Apple Vice President of iPad Marketing, Michael Tchao, has set the record straight on allegations that the new iPad either fails to report the proper charge level, or over-charges and risks damage if left charging for too long. Speaking with AllThingsD, Tchao explained:

That circuitry is designed so you can keep your device plugged in as long as you would like. It’s a great feature that’s always been in iOS.

Ina Fried goes on to explain:

Apple does, in fact, display the iPad (and iPhone and iPod Touch) as 100 percent charged just before a device reaches a completely charged state. At that point, it will continue charging to 100 percent, then discharge a bit and charge back up to 100 percent, repeating that process until the device is unplugged. Doing so allows devices to maintain an optimum charge, Apple VP Michael Tchao told AllThingsD today.

Regardless of when the charge cycle is interrupted, the iPad batter will last about 10 hours on Wi-Fi. Apple chose not to show the cyclic fluctuations on the battery indicator.

So we can add "batterygate" to "warmgate" on the list of blow-out-of-proportion non-stories consumers have had to endure since the new iPad launched on March 7. What's next, LTE boiling water? Retina displays causing sun tans? Dictation leading to scratchy throats?

Source: AllThingsD