Bobby George is a technical consultant at LowCostBatteries.com. Please visit the site for more articles. bobby@lowcostbatteries.com
One of the hottest gadgets on the market today is the iPhone. Since its introduction in 2007, it has quickly become synonymous with fashionable and powerful consumer electronics. Although the original iPhone was a huge success for Apple, customers quickly began voicing their recommendations for the inevitable second iteration of the stylish phone. For instance, customers made it clear that 3G speeds would greatly improve the email, internet browsing, and other data capabilities the phone already possessed. Others proclaimed that the omission of GPS capabilities in such a powerful device was inexcusable, since so many other modern phones include GPS and the iPhone is already heavily integrated with Google Maps.
Around the 1 year anniversary of the original iPhone, Steve Jobs and company introduced the most asked-for features in the second generation of the iPhone called the iPhone 3G. It did, in fact, include the two features mentioned above, as well as some other hardware and software improvements/tweaks. Apple also announced that the battery life, something the iPhone was no particularly known for, would also be improved. This was welcome news to anyone interested in owning one of these ever so popular phones.
However, as users bought the phones and began using the new features in everyday situations, it became apparent that the increase in battery life was all but offset by the slew of new hardware and software features included in the second generation phone. In fact, users began to complain that the new battery would not last through a standard workday, something the original iPhone had no problem doing in most situations.
You may find yourself in the same boat if you own an iPhone 3G. However, there are certain steps you can take to prolong the life of the iPhone, allowing you to choose a comfortable balance of usability and battery life that will suit your individual needs.
3G
The 3G capabilities of the new iPhone allow for faster downloads, quicker emailing, speedier maps, and much more. However, 3G coverage is not available in all areas and is poor in others. If you do not use the 3G network very often, you can turn it off completely in the iPhone's settings menu. Otherwise, when not in a coverage area or when not using 3G for a long period of time, turning it off while not in use will improve the overall battery life.
Wi-Fi
If you are rarely near any Wi-Fi hotspots that you can connect to, you can turn Wi-Fi off completely in the iPhone settings menu which will save your battery for other things. If you do use Wi-Fi on a regular basis, it is also beneficial to turn off the "ask to join networks" feature to keep the iPhone from trying to get you to connect every time you are near wireless internet.
Screen Brightness
As with almost any other electronic device with a screen, changing the screen brightness level in the iPhone's settings menu can alter the battery life considerably. By default, the iPhone uses a sensor to detect the light levels surrounding the phone and adjusts the screen to a comfortable brightness accordingly. If you need all the battery you can muster, you should turn off this automatic screen brightness option and then turn the screen brightness down as low as you can while still being able to see the display.
Push and Auto-Fetch
The new iPhone also features an option for email to be "pushed" to your device as soon as it arrives on your email server. This is a vital option for anyone who relies on important emails for business and other important information when seconds count. However, if we are honest with ourselves, most of us do not need such instantaneous delivery. Turning off the push function will save battery life since the iPhone will not be connecting to the server so frequently. Similarly, the iPhone can be set to automatically check for new email messages every so often. Turning this function off and manually checking for new emails when you want to read them will also add some runtime to the battery.
iPod EQ
The iPod functions of the iPhone are revolutionary and fun to use, meaning a significant amount of battery life may be used listening to music. One thing that can help cut down on the amount of battery this uses is turning off the EQ functions of the iPod. If you aren't a fan of heavy base or blaring highs, this method may be for you. Also, the iPhone's speaker cannot handle many EQ setting very well, meaning that unless you are using headphones, the EQ can be turned off without much of a difference being noticed.
Bluetooth
Last, but not least, the iPhone's battery can be extended by keeping bluetooth turned off. The iPhone is not capable of sharing files or syncing with a computer over bluetooth, so unless you are using a wireless headset, keep the bluetooth turned off and you'll never know the difference.
- Related Videos
- Related Articles
- Ask / Related Q&A
- How to Convert DVD Video to iTunes on Mac, and transfer to Apple iPod, iPhone, Apple TV..
- Share an easiest way to enjoy all music/video on iPod/iPhone/Apple TV
- Share an easiest way to enjoy all music/video on iPod/iPhone/Apple TV
- Apple Iphone: Apple of All Eyes
- Wholesale Nokia N95 N72 N73 8800 Iphone Apple Phone
- Apple Iphone Application: Customize Your Iphone Using Third-Party Software
- Inside the Apple Iphone What You Should Know!
