If you have been watching the news recently about the iPhone 3GS, or perhaps you even have purchased one for yourself, then likely you are aware of the highly unfortunate overheating issues going on with the battery. The 3GS is getting so hot it actually discolors the white back plate, and it is even too hot to put against your face and use at times. As computers get smaller and smaller (and the iPhone is nothing less than a very small computer) and batteries get more and more powerful, this is going to become an increasingly difficult problem and balance to strike with technology.
Already, many netbooks that boast solid state hard drives and tiny cases have very big problems with overheating, some can't even be moved outside of an air conditioned environment or else they will cease working. That effectively makes them next to useless. Thankfully this isn't the case for the iPhone 3GS yet, but it is a challenge that the engineers are facing.
So far, Apple has declined to admit that there is a problem, blaming the weather and users who are leaving their iPhones in their cars. The discoloration on the back of the case is being blamed on the heat reacting with 3rd party iPhone cases and staining the phone itself. Many on the internet disagree, and many a tweet and forum posting states different, but who konws. You can't believe anything you read on the internet these days, even when it comes from multiple sources.
However, Apple has opened a new patent which could help alleviate some of these problems. This new patent will help them develop "systems and methods for monitoring and responding to forces influencing batteries of electronic devices are provided." Meaning it might be able to stop the iPhone from overheating before it happens.
Many users have noted that even their old iPhones run a lot hotter after updating to the 3.0 software update, even stating that their batteries are being drained a good deal faster with the update, which could point to bad power management drivers in the software itself. Hopefully the fix will be quick and easy. Likely this is due to suffocating ipod cases as well that increase the heat. Make sure you look around for the best iPod cases that will allow proper ventilation and cooling for the battery pack.
This is all the more reason to look into picking up one of the super cheap refurbished iPhone 3G models that are all over eBay right now since they are extremely discounted and have not been reporting similar issues.
Please comment below if you have any thoughts about this issue!
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