!! CAUTION !! Do not use MAGNETIC case

[rj5620]

I bought my iphone Friday at the (LAS) local Apple store, and Saturday morning began to use it. At first it was working OK, but my reception in my home was poor. My Motorola Q was much better in this regard, but I hoped it might get better. That day, I played with my new toy and noted that the speaker stopped working and other unusual things started to happen. If I went to utube, it would say "can not play this video...delete or Keep?" If I tried to play a song in ipod, the slider would move as the song played, but no sound from the speakers. If I put the earbuds in, utube would now play and I could hear the key clicks, the ipod songs and all sounds. What is going on here! My phone began to say "No Service" and If I did a reset, I would get a few bars, but it would not search for a signal if it went again into the No Service mode. I took it back to the Apple store and got another iPhone. Next day the exact, I mean the exact same symptoms began again. I thought that I had given my iPhone a virus or something. I spent hours and hours on the phone with Apple and ATT. I went to the ATT store and got a second sim card, still no help. I took this phone back and now I have a phone that works. I realized last night that there had to be something unique to me, my house, my car or something that is causing this dilemma. I thought that it might be the magnet in my case flap since the speakers were the first to go, as most speakers are some sort of magnet. So I did not use my case on the new phone and it seems to work OK. This could be a major coincidence, but I doubt it. So I recommend you do NOT get a case with any magnets in it. Funny thing is that I bought my case form "Everything Q" store for my Motorola Q and it never caused any problems!

http://store.everythingq.com/content/accessories/4-120--245.htm

[Alexander]

Thanks for the tip. No magnets for me.

[spacerog]

This could be a major coincidence[/URL]

Yes, it is. Sounds like you got a bum iPhone. Out of a million units there are bound to be a few duds, sounds like you where unlucky enough to get one of them. Unless the your case used an abnormally strong magnet it is unlikely that it had any effect on the iPhone at all.

- SR

[wjp09]

well look what happens when you put a magnet up to a monior

[JnC]

well look what happens when you put a magnet up to a monior

You can't apply basic EM field theory to every situation. Particularly since the iPhone doesn't use an electron gun. :tounge:

I think we need more data from owners with magnetic clasps before we jump to any conclusions.

[SPCartmanLand]

hope this isnt true cause i ordered a case a few days ago that has a magnetic close on it ive used them with many other pda's and never had problems so

http://images.andale.com/f2/121/117/25176246/2006/9/17/slim_black.jpg

[robhon]

I actually got information from Apple about this very issue. I don't think the magnet is causing what you're describing. Apple conveyed to me that a magnet located near the bottom of the phone (near the mic and speaker) could interfere with reception (as in receiving a call). There's no way it could affect those parts in any permanent way that you are describing.

Also, magnets do NOT affect flash memory in any way. Magnets should NOT be used on cases for hard drive style iPods because it CAN affect the data on those drives, but not the other hardware components.

[dsuppa]

Ive been using a case with a magnet on it since I got the phone the other day and I have not noticed any problems yet with it yet *knocks on wood*.

[IceTrAiN]

I wouldn't completely rule it out. Magnets near a cellphone are just bad ideas all around, and I would never do it. I had a nametag that was magnetic and I put in the same pocket as my cellphone and I erased all my contacts on my sim card.. Granted it was a very strong magnet and probably not nearly as strong as the kinds on cases, but still.. From that point on I started saving them on the phone... hehe

[robhon]

I had a nametag that was magnetic and I put in the same pocket as my cellphone and I erased all my contacts on my sim card..

I'm sorry but that's not possible. A sim card does not use magnetic storage. Something else happened to your sim card.

You have to understand, mechanical hard drives store data by writing little 1's and 0's on a magnetic platter (disk). If you rub another magnetic field up against those platters it will jumble up all those 1's and 0's. That doesn't happen with flash drives or data on a chip like your SIM chip.

[IceTrAiN]

I'm sorry but that's not possible. A sim card does not use magnetic storage. Something else happened to your sim card.

You have to understand, mechanical hard drives store data by writing little 1's and 0's on a magnetic platter (disk). If you rub another magnetic field up against those platters it will jumble up all those 1's and 0's. That doesn't happen with flash drives or data on a chip like your SIM chip.

Obviously it didn't erase the data, otherwise I would have had to replaced the sim card because all of the other information would be lost as well and because in fact, it does not store magnetically, however a strong enough magnet can have an effect on any piece of cuircutry.

