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Best power saving app, or trick

norweger

Well-Known Member
Sep 27, 2011
130
22
Like many others, my phone often gets flat before the days has passed, so I really need some way of saving some power. What do you think is the best power saving app, or power saving trick?

I read a piece in PC world where it said that power saving apps where a must for most smartphones. what's your take on that? And what's your best tricks for conserving power?
 
I get the same 3-4 days rooted as I got unrooted. My best tips:

1. Put phone in airplane mode in any 0-1 bar area, and overnight (if you don't need to accept calls at night).
2. Update any apps in Wifi mode (it's much faster).
3. Do all syncing/polling manually (mail, contacts, weather, FB...)
4. Set screen off to 1 minute or less, keep at low brightness.
5. Only use GPS when you need to.
6. Play games only when you're bored.
7. If you have a PC, do as much as you can on it.
8. Use car charger if using Nav much in car.
 
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I get the same 3-4 days rooted as I got unrooted. My best tips:

1. Put phone in airplane mode in any 0-1 bar area, and overnight (if you don't need to accept calls at night).
2. Update any apps in Wifi mode (it's much faster).
3. Do all syncing/polling manually (mail, contacts, weather, FB...)
4. Set screen off to 1 minute or less, keep at low brightness.
5. Only use GPS when you need to.
6. Play games only when you're bored.
7. If you have a PC, do as much as you can on it.
8. Use car charger if using Nav much in car.

I agree with some of your tips, but it seems silly to suggest not using your phone as a tip for battery life. Not only is that kind of obvious but it seems silly to not use your phone the way you want. Why else did you pay for it? If you wanted a phone that got great battery life that you don't play with you could get a feature phone.

I'm not by any means trying to be a smartass or anything, just wanted to comment on that because it seems to be a common suggestion :p

All that aside, I highly recommend you purchase JuiceDefender. I swear by it. I get about 1.5x the battery life out of my phone with only mild inconvienence.

Market Link: http://market.android.com/search?q=juice+defender&so=1&c=apps

What it does:

JuiceDefender turns off your data when you are not actively using your phone (AKA it's in your pocket) and turn is on occasionally to sync. This means that a good portion of the day your phone isn't sitting around using it's 3G/4G radio for no good reason.

What this means for you:

If you need push emails you may be out of luck because since your data isn't on at all times, your mail won't get synced at all times. I have mine set to sync every 15 minutes, so every 15 minutes I will get my emails (if I have gotten any).

This also means, that when you turn your phone on, you need to wait for your 3G/4G radio to enable before you can use an app that needs data. This hardly ever takes longer than half a second, but today people have no patience so I always explain this will happen :p

Why you should buy it:

The free version does essentially the same thing, however it has far less customization. For example I can set peak times that data is always enabled. Or situations (such as when my phone is plugged in). Or I can disable connectivity at night if I want (no more facebook updates waking ya up). It auto manages my wifi for me based on my location (amazingly efficient at it too.) The list goes on and on. There are pages of settings and they are all very easily explained in lamens terms to help you make your phone do exactly what it wants.


If you can't tell by this super long write-up. I love this app, and if your phone isn't getting you the battery life you want, I suggest it for everyone :D

IMPORTANT EDIT: Just because yoru 3G/4G radio is off does NOT mean you won't get text messages/phone calls. These will be unaffected by using JuiceDefender as they do not use data.
 
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I do use the phone for everything I bought it for. I have no bars at home, so I use Power Scheduler to automatically put it airplane mode from 6:00 PM to 9:00 AM, and Wifi from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM. I probably browse 15-30 minutes a day (at most), play maybe 10-15 minutes of games, and actually use it as a phone.

I use Groove IP, so I can't use Juice Defender (can't have data turn off). I tried JD, but found that manually doing the same thing actually saved me more juice. I'm sure there are many more "power users" out there that use their phone 24/7... I'm not one of them. Just listed what works for me. I find one of the biggest drains is being in a no service area.

I agree with some of your tips, but it seems silly to suggest not using your phone as a tip for battery life. Not only is that kind of obvious but it seems silly to not use your phone the way you want. Why else did you pay for it? If you wanted a phone that got great battery life that you don't play with you could get a feature phone.

