Best iPhone Battery Backup

IMaxPower CEO John Chang reacted immediately to the news that an Amazon-based seller is marketing a product by claiming it is the ImaxPower IMP500 when in fact it is a products of another brand called Cinch.

“I am not familiar with the brand, but I have no objection to the owner marketing a similar product to the IMP500. However, they cannot use the brand name IMaxPower for their product and expect to get away with it,” was Chang’s grim response.

The said product is being sold on Amazon by DBROTH, Superdeal, blueharboronline, and others, none of which are licensed distributors of any ImaxPower products. The photos in the listing show the brand name “Cinch” and another photo identifies it as the Cinch Power CP 505, but the title of the listing clearly identifies it as an IMaxPower IMP500 external battery for iPhone and iTouch. Most people will think that it’s one and the same, and the Cinch product certainly makes every effort to appear to be the same, down to the technical specifications.  Read more at Imaxpower website here http://www.imaxpower.com/ImaxPower-warns-buyers-about-imposter-IMP500-s/45.htm

Orignial Source://planet-iphones.com/2010/02/17/mover-over-mophie-feel-the-strength-of-imaxpower/

I wrote about a new comer to the external battery game. A company called “iMaxPower” (IMP) and their tethered external battery called the “IMP500″. In that article I explained how iMaxPower is actually a subsidiary of a real OEM battery company used to produce the batteries for some of the largest computer companies
in the world. Well, these guys are not sitting on their laurels, they just took a serious shot at Mophie and let me tell you here and now. Those of you who have a Mophie Juice Pack (MP) or Mophie Juice Pack Air (MPA) are gonna be seriously miffed. Here’s why.

iMaxPower, has recently released what appears to be clones of the MP and MPA which they affectionately call the “IMP190″ (190) & “IMP130″ (130), respectively. (Back in the IMP500 Article I told all of you, that these items were coming. I also promised you a review of these products. I keep my promises.) They look almost exactly the same but iMaxPowers’ 190 & 130 have some pretty impressive performance. While the MP boasts 8 hrs of video play back and their MPA Claims 6 hrs of video play back, both on a 3G, my tests for the 190 and 130 demonstrated the results of a 10:34 hr video play back on the 190 and a 8:41 hr video play back on the 130. Bad news for Mophie… iMaxPower, you guys ROCK! The dimensions between the two companies battery cases are so similar and minute in their differences, that they are not worth mentioning here. So here’s the break down of video play back, in a chart:
Mophie Video Play Back iMaxPower Video Play Back Diff of time
Juice Pack 8 Hours IMP190 10:34 Hours +2:34 (IMP)
Juice Pack Air 6 Hours IMP130 8:41 Hours +2:41 (IMP)

That has to sting! And if that is for video, you know that will translate to increases over Mophie in Web Usage, Music Play Back, Talk time, Stand-By, everything. What is even more jolting is that while the Mophie Products retail at the prices of around $69-80 for the MP and MPA, the IMPs are selling at $39.99…BOTH! That is 40-50% less with roughly 20% increase in power storage. Man!…

What Mophie has over IMP is their battery cases come in a variety colors, while right now IMP Battery is only available in black. Also, I will admit that the MP(A) ‘Top-Clips” (the top part that encases the top of the iPhone) feels more secure. But this is a minor issue.

The IMP190 looks almost exactly like the MP in shape and even color. Out of the box the 190 took 3:10 hours to charge to 100%, to charge the iPhone took about 1:40 min which is standard. The 190 gives a full 100% recharge to an iPhone that has been depleted to 0%.

