Mophie Juice Pack Air vs. Helium vs. Plus for iPhone 5 battery case

Medical students and residents often need to carry their smartphones in a battery-powered case so that their phones last over 24 hrs. If they are in the hospital on-call, they often need to be there overnight. Sometimes you are running around so much that you don't even have time to plug your phone into a wall outlet. That means you may need to carry your smartphone in a battery case. That's the easiest way to ensure that you have power throughout your long shift.

Mophie has the 3 Juice Pack cases for the iPhone 5:

1. Air: 1500 mAh battery
2. Helium: 1700 mAh battery
3. Plus: 2100 mAh battery

The Juice Pack Air and Helium are both very thin and light. The Juice Pack Plus provides the greatest battery extending power at the expense of greater bulk and weight.

I've personally used the Juice Pack Air and Helium. The Helium is the lightest and narrowest. I'd say that it's also the thinnest, but I honestly can't notice the difference in thinness between the Helium vs. the Air. The Helium is a bit narrower and lighter than the Air. The Helium has cut-outs for the sleep/wake and volume buttons. The Juice Pack Air and the Plus have button overlays which are easier to press.

  

iPhone 5 battery life on 4G?

Here's what I want to know about the iPhone 5: What type of battery life will the iPhone 5 have when you're on the 4G network?

Apple currently claims: Internet use: Up to 8 hours on 3G, up to 8 hours on LTE, up to 10 hours on Wi-Fi

Up to 8 hrs on 3G and 8 hrs on 4G? Wow! Maybe my perspective is very biased because I'm a former HTC ThunderBolt owner. That was the first 4G phone on the Verizon Wireless network and battery life was TERRIBLE when it was using 4G. When you switched it to 3G, battery life was more "normal."

So, I really want to know if the new iPhone 5 will truly have 8 hrs of battery life when you're on 4G. I don't want to know the "up to" battery life. I want to know the average, real-world use battery life that most people can expect to see if they're using the iPhone 5 on 4G.

I need to get a battery case for my iPhone 4S

I recently made the switch from Android to the iPhone 4S as my daily workhorse smartphone. I've been using iOS devices for years, so I'm familiar with all the apps (because they're already running on my iPod touch and iPad).

After using the iPhone 4S for a few days, I've concluded that I need to get a battery case. The built-in 1,432mAh battery in my iPhone 4S doesn't provide enough power for my type of use and there is no option for a removable or extended battery on the iPhone. I'm frequently using the built-in GPS, taking photos and videos, and doing a lot of uploading/downloading (since I still have unlimited data on Verizon).

So, now I'm on the mission to test a few of the battery cases made for the iPhone 4S. Some are bulkier than others and I don't need the one with the largest battery. So, stay tuned as I give these a spin.

Gmail for Android gets updated to v2.3.5

I use Gmail all the time on my Android smartphone. The latest update is v2.3.5 and it allows you to sync only important mail like your priority inbox to reduce data usage and save battery life. It also allows you to customize notifications for Inbox and other labels. These are nice enhancements since we're now living in an era where data plans have limits (unless you've grandfathered your unlimited data plan, but then you won't get Wi-Fi Mobile Hotspot unless you switch to a limited data plan).

In any case, I find that Gmail is a very robust email service and I have several different email addresses that all converge to a single Gmail account. It certainly simplifies my life.

Force your MiFi 4510L Mobile Hotspot into 3G (EVDO) or 4G (LTE) mode (WWAN Settings)

The other day, I wrote about how my Verizon MiFi 4510L Mobile Hotspot was stuck on 3G (EVDO) and was not switching to 4G (LTE). If you're experiencing similar issues, make sure to read this.

For those of you wanting to manually switch your Wi-Fi Mobile Hotspot from 3G to 4G (or vice versa), here's a simple tutorial that outlines the steps that will help you do that.

