My IPad miseries

[Packard]

I have an IPad that I use daily in place of a computer.  I’ve had it for 8 years or so. 

Normally, I charge it overnight and it is drained to 55% to 45% by the time I put it back on the charger.

Yesterday, by afternoon it was down to 2%.  Checking the utilities, it showed that the camera drained 79% of the current.  I had not used the camera yesterday.

This morning my IPad shows that I had 100% (fully charged) battery.  But it shows that the camera is draining 99% of the charge.  I still am not using the camera.

Does anyone have an idea why my camera is drawing all that current?

 

[mwolczko]

It’s likely caused by a software bug, or a memory error.  Did you turn it off and on again?

 

[Packard]

Some Google research showed that this glitch is been reported many times on various sites.

I took it to the Geeks at Best Buy.

I discovered the following:

1. The IPad was purchased new in 2017 and is no longer supported by Apple.  Apple would not accept it for repairs.

2.  A soft reboot accomplished nothing (I did that at home).

3.  None of my settings were awry.

4.  Last hope:  Hard Boot.

5.  The Geek executed the hard boot. 

6.  Best Buy (The Geeks) provided that service at no cost.

7.  The Geek accepted a gratuity.

8.  It took a full 3 + hours to complete the boot.

9.  The Geek said it will take 2 or 3 days to see if this was a success or failure. 

10.  The IPad is too old for a trade in.

11.  The Geek said that I should continue to use it until the battery fails.  Then replace.

I am I am just now (this post is the first use of the IPad) using it.  So not a glimpse yet into the future of my IPad.

 

[woodbutcherbower]

Apple are worth zillions. Jobs was worth zillions. Their executives 'earn' zillions. It's been 100% definitively proven that iPhone batteries will fail after a predetermined time. It took a massive lawsuit to force Apple into making their phones repairable.

But the product and IoS are stellar, so us 'Ordinary Joes' tolerate it whilst the gullible fashionista 'influencer' types start queueing at midnight to be first in line to pay a thousand bucks to get the latest, 'must-have .... look-at-me-everyone' version (which does exactly the same things as the previous version). Just my opinion obviously - but there isn't an Android device on the planet which can hold a candle to the 'all-seeing-i". I've had one since forever, and I absolutely love it.

My iPad's a 2011. I last remember seeing it when my gardener guy asked to borrow it. He needed something to chock the wheels on his ride-on lawnmower whilst he changed blades. Actually - I'm wrong on the above. He duck-taped it to a broom handle and used it to stir a huge tub of fence paint.

Edited to add - over a minute from 'Submit' to actual post appearance ........

 

 

[Michael Kellough]

I hope that your iPad works right now.

I use an iPad Pro (2) also from 2017. Bought as a refurb 5 or 6 years ago. I love the 12.9” Retina screen and it’s still plenty fast. No reason to upgrade until the battery dies. I’ve used the camera maybe once. It’s amazing to have a 13” viewfinder but I prefer taking photos with the phone, which is always with me, newer, and does a much better job.

However, I get annoyed with the iPhone because about every fourth time I slip it into my back pocket either the light or the camera gets turned on inadvertently. I can usually tell the camera is on because the thing gets warm in my pocket but the light might stay on for a long time without my knowledge. It seems like it’s much easier to turn them on than off.

 

[Isan]

It could be a glitch causing the camera to drain your battery even when you’re not using it. Try restarting your iPad to see if that resets the battery stats.

 

[Packard]

Just checked that settings.  Fully charged and zero drain from camera and photos.

I am hopeful.

The Geek said that it would take 2 or 3 days to see if it were really fixed.

“Geeks” were originally circus freaks that would bite the head off of a live chicken for the audience.  Strange that they chose that word to mean a computer technician.

 

[squall_line]

Just checked that settings.  Fully charged and zero drain from camera and photos.

I am hopeful.

The Geek said that it would take 2 or 3 days to see if it were really fixed.

“Geeks” were originally circus freaks that would bite the head off of a live chicken for the audience.  Strange that they chose that word to mean a computer technician.

The term "Geek" has been in use as a term for non-circus-freaks for much longer than Best Buy has been around.  It was a natural extension of the usage in common parlance at the time that the Geek Squad was founded in 1994.  Geek Squad, as a company, was purchased by Best Buy in 2002.

