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Awful battery performance on my HTC Desire

  • 07-10-2010 10:01AM
    #1
    Zascar
    Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators, Music Moderators Posts: 12,616 Mod ✭✭✭✭


    I got a desire a while back and absolutely loved it. I still do, but I am pretty appalled at the battery life. I'm not even that heavy a user, but you'd really struggle to get more than a day out of it. I've lost count of the amount of times I've gone to bed at night with 1/4 to 1/5 of battery, and I wake up late for work cause the phone died and the alarm did not go off. I used to think my iPhone was terrible but it was twice as good as this. I use task killer and I'm not using wifi/gps etc - and its not like I sit on the web all day or anything. I'd say for a heavy user you would be lucky to get half a day out of it!

    Is there anything I can do or is this just Android/Desire?


Comments

  • #2
    Saadyst
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 535 ✭✭✭Saadyst


    Update to 2.2 (froyo) and stop using a task killer. Get watchdog if you want to keep an eye on what's going on.

    Desire battery life seems to get better over time, naturally. Mine was horrendous as well - and it still is, if I spend ages on it every day, but it's much more improved at the moment, compared to the time I bought it.

    There's not really much else to do except just make sure you turn off wi-fi if you wont be using it - common sense things like that.


  • #3
    cullenswood
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,368 ✭✭✭cullenswood


    Set it to airplane mode at night time


  • #4
    Beefy78
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,166 ✭✭✭Beefy78


    I've done a fair bit of reading about this in the last few days as a new owner of a Desire, myself.

    Firstly, turn the task killer off. It eats battery itself and popular opinion seems to be that it isn't necessary. Check the settings for your email, Facebook, Twitter, Stocks, Friend Stream, Weather and everything else which the phone syncs with on a regular basis and tell the phone how often you want it to check for updates for these things. Out of the box it was checking my hotmail every 30 minutes. I didn't need that. It was checking stock prices every 30 minutes too. I don't own any stocks!

    If you're finding that it's running out of battery overnight then again it'll probably be because it's connecting to the internet whilst you sleep. Hold down the power button for a few seconds before you go to bed and turn mobile internet off. That pretty much turns it into a 'normal' phone and battery usage should be minimal.

    Ultimately though I think you need to accept that you're not going to get much more than a day or two out of a phone like this before you need to charge it. It does so much more than a phone did years ago and all of that drains battery. It's a pain, but until better batteries are designed I guess it's a pain that we're going to have to learn to live with.


  • #5
    Atomic Pineapple
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,272 ✭✭✭✭Atomic Pineapple


    Remove the task killer ASAP it will be destroying your battery life.

    Turn off background data, wifi, bluetooth, gps when not in use.

    Use the widget.

    You can use Airplane mode but that also turns off the GSM radio so you wont recieve calls or texts.

    Also dim the screen when you dont need it at its full brightness, indoors, in the evening, at night etc...

    By simply using the widget to turn off stuff when its not used I've increased my battery life on a Nexus One from 1 day (dieing during the night) to 3 - 4days.


  • #6
    seklly
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 774 ✭✭✭seklly


    If your phone is rooted try another ROM. I was using DJ Droid and getting around 12 hours and recently moved to OpenDesire and now i'm getting over 30 hours with pretty regular use.

    A few other things which have improved my battery life greatly would be the 'locale' and 'juice defender' apps.


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  • #7
    newbie2
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,477 ✭✭✭newbie2


    I own a desire. When I got it first the battery was ok. I downloaded Task killer and was using it with no problems. However after reading some articals I uninstalled it. I noticed yesterday that the battery ran out very quickly. Was gone before 6.30pm !!! (I unplugged the charger at 8.00am).

    I redownloaded Task killer this morning and used it to shut a load of apps - such as radio etc. Gonna see how the battery react today.

    FWIW - I use the widget to shut Bluetooth/WiFi/Sync/GPS etc when I want them off. SO no wifi unbless theres one available, no bluetooth except in the car.

    Gonna get watchdog to seee whats running and eatinmg the battery.


  • #8
    Beefy78
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,166 ✭✭✭Beefy78


    draffodx wrote: »
    Remove the task killer ASAP it will be destroying your battery life.

    Turn off background data, wifi, bluetooth, gps when not in use.

