iPhone damage when used while riding

[ChrisInPA]

I recently read this article about potential damage to iPhones when used on motorcycles. Hopefully, no one has had a problem but I hope this helps prevent any.

https://www.pcmag.com/news/apple-vibrat ... dium=title

Apple has warned iPhone users that prolonged exposure to certain vibrations can affect the performance of the device's camera by interfering with several of its most sensitive components.

MacRumors spotted the company's disclosure of this problem in a support article published on Sept. 10. Apple says that the vibrations can affect two specific aspects of the iPhone's camera system: optical image stabilization (OIS) and closed-loop autofocus (AF).

OIS adjusts the camera lens in response to movement to capture the clearest possible image even if the device isn't being held perfectly still. Closed-loop AF, meanwhile, is said to "preserve sharp focus in stills, videos, and panoramas." Both features are key to iPhone photography.

Apple said that OIS relies on the iPhone's gyroscope to determine how the camera's lens needs to be adjusted; closed-loop AF uses magnetic sensors to "measure gravity and vibration effects and determine the lens position so that the compensating motion can be set accurately."

"The OIS and closed-loop AF systems in iPhone are designed for durability," Apple said. "However, as is the case with many consumer electronics that include systems like OIS, long-term direct exposure to high-amplitude vibrations within certain frequency ranges may degrade the performance of these systems and lead to reduced image quality for photos and videos. It is recommended to avoid exposing your iPhone to extended high-amplitude vibrations."

[Golfr]

Thanx for the head's up.

[kwthom]

This issue has been around for a few years...and effects iPhone 6 and up - and many, many other brands of phones from the last few years.

Any device that has a high-end camera can have this issue.

My roll-your-own solution: https://kwthom.blogspot.com/2021/06/cel ... mount.html

[WingAdmin]

Instead I just bought a used phone off eBay a couple of years ago, and its sole purpose in life is to sit, mounted on my motorcycle handlebars. I don't care if the camera gets damaged, because I never use the camera. It runs Android Auto, shows maps, plays music, and not much else.

My phone

[ChrisInPA]

Interesting idea but how does that work… I assume you still need some sort of data plan with a carrier. Correct? If so how much data do you use?

[WingAdmin]

Interesting idea but how does that work… I assume you still need some sort of data plan with a carrier. Correct? If so how much data do you use?

Yes, I just added it on to our family plan with T-Mobile. As such, it only costs an extra $20/month, and gets all the unlimited everything (calls, data, etc) worldwide that our plan offers.

THAT said, I use Google Maps, and download all the map data locally ahead of time (you can do that with Google Maps), so technically, even if I turned the data off (or the phone wasn't actually activated), it would still work - it just wouldn't pick up the live data from the Internet.

That, incidentally, is one of my favorite features - the thing watches where traffic is, in real-time, and routes you around any construction or traffic jams, without you having to do anything.

[Rambozo]

Google Fi lets you add data only cards to your plan with no extra monthly charges and the data use just gets rolled into your plan. I have them in quite a few devices that don't get heavy use, but nice to have when out of WiFi range.

It seems that sometime ago they have added a 4 extra data card limit. I guess I was grandfathered in with more than that.

[tamathumper]

I have a WiFi hotspot on my primary phone and unlimited data, so I'd just connect the two that way, and Bob's Yer Uncle.

[BiKenG]

First of all, it’s worth re-iterating that this potential problem is not limited to iPhones and any modern mobile phone with fancy image stabilising cameras is susceptible to vibration damage. Apple are just the first manufacturer to mention this.

Secondly, their announcement was totally vague with regard to what causes the damage, with mention of “high powered motorcycles” which in itself is worrying that they made such an irrelevant connection to ‘power’ as that has nothing to do with vibration. The statement below uses the term “high amplitude” vibration and indeed the picture in the original announcement was of an H-D. The inference being that big lumpy bikes that shake a lot are the worst offenders.

Without more real information on what causes the problem though, we really don’t know. However, I would suggest that as the smoothest bike it has ever been possible to buy, the Gold Wing is the LEAST likely bike to cause such an issue.

Seems to me they need to look into this and provide better info on what causes the problem and hence which bikes are more or less likely to cause it. Indeed, what about the chronic state of road surfaces here in the U.K. and what might that do to such fragile phones mounted in a car?

[klook]

I use the hotspot on my Galaxy 10 and mount a Tab4 with a nice big screen. It is obsolete but does everything I need. Of course, until I read this I also had my phone mounted on the other side......Will have to look at alternatives for the phone.

