Sajjad Naveed
The ‘Setting Time Zone’ feature which automatically selects the time zone when a user moves to a different one, seems to continuously look for a location even when the location is static.
Many have found that the ‘Setting Time Zone’ setting under Location Services – Systems Services seems to be operating even when the location of the individual is static. An icon shows if this particular setting has been used in the last 24 hours, and it seems that most users have found that their iPhones have been continuously trying to access the phone’s location.
On iDownloadBlog, Oliver Haslam says, “It appears that iOS 5′s GM release introduced a bug that causes the Setting Time Zone function to keep the location tracking circuitry running constantly, draining battery power considerably. Switching it off may mean that your iPhone will no longer set its own time zone when you travel, but that’s a small price to pay for having your iPhone last more than 12 hours on a full charge… We have tested this method on four different iPhone 4s handsets, including an iPhone 4 and an iPhone 3GS. All have reported drastically improved battery life after switching ‘Setting Time Zone’ off.”
While speculation about the battery drain is running rampant on the web, Apple has not made any comment thus far. The Guardian reported this Friday that engineers are contacting some people who have been reporting exceptional battery drains on their new handsets.
The newspaper’s own tests found that the iPhone 4S was able to achieve 36 hours battery life with use of WiFi, mobile data and combined use. This also includes using apps, phones, browsing and some location based services all with the ‘Setting Time Zone’ turned on. No results yet have been compiled yet on what the effects of disabling the feature has had.
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