GPS active only when in use?

[Migizi]

Got myself an Incredible, yesterday, toying with it and setting it up today. Battery drain has been epically bad so far, so I'm trying various things to improve it.

One recommendation was to turn off GPS. This makes navigation really annoying, having to go turn it on and off first. I looked in the Market, and there are apps that provide 1-click on/off for the GPS - that's a good start.

But what I cannot seem to find, is an app that does the thing that would seem to make the most sense - leave the GPS off unless an app (mapping app, most likely) is actually using it at that moment.

Does anyone know if such an app exists, and perhaps I am not seeing it?

 

[Incrediboy]

Thats actually the hitch.. the gps is used for many things IF it is on...

The browser is Location aware.. so if you fire up google browser.. the gps comes on to check.

there is a power widget that turns on and off the gps as necessary.

Long press screen
select widget..
select power.

that should do it

 

[sloan31]

You don't need a seperate app for one click turning gps on/off , it's already there in the settings widget.

 

[bigslam123]

If you use the clock widget with weather, then your phone is always accessing the GPS for weather location. Unless you make sure to set it to a specific location.

 

[sloan31]

You can also restrict how often the weather widget updates, say just once a day if you want.

 

[rpfarrah]

First, go to Settings> About phone> Battery and compare your Up time and your Awake time. If they are anywhere close to each other you need to find what is up and running all the time. You can then touch the Battery Use arrow to see what has been using your battery. Sometimes that helps give a clue (and sometimes, not).

FWIW, my GPS is "always on", meaning I don't turn it on before I use it, so it's not a HUGE battery user.

 

[Migizi]

Thats actually the hitch.. the gps is used for many things IF it is on...

The browser is Location aware.. so if you fire up google browser.. the gps comes on to check.

there is a power widget that turns on and off the gps as necessary.

Long press screen
select widget..
select power.

that should do it

You don't need a seperate app for one click turning gps on/off , it's already there in the settings widget.

Thanks to both of you for the responses. Settings or Power widget means I don't have room on the initial home screen for the shortcuts I want, and I'm not a fan of the whole multi-home-page thing. I just want things on one screen. So I am going to check out the 1-click apps to see if they install as shortcuts. If not, I guess I'll wait until someone engineers an app that makes more sense.

 

[Incrediboy]

Thanks to both of you for the responses. Settings or Power widget means I don't have room on the initial home screen for the shortcuts I want, and I'm not a fan of the whole multi-home-page thing. I just want things on one screen. So I am going to check out the 1-click apps to see if they install as shortcuts. If not, I guess I'll wait until someone engineers an app that makes more sense.

Then just use the
Long press
widget
settings
gps power widget... that also works...

 

[Migizi]

You can also restrict how often the weather widget updates, say just once a day if you want.

I already did that - what would be much better is if I could make it only update when I actually opened the weather app.

This seems to be a theme with this phone - way, way, way too much stuff running in the background, without the opportunity to make it only active when needed.

Also, the battery status features, showing % of use, is a great idea, but poorly executed here. Its always in large part the "Android System", which shows a whole list of "packages" it includes, but doesn't show which ones are really the hogs.

 

[sloan31]

Then just use the
Long press
widget
settings
gps power widget... that also works...

This is exactly what you should do, the icon on your screen won't be any larger then using another program so screen space is not an issue.

 

[sloan31]

First, go to Settings> About phone> Battery and compare your Up time and your Awake time. If they are anywhere close to each other you need to find what is up and running all the time. You can then touch the Battery Use arrow to see what has been using your battery. Sometimes that helps give a clue (and sometimes, not).

FWIW, my GPS is "always on", meaning I don't turn it on before I use it, so it's not a HUGE battery user.

I would agree with your oberservations. I've been watching my battery usage and noticed (leaving both on) bluetooth actually drains my battery way more than gps does. I don't turn my gps off either.

 

[Migizi]

This is exactly what you should do, the icon on your screen won't be any larger then using another program so screen space is not an issue.

OK, I see what you mean now - the Power widget was huge, but the GPS-specific one from settings is not. Got it. Appreciated.

 

[rpfarrah]

"This seems to be a theme with this phone - way, way, way too much stuff running in the background, without the opportunity to make it only active when needed."

Actually, IMHO, that's just not true. The phone does a great job of managing it's resources all on it's own. I use mine to the full extent with everything running, including checking email every 5 minutes and weather updating as often as the system lets it and I have no complaints. YMMV.

Also, I know you said you're a one-screen kind of guy, but I would recommend you TRY using the screens on either side of your home screen for those things you use a little less often (maybe calendar or speed dials or games or pictures of the wife and kids). It is a powerful amenity for your new phone AND it let's you show off your favorite Live Wallpaper in a less cluttered way.