Macworld goes myth busting with iPad heat, battery issues


Two relatively non-issues with the new iPad has earned some traction on the intertubes. The issues are probably a curiosity at best, which involve the new iPad getting a bit warmer than the iPad 2 and some observations of the iPad charging.

On the heat issue, last week Consumer Reports ran some tests and found the new iPad to be 13-degrees warmer than the original during strenuous use. 16 degrees if plugged in and charging at the same time. I tried doing the similar tests and barely broke 100-degrees, but either way, the new iPad does seem warmer. It's good that Consumer Reports runs tests. It's a trending topic and they have the facilities, equipment, and experience to run these types of tests. Where Consumer Reports failed, however, is providing context for that data. Some relevant context from Macworld:

we took our trusty thermometer in hand and ran a series of tests that pitted Apple's latest tablet against the iPad 2 and two popular Android tablets--the Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime and the LTE version of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1. Our results are likely to be reassuring to any potential iPad purchasers. Though the new iPad did run hotter than the iPad 2, the difference wasn't great. And in repeated lab tests of the new iPad, we could not replicate the disturbingly high temperatures that some sources have reported. More important, the new iPad was not dramatically warmer than either the Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime or the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 LTE


Much more detail at Macworld.

The second issue is overcharging your iPad battery. This one is truly strange, especially considering all the rechargeable devices out there. Essentially, a report singled out Apple's new iPad and claimed serious problems with the battery charging beyond 100%. The report also made incorrect claims by Apple that users shouldn't let their device charge overnight. As it turns out, all too is well. Rechargeable devices have sophisticated logic to safeguard and maximize lithium polymer batteries. While the battery read 100%, it can still take a trickle charge which may exceed the vendor's stated specifications. This is a good thing.

That means you can safely plug in your iPad at bedtime; even if the battery meter hits 100 percent at midnight, it's no problem for your tablet to keep on charging until the rooster crows. The new iPad boasts the same 10-hour battery life that the previous two iPads claimed,