Apple Says Motorcycle Vibrations Can Damage IPhone Cameras (engadget.com) 132
Long-time Slashdot reader fahrbot-bot quotes Engadget:
Hold off on purchasing that iPhone mount for your motorbike.
In a new Apple Support post first seen by MacRumors, the tech giant has warned that high amplitude vibrations, "specifically those generated by high-power motorcycle engines" transmitted through handlebars, can damage its phones' cameras.
As the publication notes, that damage can be permanent. A simple Google search will surface posts over the past few years by users whose cameras were ruined after they mounted their iPhone on their bike, mostly so they can use it for navigation.
MacRumors summarizes another Apple recommendation: for slower vehicles like mopeds and scooters "at least use a vibration-dampening mount to minimize the chances of any damage."
Engadget's suggestion? "Just use another GPS device to make sure you don't ruin a device that costs hundreds to over a thousand dollars."
In a new Apple Support post first seen by MacRumors, the tech giant has warned that high amplitude vibrations, "specifically those generated by high-power motorcycle engines" transmitted through handlebars, can damage its phones' cameras.
As the publication notes, that damage can be permanent. A simple Google search will surface posts over the past few years by users whose cameras were ruined after they mounted their iPhone on their bike, mostly so they can use it for navigation.
MacRumors summarizes another Apple recommendation: for slower vehicles like mopeds and scooters "at least use a vibration-dampening mount to minimize the chances of any damage."
Engadget's suggestion? "Just use another GPS device to make sure you don't ruin a device that costs hundreds to over a thousand dollars."
And wearing mini skirts (Score:5, Funny)
Re: (Score:3)
Re: And wearing mini skirts (Score:2)
So he knows the right way to ride it?
Re: (Score:2)
mostly so they can use it for navigation
Uh, huh, right. This is an iToy, most of their users couldn't find the corner grocery unless Siri was whispering in their ear. It's mounted there so that they can maintain their Facetime addiction.
easier solution (Score:2, Funny)
Re: (Score:1)
use something other than Apple? I am sure apples response will be "It's not a fault, you're riding the wrong bike"
"You're mounting it wrong."
—Apple
Re:easier solution (Score:5, Insightful)
use something other than Apple? I am sure apples response will be "It's not a fault, you're riding the wrong bike"
"You're mounting it wrong."
—Apple
This affects any phone that has optical image stabilisation due to the delicate nature of the servos, gyroscopes and magnetic sensors used in these stabilisation mechanisms. Having Android installed won't change the fact that subjecting tiny electro mechanical components and lenses to high amplitude vibrations for long periods of time is not a good idea.
Re: (Score:1)
Re: (Score:2)
Fundamentally MEMS sensors are a pair of plates with piece of material suspended between them, they are not "basically solid material"
Yep, that's a solid state device. No axles, no bearings, no lubricants, etc. Operation by means of elastic deformation, which is a part of mechanics. If this gets damaged by moderate vibrations, it was probably a manufacturing mistake. I mean, we're talking about components that are supposed to survive a five-digit g force.
Re: (Score:2)
You do know that there's probably a stated tolerance for vibration on the sensor spec, right? And that some motorcycles based on suspension, tire size, wheel balance, engine size, road surface, etc. can cause vibrations that exceed that spec?
So why, in your view, would that mean there is manufacturing mistake when the sensor could be manufactured to the specification, but that specification doesn't exceed the vibration levels that can be produced by a motorcycle?
Re: (Score:2)
It's a solid state mechanical device. Keyword, mechanical. The only difference between a traditional gyro sensor and a MEMS gyro is the scale of the bits and bobs that move. In a MEMS sen
Re: (Score:2)
because they are a mechanical device they are indeed susceptible to damage from vibration.
That's a qualitative statement, not a quantitative one. And not a very useful one. "Put enough force on X and X will get destroyed, for any value of X". Well, duh.
