Use wireless networks? - Samsung Epic 4G Touch

I'm just wondering who uses this for location purposes? I never have it on, and only use gps. For my phone, it always is like 5 blocks away from where I actually am, with a huuge blue circle covering like half to a full mile's radius.
Also, how much having that on drain battery life? I am fully stock!

I use it for weather bug and the widget, I always have gps off unless im using the navigation.

anyone else use it?

Related

Battery Life

I have a widget that shows me how much I have left and when I unplug it after a full charge, I have 6 hours left.
Ridiculous.
This is on auto brightness, wifi, twitter/facebook/mail updating every 15 minutes.
whenever I take my phone out the house I have to bring a charger...
bloody ridiculous.
couple of points.
1) When you leave the house, don't leave your wi-fi on! I find wi-fi to be the biggest battery drain out of everything ( expect gps)
2) I use a brightness widget, therefore when your in doors you can have it on low, then when your out doors have it on high, i assume this will use less battery then auto brightness
3) why do you need facebook updating every 15 minutes?? Do you honestly look at your phone that much when your out? change the settings so it updates every 15 when your on wi-fi at home, and every hour for when your not.
Wifi isn't an issue. I leave it on 24/7 as well as bluetooth and still can get 36 hours out od a charge. Its hooked up to wifi 20hrs a day as well.
Phil750123 said:
2) I use a brightness widget, therefore when your in doors you can have it on low, then when your out doors have it on high, i assume this will use less battery then auto brightness
3) why do you need facebook updating every 15 minutes?? Do you honestly look at your phone that much when your out? change the settings so it updates every 15 when your on wi-fi at home, and every hour for when your not.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks!
1) whats the name of this widget? sounds good
2) is there a setting for that? cant find it
I have a widget that shows me how much I have left and when I unplug it after a full charge, I have 6 hours left.
Ridiculous.
This is on auto brightness, wifi, twitter/facebook/mail updating every 15 minutes.
whenever I take my phone out the house I have to bring a charger...
bloody ridiculous.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. Battery and other constantly updating widgets are one of the causes for battery drain. Get rid of it.
2. Battery widgets try to get an estimate of your typical use. They are mostly wrong in my opinion
3. I can get 6 hours of battery, yes, but only if glue the phone to my hand and use it constantly for that time
4. there are tons of battery threads around, use those suggestions (mid brightness, no live wallpaper, turn airplane on when you know coverage will be unavailable for long, etc)
5. Battery gets better in 10 days.
6. Most people can get at the very least one day of heavy usage. If you really need to hammer the battery get a spare one, they are cheap. Oh, and realize you are lucky because you CAN have a spare battery !
7. If you are using an automatic task killer, get rid of it.
callummc said:
thanks!
1) whats the name of this widget? sounds good
2) is there a setting for that? cant find it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1) go to the market and search brightness level, or brightness widget, there are a number of these. The best i find is brightness level by curvefish, it lets you pick a percentage and keep at that .
2) Cant remeber actually where the settings are but there is a way. But i prefer to use another widget, autosync on/off, this allows you to update every 15 when on wi-fi, but when you want to save battery, turn auto sync off and it doesnt sync ,
I suggest you use switchpro widget. its like the power control widget but with more options to turn on/off things.
I typically charged my Nokia N97 every other day or so, even though I used it frequently, and needless to say the HTC Desire doesn't have the same stamina. I was quite frustrated by it, and I started thinking of ways to save power. I came up with 19 tips, and I have actually noticed quite a difference by following them
19 Tips to Keep the HTC Desire Running a Little Longer
Nice post thanks.ill give this a go. But I have a question to do with the positioning using data or gps. I believe your stating that you should turn data off for this purpose, and let the gps do it? however my phone was set to opposite. when I changed as you were suggesting and I clicked allow gps, I had a message come up saying to turn off to conserve battery? But your saying to turn on? And have data off? Also how do you get into htc facebook settings,i cant even find it!
dingdong3000 said:
I suggest you use switchpro widget. its like the power control widget but with more options to turn on/off things.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yep i also use this widget
also use a free juice defender or paid ultimate juice that keeps turning on and off your 3g every now and then depending on how you schedule it, my phone with snowstorm weather widget updating every 80 minutes + 30s of 3g every 5 minutes to update mail etc and average usage lasts about 36 hours which is good enough for me
I leave my WI-FI on at home and suffer hardly any drain.
At work like today leave my Mobile network on down to 47% with just twitter usage!
Pathetic is the mobile signals drain.
MapleDouglas said:
I typically charged my Nokia N97 every other day or so, even though I used it frequently, and needless to say the HTC Desire doesn't have the same stamina. I was quite frustrated by it, and I started thinking of ways to save power. I came up with 19 tips, and I have actually noticed quite a difference by following them
19 Tips to Keep the HTC Desire Running a Little Longer
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, ive had another read of this and am now just even more confused! Are you saying to have gps turned off via settings and location aswell as data, or just having gps on? Are you saying that having gps selected via settings for the purpose of locating services uses les batty than via using data? Either way, it appeatss that the power control widget controls the gps the same as via settings. Right now ive deselected gps and the data location.
Dunbad said:
Ok, ive had another read of this and am now just even more confused! Are you saying to have gps turned off via settings and location aswell as data, or just having gps on? Are you saying that having gps selected via settings for the purpose of locating services uses les batty than via using data? Either way, it appeatss that the power control widget controls the gps the same as via settings. Right now ive deselected gps and the data location.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I believe this is what I'm saying:
"To let your device learn your location via wireless network triangulation requires less battery than by using the GPS for this purpose. However, using both methods simultaneously is probably not a good idea from a battery point of view. The GPS can handle this task by itself, although it will get a fix on your location a little bit slower. Also, wireless network positioning will be used to collect anonymous Google location data, which will drain the battery further. You can change this option from Settings > Location > Use wireless networks. "
In other words, to only use wireless network positioning will supposedly use less battery than by only using the GPS, but using both methods will naturally use the most juice
For me...
- Turn GPS On when I needed.
- Turn WiFi On when I needed
- Turn Bluetooth On when I needed
- Use 2G Network for standard internet, we use 3G if we want more speed such us watch video
jauhari said:
For me...
- Turn GPS On when I needed.
- Turn WiFi On when I needed
- Turn Bluetooth On when I needed
- Use 2G Network for standard internet, we use 3G if we want more speed such us watch video
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can get get good days heavy usage (except games) from mine, I haven't tried the 2G thing yet.
Apparently it is the connectivity thing that kills the battery, but turning off 3G, doesn't that take all the fun out of it???
If you just use it as a phone then I reckon you can get a couple of days out of it, or so I've read...