[robhon]

Obviously it didn't erase the data, otherwise I would have had to replaced the sim card because all of the other information would be lost as well and because in fact, it does not store magnetically, however a strong enough magnet can have an effect on any piece of cuircutry.

For reference:
http://msn.pcworld.com/article/id,116572-page,1/article.html

The magnet on your ID did not erase your SIM.

The magnet on your case will not affect your iPhone, except where Apple has said that it can affect the performance of the antenna near the mic/speaker. It will not damage your iPhone.

[IceTrAiN]

For reference:
http://msn.pcworld.com/article/id,116572-page,1/article.html

The magnet on your ID did not erase your SIM.

The magnet on your case will not affect your iPhone, except where Apple has said that it can affect the performance of the antenna near the mic/speaker. It will not damage your iPhone.

Apparently Sim cards are different in Canada.
http://www.cellularabroad.com/canadappsc.php

4. Carefully remove the SIM card from its holder. To prevent damage to your SIM card and its memory, do not bend, scratch or expose it to static, electricity or magnetic fields.

[420greg]

I have a magnetic case simular to the one pictured that I have been using since day one and my iPhone has not had any problems.

[mparamore]

same here. I've had a magnetic case for about 2 weeks now with no issues to the phone.

[iJohn]

Thanks for the heads up.

[patrickj]

I actually got information from Apple about this very issue.

Would you mind sharing the specific info / response you got from Apple? Or providing a link to where they speak directly to this subject?

I've spoken to a case manufacturer (just a,little so far) about this, and they don't seem 100% confident. They say their testing has shown no harmful effects, but I don't know how extensive their testing has been.

[rj5620]

I have this leather case and it ruined 3 iphones.

http://store.everythingq.com/content/accessories/4-120--245.htm

[Weaslespoon]

I have this leather case and it ruined 3 iphones.

http://store.everythingq.com/content/accessories/4-120--245.htm


I used the same case and after a few days the iPhone would no longer pick up a signal until I sent it to Apple for a repair. I will just assume that the case is the common factor that caused it. I mean i have the exact same case.

[tenashus]

I have the SENA case with the flip cover, w/ magnet and never had any problems whatsoever.

I did get a brand new replacement last weekend because the connector went bad, but not because of the case.

[Griffinaz]

It is possible that the case you mentioned was designed for a different phone and somehow causes a problem with the iPhone but I have used magnetic cases with my cell phones for many many many many years, to include all my Verizon phones, LG phones, iPhone, even my PDA's and PocketPC devices and none of the cases that are actually designed for those devices caused any problems what so ever. I have several cases for different devices made by Sena Cases and they are all magnetic cases. I got my iPhone back in October of last year and have used a leather magnetic closing case with it and never had any issues at all. I suspect that you either got phones from a bad batch (unlikely with the number of phones that you have had with the problems) or the case you have is fine for a Motorola phone but due to the overstrength battery is not designed to work safely with the iPhone. If you get a case designed for the iPhone with a magnetic closure you will probably find that you will have no problems with it at all. I would avoid that specific case and throw it away as that particular case could be dangerous.

[quandmeme]

I couldn't stand a velcro case. It'll _have_ to be magnetic. Glad I read this post. I'll have to look into this with care!

[equlizer]

Ive been using a magnetic case for years now with many different phones and ive had ZERO problems (so far) but im sure i would have seen some within the month ive owned the iphone 3g.

[Ramesh]

I couldn't stand a velcro case. It'll _have_ to be magnetic. Glad I read this post. I'll have to look into this with care!
Did you actually read the thread? Magnetic cases do NOTHING to iPhone.

[leaken]

wrong too big magnet will affect iphone,i went thru 2 iphones before i realized it was my case.went to different case with smaller magnetic clasp,no more weidout of iphone

[iksn]

I've had two different Griffin Elan Holsters, and they have both broke in one way or the other. The Apple store I bought it from has no problem replacing them, but that is getting slightly old. I tried my old Blackberry Curve OEM leather case with a small magnetic flap, and so far, it works Great!!
As I have looked through this thread, I think it all leans towards the magnet being Not a problem, but I never saw an actual link to what Apple Really said about the subject.
Any updates from anybody on any Official info?????

[rmfnla]

Apparently Sim cards are different in Canada.
http://www.cellularabroad.com/canadappsc.php

4. Carefully remove the SIM card from its holder. To prevent damage to your SIM card and its memory, do not bend, scratch or expose it to static, electricity or magnetic fields.


Don't you recognize lawyer-speak when you see it?

[captaincore]

absolutely no magnetic case.