User guides
Clare Hopping
16:25, May 13 2013
We round up the essential tips and tricks for the iPhone 4
The iPhone 4 may have been released quite a while, but now it's available on a plan with no upfront fee, it's a great choice to get into the Apple world.
If you have just bought an iPhone 4, check out our top tips and tricks to get your started.
How to download and install iOS 6.1 on your iPhone 4 right now
For iPhone 4 owners, today is a great day as the iOS 6.1 upgrade is finally available for download and install! iOS 6 is a significant step forward for the OS, adding several new features for Apple's premier smartphone.
The update brings LTE support to more markets around the world, so even more users can enjoy ultra-fast Safari browsing, FaceTime video calls, iCloud services and iTunes and App Store downloads. iOS 6.1 also lets users buy movie tickets through Fandango via Apple's voice-assistant Siri, which is really nice.
For those new to the iPhone however, there may be some difficulty in knowing exactly what to do in order to upgrade your device. This brief guide aims to address that and help novice users update their smartphone with ease.
In order to update your iPhone 4 to iOS 6.1, proceed with the following:
Launch the Settings app, then General>Software update.
Tap Download and Install.
Agree to terms and conditions.
Click download iOS 6.1 update.
Once the download completes, tap install.
iOS 6.1 will now install on your iPhone 4. The device will reboot once the process is complete.
To install iOS 6.1 via iTunes, follow this additional guide below:
Connect your iPhone to your computer via USB.
Open iTunes.
An iOS 6.1 availability message will appear.
Click download and install iOS 6.1 update.
Now iTunes will download and install your update.
How to make your own free ringtones and then install them on your iPhone 4
Making ringtones and installing them on the iPhone4 isn't nearly as easy as it is on other devices, but it's still simple enough for most people to pull it off.
The problem, however, is that most people simply don't know all of the steps involved.
In this guide, we'll show you How to make your own ringtones, convert them to an iPhone-friendly format, and then transfer them to your iPhone 4 using iTunes.
Make a ringtone
First, you need to find a song or other audio file you like and pull a 1 to 30-second clip from the file. There are two easy ways to do this:
If your track is already in iTunes, right-click it and choose Get Info. Then, on the Options tab, choose a start and stop time no longer than 30 seconds.
If you have a wave or MP3 file you'd like to pull a more precise clip from, we recommend using Audacity for Mac or Windows. Be sure to export the finished file as an MP3.
Convert the ringtone
Now that you have an audio clip that is between 1 and 30 seconds long, you need to convert it to the appropriate format.
Drag your file into iTunes if it's not already in your music library
Highlight the file and click Advanced in the top menu
Choose Create Apple Lossless Version
Find the newly-created M4A file in your iTunes library
On a Mac: User > Music > iTunes > iTunes Music > [Artist Name]
On a Windows PC: My Documents > My Music > iTunes Media > Music > [Artist Name] (make sure "Hide extensions for known file types" within "Folder Options" is unchecked)
Rename the file so that the extension is M4R instead of M4A (ex: "ringtone.m4a" becomes "ringtone.m4r")
Drag the renamed file into iTunes
Sync the ringtone to your iPhone 4
Now you're ready to transfer the file to your iPhone 4.
Click on the Ringtones item in the left-hand menu column in iTunes — your new ringtone should already be there
Connect your iPhone 4 to your computer using the supplied USB cable
Once it appears, click on your iPhone in the left-hand menu column in iTunes
Go to the Ringtones tab and ensure that ringtones are set to sync
Sync your iPhone
That's it! Your new ringtone will now be transferred to your iPhone 4. To configure it as your current ringtone, simply go to Settings > Sounds > Ringtone on your iPhone and choose the new file by name.
How to transfer all of your iTunes music, movies and other data and sync your iPhone when you get a new Mac or Windows PC
Getting a new computer, whether it's a Windows PCor a Mac, is a stressful experience. New kit is always great, of course, but moving all of you programs and files from your old machine to your new one can be a pain.
If you're an iPhone user, the task can be downright daunting.
Luckily, we're here to walk you through the process one step at a time. So follow this guide if you need to transfer your iTunes library from one computer to another along with all of the purchases you made on your iPhone.
On your old computer:
First and foremost, connect your iPhone to your old machine using the suppliedUSB cable
Click on the device name in the menu on the left, then on the main tab uncheck the box next to "Automatically Sync When This iPhone Is Connected"
Apply the changes and sync your iPhone
Now you'll need to physically move your music, ringtones, photos, movies and TV shows from your old computer to your new one. There are several different ways to do this, but click here for your best bet. The linked guide even includes a video tutorial.
