Apple iPhone 4S Problems: Short battery life & other issues 0

he Apple iPhone 4S is a great phone but it hasn't been without its problems. lkbuzz rounds up the problems users have experienced with Apple's latest handset

The iPhone 4S has been marred with problems and security issues since it launched earlier this month and, although it’s a great phone, as we mention in ourApple iPhone 4S review, flaws in the device and its iOS 5 operating systemare still being found.

Which is why we’ve pulled together a list of the problems you will or would have experienced with the new iPhone, including OS and security flaws, so you know exactly what you’re getting – that is until Apple decides to fix the software glitches, most probably in the form of a software update.

iPhone 4S 'mutes' outgoing calls 

Some iPhone 4S users are finding that when making an outgoing call the phone mutes the handset making it impossible to hear what the person on the other end of the line is saying.

While initially considered to be just a minor issue the fault has now come under the spotlight of theApple support forums with thousands now getting involved in the debate to try and ascertain what exactly is causing the problem. Confirmed on all three US carriers and now being picked up in the UK the fault is believed to be some form of driver issue with iOS 5.

At present there has been no official word from Apple and no official fix, however if users are finding that they're also having problems making calls then general advice has been to try turning the speakerphone on and then off again and also plugging in headphones, of course, these aren't fixes merely ways of getting around the problem.

Siri security flaw

Apple’s virtual assistant Siri was supposed change the way we use our mobile phones. Instead of typing and trawling the net to find information for ourselves, Siri aimed to cut all that out by doing the heavy lifting for us. But a few flaws in the make up of the software have caused major concern among the media and customers alike.

Siri has been the subject of several reports concerning a worrying security flaw. At the press of the Home button, a person is able to send texts, emails, make calls and request calendar information without having to unlock the homescreen using a passcode.

That, of course, could prove very costly indeed if someone gets their mitts on your handset.

But the setting isn't a permanent one - users have the option of switching it off by disabling the option to enable Siri at passcode lock - however, Alan Goode, managing director of mobile security firm Goode Intelligence, argues that because this setting was set at default without users' acknowledgement, many iPhone 4S owners would have been unaware of the potential risks they were exposing themselves to.

He said: “We feel that this option should have been the default option that Apple should have configured on all devices and then let the user decide whether they want to take the risk of someone accessing text, call and appointment services without entering the correct passcode.”

Siri 'cannot connect to network'

When the iPhone 4S first launched last month, users took to Twitter and forums to vent their frustration at Apple’s virtual assistant application, Siri, claiming that it didn’t work. When asking a question, users were greeted with an error message informing them that the app “cannot connect to the network."

Several outlets have reported that the issue can be fixed by first turning Siri off in the settings menu, then going to Settings > General > Reset > Reset All Settings. lk buzz did this and found that although it reduces the frequency of the problem, it doesn’t solve the problem completely.

It is believed that Apple will fix Siri-related problems in a new software update – hence why it was released in beta – but not much information is available from Apple on this front.

Mute button relocation

This isn’t a problem per say, but users may have been given the impression that the iPhone 4S body is 100% identical to that of the iPhone 4. It’s not. The mute button has moved slightly lower, and although most iPhone 4 cases can fit onto the device, covers that have holes cut out specifically for the mute button won’t fit – they’ll simply cover it up.

So be warned – don’t buy expensive cases unless you’re certain they'll fit or are specific to the iPhone 4S.

Short battery life

The Apple iPhones have never been known for their long battery life and it would seem the iPhone 4S is no different. In fact, the Apple news-dedicated website iLounge reports that the battery life gets considerably drained when using 3G data and audio/video playback/recording on the 4S.

Fortunately, you can read Apple’s iPhone battery power saving tips to see how you can save some much-need handset energy.

Yellowgate

When they launched last year, the Apple iPhone 4and Apple iPad 2 both aroused suspicion among Apple devotees when some of their screens sported a faint yellow discolouring. Apple put this down to the adhesive used to glue the device together not curing properly and the problems seemed to have disappeared after just a few weeks, which could be the case with the iPhone 4S.

Several users on Apple forums have complained about the exact same problem occurring on their iPhone 4S handsets, but whereas the discolouring in previous Apple devices saw yellow spots dotted around the screen, this time round it’s encompassing the whole touchpad, leading to complaints from Apple fans worldwide.

