TUAW Review: Richard | Solo Smart Backup Battery for iPhone / iPod

If there's anything I've learned about the iPhone 3G since July 11th, it's that the battery life is horrible. If I'm just texting and making the occasional call, I can survive for a day, but if I try to play games or use 3G I know it's going to go to the dreaded red battery icon quickly.That's why there are a growing number of manufacturers who have extended battery packs for the iPhone on the market. For example, I looked at the Kensington Mini Battery Pack and Charger (US$49.99), but the website doesn't show that it works with the iPhone 3G. My next choice was the Richard | Solo Smart Backup Battery. This US$49.95 lithium-ion battery pack has saved me from running out of juice prematurely more than once! Read on for more information about this must-have sidekick for the iPhone 3G.Continue reading TUAW Review: Richard | Solo Smart Backup Battery for iPhone / iPodRead | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Battery calibration recommended by Apple, why no utility?

Like virtually all mobile computer manufacturers, Apple recommends that users calibrate their laptop batteries every few months, as Scott pointed out a couple of years ago. Unlike many manufacturers, however, Apple does not include a utility to automatically perform a calibration. Given Apple's uncanny ability to make things user-friendly, this seems like a bit of a glaring oversight. What are the benefits of calibration? Primarily the goal is to ensure that the microprocessor in your battery provides an accurate estimate of how much time you have left on the battery. Over time it can lose track of just how much juice your battery has in it, and calibration gives it a very accurate reading on the battery's health. Older battery technologies also benefited from a process called conditioning, which was typically performed the same way as a current battery's calibration process. In a nutshell, you fully charge the battery, fully discharge it, then fully charge it again. It's unclear whether modern lithium batteries gain anything in an actual capacity perspective from this process, or if it is simply a calibration of the microprocessor for the purpose of providing accurate time estimates.Continue reading Battery calibration recommended by Apple, why no utility?Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

How to get the most out of your iPhone battery

Section: iPhone + Communications, iPhone Accessories, iPhone, iPhone SDK & Apps, OriginalsPerhaps one of the biggest disappointments about the new iPhone 2.0 software is that all those apps can really take a toll on your battery life. With the iPhone being the central hub of my online life when I’m on the go, I really don’t want it dying on me in the middle of nowhere. I’ve searched the web and talked to friends about the best way to keep my battery power at its highest, and this post will outline what I came up with. Buy a car charger. Perhaps the most obvious thing to do would be to buy a car charger, so you can always charge your iPhone. You can find them for relatively cheap from Apple’s website, and some even allow you to play music through your car’s speakers. Turn off Wi-Fi, Location, and 3G when not in use. These three features, when not in use, can destroy your battery life by using up resources that you aren’t currently needing. When you don’t need them, go into the Settings application and simply turn them off. It can be sort of a nuisance to have to do this every time you don’t need them, but the saved battery life will be worth it. Turn down the screen brightness. A lot of people overlook this one. You don’t always need a super bright screen when you are outside, so you can easily save battery life by pumping down the brightness in the Settings menu. As long as you don’t turn it down too far, you will barely notice anything different. Treat it right. Although batteries can be a really confusing technology, there are some ways to treat them right. Most people will tell you to let it drain completely at least once a month to “exercise” the battery. Furthermore, try not to leave it connected to a charger 100% of the time. When storing, drain the battery to about half power and leave it in a nice, dry location. Have anything to add? Let everyone know in the comments! Full Story » | Written by Josh Holat for Appletell. | Comment on this Article »

Apple's iPhone 3G battery good for about 3.5 hours of browsing

Existing iPhone owners moving to Apple's new iPhone 3G should expect an approximate 50 percent reduction in battery life when using the new handset in 3G mode to browse the web and perform other Internet-related functions, a series of tests show. ...

iPhone 3G battery replacement services available

Section: iPhone + Communications, iPhone Accessories, iPhone Milliamp LTD, a company that offers all sorts of iPod battery services, is ready to help you replace the battery in your iPhone, 1st gen or 3G. For only $20, Milliamp will swap out your old battery with a 1400 mAh lithium-ion polymer battery, which they say “...is the same strength as...” as the stock battery. The battery offers 24 hours of music, 7 hours of video, 8 hours of talk, 6 hours of internet or 250 hours of standby. This $20 purchase comes with a ten year guarantee, and they won’t take hacked iPhones. Since the debut of the iPhone last year, the lack of a user replaceable battery has been one of the biggest complaints. The most likely reason for this is Apple’s obsession for a beautiful design. It is good to see a company has taken the time to figure out how to replace the battery in an efficient manner, as going through Apple’s services can be expensive at times. Have you ever used anything like this? Are the batteries just as good as the stock battery? Product [Battery Services] Full Story » | Written by Josh Holat for Appletell. | Comment on this Article »

2-in-1 iPhone and iPod back up battery and charger available

Section: iPod + iTunes, iPod Family, iPod Accessories, iPhone + Communications, iPhone Accessories, iPhonei.Sound hates running out of battery on their iPods and iPhones, so they want to make sure you’re always charged and ready to go. For that reason, they have announced their new rechargeable 2-in-1 Charger & Back Up Battery. This device allows you to not only charge your iPod or iPhone, but also use it as a backup battery itself. The battery sports a 30 pin connector, so it will work with all newer iPods. Also, the battery itself can be recharged via your computer with its USB cable or via an outlet with its AC adapter. This product, which “...provides up to 30 hours of additional music, 6 hours of video or 3 hours of talk time,” will set you back $49.99. It comes in black with a charge status light, and is available to order now. If you have ever run out of power at an important time on the go, this may be the perfect product for you. Product [2-in-1 Charger & Back Up Battery] Full Story » | Written by Josh Holat for Appletell. | Comment on this Article »