Magnetic "snaps"

[WebWiseWoman]

I think this is an urban legend, but can anyone verify magnetic closures jack the digital compass?

[Broo]

I haven't tried, but I would say this is possible. If the digital compass relies on magnetic north (i.e. not some form a GPS triangulation) then another magnetic field would skew the reading.

There is a forum over at T-Mobile where users say that magnetic case snaps can be an issues:
http://forums.t-mobile.com/tmbl/board/message?board.id=Android3&thread.id=7110&view=by_date_ascending&page=1

[Broo]

Ok, I have confirmed that it is a magnetic compass.

I installed 'Orienteer' and the compass needle will follow a magnet that I circle around the G1 (about 8" from the edge of the phone).

But will magnetic snaps affect the G1 permanetly? That would depend on a lot of factors- strength and location of the magnet in the snap and where it it located in relation to the G1 magenetic compass.

I have read other posts that say the magentic 'needle' gets stuck and a 'thump' on the G1 will correct; others that have no problems.

There is probably a very small chance of magentic snaps causing permanant issues with the G1- but just to be safe I would NOT buy a case with a magentic snap! :o)

[greg1]

I've been carrying my G1 in a body glove case with magnetic closures since Oct 22 with no issues. The compass still works flawlessly. Everything I've read says these magnets are far weak to cause damage. I'm going with Urban Legend.

[greg1]

I meant to say" far too weak to cause damage"

[jdlorinser]

****Important****

I realized that if you put your phone in your magnetic case with the screen facing in (towards your body) and then close the flap, it will wake your phone from standby!!! This is NOT good, as this is a constant DRAIN on the battery. Post your results...

[MobileMan]

Are you serious? ^^^ So the point is just say NO to magnetic enclosures. Or take your chances. Ive seen a lot of cases like that for all phones including the G1. So I heard there bad and it wont affect it so I dont know. So for me Im not taking any chances.

[greg1]

****Important****

I realized that if you put your phone in your magnetic case with the screen facing in (towards your body) and then close the flap, it will wake your phone from standby!!! This is NOT good, as this is a constant DRAIN on the battery. Post your results...

Your menu button was probably being inadvertently hit by your "body". If you do a google search of "magnetic closures and smart phones" You will find threads about screen damage, memory damage etc on everything from blackberries to iphones. All of which have been disproved. There are also dozens of threads talking about these magnets are too weak to cause damage. I haven't found one credible source that says these tiny magnets can do anything other than hold your case closed. I've been using my case for weeks with no anomalies at all,don't be scared.

[Shel]

I think this is an urban legend, but can anyone verify magnetic closures jack the digital compass?

YES.
I purchased the HTC leather case from Best Buy yesterday, bu told the sales guy that I might return it if it messed the compass on my G1.

Sure enough, used it ONCE.... tried Orienteer program.... it was locked in one position. In otherwords, turning my phone while having Orienteer open, and the needle would turn with the phone, NOT continue to point north.

Same with Street View. You could look up and down, but even after turning on compass, in street view turning around with the phone you still only saw the same view, it wasn't showing views from different directions.

Returned case to Best Buy last night, still looking for a case (bummer, because the fit was PERFECT, and it was a nice looking, leather case)

By the way, I"m not saying it's permanent... I took the battery out, rebooted, tapped the chin several times.... after about an hour, compass strarted to work again, but (strong) magnets on carrying cases DO affect your G1's compass.

[DreamcastDC]

I bought a case with Magnetic snaps, but I just cut out the magnets and apply velcro strips over it.

[juice]

I read somewhere here on the AC that if you give your G1 a good shake, the compass should work again.

[Infinatenothing]

I bought a case with Magnetic snaps, but I just cut out the magnets and apply velcro strips over it.
thats a good idea why don't the case manufacturer make them that way? whos bright idea was it to put magnets and elctronic in close poximity? I mean I used to organize my 3.5 floppy disks with magnets on the fridge but it caused nothing but problems.

