Q: I love my iPhone but hate how quickly the battery goes dead! Any tips on getting more time on a charge? – Marcus

A: Smartphones in general tend to be prone to shorter battery life because of all of the capabilities built into the phones.

The battery in the iPhone is unfortunately not user-replaceable either, so carrying around a second battery isn’t an option (but I have another suggestion later).

The good news is that there are a number of adjustments you can make that will dramatically extend the life of your iPhone battery (or just about any smartphone for that matter).

Start with the Brightness setting (Settings/Brightness) by turning it down to the lowest acceptable level and make sure the Auto-Brightness is turned on.

Email can be another huge power-suck on the iPhone, especially if you have it checking multiple accounts and you get a lot of mail. By default, both the Push and the Fetch options are turned on, which can be a big power drain.

Push essentially pushes email to your phone as it arrives to your primary email system. Unless you have to get messages that quickly, turn off the Push option for your email account(s) (Settings/Mail, Contacts, Calendars/Fetch New Data) to conserve lots of power.

While you are in the Fetch settings, either set the interval to Hourly or Manually to conserve the most power. Fetch determines how often your phone goes out to your mail system to check for new mail and is also used for the ‘Find My iPhone’ feature in MobileMe, so setting it to Manually isn’t for everyone.

If you have a special email configuration such as an iMap account, you may have an additional place to choose Push or Fetch in the Advanced section of the Fetch New Data screen.

Push is also used for third-party applications (such as Facebook & Twitter) for notifications, so minimizing or turning off all notifications will also help conserve power (Settings/Notifications).

While we are on the subject of third-party applications, changing your notification settings in Facebook, Twitter, etc. (from your computer) so that you don’t get a text message every time an update is posted to your accounts.

Location services for things like maps and restaurant finders are awesome, but they also drain power every time you open any ‘location service’ enabled application. You can turn off Location Services for general usage and only turn it on when you actually need it (Settings/General/Location Services).

Turning off the Bluetooth feature on any smartphone has two potential benefits: it saves power and it’s more secure (Bluetooth can allow unauthorized connections to your phone). Unless you are one of those cyborg looking folks that likes to torture whomever is on the other end with lower sound quality, ditch the Bluetooth.

Turning off Wi-Fi until you actually want to use it is another good power saver (Settings/Wi-Fi). You may have noticed that every time your phone gets near any new Wi-Fi hotspots, it lets you know (both a power drain and a general pain).

Set your Auto-Lock interval (Settings/General/Auto-Lock) to the shortest time that works for you (it’s like the Sleep option on computers). Also, get into the habit of locking your iPhone as soon as you are done using it, instead of allowing it to go blank on its own by pressing the thin metal Sleep/Wake button on the top of the phone.

If you are going into a meeting or movie theater or know that you are in a low or no coverage area, turn on the Airplane mode to save a bundle of power (General/Airplane Mode).

If you’re getting low on power and want to squeeze a few extra phone calls or text messages in, turn off the 3G option (Settings/General/Network) and don’t check e-mail or try to surf the Web.

Apple also recommends that you completely power-cycle your phone at least once a month. That means charging it all the way up and discharging it until it dies, as proper maintenance of lithium-based batteries.

If you travel frequently, I suggest getting a sleek attachable battery charger like the Juice Pack from Mophie. Mine has saved me (and sometimes the passenger sitting next to me!) many times on road trips.

Ken Colburn
Data Doctors Computer Services
Data Doctors Data Recovery Labs
Data Doctors Franchise Systems, Inc.
Weekly video tech contributor to CNN.com
Host of the award-winning “Computer Corner” radio show

• Green Gadgets For Dummies

Q: I love my iPhone but hate how quickly the battery goes dead! Any tips on getting more time on a charge? – Marcus

A: Smartphones in general tend to be prone to shorter battery life because of all of the capabilities built into the phones.

The battery in the iPhone is unfortunately not user-replaceable either, so carrying around a second battery isn’t an option (but I have another suggestion later).

The good news is that there are a number of adjustments you can make that will dramatically extend the life of your iPhone battery (or just about any smartphone for that matter).

Start with the Brightness setting (Settings/Brightness) by turning it down to the lowest acceptable level and make sure the Auto-Brightness is turned on.

Email can be another huge power-suck on the iPhone, especially if you have it checking multiple accounts and you get a lot of mail. By default, both the Push and the Fetch options are turned on, which can be a big power drain.