Once you've followed the guide linked above, you're ready for the last part.
On your new computer:
Do not connect your iPhone to your computer yet.
On your new computer, open iTunes
From the Store menu, click Authorize Computer
Enter your user name and password, then click the Authorize button
Now, connect your iPhone to your new computer via the supplied USB cable.
A dialog box will appear
Click the Transfer Purchases button
If the dialog box does not appear, right-click on your iPhone's name in the menu on the left and choose Transfer Purchases
That's it! All of your purchases, including music, movies, TV shows and Apps (free and paid) will now be copied from your iPhone to your new computer. You can now sync freely without worrying about losing all your data.
How to jailbreak the Apple iPhone 4 right from within the mobile Safari browser - no computer needed!
After a surprisingly lengthy wait, it's finally happened -- a group of iPhone hackers has released an iPhone 4jailbreak to the public.
But this new jailbreak method isn't special just because it's the first available jailbreak for the iPhone 4. It's also the first jailbreak that can be performed right from the mobile Safari browser!
No computers, no cables and no complicated procedures... Just a few quick steps and you're done!
Warning: Please use the following guide at your own risk. Jailbreaking your iPhone is not authorized by Apple and may therefore void your warranty. Jailbreaking may also cause irreversible damage to your phone.
It is recommended that update your iPhone 4 to iOS 4.0.1 and sync with iTunes prior to jailbreaking
Once synced, disconnect your phone from your computer and connect to a Wi-Finetwork if available
Open Safari on your iPhone 4 and go to jailbreakme.com
Slide the slider at the bottom of the homepage to jailbreak your iPhone
Confirm, then wait while your iPhone is jailbroken
Once the process is complete, reboot your iPhone
That's it!
Your iPhone 4 is now jailbroken and Cydia will appear on one of your home screens. Cydia is like the App Store, but it contains apps that have not been tested by Apple.
Remember, you should not update your iOS software until the Dev Team gives the go-ahead.
If you ever want to remove the jailbreak, it couldn't be easier. Simply sync your iPhone 4 and then press the Restore button in iTunes.
How to lock the orientation on your iPhone 4 to prevent accidental rotations
The iPhone4 can automatically switch between portrait and landscape orientations in many areas of the iOS interface.
This can be tremendously useful. For example, many people find that viewing Web pages is better in portrait mode, but typing a URL into the address bar is much easier in landscape mode.
There are many cases, however, when you'd rather have your iPhone stay in portrait mode even when it is tilted to the side. In these instances, you can easily lock your iPhone's orientation so it will no longer rotate.
Follow these simple steps to lock the orientation of your iPhone 4:
From any screen, double-tap the home button
Scroll as far left as you can on the multitasking dock
The first symbol to the left will be a circular arrow
Select this to either lock or unlock the orientation of your iPhone 4
That's it!
How to set a passcode lock to protect your personal data on the iPhone 4
The expression "better safe than sorry" applies to many things when it comes to mobile security, and setting a passcode lock on your iPhone 4is no exception.
Apple's iOS includes a feature that lets you block access to your iPhone until a password -- either numeric or alphanumeric -- is entered on the device.
It might be a bit annoying at first, but this minor nuisance is far better than having all of your personal data compromised in the event that your iPhone 4 is lost or stolen.
Follow these simple steps to set-up Passcode Lock:
Go into Settings
Open General
Scroll down and tap on Passcode Lock
The default passcode in iOS is four digits -- if you would like to set an alphanumeric passcode, slide the Simple Passcode toggle to Off
Now, select Turn Passcode On
Enter a four-digit passcode, or an alphanumeric passcode of any length
Re-type your passcode to confirm
Set Require Passcode to the desired time -- this will be the amount of idle time before your iPhone will require you to enter the passcode
That's it!
How to sync your iPhone 4 with iTunes
When you first receive your new iPhone 4
, Apple requires that you use iTunes to activate the device. Syncing your iPhone's content with iTunes is completely optional, however.
There are many benefits to syncing your iPhone 4 data with iTunes, not the least of which is ensuring that all of your Contacts, Calendars, Email settings, Web page Bookmarks, Notes, Ringtones, Music, Photos and Videos, Podcasts, Books and Audio Books are backed up. This way, if something goes wrong and you lose data on your iPhone, a quick restore is all you need to recover your files.
