ukrainian prosecutor fired to protect his son from being investigated.</li></ul></li><li>Republican Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio was Trump's biggest attack dog.<ul><li>Jordan is not a member of the intelligence committee but was temporarily placed on the panel because of his long record of going to bat for the president.</li><li>His questions on Wednesday had no factual basis and contained little substance. But he likely won Trump's approval with his sharp attacks on Taylor and Kent, and his demand that the whistleblower be hauled in to testify.</li></ul></li><li>Democratic Rep. Peter Welch landed a hell of a zinger at the end of the hearing.<ul><li>Jordan went on a lengthy rant against the whistleblower and said Congress will never get to question the person "who started it all."</li><li>Welch hit back: "Thank you, I say to my colleague, I'd be glad to have the person who started it all come in and testify. President Trump is welcome to take a seat right there."</li></ul></li></ul><ul class="read-more-links"><li>Read more of Insider's impeachment coverage:</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-impeachment-resignation-probabilty-chances-2019" data-read-more-link="" data-e2e-name="read-more-link">Think Trump will get impeached? Gambling sites say the odds are in your favor</a></li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-trump-could-be-impeached-convicted-but-win-reelection-2020-2019-11" data-read-more-link="" data-e2e-name="read-more-link">Trump could be impeached, removed from office, and still win re-election in 2020</a></li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/democratic-house-members-who-want-to-impeach-trump-graphic-2019-6" data-read-more-link="" data-e2e-name="read-more-link">Over half of the House of Representatives support the impeachment inquiry against Trump - see all of them here</a></li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-impeachment-major-players-timeline-what-comes-next-2019-11">Everything you need to know about Trump's impeachment process: what's happened, who the players are, and what comes next</a></li></ul> <div class="margin-top"> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/pepe-frog-meme-hate-symbol-hope-hong-kong-protesters-2019-10">Extremists turned a frog meme into a hate symbol, but Hong Kong protesters revived it as an emblem of hope</a></h3> <div> </div> </div>

Bill Taylor and George Kent gave devastating testimony in the first Trump impeachment hearing. Here are the biggest takeaways.

