Google blames Android battery woes on user practices and poorly-designed apps
May 19, 2010 | by Andrew Kameka
When asked about Android’s weak battery life at the Google Zeitgeist forum, Google co-founder Larry Page said that if anyone is not getting a full day’s worth of battery, there’s “something wrong.” Page then went on to suggest it’s probably user habits and third-party apps causing battery woes. “When there is software running in the background, that just sort of exhausts the battery quickly,” said Page.
Eric Schmidt chimed in, “The primary consumer of the battery life on these phones is the transmit/receive circuit. So tuning that and obviously figuring out a way to not use too much of that extends your battery life…And people bring in applications that are not particularly smart about that.”
Translation: turn off GPS if you aren’t using it, turn off background sync if you aren’t using, and stop setting your Twitter app to constantly update for new tweets. The same goes for your RSS apps, widgets, and more. Of course, these are major features that attracted many people to Android, so asking them to forgo those options in favor of extending battery life is an unattractive solution to many.
If you are experiencing poor battery performance, consider putting a homescreen widget to quickly toggle power settings and stop using those services that constantly pull down updates.
Take care what is on your SD card, as well. When we upgraded our two Touch Pros to Incredibles, my wife's phone had no problem going 30+ hours without a recharge. Mine, however, could not last more than 4 hours.
After trying multiple combinations of running/not running apps and other settings, I pulled the SD card and my battery lasted two days. Put the SD card back in after a full charge and withing two hours the battery was half depleted.
Now working on cleaning up my SD card's contents before putting back in the phone.
This is precisely why the iPhone is better, you don't think about these things and do other stuff that you're actually good at in life.
I'd watch a video of why it's better on the iPod, but it can't play flash.
If you're really touting the iPhone over the entire Android OS over this, you're an idiot. Or a Macfanboi, but those two terms are somewhat interchangable.
funny because as of now your android can't play flash either
my rooted droid does
Actually I think it has something to do with the wi-fi. Sometimes it stuck trying to connect, and prevents sleeping.
When it happens even if I dont have any non system process running and I dont turn my phone on, it drains the battery less than 12 hour. However after reset, it uses less than 3% battery per day.
Exactly why Apple did allow multitasking for non-Apple apps until they came up with a good way to manage it. I guess Steve Jobs was right.
Now Android will have to follow Apple’s lead or face user complaints for run-away background processes and poorly designed applications.
Wait until all these people find out that the majority of them can’t upgrade the OS or will have to wait for firmware or UI upgrades from the phone manufacture, before they can upgrade, if the manufacture supplies it at all.
Reality is finally coming to bear for Android users….
Get ready for anti-virus scanners and it’s effect on battery life.
Sound a bit like the crapy apps that proliferated onthe PC platform under Windows 3.1 and up. The OS didn't stop poorly written apps, so developers kept taking shortcuts and writing crashy apps and drivers.
However a more controlling approach from Apple hasn't emiminated crashing apps or poor battery life completely, but I have only had to force my iphone to reboot two or three times since I've had it rather than the weekly or daily restarts under Windows Mobile.
Eat crow Google. Eat crow. The battery life on my iPhone is great. Eat your heat out Android customers. Get a clue.
LMAO at Android customers. Fools!!!
Anything it better than one man telling how you should be browsing the internet. I agree that it is part user error, but the app developers can also be blamed. The OS does not consume battery until you start installing apps. Some apps do not properly access the GPS, that will drain any battery in no time flat. The way I see it get an iPhone if you want someone else to run your phone (or are too dumb to figure it out), and get Android if you want real power and control.
Reality came to bear for me a long time ago as an android user…
When I figured out I could root and flash my OS, dynamically overclock or underclock my processor, and get better battery life than my buddies 3gs while multitasking because I have smarts enough to run a (greatly designed) task manager app. Rooting even gave me your ever so coveted multi-touch. Forgive us for not wanting apple to hold our hand because we aren't smart enough to figure out the most efficent way to use a much more open ended smartphone. I'm not sure why apple users even talk trash, it's a well known fact that we can do everything the iphone does and more.
