iPhone flashlight

david shapiro · Dec 30, 2012, 01:25 AM

Hi

I saw a guy with an app that turned his camera flash into a flashlight that stays on. Is this bad for the flash LED light thingy?

Insulin Junkie · Dec 30, 2012, 01:27 AM

Bad, as in bad for your battery? Then, yes.

For the LED, not so much.

sagar4995 · Dec 30, 2012, 01:28 AM

i dont think so. i've been using a flashlight app since 3 years now... no issues reported. ofcourse, i dont use it for hours together, but every now n then when needed.

david shapiro · Dec 30, 2012, 01:40 AM

So it won't ruin the light bulb?

yinz · Dec 30, 2012, 01:42 AM

I don't think enough people have used their flashlights for that long to figure this out.. You'll probably have to keep it on for quite some time for it to "burn out"...

I have that app, but i rarely use it. it's mainly for emergencies..

darster · Dec 30, 2012, 01:58 AM

If the LED burns out within the first year, you get a replacement phone, or they fix it, so dont worry about it.

vastoholic · Dec 30, 2012, 02:13 AM

You don't even need an app. Open the camera, switch to video. Turn on flash. Done.

Che Castro · Dec 30, 2012, 02:31 AM

They should add an option in the lock screen to turn the light on , like they have with the camera

That would be nice

F123D · Dec 30, 2012, 02:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Che Castro

They should add an option in the lock screen to turn the light on , like they have with the camera

That would be nice

I used to do this with my jailbroken iPhone. Was very convenient.

sulpfiction · Dec 30, 2012, 08:47 AM

Been using a flashlight app since the iPhone came with a flash. I use it almost daily and never had a single problem. In super shocked ur just discovering this now. I'd bet 95% of all smartphones (not just iPhone) on the planet have some flashlight app installed.

ucfgrad93 · Dec 30, 2012, 08:52 AM

I have a flashlight app on my iPhone. I don't use it that often, but it is handy when I do need to.

Jordan921 · Dec 30, 2012, 09:58 AM

I'm sure in the long run yes but if you only use it occasionally for emergencies it'll be ok.

PNutts · Dec 30, 2012, 02:38 PM

I assume Apple considered the LED being on for extended periods (heat dissapation being the primary concern IMHO). LEDs themselves are generally considered to have a lifespan 50,000 hours so "burning it out" is not a concern. I use mine as a flashlight whenever I need to for as long as I need to.

Dec 30, 2012, 01:25 AM	#1
david shapiro macrumors regular Join Date: Dec 2012	iPhone flashlight Hi I saw a guy with an app that turned his camera flash into a flashlight that stays on. Is this bad for the flash LED light thingy?
	0

Dec 30, 2012, 01:28 AM	#3
sagar4995 macrumors 6502a Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Dubai, UAE	i dont think so. i've been using a flashlight app since 3 years now... no issues reported. ofcourse, i dont use it for hours together, but every now n then when needed. __________________ iPhone 5 iOS 6.1.2 Evasi0n 1.4 iPhone 4S iOS 6.1.3 (wife's) MacBook 13" Mid 2010 Instagram ID - SagarChablani
	0

Dec 30, 2012, 02:13 AM	#7
vastoholic macrumors 68000 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Tulsa, OK	You don't even need an app. Open the camera, switch to video. Turn on flash. Done. __________________ View my flickr sets....if you want. They're not too exciting.
	0

Dec 30, 2012, 09:58 AM	#12
Jordan921 macrumors 68030 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Bay Area	I'm sure in the long run yes but if you only use it occasionally for emergencies it'll be ok. __________________ Unlocked Black iPhone 5 32gb AT&T, 13.3" MacBook Air 1.86GHZ 4GB Ram 128GB SSD
	0

Dec 30, 2012, 02:38 PM	#13
PNutts macrumors 68030 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Pacific Northwest, US	I assume Apple considered the LED being on for extended periods (heat dissapation being the primary concern IMHO). LEDs themselves are generally considered to have a lifespan 50,000 hours so "burning it out" is not a concern. I use mine as a flashlight whenever I need to for as long as I need to. __________________ Texting driver gets 3-year prison term Show this to your friends and family to help them choose to not text and drive
	0

Dec 30, 2012, 01:27 AM	#2
Insulin Junkie macrumors 65816 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Mainland Europe	Bad, as in bad for your battery? Then, yes. For the LED, not so much.
	2

Dec 30, 2012, 01:40 AM	#4
david shapiro Thread Starter macrumors regular Join Date: Dec 2012	So it won't ruin the light bulb?
	0

Dec 30, 2012, 01:42 AM	#5
yinz macrumors 6502 Join Date: Apr 2012	I don't think enough people have used their flashlights for that long to figure this out.. You'll probably have to keep it on for quite some time for it to "burn out"... I have that app, but i rarely use it. it's mainly for emergencies..
	0

Dec 30, 2012, 01:58 AM	#6
darster macrumors 68000 Join Date: Aug 2011	If the LED burns out within the first year, you get a replacement phone, or they fix it, so dont worry about it.
	1

Dec 30, 2012, 02:31 AM	#8
Che Castro macrumors 68040 Join Date: May 2009	They should add an option in the lock screen to turn the light on , like they have with the camera That would be nice
	2

Dec 30, 2012, 08:47 AM	#10
sulpfiction macrumors 68000 Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Philadelphia Area	Been using a flashlight app since the iPhone came with a flash. I use it almost daily and never had a single problem. In super shocked ur just discovering this now. I'd bet 95% of all smartphones (not just iPhone) on the planet have some flashlight app installed.
	0

Dec 30, 2012, 08:52 AM	#11
ucfgrad93 macrumors G4 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Colorado	I have a flashlight app on my iPhone. I don't use it that often, but it is handy when I do need to.
	0

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