Mobile Phones

[pumpkinpi]

About facebook, I meant.
(I was on my phone and didn't want to put too much effort into more detail.)

[SciFiFisher]

So phones are always on and always touching the internet. So I guess it's the sending and receiving more packets of data that uses up the battery? I mean it's always pinging the nearest tower. I understand data usage differences between being on the cellular network or utilizing some local wi-fi. But it uses more battery the more times I check my Facebook wall?

Sort of... Some apps use more power than others. GPS is a huge battery hog because it's talking to the network/satellite feeds and constantly updating. I pretty much always plug my phone into the car charger if I am using the GPS. Some apps stay on in the background and constantly use battery power. You can tweak app settings and battery settings to prevent the big power hogs from draining your battery. The ones that are the biggest culprits are the ones who use location tracking. Of course, if you turn off location tracking some of the apps are less useful.

People generally seem to fall into three categories of phone users:

1. The person who shuts everything off/down so "they" can't track/target them.
2. The person who wants their battery to last for a week and will put their phone on maximum power saver.
3. The person who carries a charging cable and a spare battery pack for their phone.

[Thumper]

Good to know, we'll see which one I turn out to be.
I have a buddy who suggested tweeking the settings so that some apps will only update when you're on wi fi, there by saving on data usage. Good to know if you're not on an unlimited data usage plan.

I won't see what my actual useful battery cycle time will be until I actually start downloading and using apps. Well more than the 38 that my phone says I'm already using but can't find.

[SciFiFisher]

One other thing that can be a BIG battery drain is using your phone for a mobile WIFI hotspot. I use mine all the time because the boy likes to watch videos on his tablet when we are traveling anywhere.

I bet you can guess that I am type #3 from above. If I don't need power the boy does.

[SciFiFisher]

Good to know, we'll see which one I turn out to be.
I have a buddy who suggested tweeking the settings so that some apps will only update when you're on wi fi, there by saving on data usage. Good to know if you're not on an unlimited data usage plan.

I won't see what my actual useful battery cycle time will be until I actually start downloading and using apps. Well more than the 38 that my phone says I'm already using but can't find.

Ah Yes! DATA USEAGE. My experience with data was that when I tried to ration it the people on my plan would always go over the limit. Thus, costing me anywhere from $20-$50 extra per month on average. When I switched to unlimited data for a few sheckels more each month the data use drops below what the limited plan was.

I decided not to be a martinet and set up things to turn off their data when we reached the pre-set limits and just switched to an unlimited plan.

[Thumper]

Good to know, we'll see which one I turn out to be.
I have a buddy who suggested tweeking the settings so that some apps will only update when you're on wi fi, there by saving on data usage. Good to know if you're not on an unlimited data usage plan.

I won't see what my actual useful battery cycle time will be until I actually start downloading and using apps. Well more than the 38 that my phone says I'm already using but can't find.

Ah Yes! DATA USEAGE. My experience with data was that when I tried to ration it the people on my plan would always go over the limit. Thus, costing me anywhere from $20-$50 extra per month on average. When I switched to unlimited data for a few sheckels more each month the data use drops below what the limited plan was.

I decided not to be a martinet and set up things to turn off their data when we reached the pre-set limits and just switched to an unlimited plan.

Yeah, I have friends that went through all three scenarios of data usage. One of my friends said that they could slow down their kids' data when they approached a certain limit. We went through the extra costs per month when The Kid used to go over ON THE LAST DAY OF THE BILLING CYCLE. Mrs. T switched to unlimited as her solution.

I'm never anywhere without both an AC and a DC charging cord. Of course I only occasionally had to use them, and I'm hoping that habit continues.

[Sigma_Orionis]

So phones are always on and always touching the internet. So I guess it's the sending and receiving more packets of data that uses up the battery? I mean it's always pinging the nearest tower. I understand data usage differences between being on the cellular network or utilizing some local wi-fi. But it uses more battery the more times I check my Facebook wall?

WIFi definitely drains the battery faster than using the Cellular Network alone. But, in my case. If I leave an App open (I tend to favor an Ad-Free version of thbe Sokoban game I got on my phone) it drains the battery a lot faster

[Thumper]

And now I've misplaced the thing. I think it's at the house on the coffee table, but I remember packing my work bag last night and I'm sure I stuffed it in the bag with my fruit and vitamins. We'll see when I get home. May be the shortest mobile phone tenure of my life...

[SciFiFisher]

And now I've misplaced the thing. I think it's at the house on the coffee table, but I remember packing my work bag last night and I'm sure I stuffed it in the bag with my fruit and vitamins. We'll see when I get home. May be the shortest mobile phone tenure of my life...

LOL.... did you know that Google/Android has a "find my phone" feature that can be accessed from your browser?

[Thumper]

I figured they did after one of my iPhone friends bragged that Apple has that feature. Got any idea how to access it?

[SciFiFisher]

I figured they did after one of my iPhone friends bragged that Apple has that feature. Got any idea how to access it?

If you have a google account you log in on the browser. Use this link https://www.google.com/android/find

You can also lock the phone or erase the data if someone has stolen it.

[Thumper]

Yeah I found that in a search. There appears to be an issue with my google account. They say they're assessing the problem and will get back with me in a few days. So when I find the phone in the living room tonight, I'm wondering if they'll have locked it....I hope this doesn't turn out to be a pain. But I'm guessing it will.

[SciFiFisher]

Yeah I found that in a search. There appears to be an issue with my google account. They say they're assessing the problem and will get back with me in a few days. So when I find the phone in the living room tonight, I'm wondering if they'll have locked it....I hope this doesn't turn out to be a pain. But I'm guessing it will.

There are number of reasons why the phone may not be "findable" also. For example, if it is turned off.

[Thumper]

Well, my phone's "password" had been changed. Apparently Mrs. T had to reset it when she was working with it a week ago. When I got home, we were able to dial into the search with the correct password and it showed my phone......at my office! I just got in, and spoke with the 100 year old security guard at the front desk. He found a folder that had a log showing that a mobile phone had indeed been turned in yesterday. He had absolutely no idea where to to look for it. I'm heading back down when the receptionist gets in later. There's hope.

[Thumper]

Visited the nice woman at the front desk. She had my phone. Now I have it back.

[SciFiFisher]

Visited the nice woman at the front desk. She had my phone. Now I have it back.

I love technology... when it works.

[Thumper]

Visited the nice woman at the front desk. She had my phone. Now I have it back.

I love technology... when it works.

It was shocking, yet comforting to see my phone located inside my building. I just wish I could have located it before I left. I could have walked down and grabbed it on the way home. But still, Happy Ending.