ABSTRACT.
The world celebrated the advent of mobile smart devices because of their abilities to carry out most of the office tasks on the go. One of the greatest challenges that came with such event was the power on time limitations as their batteries could hardly go for the time we wished for without the need for a recharge. This research was done to manage power consumption in order to reduce the frequency of charging the battery, increase operation smoothness and save us from the unnecessary internet data misuse by some applications of android operating system. We shall actualize all these without the need for a root access privilege.
INTRODUCTION.
Android operating system has become very popular due to the fact that almost everyone now own an android device ranging from phones, phablets to tablets etc.
These gadgets came with different challenges like insufficient battery power, excessive internet data consumption, processing speed issues, security threats, etc. It is in the light of these that I have decided to do this research in order for us to have higher level of control over our devices.
The world celebrated the advent of mobile smart devices because of their abilities to carry out most of the office tasks on the go. One of the greatest challenges that came with such event was the power on time limitations as their batteries could hardly go for the time we wished for without the need for a recharge. This research was done to manage power consumption in order to reduce the frequency of charging the battery, increase operation smoothness and save us from the unnecessary internet data misuse by some applications of android operating system. We shall actualize all these without the need for a root access privilege.
INTRODUCTION.
Android operating system has become very popular due to the fact that almost everyone now own an android device ranging from phones, phablets to tablets etc.
These gadgets came with different challenges like insufficient battery power, excessive internet data consumption, processing speed issues, security threats, etc. It is in the light of these that I have decided to do this research in order for us to have higher level of control over our devices.
Fig. 1
is a picture of what we intend to achieve.
PROCEDURES
Fig. 2
Note
that this will delay email and Gmail (a bit) from delivering messages on time
except when connected to external power, you may download third party
applications like Yahoo Mail to get your messages instantly or check your mails
by opening the applications and Synchronize or do manual synchronization of
accounts in setting.
3.
Download Hibernate application and hibernate as many applications and processes
as possible.
Do not
hibernate the applications shown in Fig. 4 and anyone that may show up as
insistent process as shown in Fig. 5 and applications in step 6 and any
application you use very often or applications that are constantly restarting
in application manager (running applications).
Fig. 4
4. Go to
Application manager in setting and turn off some of the default background
processes, services and applications that you do not need as shown in Fig. 6 (Android
Version 4.3, TouchWiz UI).
You can
know all running applications by opening All-in-One Toolbox applications
(process menu before whitelisting any of them) or by opening Hibernate
application, click on the search icon and CHECK all boxes.
Do not
turn off applications that appear in step 3 and 6 or anyone that affects the
features you are interested in.
NOTE
·
By
turning off Google Search, you will not be able to use voice search/typing
features.
·
PagebuddyNotiSvc
is for earphone and S Pen attachment and detachment notifications but does not
affects their operations
·
Software
update is for updating the device firmware, you can turn it ON just to update
(when there is an OTA update for your gadget) and turn it OFF when done.
·
Calendar
Storage though can be turned off but it works with SNS and Facebook to get the
birthdays of friends and any stored event or task on your device. Therefore do
not turn it off but it can be safely Hibernated to stop it from running on
background.
·
Wi-Fi
Direct Share can be turned off but it will affect sharing of files between
different devices through Wi-Fi.
·
What
we TURNED OFF are not necessarily all the applications we feel we do not need
(debloating), but the ones that always run at the background that we do not
need. These background processes are what have (negative) effects on battery life,
ram space and other system resources. The rest applications are inactive until
any activated command triggers them to be active (for a while). Therefore, I
will advise that they (the applications that do not run on background) are left
but hibernated to keep them inactive after they have performed their tasks.
THEREFORE WE ONLY TURNED OFF UNHIBERNATABLE BACKGROUND APPLICATIONS THAT WE DO
NOT NEED.
·
You
may turn off (UNCHECK) notifications from background processes that you do not
need as seen in Fig. 7. PLAY SAFE HERE IN ORDER NOT TO TURN OFF NEEDED
NOTIFICATIONS. IN CASE OF ANY ERROR, JUST TURN THEM ON AGAIN.
5.
Install Mobiwol firewall application.
Go to
connection log in the application and restrict any application that uses data
that you do not want. Whether on background, foreground or wifi
Do not
restrict
SNS
DOWNLOADS
MEDIA
server
Note
that firewall might inhibit tethering with other gadgets. Turn it off if this
happens during tethering and then turn it back on when through (except you can
get the workaround).
