Recent Change in Battery Life

**kcmo** · 10-29-2010, 10:05 AM

Hi Guys/Gals,

I've always had great battery life with my 9700 (10mos old) but have noticed lately that it's decreased more quickly during the day than usual.

Over the past week or two I have tried a few new apps, but only ended up with the following new ones:

Google Maps
BeWeather Free

I also downloaded shortcuts to E! Online and TMZ, so I'm not sure if these count as applications.

My first thought is that maybe Google Maps is the culprit since it uses GPS which I have enabled. Don't really want to turn GPS off though since I imagine I'd have to remember to turn on every time I access Google Maps...a pain. I've never messed with my GPS settings so not sure if they've always been on....or if it turned on automatically when I downloaded the GM app.

Any thoughts?

I normally take my BB off the charger at 7am and am a medium-ish user...used to still have about 75% at the end of the day (9pm). Lately though I've been around 40-50%.

**Alkajak** · 10-29-2010, 10:09 AM

Make sure to completely exit Google maps, and make change the updates on BeWeather to something more reasonable. I know Weather Eye, you can change how often you get updates.

**kcmo** · 10-29-2010, 10:11 AM

Originally Posted by Alkajak

Make sure to completely exit Google maps, and make change the updates on BeWeather to something more reasonable. I know Weather Eye, you can change how often you get updates.

Thanks.

I do always exit GM and I have set BeWeather to update every 3 hrs...

**Alkajak** · 10-29-2010, 10:13 AM

Well has this case happened more than once? Or was it just one day and you're worried about it?

And also a stupid question, but did you battery pull after uninstalling the other apps? They aren't completely removed until you do.

**kcmo** · 10-29-2010, 10:37 AM

It's been this way for about a week. And yes, I did do a battery pull after uninstalling the other apps. To be sure, I guess I can do another one.

**Milenkoski** · 10-29-2010, 10:44 AM

Just make sure to set ur mobile network to 2g, if you are in poor 3g coverage, your battery will be drained TOO FAST!

**kcmo** · 10-29-2010, 10:48 AM

Originally Posted by Milenkoski

Just make sure to set ur mobile network to 2g, if you are in poor 3g coverage, your battery will be drained TOO FAST!

Thanks, but I've never changed my network to 2G...just don't see the point when I'm paying for 3G service. Luckily I have a 3G signal 90% of the time with T-Mobile in my area so it's fine.

**SevereDeceit** · 10-29-2010, 10:51 AM

I'm thinking that the GPS satellite is constantly 'polling' for your location. If you are inside a building, it will keep trying to locate you and that will murder a battery and make the device run hot as well. Try using Cell Location instead of GPS...

**Milenkoski** · 10-29-2010, 10:53 AM

Originally Posted by kcmo

Thanks, but I've never changed my network to 2G...just don't see the point when I'm paying for 3G service. Luckily I have a 3G signal 90% of the time with T-Mobile in my area so it's fine.

Why you need 3g, while you have your blackberry in pockets? I use 3g just when i browse / download something...
For emails there is no difference.
For me with 3g on i can stand like 30 hours...
With 2g i can go for +72 hours

**kcmo** · 10-29-2010, 10:56 AM

Originally Posted by SevereDeceit

I'm thinking that the GPS satellite is constantly 'polling' for your location. If you are inside a building, it will keep trying to locate you and that will murder a battery and make the device run hot as well. Try using Cell Location instead of GPS...

Are you talking about my Google Maps settings? Will look to see if I can change it to 'cell location'....thanks...ok, can't find where to change the setting.

Originally Posted by Milenkoski

Why you need 3g, while you have your blackberry in pockets? I use 3g just when i browse / download something...
For emails there is no difference.
For me with 3g on i can stand like 30 hours...
With 2g i can go for +72 hours

I'd never thought about it before....just don't want to have to switch back and forth I guess....it's another step. Now if 3G was REALLY draining my phone, I'd have no other choice.

**Milenkoski** · 10-29-2010, 11:00 AM

Originally Posted by kcmo

I'd never thought about it before....just don't want to have to switch back and forth I guess....it's another step. Now if 3G was REALLY draining my phone, I'd have no other choice.

It does helps a lot if you are on the go all the time as i am

**kcmo** · 10-29-2010, 11:03 AM

Appreciate the tip Milenkoski

**SevereDeceit** · 10-29-2010, 11:17 AM

Originally Posted by kcmo

Are you talking about my Google Maps settings? Will look to see if I can change it to 'cell location'....thanks...ok, can't find where to change the setting.

No, not under Google Maps settings, under the device settings. Find GPS and turn it off, then turn on use Cell Location.

**kcmo** · 10-29-2010, 11:30 AM

Originally Posted by SevereDeceit

No, not under Google Maps settings, under the device settings. Find GPS and turn it off, then turn on use Cell Location.

Thanks...will look for it now. So are you saying that GPS is working all the time right now, even when I don't have the Google Maps app open?

And GPS wasn't working before since I wasn't using a maps app?

Just trying to figure this out.

Thanks

**SevereDeceit** · 10-29-2010, 11:32 AM

Originally Posted by kcmo

Thanks...will look for it now. So are you saying that GPS is working all the time right now, even when I don't have the Google Maps app open?

And GPS wasn't working before since I wasn't using a maps app?

Just trying to figure this out.

Thanks

That's what I think is the issue, having GPS always on will definitley drain your battery fast. So have GPS turned off and set location to cell location only...

**kcmo** · 10-29-2010, 11:39 AM

Originally Posted by SevereDeceit

That's what I think is the issue, having GPS always on will definitley drain your battery fast. So have GPS turned off and set location to cell location only...

OK, under the GPS settings, I've turned GPS Services to 'location off'.....don't see any option to switch to 'cell location only'.

Location Data and Location Aiding are both set to enabled.

Hope that's all correct.

**SevereDeceit** · 10-29-2010, 11:41 AM

Originally Posted by kcmo

OK, under the GPS settings, I've turned GPS Services to 'location off'.....don't see any option to switch to 'cell location only'.

Location Data and Location Aiding are both set to enabled.

Hope that's all correct.

Yes, those are the settings you want. See how your battery life is now...