New to iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad? Here are the Basics!

[philipkotlar]

Just unwrap a new iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad? Of course you've heard of the products, but now that you have a real, physical unit in your hands, what’s next? Here, we cover nearly every single aspect of iOS and the iDevice world to get you up and running, and include some useful tips as well!

PC Free

Starting with iOS 5 your device is now PC free which includes an on-device setup process. When you power on your new device, you'll now be presented with a screen that says either iPhone, iPad touch, or iPad depending on your device. Just swipe to set up and you'll be greeted in many different languages. Select your language or tap the arrow to see other languages. You then need to do the same when choosing the region. Hit the blue 'Next' button to move forward.

Once you chosen your language and region you'll be asked if you wish to enable Location Services which use helps determine the location of your device. Hit the blue 'Next' button to move forward. You will now need to connect to a wireless network in order to activate your device. Select your network and enter in the password (if you have one, which you should). If you do not have a Wi-Fi network, connect your device to iTunes to continue. Hit the blue 'Next' button to move forward if you have a Wi-Fi network. The device will now activate through Apple which could take up to three minutes.

Once the device is activated you will have the option to:

Set up as a new device - Self explanatory, but we'll help you get started!
When you select to set up as a new device will you need to configure your Apple ID. You can create a free Apple ID when you've selected this option or you can sign into an existing Apple ID account that was previously created. You can skip this step.
Restore from iCloud - Restore to a backup that you made previously on another iOS device via iCloud.
The option will restore your brand new iOS device to a previous backup. Be patient as this can take a while. You will need to sign with your Apple ID which houses the backup.
Restore from iTunes - Restore to a backup that you made previously on another iOS device via iTunes.
If you didn't backup with iCloud on your previous device you can plug your device into iTunes and restore from a backup.

Once you've configured your device either restoring from a backup or signing in with a newly created Apple ID you'll be asked to use iCloud and then from there your location for a backup (iCloud or your computer). You can then enable Find My iPhone which is used to locate your iPad, iPhone or iPod touch if lost or stolen. Moving forward you can disallow iOS from sending diagnostic & usage reports back to Apple from here or you can go to disable go to Settings > General > About > Diagnostic & Usage > and set it to 'Don’t Send' if you wish to adjust this later. You're done here.
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iTunes
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Regardless of if you want it, you've gotta have it; literally, you will be lost without a PC or Mac to sync your iDevice to. iTunes is, luckily, very easy to use, and for the most part, requires little effort on your part. Here’s what you have to do:

Download/ update iTunes: If you are on Windows, go here and simply download iTunes by selecting your operating system, and clicking ‘Download.’ If you already have iTunes on a Mac or PC, simply find the Apple Software Update utility, and check for updates. Download the new version (if available), agree to any licenses that may pop up, and let it install.
Connect your device: In that box that your shiny new iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad came in, there should be a cable with a USB connector on one end. The other should have a thinner, elongated side that connects to the iPod, iPad, or iPhone (note: this is what we call a ’30-pin dock connector’). Simply connect the USB side to a port on your computer, and the other side to the bottom of your iDevice.
Create an iTunes account: You now have an Apple product, and you will need an iTunes account to access the universe of apps, music, and videos awaiting you. A credit card or iTunes gift card (redeemable in the iTunes). is required to be able to buy free apps and other media until you have purchased an iTunes gift card. Alternatively if you do not have a credit card or iTunes gift card there are instructions on the bottom of this post.
Let iTunes do its thing: This is where your new iPod, iPad, or iPhone will be set up so that you can use it for daily use. When you connected your device, iTunes should have automatically recognized it and brought up a screen saying that you need to set it up. For different devices, this process will be different. Basically, read through what iTunes is asking you, and don’t sweat it… Apple didn’t get their ‘easy to use’ reputation for nothing!
The initial sync will range from 1 minute to 1 hour, as it is completely dependent on how much media and apps you have in your library. After it is over, you should be all set up and able to download new apps, music, play games, browse the web, and enjoy all the new features of your new iDevice.