Just because they can survive a particular level of acceleration doesn't mean they are not suscpetible to damage from vibration
The same objection. Qualitative statements are useless. How does the spectral density of a motorbike vibration look like? From what I understand, it peaks around 60 Hz and shouldn't exceed 10 g at the handlebars in the worst case. Would you expect for example components able to measure up to 100g to not be able to survive 10g?
that is precisely why particularly in aerospace applications we use vibration isolation to prevent sensors from being subjected to loads outside their operating specifications
I imagine there's a n
Re: (Score:2)
It would depend on the frequency, duration, and magnitude of the vibration. If the piezoelectric positioning system on the lens was designed for short-term compensation when in a hand held environment, the constant vibration of a motorcycle handlebar mount might put years of wear and tear on the system in just a few months. Imagine putting a camera stabilization platform on a paint-can shaker for two months a
Re: (Score:2)
It would depend on the frequency, duration, and magnitude of the vibration. If the piezoelectric positioning system on the lens was designed for short-term compensation when in a hand held environment, the constant vibration of a motorcycle handlebar mount might put years of wear and tear on the system in just a few months. Imagine putting a camera stabilization platform on a paint-can shaker for two months and see if it can withstand that torture test.
--
Well, according to K. S. Kyosuke, it would stand up to that torture test indefinitely right up until the moment you put an Apple sticker on it at which point it wold instantly disintegrate into its constituent parts.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
It would depend on the frequency, duration, and magnitude of the vibration.
Sure, say the frequency is ~60Hz, the maximum acceleration you can expect without dampening in the worst possible case is ~10g, in practice apparently much less (as sustained exposure to the rider over the 8h reference period is dictated to manufacturers by health limits to much less than 1g).
Imagine putting a camera stabilization platform on a paint-can shaker
But I'm not talking about "a camera stabilization platform on a paint-can shaker". I'm talking purely and solely about a monolithic device expressly designed to measure vibrations to withstand those vibrations. Not sur
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Hold on a second, you said: If MEMS gyroscopes or magnetic sensors get damaged, there seems to be something wrong with them.
The context here is the vibrations of a motorcycle. Not an impact into an asteroid or anything like that.
Vibration and acceleration are not the same thing, just like combustion and acceleration are not the same thing
That's an equivocation of differences. Combustion and acceleration are different physical processes, vibration and acceleration are not.
so would you expect a component able to measure up to 100g to be able to survive at 10g if it were on fire?
The accelerometer here is not on fire, so I fail the see the relevance of extreme temperatures. Assume normal temperature here.
Re: (Score:3)
use something other than Apple? I am sure apples response will be "It's not a fault, you're riding the wrong bike"
"You're mounting it wrong."
—Apple
This affects any phone that has optical image stabilisation due to the delicate nature of the servos, gyroscopes and magnetic sensors used in these stabilisation mechanisms. Having Android installed won't change the fact that subjecting tiny electro mechanical components and lenses to high amplitude vibrations for long periods of time is not a good idea.
Sure. I realize they all have the same problem, but at some point, somebody had to say, "This works well enough," and if it's that sensitive, I'd argue that it doesn't, in fact, work well enough, at least if your camera module isn't easily replaceable. I would argue that doing optical stabilization in something that small still doesn't make sense, given the current level of hardware.
There is another solution, though: Build sensors with 20% larger area with a usable readout speed and a global electronic sh
Re:easier solution (Score:5, Insightful)
Sure. I realize they all have the same problem, but at some point, somebody had to say, "This works well enough," and if it's that sensitive, I'd argue that it doesn't, in fact, work well enough, at least if your camera module isn't easily replaceable. I would argue that doing optical stabilization in something that small still doesn't make sense, given the current level of hardware.
Wait, are you saying that things that won't work on a motorcycle shouldn't be allowed to exist? I have motorcycle and that seems like a pretty extreme position to me. I'm perfectly fine with allowing the existence and invention of things that can't be mounted to a motorcycle. In fact, I own lots of things that I would never consider mounting to my motorcycle. I don't own one of these OIS phones, but I don't think their existence should be prohibited just because they shouldn't be mounted to my bike.
I find it very weird when I read posts from people claiming that some technology shouldn't be allowed to exist.
Re: (Score:1)
Sure. I realize they all have the same problem, but at some point, somebody had to say, "This works well enough," and if it's that sensitive, I'd argue that it doesn't, in fact, work well enough, at least if your camera module isn't easily replaceable. I would argue that doing optical stabilization in something that small still doesn't make sense, given the current level of hardware.
Wait, are you saying that things that won't work on a motorcycle shouldn't be allowed to exist?
