Unless you have a ridiculously strong magnet, like the ones found in professional degaussers, you're not going to do anything to a hard drive with a magnet.
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iPhone's reaction to magnets
- Thread starter Bettermann09
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Unless you have a ridiculously strong magnet, like the ones found in professional degaussers, you're not going to do anything to a hard drive with a magnet.
Yes Apple says to keep even the earbuds away because their magnets will throw off the compass. (The compass has nothing to do with GPS, btw.)
They also recommend taking it out of a magnetic case if it's not receiving well:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2342
This should be a sticky: Apple says to NOT try calibrating the compass while inside a car. Which makes sense; waving it around just exposes it to random influences. Mount it on the windshield and wait for it to figure things out:
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2767
...not on her hip when it was stolen
Wow. It would have been worse to also lose the iPhone.
Wow. It would have been worse to also lose the iPhone.
She did, it was in the holster not on her hip, did i not make that clear?
I had a case with a magnet for my old phone, an LG8700. Everytime the phone would ring, when I would take it out of the holster, somehow, the magnet would cause the call to go directly to voicemail. Darndest thing! Needless to say, once i figured out it was the case causing the problem, it wasn't my case anymore.
Thanks for the link, this exactly describes my issue. Tried out the solution and the compass calibrated itself in about 3 minutes.
Excellent.
Built-in car compasses are calibrated the same way: after a few turns, they figure everything out. In fact, going to a parking lot and driving in a slow circle 3-4 times will usually do it... although everyone watching will think you're nuts
Funny this was mentioned.
I was using my 3Gs maps in the car today and noticed that when I held it in my left hand next to the steering wheel, it constantly asked me to move my phone in a figure 8 to calibrate the compass. When I moved it away, it worked just fine. I realized that the car speaker on the door was causing the compass to wig out on the 3Gs.
I was using my 3Gs maps in the car today and noticed that when I held it in my left hand next to the steering wheel, it constantly asked me to move my phone in a figure 8 to calibrate the compass. When I moved it away, it worked just fine. I realized that the car speaker on the door was causing the compass to wig out on the 3Gs.
I don't see any reason why the original iPhone or the 3G would be harmed or even slightly affected by a magnet, even a strong one.
I think the idea that electronics and magnets dont mix came from the fact that they could erase floppy discs and cassette tapes. Everything stored on the iPhone is stored in flash memory, which is not affected by magnets.
The iPhone 3Gs might be diffrent though since it has a compass.
I think the idea that electronics and magnets dont mix came from the fact that they could erase floppy discs and cassette tapes. Everything stored on the iPhone is stored in flash memory, which is not affected by magnets.
The iPhone 3Gs might be diffrent though since it has a compass.