How to Improve Battery Life for the Samsung Epic 4G

**JMusic** · 12-13-2010, 09:30 AM

Loving the Epic, especially with the tip to kill the DRM service (what were they thinking?) and Media Hub.

Anyone using Tasker that has figured out how to kill the DRM service automatically? I have it killing the Media Hub thingy at startup and setting airplane mode and then turning it off. I can't figure out how to kill that DRM service because it doesn't show up in the app list (or maybe it does under some strange name). I would love a set it and forget it solution, and I'm almost there.

**ragnarokx** · 12-13-2010, 09:34 AM

I'm rooted and use Startup Manager to stop the DRM service from starting on reboot. If you're not rooted, perhaps someone else has a solution that doesn't require root access.

**sandman512** · 12-19-2010, 09:07 PM

For some unknown reason my battery life is lousy as of last week. I want to hard reset yet go back to the way my phone is setup. How can I do this? I did install some new apps, but deleted them. Any thoughts? Advice? THANKS!

**a_c_s** · 12-19-2010, 09:44 PM

back it up using backup pro or something similar... if you are rooted you can use titanium... after you hard reset you can restore...

**jrmitchell72** · 12-20-2010, 04:37 AM

Are you using the Facebook app? If so, make sure that you log out of chat after opening it. I was losing 10-15% per hour because of that app.

**sandman512** · 12-20-2010, 05:32 AM

Thanks for the replies, not using facebook. Something is killing the battery though. I wish I could figure out what it is. Very frustrating.

**DroidXcon** · 12-20-2010, 05:54 AM

Try the app spare parts. Use it for a day it has a good break down of battery usage.

Sent from my Fascinate -I finally got Tapatalk not even a WP7 will be able to keep my face out of the phone now!

**Jigmeister** · 12-20-2010, 09:17 AM

Originally Posted by jrmitchell72

Are you using the Facebook app? If so, make sure that you log out of chat after opening it. I was losing 10-15% per hour because of that app.

How do you "log off" of just chat? My battery started sucking after the last update. Do I have to log out of Facebook altogether or just "go offline" in chat?

**zeravla531** · 12-20-2010, 10:10 AM

It is Facebook. Anytime i received a message through Facebook chat, my phone stopped sleeping. I just went offline and now the phone sleeps properly again. I tested with Spare Parts.

**jrmitchell72** · 12-20-2010, 10:14 AM

Originally Posted by Jigmeister

How do you "log off" of just chat? My battery started sucking after the last update. Do I have to log out of Facebook altogether or just "go offline" in chat?

If you go in Facebook and open chat it will automatically log you in, but it does not log you out. While the chat screen is open, you have to open the menu and go offline.

**Jigmeister** · 12-20-2010, 10:17 AM

Originally Posted by jrmitchell72

If you go in Facebook and open chat it will automatically log you in, but it does not log you out. While the chat screen is open, you have to open the menu and go offline.

that's what I needed to hear! Thanks!

**E140** · 12-20-2010, 01:29 PM

There is an extended life battery that does not increase the phone's size. I found it for 60 bucks, wondering if anyone has had any experience with it and if its worth the $. it's only 100mAh more, will that make any difference? Sorry for the NEWB question

**rando991** · 12-20-2010, 03:42 PM

Originally Posted by E140

There is an extended life battery that does not increase the phone's size. I found it for 60 bucks, wondering if anyone has had any experience with it and if its worth the $. it's only 100mAh more, will that make any difference? Sorry for the NEWB question

What's the name of this battery?

**s2000fsu** · 12-21-2010, 08:34 PM

I've had my Epic for about a month. I ran the stock OS on it and then installed leaked DK28. Like many of you, I never got more than 8 hours of use before needing to recharge (with Android 2.1 and now 2.2).

The other night, I fully depleted the battery, then plugged in the Epic while it was powered down. The stock empty battery graphic showed up, and i left it there to charge for about an hour. When I came back to it, the phone was still powered off and showed about 20% charge. I turned the phone on...and after it booted up it showed 80% charge! So...I shut it down and got back to the 20% stock charge screen. At this point it looked like the normal (powered on) charger was only going to charge it up to about 50% then stop. As such, I left it powered off and charging overnight. The next day (yesterday), I got about 10 hours use out of it.

Last night, I plugged it in as normal and left it charging while on. Today I still have about 40% left after 15 hours use!

So, it seems as if the normal battery charge sensor (at least in DK28) may be faulty. Do a power down and full recharge WITHOUT turning it back on to see if that helps!

**ABMD** · 12-28-2010, 07:38 AM

One issue I continue to have is the numerous "experts" suggesting not using a Task Killer App. Each time I decided to follow their suggestion and turned off the auto kill feature my phone within a short time slowed down to a crawl- even when I was not using allot of apps and worse if I was. Once I have turned back on the auto kill every app loads faster and there is no further lag time.
Can some one explain to me why my experience is contrary to such expert advice ?? Thanks

**Skunkape60** · 12-28-2010, 02:39 PM

Ok so I got the startup Auditor and installed it. I am looking for "DRM Services" But find instead "DRM Protected Content Storage" and "DRM Content Launcher" Are these the items I need to disable?

And when I do disable them what funtion of my phone will I lose?

**rweiss** · 12-28-2010, 07:02 PM

Originally Posted by keithvetter

Ok so I got the startup Auditor and installed it. I am looking for "DRM Services" But find instead "DRM Protected Content Storage" and "DRM Content Launcher" Are these the items I need to disable?

And when I do disable them what funtion of my phone will I lose?

My question exactly. I hope someone can answer this. I'm hesitant to kill this without confirmation. Thanks.

**jrz5024** · 12-28-2010, 10:03 PM

Unless you have DRM protected content (presumably) you shouldn't see any effect from killing those services, other than increased battery life. I've been running Startup Auditor to kill them for about a month now and have noticed no adverse affect.

**Skunkape60** · 12-29-2010, 12:02 AM

I have several movies that I purchased from the media hub that I am sure are DRM Protected and all of them still play fine with DRM Protected Content Storage" and "DRM Content Launcher" turned off with Startup Auditor.

**Windfrenzy** · 12-29-2010, 02:18 AM

Believe the license is downloaded the first time you view the movie, so if DRM was on then, maybe you already have it so it plays?

**cheapfx** · 01-01-2011, 01:35 PM

I have a open wifi connection at work and i use wifi at home. Simply setting my wifi to never sleep combined with the airplain mode toggle has nearly doubled my battery life. I went from around 8 hours with moderate use to about 14 to 16 hours. With light use, a few texts and short phone calls, I can get well over 24 hours. Great article!

**Skunkape60** · 01-01-2011, 02:54 PM

Originally Posted by cheapfx

I have a open wifi connection at work and i use wifi at home. Simply setting my wifi to never sleep combined with the airplain mode toggle has nearly doubled my battery life. I went from around 8 hours with moderate use to about 14 to 16 hours. With light use, a few texts and short phone calls, I can get well over 24 hours. Great article!

Where do I find the setting to disable wifi sleep??? I can't seem to find it.

**Meetloaf** · 01-01-2011, 06:09 PM

Sweet guide, I'll be keeping this in mind. I'm in the unfortunate circumstance where I have crappy reception living in a basement right now.

One question, I'm rooted with a custom 2.2 ROM (VIPER), will the Airplane mode toggle still apply?