I'm not by any means trying to be a smartass or anything, just wanted to comment on that because it seems to be a common suggestion :p

All that aside, I highly recommend you purchase JuiceDefender. I swear by it. I get about 1.5x the battery life out of my phone with only mild inconvienence.

Market Link: http://market.android.com/search?q=juice+defender&so=1&c=apps

What it does:

JuiceDefender turns off your data when you are not actively using your phone (AKA it's in your pocket) and turn is on occasionally to sync. This means that a good portion of the day your phone isn't sitting around using it's 3G/4G radio for no good reason.

What this means for you:

If you need push emails you may be out of luck because since your data isn't on at all times, your mail won't get synced at all times. I have mine set to sync every 15 minutes, so every 15 minutes I will get my emails (if I have gotten any).

This also means, that when you turn your phone on, you need to wait for your 3G/4G radio to enable before you can use an app that needs data. This hardly ever takes longer than half a second, but today people have no patience so I always explain this will happen :p

Why you should buy it:

The free version does essentially the same thing, however it has far less customization. For example I can set peak times that data is always enabled. Or situations (such as when my phone is plugged in). Or I can disable connectivity at night if I want (no more facebook updates waking ya up). It auto manages my wifi for me based on my location (amazingly efficient at it too.) The list goes on and on. There are pages of settings and they are all very easily explained in lamens terms to help you make your phone do exactly what it wants.


If you can't tell by this super long write-up. I love this app, and if your phone isn't getting you the battery life you want, I suggest it for everyone :D

IMPORTANT EDIT: Just because yoru 3G/4G radio is off does NOT mean you won't get text messages/phone calls. These will be unaffected by using JuiceDefender as they do not use data.
 
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No, he means unlock your device and have complete control over it. Just do some research and you'll see what you're missing out on.

Mavrik; could you please give a link to something like that?

I sure could use it. I bought my phone a week ago. It was 100% charged when I went to bed. Now, 9 hours later (after a long nights sleep - not being used) it is 40% (!).

Not sure if it has anything to do with it, but the Apps I have installed are:
3G Watchdog Pro
Opera Mobile and Mini
Last.fm (haven't used it yet)
Dolphin Browser and Dolphin desktop Toogle
Firefox Beta
ASTRO file manager
Dropbox (haven't used it yet)
Mobisle Notes lite and Pro
Google Documents
Advanced Task Killer by ReChild
Data counter Widget by Roy Solberg
Documents to Go Full version
Facebook for Andoid (comes with the phone)


My homescreen slides are Friendstrem, facebook (comes with the phone) and nothing else...
 
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Mavrik; could you please give a link to something like that?

I sure could use it. I bought my phone a week ago. It was 100% charged when I went to bed. Now, 9 hours later (after a long nights sleep - not being used) it is 40% (!).

Not sure if it has anything to do with it, but the Apps I have installed are:
3G Watchdog Pro
Opera Mobile and Mini
Last.fm (haven't used it yet)
Dolphin Browser and Dolphin desktop Toogle
Firefox Beta
ASTRO file manager
Dropbox (haven't used it yet)
Mobisle Notes lite and Pro
Google Documents
Advanced Task Killer by ReChild
Data counter Widget by Roy Solberg
Documents to Go Full version
Facebook for Andoid (comes with the phone)


My homescreen slides are Friendstrem, facebook (comes with the phone) and nothing else...

One, or more, of your apps have gone rogue. I recommend getting rid of 'Advanced Task Killer', as it's most likely the cause. I also recommend getting rid of Facebook and installing an alternative version. I like FriendCaster.
 
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Green Power Premium (marketplace) is as good as bigbabys suggestion of Juice Defender. Premie version lets you have a different (more aggressive) profile at night (when in theory you are asleep and not using the handset ;)).

I managed to squeeze 36 hours out of my HTC Sensation with it which is a miracle.

I use this app in conjunction with Battery Indicator Pro (marketplace)

Most days I get between 18-25 hours out of my Sensation which is pretty damn good IMHO :D
 
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How many bars do you have at home (where your phone sets)? If I DON'T put my phone in airplane mode at night, it drops from 100% to 30-40% in 12 hours; if I DO it drops from 100% to 99% (or less). Uncheck background, and try airplane mode one night and see what happens. Also check your CPU and Partial Wake usage and see if anything pops out.

