As we step into the new year, lets make some resolutions to improve the way we use the technology we’ve been given over the holidays. Afterall, we wouldn’t want to take our new smartphones for granted. When you stop to think about it, it’s extraordinary what this technology can do to simplify our lives, smoothing out the wrinkles in our daily communications.
The more our mobile smartphones do for us, however, the more we’re asking from them, or more specifically, the batteries that keep them running. The days of phones used simply to make calls are becoming a thing of the past. Now we ask our phones to check email, send text messages, and even play movies and TV shows for us in high-definition.
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They say true power (conservation) comes from within…
The number of energy-gulping tasks we give our smartphones borders on the comical, yet we act surprised when we find that the power’s almost gone. Technology continues to develop to keep up with the power demands in smartphones, but in the mean time there are things users can do today to extend the life of the battery and make the most of the available power in a given charge.
- Keep Bluetooth and WiFi turned off during normal use. When these features are turned on your device is gulping power trying to connect with networks or other devices; a feature you don’t need if you’re not trying to do that just now. Similarly, even 3G and 3Gs connections can consume more battery than you’d expect and for your basic call or Mobile Email access, the lighter networks will cut it.
- Also, lower your screen brightness to a level that doesn’t light up a room, but allows you to see without straining your eyes. You can also adjust the settings so that your screen goes dark again much sooner after using it. Screen savers are cute, but were originally intended to prevent images from being burned into the phosphorous on old CRT monitors rather than conserve power. Since your smartphone uses an LCD display, it may be fun but it isn’t really necessary. Shutting it off will save power and your screen can take care of itself.
- Depending on which smartphone you’re using, applications are available that optimize the power usage, performing these and many other tasks all in one suite that’s easy to manage.
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But… what if it comes from somewhere else?
But what commonly tends to suck the most power for many smartphone users is regular email checking. Email seems simple enough. One wouldn’t think it would drain much power. But, think about it, every time you or your smart phone’s software checks email, signals are sent back and forth from your phone. This is what drains the power quickly.
There are two very common methods that your smartphone software may be using to check email regularly that have pros and cons.
- Post Office Protocol (or POP3) is the method most of us come in contact with because this is the protocol used by web-based email like Gmail or Yahoo. Some users may use Outlook or other email management programs, but the protocol is the same. This protocol functions by simply allowing users to access and store their emails on a remote server. This protocols largest benefit to smartphone users is that its relatively quick and efficient as such. It’s largest downfall, is its overly simple, you get email into your inbox and it stays on your device. If you read an email on your device it will still appear as unread on your desktop and vice versa, and there’s really little point in filing your messages.
- The other main protocol is known as Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP4), which performs more of a sync operation with your email providers server, offering folder structure and read/unread information based on the last sync operation. Your employer probably uses the latter, as it allows you to file messages and verify if you’ve already dealt with a particular email or not.
Both of these protocols however drain more battery than is necessary for mobile email access from your device. Enter protocol three.
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Hosted Exchange is somewhere (and something) else!
Hosted Microsoft Exchange email services are a back-end that provides not only the email functionality you would expect from an email account, but also push email for any number of devices. Microsoft Exchange is a platform that makes mobile email use as efficient as possible. Using Activesync on your iPhone, Palm Pre, Windows Phone or Android device or Blackberry Enterprise Server (BES) on your Blackberry enables push email from a hosted exchange mailbox to your device which is incredibly efficiently; providing speed and power conservation.
With Push email, you’re getting exactly that. The server can push email directly to the user’s device as it comes in. This means the server is contacting the device, not the other way around. This saves on power consumption in the device itself and allows users to see their emails instantly and efficiently. Did we mention this “Push” service also syncs your Calendar, Contacts and other important data at your option?
Hosted Exchange services come with a recurring cost, but this can be worth it to users who rely heavily on their smartphones to stay synced and up to date with colleagues and their own schedule. The efficiency of the email protocol itself also makes it great for those looking to use their devices as efficiently as possible.
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{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
I’d never thought about it like that. I’m one of those people who gets annoyed every time I have to charge my phone because it always feels like I have to do so sooner than I think I should.
I guess we do ask our phones to do a lot though so we should expect to have to power them up more often.
Yup, hosted exchange has been extremely worth it for me!
I never realized screen savers weren’t necessary for LCD displays, although obviously it makes sense when you stop and think about it. Great tip!
I’m always surprised when my phone’s out of juice, too, even though I shouldn’t be. I really liked the energy conservation tips here.
I never think about battery life when checking my email. I suppose I check my email twice as much as I have to every day anyhow.
If I can get better about turning off my BluTooth when I’m not using it, I’ll have it made.