If you have any media on your computer from ripped CDs, or from the various stores like Amazon, etc. you’ll have to add them manually. Luckily, it isn’t very difficult:

Select ‘File’ from the top
Select ‘Add file to library’ if you are only looking to add single files of media such as .MP3s, PDFs or 'Add folder to library' if you are only looking to media folders.
Browse to the file that you are looking for and click it
That’s it! You may want to double check, just to be sure that it did indeed get added. You can repeat this procedure for as many times as you need to add media.

If you have any music CDs laying around that you'd like to rip to your computer using iTunes:

Pop in a music CD into the CD/DVD drive.
A dialog will appear 'Would you like to import the CD “name of CD” into your iTunes library?'
Click Yes.
If the dialog did not appear, click on the CD and click "Import CD" button. The CD will begin importing your tracks.
You'll see a green check mark next to tracks it's finished importing. The track it's currently importing will have an orange circle next to it.
That’s it! You may want to double check, just to be sure that it did indeed get added. You can repeat this procedure for as many times as you need to add media.

To create a free Apple ID without a credit card on your Mac or PC

1. You'll need to download iTunes from Apple.com/iTunes and then open iTunes on your Mac or PC.
2. Once downloaded, install the application and open iTunes.
3. Click on the grey bag called 'Store' and locate a free Podcast, Application, Song, Video or anything in the store that is free. We'll be using the free iBooks app for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad to create our Apple ID.
4. Click "Free" then select "Download."
5. You'll be asked to login select "Create Account" at the bottom right coroner.
6. You'll need to agree to the Terms and Conditions. Once you've read and agreed to the Terms and Conditions, click the checkbox next to 'I have read and agree to these terms and conditions' to and click 'Continue.'
7. You will now need to enter in:
A valid email address as this will be your Apple ID.
Your date of birth and security questions.
A password of at least 8 characters in length that contains numbers, capital letters and doesn't repeat the same letter 3 times after each other for a more secure password. You can generate a password here.
8. Once you've filled out the form, click 'Continue.'
9. Under payment select "None." You can only use iTunes Store gift cards to make purchases in iTunes. You can redeem an iTunes gift card now if you have on at hand. You can always enter in a credit card later.
10. Enter in your address and phone number.
11. You will need to verify your email address. Check your email inbox for a verification email from Apple.
12. In the verification email you receive from Apple, click the 'Verify Now' link.
13. You'll new Apple ID will be activated.
14. Enter your email address and the password you've just used to create your Apple ID to begin to make free purchases in iTunes.

To create an free Apple ID on your iPad, iPhone or iPod touch

1. Open up the App Store or iTunes Store and locate a free Podcast, Application, Song, Video or anything in the store that is free. We'll be using the free Hero's Call app for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad to create our Apple ID.
4. Click "Free" then select "Install App".
5. You'll be asked to login select "Create Account" at the bottom.
6. Select the country in which you are located and tap 'Done' then tap 'Next' to continue.
Note: you can create a US Apple ID even if you don't live in the states. Works for all countries.
7. You'll need to agree to the Terms and Conditions. Once you've read and agreed to the Terms and Conditions, click the check box next to 'I have read and agree to these terms and conditions' to and click 'Continue.'
8. Enter your email address as this will be your Apple ID and a password of at least 8 characters in length that contains numbers, capital letters and doesn't repeat the same letter 3 times after each other for a more secure password. You can generate a password here. Once that is all done tap 'Next' to continue.
9. Fill in your date of birth and security questions, tap 'Next' to proceed.
10. Under payment select "None." You can only use iTunes Store gift cards to make purchases in iTunes. You can always enter in a credit card later. Tap 'Next' to continue.
11. Enter in your address, first and last name, phone number and other personal details to continue, tap 'Next' to continue.
12. You will need to verify your email address. Check your email for a verification email from Apple. Tap 'Done' to finish up.
13. In the verification email you receive from Apple, click the 'Verify Now' link.
14. You'll new Apple ID will be activated.
15. Enter your email address and the password you've just used to create your Apple ID to begin.