The android users that are having battery problems need to get iphones. They simply aren't smart enough to figure out how to efficently use these phones. I'm glad android didn't wait until they had a smarter way to manage multi-touch James, because I'm smart enough to manage it myself.
They haven't ported over words with friends yet though.. kind of sucks.
You are absolutely right. But these are consumer products, and most consumers really "aren't smart enough". And there are 99 of them for every 1 of us geeks. So, follow the money.
I'm an iPhone user who has jailbroken in the past. My determination, it's just not worth it. However, jailbreaking the iPad might be whole-nother ball of wax.
I was one of the people who helped jailbreak the iPhone in the first place. Now, I run one with stock firmware. I only did what I did to extend its capabilities, and now that we can run additional software on it, I'm fine. I don't need to do much else. It's a *phone* for goodness sake.
Fully agree, as a Master's degree holder in EE and an embedded systems designer, I fully agree that only smart people dumb enough to waste their time optimizing their phone's battery life. The rest of the people with better time management skills and a life, choose tools that work well without too much tweaking so they can focus on their core competencies, like work and spend time with their families.
Is your Smart Phone working for YOU or are YOU working for your SMART PHONE???
Is your process monitor running in the background as your wall paper?
multi-tasking** rather
As a system designer, I have to say that is just poor reasoning for a consumer product. You can put these caveats on a high-end precision measurement instrument or a high-end machine of any sort meant for professionals (think sound equipment, portable measurement tools etc). But to say this about a consumer product means you just did not think about this situation when you designed it, or even worse still, you knew this was going to happen but let it slide anyway, cuz you know, it's too hard to fix that. Honestly though, I suspect this is a direct result of the software team and the hardware team being two separate companies and working 8000 miles apart. That's the problem.
I suspect it is more that they were trying to one-up the iPhone OS. People have been touting multitasking as an advantage of Android for quite some time while Apple has been saying there isn't a good way to do multitasking and get long battery life.
I agree, that is a choice that should be made for the consumers so as to avoid bad user experiences. I also own an iPhone.
Guest,
You are not as smart as you claim. Can you talk on your Android phone and surf the web at the same time? NO YOU CAN'T! Idiot.
I personally have never had the need to surf the web while having a conversation. I have had the need to listen to Pandora, while checking my email, and surfing the web, all at the same time. My Droid does that beautifully.
So you never had an instance of someone calling you to find out what the movie time is of the show you were talking about meeting at? Or Guiding someone in on the phone while using google maps to get an idea of where they are at and where they need to go? Or maybe finding out if there was an opening at a restaurant while talking to your friend about where to get dinner?
I have had plenty of instances where using voice and data at the same time was useful and most of the time while I wasn't near another computer or wifi hot spot I could use.
Not sure which phone you're using…i can do that just fine….if i wasn't an asshole for surfing while talking on the phone.
HTC Evo anyone?
GSM (ie. Tmobile & ATT) allow talking and data browsing simultaneously. CDMA (ie. Sprint & Verizon) cannot do this. Blame the signaling technology and the telco not the OS please.
I believe EVO (4g) on Sprint will allow simultaneous data/voice.
I can use any phone function while on speaker phone or on earpiece. Web is unrestricted for my EVO. And Signal strength (yes on the Sprint Network 3G) has always been better then my Brothers Iphone. He can't even use his Iphone in his own house.
Maybe you should know what you're talking about before you call someone else an idiot. Just a thought.
I shouldn't have to have a degree from MIT to manage battery life on my phone. I truly hate my Andriod phone, and I hate AT&T. Not sure where to go from here. I guess I'll wait until Verizion has the iPhone. One thing is certain, Google should stick to search. That's what they do well.
My wife and I love our Droids, She never had a smart phone until now, and she messes around with it more than I do. Menu > Settings > Wireless & Networks > Mobile Networks > Roaming. — checked by default, I unchecked it. This increased my battery life by a 3 to 1 margin. This just allows you to use third party carriers for roaming. A big battery drain when always on. I have great coverage with Verizon in my area, so I don't need this. YMMV.
"They simply aren't smart enough to figure out how to efficently [sic] use these phones."
This is, by far, the most succinct statement that a person could use *not* to sell a phone.