QUestion about having GPS on/off

Since I had my evo I have always left my GPS on because I thought it just sat idle and didn't use any battery until it was called on by an app.
Now I'm not really sure if leaving it on helps drain the battery or not but I'm going to try leaving it off to test.
My question is, by turning it off...what does it affect? I use beautiful widgets with a clock/location/weather.. so will turning it off mess up anything with that? Like maybe location/weather? If I have to update manually and leaving gps off doesn't mess with anything else as far as phone operations then it may be worth doing if it helps battery life.
Anyone care to elaborate a little on their experience with it on or off?
Thanks guys
i keep mine on, still get about 2 days use outta my evo.
i think with it off, some apps use the data signal instead to trianglulate your signal by using the cell towers, but please correct me if im wrong.
Ahh so leaving it off may actually hurt my battery when the apps are trying to use it...hmm
ANyone else?
It shouldnt effect the battery unless something uses it. You can also use tasker to turn it on when you are using certain apps, that way you can make sure its not being used when you don't want it to be.
The weather widget should be able to get your general location from the network and what towers you are near.
I actually leave my GPS on all the time, but turn OFF the network location. It's supposed to save some battery, although it does potentially take longer to get a GPS fix since it's not assisted by the towers.

gps draining battery?

I've been trying to troubleshoot my battery drain rate and I found the problem.
When I turn off the GPS, and leave the wifi and bluetooth on, I get tremendous battery life/
What could be causing the GPS to drain the battery?
Do you ahve any programs running in the background that use gps? such as latitude, or that google one that maps your location? If so, gps kills batteries, because it constantly resyncs with the satelites... I believe the sense weather app also does periodic polling to pinpoint your location for weather.
If you dont need GPS exact location tracking, dont leave gps turned on, and turn it on when you need it.
My GPS is always on. It doesn't really hurt the battery life unless you are using with an application that uses the location service. My weather widget is set to refresh every hour and it's not impacting the battery.
I would look at your running programs and figure out which one is using the GPS. If you have the sensorly 4g map viewer, I found that to be a battery hog.
My money is on Latitude, that's been implicated in a lot of these situations. GPS always on is hardly a battery drain unless something is actually using the receiver. If you don't see the GPS icon in the notification bar, it's not GPS-ing.
SilverZero said:
My money is on Latitude, that's been implicated in a lot of these situations. GPS always on is hardly a battery drain unless something is actually using the receiver. If you don't see the GPS icon in the notification bar, it's not GPS-ing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Interesting tip. I had not noticed it. Thanks.
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App
I have my GPS on all the time and I regularly go over 13 hours without recharging; this is before SetCPU and underclocking.