If you’ve got the same problem and it hasn’t gotten any better throughtout the weeks, you’re best bet is to contact Apple customer services: 0800 048 0408. Lines are open Monday-Friday 08:00-21:00, and Saturday-Sunday 09:00-20:00.

iOS 5 Error 3200

Apple fans were hit with an iOS 5 error 3200 message on October 13 as they attempted to download the tech giant's latest mobile operating system. It was believed the company’s servers were swamped by demand, causing thousands of users to face continued error messages.

The Error 3200 message greeted ‘hundreds of thousands’ of users across the globe as they attempted to update their existing Apple iPhones, iPads and iPods to iOS 5, ahead of the Apple iPhone 4S release date which took place on October 14th.

According to Apple’s support pages a 3200 error is caused by “a network-connectivity or traffic issue.” The Cupertino-based company advised: “If you see this error, wait an hour or more and try again.”

What other problems have you experienced with the iPhone 4S? Let us know in our comments box below and we'll investigate...

Find out more about the iPhone 4S in our iPhone 4S video below

Best iPhone Games 0

Here's our picks for the best iPhone games currently available. We weeded through the thousands of titles to bring you the cream of the crop.

With over 400,000 apps now available for download in the iTunes app store, the gaming options are nearly limitless. In the sea of games for the iPhone, some are worth your 99 cents (or download time) and others are not. We’ve taken on the burden of sorting through the endless games to bring you what we think are the best iphone games for everyone from the intense console gamer to the casual word puzzle enthusiast.

Angry Birds ($.99)

This notoriously obsession-inducing game begins with the story of some ugly green pigs who stole eggs from their neighboring birds. These birds are now, as you would assume, very angry. Users fling the angry (and squealing) birds at fortified castles inhabited by the green pigs in an attempt to destroy the pigs and get to the next level. It’s a game of trial and error, but birds with different advantages (extra power, wider coverage) and pigs with extra protections (hardhats, etc.) keep things interesting.

Jenga ($.99)

The nerve-wracking party game Jenga now comes to the iPhone with real-time 3D physics simulation and gyroscope integration. The amazingly realistic game uses sensitive touch technology to recreate the tension and anticipation of pulling out as many Jenga pieces as you can before the tower crumbles. The game features a four-player Pass ‘n’ Play mode that lets users come back to the game at their own pace, and a new arcade mode, which challenges users to increase speed and grab special points along the way.

Mirror’s Edge ($.99)

This visually stunning game puts users in the middle of a ‘perfect society’ where they have to run around the city performing various parkour-style stunts to stop deadly threats and any forces of evil. The game was specifically designed for the iPhone’s retina display and takes full advantage of it with crisp visuals. Players use swipe controls to run up walls, jump rooftops, and ride zip lines in 14 different levels.

Infinity Blade ($5.99)

This sword-fighting action game will make you feel like you’re sitting at your console in the comfort of your own home instead of staring at your small iPhone. Powered by Epic’s Unreal Engine 3 technology, Infinity Blade brings cutting edge graphics to your small screen in a 3D castle world. The game uses touch controls and can be played in single player and multiplayer modes.

Words With Friends ($1.99)

This ad-free word game has taken both iPhone and Android users by storm with its Scrabble-like game-play and play at your own pace design. Users can play matches with friends (on either iOS or Android devices) or with randomly selected users. The addicting game is not designed for immediate satisfaction, allowing users to play turns when they have a free moment on the bus, waiting in line, or on a break from work. Get competitive and break out your dictionary app for this one, you’ll need it.

Fruit Ninja ($.99)

Like Angry Birds, this action game is extremely simple but extraordinarily addictive. Users swipe a finger across the screen to slice fruit as it flies across the screen. Miss slicing one too many and you’re out. Slice multiple pieces of fruit with one swipe for combination points and watch out for flying bombs, which will kill you and your score in an instant. The game features classic and arcade modes as well as multiplayer for Game Center-enabled devices. Turn the sound up because, trust us, hearing your fruit be slashed and splattered is the best part.

Plants vs. Zombies ($2.99)

The much-loved tower defense game that started out as a hit on PC is now available for the iPhone, to the relief of countless fans. Users must defend their homes against hoards of angry zombies attempting an invasion. Planting a variety of zombie-zapping plants will fend off the walking dead, and the more zombies you kill the more plants you can get to defend your home. The game has 50 different levels that feature different scenes and backgrounds. The game stays interesting thanks to the variety of zombies with special skills and tricks.

Sparkle the Game ($2.99)

This action puzzle game puts speed and accuracy to the test as users shoot orbs into a constantly moving line, hoping to make them disappear fast enough that they don’t fall into the dreaded abyss. Users tap the screen where they want to shoot orbs; match three orbs of the same color to make them disappear. Three game modes, different scene locations, and hidden bonuses and secrets keep the action fun. The game is simple in concept, but the entertainment will last hours.

