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iPads having serious wifi, heating issues

Narmer

Diamond Member
Aug 27, 2006
5,292
0
0
Looks like Apple may have a serious problem on their hand.

http://www.tomsguide.com/us/ipad-wifi-wi-fi-overheating-wireless,news-6360.html

Could the iPad be plagued with first-generation design woes?

A first generation product is rarely without flaws. While it may represent the most bleeding edge of a new technology, it often comes at the price of having several rough edges that are usually smoothed out in future iterations of that product.


While it may be too early to say for sure what the flaws are with the new iPad (aside from the omissions of certain features such as a webcam), early reports are pointing to problems with the Wi-Fi and potential sensitivity to heat.


Users of the iPad are reporting that the wireless signal reported by the tablet is weaker or less reliable than other products in the same vicinity. Several stories from the web, including those from TUAW, AppleInsider, and TechCrunch mention personal experience and other forum posts detailing Wi-Fi woes. One theory is that the aluminum back casing is blocking too much of the signal, or that it's a software issue.


Another problem cropped up through use from the masses is reports of overheating, forcing the iPad to lock up with a temperature warning. As mentioned in stories from MacNN and CNet, users from California, Texas and New York report that the iPad got warm enough that the screen displayed a warning icon along with the message, "iPad needs to cool down before you can use it."


One user put his iPad in the fridge for a short while to return the tablet back to the mood needed for operation. While we're not yet sure of what temperatures the iPads were used but, Apple lists operating temperatures of the iPad at 32° to 95° F (0° to 35° C), which could easily be exceeded if exposed to sunlight for a length of time.

Moved to All Things Apple

-ViRGE
 
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Mike Gayner

Diamond Member
Jan 5, 2007
6,175
3
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Apple lists operating temperatures of the iPad at 32° to 95° F (0° to 35° C), which could easily be exceeded if exposed to sunlight for a length of time.

LOL wow, really? 35C is as hot as it can get?
 
Oct 27, 2007
17,009
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I'd give them a pass on the wifi "issue" - every device I've used reports wifi strength differently. Hell, even different versions of Windows disagree wildly on wifi strength. The temperature thing is a concern though.
 

SKORPI0

Lifer
Jan 18, 2000
18,483
2,418
136
Typical first generation feature. Probably needs a cooler attached in the back to keep temperature down.
 
Oct 27, 2007
17,009
5
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Typical first generation feature. Probably needs a cooler attached in the back to keep temperature down.
But then how will I fit it in my pocket?

ipad.jpg
 

0roo0roo

No Lifer
Sep 21, 2002
64,795
84
91
maybe the sensor is conservative because all the reports are that it runs cool, and to run at 10+ hours on a charge it has to run cool:p sounds more like tards are letting it bake in their car, like the ones that complained their ipod batteries weren't lasting when they let em bake off in cars and such.
 

Emulex

Diamond Member
Jan 28, 2001
9,759
1
71
so if you put 5 wifi objects in the near vicinity one may not become dominant and squeeze the channel?
 

Mike Gayner

Diamond Member
Jan 5, 2007
6,175
3
0
maybe the sensor is conservative because all the reports are that it runs cool, and to run at 10+ hours on a charge it has to run cool:p sounds more like tards are letting it bake in their car, like the ones that complained their ipod batteries weren't lasting when they let em bake off in cars and such.

Apples operating guidelines are < 35C. So hopefully no one who owns an iPad lives in a warm climate.

BTW how does Steve's asshole taste?
 

Phobic9

Golden Member
Apr 6, 2001
1,822
0
71
I really won't be surprised when the iPad gen 2 is made of plastic/polycarbonate instead of the aluminum in the current one. Hmm, didn't Apple do something like this before? Hmmmmm... :hmm:
 

QueBert

Lifer
Jan 6, 2002
22,978
1,178
126
LOL, Apple sells nearly 1/2 million units, and 2 people manage to put them in an environment that they dont work in...

