2.1 OTA - Camera eating battery after close

[KingoftheJust]

Since receiving the 2.1 OTA it seems that the camera is not closing properly after exiting. I first noticed this after I received the OTA update and just assumed I needed to do a factory reset, which i did yesterday.

I checked it again this morning, took a pic, waited an hour and a half, and voila it's still eating battery at a prodigious rate as compared to other apps and systems currently consuming battery. The only thing I've found that works to date is rebooting the phone.

Any ideas? anyone else experiencing this? My 1.5 ran beautifully and 2.1 is too, (I'm in the Frisco camp) with the exception of this camera glitch.

 

[Mays24]

I am having the same problem some days. I open the battery usage and it says camera 90% of battery usage even after it is closed. Not sure why this would happen.

 

[hallstevenson]

I've seen this too... When I check battery usage, I've seen the camera using 90+ % on more than one occasion.

 

[KingoftheJust]

I wonder if there's a fix for this? Gonna take someone a lot more familiar with this than me to figure it out, ala OTD, Caddyman, Frisco etc...

 

[TTupa]

I'm not sure how accurate that battery use area is. I used the navigation app yesterday, then closed it completely (Menu > Exit Navigation.) A few hours later it said that "Maps" was taking 92% of my battery, and that hardly anything else was running. Well during that time I used Pandora, WiFi, and made several phone calls. The phone app didn't even show on the list.

I charged it for awhile, then removed it from the charger and Maps was still there at about 90%. However, through this whole time it didn't seem like the battery was draining any faster. I used to have Spare Parts on 1.5, but haven't added it back. For situations like this, I'd prefer a second opinion about the battery use.

 

[KingoftheJust]

Good point TTupa. Perhaps this is another case of the the displayed information not matching actual performance.

Case in point - the noticeable difference in the the cell reception bars being 1 or 2 when they were full bars pre 2.1. Though the amount of bars displayed is lower there seems to be no noticeable degradation in actual cell reception.

 

[TTupa]

Hopefully the Battery Use area, 50% Time Without Signal message and signal indicator included, will get fixed in a small maintenance release soon.

 

[Shnuddy]

I have this as well, and I have a feeling it's a bug like the 50% without signal glitch. Whenever use the camera, even if I take only one picture, then exit, it will show that the camera uses like 96% of battery while running. I have gone to settings and forced the camera closed and it will still show this.

But, that being said, I don't think that it is actually using any additional battery (just like the 50% w/o signal). Yesterday, I had normal battery use (about one full day, 5 am-9 pm) and it showed the camera thing all day. It shows it right now.

When I check Spare Parts, the camera shows up under sensor usage and says that it has basically been running since I last rebooted two days ago.

 

[Neera]

Same bug here, had it for several days.
I open the battery usage and it says camera 96% of battery usage even after I haven't used it in two days.

It does not show under settings/running services and my battery has lasted normally the last few days.



EDIT: I always properly back out of the camera as well, so not sure why it is still showing as the top battery eater.

 

[Podivin]

Make sure you always 'back' out of the camera (depending upon what all you've done, it might take multiple presses of the back key), rather than just pressing the home key.

 

[hallstevenson]

Make sure you always 'back' out of the camera

In this case, it doesn't matter. The process does close, i.e. run a task killer and it won't be listed, but the battery use still shows a questionable %. Actually, I shouldn't say it's questionable because when I've seen it, it's because I looked at battery usage when my battery was dying way too fast, like lasting less then 8 hours (of light use too).

 

[KingoftheJust]

This has nothing to do with "backing out" of the camera. I never hit the home button for any app that doesn't have a specific close command in the menu. I always back out. This is simply a glitch of some sort.

I assumed it was something with my phone but now see it's more widespread. Wish there was a fix because it's annoying.

 

[mc48]

not sure how accurate the battery use area is. another way of checking what apps are using your battery is enter *#*#4636#*#* on key pad, don't hit send. Will bring up a menu, usage stats is one of the options.

 

[rxfilr]

Camera issue started for me a few days ago, and pretty sure it has changed battery life for the worse. Can't figure how to stop the process.

 

[tgulch22]

I had the camera battery issue right after goiong to V3. I found out I had turned on the GPS location stamping on my pictures..disabled that in the camera options and have not had the problem since..

 

[Shnuddy]

I had the camera battery issue right after goiong to V3. I found out I had turned on the GPS location stamping on my pictures..disabled that in the camera options and have not had the problem since..

Is that Geo-tag? Cause mine is already turned off.

 

[KingoftheJust]

My Geo-Tag is also turned off so that doesn't seem to be a universal fix for the camera problem.

Oh well. Next?

 

[hallstevenson]

Same here, never turned that on. I hope it's not on by default.

 

[KingoftheJust]

It seems as though a picture must be taken in order to set this glitch off.

At Tgulch22's suggestion I opened the camera to check to see if I had Geo-Tag turned on. I didn't so I closed the camera. I just checked and the camera is not consuming the battery anymore than it should, and it's percentage of battery use is dropping rapidly.

 

[Caddyman]

if you take a pic, and want to close the camera, reboot your phone....

it is a PITA, takes 5 minutes, but that is a workaround.

 

[kennethpm]

how do you re-set the phone without taking battery out?

i have gone back to the Droid Eris after a stint with 2 Blackberries, since the OTA 2.1 release and am very pleased.

i took some pics yesterday, and also noticed that after getting much better battery life with the 2.1 release, i was suddenly losing battery charge rapidly after i used the camera.

 

[WineJones]

I agree it's a workaround, but PITA is an understatement. I think it's unacceptable.

I know, it's supposed to be a phone not a camera, but .... geez, reboot after taking a picture is ridiculous! I'm hoping some of the smart guys and gals can find us a better workaround!

 

[KingoftheJust]

I've been rebooting, and Caddyman, you're right...it's a major PITA. I was just hoping there was a way to prevent this from happening.

 

[xx_bishop_xx]

how do you re-set the phone without taking battery out?

i have gone back to the Droid Eris after a stint with 2 Blackberries, since the OTA 2.1 release and am very pleased.

i took some pics yesterday, and also noticed that after getting much better battery life with the 2.1 release, i was suddenly losing battery charge rapidly after i used the camera.

To reboot (soft reset): Long-press on End/Power button>Power off>Ok. After phone is off, just power back up with End/Power button.

 

[Caddyman]

someone with the issue check and see if turning airplane mode on and off will kill it.