[the_doctor]

I would actually like the next gen iPhones to have 2 switches on the side of the phone to switch on/off wifi and 3G like the mute switch.

This makes it much easier to conserve battery life and then easily and very quickly turn on/off wifi and 3G.

[LithgowLights]

Originally Posted by the_doctor

I would actually like the next gen iPhones to have 2 switches on the side of the phone to switch on/off wifi and 3G like the mute switch.

This makes it much easier to conserve battery life and then easily and very quickly turn on/off wifi and 3G.

I installed a program via Cydia called WiFi Toggle - best application ever for battery saving! I do agree a quicker way to turn 3G on & Off and WiFi On & Off would be appreciated

[GregA]

Originally Posted by zmit

but [wifi] still does scan on a regular basis.

how else would it be able to pick up that you have new mail while its sleeping?
(1st gen iphone)

Yep, if you're checking mail hourly, the iPhone wakes up hourly - it starts checking mail (via 3G or 2G which is already on) then as wifi connects it switches to wifi for the rest of the mail check, then goes back to sleep.

I assume wifi is more power efficient than checking mail over 3G (and even if it's not, I'd prefer to use my wifi). But connecting via 3G AND powering up wifi and switching to wifi is the worst of both worlds. Ideally when checking hourly, the iphone would wait 5 seconds until wifi was connected (that seems an easy fix for apple).

ps.
If I had my choice, I'd want the phone to switch into 2G overnight (at midnight?) and not check my mail hourly. In the morning it can check my mail and switch 3G on (at 6:30am? or perhaps 1 minute before the iPhone alarm goes off?)

[calx]

Cheers for the tip about the EQ.. I didn't even know it had one.

[pdra05]

I guess 3G is the main culprit that's causing me to charge every 1.5 day, which is way too often, considering how I only have to charge once every 5 days with my last mobile phone.

Thanks for the tip!

[SpecialHell]

uhmmm, being on 3 it seems i dont have an option, i switch off 3G and it tells me i have no service.

two days charge for a smartphone is fine anyway.

[NetGX]

I am getting about 3 days from my iPhone now. I find wifi takes a pretty big hit on the battery

[geefrizz]

Awesome post iPhonetosh!! I didn't even think to power down my touch every now and then (but will do so from here on in), assuming that the same principles apply with said device.

That isn't the only tip that I have taken onboard too.

[tomricci]

Originally Posted by geefrizz

Awesome post iPhonetosh!! I didn't even think to power down my touch every now and then (but will do so from here on in), assuming that the same principles apply with said device.

That isn't the only tip that I have taken onboard too.

Thanks. Glad it helped

[dappleone]

Anyone had experience using one of these Richard Solo back-up battery packs?

UCC - Major and exclusive Australasian KODAK Distributor - Richard Solo Smart Backup Battery Pack for iPhone

[rickyd]

Good information there...except I disagree with your "Don't let it die" tip.

[tomricci]

Originally Posted by rickyd

Good information there...except I disagree with your "Don't let it die" tip.

May I ask why?

This is an article from Sept 2006 about prolonging Lithium Iron batteries. Nothing much has changed in 2 years about them.

How to prolong lithium-based batteries

[melbmac]

I was under the impression (from seeing it in various manuals) that most devices using lithium technology turned off before the battery was completely dead (ie there is still a tiny bit of charge left in the battery).

I've let my iPhone run until it turns off numerous times, whenever I walk out the front door I turn push on and play crash a bit on the train. My usage habits seem to point to it having very little, if any negative effect. My 20D battery also supports it not being a problem, it's the original battery (someone work out how old that is) and it's been to Antarctica and India to name a couple of the places. Still gets me a few hundred shots.

That said, good tips in general. My battery dies hell quick if I leave push and wifi on all the time and the screen turned right up (I just leave it on 50% all the time now).

[rickyd]

Originally Posted by tomricci

May I ask why?

Because when I completely discharge my iPhone, then recharge - I get significantly better battery life (as opposed to partial charging).

[Jonno92]

nice guide. Found a few useful things

[containscaffeine]

i found this review of rechargeable batteries that work with iPhone 3Gs:
Several backup batteries can extend your daily iPhone 3G use
Another fresh one here on the one Ars Technica recommend (3GJUICE)
Review of 3GJUICE Black 1800 mAh/2A DeLuxe Version. iPhone/ iPod Battery Charger. External Clip. ? Iphods.com: Everything iPhone and iPod
I checked and there's a local .com.au reseller for 3GJUICE (seems all the others you have to pay to be shipped in from overseas).

[Jaffa]

Originally Posted by iPhonetosh

Don't let it die
I thought this was a good thing to do, but I was wrong. Lithium-ion batteries (in the iPhone) do not like to be drained to 0%. I did this twice and both times I was stuck on the battery charging screen for 8+ hours. It said it was charging, but wasn't. Think of it like a car engine. If it is really cold and stalls, it may take some effort to start up. Same with a battery. If it is drained, it may take a while to start charging, if it even does.

Not sure if this has been mentioned, but I (and Apple) disagree with you on that point.

By cycling my MacBook battery and iPhone battery once a month I have found that I am able to keep my great battery life on my 2 year old MacBook and my 1 year old iPhone.

Here's what Apple has to say:

Originally Posted by http://www.apple.com/batteries/iphone.html

Use iPhone Regularly
For proper maintenance of a lithium-based battery, it’s important to keep the electrons in it moving occasionally. Be sure to go through at least one charge cycle per month (charging the battery to 100% and then completely running it down).

[petegraham]

Ok .. I am sort of torn on this issue now .. I have a new 3g iphone on the way. My previous 3 phones were nokia's .. on the last two phones if I let them die all the way it took hours to get them to even show a charge again .. I am not keen to have this happen to my new iphone. Apples response to this issue seems to be contradictory to normal lithium ion battery maintenance.

Thoughts opinions? As for me I dont think I'll be letting the phone go below 5% battery charge. Just seems to go against everything I've ever been told about lithium ion batteries.

[visaine]

Thanks a lot for the tips. I have one question: does keeping iphone connected to the usb after charging it completely affects battery in any way? I mean is it ok if I am listening to the music 5-7 hours having iphone connected to my computer?

[marc]

Thanks for the tips.

Go to Settings > iPod > EQ and tap Flat

This should probably read "Go to Settings > iPod > EQ and tap Off".