How to extend your iPhone battery life by turning off Ping

Apple’s iOS 4.3 firmware update adds new integration with their Ping social network for your iPhone or iPad. This feature allows you to publish your music likes and dislikes to your network of friends and share playlists. It also, apparently, eats into your battery life.

Ping uses Apple’s push technology to keep your network and device up-to-date with everything you and your friends are doing. This real-time integration requires a little battery power even when your phone is in sleep mode. If you are not interested in the Ping feature and would like to extend your iPhone Battery life a little longer, follow these instructions to turn it off:

1. Touch the Settings icon and look for the General button.

2. Scroll down until you find the Restrictions button. This is Apple’s way of letting you control what is and is not available on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch. Press this button now to see your current restrictions.

3. If Restrictions is currently disabled, you’ll need to enable it now. Your device will ask you to set a 4-number passcode. Since Restrictions is typically used to control privacy and parental controls, this code is primarily meant to keep kids from getting in. Set the code and write it down.

4. Now scroll down until you see the Ping option and turn it off.

There are plenty of other ways to extend the life of your iPhone battery, so check out our full iPhone Battery Guide to see all of the details.