    Use the widget.

    You can use Airplane mode but that also turns off the GSM radio so you wont recieve calls or texts.

    Also dim the screen when you dont need it at its full brightness, indoors, in the evening, at night etc...

    By simply using the widget to turn off stuff when its not used I've increased my battery life on a Nexus One from 1 day (dieing during the night) to 3 - 4days.

    Stupid question I know but which widget is it that you mean? Someone else told me to use the widget to turn things like Wifi, etc, off and on, but I can't see which widget to use or where to get it from...!


  • #9
    Nekro Man
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 390 ✭✭Nekro Man


    has no one mentioned just turn the phone off/charge it at night?


  • #10
    Basq
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 44,431 ✭✭✭✭Basq


    Am getting 4 - 5 days out of mine... using WiFi / GPS / CDN / BT at a bare minimum however.

    Am I put it on Airplane Mode at night - it's timed to go into Airplane Mode from 11pm - 8.30am the next morning.


  • #11
    Atomic Pineapple
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,272 ✭✭✭✭Atomic Pineapple


    newbie2 wrote: »
    I own a desire. When I got it first the battery was ok. I downloaded Task killer and was using it with no problems. However after reading some articals I uninstalled it. I noticed yesterday that the battery ran out very quickly. Was gone before 6.30pm !!! (I unplugged the charger at 8.00am).

    I redownloaded Task killer this morning and used it to shut a load of apps - such as radio etc. Gonna see how the battery react today.

    FWIW - I use the widget to shut Bluetooth/WiFi/Sync/GPS etc when I want them off. SO no wifi unbless theres one available, no bluetooth except in the car.

    Gonna get watchdog to seee whats running and eatinmg the battery.

    If you have Froyo the task killer is pointless.
    Beefy78 wrote: »
    Stupid question I know but which widget is it that you mean? Someone else told me to use the widget to turn things like Wifi, etc, off and on, but I can't see which widget to use or where to get it from...!

    The one that looks like this: (Top)

    130172.png

    Its slightly different on the Nexus One so is probably different with HTC's sense.


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  • #12
    angel01
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,030 ✭✭✭angel01


    Nekro Man wrote: »
    has no one mentioned just turn the phone off/charge it at night?

    People are depending on their phones as an alarm and my alarm doesn't work if the phone is switched off.


  • #13
    angel01
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,030 ✭✭✭angel01


    draffodx wrote: »
    If you have Froyo the task killer is pointless.



    What about if you have 2.1?


  • #14
    Basq
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 44,431 ✭✭✭✭Basq


    angel01 wrote: »
    People are depending on their phones as an alarm and my alarm doesn't work if the phone is switched off.
    Use Airplane Mode..

    Your phone will use shag all power then.


  • #15
    Beefy78
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,166 ✭✭✭Beefy78


    draffodx wrote: »
    If you have Froyo the task killer is pointless.



    The one that looks like this: (Top)

    130172.png

    Its slightly different on the Nexus One so is probably different with HTC's sense.

    That looks fantastic. But is it pre-installed on the phone or do you need to download it from somewhere?


  • #16
    Beefy78
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,166 ✭✭✭Beefy78


    Beefy78 wrote: »
    That looks fantastic. But is it pre-installed on the phone or do you need to download it from somewhere?

    Found it. Awesome. Thanks!


  • #17
    Abelloid
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,495 ✭✭✭Abelloid


    Nekro Man wrote: »
    has no one mentioned just turn the phone off/charge it at night?

    Alarm doesn't work when switched off.


    I only sync manually, airplane mode at night and never use GPS, my battery lasts well into the second day.


  • #18
    youcancallmeal
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,110 ✭✭✭youcancallmeal


    I have a problem with my battery where if I charge it overnight it charges to 100% fine. Then when my alarm goes off in the morning I will snooze it maybe 6 or 7 times and each time the alarm could be going off for 20-30 seconds (yes it takes me ages to get up in the morning). Anyway when I unplug it the battery usually shows as around 90%. So it seems that once the phone has charged to 100% it stops and won't charge again until you unplug and plug it back in!? I thought it would run off the mains once it reaches 100% but obviously not :(


  • #19
    newbie2
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,477 ✭✭✭newbie2


    draffodx wrote: »
    If you have Froyo the task killer is pointless.
    .

