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.

Ford’s earnings increase, but company faces tough year

DEARBORN, Mich. >> Ford Motor Co. reported higher fourth-quarter and full-year earnings Wednesday, but the mood was subdued as the company warned that it’s facing a tough year.

Sales in North America — responsible for 89 percent of Ford’s pretax profits in 2017 — are slowing down after reaching record highs, so Ford will have to fight harder to hold onto its share of that market.

Ford says it expects big losses in its mobility unit, which plans to start testing self-driving vehicles in multiple cities this year.

And the company continues to be hurt by rising costs for steel and aluminum, which accounted for a $1.2 billion hit to its 2017 earnings. Ford spends around $10 billion on commodities each year; steel and aluminum make up two-thirds of that total.