To set-up syncing between your iPhone 4 and iTunes, follow these simple steps:
Connect the iPhone 4 to your PC and launch iTunes
Select iPhone Option in the iTunes sidebar
Now, select which things you’d like to have synced – so, music, email and contacts for example
Once you’ve done this, click Apply – it’s in the bottom right corner of iTunes
Wait for Syncing to complete
That's it!
We recommend that you sync your iPhone 4 with iTunes at least once a week. In the unfortunate event that data on your iPhone is lost, this will ensure that you have a recent backup file to restore with.
How to use the iPhone 4's FaceTime video calling feature
FaceTime is the iPhone 4'svideo calling function and for the time being, it is the only video chat feature currently supported by the iPhone 4.
The iPhone 4 features two cameras - one on the front for video calling and a more advanced one on the back for taking photos. You can use both of these cameras for making FaceTime video calls.
Here, we show you how to make a FaceTime call, switch to a FaceTime call and switch cameras during a FaceTime call.
How to make a new call with FaceTime
Select the Phone icon from the home screen
Select a contact
Select the FaceTime icon from the contact's phonebook entry
When the person you're calling accepts the FaceTime invitation, the video call will start
How to switch from voice to FaceTime call
Make a voice call by selecting the voice call button from the contacts screen
While you're on the voice call, tap the FaceTime icon on the screen (it looks like a video camera)
The call will switch to a FaceTime call when the person on the other end accepts the FaceTime invitation
Note that this will end the voice call. FaceTime calls do not use voice minutes.
How to switch between the front and back camera on a FaceTime call
Make a call using the FaceTime functionality (Steps 1-4 above)
Tap the switch camera icon in the bottom right of the screen
The camera view will automatically switch to using the rear-mounted camera
How to edit videos using iMovie on the iPhone 4
The Apple iPhone 4features 720p HD video recording capable of capturing stunning video at 30 fps.
Those HD video files can get large pretty fast, however, so the ability to edit movies is paramount. As was announced at WWDC, Apple has made an iOS version of iMovie that can satisfy all of your basic video editing needs.
In this guide, we give you a rundown of some essential functions:
iPhone iMovie basics
Open up iMovie and either choose an existing video from your iPhone or record a new video by tapping the record button.
Once you have the video imported into iMovie, the clips for each project will appear at the bottom of the screen, whether in landscape or portrait mode.
To trim clips, you can just drag your finger to control the pins on either side of the clip.
To zoom into the timeline, pinch your fingers together. To zoom out, pinch fingers apart.
If you want to quickly scroll through your video, slide your finger faster along the timeline.
To give your movie a theme, head to the themes sub menu and tap one of them to choose it.
Adding transitions to your iMovie masterpiece
There are a whole load of transitions you can apply to your iMovie project, that all appear in the transitions sub menu. They include cross dissolve and theme transitions.
Select the transitions menu and then choose a transition.
Change the duration of the transition by selecting a duration.
Adding photos to your iMovie project
Select your iMovie library where all of your videos, photos and music is stored.
Tap on the photos tab
Select the photo album
Select the photo and drag it to where you want the photo to appear in your timeline
Adding music to your iMovie project
Select the iMovie library
Tap on the music tab
Your iTunes music as well as pre installed music will appear
Choose a track and it will be added to your movie. You can also trim the clip as you would with video to fit it where you want to
Adding a title to an iMovie project
Double tap on the clip
Select Title Style
Select which of the titles you'd like to implement
Type in the title using the keyboard
The geo-location will also be added, taking the information from where the video was recorded
How to add website shortcuts to your iPhone 4's home screens
The iPhone 4with iOS 4 features a revamped home screen compared to older models, including a new dock graphic, the ability to create folders and the ability to set a wallpaper.
Even though a lot as changed, however, Apple still gives users the option to add website shortcuts to their home screens.
Here's How to do it:
Open Safari
Navigate to the website you want to add to your home screen
Press the '+' icon
Select 'Add to home screen'
When the shortcut has been added to your iPhone's home screen, you can move it around as you can with app shortcuts.
Just press and hold the website icon and drag it to where you want it to appear. Tap the home key to set it in position.
How to use the new multitasking capabilities in iOS 4
The iPhone 4 ships with iOS 4.0, the first version of iPhone operating systemto support multitasking for third-party apps.