Push essentially pushes email to your phone as it arrives to your primary email system. Unless you have to get messages that quickly, turn off the Push option for your email account(s) (Settings/Mail, Contacts, Calendars/Fetch New Data) to conserve lots of power.

While you are in the Fetch settings, either set the interval to Hourly or Manually to conserve the most power. Fetch determines how often your phone goes out to your mail system to check for new mail and is also used for the ‘Find My iPhone’ feature in MobileMe, so setting it to Manually isn’t for everyone.

If you have a special email configuration such as an iMap account, you may have an additional place to choose Push or Fetch in the Advanced section of the Fetch New Data screen.

Push is also used for third-party applications (such as Facebook & Twitter) for notifications, so minimizing or turning off all notifications will also help conserve power (Settings/Notifications).

While we are on the subject of third-party applications, changing your notification settings in Facebook, Twitter, etc. (from your computer) so that you don’t get a text message every time an update is posted to your accounts.

Location services for things like maps and restaurant finders are awesome, but they also drain power every time you open any ‘location service’ enabled application. You can turn off Location Services for general usage and only turn it on when you actually need it (Settings/General/Location Services).

Turning off the Bluetooth feature on any smartphone has two potential benefits: it saves power and it’s more secure (Bluetooth can allow unauthorized connections to your phone). Unless you are one of those cyborg looking folks that likes to torture whomever is on the other end with lower sound quality, ditch the Bluetooth.

Turning off Wi-Fi until you actually want to use it is another good power saver (Settings/Wi-Fi). You may have noticed that every time your phone gets near any new Wi-Fi hotspots, it lets you know (both a power drain and a general pain).

Set your Auto-Lock interval (Settings/General/Auto-Lock) to the shortest time that works for you (it’s like the Sleep option on computers). Also, get into the habit of locking your iPhone as soon as you are done using it, instead of allowing it to go blank on its own by pressing the thin metal Sleep/Wake button on the top of the phone.

If you are going into a meeting or movie theater or know that you are in a low or no coverage area, turn on the Airplane mode to save a bundle of power (General/Airplane Mode).

If you’re getting low on power and want to squeeze a few extra phone calls or text messages in, turn off the 3G option (Settings/General/Network) and don’t check e-mail or try to surf the Web.

Apple also recommends that you completely power-cycle your phone at least once a month. That means charging it all the way up and discharging it until it dies, as proper maintenance of lithium-based batteries.

If you travel frequently, I suggest getting a sleek attachable battery charger like the Juice Pack from Mophie. Mine has saved me (and sometimes the passenger sitting next to me!) many times on road trips.

Ken Colburn
Data Doctors Computer Services
Data Doctors Data Recovery Labs
Data Doctors Franchise Systems, Inc.
Weekly video tech contributor to CNN.com
Host of the award-winning “Computer Corner” radio show

• Green Gadgets For Dummies

I’m busy. You’re busy. Everyone is busy these days. We have entirely too much to do and not nearly enough time to do it all in. We could all use a virtual assistant, and Siri is here to fill the gap in our lives.

Add to iTunes | Add to YouTube | Add to Google | RSS Feed

Ask Siri to do something (by text or speech) and it will do it. Do you need a taxi in an hour? That’s not a problem. Just tell Siri and the cab will be waiting. It takes only a few seconds to accomplish these simple tasks, which is much faster than if you had to look up a number and make a call to do them. Once you confirm that Siri understands what you asked, it will give you what you asked for faster than you can decide what you want for dinner.

I have this app myself, and have been using it often since I became more acclimated to it at SXSW. I can almost guarantee you will come to rely on it as much as I do.

• Senario Digi Girl Personal Data Assistant
• Virtual Office Assistant
• Virtual Office Assistant
• CrazyTalk5 PRO
• The 2-second Commute: Join The Exploding Ranks Of Freelance Virtual Assistants
• Virtual Assistant, The Series: Become a Highly Successful, Sought After VA
• Virtually Successful: 8 Simple Ways for Virtual Assistants to Find (and Keep) Clients

Want to embed this video on your own site, blog, or forum? Use this code or download the video:

<object width=”425″ height=”350″><param name=”movie” value=”http://www.youtube.com/v/z0nz8Ou1H1I”></param><param name=”wmode” value=”transparent”></param><embed src=”http://www.youtube.com/v/z0nz8Ou1H1I” type=”application/x-shockwave-flash” wmode=”transparent” width=”425″ height=”350″></embed></object><br /><a href=”http://chris.pirillo.com/”>Chris</a> | <a href=”http://live.pirillo.com/”>Live Tech Support</a> | <a href=”http://media.pirillo.com/”>Video Help</a> | <a href=”http://feeds.pirillo.com/ChrisPirilloShow”>Add to iTunes</a>

I’m busy. You’re busy. Everyone is busy these days. We have entirely too much to do and not nearly enough time to do it all in. We could all use a virtual assistant, and Siri is here to fill the gap in our lives.