• Connect to your MiFi
• Log in to your MiFi by typing this URL into your browser: http://192.168.1.1/
• Click on "Setup Wizard"
• The default password is "admin" (unless you've changed it)
• When it asks you to set up a new password, click "cancel"
• Now you'll see that you have several new menu options at the top red horizontal navigation bar: Home, Wi-Fi, LAN, WWAN, Security, Advanced

Verizon 4G LTE Smartphones

Right now, you can choose among 3 Android smartphones on Verizon that run on the 4G LTE network:

• Revolution™ by LG
• DROID CHARGE by Samsung
• ThunderBolt™ by HTC

Based on the number of reviews, the ThunderBolt™ by HTC is the most popular 4G smartphone on Verizon. It was also the first. Although Motorola recently announced the Droid X2, this smartphone is not a 4G smartphone. I wonder why Motorola hasn't come out with a 4G LTE smartphone yet.

Battery life is still a big problem with these early 4G smartphones. That's why I run my ThunderBolt on 3G mode most of the time.

Extend battery life on the HTC ThunderBolt by switching to 3G (disable 4G LTE)

For the past few weeks, I've been using my HTC ThunderBolt on 3G mode. Disabling 4G LTE and staying on 3G allows me to use the phone call day on a single battery charge (on a standard battery). If you're struggling to keep your ThunderBolt charged up, consider using the "LTE On/Off" app to disable 4G. I don't generally require 4G speeds, but it's nice to occasionally switch the 4G on so that I can download a 50 MB file in just a few seconds. 

Switch between 3G (EVDO) and 4G (LTE) on the HTC ThunderBolt

It would be nice if the HTC ThunderBolt had a widget or an app that would easily let you toggle between 3G and 4G. When I'm on 4G, my battery drains really quickly, even if I'm not actively using the phone. I could stop all my background processes, but that doesn't seem like it's the best option for me.

Here's how you can manually switch between 3G and 4G on your ThunderBolt:

Open the phone dialer
Dial: *#*#4636#*#*
You'll see a menu titled "Testing"
Go to "Phone information"
Scroll down until you see "CDMA + LTE/EvDo auto"

To set your ThunderBolt to stay on 3G, select: "CDMA auto (PRL)"

Then, when you want to go back to 4G, select: "CDMA + LTE/EvDo auto"

Blogging on the HTC ThunderBolt 4G

I have to admit that I've been very impressed by the HTC ThunderBolt 4G on Verizon. Compared to my old Motorola Droid X (which is a fine smartphone), the ThunderBolt feels so much faster and the 4G speeds are great for bloggers who like to upload photos and videos when they're at a conference or meeting. The WiFi Mobile Hotspot also works reliably.

For me, the biggest disappointment is the battery life on the HTC ThunderBolt. I may need to invest in an extended battery (which would make the phone really bulky) and use that battery when I know I'll require all-day performance.

It's refreshing to use a smartphone that's fast and responsive. I hope to share more as I continue to use this device.

Motorola Droid 2 vs. the Droid X (Verizon)

Here's a nice video that compares the Motorola Droid 2 vs. the Droid X.

I'm planning on getting the Droid X because I really like the large screen, it records HD video, and it can accommodate an extended battery without getting too thick (the Droid 2 also accommodates an extended battery, but then it's a bit thicker compared to the Droid X). The QWERTY keyboard on the Droid 2 was a bit too small for me (keep in mind that I'm used to the HTC Touch Pro2 which has one of the best QWERTY keyboards out there).

A smartphone that doesn't require a battery (user-generated power)

Do you know how an automatic watch can reserve power from kinetic energy and convert that to electric energy? Well, there's a new smartphone that uses kinetic energy to operate. No batteries required! As long as you're swinging your phone around, you can talk, text, and browse as long as you'd like!

April Fools!

Actually, I'm sure we'll see something like this in the near future. We're seeing batteries that have built-in solar panels. It's only a matter of time before kinetic energy can be repurposed in smartphones as electrical power.

Using an external battery pack when traveling

In the past, I used to carry spare smartphone batteries. I would carry an extended battery or a standard spare in my bag. However, I stopped that trend last year and now I carry a small external battery pack that allows me to recharge my smartphone when I'm traveling.

Given that I replace my smartphone roughly every 2 years (through the Verizon "New Every Two" plan), I found that it really didn't make sense for me to go out and buy many accessories for my smartphone. Therefore, I no longer buy spare batteries. I also don't buy cases. I simply use a screen protector and that's it.

