John C. Dvorak (of dvorak.org/blog — enjoy the drink) clearly has it out for the iPhone, first with his statement suggesting Apple should pull the plug on the geek gadget of all time, and now when he got some “inside information” from a Cingular rep. According to Dvorak, via the rep who’s testing the device, the battery dies within 40 minutes.
According to the mystery Cingular rep, “there’s lots of issues” with the phone, and the interface screws up all the time. I’ll buy the battery issue, because after all, it was reported at only having 5 hours (I get more battery life out of my nano). But the part about he interface screwing up doesn’t seem too Apple-like to me.
But if there are some issues floating around, it is still one of the first revisions, Apple still has 2 months to work out the kinks.
via [The Apple Blog]
Not only does the iPhone a revolutionary new product, the battery has been completely redesigned as well. The iPhone battery will out perform current phone batteries.
Sadly you are too quick to judge something that hasn't even been on the market. Instead of making negative attacks and poorly informed guesses about the upcoming release of the iPhone, let's review what is known about it's battery:
Phone battery questions
Is the iPhone battery replaceable?
Is the iPhone battery user-replaceable?
What kind of battery does the iPhone use?
How long does the iPhone battery last?
When will more detailed iPhone battery specifications and performance data become available?
Why didn't Apple make the iPhone battery easily user-accessible?
Will higher capacity batteries be available for iPhone?
Can i use my iPod power adapter, charger, or other power accessory with iPhone?
Q: Is the iPhone battery replaceable?
Yes, but it is not known what specific type of battery is used, or how much it will cost. The exact mechanism of access to the battery and the replacement options are not known. Currently, it is believed that the official Apple battery replacement method may require sending the iPhone to Apple, as with iPod. Since many customers would not want to lose access to a mobile communications device like iPhone for any period of time, battery replacements will almost certainly need to be be available on-demand; hopefully such replacements will be possible at an Apple Store and/or Cingular Store, or via similar channels in other markets outside the US. Apple and Cingular are together still in the process of determining the service and support mechanisms and channels in the US, obtraining regulatory approvals and so on for this device, and battery replacement costs and procedures are yet to be determined. Similar procedures will be developed for worldwide markets. More information will be posted as it becomes available.
Q: Is the iPhone battery user-replaceable?
It is not yet known whether the iPhone battery will be easily and quickly user-replaceable or user-accessible, or whether it will be a more involved physical replacement process, as with iPod. Currently, it appears that iPhone is sealed in the same way as iPod. Apple has not explicitly confirmed this, but it does appear that the iPhone case is sealed and not "user-servicable", making iPhone similar to iPod in this respect. Battery replacement will be available through Apple, via third parties, and potentially via Cingular. In any event, third party and do-it-yourself battery replacements for iPhone will likely be a possibility.
Q: What kind of battery does the iPhone use?
The iPhone uses a lithium ion battery, as do nearly all mobile phones and portable devices. The exact battery manufacturer(s) and battery specifications are not yet known. The iPhone specifications say the battery supports up to 5 hours for talk/video/browsing, and up to 16 hours for audio playback. Some rumors have said that iPhone uses a two-battery design, with one for the phone portion, and one for the media player portion, charging both batteries whenever it is hooked up to a power source; however, this is unlikely.
Q: How long does the iPhone battery last?
The iPhone specifications say the battery life is up to 5 hours for talk/video/browsing, and up to 16 hours for audio playback (or a combination thereof). There is not yet any specification for standby time, nor any real-life performance data. Apple further states in a footnote that "[t]echnical specifications are subject to change. [...] Up to 5 hours of talk time depends on network configuration. Up to 16 hours of battery life refers to music playback. Up to 5 hours of battery life is based on H.264 1.5-Mbps video at 640-by-480 resolution combined with 128-Kbps audio. Rechargeable batteries have a limited number of charge cycles and may eventually need to be replaced. Battery life and number of charge cycles vary by use and settings. See http://www.apple.com/batteries for more information." It is reasonable to believe that iPhone battery performance will be similar to modern slim smartphones with lithium ion batteries.
Q: When will more detailed iPhone battery specifications and performance data become available?