iMessage
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This is an official application designed by Apple that allows you to send text messages to other iOS devices over Wi-Fi or 3G. It’s compatible with any iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad that is able to be upgraded to iOS 5 and Mac OS 10.8. This is another new iOS feature that his strikingly resemblance to another company’s features, this time it being RIM’s BlackBerry Messenger (BBM). To set up iMessage:

Open up Settings.
Select Messages.
Turn the toggle switch for iMessage to on.
A new box will open asking you for an Apple ID, enter in your Apple ID.
You should see a message saying "Activating".
iMessage will be activated, so you can send messages to your friends with other iOS devices.

FaceTime
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Apple’s video calling service used to communicate with other iOS devices. FaceTime Requires Wi-Fi and is currently only supported via phone number on iPhone and Apple ID email address on iPod touch 4th, iPad 2, 3 and Macintosh. To set up FaceTime:

Open up the FaceTime app on your home screen or open Settings and tap the FaceTime panel.
You should see a “Getting Started” screen, tap the "Get Started" button to get started. This will take you through the process of setting up FaceTime by signing in with your Apple ID.
If you do not have a Apple ID you can create one here.
FaceTime will activate with Apple.
You will then be asked to specify the email address you wish to use as your FaceTime address. Its default set to your email address associated with your Apple ID, but you can choose to use any other email address that which may not be associated with another Apple ID.
You can continue to add add additional email addresses to use as your FaceTime address.

Game Center
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Apple’s gaming portal, similar to Xbox Live or PSN where you can discover new games and share your game’s scores, and gain achievements with friends from around the globe. To set up Game Center:

Tap on the icon to open Game Center.
Sign in with your Apple ID if you have one.
If you don't you can create one here too.
Onced you've signed in your enter in your Nickname. This is how other people will find you within Game Center, so you can play multiplayer games with each other.
You can continue to add add additional email addresses to use as your Game Center address which will help other find you on Game Center.

Warranty Info: Who & What's Covered

Two Different Warranties:

When you purchase your Apple device, it is automatically covered under a 1-year limited warranty at no cost to you. This includes purchasing the device not only from Apple, but also from Amazon, Best Buy, or any other Apple authorized reseller. Also, if you purchased a used iPhone or iPod touch from someone else, for example, the warranty still applies if it is within 1-year from original purchase. As stated, this warranty is limited. There are many limitations to the 1-year warranty and in most cases, your issue may not be covered. AppleCare, explained below, has a better chance of protecting your device against accidental damage from handling.

A second warranty policy that Apple provides is called AppleCare. This policy extends your 1-year limited warranty coverage to 2 years from the original purchase date of the device, plus extends your complimentary phone support from 90 days to 2 years as well. You must purchase this plan within 30 days purchasing your iPhone, iPod touch or iPad.

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For example, an iPhone purchased on Jan 1, 2013 can have an AppleCare coverage plan added to it until Feb 1, 2013. After this time, you may no longer purchase AppleCare for your device. This plan costs $99 for the iPhone, $59 for the iPod touch and $99 for the iPad. All prices are in US dollars and accurate as of July 2012).

What's Covered by Apple's 1-Year Limited Warranty?:

iPhone, iPod touch or iPad hardware or consumable parts (i.e. battery) that have problems as a result of manufacturing defects

What's Not Covered by Apple's 1-Year Limited Warranty?:

Most software problems or issues that could be resolved by applying an iOS software update
Consumable parts (i.e. batteries) that are faulty but not as a result of manufacturing defect
Accidental damage caused by mishandling
Water damage (Spills or Complete Submersion)
There are water contact indicators inside all iPhone, iPod touch and iPad models
Cosmetic damage (normal wear and tear, scratches, dents and cracks)
Damage resulting from fire, flood, or earthquake
Damage resulting from a third-party unauthorized repair service
Modified products or parts
Devices with a removed or defaced serial number
Faulty cellular network or service problems with the iPhone
Devices that have been opened and tampered with
Devices that have been lost or stolen
A jailbroken device (however, restoring in iTunes prior to warranty service removes all traces of a jailbreak)

What's covered by AppleCare?