Mavrik; could you please give a link to something like that?

I sure could use it. I bought my phone a week ago. It was 100% charged when I went to bed. Now, 9 hours later (after a long nights sleep - not being used) it is 40% (!).

Not sure if it has anything to do with it, but the Apps I have installed are:
3G Watchdog Pro
Opera Mobile and Mini
Last.fm (haven't used it yet)
Dolphin Browser and Dolphin desktop Toogle
Firefox Beta
ASTRO file manager
Dropbox (haven't used it yet)
Mobisle Notes lite and Pro
Google Documents
Advanced Task Killer by ReChild
Data counter Widget by Roy Solberg
Documents to Go Full version
Facebook for Andoid (comes with the phone)


My homescreen slides are Friendstrem, facebook (comes with the phone) and nothing else...
 
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It's just unbelievable. Tonight also. It was 100% charged. Only seven hours later of not using it, it's around 65.

Here's what it says have used the power.
WiFi 22%
- WiFi running 7 hours, 4 minutes.
- Processor totally 1s (what's 1s?)
Comment; on my old N97 mini the WiFi barely used power when I didn't use it overnight. It knew which networks where available, and the phone only checked the status of those networks when I did something which required a connection. The only thing I can think of is to turn off "Alert med when a new open WiFi is available" (as I only use my own wireless connection), but I doubt that's what's causing it.
Andriod System 19%
- CPU total 20s (not sure what the 20s means)
- CPU foreground 20s
- Keep awake 59s
- Data sent 32 KB
- Data received 48 KB
Included packages
-- Setup
-- HTC Function Test Program 1.05g
-- Upgrade Setup (I have not run a upgrade during the night)
-- Settings Storage
-- Tell HTC
-- BrcmBluetothServices (my Bluetooth is always off, not sure what this means)
-- HTC Hub (not used it to my recollection)
-- Settings
-- Network Locatio
-- Accounts & sync
-- Clock
-- HTC Checkin Service
-- Google Backup Transport
-- VPN Services
-- Android System
-- Status Bar
Phone 19%
- CPU total 0s
- Keep Awake 16s
- Data sent 8 KB
- Data received 8 KB
Included packages
-- Dialer Storage
-- Phone
-- SIM Toolkit
Cell-standby 17%
- Time on 7 hours (this looks like the power it uses to check for a phone network. There are 4/4 bars where I live, so the connection is good).
Phone not in use (whatever that is, everything is phone not in use) 15%
- 7 hours
Screen 10% (the screens light shouldn't be an issue at night, and it's even set at below standard settings).


1.10.2011, I changed from quick start to slow start (of the whole phone) on the settings menu. See if it helps. Not sure if it did help, if so it was so little it was unnoticable.
2.10.2011 I tried clicking Settings > Accounts & sync > If I take off either "Background data" or "auto-sync" than I wont get my emails, so that's not something which would be a solution.

Settings/Power,Enable Power saver-Go into Power saver Settings-Uncheck Disable Background Data, this should allow your push notifications for mail to still work.My Battery life is Double what it was at Default settings,give it a try..
I will try that now (2.10.2011). I would than get:
 
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Settings/Power,Enable Power saver-Go into Power saver Settings-Uncheck Disable Background Data, this should allow your push notifications for mail to still work.My Battery life is Double what it was at Default settings,give it a try..

What could save battery is selecting "Disable background data", yes. But what is the background data specifically? Facebook-updates? What else?
 
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One, or more, of your apps have gone rogue. I recommend getting rid of 'Advanced Task Killer', as it's most likely the cause. I also recommend getting rid of Facebook and installing an alternative version. I like FriendCaster.

I agree. One of my apps are probably rouge. I have installed some apps, uninstalled them, and remainders of them are on my SD card. I have also switched cards back and forth with my old Nokia phone. I only did that once, with the purpose of getting my images from the old to the new phone. But it might have screwed something up (strangely the only thing I can see is that my Nokia card is full of Android folders I have not installed, can't see anything on card which came with the HTC phone though - but the fact that it can go one way indicates it can go the other as well).

I didn't get rid of Facebook (I am not using it yet. Haven't even added friends to my newly opened account, but it was running in one of the seven desktop slides). So you recommend removing facebook completely?

