14 DAY TRIAL // Just over a week ago, Softpedia informed its readers that iOS 4 may pose some incompatibility issues for old-generation hardware, resulting in less battery life for some iPod touch owners.
According to a 12-page Apple Discussions thread spotted by Softpedia on June 2, the issue seemed widespread, with most users claiming to have begun experiencing reduced, or extremely reduced battery life after applying the iOS 4 software update from Apple. With the number of pages and forum user posts now more than doubled (for just one of many threads posted on the topic), it is safe to say Apple has yet another patch to include in iOS 4.1/4.0.1, aside from fixing the signal bar issues for iPhone 4 customers. Moreover, threads created in the meantime indicate iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS users are going through the same debacle.
We asked our readers to use the comments and tell us how their device continued to behave after installing iOS 4. As expected, numerous folks reading our report shared similar, if not identical stories. Here are some highlights:
Comment #4 by: rh on 03 Jul 2010, 06:25 GMT
Same battery drain issues on my iPod Touch 2nd gen. unit since installing OS4. I wish I had read the posts before updating it. I used to charge my iPod every 2-3 days, now I see RED before day's end! I hope Apple comes up with an OS update REAL SOON.
Comment #5 by: Mike M on 03 Jul 2010, 08:25 GMT
We have the same problem -- I updated 2 of our 3rd Generations Touches, and the batteries last about 1/2 as long as they did before (it seems to help to keep apps closed i.e. not multitasking). Our 3rd wasn't updated and still seems to run forever.
Please fix this -- I love the multitasking, but 4 or 5 hrs of battery life really sucks!
Comment #6 by: Wallsy on 03 Jul 2010, 08:41 GMT
My 3rd gen touch battery life has gone down the toilet. I have always used my ipod to listen to music on the train in to work and home again, and it's gone from last for 3 or 4 days to being always flat when I head home if I don't charge it while I'm at work.
The maximum battery life off the charger appears to be in the region of 8 hours now.
Comment #7 by: Chuk on 03 Jul 2010, 11:31 GMT
I have a Gen 2 Touch and specifically sought out this thread because of the short battery life. Overnight I will go from 80% to 20% battery. Never had anything like that prior to OS update. Is it because apps are running in the background as multitasking? How can I be certain an app turns off if I switch to another app?
Comment #8 by: T Deal on 03 Jul 2010, 11:44 GMT
My 2nd gen iPod TOuch has EXACTLY the same problem. Did not use it for a day, and the battery is drained.
I have tried to restore it, but when I download the old OS 3.1.3 and try to restore on iTunes, I get a message that says my device is not eligible for the restore. ?????
Please fix this Apple!
Comment #12 by: waRoger on 05 Jul 2010, 00:03 GMT
I have also been experiencing rapid battery drain with an 8GB iPod touch (2nd gen) after installing iOS4. The drain appears to be rapid and invoked at random times, with the battery loosing 40% of its charge in 3 hours when supposedly locked the entire time.
Comment #16 by: Troutbum on 06 Jul 2010, 16:08 GMT
I have a 32 G iPod touch 3 Gen. Yes, there's a major battery problem with iOS4. Most probably it's related to the change in WiFi behavior. The battery also heats up much more which will cause it to degrade faster. Apple's lack of response is amazing and pathetic. This "upgrade" has resulted in a major downgrade in the functionality of my device and probably an early demise. If Apple doesn't address this (and other) issue soon, they have lost a customer for ever. I'm hopping mad!
Comment #25 by: Susan on 08 Jul 2010, 05:54 GMT
I am MISERABLE!!! My iPod Touch 2nd generation was fabulous before - used it for 4-5 days without needing a charge - just for listening to ebooks and for using the calendar and contacts - rarely other apps. Now, every morning it is dead when I wake up. I am charging it right now and will see what it is like in the morning. I am going to the Genius Bar tomorrow to complain as loudly as I can. They can't sell me a product and then screw it up.
Just two commenters were glad to report that their iOS 4 upgrade process ended with success. A reader identified as “mA=TT” tells us “mines [sic] been perfectly fine i have an ipod touch 3rd gen and its [sic] battery life is longer than it was before. when i go to bed it has full charge still and i have all notifications and wifi on. heck ive [sic] fallen asleep with games on and woke up to find it still running, albeit in standby but still.”
However, probably the most noteworthy comment comes from reader Adam Stark, who admits to have experienced the same battery drainage issue, but claims to have resolved it “by following a simple process.”
According to Adam, the solution seems to be: “simply restore your Itouch through Itunes and when prompted do not restore from a backup, but as a new Ipod.... then perform a re-sync.” (emphasis ours) Adam adds: “thats all I did..... after having a dead Itouch in like 4-5 hours...... it is now on day 2 with like 80% charge still... just like good old OS 3.” The commenter thoughtfully outlines that “saved games and other data is lost when doing the above,” just in case anyone else proceeds to do the same, in an attempt to fix said problems.