Poor Battery Life

I am getting very poor battery life. Fully charged at 8am and dead by 5:30. Hardly even using it. I have a limited number of apps on, just a subset of those on my Nexus One and no rouge ones at all. Made a few calls, no web, a couple of gtalk posts and that is it.
See attached usage screen charge to dead and charging again!
The phone is useless like this... any ideas????
Are you in a building with poor reception? I noticed this issue when I left data on when my company moved buildings.
moa77 said:
I am getting very poor battery life. Fully charged at 8am and dead by 5:30. Hardly even using it. I have a limited number of apps on, just a subset of those on my Nexus One and no rouge ones at all. Made a few calls, no web, a couple of gtalk posts and that is it.
See attached usage screen charge to dead and charging again!
The phone is useless like this... any ideas????
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is that solid blue bar from your WiFi being on all the time, or is that your awake bar on 100% of the time from a bad app?
That battery life looks atrocious. Show us the second screen to see the "awake" times.
martonikaj said:
Is that solid blue bar from your WiFi being on all the time, or is that your awake bar on 100% of the time from a bad app?
That battery life looks atrocious. Show us the second screen to see the "awake" times.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The phone is now changed so, the history has gone! I'll do more screens tomorrow.
I am not sure what you mean by awake bar?
I keep wifi and bt on all the time, as I did on my old N1. I am in the same place in the day as I was with that and will have same reception, which is not bad.
App installed are not strange at all;
Adobe Reader
Android Task Killer
AL Voice Recorder
Amazon MP3
Astro
Google Authenicator
Compass
ConnectBot
Currency Converter
ixMat Scanner
RealCalc
StopWatch
That's it, like I say a sub-set of those on my N1 and all solid apps.
I normally listen to mp3 on the N1, but have not had time on the Galaxy yet, so it;s getting less use.
moa77 said:
The phone is now changed so, the history has gone! I'll do more screens tomorrow.
I am not sure what you mean by awake bar?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When clicking on the graph, there is a blue bar showing how often/when the phone is "awake", like in the screenshot I've attached.
I keep wifi and bt on all the time, as I did on my old N1. I am in the same place in the day as I was with that and will have same reception, which is not bad.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
do you keep mobile data turned on? if so, do you keep 3G turned on, or just 2G?
App installed are not strange at all;
Adobe Reader
Android Task Killer
AL Voice Recorder
Amazon MP3
Astro
Google Authenicator
Compass
ConnectBot
Currency Converter
ixMat Scanner
RealCalc
StopWatch
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Get rid of the task killer!
Other than that, don't see anything crazy... This battery life is really strange. When your screen is using less power than the 'Android OS' it shows you're really not using the phone much, but the phone is still tanking on battery life.
I'll post those screen shots for today when I get home tonight.
A few things I have noticed though. It seems to level off at midday, this is when i leave work and go home for an hour. While at home I will be on wifi. I do not connect to wifi at work.
Secondly, while at work I notice my data often changes between "3G" and "H", while the phone is in the same place. Probably 60% H and 40% "3G". It is not practical to turn "2G" only on, as I get the volume bug and the phone becomes unusable.
I am wondering if the data signal is draining it somehow? If so, how can I work around that? Like I said, I have a N1 before the GN which sat in the same place on my desk every day and had no battery drain issue at all.
I unplugged mine yesterday at 7.30am and it died at 9pm
I used the internet on/of all day made a couple of calls and about 50 texts, screen on time was about 4 hours.
Today i've used it in a similar manner and as of now (3pm uk) 7 and a half hours in its on 57%
The battery in this thing is better than my desire, granted, not much in it but it will easily get a normal user from one sleep to another
Stret
moa77 said:
App installed are not strange at all;
Adobe Reader
Android Task Killer
AL Voice Recorder
Amazon MP3
Astro
Google Authenicator
Compass
ConnectBot
Currency Converter
ixMat Scanner
RealCalc
StopWatch
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, it's strange you have a task killer on Ice Cream Sandwich. WTF? This isn't Eclair. Get rid of the damn task killer.
moa77 said:
A few things I have noticed though. It seems to level off at midday, this is when i leave work and go home for an hour. While at home I will be on wifi. I do not connect to wifi at work.