Broken or defective iPod headphones
Broken or defective iPod sync cables
A battery that has depleted by more than 50 percent within your warranty coverage period
As of October 2011, AppleCare now covers up to 2 incidents of accidental damage resulting from mishandling (subject to a $49 service fee + applicable taxes each time), including:
Water damage
Dropping your iPhone, iPod touch or iPad

What's not covered by AppleCare?

Most software problems or issues that could be resolved by applying an iOS software update
Normal wear and tear
Theft or misplacement of your device
Reckless, abusive, willful or intentional conduct with regards to handling your device
Devices with a removed or defaced serial number
Faulty cellular network or service problems with the iPhone
Devices that have been opened and tampered with
A jailbroken device (however, restoring in iTunes prior to warranty service removes all traces of a jailbreak)

This is What You'll Get Back When Your iPhone, iPod touch or iPad is Serviced (1 of 3):

Your iPhone, iPod touch or iPad back after being repaired
A refurbished iPhone, iPod touch or iPad in exchange of your damaged device
A full refund of the purchase price of your iPhone, iPod touch or iPad in rare circumstances

FAQ:

Q: Does the 1-year limited warranty and AppleCare apply internationally? A: Yes.
Q: My iPhone, iPod touch or iPad has dead pixels, am I covered? A: Check with a Genius Bar employee, since it is circumstantial.
Q: My iPhone, iPod touch or iPad has water damage, am I covered? Under AppleCare only.
Q: I dropped my iPhone, iPod touch or iPad. Am I covered? A: Under AppleCare only.
Q: My device is all scratched and has wear and tear. Am I covered? A: No.
Q: I bought my device off somebody. Am I covered? A: If it is still within the limited 1-year warranty or AppleCare period, then yes. The warranty is automatically transferable.
Q: I did not buy my iPhone, iPod touch or iPad from Apple, am I covered? A: Yes, your device is still covered by Apple's standard 1-year warranty and is eligible for AppleCare coverage within 30 days. Here's some of the well known retailers (our so-called "trusted list"):
Apple Online & Retail Stores
Amazon
iPhone carriers: AT&T, Verizon Wireless, Sprint, Virgin Mobile, Cricket Wireless, O2, Bell, Vodafone, Rogers, Orange, Telus, Fido, etc.
Best Buy, Future Shop and other large consumer electronics retailers
Walmart and Sam's Club

Depending on where you purchase your device, third-party warranties may also be available. Retailers such as Future Shop in Canada and Best Buy in the United States do have third-party warranties available. Always ask the retailer what types of warranties they provide for your new Apple product. Certain credit companies such as Visa, MasterCard and American Express may also match or extend your warranty depending on the plan and perks you have. Check with your credit card company for more information.


Apps to Download

Possibly the single greatest thing about iOS is the App Store: you have hundreds of thousands of programs and games just waiting to be used. However, when you first dive into the App Store, whether on the device or your computer, things can be a little dizzying. Here’s a fairly basic list of what I consider to be must-have apps and games:

Social

Twitter for iPhone: Formerly known as Tweetie, this is one of the best Twitter clients on any mobile platform. While the name would suggest it only works for the iPhone, it also works for the iPod touch and iPad.
Tweetbot: Tweetbot is a popular and well-designed Twitter client for iOS, which includes multiple timelines, smart gestures, native push notifications, a customizable navigation, and the ability to attach photos and videos. Additionally, the app supports multiple services such as Instapaper and Read It Later. $2.99 iPhone version and $2.99 for iPad.
Facebook: Everyone and their cat has a Facebook page these days, and this app is the official portal to let you keep track of them. It includes all the features that die-hard fans know and love, and will notify you of changes via push notifications.
Instagram: The free app allows you to apply hipster filters to your photos and share them quickly with your friends. It also works for iPhone and iPad.
Facebook Camera: Facebook wants you to be able to share your photos as quickly as possible, so they’ve launched a new app called Facebook Camera which allows for filters and quick edits for your photos.