Power users want the existing level of flexibility, pure and simple. Perhaps Android should implement an Advanced User ON|OFF switch somewhere, complete with warning dialog. Have the feature set dialed back for casual users, everyone else flips the switch and manages their tasks accordingly.
Maybe, except then all of the clueless people who *think* they're power-users would still have trouble. All of the troubleshooting sites would just tell people "Just turn on the power-user options and tweak" some obscure setting. It would just be another step for people to go through.
yeah, I guess there is one good thing about not being able to multi-task.
Umm THATS YOUR NETWORK! Nexus One Last twice as long as the 3GS on AT&T even with live wallpapers and wifi….Task Manager!!
Google/Android suck. Period!
For the record as I mentioned I have battery issues with android, however I replaced an IPhone with Android and I never regretted for a minute. No way I am going back to IPhone.
wow.. this article really brought out the iphone fans. I'm glad your phone is working for you. My G1 is still working great as well and I look forward to upgrading to the new android devices.
Wow… you iPhone guys have a lot of free time on your hands … you don't like and Android/Google but here you are reading and commenting on a "Google Android Blog". Why is that ? … you don't see me posting stupid comments on iPhone/Apple blogs !
BTW you don't need a degree from MIT to manage the battery … just turn off things like WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS when you're not using them … you just need some common sense.
That's the only "power management" I do on my Desire and I very happy with my battery life.
Great Blog! Thanks!
My recent post Flood Runner 2
The reason you can't use internet based services while talking is because of Verizon's network. That has nothing to do with the Motorola Droid. AT&T and T-Mobile both allow you to surf the web and talk at the same time…
the battery may not be the best, but at least our call don’t get dropped on verizon like they do on att. att is terrible and the iphone doesnt work half the time on their newtork, i would rather have to pug in a little more often that not be able to use my phone at all.
I am very happy with my Samsung Moment running 2.1. I am a heavy user and I don't expect to get much battery out of my phone because of that reason. My previous phone was a Blackberry Curve 8320 and I would replace the battery every 9 months. I choose Android over iPhone cause of its customization options and its openness to apps. I'm not bashing an iPhone since I've never used one but I think each type of phone is for a certain user. Android is for a more techie user that can go into more details. iPhone is for a simple user that wants a regular phone with cool features. Just my 2 cents…
I'm sure it's possible for poorly written apps to drain the battery, but it's also true that there are modded ROMs out there that provide *much* better battery life than the standard ROMs. I've used modded ROMs on both my G1 and my Droid, and I'd never go back to the standard. Seems odd that so many independent developers are able to produce more efficient code than what's coming out of the Googleplex.
The continual arrogance of Apple Fanboys(/Girls) is astonishing. You love everything Apple and that is great. Good for you, congratulations on your product loyalty and evident love affair with hipster devices. Maybe spend more time talking about the things you love about your rigs and less time worrying about the things you suspect you don't like about every other device.
I have used Apple products and the many alternatives dating back to the Vic 20 vs. Macintosh days. I never questioned the quality of most Apple products, but the prices are simply outrageous and the superiority is drastically overstated. While Apple does come up with some very cool cutting edge products (iPod comes to mind), the limitations both fiscally and in terms of closed systems really make Apple a choice for people more concerned with image than value (the capability argument is bunk!). I can do anything you can do on my Linux or MS machines.
My Android phone is my jewel and it's the often maligned and misunderstood G1. Running the latest CM Rom, it is nearly as fast as my ex-wife's iPhone with a total of $6 spent on quality apps (so many free) versus over $100 spent on her apps that do basically the same things. Go love your iPhone, don't bash my Android.
I think minimum battery life should be 2 days with talk time of >8 hours. my suggestion is making 2400 mah battery and with systems to further charge battery by vibration or solar without making trouble for user.
Without solving this issue ANDROID will be failures. I am using Samsung I7500 and it also has serious battery issues.
If the user is opening too many apps and thus draining the battery, shouldn't the user close them down him/herself instead of always having the system preventing it like a totalitarian?
I kind of recon now why Apple is so good with the Chinese companies (the famous 12 FoxCon employers jumping off the roof) and while Google rather step out of the Chinese market when forced to do the evil work for Chinese government. It reflects in their programming ethics.