Bejeweled 2 ($.99)

This addictive game is one of the top paid apps of all time, and for good reason. The puzzle game challenges users to match sparkling jewels to get points to get to the next level. The premise is simple but the fun of beating each level is addicting. Different modes allow for intense or relaxed play, and new Facebook integration allows users to challenge their friends to a match.

Toki Tori ($2.99)

In this puzzle platform game, users must guide the adorable Toki Tori through 80 levels and four different worlds to gather as many eggs as possible. Fun animation and solid graphics make this game a treat to play, even on your small iPhone screen. Toki Tori is a perfect game for someone who loves simple old-school video games or wants something casual and fun.

Apple - iPhone 4S - Shoot amazing photos with the 8MP camera. 4

CameraThe You-can't-believe-it's

on-a-phone camera

With 8 megapixels and all-new optics, this just might be the best camera ever on a mobile phone. It just might be the only camera you’ll ever need. And if you think that’s amazing, wait until you see your photos.

Mega megapixels.

The iPhone 4S camera gives you 8 megapixels — that’s 60 percent more pixels than the camera on iPhone 4. They’re engineered with a higher, full-well capacity to collect even more light. With more megapixels and more light, you’ll see a dramatic difference in the resolution and details of your images. So your photos look stunning everywhere you show them off — on your iPhone, your computer, or your HDTV. And they’re rendered pixel for pixel in prints as large as 8x10.

All-new optics make all
the difference.

Great photography isn’t just about megapixels — it’s about light, too. The all-new, advanced optics in this camera work together to make sure whatever light you have gives you the best image possible. The custom lens uses five precision elements to shape incoming light, which makes the entire image sharper. The larger f/2.4 aperture lets in more light, so photos look brighter and better. And the advanced hybrid infrared filter keeps out harmful IR light, so you’ll see more accurate and uniform colors.

Turn down the lights.
Or turn them way up.

Pull out your iPhone in moonlight, candlelight, or under little white lights. Or shoot in bright light. Like at the beach. iPhone captures low-light and lots-of-light moods beautifully. So darks aren’t too dark and lights aren’t too light. Even action shots are less blurry. The next-generation backside illumination sensor is engineered with increased sensitivity and a shorter exposure time to achieve the same scene brightness — colors are less saturated and you’ll see more details. And the LED flash automatically kicks in when it’s needed (but you can always turn it off).

A5 chip and iOS 5. The power behind your photos. The A5 chip is designed with an image signal processor that’s just as good as the ones found in DSLR cameras. It’s how you can tap to focus and control exposure. And it’s the power behind zero shutter lag. The image signal processor makes the iPhone 4S camera faster, so you’ll catch all the action as it happens. The camera also uses advanced algorithms in iOS 5 for even more color accuracy, better white balance, and greater dynamic range. When you see your photos, you’ll see exactly what that means

This camera loves a face.

With new face detection, this camera is smart enough to know whether you’re taking a portrait or a group shot. It focuses on the most prominent face in the frame and balances exposure across up to 10 faces. So you’ll definitely catch smiles. And maybe even a smirk or two.

Capture the moment in
a split second.

Think about all those fun, fleeting moments you wish you’d caught on film. Now you can open the Camera app right from the Lock screen. So when things happen fast, you’ll capture them fast. Compose a quick shot with grid lines and pinch-to-zoom gestures. Focus with a tap. Then press the volume-up button to take a photo. And suddenly, everything is a photo op.

Edit photos right on iPhone.

It’s not just an amazing camera. It’s an on-the-fly editing studio. Crop, rotate, enhance, and remove red-eye right on iPhone — without the help of photo editing software on a computer. Then organize your shots into albums, so you know where your favorites are when you want to show them off.

HDR. The best everything.
All in one shot.

Tap HDR and take a photo. iPhone 4S captures three photos from that one shot, each with a different exposure level. Then it layers the shots together to create a single photo that combines the best parts of each shot. The wide range of light is more accurate in an HDR photo. And iPhone saves both the original and the HDR photo in your Camera Roll. You can clearly see the difference.

Photo Stream.
And other ways to share.

With Photo Stream in iCloud, new photos you take are automatically sent to all your devices, so you can show them off on your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac, or PC.¹Post them to the web the second you take them, and they’ll be the envy of your Flickr, Facebook, and Twitter world. Share them on your HDTV with AirPlay.²Or send your photos through iMessage or MMS. Or go old-school and send them in an email.

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