No, not at all. If a product flies apart under the stress of being mounted to a motorcycle, it's also going to fail on a motorboat, when it gets dropped, when someone with Parkinson's tries to hold it too close to a table, and under a frightening number of other circumstances, like being in your pants pocket for a few years. This isn't a sympathetic vibration issue. A motorcycle's shaking is at way too low a frequency for anything shorter than tens of feet to naturally oscillate. This is basically just failing because of shaking it too much, and those sorts of failures tend to be canaries for bigger problems.
Re: (Score:2)
Whoops. Missed an end quote tag there. Sorry about that.
Re: (Score:3)
Sure. I realize they all have the same problem, but at some point, somebody had to say, "This works well enough," and if it's that sensitive, I'd argue that it doesn't, in fact, work well enough, at least if your camera module isn't easily replaceable. I would argue that doing optical stabilization in something that small still doesn't make sense, given the current level of hardware.
Wait, are you saying that things that won't work on a motorcycle shouldn't be allowed to exist?
No, not at all. If a product flies apart under the stress of being mounted to a motorcycle, it's also going to fail on a motorboat, when it gets dropped, when someone with Parkinson's tries to hold it too close to a table, and under a frightening number of other circumstances, like being in your pants pocket for a few years. This isn't a sympathetic vibration issue. A motorcycle's shaking is at way too low a frequency for anything shorter than tens of feet to naturally oscillate. This is basically just failing because of shaking it too much, and those sorts of failures tend to be canaries for bigger problems.
You are still arguing that these things break down because: 'Apple', as if putting an Apple logo on something will cause it to be instantly possessed by a minion of Lucifer himself and then break down. Apple does not design these stabilisation mechanism they source them from somebody else. The exact same technology is used in millions of Android phones, consumer grade cameras and other devices and is subject to the same limitations. If you put delicate electromechanical components on a powerful motorbike an
Re: (Score:2)
Sure. I realize they all have the same problem, but at some point, somebody had to say, "This works well enough," and if it's that sensitive, I'd argue that it doesn't, in fact, work well enough, at least if your camera module isn't easily replaceable. I would argue that doing optical stabilization in something that small still doesn't make sense, given the current level of hardware.
Wait, are you saying that things that won't work on a motorcycle shouldn't be allowed to exist?
No, not at all. If a product flies apart under the stress of being mounted to a motorcycle, it's also going to fail on a motorboat, when it gets dropped, when someone with Parkinson's tries to hold it too close to a table, and under a frightening number of other circumstances, like being in your pants pocket for a few years. This isn't a sympathetic vibration issue. A motorcycle's shaking is at way too low a frequency for anything shorter than tens of feet to naturally oscillate. This is basically just failing because of shaking it too much, and those sorts of failures tend to be canaries for bigger problems.
You are still arguing that these things break down because: 'Apple', as if putting an Apple logo on something will cause it to be instantly possessed by a minion of Lucifer himself and then break down.
No, I'm really not saying that. You're reading into it what you want to hear.
Apple does not design these stabilisation mechanism they source them from somebody else. The exact same technology is used in millions of Android phones, consumer grade cameras and other devices and is subject to the same limitations.
I don't disagree with you. But what I think you're missing is the Apple effect. When Apple decides that a technology is mature enough to adopt, the industry follows. If Apple decides that the technology isn't ready, the industry is wary. How many of those companies decided to put that technology into their products because Apple did?
If you put delicate electromechanical components on a powerful motorbike and subject it to continuous high amplitude vibrations you are basically putting years of wear and tear on the device in a matter of weeks or even less depending on how much you use your motorcycle and how ridiculously overpowered its engine is.
I'm not arguing that this isn't true. I'm arguing that putting delicate electromechanical comp
Re: (Score:2)
as if putting an Apple logo on something will cause it to be instantly possessed by a minion of Lucifer himself and then break down.
How is that a downside? I’d actually pay good money to see that...
Re: (Score:2)
Wait, are you saying that things that won't work on a motorcycle shouldn't be allowed to exist?
I think a lot of people just want things that have usage specs that allow for more than "silicon valley temperatures" and "Tesla on California freeway" level vibrations.
