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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2009
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6

New iPhone Dazzles, But Battery Fizzles

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(Newser) – Lost amid the hoopla over the new iPhone 3GS is an annoying flaw: its battery rarely gets through the day without pooping out. Apple's website now advises users to temporarily shut down certain features, including the 3G network itself, to prolong battery life, reports the Los Angeles Times. Battery life depends largely on how many gizmos are running; Luddites who use their iPhones simply to talk can figure on about 7 hours.

"There's trouble in the battery field in that there's only so much energy you can squeeze in a certain space," said one tech analyst. "There's not really a solution in sight." It doesn't help that the battery is 15% smaller than the one in the original iPhone, a change necessitated by the sleeker design. Palm's Pre smartphone has similar problems but also an advantage, notes the Times: its battery can be swapped for a spare.

The Apple iPhone 3GS.
The Apple iPhone 3GS.   (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez, file)
The Apple iPhone 3GS.
The Apple iPhone 3GS.   (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
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The screen is actually the biggest battery suck in the device. The fact that people are using their 3G iPhones to do a lot more stuff means that the screen is on more." - Charles Golvin of Forrester Research Inc.

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6 comments
VIEWING:
 
Blackbird
Jul 3, 09 10:32 AM CDT
Yeah, they advertise around 40 hours for the iTouch, I really only get 8 hours. A bit of false advertising... Reply
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IN RESPONSE:
Ioptout
Jul 3, 09 12:02 PM CDT
itouch is the biggest waste of money. Why didn't you return it? The games suck, size sucks, internet sucks and most importantly THE APPS SUCK. You can get a computer at best buy now for $$$200$$$....
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-1
IN RESPONSE:
2-bits
Jul 3, 09 1:17 PM CDT
You get the same apps and games as the iPhone. When you're on a campus that is completely covered with wifi, the it works the same as the iPhone (without the phone) So what's you're problem?
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0
IN RESPONSE:
Ioptout
Jul 3, 09 2:58 PM CDT
You have asked me "what's your point and what's your problem several times 2-Bits." I want you to use your brain from now on. The iTouch and the iPhone has some major differences as far as apps that come with the phone that are not released with the itouch (obvious porblem)..."Google it". With only a price break of $100 it's obvious that buying a laptop for $200 that has infinite possibilities overshines an iTouch infinitely. Basically an iTouch is a shitty computer (because it is not a phone). Don't thumb me down just because you don't understand and probably do not own an iTouch. I have and I returned it a week later. IT SUCKS...
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+2
Snarfeh
Jul 3, 09 11:27 AM CDT
That is exactly why I will never, ever be part of the first wave of purchasers for new gadgets. However, I am glad there are so many people who do want to be first to get a new gadget because I get to find out all the flaws from them before making a purchase. Reply
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