By using an external battery pack, I know that I can also use that same power source to recharge my iPod, my Bluetooth headset, and a few other small electronics. Plus, when I replace my smartphone, I can still use the same battery pack. I recommend getting something small and something that simply has a standard USB port. This little 5V outlet can recharge many devices as long as you carry a USB cable.

Always carry a spare smartphone battery

I've seen so many people experience a "dead battery situation." Maybe they forgot to charge their smartphone last night. Perhaps their phone was frozen and it sucked all the juice out of the battery. Maybe you had to take call in the hospital at the last minute and you didn't have your phone charger. Many of us would admit that we'd feel utterly lost without our smartphones. Given that our entire lives are on these devices, we really can't afford to experience a dead battery situation.

For those of us who have a user-removable battery, it's easy to keep a spare in our bags. Dead battery? No problem! Pop out the old one and insert the new one. Perhaps you even have the luxury of using an extended battery.

For others who have smartphones like the Apple iPhone, you'll need to keep an external battery pack (who else makes smartphones like this?). I've heard rumors that the Apple iPhone 4G will have a user-removable battery. Let's hope that this particular rumor is true. Would you be willing to buy an iPhone that's slightly thicker if you could remove the battery? Given that the lifespan of a typical lithium ion battery is roughly 2-3 years (before you see significant decreases in performance), I think that iPhone users will want the option of changing the battery themselves.

Upgraded Verizon HTC Touch Pro2 (Windows Mobile 6.5) battery drain status

I have a Verizon HTC Touch Pro2 that I've upgraded to Windows Mobile 6.5 (see:  Windows Mobile 6.5 update now available for HTC Touch Pro2). After the ROM upgrade, I noticed a rapid decline in battery life (see:  Worse battery life after upgrading to Windows Mobile 6.5 on Touch Pro2. After doing some investigating, I discovered that my turning the Bluetooth off, my battery life would return to normal. (Location Service was ON)

Now, I've run a different experiment today. I turned the Bluetooth on, but I turned the Location Service Settings off. Guess what happened? My battery life is back to normal.

So now I'm confused. Is the problem in the Bluetooth or the Location Service? Are they connected? I'll need to conduct a few more experiments to see what happens. The Location Service Settings are a bit confusing. You have the following options:

• Improve location service by collecting location data at any time when device is in use (On/Off)
•  Programs that use location service
  
• HTC location service (check box) - checked
  
• Automatically decline location service in all HTC software that attempts to use location (check box) - checked

You can see that I've checked the boxes for the last 2 items. Let's see what happens. My Bluetooth is on and Location Services are "on" with both boxes checked. Will the battery be drained in a few hours?

Other Verizon users experiencing draining battery on Touch Pro2 upgraded to Windows Mobile 6.5

If you search the Verizon Wireless user forums, you'll quickly see that other Verizon customers who upgraded to Windows Mobile 6.5 are experiencing terrible battery life. I've concluded that it's the Bluetooth that's killing the battery. If you've loaded the Windows Mobile 6.5 ROM upgrade (MR 1 Upgrade on the PCDphones.com website file name: XV6875_MR1_Upgrade.zip)

I've written about my Touch Pro2 ROM upgrade experiences here:

Bluetooth killing my battery life on Touch Pro2 after Windows Mobile 6.5 upgrade

Worse battery life after upgrading to Windows Mobile 6.5 on Touch Pro2

Flashing the ROM on my HTC Touch Pro2

Windows Mobile 6.5 update now available for HTC Touch Pro2

5 things I would change about the Apple iPhone

The Apple iPhone is a great smartphone, but it's not perfect. The latest version (3GS) adds considerable functionality with the increased speed and improved video capabilities, but I'd like to see Apple make some drastic changes to future models. Otherwise, the iPhone 4G will look just like the 3G (or 3GS).

If you had a chance to change the Apple iPhone, what changes would you make?

Here are the five things I would change:

1. Removable battery. I'm still bothered by the fact that an average consumer can't replace the internal battery on the iPhone.  Once you offer a removable battery, consumers can choose between a standard battery vs. a thicker extended capacity battery. Right now, you're stuck using an external battery pack or a battery booster.
   
2. Offer an iPhone Pro with a slide-out QWERTY keyboard. Give users the option to choose a "Pro" version that's thicker and that includes buttons. I think most will still choose the thinner version that lacks a physical keyboard.
3. Expand beyond GSM. I know that Apple is talking with Verizon about releasing a CDMA version, but when will this happen? Will it also be available on Sprint?
   