This kind of consumer product should have the expectation that it works for most people, most of the time. Otherwise it is a shitty product. Corporations should perhaps be allowed to sell shitty products, but we kind of wish they didn't.
Re: (Score:2)
> Build sensors with 20% larger area with a usable readout speed and a global electronic shutter, then shoot at 1000 fps and motion-compensate the subframes using machine learning combined with gyro data and the image data, then sum the values to get the noise floor down to something usable.
That's pretty much what smartphone cameras have already been doing for years. Computational burst photography has been here for quite a while, albeit with the concept leaning less on gyro data and more on interpretati
Re: (Score:3)
> Build sensors with 20% larger area with a usable readout speed and a global electronic shutter, then shoot at 1000 fps and motion-compensate the subframes using machine learning combined with gyro data and the image data, then sum the values to get the noise floor down to something usable.
That's pretty much what smartphone cameras have already been doing for years. Computational burst photography has been here for quite a while, albeit with the concept leaning less on gyro data and more on interpretation of image data.
Yes and no. Most of that burst photography has involved picking the least blurred shot (probably five years after I suggested what I suggested), but that's not the same thing as taking a few dozen (or a few hundred) really short shots, aligning them HDR-style, and summing them. The difference between those two approaches is the difference between taking four shots that last 1/8th of a second and hoping for at least one that isn't too smeared and taking 100 shots that last 1/200th of a second and hoping th
Re: (Score:2)
Err... weight. Gotta watch the typos. I'd blame my iPhone, but I was using my Mac. Then again, I have several more keys falling off now, so....
Re: (Score:2)
>"This affects any phone that has optical image stabilisation"
My same Moto Android phone with optical image stabilizers has seen many thousands of miles on my motorcycle over the last 4+ years and the camera works fine. Same with my Nexus 5 Android phone with optical image stabilizers for 5 years preceding that.
It could also be mine is mounted in the very center and not off on either bar. Or that it is a 16V inline 4. I am not saying other phones are immune and/or on all bikes, but a blanket statement
Re: (Score:2)
Why does someone always have to bring facts and reason into an irrational and completely subjective shitposting contest between haters and fanboys?
Re:easier solution (Score:5, Informative)
use something other than Apple? I am sure apples response will be "It's not a fault, you're riding the wrong bike"
It's a problem with pretty well every smart phone that has mechanical image stabilization. They don't take kindly to continual vibration, specially the type where the phone is mechanically bonded to a motorcycle. From the comments on the the Mac Rumors story, it' s a well known issue that has been around ever since there was image stabilization and it's not just related to apple products.
Re: easier solution (Score:2)
The good news? Next up is an article that lists motofcycle makes that are less prone to damaging your phone's camera. The bad news? Slashdot prints said article on April 1st, 2022.
Re: (Score:2)
ANY camera with image stabilization will have this weakness. If you hard-mount hardware that's sensitive to vibration to a machine that produces severe vibrations, it's going to get damaged. This is just common sense.
Re: (Score:2)
Hmm. No.
Other OIS cameras are not shitty Apple designs.
jacket pocket (Score:3)
I 'mount' my phone in my inside jacket pocket. Where I guess it only finds good vibrations.
If the map is that important mount one on your tank, a printed one, say in a tank bag.
Re: (Score:2)
Does this work with a Tank top ?
And Planes (Score:4, Interesting)
A few years ago, I kept my HTC in the "Magazine" Pocket in front of me on a long haul flight while I listed to podcasts.
I decided not to take a camera, as I wanted to pack light and my phone was sufficient.
I arrived in my destination country and was unable to take photos with any focus as I toured around on that device. Hours of Aeroplane buzz did it to mine. Same story, googled the problem and it was "Vibrations killed my camera"
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
this is a well known problem among ADV folks. (Score:5, Insightful)
Anyone who adventure rides knows their phones will have damaged OIS systems when mounted on a motorbike. 100+ miles of rocky dirt at 45-60mph? OIS has no chance.
I've had this happen to both my Samsung and Apple phones. It's the nature of the beast with OIS and adventure riding.
Unless the OIS systems find some way to "park" OIS when not in use, or they develop some kind of ultra-durable OIS system, I can't see how this could be avoided.
