This isn’t something we’ve seen on any Apple device before (update: see foot of post) but we’ve spotted reports that show if you’re iPad gets just a little too hot, the device will go into what we call “cool down mode” in which case you won’t be able to use it.
So lets say you’re out in the sun and the iPad soaks some of that sunlight in, the device will switch to the screen you see on the right and you’ll be left with a notification “iPad needs to cool down before you can use it”.
There goes fun days at the beach with Apple’s new pride and joy.
We’re seeking out more details, but any more information you can provide, please leave in the comments. Anyone else come across this yet?Update:
For one Apple user this happened four times (remember this is in one day).
He says “I’m not too worried though. It is Rev-A hardware and it’s pretty damn hot in Texas ;)”
When asked how long he was using it before it switched into cool down mode, he responded “A little over an hour the first time. Then I let it sit for a minute or two, then it happened again maybe 30 mins later.”
Update 2:
As mentioned in a comment below, this is reportedly a feature of the iPhone as well although it is definitely not an issue we’ve come across before.
Update 3:
Scanning Apple’s specs reveals ideal:
Operating temperature: 32° to 95° F (0° to 35° C)
Nonoperating temperature: -4° to 113° F (-20° to 45° C)
One of the reported complaints came out of Texas which you can imaging being pretty darn hot but above 35° C? Not according to weather reports.
just trow the damm thing in a fridge
and if your on the nice Californian summer day, remember to get your mini ice box with you
simple
It's been seen on the iPhone as noted in this tech note from Apple: http://support.apple.com/kb/ht2101
Apple Uses Unlicensed Photo for iPad Wallpaper
“The funny thing is that I don't even have a contract with them yet,” says Richard Misrach
By Filip Truta, Apple News Editor
February 10th, 2010, 15:59 GMT
http://news.softpedia.com/newsImage/Apple-Uses-…
http://news.softpedia.com/images/news2/Apple-Us…
http://iapple.spacequadrat.de/iPadAGV.png
http://www.tuaw.com/2010/04/03/the-story-behind…
thanks updated
If the iPad was in the sun, I can see the temperature possibly getting to the upper limit of the operational range.
I live in Cambodia and it's been over 40C many days already and I've never seen that error message on it. I let my students play PacMan on it, and it's getting continual use at temperatures above 35C everday for months now.
iPad is primarily targeting the Bay Area & NYC, so, 35 degrees should be fine, I guess.
uh, wasn't there a thing with ibooks running so hot that some people sued apple for burns on their thighs?
i got the temp warning today — sitting in a park in Brooklyn, NY. it was pretty warm outside & sun was beating down, but nothing out of the ordinary. Certainly not a hot summer day.
actually this happened to my iphone after I had left it in my car for a few hours and I started using it.. I hope the ipad doesn't do this all the time.
a
Hey “writer”:
It's “your Ipad” not “you're”
Jeez
Devices heat up while being used, the CPU produces a lot of heat, and that heat has to be vented. Of course if the location is hot itself, the unit will heat up faster, but often it has little to do with surrounding temperatures. So if the iPad is not designed to get rid of the heat that it is generating then that will be a problem.
Venting only works when the surrounding has a lower temp than the device. If it is a active system it will suck in warmer air than the device temp and therefore warming the device.
Venting is fully based on the temperature of the surrounding.
Furthermore when you use a device in direct sunlight the sun is adding energy to the device. Meaning that the device is capable of becoming warmer than the internal system could let it be.
It sounds like the Ipad has been made to vent only system caused heating. It has no / little extra venting capabilities for excess warmth like sunlight.
Or possibly the heat sensor is in a place where it, under direct sunlight, will reach a higher temp than the Ipad core.
Alternatively, erm, don't bother and buy a netbook for 1/4 the price that – shock horror! – allows multitasking.
iPad? idon't iunderstand iit. At all.
Yes, I had this happen on my iPhone last year when I had it in a dock outside for an extended period of time. Here's the screenshot I took of it on flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/circler/3901797380/
At 36 degrees Celsius today is the hottest temp ever recorded in my place.. Which means if I have an iPad, I can't use it right now… :-(
well i hope people in arizona and texas and southern california dont get too attached to their iPads as they'll be useless in about two months or less. i know in arizona in some places it doesnt even get below 35c at night.
all you proud ipad owners, prepare for an interesting summer if you want to take your new toy outside an air-conditioned house.
As a huge Mac fan, I anxiously awaited the 3G because I already had my iPhone, iPods, Mac desktop and apple tv. I bought the iPad primarily to use in my yard, otherwise,I would just use the Mac desktop inside the house.
After only three days of use, I am so majorly disappointed in my ability to use the iPad outdoors. It shuts down outdoors after 15-30 minutes of use with a Temperature shut off screen. I was using it in the shade, so I could see the screen and to keep it out of the direct sun. It was in the mid 70′s outdoors with a breeze each time it shut down. It is a fabulous device that I want to use outdoors, but can’t, so what is the point? Please, please, please will the powers that be at Apple address this! Also, not only does it shut down, but it does so without warning and doesn’t save any of your work.
PS…..where is the clock? I really miss it.
Every time I go outside in California, even in the car, I get the “must cool down”. What a waste of $$$$$
I use my iPad outside all the time and have only seen this once after leaving it in my black car on a 94 degree day for an hour. Get a life people, ipads are not evil.
It happened to me, in Gotheburg Sweden on a sunny spring morning. (No icebears around) To me it seems like the screen with it’s black rim heats up the interior. If you turn the screen away from direct sunlight you could probably use it much longer before it shuts down.
ipad got so many problems,but still can’t stop people buying.
Why?
I guess just outlooking attract many,and some Personalize setting make you more comfortable.
Specially,it never similar with any others,so if you are conditioned to use Apple stuff,you are in.
I got the same screen today. It was 32deg and very sunny. I needed my ipad so I improvised. Get a towel make it wet and use it to cool down the back of the device, it gets cooler instantly. Another thing is to avoid any protective casing which can act as a thermal isolator.
I could definitely see this happening in TX. Fortunately this year summer isn’t as incredibly hot as the past few years, but getting into the mid nineties is not that uncommon. Add in direct sunlight to the equation and you’ve got an iPad shutting down to keep it from overheating. Hmph.
Heck, Colorado even has had a hundred-degree day or two recently. So you have the possibility of exceeding the temperature spec on both ends of the spectrum in that region, though it’d more likely be in the sub-32 way than the above-95 one. Though at least on cold days you can just start playing an HD movie to heat the thing up :p
Anybody hear about that?
iphone 4 is jailbreak.
Then ipad is the next.
Jailbreak is necessary, we all love that.
I’ve had mine since it was released. I’ve read it outside, at the pool, in the yard…I live in Georgia. It’s been in the 90′s since July. My iPad hasn’t turned off once, never overheated, nada!!! Sorry others have but I have no complaints. Of note, I have kept it in the apple sleeve. Maybe that has made a difference. I certainly haven’t burnt my thighs. That’s bizarre!! If you touch something hot, typically you jerk away to prevent a burn. Interesting!!
Yea, I read about another instance of this problem. I had the problem when I left my ipad in the car, and I just read another article about a guy who had a similar problem. The ipad was in the case and not in direct sunlight, but it still overheated after a couple hours.
Here is another article about a guy who left his ipad in the car during the day.
http://hubpages.com/hub/Why-You-Shouldnt-Leave-Your-iPad-in-the-Sun
http://www.banknet.biz/