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.

  

My iPhone 5 replacement story

I purchased my iPhone 5 last October through Verizon. I rarely drop my iPhone and I always carry it in a protective case. My iPhone 5 practically looks brand new when you remove it from the case - no scratches, dents, dings, or other blemishes.

The other day, I noticed that the vibration (vibe) motor had stopped working. So, I took it to my local Apple store and they did something to repair it. I'm still not entirely clear what they did. They replaced the vibe motor but informed me that the problem wasn't the motor. They didn't replace the phone or the circuit board, so I retained all my data.

Then, today I noticed that the vibration had stopped working again! I was frustrated, but a few hours later I noticed that the vibration was working again, so I remained puzzled.

Nevertheless, I took my iPhone 5 to the Apple store because of a different problem: the sleep/wake button wasn't being too responsive. If you press the button on the left corner, it works fairly well. If you press it towards the right corner, it works less than 30% of the time. Failure of the sleep/wake button seems to be reported by other iPhone users. The Apple store replaced my iPhone with a new phone. Thank you Apple.

So, here's the bottom line: if your iPhone is still under warranty and you've noticed that the sleep/wake button isn't as responsive as it used to be, you may qualify for a replacement. Take it to the Apple store. Make an appointment online for the Genius Bar to reduce your wait time.

AliveCor Heart Monitor now available for iPhone 5

The AliveCor Heart Monitor for the iPhone 5 is available.

Latest AliveECG App Updates include:

• Annotate every ECG with patient information including name, gender, height, weight, date of birth, and if the patient is a smoker.
• Include activity level, medications, and select from lists of symptoms, activities, and medical conditions.
• Receive tips on improving the quality of your ECG recordings.

How often do you drop your iPhone?

There used to be a time when I never used a cover for my smartphone. Then, I decided that I would keep my phone protected so that when I sold it on eBay, I would get the best value for my used phone. Now, I always use a case and a screen protector so that I can sell my used devices in excellent condition. This makes the buyer happy and I'm able to stretch my dollar and use that towards a phone upgrade.

Recently, I had the chance to test the OtterBox Defender Series iPhone 5 case for my iPhone 5. This is not your average iPhone case. This is probably the most protective case I have ever used for my phone. It certainly does not compare to any case you'll pick up at a shopping mall kiosk or on eBay for $5.

Here's how OtterBox describes the Defender Series:

The Defender Series was designed for demanding conditions, heavy use and random accidents. Three layers of defense include a plastic shell to cushion the iPhone 5 while a built-in screen protector prevents scratches and smudges. The rubber outer slipcover wraps around the inner shell, creating a practically indestructible iPhone 5 case. A holster is included and doubles as a viewing stand.

The case adds a fair bit of bulk to the phone, but you also know that your phone is protected. Really protected

The built-in screen protector is a really nice feature and you'll also appreciate the fact that you can easily wipe and disinfect the entire case quickly and easily. The case isn't waterproof, but it has flaps protecting the main ports.

If you have a tendency to drop your phone onto hard surfaces, you will probably want to invest in some type of protective case so that your device doesn't fail at a critical moment.

Adapters for the Apple Lightning connector (iPhone 5, iPad mini, iPad 4)

I really like my iPhone 5, but I admit that I'm still annoyed by the new Lightning connector. Although it's a superior connector, I still have many peripherals that use the old 30-pin connector. Plus, I have a few older iPods that I continue to use. An iPod will last a really long time if you take care of it (and last even longer if you replace the battery in it).

I also have some external battery packs that have a built-in 30-pin connector instead of a standard USB port. When I travel, I often take these with me so that I can keep my iPhone powered up.

Well, Apple has several Lightning adapters for people who have older iPods and peripherals. The following products can be found at the Apple Store:

• Lightning to 30-pin Adapter: This is short and stocky. It's about an inch wide and an inch tall. I don't recommend this one because it may not work if your iPhone 5 is in a case. The base is too wide to fit into the bottom of most iPhone 5 cases. Priced at $29, it's the mid-range among these 3 adapters. I wouldn't be surprised if Apple redesigns this one so that it's narrow at the top and wide at the base. That would eliminate the problem with phone cases blocking the connector. 
• Lightning to 30-pin Adapter (0.2 m cable): This is actually a short cable adapter and it runs $39. This is the most expensive adapter (I guess Apple knew it would be the most practical one). The tip is the same size as the standard Lightning connector, so you won't have any problems connecting your iPhone if it's in a case. This is the adapter I would recommend if you have a Bose SoundDock speaker system so that you can attach larger devices like an iPad.  
• Lightning to Micro USB Adapter: This one is only $19, so it's the least expensive one of the three. It's the one I would recommend if you travel since so many people have micro-USB cables laying around. My Bluetooth headset charges via micro-USB and one of my external battery packs also charges via micro-USB. This little adapter may be easy to lose. 
• Lightning to VGA Adapter and Lightning Digital AV Adapter: If you need to project your iPhone or iPad screen onto a larger display or projector, these are the adapters you'll need. $49 each. 

So far, most of the 3rd party adapters have been problematic because the Apple Lightning connector has a built-in security chip. Plus, the quality of the connector has to be high in order for the connector to work reversibly. Some generic 3rd party adapters have been reported to only work in one direction. Others simply don't work because they lack the security chip.

If you buy a non-Apple adapter, I would recommend going with a reputable brand like Griffin Technology, Kensington, Belkin, or Targus. In fact, Griffin Technology has recently released a series of Lightning connector USB cables, car chargers, and more. 

The iOS 6.0.2 update could drain your battery

Several articles, blog posts, and forum discussions seem to suggest that the latest iOS update (6.0.2) could drain your iPhone 5 battery. I think I'll be waiting for 6.0.3.

What is the ideal smartphone screen size?

I've used many different types of smartphones over the years and I have often wondered, "what is the ideal screen size for a smartphone?" At first, 3.5" seemed like a standard size. Then, we saw a flurry of Android smartphones with screens larger than 4" and I got used to the new size. Now, I find myself drawn to try devices like the Samsung Galaxy Note II that has a screen size of 5.55" and this is a "phablet" device which is a cross between a phone and a tablet. If a phablet is the right compromise, then maybe that's the right type of device that I need.

I'm also still a pen-based user (because I like to scribble notes), so larger devices that support an active stylus pen are attractive to me. Verizon currently offers the LG Intuition that has a 5" screen, but this device seems a bit too blocky to me. The Samsung Galaxy Note II is coming to almost every major wireless provider, so I plan to test one when it comes to Verizon. While I wait, I'll continue to use my iPhone 5 (which is a great phone, but the screen is still a bit too small for my taste).

iPhone 5 screen flickering "bug"

I've had my iPhone 5 for a week and today I started encountering the screen "flickering" bug when you pull up the virtual keyboard. It didn't last long and it disappeared as soon as the keyboard was gone. Is this a software or hardware bug?

The new iPhone 5 is thinner because the glass display combines the touch sensors into the glass resulting in a single layer of glass and no additional layer for touch sensors. The new in-cell touch display has been causing other types of strange screen problems which I suspect may be due to quality-control issues. In any case, I often find myself wondering if my iPhone 5 will start developing screen + touch problems over time.

Have you experienced the screen flickering bug on your iPhone?

My iPhone 5 experience so far (problems connecting with LTE vs. 3G)

I've had my iPhone 5 for several days and I really like how it's lighter, thinner, and faster compared to my iPhone 4S. The elongated screen doesn't do much for me - I would have preferred to see a wider + longer screen. I had gone back to using my Android smartphone for a few weeks and I was reminded of how much I appreciate the larger 4.5" screen that is wider and taller on my Android smartphone compared to my iPhone. My eyes aren't bad - I just prefer not to zoom to read tiny font.

I have the Verizon iPhone 5 and I've been experiencing some strange connection problems when the phone is in 3G mode vs. 4G/LTE mode.

When I "enable LTE" I also find that the reception bars on the top of the screen may drop from 4 bars down to 2 bars. This same issue has been reported online among other iPhone 5 users. I also find that sometimes my iPhone 5 says that it's not connected to the network when it's on LTE mode. But then I'll turn LTE off and it has no problems connecting (and staying connected) on 3G. If I toggle around with airplane mode, I may be able to re-establish broken LTE connections, but that's no fun.

So, for now I leave LTE off and the phone works fine on 3G. My hypothesis is that this "bug" is driven by power-saving features built into the iPhone 5. I wonder if it reduces power to the antenna when it's in LTE mode and if it sends more power to the antenna when it's in 3G mode.

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.