You can also use this feature if you've upgraded your iPhone 3GS to iPhone iOS 4.
Note: For third-party apps to allow state-saving, they'll have to support iOS 4. All stock Apple apps support state-saving.
The home screen button now operates as the multitasking button.
All you have to do to switch between applications is double tap the home screen button (the button below the screen) twice and up will pop a dock displaying all of your recently-used apps.
Simply tap on the app that you want to switch to and you can carry on where you last left off.
To view all of the open applications, you can slide your finger along the dock.
You can also use VoIP apps such as Skype while you're using another application. Simply double tap the home screen when on a VoIP call and you can check your emails or read the latest news headlines without disconnecting.
If you're waiting for a page to load in Safari, you can just double tap the home screen button and switch to another app without Safari stopping.
How to use the iPhone 4's 5-megapixel camera
The iPhone4 features a 5-megapixel camera with extra features, such as the ability to zoom. It also features an LED flash to accommodate low light situations.
We show you How to use these features in our tutorial:
How to use tap-to-focus
Although the iPhone's 5-megapixel camera features auto-focus, you can also choose what to focus on using tap-to-focus.
Tap the iPhone's screen to find your focal point, such as a person in the background rather than the foreground.
A green box will appear to confirm that point has ben selected and is now in focus.
This method also automatically adjusts exposure and white balance.
How to use zoom
The iPhone 4's camera features a 5x digital zoom. To zoom into a shot, press the volume up and down keys to zoom in or out of a picture.
Alternatively, an on-screen zoom slider will appear if you tap anywhere on the display.
How to use the flash
Although the iPhone 4 features an illumination sensor to automatically sense if there's enough light to take a photo or not, you can also manually switch it on by tapping on the flash icon that appears in the bottom left of the iPhone 4's screen in landscape mode, or top left in portrait mode.
How to use the secondary camera
The 5-megapixel camera is set as the default camera, but you can switch to the VGA camera on the front by tapping the camera switch icon.
This is situated in the top left if you're in landscape mode, or top right in portrait mode.
How to switch to video mode
Along the bottom bar of the iPhone's camera screen, you'll see a slider to switch to video mode.
Simply swipe across to activate it.
How to share photos
You can share photos direct from the camera app on the iPhone 4.
Once you've taken a photo, tap the share icon and you're given the option of emailing a photo, sending it by MMS, sending to MobileMe, Assign to a contact or use as a wallpaper.
Tap on one of these options and your photo will be sent to a friend or a service along with geo-location data if enabled.
How to use home screen folders on the iPhone 4
The iPhone4 and iOS 4 supports home screen folders, allowing you to organize your home screen and group relevant applications together in a single folder.
This is a great advantage, because there is limited space across the iPhone's home screens.
Here's How to create and use folders on the iPhone 4:
How to create a folder on the iPhone
Touch and hold an app until it wiggles
Drag the app onto another application to create a folder
You can put up to 12 applications into any one iPhone folder
How to launch an application from a folder
Identify the folder that houses the app you want to open
Tap on the folder
Tap on the application you want to open within the folder
Alternatively, use the Spotlight search function to find the application and open it from there
How to rename a folder
Tap on a folder
Select the text bar at the top of the dock that will appear
Type a new name to rename the folder, then tap Done
How to remove items from a folder
Tap on a folder to open it
Tap and hold one of the items in the folder
Tap on the 'x' in the corner of the item
The item will be deleted from the folder
How to use the iPhone 4's HD video recording functionality
The iPhone 4 is the first iPhone to support HD video recording. It records video in 720p at approximately 30 frames per second.
Here, we show you How to use the key features of the iPhone's video camera:
How to use tap-to-focus
The iPhone 4 features tap-to-focus when using both the camera and the video camera.
To use tap-to-focus, simply tap the part of the shot that you want in focus and the iPhone will automatically adjust the lighting to ensure that part is in focus and crisp.
If you want to change the focus while recording, just tap another part of the scene to change the focus.
How to get the most out of your recorded videos
You can download iMovie to edit all of your iPhone 4's video. Take a look at How to use it in our guide to iMovie on the iPhone.
How to share video on the iPhone 4
Not only can you send pre-recorded videos as an attachment in an email, but you can also record a video clip while composing an email and it'll automatically attach when you stop recording.
To do this, simply tap the camera icon to record, or select a video from the camera roll to attach a previously recorded video.