News

Pulse: Pulse is a popular RSS newsreader with support for Google Reader integration. It features a fairly unique interface, which displays little photos that are included in whatever RSS article it is showing. There is also an iPad version, available here, formatted specifically for the larger screen.
WSJ: For users in the U.S., the Wall Street Journal app is one of the best sources for news available on the App Store. However, while the app itself is free, you have to have a subscription. Subscriptions start at $1.99 for access to the online-only version, and can be purchased here. There is also an iPad version, available here, which follows the same subscription-based model as the iPhone-and-iPod version of the app.
Engadget: If you have any interest in technology and gadgets space, this is probably the best place to start learning and get updated on what’s going on in the tech industry. (besides our frontpage, of course!). They recently launched a great iPad app as well, which you can grab here.
Reeder: The ultimate RSS newsreader with support for Fever, Readability and Google Reader allowing you to quickly share what you read. Available for $2.99 on iPhone and $4.99 for iPad.

Productivity

Evernote: Need a way to sync all of your apps across multiple platforms? Evernote might be what you need. You simply take a note – voice memos, photos, and text all supported – and it syncs it to the cloud automagically. All for the great price of free, though there is a cap on how much data you transfer. Head over to their site to download clients for Mac OS X, Windows, Android, Blackberry, and more.
Quickoffice Connect Mobile Suite: It’s a mobile office suite, offering excellent compatibility with Microsoft Office documents, as well as support for Google Docs, MobileMe, and other cloud-based office alternatives. The app allows you to not only view documents and PowerPoint presentations, but create and edit them. Of course, that’s assuming you can rip yourself away from the games we mention below.
Instapaper: Ever find yourself not being able to finish a long article or document due to time constraints? Instapaper aims to solve that problem, by allowing you to save the text of the document, and any relevant pictures, to the cloud. Instapaper then pulls down any saved documents, and allows you to read over them whenever you have the time. The paid version is $4.99 a pop, but there is an ad-supported free version.
Sparrow: The team behind Sparrow for OS X have released a mobile version of the extremely popular mail client, which integrates many Gmail-centric features such as labels, Priority Inbox, and more. The client supports Gmail, iCloud, Yahoo, AOL, and other IMAP accounts, making it the go-to app for users fed up with Mail.app’s limited feature set. Like Apple’s native solution, the app uses a unified inbox to aggregate all your accounts into one streamlined view. Availbe for $2.99 on iPhone and iPad.
Google Chrome: The Chrome for iOS web browser will provide synchronisation of tabs, web history and passwords with the desktop version on the world’s most popular browser. Free on both iPhone and iPad.
PayPal: Send, receive, manage your money here on the free mobile PayPal application. Mobile payments made easy on both iPhone and iPad.