The IMP130 Is the same in the regards mentioned above. however it does not come in a glossy finish but a matte-black one. It looks very stealth. Out of the box, charge time was also 3:10 hours for a 100% charge and also took 1:30 min to charge the iPhone to a capacity of 80% which then it would be depleted. What the 130 has that the 190 does not is if you hold the little black button on the back that turns on the blue LEDs when you tap it, is an actual white LED flashlight built into the battery case. Nice! It looks like a little yellow dot that has been recessed into the case when not activated.But here is a serious bonus! All of you who use BodyGuardz? You know the invisible film you can wrap your iPhone in to protect it from the world because you hate the idea of using a case and disturbing your iPhones sleek good-looks? The 130 has just enough room in it to allow, YES ALLOW the BodyGuardz protected iPhone inside and have a perfect snug fit! The best of both worlds, kindly brought to you by iMaxPower.

Both battery cases (190/130) have Blue LEDs on the back where if you press a button they light up to indicate an approximation of how much power is left. The 190 has 4 LEDs, while the 130 has only 3. Why the difference, I have no idea. However, the percentage gage for each light is different for each case, and not what I found in the instruction booklet. The 190 really reads like this:

Lights:
1. 0-15%
2. 16-35%
3. 36-65%
4. 66-100%

While the 130 reads:

Lights:
1. 0-25%
2. 26-55%
3. 56-100%

Yes I know, odd and strange, but that is my estimation after careful testing and observation. These oddities however should in no way deter you from seriously considering this battery case(s) as they do a bang up job of protecting your iPhone while at the same time increasing usage and power for unbelievably low, bargain basement prices. If you look at it this way, decent regular cases cost anywhere between $25-30. For an additional $10-$15 you get your case and a battery good for up to a full recharge and up to 2x the normal usage. This is amazing and I advise that anyone who needs a case or a battery backup
for really on the go needs, to get this. For that price you should have one just in case anyway. iMaxPower…Such an appropriate name. Get it now while the price is still that low.

ImaxPower continues to improve its service even as their products become more popular by improving on its website and encouraging electronic dealers to share in the wealth.

Thanks to word-of-mouth, IMaxPower’s bestselling IMP500 has made the website widely visited, but the worldwide leading Li-ion polymer (LIP) battery pack manufacturer for the mobile electronic device is not one to rest on its laurels. Because of the high standard of manufacture and customer service that IMaxPower insists upon, they may be just be the ultimate source for laptop battery and iphone external battery for both sellers and buyers alike.

Currently, IMaxPower has only one authorized third-party reseller, which is Golflogix, mainly because the company’s own value system represents the company standard of IMaxPower. This is not to say that other resellers cannot ask to share in IMaxPower’s pie, provided they are as committed to providing the level of customer service and satisfaction that IMaxPower insists upon. The new website makes it easier for forward-looking companies to do just that.

Read the full article at IMP500 IPhone Battery Backup Pack Becomes Sleeker and Better

The Proof of the Pudding…IMP500 makes a hit in the US market

All the marketing efforts in the world can never be a lasting substitute for a good product and service. Of course, good products need exposure, how else will people know about it? But the proof of the pudding, as they say, is in the eating. And the proof of any marketing claim is in the using.

The people behind IMaxPower’s IMP500 lithium ion polymer (LIP) battery extender for IPhone take pride in the quality of the product as well as its after-sales service. The IMaxPower Battery Pack IMP500 has a capacity of 5000mAh at 5V of power, which is on average 400% the capacity of standard batteries. This LIP battery cell weighs only 130g and is slightly smaller than an IPhone. There are lots of IPhone battery extender products out there; you just need to punch in “IPhone battery extender” on your favorite search engine and you come up with millions of hits. So what does a normal consumer do to maximize the purchasing power of his hard-earned dollar? Why, he looks for reviews. The thing is, are they true?

Anyone who is in the least Internet savvy knows that you have to be careful about what you believe. Everyone from the mischievous to the downright dishonest makes use of the World Wide Web to get the job done, so the real nuggets of truth sometimes gets lost in the babble. With some effort, the following reviews for IMP500 passed muster in terms of credibility of the reviewer (they have a history of reviewing other unrelated items) and the ring of truth in the review.