Try an arm or chest mount (Score:2)
Military suppliers (real ones, not tacticool larpshit) solved the phone problem nicely with various MOLLE and forearm mounts. I don't care to hang phone mounts off my vintage British machines (though Commandos and Tridents don't vibrate much) or Shovelheads (which of course do) so I wear Juggernaut forearm mount. The mount therefore the phone stays with me so I need not remember to dismount it when parked. For off-road I'd be more interested in a chest mount since adding compatible areas to riding gear woul
Re: (Score:2)
Anyone remember park.com ?
Anyone?
Re: (Score:2)
So, no existing smartphones can handle this? :(
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
It seems that GoPro doesn't use OIS, they use software stabilization. The original Google Pixel phone did that too, although the current model has OIS as well.
I have an original Pixel XL and the stabilization is incredible, better than OIS for hand-held shots.
Obviously ... (Score:2)
No playing Beach Boys!
Good Vibrations [youtube.com]
OK Bike, Phone, Bike, Phone? (Score:2)
Reminds me of what I told my now ex (Score:3)
"You're riding it wrong."
at least use a vibration-dampening mount (Score:1)
Yes, heaven forbid they build that kind of thing into a phone that cost a zillion bucks
A forearm mount works for me (Score:4, Interesting)
I wear a Juggernaut military forearm mount with my S9+ for convenience but it also decouples the phone from drivetrain vibration. Bonus, the phone remains with me.
Re: (Score:2)
I knew someone who wanted to make an arm-mounted phone case that resembled a Pip-Boy but he knew he'd get sued in a heartbeat. Since it would have been made of latex, it would have also been pretty good at vibration damping. He'd actually made a couple, and worn them, but decided eyeball keychains and the like were a better way to make money from the garage shop.
Quad-lock (Score:5, Informative)
This is not unique to Apple, and it's why Quad-lock developed a motorcycle mount dampener with soft rubber mounting bushes. Quad lock motorcycle mount dampener [quadlockcase.com.au]
Re: (Score:2)
That vibration insulator probably helps a bit, but they show a graph of its damping without numbers on either the frequency (x) or the g-force (y) axis. That suggests that they are not as good as they try to suggest.
Re: (Score:2)
Don't know, but it only has to be good enough not to damage it. I rode a motorcycle for quite a while before the dampener was available and didn't damage my phone. The dampener is really wobbly, and probably does a lot to help.
This is apparently a well-known problem (Score:2)
They solved this problem back in WWII (Score:2)
The old days (Score:5, Insightful)
It's an interesting and difficult to solve problem.
In the old days, slashdot was inhabited by mostly intelligent, well-read engineers that would quickly
grasp the issues of vibrations in a domain that could damage small delicate components.
Now, mostly clueless 12 year olds hang out here with nothing of value to contribute.
Re: (Score:2)
Indeed. These days, it's all about fanboys vs fanboys and no intelligent arguments from either side. Oh and by the way, both Microsoft and Sony suck! Nintendo FTW!!1
Re: (Score:2)
Indeed. These days, it's all about fanboys vs fanboys and no intelligent arguments from either side. Oh and by the way, both Microsoft and Sony suck! Nintendo FTW!!1
You spelt Micro$oft wrong. :P And the MS fanboys and haters have been on /. as long as I can remember.
Re: (Score:2)
So, Micro$oft and $ony, then?
In other words... (Score:2, Funny)
Re: (Score:2)
Damn, beat me to it :)
Honest-to-goodness cameras (Score:2)
If your dSLR or mirrorless camera has in-body image stabilization, I assume carrying it in a camera bag while you're in motion would dampen these vibrations enough to where this hopefully wouldn't be a concern. But you probably wouldn't want to just strap it on your handlebars (for many reasons - not just this one).
Re: (Score:2)
I imagine if you mounted a real camera with image stabilization the same thing would happen.
Vibration damping mounts exist. (Score:2)
There are ways to mount the phone that won't transmit (most of) the vibration, from simple rubber isolators to a basket mount like you'd do with a microphone. I can't say what setup would work best, as it would depend on the exact nature of the vibrations, but there are ways this can be made to work. Only the quick and dirty ways are being ruled out.
not surprised (Score:1)
Solution: Buy a second phone for gps (Score:2)
Bonus: If i get separated from the bike in an accident and no one's around, my phone's in my pocket. And if I want to stop to snap a pic, pulling the phone out of my pocket is much quicker than unmounting and remounting it.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Your bigotry is noted, but I'll point out that my 103cu Harley Softail has MUCH less vibration than my 650cc (40cu) Kawasaki.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: Electric motorcycle (Score:2)
Every Harley is alike like every Ford is alike. Got it.