Miscellaneous

Camera+: If your iDevice sports a camera, this is something to look into. Sporting features such as exposure and focus control, scene modes, and dozens of effects, it’s pretty easy to justify the $0.99 if you are planning to ever use that camera.
Dropbox: Dropbox is a popular free service that sync all your photos, documents, and videos and other files anywhere. You can access all your files straight from their free application.
Yelp: This free applitcation for both iPhone and iPad is your concierge when you are looking for restaurants and other fine services.
Word Lens: Word Lens is an augmented reality app, which means that it takes in your surroundings via the camera, and changes it in some way. In this case, it’s a translation app. Simply point your device at Spanish text, and it will be translated into English almost instantaneously. The basic app is free and contains some proof-of-concept features, like the ability to reverse text. Language packs cost $4.99 each, and are available in Spanish to English and English to Spanish.
Shazam: Is an application that allows users to hold their device towards music which allows you to find the name of that song with the "Tag Now" button. Tagged songs can be purchased from the iTunes Store, and tag data can be shared with friends who have their own Shazam collections. Cover art, artist bios, lyrics and YouTube links may also be available. Song samples can be stored for transmission later if a cellular data or Wi-Fi connection is unavailable. It's It’s available for the very nice price of $4.99 for the Pro version and a (PRODUCT)RED version for $4.99 while there is a free (ad supported) version.
iMovie: Carrying the namesake of Apple’s popular movie editor that is bundled with iLife, iMovie has the ability to make a short video clip into a full presentation worthy of showing off. The interface is easy to navigate, but there are some pretty powerful features for a mobile device held within the app. It’s available for the very nice price of $4.99.
1Password: This neat app saves your usernames and passwords, your licenses, social security numbers, credit cards, serial numbers, and whatever else you'll like secure. It safely locks your data with a four-digit unlock code and a master password, both of which you configure. It also includes a browser built right into it. Available for $14.99 on both the iPhone and iPad.
Pages: Apple's beautiful word processor is also on iPhone and iPad for $9.99 that works with iCloud.
Keynote: Apple's beautiful presentation processor is also on iPhone and iPad for $9.99 that works with iCloud.
Numbers: Apple's beautiful spreadsheet processor is also on iPhone and iPad for $9.99 that works with iCloud.
iBooks: Read your favorite e-books or PDFs right on your iPhone or iPad with the free app. You can also purchase books in the iBookstore.

Games – Blockbuster Titles
These are the games that are considered ‘hardcore’ on the iOS platform. These are some of the highest quality apps developed by some of the most well-known and innovative developers out there.

Infinity Blade: This is the current heavyweight in the department of graphics. It’s simply beautiful, and is an amazing showcase of just how powerful the silicon in the iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad really is. It isn’t cheap as far as apps go (it’ll cost you $5.99), but it will work on both iPad and iPhone/iPod touch. Also, with an update promised to add significantly more gameplay, that six dollars just got easier to stomach.
RAGE HD: Set in a post-apocalyptic world where mutants rule, RAGE HD is a first-person shooter to rule them all. From the great graphics to the easy-to-use gyroscope controls, it’s hard not to recommend this one. The app is optimize for iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4, as well as iPod touch 3G and iPod touch 4G, and comes at a very reasonable $1.99 at the time of this writing.
N.O.V.A.: Like the thought of Halo on the go? Then you’ll probably like this series. Near Orbit Vanguard Alliance (N.O.V.A.) is a sci-fi first-person shooter with a fine storyline and gameplay remain very good. $4.99 for the original N.O.V.A. $6.99 for the sequel and $6.99 for N.O.V.A. 3. iPad versions are the same price.
Minecraft – Pocket Edition: The famous 8-bit desktop game comes to iOS. If you can imagine it, you can build it. $6.99 for both iPhone and iPad.

Games – Quick to Play

These are the games to play if you’ve just got a minute, or if you’ve gotten an hour. Most of these are by indie developers (developers who aren’t part of a developer studio), and as such reflect a level of innovation in gameplay that most developer studios fail to reach.

Canabalt: This is a platformer based around surviving by jumping from building to building. Yes, it’s that simple. However, every aspect of the game seems to mesh well with the hardware the iDevices offer, and it creates a game with outstanding value. It’s a game perfect for on-the-go. And, to get a little bit of the feel of it, you can play a Flash version on the developer’s website.
Fruit Ninja: This is a cool, game where the objective is to "ninja" flying fruit on the screen. It's a quick and great game. Well worth the $0.99 for your iPhone or iPad.
Tilt to Live: Over the past six months, I’ve probably spent more time playing Tilt to Live than any other game on the App Store, which is saying a lot. The object of the game is simple, and pretty much given away by the title of the game: you tilt to control your character (a triangle), and dodge the red ‘enemies’ (dots), while trying to navigate to the power-ups which you use to destroy the fiendish red dots. With four major game modes, and a price of $2.99, the gameplay-to-value ratio is pretty obvious here. There’s a version for the iPad, too.
Doodle Jump: You’ve probably heard of this one. After all, who hasn’t? With over five million downloads, this one makes almost any App Store list. The goal? Simple: you tilt your device left and right to control a little doodle figurine, and try to break high scores. Of course, Lima Sky (the developers) have thrown a few surprises into the mix, but you’ll figure those out pretty quickly yourself.
Cut the Rope: The goal of this game is simple: you cut ropes to try and deliver candy to the frog-type creature called "Om-Nom". You may also try the Expiriments version. Both support iPhone and iPad and are $0.99.

