Battery Life Guzzler

[henrylim]

Hi,

I have the following apps installed on my ATOM. I am attempting to get opinion on which software appears to be draining my battery life.

GreenSoftware GSPocketMagic
Atom Hiddenpartition
Astraware Sudoku
Phone Pad Atom
MobiMate WorldMate 2006 Pro
Illum Software eWallet
Resco Explorer 5.35
Resco FTP Add-In
Resco Today Plugin
Resco Sudoku
Maction Monster Chinese 5.3
Astraware Bejeweled 2
Motoblast PMVault
Spb Finance
Microsoft .NET Compact Framework
HKTB - HK Leisure Guide
Microsoft SQL Client
Microsoft SQLCE 2.0
inteks Powerstatus 1.0
Resco Registry Add-in
Sunnysoft Backup Manager
Team One Reader
SBSH.net ContactBreeze
Burr Oak Software pTravelAlarm
DDH Software HanDBase 3.0
SmartCell Tech AquaForce
Resco Diamonds
Illum Software ListPro
SoundTells DietPlanner
Motoblast PMRecorder
Walletware ExpensePlus
Spb Weather
KaioneSoft SprintDB Pro+Printing

Any advise?

[hanmin]

First, you should get rid of the games in your list. I don't they are the source of power drainage.

Secondly, tell us more on your power issues. Are you having power problem if you use the unit (switch on) a lot or, the power problem is still there even when you aren't using it alot. That would filter down if the Today's plugins that you have are the culprit

Anyway, my suspect is the pTravelAlarm. Some alarm does not use the Notification Queue to activate the alarms, they run it on background, draining your power. Try this. Set your alarm, and check your Notification Queue, and see if this travelalarm is there at your specific time or not. If yes, then it is ok. If not, you may want to try to uninstall OR remove it from your startup list. BTW, it also said that it has hourly chime. Take note of that too.

[kropotov]

check software, that can establish internet connection...

[henrylim]

First, you should get rid of the games in your list. I don't they are the source of power drainage.

Secondly, tell us more on your power issues. Are you having power problem if you use the unit (switch on) a lot or, the power problem is still there even when you aren't using it alot. That would filter down if the Today's plugins that you have are the culprit

Anyway, my suspect is the pTravelAlarm. Some alarm does not use the Notification Queue to activate the alarms, they run it on background, draining your power. Try this. Set your alarm, and check your Notification Queue, and see if this travelalarm is there at your specific time or not. If yes, then it is ok. If not, you may want to try to uninstall OR remove it from your startup list. BTW, it also said that it has hourly chime. Take note of that too.

Thanks hanmin. I have GSPocketMagic installed. So if it's the occasion game, I wouldn't mind the power drain effect it has, and I would have close it properly using GSPocketMagic.

I do not turn off device if not in used, as I heard that that will turn off the phone as well? I have tested it just by leaving it on for the whole day, without even having phone calls, Short messaging, or opening any applications or games. I find that the power bar just goes from 100% from 7am in the morning, to 5% around 3-4pm.

I did suspect the PTravelAlarm as well after my post, and remove it from Today's plug-in and switch it off totally. Battery life is better, at around 30% by 7pm.

How do I check the Notifications? Is there a utility that I can use?

Also, I dun think I have applications turned on that checks the Internet. I have SPBWeather on Today's plugin and also Resco's Today's plugin.

Thanks!

[hanmin]

No. I mean, you remove the games from your list above (not your unit). I don't think games are the culprits.

And, when I said how many times you switch on/off your unit, I mean bringing the unit out of suspend mode (e.g. the unit/phone still active, not 100% off).

I've installed the travelAlarm myself. It looks alright. It is using notification queue (e.g. not a background running program). But, ironically, it saved 25%?? Hmm.. I should consider removing it as well. but it is the currently the best working and best looking one I've tried so far. And I always wanted a working timer/countdown. BTW, can you do me a favor, try shutting down the travelAlarm today's plugin but leave the travelAlarm at background. see how much battery it goes.

You can check if your internet access is causing the problem by disabling the GPRS (if possible) by scrambling the GPRS/Internet/WAP settings. BTW, how many plugins do you have? Plug-ins can be a battery killer especially if you switch on/off (e.g. active-suspend) it a lot.

You can check notification queue by getting software such as memmaid, pocket mechanic, or I think there is a free one called 'check notification' or something like that. Search this forum for 'alarm' problems, and you will get list of notification queue programs.

Get it here
http://www.scarybearsoftware.com/ppc_cn_overview.html

While you are at it, you can look at your notification queue to see if there are programs that starts at a specific time way too often that it may be running at those specific time without your knowledge.