D. Weichert wrote in July 1, 2009 that the IMP500 was a “Great product, but FABULOUS service.” This is with reference to the “personal touch” with which IMaxPower responded to his issues.

James Orrahood of Henderson, Kentucky, however focused more on the product. He stated that “I purchased the IMP500 and I couldn’t be happier” but urged that “american [sic] companies need to take note of this product and come out with an even better product” alluding to the fact that the IMP500 is the brainchild of a reputable foreign manufacturer, although the distributing company is a US company. He muted his phrase by making a request that the already compact IMP500 become “thinner, smaller and that could hold the iphone and headset all in one attractive, protective case.”

Amazon buyer RedDev11 gives the product unstinting praise as he compares it to other brands “right off the bat, simply because of the strength of this piece.” He likes the way that the IMP500 “charges just about everything you can think of” and had even tried successfully to charge several gadgets at one time using a USB hub. His comment that “The only negative I can think of about this product, is that it only comes with an adapter for my iphone…and doesn’t come with an ac plug” means he did not purchase the item direct from the IMaxPower website, which includes the AC adaptor free. Nevertheless he “rate(s) the imax 11 stars.”

Other reviews say pretty much the same things, and while most users are from the US, Australian users have nothing but high praise for the versatile IMP500. Good quality, after all, knows no nationality.

The IMP500 is a product of ImaxPower, the world’s leading manufacturer of the LIP battery pack that provides extended battery life for many of the more popular mobile electronic devices, including all models of the IPhone, IPod, Nintendo DS, Kindle and Blackberry smartphones. IMaxPower also provides the batteries for many models of HP and Dell laptop computers.

Here we are, in our world of technology.  Toaster ovens, DVRs, Blue Ray, Portable game units, Laptops, Smart phones and our iDevices.  All these things use energy.  Aside from Air, Water and Food…It is the most needed commodity we, as people are most addicted to.  It is the central source, the origin of literally all our creature comforts, conveniences and society.  It also happens to be the most precious and demanded resource we use.

Our iPhones are no different.  Our precious iDevices are amazing in their versatility, capacity and function.  There is just one small problem with them.  As good as they are the power they deliver is too much for any real heavy use on the battery they come equipped with.  The very battery that supplies our toy with the power to run.  No power, no function.  No function no fun.  No ticky, no shirty…You get the point.

The iPhone battery is nominally functional and with any degree of heavy use, will find you with a “brick”.  My Girlfriend, knowing I could use something like this, for the holidays surprised me with a little gift.  It was a Duracell backup battery.  It cost her $30.  It sucked, to say the least.  While finely crafted, it offered a measly 1 time charge and only then would charge my iPhone 50%.  I was extremely appreciative of her thought but let’s be honest her between us, that just will not cut it for our uses.  Hence the need for a back up.  In my search for such an item I scoured the web looking for a quality unit that would perform exemplary but at a reasonable price.  I looked at Richard Solo.  I looked at iSound.  I looked at them all.  Prices, capacity, function…But then I stumbled completely on one completely by accident from a company called “iMaxPower” and one particular product called TheIMP500.

Here is what caught my attention in the listing in my search “38 hour video play back“.   When I saw this in combination with their reasonable price of $53.95 I was hooked to find out more.  So I do what I always do for myself and my readers.  I investigated.  Therein (as you will see in the site) is a 10 min Video with the head of the company demonstrating the IMP500, John Chang.  In there he explains and shows how to use the IMP500.  I was very interested in this product and decided to contact iMpaxPower and Mr. Chang.  After an email and a follow up call, Mr. Chang immediately sent me an IMP500 to test, review and now you will get to know everything that you need to know about this product and the company that builds it.  So hang on kids cause here we go!