Games – The Best of the Rest
Some of the iOS games just don’t fit anywhere else, but deserve to be mentioned anyways.

Angry Birds: This game has definitely intrigued the world with it’s additively simple gameplay. The object is to launch your birds into the evil pigs to recapture the birds’ precious offspring. There are several variations of Angry Birds; Angry Birds Space, Angry Birds Seasons and the originally. There’s also iPad versions available built to take advantage of all that screen real estate.
Real Racing & Real Racing 2: Even the developer’s name, Firemint, inspire the feeling of speed. And guess what? So does their app. With graphics able to go toe-to-toe with the likes of Infinity Blade and RAGE HD, this game is a mobile powerhouse. The controls, an important factor in racing games, are also near perfection. $2.99 for the original and $4.99 for Real Racing 2.
Words with Friends: It’s been described as a game heralding in the era of social games, and that description might just be correct. The title of the app might give it away: it’s a crossword game that you play with other people, online. Features such as an online chat messaging system and invites through Facebook and Twitter show a backbone forged from social networks of all types. There’s a free version (ad supported) and one designed specifically for the iPad.

iPhone, iPod touch and iPad Battery Life - Tips & Tricks


New Device There is NO need to prime your battery with a full charge when you first open the box. The first full or partial charge of a Lithium Ion battery is the same as every other charge it will have. Despite this it is good practice, and in line with the 'frequent charge' rule below, to give it some charge asap as it is has most likely been shipped partially charged. Feel free to play with your new toy while it is charging and to remove it from a charge while only partially charged. Don't waste a moment in enjoying your new gadget

Top up the charge frequently! Charge your device often to prevent rapid erosion of the Lithium-ion battery's capacity. If possible do not let your battery run down to zero (except to recalibrate the battery meter as detailed below. Your battery will fast charge for 1.5 to 2 hours to reach 80% charge and then 'top-up' charge for 2 to 4 hours more to reach 100%, so try to charge a weak battery for at least 2 hours. Lithium-ion batteries lose capacity as soon as they are manufactured but a properly maintained battery is designed to retain an average 80% of its capacity after between 400 to 500 charge cycles.

Leaving On Charge You can leave your device on charge for as long as you want. There is a protective mechanism in all Lithium-Ion batteries that prevents 'overcharge'. i.e. don't worry about those long overnight charges.

Re-calibrate Your Battery Meter - If you charge your device regularly and also use the 'Numerical Battery' you may want to consider running down the battery once per month followed by a full charge. The battery meter tracking the battery's capacity will lose accuracy over time and this full discharge will re-calibrate it. If you use the stock Apple battery icon then there's probably no need for such accuracy unless you start to get strange readings.

Stay updated - new firmware and software updates often include more battery-efficient code so update and keep current if you can. Note, jailbreakers/unlockers will want to avoid updating until any new firmware has been deemed jailbreakable.

Turn off Wi-Fi - Your iOS device will search for a network everywhere to turn off Wi-Fi go to Settings > Wi-Fi and set Wi-Fi to Off, turning off the Wi-Fi function 'Ask to Join Networks' can help as well.

Turn off Bluetooth - Turn off Bluetooth when not in use. Go to Settings > General > Bluetooth and set Bluetooth to Off.

Turn off Location Services. - Application can track your location using Location Services. To disable location services, go to Settings > General > Location Services or use location services only when needed.

Turn off Notifications - To disable notifications, go to Settings > Notifications and set Notifications to 'Off.' Setting “View in lock screen” to 'Off.' will disable your screen from lighting up when you receive a new notification from any given app.