The iPhone 4 also gives you the option of sharing video on MobileMe and YouTube. From the video gallery, tap the share icon and then select how you want to share it.
How to choose and set the wallpaper on your home screen and lock screen
iOS 4.0 is the first version of Apple's mobile operating system that allows you to set a home screen wallpaper on the iPhone and iPod touch.
You can choose your wallpaper from Apple's stock images included with the OS, or you can select an image from your Photo Roll or any image folder on your iPhone.
Selecting your wallpaper couldn't be easier -- we show you how in seven simple steps:
On your home screen, tap Settings
Tap Wallpaper
Tap the image depicting your wallpapers
Choose the Wallpaper folder to select one of Apple's stock images, or choose one of your image folders
Tap on the image you would like to set as your wallpaper
Move and scale the image to your liking, then tap Set
Choose Set Lock Screen, Set Home Screen or Set Both
That's it!
You can also browse your images from with the Photos app to set your wallpaper, but then you will not have access to Apple's stock wallpaper images.
How to get all of your apps, files and settings onto your new iPhone 4 from your old iPhone 3GS, iPhone 3G or iPhone
If you're upgrading from an older model -- the iPhone 3GS, iPhone 3G or first-generation iPhone -- you'll be happy to learn that it's extremely easy to move all of your current apps, music, movies, photos, files and settings from your old iPhone to your shiny new iPhone 4.
In fact, thanks to the iTunes backup and restore feature, getting all of your data onto your new handset can be accomplished in a few quick clicks.
Get ready
First, it's a good idea to ensure you have the latest version of iTunes installed.
If you're using a Windows PC; open iTunes and click on Help in the top menu, then selectCheck for Update.
If you're on a Mac; open iTunes and click on iTunes in the top menu, then select Check for Updates...
Now simply follow the on-screen prompts to update iTunes.
Before you move all of your data over to the iPhone 4, it's also a very good idea to ensure that your current iPhone 3GS, iPhone 3G or iPhone has the latest iOS version available.
Open iTunes on your Windows or Mac PC
With your iPhone powered on, connect it to your computer using the supplied USB cable
After a few seconds, your iPhone will appear in the middle of the left-hand iTunes column under Devices -- click on it
If your iPhone currently has an older version of iOS, you should automatically be prompted to update
If you are not prompted; click Check for Update, then follow the on-screen prompts to update iOS
Now, simply follow the on-screen prompts to update iOS on your iPhone 3GS, iPhone 3G or iPhone
Back up your current iPhone
Your iPhone was likely backed up during the update process, but you should create another backup file now that your iOS version has been updated.
With your iPhone still connected to your computer, right-click it in the left-hand iTunes column under Devices
Select Back Up
Your iPhone will now be backed up and all apps, games, music, movies, settings and other date will be saved to the new backup file
Set up and restore your new iPhone 4
Here's the really easy part. When you first connect your new iPhone 4 to iTunes, you will be walked through the setup process.
Near the end of the setup process, you will see the following message appear:
An iPhone has been previously synced with this computer.
Beneath this message, select Restore from the backup of: and choose your old iPhone by name from the drop-down menu.
Click Continue, then follow the on-screen prompts to complete the setup process.
That's it!
Your iPhone 4 will now be restored and all of the apps, games, music, movies, photos, settings and other files from your old iPhone 3GS, iPhone 3G or iPhone will be loaded onto your new device.
How to add U.S. holidays and any other subscribed calendar to your iPhone 4 calendar in just a few easy steps
Do you find yourself constantly forgetting Mother's Day each year? Are you always confusing Labor Day with Memorial Day? Or perhaps you're afraid you might miss out on some local Cinco de Mayo parties?
Apple provides a great feature in its iPhone 4 Calendar that lets you subscribe to any public Internet Calendar. To make things easier, Apple also provides its own Internet Calendar containing all of the U.S. holidays each year.
Here, we show you how to add Apple's calendar of U.S. holidays to your iPhone 4:
Tap the Settings icon
Tap Mail, Contacts, Calendars
Scroll down and tap Add Account...
Tap Other
Tap Add Subscribed Calendar
In the server field, input: ical.mac.com/ical/US32Holidays.ics - then tap Next
On the next screen, change the name of the calendar under "Description" if you choose - then tap Save
That's it!
You'll now find each and every U.S. holiday within the iPhone 4 Calendar app, and they'll appear just like any other appointment.