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image">AP</div></div></div><ul><li>Apple made a rare public apology after the recent revelation that the company slowed down older iPhones through a software update.</li><li>Many Apple customers believe the slowdown is a violation of their trust. Apple says it is because of how older batteries work. </li><li>The apology is unsigned. It would mean a lot more to Apple customers if it came from CEO Tim Cook or another top Apple executive. </li></ul> Apple is embroiled in one of its most dire scandals in years, as the company was forced to admit that its software updates slow down old iPhones, confirming a long-held theory by iPhone users.According to Apple, its software updates can make apps slow to launch, slow down the smoothness of scrolling through an feed, and take other performance hits.Apple made<a href="https://www.apple.com/iphone-battery-and-performance/"> a rare public apology</a> on its website on Thursday about the issue, saying the reason for the software slowdown was to protect phones with older batteries, which can suddenly shut down.<a href="https://www.apple.com/iphone-battery-and-performance/">The public apology</a> is technically detailed, relatively candid, and comes with a year-long discount for replacement iPhone batteries.But one thing it's missing is a signature: The apology comes "from Apple," and it's not signed by of its high-paid executives, like Apple CEO Tim Cook.An apology like this one, which acknowledges a breach of trust with users, needs to come from a person, not a corporate communications department. There needs to be a human name on the apology, because humans behind the decision ultimately decided not to tell customers. To date, no Apple executives have publicly commented on the scandal. Here's one question for them: When Apple's elite "executive team" met to discuss the update that would slow down older iPhones, did anyone bring up the possibility that the move could increase iPhone upgrade rates? Making a public apology seems like part of the job responsibility for a CEO. Cook made <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/apple-is-requiring-tim-cook-to-fly-private-from-now-on-2017-12">over $12 million in 2017</a>, and he flies on private jets furnished by Apple.It seems like attaching his name to an apology is the least he can do for Apple users who now feel betrayed.<h2>Not the first time </h2><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right click-to-enlarge"><div><div class="image on-image"><a title_source="Apple" title_caption="One of Steve Jobs' famous letters to customers." class="zoomin" href="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5a46750ab0bcd535008b77c9-960/screen shot 2017-12-29 at 120124 pm.png"></a><a href="https://www.apple.com/hotnews/thoughts-on-flash/">Apple</a>One of Steve Jobs' famous letters to customers.</div></div></div>Cook has signed letters on Apple's website before, so it wouldn't be unprecedented. In February 2016, he <a href="https://www.apple.com/customer-letter/">posted</a> "A Message to Our Customers" on Apple's website. It's signed "Tim Cook." He felt that Apple users needed to hear from him why the company was resisting an order from the FBI to help it break the encryption on an iPhone used by a terrorist in the San Bernardino attacks. It was a fair use of Apple's megaphone to communicate its position on an issue that directly affects it. On the other hand, most Apple users weren't directly impacted by the San Bernardino case - but there are millions of people with older iPhones now slowing down that may have been tempted to buy a new iPhone instead of replacing its battery, as Apple recommended in its apology earlier this week. When Apple took away Google Maps on the iPhone and replaced it with the inferior Apple Maps for purely business reasons, not user experience reasons, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/tim-cook-apologizes-for-apple-maps-2012-9">Cook signed that letter</a> apologizing for the fiasco. Although it's not on the Apple website anymore, you can still see the URL: "<a href="https://www.apple.com/letter-from-tim-cook-on-maps/">letter-from-tim-cook-on-maps</a>."Apple founder and late CEO Steve Jobs was also famous for writing lucid, jargon-free messages to Apple customers, which may have contributed to the closeness many early Apple users felt to the company.Take one of his last letters, "<a href="https://www.apple.com/hotnews/thoughts-on-flash/">Thoughts on Flash</a>," which is still on Apple's website. Users at the time were upset that iPhones weren't going to run Adobe Flash, which powered many interactive websites at the time.His writing is clear, direct, and honest. He acknowledges there are downsides to his decision, like the fact that iPhone users couldn't play Flash games. But ultimately, Jobs made a case that Flash didn't belong on mobile devices, an argument that's only seemed stronger in retrospect.Compare that to Apple's <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/apple-explains-why-older-iphones-appear-to-be-slowing-down-2017-12">first statement on the slowdown issue</a>, issued by a spokesperson, which has a lot of weasel words like the phrase "smooth out instantaneous peaks" for what it was really doing - throttling the top speed of older devices. When a millionaire executive takes responsibility for a piece of communications to its customers, you get more honest and direct writing. Instead, Apple's leadership is hiding behind its brand. <h2>'There's been a lot of misunderstanding about this issue'</h2><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image">Thomson ReutersApple's new $1000 iPhone X is fast - but for how long?</div></div></div>According to Apple, the reason its newer software updates slow down older iPhones is directly related to battery issues, and any outrage from customers is because they don't understand the issue. "We know that some of you feel Apple has let you down. We apologize," someone at Apple wrote in its apology. "There's been a lot of misunderstanding about this issue, so we would like to clarify and let you know about some changes we're making."According to Apple, the misunderstanding relates to changes Apple made in early 2017 to prevent unexpected device shutdowns. Batteries get worse over time, and after awhile, some older iPhones were randomly shutting down with 30% battery life left. Here's a bit of perspective, though: Apple wouldn't have addressed the shutdown issue if it wasn't from pressure from the Chinese government. In late 2016, a Chinese consumer watchdog called the China Consumers Association started making noise about Apple's random shutdown issue.Eventually, Apple said - again unsigned - that the battery issue only affected a "<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/iphone-6-s-apple-battery-replacements-shutdown-bug-2016-11?r=UK&amp;IR=T">very small number</a>" of iPhones manufactured between September and October 2015, and offered battery replacements.In fact, when Apple gave <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/apple-statement-on-iphone-shutdown-issue-2016-12">additional details about this issue</a>, it was posted <a href="https://support.apple.com/zh-cn/HT207414">on Apple's Chinese website</a>. But the Chinese consumer watchdog <a href="http://www.zdnet.com/article/chinese-consumer-watchdog-demands-apple-to-replace-all-faulty-batteries/">continued to press the issue</a>, and asked for Apple to replace all faulty batteries. Apple eventually made the software fix that slowed down phones with older batteries in early 2017. It didn't even tell customers that it had made the tweak, again, in an <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/ios-1021-fixes-apple-iphone-shutdown-bug-2017-2">unsigned comment</a> from an Apple spokesperson. Part of the reason why so many Apple customers feel betrayed by the revelations of the past two weeks, even going to far as to <a href="https://9to5mac.com/2017/12/29/apple-slowing-iphones-class-action-lawsuits/">start over 15 lawsuits</a>, is that it feels like Apple continues to hide things. Apple's traditional approach to public relations is only making it worse, and has made this entire narrative unclear dating back to 2016. I personally believe Apple's explanation - there are difficult choices that need to be made when batteries get old, and Apple chose one that would optimize for as few shutdowns as possible. I think a lot more Apple customers would buy that explanation, too, if they heard it coming from Tim Cook. <div id="categorypromo" style="border:1px solid silver; min-height:90px; padding:10px;vertical-align:top;"><a href="http://read.bi/next-smartphone"></a>EXCLUSIVE FREE SLIDE DECK: The Next Smartphone by the BI Intelligence Research Team. <a href="http://read.bi/next-smartphone">Get the Slide Deck Now »</a></div> <div class="margin-top"> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/why-boeing-747-front-hump-2016-11">Here's why Boeing 747s have a giant hump in the front</a></h3> <div> </div> </div>

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