Apple warns users not to attach iPhones to motorcycles

Apple has a message for iPhone users with high powered motorcycles, mopeds, and scooters: don’t tie your phone to them, you appreciate your camera.

In a supporting document with a particularly long and strangely specific title published friday– which was called “Exposure to vibrations, like those generated by high horsepower motorcycle engines, could impact iPhone cameras,” in case you were wondering –Apple has stated that attaching your iPhone to these vehicles may expose them toamplitude vibrations within certain frequency ranges. As a result, it can lead to degradation of the phone’s Optical Image Stabilization, or OIS, and closed-loop autofocus systems over time.

Since it’s these systems that help your iPhone take great photos even if you accidentally move around and help it counter the effects of gravity and vibration, it’s not a good idea to mess them up. This will reduce the quality of your photos and videos. All iPhones starting with the iPhone 6 Plus have an OIS or closed-loop autofocus system.

Technically speaking, the OIS system contains a gyroscope which reduces motion and image blur. As you move around, the camera lens moves according to the angle of the gyroscope, which ensures you take a beautiful photo. Meanwhile, the closed-loop autofocus system uses built-in magnetic sensors to “measure the effects of gravity and vibration and determine the position of the lens so that the compensating movement can be fine-tuned, ”according to Apple.

“IPhone’s OIS and closed-loop AF systems are built to last,” the company explained. “However, as is the case with many consumer electronics devices that include systems like OIS, long-term direct exposure to high amplitude vibration in certain frequency ranges can degrade the performance of these systems and cause severe injury. Reduced picture quality for photos and videos It is recommended to avoid exposing your iPhone to prolonged high-amplitude vibrations.

Some of you might be wondering if this means that you can’t carry your iPhone if you are riding a motorcycle. Let’s be clear, you can, but Apple just prefers that you avoid putting it in certain places.

“Large horsepower or large volume motorcycle engines generate intense, large amplitude vibrations, which are transmitted through the frame and handlebars. It is not recommended to attach your iPhone to motorcycles equipped with high power or high volume motors due to the amplitude of the vibrations in certain frequency ranges they generate, ”the support document states.

If you’re more of the moped or scooter type, Apple recommends that you use a vibration-damping mount to reduce the risk of damaging the iPhone and its OIS and closed-loop autofocus systems. Even so, the company says you shouldn’t regularly tether your iPhone to these vehicles.