mikemyersN8
Level 1 (4 points)
Mac OS X

Q: iPhone battery life

You're all going to laugh at me, but so be it.

 

I've noticed that my battery seems to last less and less every day.  I don't remember it being an issue a while back, but lately it seems like I will only get half a day's use out of it.  Then I found this post, about how to close all the applications that are running:

   

  • Press the home key twice. The home key is located just below the iPhone's touchscreen surface. This will bring up a list of the applications running currently on the iPhone.
  • Press and hold your finger over the first icon in the list of running applications until the icon jiggles. A red minus symbol will appear on the top left side of each application.
  • Press the red minus symbol next to each application you would like to close.
  • Press the home key once to return to the iPhone's main menu.

 

 

Amazing - I think every single application I had ever used since getting the phone was listed there.  I started looking at the list, but there were so many applications, I wasn't sure if I understood this correctly.  Pressing on the red icon did get them to vanish, but I wasn't sure at this point that I was doing things right.  I figured (incorrectly) that if instead I simply re-started my phone, they would all be gone - but no such luck.  Not being very sure of what I was doing, I closed all but a few, which leads me to my first question:

 

If I want people to be able to call me via Skype, Viber, and so on, can I assume that I need to allow those programs to run all the time?  Or,can I close them when I'm not using them?  Ditto for "messages". 

 

Question #1:  What would the result be if I closed everything - would programs open up when needed, or would those features not work properly? 

 

I suspect that if I want to use one of those apps,it will simply take more time for the app to load and start working, and that the app would still allow the phone to receive incoming calls and messages - correct?  Also, what got me into this, was thinking (apparently incorrectly) that I needed a new battery.  That led me to the suggestion to close the apps.  I'm still wondering about the battery though:

 

Question #2:  Is there any kind of application that will analyze the phone's battery, and give some kind of performance number? 

 

 

Thanks for any help or suggestions.  I know how to do these things on my Nokia, but I'm just learning what you guys probably think of as "kindergarten stuff"...     :-)

iPhone 3GS, iOS 5

Posted on Apr 6, 2012 8:17 AM

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mikemyersN8

Q: iPhone battery life

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  • Helpful answers

  • by impious-rocker,Helpful

    impious-rocker impious-rocker Apr 6, 2012 9:29 AM in response to mikemyersN8
    Level 4 (1,195 points)
    Apr 6, 2012 9:29 AM in response to mikemyersN8

    Ans #1:  Yes, the programmes would open up when needed.

    Having said that, if you would like to receive calls/messages through Skype or Viber, you need to let them run in the background (don't close them from the multi-tasking bar), but then again, these applications require Internet connection (3G or WIFI) and allowing them to run in the background will eat up your battery faster.

     

    Ans #2:  There are several applications which would show the numbers/stats, but over-all I found them useless (but that's just my opinion); Battery HD, Battery Doctor to name a few.

     

    Go through the following links.

     

    Multi-tasking

    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4211

     

    Optimize your battery settings

    http://www.apple.com/batteries/iphone.html

    http://www.apple.com/iphone/battery.html

  • by mikemyersN8,

    mikemyersN8 mikemyersN8 Apr 6, 2012 12:27 PM in response to impious-rocker
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 6, 2012 12:27 PM in response to impious-rocker

    Thanks for the info.  It both answered my questions, and brought up new questions to puzzle over.

     

    I'll only ask about one of those here...

     

    I'm told that if I go to Settings > Location Services       ...I get a list of all the apps I have on my phone that might use this feature, and the ones that are currently using it right now show the "compass icon" on the screen (not sure what to call it).

     

    What would the effect be, if I simply turned the very top item, "Location Servces" to <off> ?

     

    It warns me I will no longer be able to use "find my phone".  Will apps that want to use the GPS still be able to?  I'm guessing that the better thing to do would be to leave "Location Services" <on>, and manually turn it off on most of the things in the long list I'm looking at - I don't even know why most of them are listed there....

  • by impious-rocker,

    impious-rocker impious-rocker Apr 7, 2012 3:20 AM in response to mikemyersN8
    Level 4 (1,195 points)
    Apr 7, 2012 3:20 AM in response to mikemyersN8

    Understanding Location Services:

    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4995

     

     

    I get a list of all the apps I have on my phone that might use this feature, and the ones that are currently using it right now show the "compass icon" on the screen (not sure what to call it).

    That is true. The compass icon will be visible in the status bar when an application is currently using it; or has used your location within the last 24 hours. The colours of the icon will be different, that is Purple and Green respectively. You can turn the status bar icon OFF if you would like to from SETTINGS - LOCATION SERVICES - SYSTEM SERVICES - STATUS BAR ICON

     

     

    I'm guessing that the better thing to do would be to leave "Location Services" <on>, and manually turn it off on most of the things in the long list I'm looking at - I don't even know why most of them are listed there....

    That would be ideal. I would recommend keeping "Find My iPhone"  "ON" though. You can allow rest of the applications according to your need or liking.

  • by mikemyersN8,

    mikemyersN8 mikemyersN8 Apr 13, 2012 8:52 AM in response to impious-rocker
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 13, 2012 8:52 AM in response to impious-rocker

    Thanks, and especially for the link.  My assumptions about all this were not correct.  It all sounds very logical now, after reading all that.

     

    With all the concerns about privacy, what are your thoughts on these settings?  Over and beyond targeted ads, what fu;nctions to most people usually turn off? 

     

    The iPhone camera can use location services - does this noticeably slow down the camera operation?  I assume all the location information is stored in the image's EXIF data.  Is that correct?