Not having it in one of my seven desktop slides might have been what made my phone "only" go from 100% to 65% (instead of lower) after a night of not using it.
 
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Green Power Premium (marketplace) is as good as bigbabys suggestion of Juice Defender. Premie version lets you have a different (more aggressive) profile at night (when in theory you are asleep and not using the handset ;)).

I managed to squeeze 36 hours out of my HTC Sensation with it which is a miracle.

I use this app in conjunction with Battery Indicator Pro (marketplace)

Most days I get between 18-25 hours out of my Sensation which is pretty damn good IMHO :D

Please let me know a way Green Power Premium outperforms the other app. Can you auto turn it on at say midnight?

About the Battery Indicator Pro, what does it do that you can't see by clicking Settings > About phone > Battery status and level ?
 
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Please let me know a way Green Power Premium outperforms the other app. Can you auto turn it on at say midnight?

Yep, there's custom Night Settings on the Premium version, you pick the time it comes on and the time it comes off and what you want it to manage.

By the way...try Airplane Mode. I tried it one night, my Sensation was on 75% when I went to sleep and it was 71% 8 hours later when I woke...pretty good huh? :)

About the Battery Indicator Pro, what does it do that you can't see by clicking Settings > About phone > Battery status and level ?

Battery Indicator Pro will show you how much juice you have left based on usage patterns and there's lots of extra setting like logging battery activity etc...see screenies below:

Droid_caps_002.jpg


Droid_caps_001.jpg
 
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Under "Cell Standby", what does it say "time without signal" is? If it's more than 25% that could your problem. (25% of 7 hrs = 1.75 hrs, that's enough to wipe out at least 25% of your battery).

If you're not using wifi, turn it off (but it really shouldn't be draining "that" much) unless something is actually using it.

If you do have FB, make sure it's not syncing.

I find that some rouge apps try to sync (if they are set to sync) even if you have background data and auto-sync turned off (kind of like how the phone tries to connect to a network in a no bar zone)... it just sits there and drains. Finding those apps and getting rid of them is sometimes easier said than done.

"s" = seconds

It's just unbelievable. Tonight also. It was 100% charged. Only seven hours later of not using it, it's around 65.

Here's what it says have used the power.
WiFi 22%
- WiFi running 7 hours, 4 minutes.

Andriod System 19%

Cell-standby 17%

Screen 10% (the screens light shouldn't be an issue at night, and it's even set at below standard settings).
 
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When not in use turn off:

4G
WiFi
Bluetooth
GPS

You can't turn GPS off... the setting is to allow apps to use it or not. When an app uses the GPS it drains the battery but when no apps are using it, it's all the same. I'd say using the correct settings in the app is where you want to limit GPS use (i.e. some apps don't really need to access GPS and allow this option to be turned off.
 
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"you can't"? Mine is off 99% of the time. I have GPS toggle on my home screen I touch when I want to use Maps or Nav. I don't like seeing GPS pop up when some "rouge" app turns itself on (without me doing so). Yeah, probably doesn't drain much leaving it on, but I'd rather have most "location needy" apps use cell locations or wifi... it's much faster (and accurate enough for my liking).

You can't turn GPS off... the setting is to allow apps to use it or not. When an app uses the GPS it drains the battery but when no apps are using it, it's all the same. I'd say using the correct settings in the app is where you want to limit GPS use (i.e. some apps don't really need to access GPS and allow this option to be turned off.
 
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Under "Cell Standby", what does it say "time without signal" is?
It has no time without signal :) All the time is listed as with signal.

I find that some rouge apps try to sync (if they are set to sync) even if you have background data and auto-sync turned off
About apps in general. If I get an email, I get a notice 5 seconds later. If something is written online somewhere which is synced with my phone, it's on my phone instantly. This must be sucking battery. Know of a way to set all of the syncing routines to once every half hour?

You can't turn GPS off...
I've got the newest OS (recent update). I simply drag the status bar down, click quick settings, and turn it off (so that nothing is allowed to use it). Sure there are ways of shutting it down otherwise as well. I've never seen the GPS symbol since (it shows when it's in use). This is off topic anyhow, here's a thread about it tscope.
 
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