Help Shutting down programs to conserve battery

[spatt]

Anyone know how to close programs? I end up with a ton of programs running and my battery isnt lasting very long.

Thanks.

 

[ram100987]

Same here. If there isn't a way already then a dev needs to make one because my battery is low around midday.

 

[RevWillie]

I've seen some platforms that were linux-based in the past wherein resources are automatically managed and apps that aren't being accessed on screen are hibernating in the background. I'm not sure if that is part of the android design. I would prefer to not have to explicitly close apps just to save juice or memory or cpu cycles because it's poor UI design.

 

[Sundog]

I've seen some platforms that were linux-based in the past wherein resources are automatically managed and apps that aren't being accessed on screen are hibernating in the background. I'm not sure if that is part of the android design. I would prefer to not have to explicitly close apps just to save juice or memory or cpu cycles because it's poor UI design.

You are right. If a program is "running" in the background waiting for events, for example, it isn't using ANY power at all. Where you get into trouble is with apps that use the GPS or other hardware in the background, things like that.

They are, however, using ram, but Android cleans that up automagically.

 

[eli]

Same here. If there isn't a way already then a dev needs to make one because my battery is low around midday.

Just out of curiosity, have you tried running the battery down until nothing (i.e. the phone shuts off) yet? Sometimes the battery metter just needs to be calibrated because it isn't sure where "empty" is.

 

[phuthanvinh]

have you guys tried to lowest the brightness of the screen and the set the screen off within a minute or 30 seconds? i tried and it helps but not much tho

 

[joephu]

I also recommend installing Anycuts and creating shortcuts to Wifi and Bluetooth if you use those often. This makes it so much easier to toggle on/off these features.

 

[ram100987]

speaking of running the battery down, my first full day with the phone the battery ran down to the point that it showed an emtpy battery with a cross through it. it was like this for around 4 hours, and even though at this point i only used it to make a couple short calls, it never actually died...

 

[RevWillie]

I also recommend installing Anycuts and creating shortcuts to Wifi and Bluetooth if you use those often. This makes it so much easier to toggle on/off these features.

Awesome Idea! I did this for quick access. Do you know if there's an easy way to change the icons for those shortcuts?

 

[Vivid]

Guys one question about anycuts.

I have made a shortcut to WiFI and BT but can not find the right item to link to for GPS settings, I have looked "anycuts > activity > ?????" but can find the right link

 

[smithey]

Guys one question about anycuts.

I have made a shortcut to WiFI and BT but can not find the right item to link to for GPS settings, I have looked "anycuts > activity > ?????" but can find the right link

To get to GPS settings go to anycut -> activity -> unlock pattern (presto - the gps settings, use wifi, and require pattern toggle switches)

 

[Vivid]

Smithey,

thanks, got all three battery drainers on shortcuts.

 

[dkaufman1]

Good advice on AnyCuts...I set up a GPS and Wifi shortcut to enable and disable them quickly.

I also added a Battery shortcut which lets you see a number (% symbol missing) of your Battery Level.

I saw where GPS uses more battery, but does wifi and 3g use more too? I would guess so, but I am not sure.

I have disabled them and now see Edge.

 

[smithey]

vivid - no problem, just got lucky on figuring that out

kaufman - good idea on the one shortcut for two settings, i like my desktop to be as uncluttered as possible. right now i'm going left page for apps i use a lot, middle page for dialer, messaging, contacts, and browser, and right page for settings shortcuts.

 

[Vivid]

DKaufman,

great tip on the "wireless" link for both BT and WIFI..

I would also like to know if there is a way to shut down both 3G and Edge, so then the only thing ur phone could transmit would be Voice and SMS/MMS... For any international roamer it would be key to turn off all data unless you wanted huge roaming data fees.

 

[dkaufman1]

Since this seems an Anycuts thread too...Anyone know how to rename the folder?

Smithey - I put my shortcuts in a folder to keep my desktop cleaner and would like rename them shortcuts. (FYI a second folder is still called "folder").

 

[Vivid]

DK,

you can rename a folder by first opening the folder then push and hold the folders name, this opens a window to rename the folder

 

[dkaufman1]

DK,

you can rename a folder by first opening the folder then push and hold the folders name, this opens a window to rename the folder

Awesome. Thanks.

 

[dballz]

Um fellas I can't find the Anycuts app were can I find it?

 

[dkaufman1]

Um fellas I can't find the Anycuts app were can I find it?

Under the pull tab at the bottom of the screen is the Icon "Market" and shopping bag. Click.

In the Marketplace, click on Applications, Tools and scroll down.

Then you have to go through the steps to install it.

There is also a "search" tool if you click the "menu" key in the Market.

 

[Milkboot]

+1


Really like the anycut idea. Just spent the past 5 min redoing the shortcuts on my phone

 

[introspection]

speaking of running the battery down, my first full day with the phone the battery ran down to the point that it showed an emtpy battery with a cross through it. it was like this for around 4 hours, and even though at this point i only used it to make a couple short calls, it never actually died...

My phone has been telling me all day to day to plug it in and I still haven't. I'm trying to see how long before it actually dies.It seems to go a whole lot longer than most people think.

 

[ram100987]

I think it just does that the first time. The first time I let it run down to the point that it showed a crossed out battery it stayed like that for around 4 hours and still didn't die, but today I let it run down and it only stayed on no battery for... maybe an hour. So maybe it wasn't accurate on that first drain but now after that it has a better idea of how low the battery actually is.

I like how it seems to limit you to 1G service when the battery is critically low though, because if your were not capable of charger it for a while, but need it for emergency calls this will make it last much longer, but it would be nice if there was a way to turn 3G back on if your not worried about extending the last drop of battery life.

 

[johnkzin]

Um fellas I can't find the Anycuts app were can I find it?

Right now, I'm just having trouble downloading AnyCuts at all. I can't do it via wifi, I can't do it via Edge, and I can't do it via 3G (I've tried all 3 at moments when I had that sort of connection). The download starts, gives me that busy "sideways barber shop bar" look, and says "starting download" ... and that's it. Sometimes it eventually gives me a status bar error of some non-descript form, and asks me to try again.

Kind of annoying.

 

[krstofer]

Does disabling those things really make that puch of a difference? I also like the uncluttered screen so my left screen only has the clock on it.

I wish I could use one of the clocks in the alarm clock setting.