- What You Should Know Before Buying a iPhone 3G




Nokia N86 White Best Imaging Product of 2009
By: carlodanie | 15/11/2009The Nokia N86 is a gorgeous 3G phone that comes either in Black or white colour casing.
Better Than The Best: The New Motorola RAZR2 V8
By: Frances Seth | 15/11/2009Since it is a handset made by Motorola - the perfect Motosync technology granting over the air synchronization of Email, Phone Books and Calendar. Going online is as straightforward as ever with the incorporated HTML browser, impeccable for looking at different social networking web sites like Facebook and Twitter.
Samsung i8910 world’s 1st HD video recording mobile Phone
By: carlodanie | 15/11/2009Samsung i8910 is a latest 3G phone that has been brilliantly designed by Samsung mobiles.
Reverse Phone Detective Review - Lookup Cell Phone Number
By: Monika Weny | 15/11/2009Are you looking to do a reverse phone look up? One site that I use that does this for me is called the Reverse Phone Detective. It has helped me find a long-lost friend who had tried to call me on my cell phone.
Reverse Phone Lookup - Reverse Phone Number Search
By: Monika Weny | 15/11/2009Reverse phone lookup websites exist on the Internet for those of us wishing to find both land-line and cellular carrier numbers. All that you need to perform this search is the 10 digit phone number you want information on. In the event that a phone number is the only information you have, this type of search is beneficial in that it is still very revealing. Type your number into the search form on the directory website and click search.
Reliable Reverse Cell Phone Directory
By: Monika Weny | 15/11/2009You may have used a forward search to obtain the phone number of a friend, relative, co-worker, etc. However, if you were successful in finding their number, you would learn that it belongs to their residential landline, and not their cell phone. Thus, if your intention was to us a forward directory to obtain their wireless number, the reason you did not obtain this information is because it is illegal to give out mobile phone numbers through a forward lookup.
Find Out Who is Prank Calling You
By: Monika Weny | 15/11/2009Chances are if you own a phone number, you've been prank called, and if you haven't, it's probably only a matter of time before your first experience. The reason is prank, or crank calls as they are sometimes called, are typically annoying yet harmless unwanted calls often made by teenagers or pre-adolescent youths with too much time on their hands.
Nextel Reverse Phone Number Search
By: Monika Weny | 15/11/2009Want to run a Nextel reverse cell phone lookup to trace a Nextel number? If you are reading this, I am guessing you are finding reliable ways to do this. Then, you should read on to know the 3 main ways that you can do it. And it works for all kinds of numbers for all providers, ie it does not have to be Nextel and works for Sprint and Verizon as well.
How to Increase iPhone 3G Battery Life
By: Bobby George | 24/09/2008 | Cell PhonesTips to extend the life of an iPhone 3G
Back To School Batteries
By: Bobby George | 05/09/2008 | TechnologyWhen preparing to go back to school, don't forget about your battery needs. This article will help you know what to look for.
Are Replacement Laptop Batteries as Good as the Originals?
By: Bobby George | 05/09/2008 | TechnologyWhen you find yourself having to keep your laptop computer plugged into its AC adapter most of the time, chances are your original battery is dead and it's time to start looking for a replacement.
Flash Memory Advantages and Options
By: Bobby George | 10/07/2008 | TechnologyArticle describing the different options and technologies available in the realm of flash memory.
Power Tool Battery Care
By: Bobby George | 07/06/2008 | TechnologyArticle outlining several tips to ensure that your power tool batteries will remain working correctly and will not lose a significant amount of their run time.
Where Can I Find Mercury Battery Replacements?
By: Bobby George | 22/05/2008 | TechnologyHere I discuss the various options available when someone needs to replace a mercury battery.
Your Options When It Comes To Charging Your Batteries
By: Bobby George | 03/04/2008 | ElectronicsHaving trouble keeping your devices up and running? Make sure you never run out of power by checking out some of the many options available for charging your batteries.
Battery Charging Instructions for Extending Battery Life
By: Bobby George | 06/03/2008 | TechnologyInstruction on the best charging practices for new and replacement batteries.