Android 3.0: Improve Battery Life, Google

What good is a mobile device if being tethered to the wall socket or an USB port to the device charged? That's the question I ask myself in reading the review for the EVO and a lot of other Android devices.

In trying to compete with the iPhone and the rest of the smartphones in the market, developers like HTC and Motorola has beefed up specs for their top line and showcase devices. I'm all for that. Dave the Mobile Warrior appreciates it as well. But like me, Dave has been lamenting the fact that in using the EVO as a hotspot, it lasts a mere hour of use. Plus, he cannot believe how power hungry the EVO is.

As an Android fan, I'm likely to suggest that users turn off features and services that they don't need like live wall paper. But I like my wall paper and since I work in an office, hooking up my devices to the wall or charging through USB ports isn't a big deal. Then again, why should I have to worry about getting enough juice if I'm on the move?

I'm hoping that Google will provide a more robust solution for power management in this area. I'm a true mobile warrior in the sense that freedom from power sources and mobile computing doesn't involve compromising features to save power.

From time to time, bloggers and other tech avenues on the Web would offer means to extend battery life. Turning off Wi-Fi, dimming the screen, or just getting off 3G altogether when high speed wireless access is not needed. I hope Google and its partners will make those articles a thing of the past with Android 3.0. These battery saving articles only serve as a reminder of the shortcomings of the Android platform.

As a matter of fact, there are Android devices on the market that doesn't use a 4 inch screen but closer to 3.5 inch and uses slower processors instead of the top of the line 1Ghz processors and they seem to offer better battery life. But there is a trade off: some of the lower end devices might have the most recent Android OS but not all features will work.

And I should not have to compromise. So Google, please make an extra effort to insure that battery efficiency is just as much a priority as new Android feature.

Latest Battery Life Review

As I mentioned yesterday, I turned off the 3G because the battery life was just being killed.  So, I decided to see how I can muddle through the day on just Edge.

Well, it turned out rather well.  It got me through the day around 10PM.  Still moderate use if that.  I answered a few IMs and e-mails.  Checked out the stocks and read stuff on my Google Reader.

Just for the heck of it, I decided to check on my banking information.  It was slow.  Slower than on my iPhone for some reason on Edge but maybe that was a subjective feeling rather than a timed benchmark.

At about 6pm, I walked over to the local market to get some stuff for my lunch tomorrow and I had about a little more than 50% of battery life left.  So, I decided to end the Edge experiment and turn on the 3G.

oh, I made also about 15 minutes of calls.

I started charging it again around 10PM.   I had about 20% left and I didn't want bother at that moment.

So, what have I learned other than the obvious fact that 3G takes up a lot juice?

• I learned I need to juggle through the day on 2G if I can.  Where I have broadband, there is no need for 3G. 
• The G1, maybe even Android, is not particularly power efficient, compared to the Blackberry or the iPhone.  
• Here are the following settings that can be turned off to save power:  3G, GPS, Wi-Fi/Cell location, screen brightness (I've got it at 50% which is quite good already), and data sync.  Also, if you have a separate pop mail, you can change the frequency of when the G1  goes out to check and pull the mail.  You can set it from 15 minutes to manual.  

Please come back this weekend and I'll have a general review and, next week, I'll continue to go into specific features and apps.

G1 Battery Part 2

I'll be updating later on today's battery life scenario.

Yesterday, with everything turned on, I managed to get through the day with moderate use through 6:30PM.  The G1 had been on since 11PM the previous night on battery.  Throughout the day, I did the follow:

• GPS for a 20 minute drive
• Music here and there.  About 90 minutes total.
• 3G was on.  Push mail on.
• gTalk was on.  Sent a few messages.  MSN and Yahoo are off.
• Surf the web here and there.  Nothing heavy.  Light use.
• Sent a couple of e-mails.  Two I think.  

So today, I'm going to try something different.  I'lve deactivated the 3G and will be using Edge to see how the battery life is extended.  I think when I'm in the office, there really is no need for 3G to be on.  

• GPS is off.  Location via cell and wi-fi is off.
• Edge only.  Push mail should still work?
• gTalk is one.  I don't see the point of it not on.  MSN and Yahoo are also on.

I can't think of anything else to turn off.  On, the screen has been at about 50% brightness.  So, we'll see how I get through the day.  By comparison, I can get through three days on the iPhone at similar settings.

Note:  There is an update forthcoming.  I surmise we'll see something about the battery life in future updates if not this one.