Yep, victim here (Score:2)
Yep, my iPhone 11 worked fine on my lower RPM, more vibration-free Harley Softail than on the much higher revving Kawasaki Vulcan S (aka a chainsaw with wheels) that I got this spring. Took only a few weeks of use on the Kawasaki for the front camera to never focus lock and just seek and seek and seek. It now resides in my pocket and I use my brain as the GPS cuz I don't want to pay for another out-of-warranty repair.
Self-repairing cameras? (Score:2)
As the publication notes, that damage can be permanent.
As opposed to damage that the camera repairs itself?
This isn't New (Score:2)
Vibrations on a motorcycle will shake apart just about anything that isn't specifically designed to be there. Nothing new about that. You have to go to a lot of extra trouble to glue EVERYTHING to the circuit board or the solder will turn into powder. And really large components have to be screwed down in multiple places. Of course the older bikes are worse than the newer ones. The handlebars on my Norton Commando used visibly shake 1/4" or more when it was idling.
In case you are wondering, the inside
Re: (Score:2, Insightful)
... and don't spend $1000 on a phone. My $125 phone does 90% what an iPhone does and has easily replaceable battery, upgradable storage, and a headphone jack.
Vibrations like this are going to damage any decent phone camera so then I need to buy a separate camera, it's another thing I need to charge batteries for and carry with me. Rather just get a GPS for my bike.
Re: Or just save your money... (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Apple does not make their own camera sensors, and it's the camera sensors that apparently can be damaged.
Are you saying Apple went out of their way to make the cameras more susceptible to vibration damage in their designs? Or, perhaps we just don't have enough data from non-iPhone using motorcycle riders?
Re: (Score:2)
Sounds to me like a business opportunity for a mechanical engineer - create a handlebar mount for a phone that reduces vibration levels for the device it's carrying, while still holding it securely in a way that allows the rider to see the screen.
Re: Or just save your money... (Score:2)
Re: (Score:1)
It seems that these are only bought by kids who want to or old men who thinks it will make them last in bed again, or maybe pick up people to cheat on their spouses.
So your wife cheated on you with a young bloke who rode a bike or an old bloke who rode a bike? Or both? In any case the bike might be the common factor but it's probably a bit of a stretch to blame your problems on that one element.
Re: (Score:1)
No normal device can handle high vibration of high acceleration.
Sure they can. Why would you think they cant? In this case it's specific to the camera because you have things like OIS that uses lens movement to stabilize the image and the sensors used can be damaged with vibrations. A "normal device" - like say
Re: Or just save your money... (Score:5, Informative)
A). Motorcycles are bought by plenty of people not included in your description. They are efficient, highly practical transportation.
B). Motorcycles are not expensive. They are CHEAP. You don't have to buy a super bike or an overpriced chromed out HD. Plenty of good, low mileage used bikes can be had for under $3K. For $5K, there is a wide selection.
Re: (Score:2)
Motorcycles are bought by plenty of people not included in your description. They are efficient, highly practical transportation.
In my earlier years of adulthood, I used to drive a moped around my suburban town because it was good on gas and kind of fun. Then one day some asshole ran a red light and crashed.. into my work van. Yeah, thanks to having a cage of steel around me, I was able to walk away from that accident (and got a ride home rather than to a hospital).
I sold my moped after that, because after experiencing how modern vehicle safety features really can save your life, the idea of being on the roads without them just kin
Re: (Score:2)
It seems
Can you elaborate a bit? I'm having trouble following your methodology. What is your sample set when you say "it seems"? How are you differentiating between objective observation vs what you wish were the case?
Re: (Score:2)
Found the guy who wants to make choices for other people and be smug about it.
Re: (Score:2)
It seems that these are only bought by kids who want to or old men who thinks it will make them last in bed again, or maybe pick up people to cheat on their spouses.
This is the dumbest thing I've read. You clearly have no idea what's going on in the world around you.
