[mdlug-discuss] Cell Handset Recommendations

[Peter Bart]

On Wed, 29 Aug 2012 18:25:44 -0400
Michael Mol <mikemol at gmail.com> wrote:

> On Wed, Aug 29, 2012 at 5:40 PM, Peter Bart <petertheplumber at att.net>
> wrote:
> > On Wed, 29 Aug 2012 16:05:58 -0400
> > Michael Mol <mikemol at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> [snip]
> 
> >>Otherwise, I have the phone charging whenever I'm in
> >> the car or on my computer. Not because the phone strictly needs it,
> >> but because I see no good reason not to top off. My wife disagrees,
> >> but still leaves hers plugged in while at home or while we're
> >> sleeping (she just doesn't top off in the car).
> >
> >         That's actually the recommended charging  method and I top
> > off my batteries as well. I got my info from
> > <http://batteryuniversity.com/learn/article/how_to_prolong_lithium_based_batteries>
> > <http://batteryuniversity.com/learn/article/charging_lithium_ion_batteries>
> > I finally got my dearly beloved to unplug her notebook when it's
> > charged; after several batteries prematurely died and I refused to
> > buy more; I'll leave it at that.
> 
> Depends on the battery tech and charging hardware, I suppose. The
> LG-509 asks the user to unplug the phone once charged to save energy,
> but we've never once had a battery die on us or go flat, including the
> one that we've actively been using for a couple years, now. I imagine
> the protection circuitry in the charger unit of the LG-509 has
> something to do with that.

	That very well might be, I remember reading in some of my user
	manuals the charging rate drops to a trickle after reaching 90
	or so percent. 
> 
> Conversely, the Li-ion workshop batteries I have _must_ be fully
> drained after use, or they become effectively useless. I had to pick
> up a lantern using the same battery as my drill, so I wouldn't have to
> discard a battery after every use of the drill.

	That is very, very odd. That's exactly what we used to do with
	the old nicad cordless tool batteries for the exact same
	reason. I'd be interested to know what brand of tool battery
	you use. I haven't had to do that since I switched to Li ion
	batteries years ago. Both Milwaukee and now Bosch. 
<snip>

> >         I don't actually use a battery monitor. I dim the screens
> > like you do, limit open apps to what I need, turn off wifi/bluetooth
> >         when not being used, no screensavers, no animations, no
> > vibrate alerts and so on.
> 
> Something to understand about Android: Unless an app specifically has
> a background service configured, the app won't consume any CPU cycles
> if it's not being displayed. Android is pretty aggressive about
> garbage collection, and if an app isn't on display, it's eligible for
> no-warning collection. (Apps get notified when they're being
> suspended...they're expected to do their serialization work then and
> there, in case they get collected.)
> 
> So if it's not on the screen (and it's not something designed to watch
> for events in the background), it won't be consuming CPU cycles.
> 

	Good to know, thanks. I don't currently have a working Andoid, I
	was referring to general rule of thumb I use with any battery
	powered device. 

-- 
Best Regards,

Peter The Plumber
<petertheplumber at att.net>