Add to iTunes | Add to YouTube | Add to Google | RSS Feed

Ask Siri to do something (by text or speech) and it will do it. Do you need a taxi in an hour? That’s not a problem. Just tell Siri and the cab will be waiting. It takes only a few seconds to accomplish these simple tasks, which is much faster than if you had to look up a number and make a call to do them. Once you confirm that Siri understands what you asked, it will give you what you asked for faster than you can decide what you want for dinner.

I have this app myself, and have been using it often since I became more acclimated to it at SXSW. I can almost guarantee you will come to rely on it as much as I do.

• Senario Digi Girl Personal Data Assistant
• The 2-second Commute: Join The Exploding Ranks Of Freelance Virtual Assistants
• Virtual Assistant, The Series: Become a Highly Successful, Sought After VA
• Virtually Successful: 8 Simple Ways for Virtual Assistants to Find (and Keep) Clients
• Virtual Office Assistant
• Virtual Office Assistant
• CrazyTalk5 PRO

Want to embed this video on your own site, blog, or forum? Use this code or download the video:

<object width=”425″ height=”350″><param name=”movie” value=”http://www.youtube.com/v/z0nz8Ou1H1I”></param><param name=”wmode” value=”transparent”></param><embed src=”http://www.youtube.com/v/z0nz8Ou1H1I” type=”application/x-shockwave-flash” wmode=”transparent” width=”425″ height=”350″></embed></object><br /><a href=”http://chris.pirillo.com/”>Chris</a> | <a href=”http://live.pirillo.com/”>Live Tech Support</a> | <a href=”http://media.pirillo.com/”>Video Help</a> | <a href=”http://feeds.pirillo.com/ChrisPirilloShow”>Add to iTunes</a>

It seems as though everyone in the world is on Twitter now. Sadly, not all of them know how to utilize this fabulous tool to maximize their outreach. The reach you can have by using social media can be staggering. However, you have to know how to use the service correctly to get your message across in a way that people will want to read.

I am by no means an expert on anything. Over the years, though, I’ve learned what works through trial and error — and what doesn’t! I’ve made some amazing connections online, and I’ve soaked up every bit of information that I could from them. After receiving a lot of questions and emails from many of you who are struggling to “master” Twitter, I decided to put together an eBook full of Twitter tips and tricks to help you get started.

To help keep you in the tweet spirit, the eBook contains 140 tips, all written in 140 characters or less. Best of all… it only will cost you $1.40! So why should you shell out a buck and a half of your hard-earned money for yet another eBook? I’ve come up with several reasons, actually!

If you’re new to Twitter, or still unsure how to use it effectively, this eBook will guide you in all of the right directions. Navigating your way through the maze that is Twitter can be daunting. Who should you follow? How do you get followers? What should you say? How do you say it?!

Twitter is a great tool for getting out information about your organization. However, doing so properly is crucial to people taking notice. When you have a startup that you’ve poured your heart, soul and money into, you may not have much of a marketing budget left at the end of the day. Why not make use of social media to get that word spreading like wildfire?

Your customers are on Twitter, and they’re talking about you. Do you know how to best take advantage of that? I have one word for you here: ComcastCares. Frank and his team are listening, and they’re using what you are saying on Twitter to help make your experience better. Isn’t that the kind of service you want to provide?

Are you launching a new product or service? What are people going to think about it? Use Twitter to effectively gauge consumer reaction, and to promote what you have to sell.

If you have something important to tell the World, using Twitter can be one of your best friends. Just take a look at what people such as Drew Olanoff and Mark Horvath have done. Our guide can help you communicate with the rest of the World effectively via Twitter.

Do you not have as many followers as you would like? Let our tips help you to become someone that everyone will want to follow! Your name doesn’t have to be Ashton Kutcher in order to get a zillion followers, honestly!