No normal device can handle high vibration of high acceleration.
No I stand corrected. This is the dumbest thing I've read. The clue should be specific to this being an issue just for the iPhone.
This is why motorcycles are expensive.
Well. I'm amazed, you're breaking record after record, setting new bars for dumb with each passing sentence. You can buy a motorobike for the same price as an e-bike, and a small fraction of that of a car.
Re: (Score:2)
Something that any first-year-university engineering student could easily design.
Well there's your problem. These aren't first year university engineering students working at Apple. These are seasoned professional with years, if not decades, of work experience under the belt. They deserve their high priced salaries.
Re: (Score:2)
Seems like you could get a sweet gig there offering your solution.
Re: (Score:2)
Optical image stabilization systems are all about actuating tiny masses very quickly on multiple axes. It's quite difficult to protect something like this from damage in a high vibration environment.
This is a problem everything with OIS has-- from little bitty phone cameras to large SLR rigs.
Re:Calll this engineering? (Score:5, Insightful)
So Apple can't protect a camera against vibrations. Something that any first-year-university engineering student could easily design.
I agree. The problem is first knowing this is a problem. There's been a lot of examples of engineering failures with easy fixes that a first year engineering student could rectify if only someone knew it was a problem. Given that it took this long to get identified I suspect that few people ran into this, and those that did could not identify the cause.
Why do we put up with this - is the whole world dazzled by bright shiny?
We put up with this because we recognize that people that mount their smart phones on powerful motorcycles are a tiny portion of the market, and those people likely have the funds for a separate GPS unit and/or dash cam built to handle the vibrations.
I remember reading about iPhones crashing because they had helium get in the tiny electro-mechanical clocks and made them run faster than the CPU could handle. Should Apple and any other phone makers be expected to test their phones for exposure to helium because there will be some tiny portion of their market that works near MRI machines, welds, fills party balloons, works with exotic diving gases, or whatever? Maybe these people should complain and demand a first year engineering student fix their design. Or, maybe they need to recognize they are the rare exception and should keep their phone in a ziplock bag while next to the helium. There's an easy fix but first people need to see the problem come up as it's rare for people to work near helium. Then it needs to rise to the level that needs fixing beyond just avoiding the situations that can crash or damage the phones.
In short... Lighten up, Francis.
Re: (Score:2)
... should keep their phone in a ziplock bag while next to the helium.
I wouldn't rely on a thin layer of LDPE to keep helium out. After all, it also penetrated the airtight seals of those MEMS devices. I've seen 120L (30 gallon) helium-filled garbage bags deflate overnight. At least they didn't stick to the ceiling of the lab forever. :)
Re: (Score:2)
I wouldn't rely on a thin layer of LDPE to keep helium out.
First, it doesn't have to keep it all out, just keep the already low levels in the area even lower so that it doesn't crash the phone. Second, it's the air in the bag that mostly keeps the helium out, the bag keeps the larger molecules of oxygen and nitrogen in and plugging the holes so the helium doesn't get in. In your example of a garbage bag consider what would happen with the bag filled with air and the helium on the outside.
After all, it also penetrated the airtight seals of those MEMS devices.
They are not air tight. If they were then they'd likely crack from seeing l
Re: (Score:2)
I agree. The problem is first knowing this is a problem.
I want to agree with this, but there is something to be said for proposing obviously fragile technologies, designing them by committee to a price point in a way that satisfies management, and putting them into the hands of ordinary people. There are many times that people know very well that this stuff will break, but marketeers still want to do the business equivalent of yelling "FIRST!"
Remember what happened with the iPhone 4 antenna, the bending iPhone 6, and the butterfly keyboard switches. That kind
Re: (Score:3)
Tell us you're butt hurt about scooter condescension without telling us you're butt hurt about scooter condescension
Re: (Score:2)
What is your ride? Seriously, I am curious. Scooters have evolved a bit since the 1930's 8->
Re: Scooters (Score:1)
There are plenty of larger scooters. Hell, Aprilia makes an 850.
Re: (Score:2)
Nice.
Re: (Score:2)
Pixel 2 doesn't have OIS, but the latest Pixel does so it's probably susceptible to the same. That said, a $30 smartphone tethered over WiFi from your main phone would be enough for just about anything if you don't care about the camera.