Connect your charger!” Isn’t this the most dreaded messageever? Worry no more because it’s now possible to ask your Android device what’sdraining your battery. Just go to settings>about phone>battery use. Onceyou do this, you will realise that the biggest power hog is the display screen.
While many Android device owners feel that the batteryoptimiser apps available on Google Play will extend their battery life, theyare dead wrong (pun intended) as such apps do the exact opposite.
It is an inimitable fact that the Android operating systemhas turned the mobile communications and PDA world on its head by offeringfeatures, functionality and an open architecture that threatens to blow awayeverything else on the market.
However, many of the features available on Android devicescan cause its batteries to drain very quickly. Because of this, users ofAndroid devices must intelligently and proactively manage the energy in theirbatteries.
Hence, the power-saving options presented here can be usedas you wish; all at the same time, individually or in any desired combination.
- (Settings » Wirelesscontrols » Mobile networks » Use only 2G networks) If you do not need access tohigh speed data, or there is no 3G network where you live, you can tell Androidto only use 2G mobile networks. You will still have access to EDGE network dataand WiFi if needed.
- (Settings » Sound& Display » Brightness) Most people can see an Android display quite wellwith the backlighting feature turned off. Move the slider all the way to theleft, then try using the device that way. If you can't see it well in thatsetting, move the slider to the right only as far as necessary to view thedisplay comfortably.
- (Settings » Sound& display » Screen timeout) This setting tells the device to turn off thescreen after the selected period of inactivity. The shorter the period, theless power your display will use. The setting options vary from phone to phone.
- (Settings » Wirelesscontrols » WiFi, or get the Wireless Settings free app) The wireless networkingtransmitter uses quite a bit of power. Even when the device is not connected toa network, it will continue to search for one on a regular basis.
- (Settings » Sound& display » Phone vibrate) The tiny device inside your phone that generatesthe vibration uses power every time it is activated. Alternatively, set theringer volume all the way off, past the vibrate setting.
The above five battery optimisation points can be followedto get the most out of your android battery on any version of the Android OS.But, try not to lose heart. Battery drain on Android is just natural.
Nigel Quadros calls himself a techfreak and his twitterhandle says it too (@nigeltechfreak) He is The Goan’s mad tech scientist whospends most of his time (and life) plays with gadgets