OMFG

Do you think we will have some feedback soon from stuff like this? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSnIXfoSU6I

It's Apple we're talking about here, if they sold 100 million of these all it would take is a single report of a single person having overheating problems and the haters would jump on board. I am SURE these will overheat for some people. Electronic devices can do that in the wrong environment. This is not an indication of a problem (yet) Look to MS and the RROD for the definition of an overheating problem. As for the Wifi, WOOPIE it exaggerates the strength of the signal. Is this really worth mentioning? Hell Samsung should be on the front page of the tech news every day if this is newsworthy as every one of their cell phone I've owned has bull shitted me on how strong my cell signal was.
 

Narmer

Diamond Member
Aug 27, 2006
5,292
0
0
LOL, Apple sells nearly 1/2 million units, and 2 people manage to put them in an environment that they dont work in...

OMFG

Do you think we will have some feedback soon from stuff like this? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSnIXfoSU6I

Apple may have sold 500k ipads, but it doesn't mean there are 500k ipads being used. A lot of them are still sitting on store shelves at Best Buy.

EDIT: Apple has acknowledged the problem. This has nothing to do with hating apple and everything to do with bad engineering design.
 

QueBert

Lifer
Jan 6, 2002
22,978
1,178
126
Apple may have sold 500k ipads, but it doesn't mean there are 500k ipads being used. A lot of them are still sitting on store shelves at Best Buy.

EDIT: Apple has acknowledged the problem. This has nothing to do with hating apple and everything to do with bad engineering design.

They don't consider ones sitting on the shelf at a store to be a sale. They actually sold about 700k the first week, 300k the first day. Not 50k with 650k on store shelves. As for this story I'll wait until more than 3 people complain of something to agree that it's an actual problem. *IF* Apple has responded (dunno if they have or not) it could very well be due to the fact they don't want bad publicity to get out. I mean the article OP posted uses the word "masses" as if everyone with an iPad is having these problems. I don't know how many of the 700k+ are being used, but I'd imagine it's a decent number as most people who bought one are probably on it a lot.
 

Narmer

Diamond Member
Aug 27, 2006
5,292
0
0
They don't consider ones sitting on the shelf at a store to be a sale. They actually sold about 700k the first week, 300k the first day. Not 50k with 650k on store shelves. As for this story I'll wait until more than 3 people complain of something to agree that it's an actual problem. *IF* Apple has responded (dunno if they have or not) it could very well be due to the fact they don't want bad publicity to get out. I mean the article OP posted uses the word "masses" as if everyone with an iPad is having these problems. I don't know how many of the 700k+ are being used, but I'd imagine it's a decent number as most people who bought one are probably on it a lot.

No, it isn't sold to people. The 300k that they tallied included pre-orders and ipads sold to stores. Also, Apple has a rude habit of not responding to reports of problems for a long time, only to then blame the user or the user's hardware. Their quick response this time may be to avert bad publicity but it is more likely an acknowledgement of the problem at hand.
 

Red Squirrel

No Lifer
May 24, 2003
70,592
13,808
126
www.anyf.ca
lol iPhail.

Actually, yet again an apple product becomes a fad. It's been out a few months and we still hear tons of talk about it. It's not like it's the first time a tablet PC comes out or something. Makes me laugh how apple has this effect on their products. They can make it suck as much as they want, they'll still make tons of cash off it and get tons of publicity.
 

Tegeril

Platinum Member
Apr 2, 2003
2,906
5
81
No, it isn't sold to people. The 300k that they tallied included pre-orders and ipads sold to stores. Also, Apple has a rude habit of not responding to reports of problems for a long time, only to then blame the user or the user's hardware. Their quick response this time may be to avert bad publicity but it is more likely an acknowledgement of the problem at hand.

Please bring facts to this discussion. If we're having ad networks identifying 500000+ unique devices browsing the Internet, the numbers are just fine the way they were reported.