First off, delivery of the item (BTW shipping is free for orders over $30) arrived no later than 3 days.  Yes three days!  That in itself is good, damned good.  The packaging is a typical hermetically  sealed blister package.  Removal of the items are simply done with a sharp knife or razor blade along the sides.  But aside from this, who really cares about the packaging?  It is a marketing device which holds absolutely no merit to the form and function of this review.  Personally I would not care if any item I got came in a wet paper bag with a Tuna Fish Sandwich and a Banana inside.  Once we get our items home usually we just chuck the packaging away.  So great, we all agree.  Aside from getting it to us, Packaging means nothing.  Moving on…

Inside, there is an:
AC Adapter
2 Component adapters (iDevice & Mini USB)
Self Retractable Wire for Charging/Syncing
& of course…
The IMP500 PowerPack

What surprised me was actually how small the IMP500 is.  It is literally the size of a 2007  BlackBerry.  To give you perspective here, it is approximately 40% thicker that the iPhone. Slightly shorter and slight wider than the iPhone as well.  Essentially it is the size of cellular device.  So portability is going to be a cake-walk.  This in combination with the self retracting charge-wire makes portability a dream.  The same wire is used to charge both the IMP500 and the iPhone.  Which makes the need to carry your cumbersome, stock sync cable with you, no longer necessary.  Ah conveninece…Anyway, the IMP500 can be charged via the wall or the USB port on your computer.  Charge time via the wall out of the box is 4 hours.  From 0-100% is 6 hours.  It is also important and worth mentioning, that while for the purpose of this review I will constantly refer to the iPhone, the IMP500 PowerPack is not relegated to the iPhone alone.  No sir!  It is good for just about any portable device as can be seen in the picture on top of this article.  Now time to test this bad boy called the IMP500.

Let me take some time to explain how this works.  Most battery backups that we have seen actually clip into the bottom of the phone itself, no wires.  The IMP500 uses a tether.  So instead of the unit itself clipping itself into the bottom of the phone, the IMP500 uses the included wire.  The wire was ingeniously designed to charge the IMP500 from the wall but also be used to charge the iPhone from the IMP500.  Yes that is correct, the wire serves a dual purpose.  So if you are looking for a backup battery that has no need for wires to charge the iPhone, the IMP500 is not what you are looking for.  However, iMaxPower is actually in development to make such an item (according to my discussion with Mr. Chang).  And yes you can be sure that I will be testing that out for you as well.  So stay tuned.

Now the video said 38 hours video playback.  I wanted to test this for myself and yes, I really did test this.  So I hooked up my 3G already charged to 100%.  Set a few movies to play.  Hooked up the IMP500 to my iPhone hit play, started a stop watch and hit the road to go about my life…

About a day later I checked on the IMP500 and saw that the powerpack was low on battery power.  I watched it carefully from this point on to get the most accurate reading.  The unit died at 16.5 hours.  And the iPhone died 4.5 hours later.  While certainly not disappointed (I mean 21 hrs of video playback is no small feat here), I was surprised considering the 17 hour disparity.  I immediately called Mr. Chang, asking if maybe I had received a defective product.  We went over the test parameters  I performed, together.  We then realized that the original test was done on an iPhone 1st Gen, with all ancillary items turned off including the volume and the fact that the 1st Gen has no 3G.  Hence, it by default has less battery consumption.  On the box it says 25 hour video playback.  Considering the 3G/3GS consume power faster and also the fact that I left everything on; 3G, WiFi, Volume, etc…21 hours for such a small powerpack is extraordinarily impressive.  Let me put it to you this way.  If you have 21 straight hours to watch movies on your iPhone, you have way too much time on your hands, which is not many of us.  So you are not going to need 38 hours anyway.  Yes 17 hours lost seems like a lot, but does not 21 hours also seem like a lot of pure function?  I say a resounding, yes.