Are you shy? Using social media services such as Twitter can help you to break out of your shell, 140 characters at a time. The tips we’ve gathered together in this eBook can help you get started, and will provide you with a lot of insight as to how it all works.

When looking for a career change, networking with others is the name of the game. Even if you’re happy in your current position, it doesn’t hurt to learn how to network to your possible future benefit on Twitter.

Posting about your breakfast or your trip to the restroom doesn’t make for interesting reading… so what DOES? Do you even have a clue as to what people want to read? Think for a moment about what you enjoy learning from others on Twitter. Now take a look at your own tweet stream — and our tips — and figure out if you’re saying something worthwhile.

Everyone who is ANYONE is on Twitter, including me! Isn’t that reason enough for you to be there, as well?

Many of the tips in this eBook were submitted by people just like you, from right here in our community. I’ve given credit where credit is due in the guide, and would like to thank them again here. If you have ideas for tips or tricks we forgot to include, go ahead and email them to me! They may just be included in a future revision. Be sure to give me your Twitter account along with your submission, so that I can credit what you write back to you.

• Twitter the Tit [VHS]
• The Social Media Marketing Book
• How to Find a Job on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, and Other Social Networks
• The Twitter Book

It seems as though everyone in the world is on Twitter now. Sadly, not all of them know how to utilize this fabulous tool to maximize their outreach. The reach you can have by using social media can be staggering. However, you have to know how to use the service correctly to get your message across in a way that people will want to read.

I am by no means an expert on anything. Over the years, though, I’ve learned what works through trial and error — and what doesn’t! I’ve made some amazing connections online, and I’ve soaked up every bit of information that I could from them. After receiving a lot of questions and emails from many of you who are struggling to “master” Twitter, I decided to put together an eBook full of Twitter tips and tricks to help you get started.

To help keep you in the tweet spirit, the eBook contains 140 tips, all written in 140 characters or less. Best of all… it only will cost you $1.40! So why should you shell out a buck and a half of your hard-earned money for yet another eBook? I’ve come up with several reasons, actually!

If you’re new to Twitter, or still unsure how to use it effectively, this eBook will guide you in all of the right directions. Navigating your way through the maze that is Twitter can be daunting. Who should you follow? How do you get followers? What should you say? How do you say it?!

Twitter is a great tool for getting out information about your organization. However, doing so properly is crucial to people taking notice. When you have a startup that you’ve poured your heart, soul and money into, you may not have much of a marketing budget left at the end of the day. Why not make use of social media to get that word spreading like wildfire?

Your customers are on Twitter, and they’re talking about you. Do you know how to best take advantage of that? I have one word for you here: ComcastCares. Frank and his team are listening, and they’re using what you are saying on Twitter to help make your experience better. Isn’t that the kind of service you want to provide?

Are you launching a new product or service? What are people going to think about it? Use Twitter to effectively gauge consumer reaction, and to promote what you have to sell.

If you have something important to tell the World, using Twitter can be one of your best friends. Just take a look at what people such as Drew Olanoff and Mark Horvath have done. Our guide can help you communicate with the rest of the World effectively via Twitter.

Do you not have as many followers as you would like? Let our tips help you to become someone that everyone will want to follow! Your name doesn’t have to be Ashton Kutcher in order to get a zillion followers, honestly!

Are you shy? Using social media services such as Twitter can help you to break out of your shell, 140 characters at a time. The tips we’ve gathered together in this eBook can help you get started, and will provide you with a lot of insight as to how it all works.

When looking for a career change, networking with others is the name of the game. Even if you’re happy in your current position, it doesn’t hurt to learn how to network to your possible future benefit on Twitter.

Posting about your breakfast or your trip to the restroom doesn’t make for interesting reading… so what DOES? Do you even have a clue as to what people want to read? Think for a moment about what you enjoy learning from others on Twitter. Now take a look at your own tweet stream — and our tips — and figure out if you’re saying something worthwhile.

Everyone who is ANYONE is on Twitter, including me! Isn’t that reason enough for you to be there, as well?

Many of the tips in this eBook were submitted by people just like you, from right here in our community. I’ve given credit where credit is due in the guide, and would like to thank them again here. If you have ideas for tips or tricks we forgot to include, go ahead and email them to me! They may just be included in a future revision. Be sure to give me your Twitter account along with your submission, so that I can credit what you write back to you.

• Twitter the Tit [VHS]
• The Social Media Marketing Book
• How to Find a Job on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, and Other Social Networks
• The Twitter Book