    I have Froyo. Why is task Killer pointless? BTW I have Advanced Task Killer Froyo.


  • #20
    angel01
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,030 ✭✭✭angel01


    basquille wrote: »
    Use Airplane Mode..

    Your phone will use shag all power then.

    Will the alarm still sound? I have a Galaxy S.


  • #21
    Basq
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 44,431 ✭✭✭✭Basq


    angel01 wrote: »
    Will the alarm still sound? I have a Galaxy S.
    Yep..


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  • #22
    angel01
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,030 ✭✭✭angel01


    basquille wrote: »
    Yep..

    Okay perfect, I will do that in future, thanks :)


  • #23
    Atomic Pineapple
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,272 ✭✭✭✭Atomic Pineapple


    angel01 wrote: »
    What about if you have 2.1?

    Same.

    The following image shows how an Activity is handled by the Android OS

    1062731775_4e7c4d93_android+activity+life+cycle.jpg

    A task killer messes with this leading to applications missing stages in the lifecycle where data or something else important might not be saved or get to run.


  • #24
    Atomic Pineapple
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,272 ✭✭✭✭Atomic Pineapple


    newbie2 wrote: »
    I have Froyo. Why is task Killer pointless? BTW I have Advanced Task Killer Froyo.

    See above post, also on Froyo you have the ability shut down a long running Activity or Service properly yourself from the settings menu.


  • #25
    cullenswood
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,368 ✭✭✭cullenswood


    basquille wrote: »
    Am getting 4 - 5 days out of mine... using WiFi / GPS / CDN / BT at a bare minimum however.

    What ROM are you using?


  • #26
    Abelloid
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,495 ✭✭✭Abelloid


    youcancallme>al wrote: »
    I have a problem with my battery where if I charge it overnight it charges to 100% fine. Then when my alarm goes off in the morning I will snooze it maybe 6 or 7 times and each time the alarm could be going off for 20-30 seconds (yes it takes me ages to get up in the morning). Anyway when I unplug it the battery usually shows as around 90%. So it seems that once the phone has charged to 100% it stops and won't charge again until you unplug and plug it back in!? I thought it would run off the mains once it reaches 100% but obviously not :(

    I'm pretty sure it begins discharging once it reaches 100% and then charging again when it hits 90%, it will do that all day.


  • #27
    Basq
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 44,431 ✭✭✭✭Basq


    cullenswood wrote: »
    What ROM are you using?
    Stock Android 2.1..


    .. I've rooted and have been meaning to try new ones, but haven't gotten around to debranding it.


  • #28
    Zascar
    Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators, Music Moderators Posts: 12,616 Mod ✭✭✭✭Zascar


    Well, this is the problem. I’m on 2.1 – I rooted successfully, but I am completely unable to put on any new ROM’s. It just never works for me, gives me an error and I have to restart.

    I was in the UK last week and I got a notification that 2.2 was available. I downloaded and installed but again, all that happened was I got a black screen with a bit yellow exclamation point with the Android icon.

    IMG_1356_excl_point_h100.jpg

    I have not really tried again but does anyone know how I can fix this?


  • #29
    Atomic Pineapple
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,272 ✭✭✭✭Atomic Pineapple


    Zascar wrote: »
    Well, this is the problem. I’m on 2.1 – I rooted successfully, but I am completely unable to put on any new ROM’s. It just never works for me, gives me an error and I have to restart.

    I was in the UK last week and I got a notification that 2.2 was available. I downloaded and installed but again, all that happened was I got a black screen with a bit yellow exclamation point with the Android icon.

    IMG_1356_excl_point_h100.jpg

    I have not really tried again but does anyone know how I can fix this?

    Flash your recovery image on and update from that.


  • #30
    Zascar
    Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators, Music Moderators Posts: 12,616 Mod ✭✭✭✭Zascar


    Sorry :( but what does that mean?


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  • #31
    Atomic Pineapple
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,272 ✭✭✭✭Atomic Pineapple


    Zascar wrote: »
    Sorry :( but what does that mean?

    What steps did you follow to root the device?