[Frito]

Someone did some testing before with magnetic latch cases and noticed that allot of them don't have have magnetic shielding behind the magnet so it wont effect your phone but some do have this shielding

I would recommend that if you have to have a magnetic case you at least check to see if the magnet is shielded or not on the inside of the case, this is pretty easy to check

first make sure you pick a key or other metal object that is magnetic test it by trying it on the outside of the latch

then use that same key/metal object on the inside of the case, if it pulls it twords the magnet its not shielded.

no electronic device should have magnets near them. it can cause many problems if they are left around them long term, we just see a more immediate effect on our phones because of the compass module, but it can and will mess up other components inside your phone if the magnet is strong enough and close to your phone for extended periods of time, people have reported flash memory cards being rendered unusable after being around strong magnets all electronic devices use inductors on the circuit board that can and will permanently be damaged by a strong magnet near them

bottom line is
say no to magnetic cases, if you absolutely have to have one, make sure its shielded properly so at least you phone wont be exposed to the magnet when its inside the case!

[ANDROID224]

This is not true i have a magnetic case and i rubbed the dang thing all over the phone when in compass mode. AND IT DOSENT DO ANYTHING TO IT. nothing is wrong with magnetic cases dont worry about it anymore

[Frito]

This is not true i have a magnetic case and i rubbed the dang thing all over the phone when in compass mode. AND IT DOSENT DO ANYTHING TO IT. nothing is wrong with magnetic cases dont worry about it anymore

your case is prob. shielded and fine to use with you phone i just tested out a fridge magnet on my phone and using the program orienteer (its a compass program ) the weak refrigerator magnet was able to confuse my phone about what direction north is from as far away as 2 inches from the phone! !

not all magnetic cases are created equal and non shielded ones have been shown to permanently stick peoples compasses on their phones this is fact some people have been able to fix them by tapping on the phone and or just keeping them out of the case for a long time and the come back to normal, but I wouldn't risk it either way

also if you read http://techon.nikkeibp.co.jp/english/NEWS_EN/20081030/160466/

quote from that link
"there was a Hall IC that detects the roll of the trackball and clicks."

the phone uses hall effect sensors to track the movement of the trackball, hall IC's work off of magnetism and having a magnet around one of these IC's could perm damage your trackball!! this prob explains why some people have having issues with their trackballs not working up and down!

[rushmore]

Someone did some testing before with magnetic latch cases and noticed that allot of them don't have have magnetic shielding behind the magnet so it wont effect your phone but some do have this shielding

I would recommend that if you have to have a magnetic case you at least check to see if the magnet is shielded or not on the inside of the case, this is pretty easy to check

first make sure you pick a key or other metal object that is magnetic test it by trying it on the outside of the latch

then use that same key/metal object on the inside of the case, if it pulls it twords the magnet its not shielded.

no electronic device should have magnets near them. it can cause many problems if they are left around them long term, we just see a more immediate effect on our phones because of the compass module, but it can and will mess up other components inside your phone if the magnet is strong enough and close to your phone for extended periods of time, people have reported flash memory cards being rendered unusable after being around strong magnets all electronic devices use inductors on the circuit board that can and will permanently be damaged by a strong magnet near them

bottom line is
say no to magnetic cases, if you absolutely have to have one, make sure its shielded properly so at least you phone wont be exposed to the magnet when its inside the case!

Most shields reduce the field, but do not alter the field away completely. It would be cost prohibitive to create a "zero" field condition. Unless there is a uber expensive case that does it...

I bought the $7 case for the G1 and modded with a plastic card in the case to reduce the field. The field is less than my offical Dash case and I have had zero problems with the compass. Then again, I do not use the compass much. I can orientate to a map without it.

[jp801w]

thats a good idea why don't the case manufacturer make them that way? whos bright idea was it to put magnets and elctronic in close poximity? I mean I used to organize my 3.5 floppy disks with magnets on the fridge but it caused nothing but problems.

Some phones, such as BlackBerrys, actually make use of magnetic cases. The magnet in the case activates the phones sleepmode and saves the battery.