Also, their techs are called "Agents", not "Geeks"; they wear uniforms similar to the outfits in the movie Men in Black.

Apple calls their techs "Geniuses".

 

[Packard]

I’ve received good service from the Best Buy Agents a few times.  They helped me set up my laptop (purchased from Best Buy) at no charge.  And they helped me with the IPad, purchased at an Apple Store, also at no charge. 

The first time, I considered it as an after-the-purchase-service and did not think about tipping.  But this time, the service was basically a “gift” as I did not purchase the device from Best Buy.  The agent graciously accepted the gratuity—I don’t know if they have a policy on that or not.

Thus far the “fix” seems to have worked.  A “hard-reboot” is not difficult, but there are several steps.  I was glad I did not have to research it to have it done.

 

[pixelated]

Are you stopping the camera app, or just switching to something else?
Are you using other apps that have permission to use the camera?

 

[Packard]

I did not stop the camera from functioning—it still works.

The tech said all the settings were normal and correct.  And yet the camera was draining the battery.

The reboot set everything back to normal.  There is now, zero battery drain when I’m not using the camera.

There was no explanation for this—it was just my IPad messing with my head.

 

[cpw]

I've had the same thing happen with my older Apple Watch [I have two, one of them I wear mostly when doing tasks that are more likely to result in scratches, stains, or other damage].  Occasionally it needs a full reboot to prevent it from draining the battery within a 4-6 hours.

 

[rmhinden]

The reboot set everything back to normal.  There is now, zero battery drain when I’m not using the camera.

There was no explanation for this—it was just my IPad messing with my head.

If I can guess, something caused a setting in static memory to get corrupted and kept the camera from going to sleep and kept drawing power.  The hard reboot reset it.  If it was a hardware failure, the hard reboot would not have fixed it.

If it helps, blame it on cosmic rays

Bob

 

[Packard]

The reboot set everything back to normal.  There is now, zero battery drain when I’m not using the camera.

There was no explanation for this—it was just my IPad messing with my head.

If I can guess, something caused a setting in static memory to get corrupted and kept the camera from going to sleep and kept drawing power.  The hard reboot reset it.  If it was a hardware failure, the hard reboot would not have fixed it.

If it helps, blame it on cosmic rays

Bob

Kind of like slamming the side of a vending machine when it did not spit out the ice cream bar.  And then it does.  All better.

 

[cdconey]

Try doing a hard reset/boot. Depending on which model it was the power button and top button?. If you don't have a power button it is a combination of volume up/down/top button.

If that doesn't work try doing a factory restore.  Backup all of your info in iTunes to your PC or cloud, hook up to iTunes, and do the restore option. 

Mixed success on problems using this method, but yours sounds like something is running in the background not shutting down properly. 

 

[bertv]

An 8-year old device? And it’s still working okay-ish? In this day and age that compares to having bought a T-Ford when it came out and still driving it as a daily…

IOW: Eight years is around the cut off of the 'can be used' period for top end electronics nowadays. You should consider getting a new iPad, especially if it is your main device for anything web-related.

 

[Packard]

An 8-year old device? And it’s still working okay-ish? In this day and age that compares to having bought a T-Ford when it came out and still driving it as a daily…

IOW: Eight years is around the cut off of the 'can be used' period for top end electronics nowadays. You should consider getting a new iPad, especially if it is your main device for anything web-related.

I plan on going with the Geek’s advice:  Keep it until the battery fails.

 

[jeffinsgf]

Why would you do a mini-series about your IPad? Oh...wait...

 

[Packard]

Why would you do a mini-series about your IPad? Oh...wait...

I started this thread in case there was something obvious (to others) that I was doing wrong. 

No response in that regard, so off to Best Buy.

Not replacing it now, because , “What am I missing, by using this antique tablet?”

Answer:  “Nothing that I am aware of.”

But it is now working fine.  So thanks for the input everyone.

 

[squall_line]

Why would you do a mini-series about your IPad? Oh...wait...

I started this thread in case there was something obvious (to others) that I was doing wrong. 

No response in that regard, so off to Best Buy.

Not replacing it now, because , “What am I missing, by using this antique tablet?”

Answer:  “Nothing that I am aware of.”

But it is now working fine.  So thanks for the input everyone.

I think Jeff was making a joke about his mis-reading of the subject as "miniseries" instead of "miseries".  My brain did that to me as well, and still does.