  • #32
    Zascar
    Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators, Music Moderators Posts: 12,616 Mod ✭✭✭✭Zascar


    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=67375228#post67375228


  • #33
    Idleater
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,176 ✭✭✭Idleater


    Zascar wrote: »
    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=67375228#post67375228
    1) have you a branded device?
    2) if so, have you successfully de branded it?
    3) you say you have root, download ROM Manager from market. Use this to "flash Clockwork Mod Recovery" - it's one of the top settings.

    4) you may require the Goldcard to be in the device when installing certain ROMs, but not sure.

    You can also use ROM Manager to install any ROM you have downloaded onto your sd card.


  • #34
    CiDeRmAn
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Computer Games Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 34,729 CMod ✭✭✭✭CiDeRmAn


    My Meteor HTC Desire loves to gobble up the available battery.
    I have to charge it every night, and if I am browsing for a hour or two during the day it goes quicker than that.
    I use the control panel as shown earlier to switch off the WiFi and auto updates, but it still drinks power.
    I have the brightness set to "auto" as well.
    It's running Froyo, and it's certainly better than 2.1 it's not that much better.


  • #35
    Idleater
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,176 ✭✭✭Idleater


    To anyone that has root access: Have you tried SetCPU?

    I'm pretty happy with the power savings.


  • #36
    Atomic Pineapple
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,272 ✭✭✭✭Atomic Pineapple


    CiDeRmAn wrote: »
    My Meteor HTC Desire loves to gobble up the available battery.
    I have to charge it every night, and if I am browsing for a hour or two during the day it goes quicker than that.
    I use the control panel as shown earlier to switch off the WiFi and auto updates, but it still drinks power.
    I have the brightness set to "auto" as well.
    It's running Froyo, and it's certainly better than 2.1 it's not that much better.

    Turn off background data


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  • #37
    Dave147
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,235 ✭✭✭Dave147


    draffodx wrote: »
    See above post, also on Froyo you have the ability shut down a long running Activity or Service properly yourself from the settings menu.

    if only there was an App that made closing these activities easier..


  • #38
    Dave147
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,235 ✭✭✭Dave147


    Double post.


  • #39
    sesna
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 1,229 ✭✭✭sesna


    basquille wrote: »
    Am getting 4 - 5 days out of mine... using WiFi / GPS / CDN / BT at a bare minimum however.

    Am I put it on Airplane Mode at night - it's timed to go into Airplane Mode from 11pm - 8.30am the next morning.

    Class, how do you time it to go into airplane mode?


  • #40
    Dave147
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,235 ✭✭✭Dave147


    sesna wrote: »
    Class, how do you time it to go into airplane mode?

    Get an app called Tasker, costs about $7 if I remember right, you can just set up automated responses with that.


  • #41
    TheUsual
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,288 ✭✭✭TheUsual


    I don't have a HTC but my Nokia was having the same battery problems.
    So I bought an new Nokia battery from www.amazon.ie (about 6 euro) and it lasts about 12 hours more than the battery that came with the phone.
    Both batteries are made by Nokia and are the same product number. But the new one lasts longer on a full charge - I have them both about a year now.
    Maybe I got a dud battery with my phone or the new one is an upgrade, I don't know.


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  • #42
    Dave147
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,235 ✭✭✭Dave147


    TheUsual wrote: »
    I don't have a HTC but my Nokia was having the same battery problems.
    So I bought an new Nokia battery from www.amazon.ie (about 6 euro) and it lasts about 12 hours more than the battery that came with the phone.
    Both batteries are made by Nokia and are the same product number. But the new one lasts longer on a full charge - I have them both about a year now.
    Maybe I got a dud battery with my phone or the new one is an upgrade, I don't know.

    If that's the case then all the HTC Desire batteries are duds! :)

    Google Battery Calibration on XDA forums and try that, haven't tried it myself yet but it's recommended.


  • #43
    TheUsual
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,288 ✭✭✭TheUsual


    Dave147 wrote: »
    If that's the case then all the HTC Desire batteries are duds! :)

    Google Battery Calibration on XDA forums and try that, haven't tried it myself yet but it's recommended.

    Yeah before I bought my new battery I did a Google search on Nokia battery use and there was an application for the phone to check what was using the most power and shut it down or delete it - if you have a lot of applications running ?