This procedure can also be used to add any other public Internet Calendar to your iPhone 4 calendar. You can find a list of Apple's here, and there are many more available on various sites around the Web.
How to forward unanswered calls to Google Voice and have transcripts of your voicemails delivered via email or SMS
Google Voice provides a wide variety of functions to users, but many people aren't looking to take advantage of all the features Google Voice affords.
Even if simultaneous ringing and free SMS don't appeal to you, Google Voice can still be used as a great replacement for your carrier's standard voicemail system. What's more, Google Voice offers a free voicemail transcription service that uses voice-to-text to transcribe messages. Voicemail transcriptions can then be delivered to you via email or SMS.
In this guide, we show you how to set up Google Voice voicemail on iPhone 4 and configure the attached voicemail transcription service.
Activate Google Voice voicemail on your iPhone 4
Log in to the Google Voice website and click Settings in the top right corner
Locate the phone you wish to activate voicemail for and click Activate Google voicemail on this phone
On your iPhone 3GS, dial *004*xxx-xxx-xxxx# (where xxx-xxx-xxxx is your Google Voice phone number) and press Call
A forwarding confirmation will be displayed on your screen
On the Google Voice website, click Done
Configure voicemail transcriptions and delivery
Log in to the Google Voice website and click Settings in the top right corner
Click on the Voicemail & SMS tab
Next to "Voicemail Notifications", check the box next to Email the message to and select an email address to receive your voicemail transcriptions via email
Beneath "Send a text (SMS) message to", check the box next to each cell phone on which you want to receive SMS voicemail transcriptions
Next to Voicemail Transcripts, check the box next to Transcribe Voicemails
Click the Save Changes button at the bottom of the screen
That's it! Google Voice will now replace your AT&T voicemail, and it will deliver transcriptions of each message via email or SMS.
If at any point you wish to deactivate Google Voice voicemail, simply dial #002# on your iPhone 3GS and press Call. This will deactivate all call forwarding and the iPhone 4 will use the standard AT&T voicemail system once again.
15 ways to help ensure your Apple iPhone 4 is still ticking at the end of the day
The iPhone 4 and accompanying iOS 4 introduce tons of new functionality that squashes many of the problems people had with older iPhone models. Now that those qualms are behind us, it is safe to say that the most common complaint among iPhone 4 owners is sub-par battery life.
Love it or hate it, iPhone owners are forced to pay attention to battery life more so than owners of some other smartphones.
There are several measures that can be taken to drastically improve the battery performance -- some at little or no cost to usability or convenience.
1. Charge responsibly
Most people tend to get into the habit of charging phones overnight. While there is certainly much debate regarding whether or not charging habits affect battery life and longevity, many experts agree that over-charging a Lithium Ion battery can definitely reduce its performance over time.
In other words, over time a full charge will not last as long for someone who regularly leaves his or her iPhone 4 plugged in overnight as it would for someone who unplugs the iPhone 4 once it is fully charged.
As a general rule, try to wait until your phone battery is nearly empty before charging it. Once your battery is full, unplug it from its charger. Getting into this habit is good for your battery and it is good for the environment as well. The battery in the iPhone 4 charges in about an hour, so there is certainly no reason to leave your handset plugged in overnight while you sleep.
2. Get a second charger
This may seem like common sense to some, but buying a second charger for your office is a great way to help ensure that your iPhone 4 never runs out of juice. Some people carry one charger between their home and job but it's just too easy to forget it while rushing.
A second iPhone 4 charger can be purchased on eBay for as little as $7 shipped. Car chargers are just as inexpensive, so those who spend a fair amount of time on the road would be well served to consider one as well.
3. Get a portable charger
Frequent flyers and those who spend a good deal of time on the go with infrequent access to a wall outlet should certainly consider purchasing a portable charger. The most common form of portable charger consists of a battery pack, a cable and a variety of connector tips to ensure compatibility with a wide variety of devices. While just about every option these days includes an iPhone/iPod touch adapter tip, two recommendations are the USB TurboCharger 3400 by Proporta (3400 mAh) and the Solar Charger by Devotec Industries (1800 mAh).
4. Adjust display brightness
A very simple tweak that will have a dramatic impact on iPhone 4 battery life is decreasing the display brightness. Apple uses fantastic displays in its portable devices but they require a significant amount of power to illuminate them. The good news however, is that they are still extremely viewable when the brightness is turned down. Try lowering the brightness in Settings ->Brightness to between 60% - 75%, the lower the better of course.