4. Offer a smaller size option. Call it the iPhone Mini, the iPhone nano, or the iPhone junior. The current iPhone is a nice size, but a slightly smaller version would be ideal for many users who want something a bit more portable.
5. Add a microSD slot. This way, if users want to expand storage space, it's easy! You can add a 16GB card (and soon we'll have 32 GB microSD cards).
   

This is obviously not meant to be an exhaustive list, but these are 5 things I would change. How many of these will Apple implement in the near future? Probably only two (my guess would be #3 and #4). Hence, I continue to wish and dream.

Bluetooth killing my battery life on Touch Pro2 after Windows Mobile 6.5 upgrade

Well, it appears that Mike (who left a comment in an earlier post) was correct about the Bluetooth stack killing the battery life on my upgraded HTC Touch Pro2 on Verizon.

I upgraded to Windows Mobile 6.5 and everything seemed OK, but I noticed that the battery life was draining very quickly. So, I performed a hard factory reset, and things seemed fine. However, I also noticed that the Bluetooth was "off" by default. I tested it for a few days with the Bluetooth off and my battery life seemed normal.

Then, I turned the Bluetooth on. I didn't pair with anything yet, but I immediately noticed a rapid decline in battery life. My Wi-Fi is off, so I know that's not the culprit.

So, is this why Verizon hasn't officially announced the Windows Mobile 6.5 upgrade for the HTC Touch Pro2? I really hope that this bug gets fixed soon so that I can stay with Windows Mobile 6.5. Otherwise, I'll be going back to Windows Mobile 6.1.

Wired vs. wireless tethering (USB vs. Bluetooth)

When you use your mobile phone or smartphone as a wireless modem for your laptop, this is called tethering. Some carriers have specific names for this (Verizon calls this Mobile Broadband Connect), but we'll just call it tethering.

So, if you don't have access to Wi-Fi, you can pull our your smartphone and get online with your laptop. You can do this either by connecting your smartphone to your laptop via a USB cable or by using Bluetooth wireless technology.

The benefits of using a USB cable include:

• Generally a much faster connection
• Generally a more stable connection
• Preserve battery life in your smartphone

The benefits of using Bluetooth include:

• No need to carry a USB cable
• More mobility if you're moving around while tethered

When I tether, I almost always use a USB cable. I rarely use Bluetooth to tether because the connection speed is significantly faster when I use USB. Also, I can keep my phone charged while I'm using it as a modem. 

Here are some tips and suggestions if you tether:

• Turn off your Wi-Fi to preserve battery life on your notebook
• Always carry a spare USB cable since you never know when you'll need to tether
• Don't have Bluetooth on your laptop? Get a tiny USB "dongle" so that you can have access to wireless tethering when you need it.
• Check out PdaNet and TetherBerry.
  

Worse battery life after upgrading to Windows Mobile 6.5 on Touch Pro2

I'm experiencing terrible battery life on my Verizon HTC Touch Pro2 after upgrading to Windows Mobile 6.5. I've performed a hard reset to make sure that it's not an app draining my battery. Anyone else having similar issues? I should have stayed with Windows Mobile 6.1 since there are few benefits to upgrading to 6.5 if you're already using HTC TouchFlo 3D (HTC Sense).

I'm not entirely sure what to make of this yet, but perhaps it's time to load a custom ROM on my Touch Pro2. When I was using the HTC Titan (Verizon XV6800, Sprint Mogul), I was mainly using custom ROMs built by DCD and others on the XDA-Developers and PPCGeeks forums.

HTC Releases Widgets for Android

According to AndroLib.com, HTC has released some free widgets for its Android smartphones (HTC Droid Eris and HTC Hero). These widgets include:

• Dice
• Today in History
• Tip Calculator
• Battery

It seems a bit strange to think that Android needs a separate widget for battery. I'm still waiting to see more robust medical apps for Android. Until that happens, the medical smartphone space will be dominated by other systems like the Apple iPhone and the RIM BlackBerry. I'm sure it won't take long before Google catches up with Android and Microsoft will be left in the dust if they don't significantly revamp Windows Mobile 7.