SAN ANTONIO – When I first fired up my Evo I was loving almost everything about it – except the battery life. It needs to be improved – and this on Google (android operating system) and on HTC (maker of the phone). Until they improve things (and they will), the key is efficient battery usage. Here are some simple tips…
1. Turn off the power hogs when you're not using them: 4G, Bluetooth, WiFi, GPS, Hotspot. Tons of widgets are available to make this easy.
2. Set "Wi-Fi sleep policy" to never. The default setting is to shut off the Wi-Fi connection when your phone’s screen turns off. That means your phone defaults back to it’s 3G/4G connection, which kills battery life. The fix is easy...
- Navigate to Menu> Settings> Wireless & Networks> Wi-Fi settings> and select the menu button again.
- You’ll be prompted to either scan or select advanced. Select advanced
- Select “Wifi sleep policy” and you will have a couple of options to select from. Choose “Never”.
Now when your phone’s screen turns off, it will retain it’s active Wi-Fi connection, and your battery should thank you for it.
3. Monitor your data usage. Download "
My Data Manager" from Mobidia Technology. And take a look and where and how your data is being consumed. You may be surprised which apps are doing all the work. Either uninstall the app(s) and limit syncing.
4. Sync less information (email, widgets, etc)
5. Turn off Widgets and widget animations
6. Use a "Task Killer" app (But don't go crazy)
7. Turn off vibrate notifications
8. Simplify your background - instead of a live background
9. Turn down screen brightness (turn off auto brightness)
10. Decrease screen timeout (15-30 seconds)
Here are a couple hardware solutions…
-
Extended-Life Battery ($50 on Amazon) – This bigger battery will extend (almost double) your time between charges. But to tell you the truth, it makes the phone bulky – and ugly.
- Keep a
battery booster handy. Just plug it in – and you got power. Nice to have around when you know you’ll be away from a charger for an extended timeframe. Usually good for complete charge or two.
- When not in use, recharge! At the office, in your car and at home. Have a dock at each location. I found this made it much easier to find my phone when I need it.
