Comments on: iPad shutdown app

Question: iPad shutdown app

unliteral — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 06:10:33 -0800

I watch movies when I go to bed at night. When I wake up in the morning my iPad is exhausted. I would like to have a reminder happen (that if I don't respond to) shuts down my iPad and preserves its battery. Is there a commercial or free app that does this or can I create one easily in this suggestion?

By: inturnaround

inturnaround — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 06:14:39 -0800

I'm almost certain that there isn't an app that can do this in iOS because of Apple's guidelines. It won't allow an iOS app to shut down the system.

By: Tomorrowful

Tomorrowful — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 06:16:10 -0800

Short answer is no. iOS apps are strictly limited in how they can affect the iPad itself - and part of that is "Not allowed to decide when other apps are closed" and "not allowed to put the iPad to sleep," which are what you're trying to do (close the movie app and/or go directly to sleep mode.)

By: blue_beetle

blue_beetle — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 06:19:05 -0800

Perhaps you could just leave your iPad plugged in with an extra long cable?

By: unliteral

unliteral — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 06:40:42 -0800

I'm almost certain that there isn't an app that can do this in iOS because of Apple's guidelines. It won't allow an iOS app to shut down the system.
Short answer is no. iOS apps are strictly limited in how they can affect the iPad itself - and part of that is "Not allowed to decide when other apps are closed" and "not allowed to put the iPad to sleep,"
Bummer. Why did Apple do this? I can do this on my iMac.

By: unliteral

unliteral — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 06:54:22 -0800

Perhaps you could just leave your iPad plugged in with an extra long cable?
The source does not need this. Your suggestion is helpful. Inconvenient, but helpful. Thank you.

By: FauxScot

FauxScot — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 06:58:48 -0800

Interfering unpredictably with your app is one thing some virii (viruses) do. That's probably why Apple rejects it.

The tradeoff is that the iPad, even though it's not behaving like you want it to, always behaves exactly the same way, meaning you can adapt. (This is one reason some folks don't like the tight control Apple exerts in IOS.) OSX is a different story.

By: grouse

grouse — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 06:59:25 -0800

Do you have a smart cover? In the same situation, my iPad would be turned off because I would close it before falling asleep. If you are literally falling asleep watching the movies, I suppose that won't work.

The source does not need this.

I don't know what that means.

As always, you can get cables considerably cheaper at Monoprice.

By: Rock Steady

Rock Steady — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 06:59:47 -0800

Does it not go to sleep on its own after you fall asleep? Do you have it set to never Auto-Lock? If you set it for 15 minutes, it will sleep if there is no input after 15 minutes. You will get a warning of sorts, as the screen will dim a few seconds before it sleeps, and you can just tap the screen then to reset the timer.

By: Nothlit

Nothlit — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 07:05:45 -0800

I'm confused by this question. The iPad won't sleep while the movie is playing, but assuming you haven't messed with the default auto-lock settings, it will go to sleep automatically within a couple of minutes after the movie finishes playing. A sleeping iPad is functionally equivalent to a powered-off iPad, especially for as short a period as overnight. The battery should not drain more than a few percent overnight when it's not being actively used. If the problem is that the screen is staying on all night and draining the battery, then you need to adjust the auto-lock settings. If the problem is that by the time you finish your movie the iPad is down to 5% or less, and it still drains the rest of the way overnight even while asleep, then the solution is to keep a charger near the bed, or charge it up before you watch the movie so there's still something left in the tank overnight.

By: undue influence

undue influence — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 07:08:33 -0800

I think what the OP means is not so much that the screen doesn't turn off, but more that the movie doesn't stop playing, and continues until they wake up and turn it off. As far as I know, the smart cover turns the screen off, but doesn't stop the app. I've had music play all night because it just went on and on through my library. This may require some fiddling with your video player - can playlists be set?

Sorry OP, no answers to be found. ): but for posterity, you can set a sleep timer with Apple's own Podcasts app, for 5/10/15/30/45 minutes, or 'after current episode ends'.

By: Nimmie Amee

Nimmie Amee — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 08:27:33 -0800

My solution for this is to use a dock. Once whatever I was watching ends my iPad goes to sleep, and I wake up with it fully charged.

By: valeries

valeries — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 12:09:26 -0800

"The source does not need this." - What does this mean?

By: unliteral

unliteral — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 17:11:17 -0800

I've had music play all night because it just went on and on through my library. This may require some fiddling with your video player
Aha! GoodPlayer default setting is Playback Auto Repeat.

By: undue influence

undue influence — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 22:55:34 -0800

Oh yay! Glad it was a fixable thing. Enjoy your movies!