Secondly, while at work I notice my data often changes between "3G" and "H", while the phone is in the same place. Probably 60% H and 40% "3G". It is not practical to turn "2G" only on, as I get the volume bug and the phone becomes unusable.
I am wondering if the data signal is draining it somehow? If so, how can I work around that? Like I said, I have a N1 before the GN which sat in the same place on my desk every day and had no battery drain issue at all.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'd say with 95% certainty it's just signal-hunting causing the drain. With my Fascinate at work, I'll easily lose 50% battery within a couple of hours, even if I'm not using it, while at home it'll last me between 15-20 hours before getting low. Easiest solution is to just buy another charger for work, and leave your phone plugged in whenever it's on your desk.
Don't like seeing android os at the top of that list! Does the nexus share some of the problems that have plagued the galaxy s line of phones, the android os bug!? :O
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA App
copkay said:
I'd say with 95% certainty it's just signal-hunting causing the drain. With my Fascinate at work, I'll easily lose 50% battery within a couple of hours, even if I'm not using it, while at home it'll last me between 15-20 hours before getting low. Easiest solution is to just buy another charger for work, and leave your phone plugged in whenever it's on your desk.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I kind of think you might be right. However, a phone that drains itself while doing absolutely nothing useful at all, is no use to me. I carry it about and am in and out the office though out the day. It would be unworkable to keep putting it on charge every time I come back in the room. I need a phone I can carry around for a working day without charging. My old N1 did. If this can't do it I'll need to get short of it and get something more practical. Seems ridiculous though.
Btw, task killer just got installed by default when I upgraded. All the apps that were on the N1 were installed when I signed in. Just never deleted it
Do you leave your Wifi on all the time even if you don't have Wifi signal available? Don't do that.
If you are too lazy to manage your data connection manually all the time, I highly suggest getting the app Juice Defender from the market. You can save the battery by setting a schedule for data connection and also it will disable your wifi automatically if your phone can't find a wifi spot it can connect to.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA App
Chrono_Tata said:
Do you leave your Wifi on all the time even if you don't have Wifi signal available? Don't do that.
If you are too lazy to manage your data connection manually all the time, I highly suggest getting the app Juice Defender from the market. You can save the battery by setting a schedule for data connection and also it will disable your wifi automatically if your phone can't find a wifi spot it can connect to.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, I leave wifi and bt on. I want to be able to do this. I am not asking for it to run for days. 1 full day is all, I have not issue charging every night.
I could look at the juice monitor, however, it does not seem too much to ask to be able to get 1 full day from it of average use. To me, it seems perfectly reasonable to expect the device to work for a full day with all services running.
Is there any tool than can be used to prove that the signal hunting is eating the power? Currently is seem to be in the big pot called "Android OS"??
Well, I'm not gonna defend the phone. Leaving all radio processes on, especially when there is no signal available, is well known to drain a lot of battery since the phone uses more power to search for available networks than when it has a stable connection to one. If you leave it on in a place with spotty or no signal it will make the problem worse.
Juice Defender (the basic one anyway) is free and pretty much manages the connections for you and basically extends your battery life with minimal effort. Give it a go for a couple if days.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA App
I strongly agree with chrono.
Sent from my SCH-I500 using xda premium
+1 with Chrono.... Turn off Wifi completely if you are not using it.
if you are a new android user, you should also check the settings of the phone:
hit *#*#4636#*#* in the dialpad.
this will bring up a menu. there you should try phone (i think, my n1 got stolen a while ago). there, you scroll down and there is a menu to adjust the preferred network mode.
if it's set to CDMA preferred, it will search for a cdma single. you just adjust it (i think) to gsm only. google will help you a bit here.