Research shows that Version 4.1.2 of this application is buggy. It makes wi-fi hotspot and normal wi-fi operations to conflict with each other. Use other versions that do not have this issue.
6.
Install and enable 2 Battery application (preferably the pro version which
gives more control and options). See Fig. 8.
This application helps to shut down internet radio of your phone when not in use thereby conserving battery and internet data. It however turn it on periodically (15 minutes by default) so as to receive any hanging message that depends on internet connectivity.
This application helps to shut down internet radio of your phone when not in use thereby conserving battery and internet data. It however turn it on periodically (15 minutes by default) so as to receive any hanging message that depends on internet connectivity.
Ensure
you whitelist DOWNLOAD MANAGER and any downloading software you have (e.g.
tubemate, loaderdroid.apk (the best downloader I know) etc). You can only
whitelist one application in the free version, go pro to unlock any limitation.
Do not
whitelist any instant messager like Facebook, BBM, skype, line, whatsapp, mail
etc.
Note
that these applications/processes cannot show up for whitelisting except they
are active. Therefore to whitelist DOWNLOAD MANAGER, start a downloading
process etc. I noticed that opera browsers/downloader do not show up here, so
do not bother yourself if you noticed same.
Sometimes, this application cuts off internet when there is an ongoing download process. This do happen when whitelisting could not be applied like Opera scenario or when you are using the free version. To solve this, start wifi tethering process. This will make this application to stop cutting off internet connectivity. Do not forget to turn off tethering when through with the download process. In the
application Settings, under Utilities, Auto screen off, you may install but do
not enable (due to battery power implications) AUTO SCREEN OFF. This provides a
widget called SCREEN that one can use to manually turn off screen display
instead of pressing the power button which has frictional and mechanical
implications. See Fig. 9 below.
7.
Install All-in-One Toolbox application and its timer plugin. Set the timer to 1
hour. See Fig. 10.
This
ensures no unused application is left running in memory (RAM) for more than one
hour (or your preset time). Ensure you always save your job before switching to
other applications to avoid accidental loss of data due to the effect of this
application.
Whitelist
all Foreground processes, they can be found in Hibernate application homepage
by clicking on the search icon.
Fig. 11
below is a glimpse of my setting.
8.
Install Screen Brightness application and set it as shown in Fig. 12 below.
Place it
on your HOME pane and at a spot you will easily locate even when the screen
display appears to be very dim (e.g. under bright sun rays). Refer to Fig. 13
for details.
Ensure
your screen display is as dim as possible using the installed screen brightness
application (between 0% and 30%) as shown in Fig. 13 above.
IMPORTANT POINTS TO NOTE
1. Instant messagers like Skype and BBM may
demand more battery.
2. Ensure you did not restrict background
processes in Developers option.
3. Ensure
your wifi, haptic feedback, vibrations, bluetooth and GPS are off when you do
not need them.
4. Do not
install any process killer except the All-in-One Toolbox application above.
5. Check
to see if there is any unnecessary download processes going on at the
background.
Also see
if there is live streaming (MEDIA SERVER) going on in sites you visited like
Youtube and stop them.
6. Stop
auto update notice.
7.
Reduce the numbers of widgets you use to the barest minimum.
8. Check
the running processes in application manager in setting to see if any is
constantly RESTARTING. Look for a way to stop such. One method is to click on
them and then click Stop. Another method is to remove such from list of the
hibernated applications and restart your device or whitelist them in All-in-one
toolbox application.
9.
Restart your device once in a while (at least once in every three days) and
anytime you notice issues.
10.
Sensors consume much power. Therefore reduce the numbers (and duration of use)
of SENSORS. Below are some Sensors related activities.
i. Auto
screen dim during call (proximity sensor)
ii.
Voice call, Voice Search and Voice Commands (Mic)
iii.
Auto Screen brightness adjustment (Light sensor)
iv.
Internet Services (Inbuilt Radios) etc.
Therefore,
turn ON power saving mode, do not enable SMART STAY/PUASE, do not set your
Display brightness to AUTO, ensure your screen timeout is one minute or less,
stop all forms of unnecessary vibrations and sounds, turn off pen detection for
Samsung Note Series, disable Hand Swipe for screen capture and use other
methods for capturing screen images like pressing down both power and home
buttons for about 3 seconds (For Samsung Note Series users, you can press and
hold the button by the pen side and press its tip against the screen for about
3 seconds). Disable voice command activities etc. Remember that AutoSync Free
application helps to control unnecessary continuous background
synchronizations.
