Randall from Wireless Info sent us the news that Apple has acknowledged the iPhone battery issue is in fact a bug that will be fixed in a future software update. A few days ago, WI noticed that even after sitting in the charger for 12 hours, their iPhone battery gauges didn’t show a full charge. After conducting an informal survey, they found that the problem was widespread, and now Apple has confirmed the bug.

And since Apple says it’s just a firmware problem, then the batteries should all be OK (although WI also says Apple is replacing faulty batteries anyway, so chances are that if you want to replace your iPhone, you can still do that). At first, WI said that the non-charge-showing phones were operating on a shorter battery life, but after a few cycles apparently they’re running just as well.

So that’s one fix Apple can throw in the iPhone’s first big patch. What’s next?

Posted on July 13th, 2007 by admin
Filed under: iPhone Battery | No Comments »

Are you one of the many potential iPhone customers currently holding out for fear of potential battery issues? We’ve got some info here that might help alleviate (or further increase) your fears. According to Apple’s support documentation, the iPhone battery replacement program will run you $79 plus an additional $6.95 for shipping, bringing the total to $85.95. The service will take 3 business days to complete, which isn’t too bad considering the average turnaround for most gadget repairs. Keep in mind that this service is limited to out of warranty repairs. AppleCare, which will be available later this month at an undisclosed price, will presumably cover the cost of this replacement in addition to providing you with a loaner phone to use while your baby is in the shop. Check out the battery FAQ, and well as the full support FAQ below.Apple’s Official Instruction

Posted on July 9th, 2007 by admin
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I’ve had my iPhone since launch and days one and two were very worrisome for me in terms of battery performance. The first day I only made it to around 5pm before my charge was gone (starting at 8am). The second day I made it to around 10pm.

But now — a few charges later — my battery life just keeps improving. Today I went a full 18 hours with moderate to heavy use of all features. I think the key is both how you have your phone configured during the day, as well as the quality of the charging process. Here’s what I suggest:

1. Reduce your brightness as much as you can tolerate. I personally find that about 30-40% of max is plenty for me, and that difference in output is significant.
2. Consider keeping WiFi disabled by default. You can always enable it when you find a hotspot and want to use it.
3. Use a bluetooth headset that turns off when not in use. The folding Motorola brands as well as the new Apple iphone headset have this ability.
4. Try and run your device until it completely dies before charging, and use the AC adapter rather than a computer to charge up.
5. The iPhone battery charges faster when the radios are off. Rather than disable them manually, consider using the Airplane Mode feature, which will disable all three radios in one motion. If you need to receive calls while charging, just disable WiFi and Bluetooth.
6. If you haven’t done a full drain-to-maximum charge cycle yet, power down the phone and reset the usage statistics before you put it on the AC adapter. This seems to be helping zero out stats and allow the OS to display the fully charged icon.

These tips are definitely working for me, as I’ve gone from roughly 9 hours of combined use to over 18. Time will tell whether or not I’ve reached my maximum, but my suspicion is that I have not.

Thanks dmiessler.com

Posted on July 4th, 2007 by admin
Filed under: AT&T iPhone, iPhone Battery | No Comments »

Apple released information on the iPhone battery ’s warranty today, as well as the cost of a replacement.

Out of the box, your iPhone’s battery is covered for 1 year. Apple intends to release Apple Care for iPhone sometime this summer (allegedly). Customers of Apple Care for iPhone will be entitled to a new battery IF the one they’re using drops to below 50% of capacity before their Apple Care runs out.

Otherwise, a new one will cost you $79US. One other note: Apple states that they get rid of dead batteries in “…an environmentally-friendly manner.”

Thanks TUAW

Posted on July 3rd, 2007 by admin
Filed under: iPhone Battery | No Comments »