Disable Auto-check or reduce fewer email accounts - This can be accomplished by turning off an email account or by deleting it. To turn off an account, go to Settings > Mail, Contacts, Calendars, choose an email account, and set Account to Off. To remove an account, go to Settings > Mail, Contacts, Calendars, choose an email account, and tap Delete Account. To disable auto-check go to Settings > Mail, Contacts, Calendars > Fetch New Data, toggle Push at the top to Off, and then set Fetch to Manually.

Use Airplane Mode - To disable all radio signals (Cellular Network, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth) on your iOS device with a simple setting turn on Airplane Mode, go to Settings and set Airplane Mode to 'On.'

Disable iCloud - iCloud checks for new data all the time to disable iCloud go to Settings > General > iCloud > Turn everything to 'Off.'

Disable Time Zone Adjustment - If you don't travel frequently disable Time Zone Adjustment go to Settings > Location Services > System Services > and set 'Setting Time Zone' to 'Off.'

Disable Location Based iAds - To disable location based advertising go toSettings > Location Services > System Services > and set 'Location Based iAds' to 'Off.'

Disable iTunes Ping - Ping iTunes's social network can be known to drain battery to disable Ping go to Settings > General > Restrictions > Enable Restrictions > and set Ping to 'Off.'

Disable Sending Diagnostic & Usage Reports to Apple - iOS sends diagnostic & usage reports back to the mothership to disable go to Settings > General > About > Diagnostic & Usage > and set it to 'Don’t Send.'

Quit Applications from Multitasking - Make sure to completely close apps when you are done with them to save battery power. Simply double tap the home button and remove the application from the multitasking bar the same way you would remove applications from the home screen.

Equalizer - turn the EQ off if you don't need it. To disable go to Settings > Music > EQ and set EQ to 'Off.'

Turn down the Brightness- Dimming the brightness is another way to extend battery life. Go to Settings > Brightness and drag the slider to the left to lower the default screen brightness. Turning on Auto-Brightness allows the screen to adjust its brightness based on the lighting conditions. Turn the brightness down as low as possible (~10-25% is best).

Lock the Screen - Use a short 'Auto Lock' time. Turn the screen off whenever it's not in use by a quick press of the power button (top).

Disable Raise to Speak - Disabling Rise to Speak will disable Siri when you raise the iPhone 4S to your face to disable go to Settings > General > Siri. and set 'Raise To Speak' to 'Off.'

Change your Wallpaper - Setting a darker wallpaper will not require the device to work harder, a white wallpaper will use more power opposed to a black wallpaper. To change your wallpaper go to Settings > Wallpaper and choose a photo or from your Photo application choose a photo and 'Use as Wallpaper' on the bottom left.

Maintenance in storage - If your don't use your device regularly, try to complete one full charge cycle per month to slow battery degradation. This can be staggered, e.g. use 50% of battery, charge full and then use 50% again. When not in use store your device below 45° C (113° F) to prevent heat damage to the battery's capacity. Store your device with a partial (~40% best) charge.

Keep your iOS device cool! Lithium-ion battery capacity rapidly decays if exposed to high temperatures. Don't leave your device in the car. Maximum operating temperature suggested is 35° C (95° F). Avoid charging when hot as this can further damage the battery's capacity. If possible remove any cover/skin when charging to help prevent overheating. Turn your iOS device off and let it cool down if you receive a message similar to this:


Restore your device in iTunes - If these solutions did not help you consider restoring your iOS device in iTunes. Be sure to backup your device beforehand.

Safety note: If your battery ever becomes too hot to touch while charging then remove from charge immediately and leave to cool [note that it is normal for the device to get warm while charging but it should never be too hot to touch]. If this happens on a regular basis you may need to speak to Apple and possibly return your device and/or USB cable as one or the other may be faulty. Also be aware that cheap USB charging cables and wall adapters should be avoided. It's worth the expense of buying brand names.