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I get 2 days of battery life disabling backgr data (but with push email on)

cdl

Android Enthusiast
Feb 4, 2010
448
60
I have a Milestone running Android 2.1

Initially, battery life was terrible, so bad I was considering returning the phone: with only K-9 email imap idle push email on in the background, and auto-sync off, I could get barely 7-8 hours of battery life, whereas with the Nokia e71 and Iphone 3gs I would get at least a day and a half, with comparable usage (push email, ca. 20 emails a day, 30 minutes of web browsing and 20 minutes of calls a day).

I then disabled background data, leaving the k-9 push email on, and now I get 2 days of battery life! :D

This is great, of course, but it also raises another question: what on Earth was going on in the background that was draining the battery? :thinking: Thoughts?

Specifically, if you're interested in replicating my settings: I used 'any cut' to create a shortcut on the home screen to: settings -> account & sync. Once I untick 'background data', I can still use k-9 email, the browser, maps, etc, i.e. data-on-demand, if you will.

If I want to access the market, I enable backgr data again. If I want to sync contacts and calendar, I enable 'account sync' from the power control widget (which enables background data, too), and then, once done, I disable background data and account sync.

In k-9: menu -> folder list -> account -> settings -> background sync -> always. This way imap idle push works even when background data is off.

I then have a remember the milk widget (but Astrid is a valid free alternative) with manual sync, and a pure calendar widget with, again, auto sync off.

This is the best battery life I have ever had from a smartphone! But I am also curious to understand what was using data in the background and draining the battery so much... Having account sync off is a deal breaker for some, but for me it's ok: I don't update calendar and contacts every second, so the trouble of pressing a couple of buttons every now and then is well worth the extended battery life.
 
Hi there!
Have you checked your network type?
I have background data enabled, but use 2G connection, I enable 3G only when necessary for heavy internet use, and my battery goes over a day, day and a half with normal use.
Just go to Settings -> Wireless & networks -> Mobile networks -> Use only 2G networks. Check it out and tell us :)

I've searched "android background data" on several forums and looks like it does all the sync work as google contacts and stuff.
 
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:thinking:
Hi there!
Have you checked your network type?
I have background data enabled, but use 2G connection, I enable 3G only when necessary for heavy internet use, and my battery goes over a day, day and a half with normal use.
Just go to Settings -> Wireless & networks -> Mobile networks -> Use only 2G networks. Check it out and tell us :)

Do you have anything running in the background? Push email, for instance?
I am with 3, which is a 3G only network. I am in the process of switching to another network, and once I do I'll check 2G vs 3G battery usage, but I cannot do so just yet.

I've searched "android background data" on several forums and looks like it does all the sync work as google contacts and stuff.

Well, it didn't sync calendar and contacts when I had background data on but auto sync off (I tested it). Yet something must have been using the internet connection and draining the battery. I just wonder what! :thinking: I tried several network and cpu monitors but couldn't understand it.

One thing I definitely don't like about Android vs Nokia Symbian is that you cannot close apps (not without a task killer) and it's never clear what is running on your system, because some apps start up for no apparent reason. I hate this, makes me feel I'm not in control of my device. But I must admit that, overall, Android is waaay more advanced than Symbian
 
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I have gmail with push and a work account with imap, both work great with 2G network enabled, oh and another thing, calender also updated with new events added on google's calender.

I've read that this "background data" option was enabled in a 1.5 android update.
I hate motorola or android don't give us any official side on all this features, at least I couldn't found any.
 
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My battery could probably go day and a half with everything turned on if I just left meebo turned off... I work in a location where having my phone out is an asset and selling tool ( I sell them, natch. ) so It gets a LOT of use... 14 hours in to a day and the battery is still in to the green after browsing, music, texting and having meebo open ALL day.

Best smartphone battery life I've ever had (e71, Dream, now milestone. )

Love this things, needs moar root though, I'm just lazy as hell.
 
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I have a Milestone running Android 2.1

I then disabled background data, leaving the k-9 push email on, and now I get 2 days of battery life! :D

I now use a widget to keep 3g off most of the time, and only turn it on when I need heavy internet usage (web browsing, market etc). The battery life is even better now, and imap idle push email with k-9 email works just fine with 2g.

I charged the phone this morning at 7 am, talked for ca. 20-30 minutes, sent and received ca 10 text messages, received ca 10 emails (with imap idle push on) and the battery is still at 90% after 8 hours. So much better than Nokias and Iphones...
 
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And no point in having a true Internet enabled device. Defeats the purpose of having an Android device IMO.

Couldn't agree more.

With both background data and autosync off, the only background internet connection used by my Milestone is that for imap idle (push email on an imap server) with k-9, which doesn't drain the battery and is perfect for my needs.
 
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Couldn't agree more.

With both background data and autosync off, the only background internet connection used by my Milestone is that for imap idle (push email on an imap server) with k-9, which doesn't drain the battery and is perfect for my needs.
Oh I agree as well. But some people are just strange and only like using their smartphones on wifi. APNDroid was a god send on my HTC dream on nights when I was running low and only needed to text, on the Milestone, battery life is significantly better, and more than I need in a day anyway. I also don't have 2g to fall back on, being telus ;)
 
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I had a problem at one point with my battery life as well. I found out it was something in the "Android System" causing a 66% drain on battery life. My battery wouldn't last 5-6hrs after a full charge.

I believe this started happening after connecting to my PC with the USB. I solved it by recycling power to the phone. It must have been a process running in the background.

Watch out for that.
 
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