These
new features on smart devices are what has turned them into power sucking
monsters. Only enable them consciously when you need them.
Please
note that SENSORS as used here is contextual and not generalized.
11. Any
hibernated application will not start as quickly as it would have done if
unhibernated, but this is often unnoticed and will run more smoothly (once
started) because some other application activities that would have competed
with it for system resources would be in their hibernated states.
12. Your
device will still consume power, data and system resources when you engage it
to carry out different tasks (especially those that are sensors related as
mentioned in point No. 10, though far lesser than before). The major
conservation takes place in idle mode as revealed by Fig. 14 and 15 below.
13. To occasionally
free up ram, do not CLEAR MEMORY (Task Manager) but you can clear RECENT
APPLICATIONS. The former will kill important background processes that will
consume battery and CPU resources in order to restart. See Fig. 16.
14. Mind
the applications you install, reduce them as much as you can, avoid duplication
of functions by multiple applications doing the same thing. Some of these applications
run down your battery, clog ram and connect to internet illegally at background.
15. The
applications in your device may vary from the ones in Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo,
N7502 Model which was used for this research. Nevertheless, try to use the
prescribed applications, outlined principles and ideas to get same results in
your device.
16.
Above all, what consume power most when you are using your device is the Screen
(display light) as evident in Fig. 1. This is why you should always (manually) keep
your screen display light as low as possible (between 0% and 30%) using Screen
Brightness application.
ADVANTAGES.
1.
You
do not need to root your device
2.
All
the official status benefits are retained like warranty and Over The Air (OTA)
updates, etc.
3.
Your
data usage is controlled and minimized.
4.
Your
gadget security is enhanced. Unsafe internet access to your device from
unnecessary applications are restricted by Mobiwol firewall.
5.
Faster
internet connectivity. This is because by appropriate restriction of unwanted
connectivity by Mobiwol Firewall and hibernation of other applications by
Hibernate application, your available internet bandwidth is maximize by your browsers
and other internet dependent applications.
6.
Your
device works with more ease (increased fluidity).
7.
Battery
life is enhanced.
8.
All
the processes are reversible.
9.
Faster
charging.
10.
It
can work on other Operating Systems with some amendments.
11.
Your
device can still do everything you want it to do even with more ease.
12.
All
the applications are free or has free versions.
RESULTS
Fig. 17
below are some outcomes I got when I left my device (Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo
n7502 version) overnight in three different instances and full use for two days
in an instance.
Here, it
can be noticed that the results of the idle mode (overnight) instances varied.
One of the reasons is using the device for many days without restarting it.
This is another emphasis on the need to always restart (refresh) your gadgets
at least once in every three days for optimal performances.
SUMMARY
All you
have done is to put your device in SMART Deep Sleep Mode when the screen is dim
and SMART Flight Mode when screen is active.
SMART as
used in this context means your device can still carry out the necessary
standby functions like receive calls, messages and access internet facilities
etc but at minimal system resources costs.
CONCLUSIONS
With
full understanding of the methods, ideas, processes and theories used in this
project, one can extend such to other platforms wholly or partially in order to
get same effect.
Let take
a look at Fig. 18 below which is the last screen capture I did for this
research after final fine tuning, here the Device
idle was the highest battery consumer while Android OS which used to be the highest in idle mode is now at
third position. This is a clear indication that the device has been idle all
through the period. Until you can record this kind of sequence in idle mode,
you have not achieved the full potential of this project.
Personally, this research is a breakthrough for my official and personal operations.
RECOMMENDATIONS
3. Create different power profiles
that can group some of these power related activities together that users can
enable or disable in order to harness the intended benefits.
Nevertheless, if you could not get enough power on time from your device after applying all the settings outlined above, I will recommend that you change your battery or/and buy a portable power bank as a back up.Finally, I wish to draw the attention of software developers to this research in order to see if they could develop an application that combines the useful processes and services utilized from the combination of the different applications used above. Android users would be ever grateful to such fellows. All I will ask from such developers are proper credits for my work.
GRATITUDES
1.
Google
Incorporated.
2.
Hibernate.apk
developer.
3.
Screen
Brightness.apk developer.
4.
Autosync
free.apk developer.
5.
All-in-one
Toolbox.apk developer.
6.
2
battery.apk developer.
7.
Mobiwol.apk
developer.
8.
Samsung
Incorporated.
9.
XDA
Developers Forum.
10.
The
God of Wisdom.
Please keep all comments, analysis,
criticisms and observations precise and constructive.
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