21 Hours of constant playback is a flight to China.  CHINA!  Think about that for just a second.  You are going to sleep sometime within that 21 hours.  So 21 hours for such a small compact battery is simply amazing to me.  ”How do they do this ?” you may be asking yourself.  Well aside it being an ancient Chinese Secret, the little known fact about iMaxPower, is that they are no cheap, lame, third party manufacturer for power cells.  No, not like Richard Solo, or iSound who simply dabble in this market.  iMaxPower, secretly, deviously is actually a subsidiary of an actual OEM company that manufactures power cells for some of the largest computer manufacturers in the world.  Now the names of these companies were told to me, but under pain of death I was sworn to secrecy.  And since I forgot my Cyanide Pill, I will not betray my oath of secrecy as I do not do well under torture (just ask my GF) and also, I have too much to live for to sacrifice my life to cater to your passing curiosity.  But take my word for it.  If you decide to get one of the IMP500s’ for yourself?  You are getting an OEM battery, under a different name in a different package.  Now how many companies do you know that can claim that?  So the quality here, now regarding iMaxPower should be incontrovertible.

So let’s talk about the battery simply as an auxiliary power source for charging.  Yes I tested this for you as well.  The IMP500 PowerPack at 100% capacity is good for 4 full recharges of the iPhone before the IMP500 itself, needs to be recharged.  The packaging boasts the IMP500 is good for 500 recharges.  (This I will take their word for.  Sorry guys but that is one area I cannot test in 2 weeks).  The IMP500 comes in two colors.  Black and White.  Retail price for the units vary based on color”

Black/Blue $53.95
White/Blue $49.95

Now why there is a price discrepancy between colors?  I have no idea, but again, I am here to speak about functionality and simply report the facts, not debate them.   From my experience the customer service with iMaxPower is good, they are receptive and accommodating.  The IMP500s’ performance, even though slightly exaggerated performs beyond anything I have seen to date, and iMaxPower’s claim that “This is the most powerful backup battery in the market today” may very well be true.  I can say to date I have not found one to top it.

In summary:

Extreme Portability
Small
Convenient
Very Powerful with 21 hrs video playback
Incredibly, 4 full recharges of the iPhone
Good customer support
&
Reasonably priced

So if you are going someplace where for an extended period of time you have no real access to a wall plug, such as a camping trip, a long flight or an office where the USB port is out, or even just on the go and you forgot to charge your iPhone properly?  You simply cannot go wrong with procuring one for yourself if you are in need of a battery backup.  I give the product a resound thumbs up and the “Hilty seal of approval”.

ImaxPower.com, the worldwide leading manufacturer of the Li-ion polymer (LIP) battery pack, warns the public that only authorized resellers IMaxPower at Amazon.com and Golflogix Co. reflect the high standards of customer service and satisfaction that IMaxPower stresses.

IMaxPower has been in the battery extender business since 2003 and has continuously come up with better products that satisfy the needs and address the concerns of the mobile device user. The blockbuster IMP500 external battery extender that is dominating the market, and the newest IMP700 that can recharge any IPhone model up to five charge cycles in one charging, should only be purchased from these two resellers in the US.

Golflogix is the only third party reseller authorized by IMaxPower. “We only authorized Golflogix as our reseller partner because their value system represents our company standard. All other channels are not authorized channels,” head honcho John Chang explained.

Fans and would-be clients of the IMP models would do well to purchase their battery extenders and other accessories from these three sources. They will then be assured of receiving quality products and the excellent customer service they have come to expect.

The announcement was made following some complaints were received from Amazon customers who purchased their IMP500 external battery extenders from unauthorized sellers. While the IMaxPower service and customer service department is dedicated to serve customers with every resource available and help them to resolve their issues, some of the products purporting to be from IMaxPower were poor imitations, or were not covered by warranty for various reasons. The only way IMaxPower can guarantee the product is if they purchase the products through the authorized channels.

With this in mind, IMaxPower is encouraging their customers to go direct to the IMaxPower website at www.imaxpower.com to purchase the products. Free shipping, promotions and discounts are in the offing for many of the products, and the customer is assured of the high quality of the products and the impeccable standard of after-sales service they will receive.

IMaxPower, the leading manufacturer of premier Lithium Ion battery extenders, announces the release of the long-awaited cableless version of the IMP500.