[sr71cbx]

I have no need to worry about a "smart" phone which is the size of a license plate and does every function from A to Z......I use a "dumb"(flip)phone that fits nicely in my shirt pocket and is not subject to damage by vibration. One could throw this phone against a wall and not hurt it, and it costs me $27 a month for unlimited calls/text messages. My wife and son use "smart" phones that cost $165 a month for both items, so you can see why I made the choice that I did.
I tell people to just call me, that's what a phone is for. My laptop suffices quite nicely for a computer and fits nicely in my tail trunk in its padded carrying case.
I have no use for a "smart" phone. Should flip phones be done away with, then I will just go back to no cellphone, did just fine without one for the first 45 years of my life.
Just my $0.02, you all have a great day and keep the rubber side down!
---------Mark

[BiKenG]

I have no need to worry about a "smart" phone which is the size of a license plate and does every function from A to Z......I use a "dumb"(flip)phone that fits nicely in my shirt pocket and is not subject to damage by vibration. One could throw this phone against a wall and not hurt it, and it costs me $27 a month for unlimited calls/text messages. My wife and son use "smart" phones that cost $165 a month for both items, so you can see why I made the choice that I did.
I tell people to just call me, that's what a phone is for. My laptop suffices quite nicely for a computer and fits nicely in my tail trunk in its padded carrying case.
I have no use for a "smart" phone. Should flip phones be done away with, then I will just go back to no cellphone, did just fine without one for the first 45 years of my life.
Just my $0.02, you all have a great day and keep the rubber side down!
---------Mark

I spent the first 40 years of my motorcycling life with paper maps stuck to the petrol tank in order to figure out where I was going (on longer trips, e.g. around Europe). Now I run a Sat Nav app on my iPhone. Would I EVER consider going back to paper maps? No chance whatsoever. Anyone who wishes to stick with sticky tape and soggy paper is welcome to it.

I hardly ever make telephone calls and I NEVER use social media (like FaceBook etc.), but I NEVER want to be without my iPhone. It's my connection to the entire world's store of knowledge - in the palm of my hand. An absolute godsend when out and about, away from home on e.g. a motorcycle.

A further point about mobile phones. Being a 'Smart' phone does not mean huge and with a fragile camera. I prefer to use smaller iPhones (that fit easily in my pocket) and my current one has no image stabilisation so doesn't suffer from this vibration problem.

However, neither do paper maps, but they certainly did suffer from many more problems and were pretty much one-time use as after a single trip they were too beaten-up to use again. YMMV.

[DenverWinger]

When traveling I carry a big US Road Atlas (yup- a paper map) in the right saddlebag along with the bike cover and rain gear. Use that and the Laptop to plan the next day's travel. I use the iPhone for local map detail where needed. My iPhone is in an Otterbox case on my hip hanging onto my belt, it stays there, no handlebar mount for it.

On our cross-country trip this summer I made a wrong turn and got off the intended route of US 45 thru Champaign IL, we soon realized we were no longer on US45. That was quickly corrected by pulling over and referring to Maps on the phone. It was also useful for navigating downtown St Louis MO trying to find where to park a bike with trailer to go see the Gateway Arch, and also the best way to get back onto the Interstate. You will never find that level of detail on a paper map.

A couple weeks ago I picked up a Bluetooth receiver which can be connected to the Aux input on the bike stereo. Don't expect to use it much, but it will be useful in getting step-by-step voice NAV directions thru the bike stereo speakers if we are trying to get to a particular place in an unfamiliar city. Phone can stay safely hanging onto my belt. Also be useful for streaming iHeart Radio stations thru the bike stereo If I get tired of the MP3 Player. I believe the iPhone 11 still has headphone output thru the Lightning charge jack, I have an adapter for this which worked on iPhone 7s, haven't tried it on the 11, but this Bluetooth solution is wireless and much cleaner.

[sr71cbx]

Each to their own, what I use/do works for me.

[Fatboy46]

1- a mount that isolates the phone from the vibrations. 2- put the phone in your pocket and LISTEN to the music/directions via head set. 3- do what the Admin does- cheap phone for music/GPS

[autonoob]

I always have my spare phone for GPS when driving.

[DarthJ]

I just got a new phone and as it no longer has a headphone jack ( ) my plug in modulator is now basically useless. I'll have to find a Bluetooth adapter to be able to have the sound come through the speakers while the phone stays in my jacket pocket.