Apple may not provide additional specifications or performance data beyond what has already been stated in the iPhone specifications. However, once customers start receiving iPhone, which is currently projected to be June 2007 in the US (some reviewers may get early samples of the product), more real-world usage and performance data on battery life will become available. Research firms and third parties hoping to provide replacement batteries will also disassemble iPhone, at which point information on the exact brand and type of battery will become available.
Q: Why didn't Apple make the iPhone battery easily user-accessible?
Neither Apple nor Cingular have made any statements on this topic. However, if it does end up that the battery isn't quickly/easily "user-accessible", it is again an engineering decision, as with the iPod. On the iPod, the decision wasn't made for "planned obsolescense", to force people into buying new iPods, or to make people buy "overpriced" batteries, as there are numerous ways to replace the battery from many sources, including Apple, for as little as $20. In the case of the iPod, it was an engineering decision, allowing them to make the device smaller, thinner, and lighter than competitive devices, and not covered with access doors, by eliminating traditional mechanisms and internal design required for "user-accessible" battery access.
In the case of iPhone, it has been done for the same reasons: iPhone is the thinnest and lightest phone anywhere near its class, while also being a much more powerful device, with more functionality and capability in the same size than other devices on the market. This would likely be seen as a very reasonable tradeoff for iPhone's target market. iPhone is also more likely to be docked and/or connected to a computer via USB or attached to a powered dock for music playback, and would thus also be charging while connected. This is also seen as another differentiation from how many other phones, even in the smartphone/PDA class, are used.
The iPhone is a different type of product than iPod. One other difference with the mobile phone market, even with higher end phones, is that many customers obtain a new phone when the contract is renewed because of the carrier subsidy for a new phone, or a desire for the latest device features, often before a new battery is needed. Most customers will still feel that the battery needs to be able to be replaced without sending the phone anywhere, and both Apple and Cingular are aware of this fact. More information about this situation will be posted as soon as it becomes available.
Q: Will higher capacity batteries be available for iPhone?
As with iPod, different options for batteries from third parties will likely become available. Apple is very likely already using the highest capacity batteries available in the size and form factor used in the iPhone. However, if improvements in battery manufacturing yield improvements that were not yet available in older iterations of iPhone, it is likely that third parties could offer higher capacity batteries for iPhone in the future. This was the same case with iPod. Also, external, slim batteries that cover most or all of the back of the phone will also likely become available. Such external batteries would add a small amount of overall thickness, but would conform to the iPhone style and shape while greatly increasing battery capacity. Similar batteries for other smartphone/PDA class devices increase overall battery capacity by twice or more.
Because iPhone also uses the same dock connector as iPod, the wide range of external battery packs, power adapters and chargers (wall, vehicle, aircraft), and other power accessories for iPod are also already compatible with iPhone! Many new vehicles are also available with optional iPod dock connectors. These same connectors with work with, and charge, iPhone as well.
Q: Can i use my iPod external battery pack, power adapter, charger, or other power accessory with iPhone?
Yes! iPhone also uses the same 30-pin dock connector as iPod, and the wide range of external battery packs, power adapters, wall chargers, vehicle chargers, aircraft chargers, USB and FIreWire charging cables, and many other Apple and third party power accessories for iPod are already compatible with iPhone! Many new vehicles as well as aftermarket automotive audio equipment are also available with optional iPod dock connectors. These same connectors with work with, and charge, iPhone as well, in addition to allowing music playback and control functionality just as with iPod.
Nothing has yet been confirmed about the battery replacement situation with iPhone.
No, no, no. That Cingular guy was testing the prototype of the "3G" iPhone that will be out in 20 years from now. Man, have you ever use a 3G phone, it sucks up the battery in seconds.
Something told me the phone was going to be a piece of sh!+. haha. It didnt look all that nice anyway. I figured the LCD screen would overheat from all the power and either the screen would fry out or the the whole phone would just zap. Oh well its still crap haha!
Dvorak is just poking the rabid Apple fans with a stick so that he gets attention. That's his thing: be the contrarian and get folks riled up and talking about him and his opinions so that it generates pageviews for his various publishers and economically justifies his career.
Ignore him and maybe he'll finally go away.
that might be. but i don't see how can a cingular rep can get a hand of the iphone?! most likely bull.
Take a look at Aw Craps! The best craps game for iPhone and iPod Touch.
http://www.24x7digital.com/awcraps
This is an iphone game that will not crap out (or at least have fun while draining your iphone battery)!