The IMP500, well known for its 5000mAh worth of juice has been redesigned to go cableless and will be designated as the IMP550, due for release by the end of December this year.

“It’s the IMP500 made sleeker and sexier,” IMaxPower head honcho John Chang asserts with some pride. “You still get the charging capacity you need sans dangling cable.”

The IMP550 will allow you to charge your IPhone up to 4.8 charge cycles at a time and provide you with up to 38 hours of watching videos. This means that when you make a long trip, you’ll run out of energy way before your IPhone does.

Simpler is Better

Just as those who are into Zen preach simplicity for a fuller life, the people behind IMaxPower are striving to provide total customer with the simpler solution. With no cable to worry about, IPhone users can tuck in their thirsty IPhones into the IMP550 and forget it’s even charging. With the IMP550, you can use any generation IPhone while charging without worrying about the cable getting in the way, and it will continue charging even while in your pocket. The redesign was in response to requests by loyal IMaxPower clients to have better ease of use and convenience and IMaxPower promptly went back to the drawing board to give them just that.

Simple, however, doesn’t mean single function. The IMP550 will still retain all the features of the IMP500 including a USB dock that will allow the simultaneous charging of other devices via the optional USB cable. Gadgets such as the IPod, Blackberry, Kindle and Nintendo will still be compatible with the new cableless model, although it will not fit in the cradle. The IMP550 is designed to fit all generations of IPhone and IPod Touch models.

The upcoming IMP550 will still be the workhorse that the current IMP500 is but will be much easier to carry around and use. The sophisticated new design of the IMP550 will provide IPhone users with on-the-go power supply convenience demanded by the mobile generation. Since 2003, clients of IMaxPower have benefited from the excellent products that serve their needs, and customer satisfaction remains the primary objective of the IMP550 designers.

Just as cellphones and music players and game consoles are designed to cater to the current demand for mobility, so are computers. Some computers have been reduced to the size of a cigar box, and isn’t much heavier either. And guess what? It runs on batteries.

Back in the olden days, portable computers used nickel cadmium (Ni-Cad) batteries which weren’t environmentally friendly, and then nickel metal hydride (NiMH) batteries, which were much more efficient. However, NiMH batteries ate the dust when Lithium Ion batteries became the de rigueur power supply for most mobile technology including mobile phones and portable computers. Some battery manufacturers claim that their laptop batteries can run for more than 5 hours, but it’s probably more realistic to expect about two to three hours of normal use.

So what do you do when you’re on a transcontinental flight and you simply have to finish that report before you get to your destination? You have three choices: work really fast and finish before your laptop shuts down on you; have an extra battery (fully charged); or get an external battery extender.

Most laptop battery extenders in the market have about 13200mAh and can only be used for gadgets that take 5V. One product that packs a whopping 19500mAh of juice is the IMP19500 Universal Battery Pack by IMaxPower. While this product is primarily designed for laptop use, it can also accommodate other gadgets such as mobile phones and game consoles. These include all models of the iPhone, iPod Touch, iPod, Blackberry and Google’s G1 Phone.

To give you an idea of what to look for in a battery extender, consider this: At 19500mAh, the IMP19500 can fully recharge a laptop taking 11 volts just once. This means that most laptop battery packs can only partially charge your laptop. Now if your laptop requires less juice to recharge, then you can probably use it longer with 19500 mAh than with any other battery extender. In addition, laptop battery extenders are priced from $134.00 plus shipping while the IMP19500 is priced at $109.95 with free shipping in the US.

The IMP19500 is compatible with most brands of laptops, including Dell and HP with a voltage range of 12 V, 16V and 19V. When purchasing the IMP19500, specify your laptop model to get the adapter you will need. You may check out the IMP19500 at www.imaxpower.com.

Well, the Christmas season is once again just around the corner. With Black Friday just a short breath away, the age-old dilemma recurs: what is a good gift to give this time around?