5. Adjust auto-lock
Further to number 4 above, the less time your display is on, the better. In Settings -> General ->Auto-Lock, choose the 1 Minute option.
6. Turn off Bluetooth when not in use
Bluetooth headsets and car kits are fantastically convenient but when they're not in use, Bluetooth should be turned off. Bluetooth on the iPhone 4 is constantly searching for a new device to connect with when it is not in use and unfortunately, there is no way to turn the search feature off. While powering a Bluetooth radio takes a minimal amount of energy, the constant searching will indeed dramatically reduce battery life.
7. Adjust data fetch settings
A smartphone's ability to keep email, contacts and calendar items in sync over the air is an absolute necessity. The process of connecting to remote servers and exchanging data however, is an obvious drain on the battery. The iPhone 4 is no exception of course, but Apple has given users a great deal of control over how often the iPhone fetches new data. In Settings ->Mail, Contacts, Calendars -> Fetch New Data, try setting Fetch to Every 30 Minutes or even Hourly if possible.
Moreover, for email or calendar accounts that are used infrequently go to Settings -> Mail, Contacts, Calendars -> Fetch New Data -> Advanced. Set each trivial account to Manual rather than Fetch. With this setting configured, these accounts will only retrieve new data when their relative applications are opened. So, email accounts set to Manual will only grab new emails when the Mail app is opened and calendar accounts will only sync when the Calendar app is opened.
8. The Wi-Fi debacle
Wi-Fi is another big area of debate in terms of iPhone 4 battery life. Logic might dictate that if Wi-Fi is on, energy is being used so the result will be shorter battery life. In practice however, moving data via Wi-Fi requires much less power than moving data via 3G. As such, many find that leaving Wi-Fi on will actually increase battery life -- dramatically in fact.
If you don't often have access to a Wi-Fi network then obviously this tip is not for you. For those who have wireless networks at home, at the office or at a local coffee shop however, the more you can use Wi-Fi, the better.
9. Keep GPS usage to a minimum
Unlike Wi-Fi, there is really no question that GPS usage is hard on the iPhone battery. While the temptation to play with a new voice-guided navigation app can be overwhelming at times, try to avoid using it as a novelty to navigate known areas. Similarly, Location Based Service (LBS) apps like Yelp, Layar and others will deplete the iPhone 4 battery at a rapid rate, so use them sparingly.
10. Turn off vibration
In public areas and other noisy environments, a phone's vibrate function is absolutely essential. In quieter environments where you will definitely hear your iPhone 4's audio notifications however, disable the vibrate feature by going to Settings -> Sounds and toggling Vibrate under the Ringheading to off. Similarly, disable the vibrate feature within games and other apps whenever possible.
11. Disable iPod EQ
Ensuring Settings -> iPod -> EQ is set to off will have a major impact on battery life, especially for heavy iPod users. Some of the EQ settings in Apple's iPod app will make your music sound amazing but the cost to battery life is far too significant to leave EQ enabled all the time.
12. Don't update apps while on the go
There's nothing better than finding out one of your favorite apps finally received an update, but try to wait until you're connected to Wi-Fi before downloading any updates. Each time an app is updated, the full application file must be downloaded from the App Store.
If the app is large, downloading it over 3G will undoubtedly impact battery life negatively. Downloads over Wi-Fi are much faster and require significantly less power. The best option however, is to wait until you're connected to your computer and to download any app updates in iTunes on your Mac or PC. To apply the newly downloaded updates, simply sync your iPhone 4.
13. Don't download music/videos while on the go
Just as app updates can often be large files that will result in significant battery consumption, music and video files purchased from iTunes are even larger. Sometimes downloading on the go is necessary but if you can, wait for a Wi-Fi connection to minimize the impact on your battery. If possible of course, make music and video purchases on your computer and sync the new files across to your iPhone 4.
14. Always apply OS updates
Any time Apple issues an update to iOS, apply the update. New features aside, Apple often makes tweaks that have a positive impact on battery life and the only way to obtain them is by updating your OS.
15. Disable 3G
This tip should only be used if absolutely necessary of course, but 3G is without question a battery killer. If you absolutely need to stretch your battery life out for as long as possible, disabling 3G is the best way to do just that. Go to Settings -> General -> Network and toggle 3G to off.
Note that data speeds will be reduced and the phone will no longer support simultaneous voice and data while 3G is disabled.
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Apple iPhone 4
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