I am coding a time attendance app to be used on an iPad in a secure mount outdoors (in a weather proof box).
I am thinking of blocking the home button, and leaving the iPad’s screen turned on at all times.
I was wondering if this will reduce the lifespan of the iPad by a significant amount.
Also, are there any other ideas on how to solve this problem? Proximity sensor with camera would be pretty cool. Or really just light vs dark sensing.
Best Answer
This is incredibly common for independant cafes and small restaurants using iPads as POS systems. I have personally had several iPads that are literally always on and they have lasted years.
I have also used cheap android tablets for the same purpose and as kitchen displays. They have their place and sometimes make sense but I’ve had to replace them often enough to say that I doubt that you would see a significant cost savings going that route.
If the outdoor weather proof box gets extremely hot you might see a difference but all the iPads I’ve used have been in fairly harsh conditions with very few problems.