    I never used it, I was lucky with the replacement battery. Good luck anyway. ;)


  • #44
    Beefy78
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,166 ✭✭✭Beefy78


    The battery does seem to improve over time. After three weeks of dying at the end of each day, I'm now 49 hours since the last charge and still have 30% power left. I'm not using it extensively, to be honest, and I'm turning 3G off over night but I don't object to charging every day so long as the phone has been used a lot.

    EDIT - actually, it's been since I updated to 2.2. I wonder if that has contributed to increase battery efficiency.


  • #45
    _Kaiser_
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 29,213 ✭✭✭✭_Kaiser_


    If your phone is rooted, a new radio firmware can help too.

    I updated my Desire to the latest one last night and since 11:05 this morning it's only dropped 15% on the battery despite wireless being on, web browsing and texting. Wireless and Data performance seems better too.


  • #46
    _Kaiser_
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 29,213 ✭✭✭✭_Kaiser_


    Kaiser2000 wrote: »
    If your phone is rooted, a new radio firmware can help too.

    I updated my Desire to the latest one last night and since 11:05 this morning it's only dropped 15% on the battery despite wireless being on, web browsing and texting. Wireless and Data performance seems better too.

    Just to update... now almost 8 hours since the last charge, and still at 75%


  • #47
    AnimalRights
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,067 ✭✭✭AnimalRights


    Saadyst wrote: »
    Update to 2.2 (froyo)
    I bought my phone yesterday and it's running 2.1 version and I'm told there are no updates. :confused:


  • #48
    AnimalRights
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,067 ✭✭✭AnimalRights


    http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/htc-desire-android-2-2-update-coming-this-weekend-706700

    aaahhh just found this nugget.. Mine is locked to 3 so no 2.2 just yet for me, I've no interest in jailbreaking the phone.


  • #49
    Beefy78
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,166 ✭✭✭Beefy78


    That story is several months old. 2.2 came to the Desire on 3 about ten days or so ago.


  • #50
    alhimself
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 75 ✭✭alhimself


    AnimalRights wrote: »
    http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/htc-desire-android-2-2-update-coming-this-weekend-706700

    aaahhh just found this nugget.. Mine is locked to 3 so no 2.2 just yet for me, I've no interest in jailbreaking the phone.

    hey i was thinkig of getting a desire on 3 myself but was wondering about the 2.2, having read posts here, the 2.2 is available on 3 right? also, are desires on 3 locked and branded to three? like meteor ones are unbranded right? how do you find the 3 billpay tariffs? i was thinkin of the 40 a month classic flexi max, with a free internet max addon, so 2gb upto 4gb data is good right? or would i get away with a 1gb allowance on meteor on msart 30/35 and maybe a deisre z if they manage to get it in!


  • #51
    Atomic Pineapple
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,272 ✭✭✭✭Atomic Pineapple


    On the topic here is a post by Dianne Hackborn regarding task killers. For those that dont know Dianne is an Android framework engineer.
    Dianne Hackborn wrote:
    This main problem that task managers have helped with is apps that keep services running in the background forever (consuming memory memory that could be used by others). As of 2.2 they can't impact these (or alarms) anyway. And there is growing system UI to help the user control these apps in a way that actually correctly represents what is going on. Later releases will be improving this UI.

    But I think it is a false argument that *most* users are using task managers because they actually help. There are *some* things (mostly in the past) that they have helped *some* people for. These people generally didn't understand why they were actually helping, but a meme got started that task killers improve the performance of your device. People have a natural nearly crazy tendency to latch on to these kinds of things -- "hm I'm told pressing this button will make things go faster, let me press it, gosh I think I can tell things are faster!" And this just snowballs -- last year I was disturbed as I stood in a Verizon store in when Droid came out, listening to their sales reps install a task killer on customer phones as they bought them and show them how to use it to kill things to keep their phone running fast.

    So anyway, we are continuing to work on the platform to:

    (1) Prevent apps from causing harm to other apps.
    (3) Improve battery reporting to better identify apps that are behaving poorly.
    (4) Get increasingly aggressive about identifying bad app behavior and dealing with it automatically.
    (2) Present better more appropriate UI for users, who want to, to see what is running on their phone and manage it.


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