How to turn gps on automatically when opening navigation?

As for those who don't know. There is an app out there called tasker. It allows you to program all kinds of tasks and conditions.
I used it in froyo to turn on my gps automatically when I opened the navigation app. However in gingerbread tasker no longer works. I'm reading that in cyanogen gingerbread roms tasker can still enable and disable gps.
Does anyone know anything about modding EI22 so that tasker will work with gingerbread on our epics the way it does in the cyanogen gingerbread roms?
Is there a patch or a piece of code that can be taken from the cyanogen rom to allow this on different roms/kernels?
Possibly is there an alternative to using tasker to get the gps to turn on automatically when navigation/maps is opened?
-Wizzle
Just leave GPS enabled at all times. GPS won't activate until a program needs it, and won't consume battery life while it's sleeping.
Isira said:
Just leave GPS enabled at all times. GPS won't activate until a program needs it, and won't consume battery life while it's sleeping.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cool. I kinda thought that, but I wasn't sure. I guess ill need to turn off location settings for all the apps I don't won't to access gps. I appreciate the info. Thank you.
-Wizzle
Isira said:
Just leave GPS enabled at all times. GPS won't activate until a program needs it, and won't consume battery life while it's sleeping.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To go with this, if the GPS icon is on the toolbar (generally a bullseye/crosshair looking icon), you're using GPS and therefore extra battery--on the flipside, if the GPS icon is gone from the toolbar, then GPS is in standby and not consuming battery.*
* I'm not entirely certain that it consumes no battery when in standby, but it's certainly much less than when it's active. As long as you keep an eye on which apps you allow to use it and when, the battery drain is negligible--At least until you use Navigation and forget to plug it in! Then you'll damn near be able to watch the battery icon visibly tick down, and might could cook an egg on the back of your phone, it gets pretty hot!
If you running ei22 stock, I can leave gps on all the time and don't need to worry about battery. But if you put in the gps fix, careful.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App
I hadn't noticed extra battery drain after flashing the GPS fix. I'll have to monitor that more carefully going forward...
jaytay said:
I hadn't noticed extra battery drain after flashing the GPS fix. I'll have to monitor that more carefully going forward...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The gps fix makes the phone constantly lock to all possible sats. Draining batts.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk

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