Choices abound as retailers and malls open their arms wide to eager customers, but during this time of crisis and belt-tightening, one has to be more circumspect and go for the more practical gifts. And what can be more practical than an external battery for the gadgets you can’t live without?

Let’s face it. It is a rare thing to find someone who doesn’t have at least one electronic gizmo to whip out at regular intervals. It could be anything from a run-of-the-mill cellphone to the latest touch screen phone for any one old enough to read to portable game consoles for the littlest tyke. And what do all these things have in common? They all run on batteries.

An external battery is a practical gift because it is in perfect alignment to our mobile lifestyle.  It’s a real drag to run out of juice in the middle of the day, and unfortunately for most IPhone and iTouch users, this is a grim reality. Even with gadgets that have long battery life, having a ready supply of extra juice is always a good idea, especially if you travel a lot.

The IMaxPower Battery Pack IMP500 is one great choice for a gift this season.  It has a capacity of 5000mAh at 5V of power, which is on average 400% the capacity of standard batteries. This Lithium-ion Polymer battery cell is lightweight and works well with all generations of Apple IPhones including the 3G S, Apple ITouch as well as Blackberry PDAs including the Curve, Storm and Bold models. It will also power up Sony PSP, Nintendo DS and Nintendo DS Lite consoles.

IMaxPower is offering free shipping for the IMP500 for all US orders over $40 for the holiday season. Repeat customers can expect a free gift as well. And because it is online, you can do your holiday shopping from the comfort of your home with no long holiday queues! And even better, IMaxPower is giving an additional 25% discount on Black Friday itself, November 27! So mosey on to www.imaxpower.com to get the best Christmas gift you can give.

Listening to the radio on your iPhone may not seem like a big deal. Many phones already have this function, and it isn’t normally featured as a big battery drain. However, with the amount of flak that the iPhone battery is getting from users, every little thing that the iPhone does comes in for its share of careful scrutiny.

There are many applications for stream Internet radio that are compatible for IPhones. Most people choose the application that will give them good streaming quality and hopefully not too many commercials to ruin the listening experience, but now considerations of battery consumption also come into play.

Streaming Internet radio applications are different from public radio stations in that they allow users to create a sort of private radio station that features specific music genres and/or artists. This makes it especially appealing for IPhone users who like to play music in the background while they are doing other things, whether on their iPhone or not. There is nothing more distracting than music that irritates or annoys you coming on in the middle of an especially crucial part of what you are working on. It is distracting and, well, annoying.

One of the more popular applications today for streaming Internet radio is Pandora, which can be purchased via iTunes and is currently free of advertisements. The quality of the music is said to be very good, with no static or skipping whether over the 3G network or WiFi.  However, there is a growing concern that Pandora uses quite a bit of juice, especially when accessed over 3G. Reports suggest that accessing radio streams over the WiFi provides lower battery consumption. No benchmark is yet available for actual consumption of the Pandora application.

Another popular application is ooTunes, which can access selections made over other applications such as Pandora. It supports formats in mp3, AAC and WMA, among others. In WiFi, It consumes about 0.17% of your battery per minute of listening to the radio when in mp3 format. In AAC, it consumes 0.148% per minute.

Pocket Tunes uses a whopping 0.3% per minute for mp3 format and a better 0.14% per minute for AAC. Wunder Radio, on the other hand, uses only 0.2% per minute for mp3 but 0.35% for AAC format! So this means that playing on AAC format is not always better. However, it seems to be widely accepted that streaming over the WiFi is definitely less battery consuming than over 3G. More bad news for 3G fans.

On average, using the best possible combination of media format and delivery system, these statistics mean that if you listen to your radio continuously with no other application active, you will zero out your iPhone battery from full charge in about 11 hours and 15 minutes. No big deal, right? Sure, if you only use your IPhone as a radio. But if you do your research and have a clear idea of what your priorities are in choosing the applications you have running, listening to the radio should not become a matter of life or death, at least for your battery.

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